Kin

So I have deiced that being a folk/rockstars son is the way to go. Probably folk star just cause they seem to put out better albums. Seriously Rufus Wainwright, Teddy Thompson and now Liam Finn. Liam Finn is the son of Neil Finn from crowded house. His new album I'll be Lightening is quite good. Not Bad, Not great, but not bad. Has plenty of good songs and a good sound. Sort of a blend of Broken Social Scene with Crowded House. You can certainly hear his dads influence and that is a good thing. He joined the ranks of other rock kids who make good albums: Teddy Thompson and Rufus Wainwright. Maybe not as good as Paste claims but it is solid. It reminds me quite a bit of Teddy Thompson's album Separate Ways crossed with Kevin Drew's Spirit If. It goes from quiet and acoustic to louder and noisy, never quite rocking but not just noise either. I highly recommend it.

I like to steal

Life Sucks Let's Party!
Cheers

Suburban Noise

Suburban Noise: Theoretical Heat

Down The Line 3:11 José González
Jigsaw Falling Into Place 4:09 Radiohead
Mistaken For Strangers 3:31 The National
I Don't Blame You 3:05 Cat Power
1 2 3 4 3:04 Feist
Rag & Bone 3:48 The White Stripes
Snow Tip Cap Mountain 2:15 The Octopus Project
The Past Is A Grotesque Animal 11:53 Of Montreal
California Girls 3:00 The Magnetic Fields
Backed Out On The... 4:16 Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew
23 5:19 Blonde Redhead
Tonto 7:43 Battles

Lets see if this mix and if my ass won't get sued

DivShare File - Suburban Noise 1.m4a

Visual Arts

So in case you all did not notice I added some links to other blogs that I read regularly. I will be reposting content from them. Mostly reposting visuals since I like graffiti/street art quite a bit and there isn't any here in Oxford really. And I can make my own comments on the music side fo stuff. Anyway I think these are some of the best and highly recommend you check them out if you are in the mood.

Personal fave at the moment: Mumbleville
Dude this is the coolest thing ever. Its like a Toy Machine comic. I freaking love this style. Anyway I like comics way too much, but I guess it is healthier than crack.

Anyway thought this would be cool stuff. Visuals just for fun. If you own these visuals and want them taken down please contact me. That is all have a good day.

Oh Ya Oh No

Ok so some news that was released today...

First this Sunday I am going to see Band of Horses I am excited. I like that band a lot obvious since they were in 2007's top ten for both songs and albums.

Second on April 5th Andrew Bird and Grizzly Bear are playing Cincinnati I am excited not sure if the rest of you care but whateves

Then there is this:



Ya it is pretty massive and good. It lacks some of the superstars of other years but I am a fan. So here is a breakdown on who I plan to see:

Friday - Raconteurs, The National, Aesop Rock, Animal Collective, Spank Rock, Battles, Black Lips, Vampire Weekend, Dan Deacon, Architecture in Helsinki, Professor Murder

Mum and Fatboy Slim would be interesting to see. I have no interest in the verve, madness or Tegan and Sara. Jack Johnson is an odd choice for a headliner.

Saturday - Portishead, Kraftwerk, Death Cab, MIA, Hot Chip, Cold War Kids, DeVotchKa, Mark Ronson, the Teenagers, Bonde Do Role, Akron/Family, MGMT, New Young Pony Club, 120 Days

Probably the weakest day. Certainly the day that I love the fewest bands. Friday I will be forced to choose between bands that I would die to see, today I will roam around looking for my new favorite band. Stephen Malkmus would be good to see since I like pavement a lot but I don't know his new music.

Sunday - My Morning Jacket, Justice, The Field, The Streets, Cool Kids, Booka Shade, Simian Mobile Disco, Autolux, Black Kids, holy fuck, Shout Out Louds

The day that I spent in the dance tent. Seriously Jusice, the Field, Booka Shade and Simian Mobile Disco all great dance music. Kinda wish that Oakenfold, Van Dyke or Teisto were also there just to get my trance on but this will suffice. I would be excited for Dark Side of the Moon if it were Pink Floyd, not Roger Waters solo.

