Here we go with a run down of what was hot this year in music…

10 – Patrick Wolf – Hard Times

Patrick Wolf was not on my radar before I caught his performance at this year’s Great Escape Festival. Hard Times was the 2nd single release from his album ‘The Bachelor’ and makes a statement with lyrics like “mediocrity [is] applauded” and “ignorance is still adored” against a backdrop of rock guitars, celtic strings and electro beats. Wolf is creative, original, musically accomplished and always has something interesting to say.

9 – Frankmusik – Better off as Two

Better off as Two is one of many excellent tunes on Vincent Frank’s debut album ‘Complete Me’. Showcasing his falsetto vocals this also benefits from quirky production and a rousing chorus. He’s also brilliant live and was arguably one of the highlights of Bestival 2009.

8 – Hockey – Song Away

Hailing from Portland Oregon Hockey have been making waves on the festival circuit in Europe throughout the summer and this track is the 3rd release from their debut album ‘’Mind Chaos’’. It might be blatantly commercial but it’s neatly peppered with references to the 80’s and a real toe tapper. I love this band and this track never gets dull.

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Christmas songs. Some people love them, and some hate them. There are certainly differences of opinion in the Music Jobs offices as to whether Cliff Richard, Noddy Holder, The Pogues & co. are part of that warm seasonal feeling, or more likely to invoke a baul-baul assault on the purveyor of such torturous material.

We decided to make a Spotify playlist of some of the best / worst / most discussed / most amusing / most disturbing Christmas songs, and, assuming there’s no riot in the offices today, we’d love to hear your views!

Click the image below or check out http://open.spotify.com/user/leejarvis/playlist/2riHqaBAfCXQR1kJJQJsE2

Tracklist:
Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas – Stu: Best
Let It Snow – Tara: Best (I’ve included the fantastic Ella Fitzgerald version ~Lee)
Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody – Matt: Worst; Stu: Best
The Darkness’ Christmas Time – Lee: Best
Clay Aiken’s Merry Christmas With Love – Tammy: Best
The Pogues’ & Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale of New York – Matt: Best
John Lennon’s Happy Xmas (War is Over) – Matt: Best
John Denver’s Please, Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas) – Tammy: Best
Cliff Richard’s Mistletoe and Wine – Stu: Worst
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree – Tara: Best (the Brenda Lee version, which will forever remind me of a young Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone ~Lee)

Special mention for Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, which I stumbled across via a twitter link this week. Although unavailable on Spotify, you can check it out here.

Happy (or Harrying?) Holidays,

Lee “I can only bear to hear Christmas songs for one day, and so I do all my shopping on Christmas Eve” Jarvis

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Oh the beloved Grammys. Where did it all go wrong? For a start, you have a “Best Alternative Music Album”, which, although it actually has some great and well-deserved nominees in there this year, the title alone makes it sound like it’s something that only sells 200 copies for EMO kids to listen to in their basement. Next… Lady Gaga. Have you actually listened to any of her music? Distictly average, and I’m being kind there. “Ooh, but it’s her style and character too” I hear her fans pout. Well, Roisin Murphy has been doing that for the last decade (including a great performance at Sonar 2008). “Best Electronic / Dance Album”? Let’s not even go there!

Lastly…

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