A Return of Sorts

Ok so I have been blogging about the 52 and a couple other things here and there but I have not given you guys what you want most...a playlist. (Feel My Heat) hasn't return yet, it will almost certainly be back next week. So since I am not spinning records tonight I figure the least I can do is give you a playlist. A list of what I am playing and what I bought recently and playing heavily. So here we go:

(feel my theoretical heat):
Jose Gonzalez - Down the Line
Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling into Place
The National - Mistaken for Strangers
Cat Power - I Don't Blame You
Feist - 1234
White Stripes - Rag and Bone
Octopus Project - Snow Tip Cap Mountain
Of Montreal - Past is a Grotesque Animal
Magnetic Fields - California Girls
Kevin Drew - Backed Out On the...
Blonde Redhead - 23
Battles - Tonto

In other news, the best new music committee is up and running and I am still amazed at the number of sucky cd's there are. Seriously half of the albums I got this time sucked and I am upset about this. So from now on only artists I like can make albums.

I went to the basketball game today. Miami was playing SUNY Buffalo which makes me laugh since the two schools are far away and the conference is 90% Ohio schools seemingly. Anyway the thing that shocked me most is that I believe either Mater Dei or Santa Margarita could have beat both teams, or at least been competitive with them. It was a kind of boring game but it was fun to go out and do something.

3 Down, 49 To Go

Book: Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer
Album: In Our Nature - Jose Gonzalez

Into the Wild is a tough book. Not tough in any of the traditional senses though. It is not conceptually difficult nor is it difficult to read. It evokes an emotion thought that is difficult to place and haunts like a spector over you. Clearly the author relates to McCandless and attempts to convey the feeling that McCandless would have experienced during the story. The author did an admirable job of portraying the story without being heavy handed nor cold and unfeeling.

The book makes me both never want to leave the developed world and completely disappear. The boy's story is at once compelling and frustrating. Demonstrating the stuborness that people have inside them and how some absolutely refuse to back down from their principles. However there is something inspirational about how McCandless refused to give up on his principles and how he wanted to return to nature. He was able to survive for much longer than I expected and was able to succeed in conditions I doubt I could.

In Our Nature is the back to basics approach that McCandless certainly agreed with. An album composed of just a guy and his guitar. The songs are largely about peoples own selfishness and greed, anti-war and anti-suffering style songs. Yet the songs do not come off as preachy. Maybe it is the fact Gonzalez is more subtle and less blatant than most other singer songwriters. Either way this albums feeling and sound leaves an impression similar to the book.

2 Down, 50 To Go

Book: Best American Comics 2007
Album: Hello, Avalanche - The Octopus Project

Since I can remember my Dad has read the Best American Essays and Short Stories compilations. So when I saw that they put out a Best American Comics I had to get on it. I liked it pretty well. It was not amazing but it certainly had some really good comics and things that I want to check out. It gave me a good half dozen books to buy and look for. Most of the stories in the book were not about super heroes or extraordinary feats, but rather everyday life and situations. I also want to read this years Best American Short Stories because I have been told that Stephen Kings complains that the form of short story is dying.

Hello, Avalanche completely compliments the idea of comic book. It is music that is nothing but vibrant colors and fun sounds. Very much like Black Moth Super Rainbow's Dandelion Gum except happier and less deep beats. Also there are no vocals which make you focus on the sound complimenting comic books seeming lack of words and emphasis on art. It is little surprise that this band is currently popular on the blogs and was selected last year to open Coachella. I suggest both very much.

Winter Break: Summary

Winter Break is sadly over and it is time to go back to school unfortunately. I want to stay with Shareen and the Fam but I know I have to go back. So I feel it is appropriate to list the important events that happened over the break, or if not important at least memorable. Anyway here are a couple:

• Shareen picking me up from the airport
• Going to the Beach at night
• Finding out I actually went to the entire semester on my last paycheck from work
• The San Diego excursion
• Shareen: Santa's Little Helper
• Colin's Basketball
  
• Criticizing my Brothers basketball games with my dad
  
• Playing Guitar Hero with Ethan
• Through the Fire and Flames
• My Grandfather's visit
• The Christmas Tree
• My losing streak with the microwave/murdering of frozen food
• New Year's Rock Band
• Talking about, but never going to, LA and the Desert
• Finding out my grades
• Social Distortion
• Jack Haley
• Coming up with the idea of 52
• "Buying This They Don't Need, For People They Don't Like, and Can Not Really Afford" - The Family Xmas Moto
• South Coast
• Seeing Every Movie Released
• The House Renovation Talk
• Going to Costco with my Mom, a lot
• Talking about, but not actually doing it, driving my car to school
  

Anyway that is a partial list there is more but that is what stands out in my mind.

What I Hope To Do

So I know most of you do not think I am going to be able to read a book a week and you are probably right. Right now I am a head of schedule which is easy when you do not have distractions such as class, papers, tests, and failure. Anyway just because this is going to help me keep track of what I actually accomplish vs. what I hope to accomplish here is a partial list of what I want to read in the up coming months:

• 1984
• A Clockwork Orange
• All the Kings Men
• White Noise
• Snow Leopard
• In Cold Blood
• As I Lay Dying
• Even Cow Girls Get the Blues
• Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
• The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century
  
• Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army
• I Just Want My Pants Back
• Electric Church

And then there will be the books I have to read for class and graphic novels I will read. Maybe a couple plays thrown in for good measure or even poetry. Most of those books were started and never finished for one reason or another or I have already read them and want to reread them for various reasons. Anyway I doubt most of these books will ever actually be read but its good to have goals.

Dream

Ok so I have been talking about this for a while now but I really do want to open up a record/bookstore in Ohio. I have told people about the idea and they seem supportive. However I am not sure it would work since it is epxensive to start a business and they frequently fail. I would think it would be cool to own/run an indie record store that sold some books with it. Compete with borders by specializing or something. Anyway sort of a dream I have.

1 Down, 51 to go

Book: Blankets - Craig Thompson
Album: Orphans - Tom Waits

I have been meaning to read this for a long time but never bought the book and finally got it for christmas. As Shareen can tell you I read it really fast. I loved it. All about your first serious romance and falling in love and growing up. I highly recommend it. Plus the art work is amazing. Craig Thompson did the art work for Menomena's latest album. Truly giving new meaning to the idea of a graphic novel.

I have loved Tom Waits for a while but I only recently tried listening to this album again. Good Lord it is good. Listening to Tom Waits is like reading a book. And even those these songs are supposed out takes they are still incredible. I got this album last year for Christmas but never listened to it, just the song "Long Way Home". Now that I have listened to more of it I highly recommend it. It does not exactly go along with the feeling of "Blankets" but it was a new-ish album that I listened to. Plus it was last years Christmas meeting with this years Christmas.

Birthday, Sucker Punches and Growing Up

My birthday was ok. I turned 20 which was cool but I mean hardly noteworthy really. I went out to lunch which was nice, good to talk to Taylor without Julian. The family dinner was good, despite what my mom thinks. Ethan got me gifts that I literally handed to him. Shareen gave me a really cool graffiti book, it will appear in the 52. What was noteworthy was that I got my nose busted during Social Distortion.

Shareen very sweetly bought me tickets to them. And I went and saw the show. At the start of "Mommy's Little Monster" I ran to the pit and was able to make one circle before a skinhead punched me in the face. It felt like my nose broke, I couldn't see and was suddenly really dizzy, and then I started to bleed. Anyway I missed about a third of the show and never went back downstairs.

At the show I realized I was growing up. The songs now longer meant much to me and the themes were no longer applicable really. The idea of no future and embracing failure and that you maybe be smart but I am tough, never really described me and do even less now. I have a future, I have not failed so far, I have not screwed up, and I am both smart and fairly tough. At least tough enough to be punched my a nazi at a concert.

the human victory cigar

That would be Jack Haley. The man my family nearly got into a fight with. My dad said that his kid pushed my brother in the back causing him to get hurt, it looked like that. He called my dad a mother fucker, hes classy like that. I got into him for the hell of it, I am proud and stupid like that. The man said fuck more then any grown and supposedly educated man should. He called my dad and I ignorant, I believe he meant insular. Although being called ignorant like that reminds me of South Park. Anyway it was stupid although it brought to light some problems, but that is not important. What is important is to point out just how god awful a player he was. It takes a special kind of jack ass to be that proud and suck that hard. This is the most ink he has ever gotten.

For a Laugh:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haleyja01.html

52

52 weeks in a year. For my new years resolution I am going to try to read 52 books this year. A book a week basically. I haven't decided if I am counting books I have to read for class or not. And I will count graphic novels (read: long comic books) as books. And not just read but finish them since I am a great half reader. So a book a week is the goal. I am also going to do this with albums. Much less difficult but whatever I have goals and I am going to try and meet them.

By the way, if any of you are looking for a new book: And Then We Came to the End. I highly recommend it. Kind of like the office but in book form, and missing Steve Carrell.

And I really want to see There Will Be Blood. It looks like an even gritter version of No Country for Old Men.

Ok I am done name dropping for now. Happy Holidays!

(feel my heat): The Best of 2007

Wet and Rusting - Menomena
Fake Empire - The National
Imitosis - Andrew Bird
Fa-Fa-Fa - Datarock*
(top 5 old songs of the year)
Greetings to the New Brunette - Billy Bragg
She Bangs the Drums - The Stone Roses
My Little Underground - The Jesus and Mary Chain
Sometimes - My Bloody Valentine
Five Years - David Bowie
Outta Sight - Osborne*
(Artists with Multiple Entires)
No Cars Go - The Arcade Fire
Take Pills - Panda Bear
Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem
Paper Planes - M.I.A.
Bout Ready to Jak - Osborne*
(Top Songs that Will Never Be Played on the Radio)
Archangel - Burial
To Fix The Gash In Your Head - A Place to Bury Strangers
Sailing to Byzntium - Liars
Heatherwood - Deerhunter
Jah - M.A.N.D.Y.*
(Pop Artist of the Year: T-Pain)
Good Life - Kanye West Feat. T-Pain
Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - T-Pain featuring Yung Joc
Kiss Kiss (Feat. T-Pain) - Chris Brown
Jah War (Loefah Remix) - The Bug featuring Flowdan*
(Top 10 Songs of the Year)
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) [UGK featuring OutKast] - UGK
The Sons of Cain - Ted Leo
Pom Pom - Matthew Dear
Is There a Ghost - Band of Horses
Smithereens - El-P
New Wave - Against Me!
None Shall Pass - Aesop Rock
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb - Spoon
Keep The Car Running - The Arcade Fire
All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
BONUS XMAS SONG: Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

*Interlude Music

(feel my heat): For Shareen

Blonde Redhead - Spring by Summerfall
Shocking Pinks - This Aching Deal
A Place to Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You
Cat Power - BabyDoll
Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost
Arcade Fire - Neightborhood 3 - Power Out
Interpol - No I in Threesome
Deerhunter - Cryptograms
Liars - Houseclouds
Tv On the Radio - Dreams
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Down Boy
The Moon Upstairs - Never Throught Twice
Spoon - Don't You Evah
My Morning Jacket - Lowdown
The National - Fake Empire
Division Day - Little Blood
Long Blondes - Once and Never Agian
Camera Obscura - Lets Get Out of This Country
Jens Lekman - Opposite of Hallejuah
Wooden Shjips - Loose Lips
Band of Horses - Plans
White Williams - Route to Palm
Working for a Nuclear Free City - Rocket
Massive Attack - Safe From Harm
Joe Smooth - Promise land

Top Albums

And now for the completion of the trifecta!

Top Albums of the Year:
In no real order...

1. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver: I love LCD Soundsystem. They are like a new Talking Heads/David Bowie to me. I probably like this record too much.
   
2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: Personally I think this album was every bit as good as Funeral but I know a lot of people don't feel that way. I loved a bunch of tracks on this record (see best songs). In think this is the only way to follow up being made into Indie Kings.
   
3. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: Uneven and inconsistent. Probably the biggest problem with Spoon. But when they are firing on all levels they are amazing. This album has more hits than misses and I recommend it. There are some skipable tracks but "Got Yr Cherry Bomb" makes up for everything.
   
4. EL-P - I'll Sleep When Your Dead: This is one that you love or hate. Either the beats are too loud and too intense for you or you share his paranoia. Kinda like Black Flag doing a Rap record, only better.
   
5. Against Me! - New Wave: A lot of people did not like this record. I can appreciate that. The album is way way too glossy but there is a lot of good music underneath it. See the band in concert and you will see how great the record can be.
   
6. Panda Bear - Person Pitch: This is an epic album. It is a beautiful and overwhelming. The sounds that come out are amazing. White Noise meet Melody, and great tracks that are both soothing and energizing. It is a maximal minimal record.
   
7. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin: I originally trashed this record, and now I like it a lot. The melodies are sweet and the band is trying new things. It grew on me and there a couple killer songs. I say go for it.
   
8. Ted Leo - Living with the Living: People love Ted Leo. And it is impossible not too love him. He sings great songs with out forcing greatness, he cares about people genuinely, and the man is a punk/rock god. So this record was not as great as Shake the Sheets, it was still great. The world is just waiting for that one perfect album from Leo because we know he can do it.
   
9. The Long Blondes - Someone to Drive Your Home: I wanted a British album and I got one. Along the way they update "Every Picture Tells Story Don't It" but from a girls point of view. Anyway this is solid and I think everyone should get it.
   
10. Burial - Untrue: Other than the first two and this album the rest of the albums are not in order. Untrue is a good record but I am not sure if it is a great record. It is dark and twisting, able to interest the listener but not overwhelm. Yet I don't know in six months from now if I will still be listening.
    

Other Notable Releases:

• Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
  
• Black Dice - Blown Load
• Los Campesinos! - Sticking Fingers into Sockets E.P.
• Matthew Dear - Asa Breed
• Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum
  
• Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond
• Okkervil River - Stage Names
• Justice - Cross
• Caribou - Andorra
  
• !!! - Myth Takes
• Bonde Do Role - With Lasers
• Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrophya
• Feist - The Reminder
• Menonmena - Friend or Foe
• Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Great but shouldn't go in a new music since they are collections:

• Sigur Ros - Hvarf/Heim
• Elliott Smith - New Moon

Biggest Disappointments:

• Bright Eyes - Casadega: Too much. Too many words, too many sounds, too many ideas. Maybe someday he could pull this off but not now. Also it sounded as if Oberst took himself even more seriously this time around.
  
• Kanye West - Graduation: He had to fail. there was too much pressure too high expectations. Was it terrible? No. Just wasn't good as Dropout or Late Registration. It had some good songs but it had some really bad ones. For every "Stronger" there was "Drunk and Hot Girls".
  
• Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City: Loved the first album and hated this one. What happened to the dancing? the pointyness? the chorus? Bloc Party went from a Gang of Four inspired band, to a bad Smith ripoff bad.
  
• The Stooges - The Weirdness
• Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah - Some Thunder
• James Murphy - Fabric Live Series Comp
• Interpol - Our Love to Admire: This was not so much bad as it was the same. They have a sound and for two or three songs it is good, but they need to change it up. If I want to hear an entire Joy Division album I will put on Closer.
  
• Prodigy - Return of the Mac
  

Top Songs

Top 15 Songs (Not In Order)

1. Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running
2. LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
3. MIA - Paper Planes
4. EL-P - Smithereens
5. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
6. The National - Fake Empire
7. Kanye West - Good Life
8. T-Pain - Buy U a Drank
9. UGK - Intl Players Anthem (I Choose You)
10. Spoon - Got Yr Cherry Bomb
11. Against Me! - New Wave
12. Burial - Archangel
    
13. Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost?
14. Panda Bear - Bros
15. Ted Leo - Sons of Cain

That was quite hard so there are a lot of other great songs and here is a list.

Other Top songs: (Repeat Bands)

• LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great
• Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
• Arcade Fire - Intervention
• El-P - Run the Numbers
• Sage Francis - Got Up This Morning
• Bright Eyes - 4 Winds
• Queens of Stone Age - Sick Sick Sick
• Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing
• Kathy Diamond - All Woman
• Dan Deacon - Wham City
• Liars - Sail to Byzantium
• Panda Bear - Take Pills
• Panda Bear - Comfy in Nautica
• Against Me! - Thrash Unreal
• Battles - Leyendecker
• Animal Collective - Peacebone
• Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
• Explosions in the Sky - Birth and Death of a Day
  

There are lots and lots more but that is what I can think of at the moment so enjoy!

Fire Alarms and Incompletes

Someone in my building has been pulling the fire alarm. This morning at 4:30 AM and then again around 4 PM. I am organizing a lynching party and we will start to randomly execute people if this does not stop.

In other news it is the end of the year and I am thinking about doing what everyone does at this point in the year and making best of lists. It will probably be best albums, best old albums, best movies, best singles, and lastly best stuff I never heard. So lets get it on:

Best Stuff I Never Heard - to be eligible they are songs and albums that I never bought all of:

MIA - Kala

• I never got into MIA. Seemed too gimicky. She has so really good songs, but it seemed to be too fake. Then I heard "Paper Planes". I still have doubts but man oh man is that a good song. The other songs I have heard from Kala have been solid as well. So maybe I will buy this album and it will leap to the top of the heap.
  

The National - Boxer

• In an interview I read the lead singer said that people constantly say their songs grow on people which he took to the mean he could write a hook. This is partially true, the songs do not quite bet you over the head with greatness but they are good. "Fake Empire" is my favorite and in my top songs of the year.
  

Radiohead - In Rainbows

• I am not a huge Radiohead fan. I think what they have done with digital downloads is revolutionary. Personally I still like to be own the album, the physical case and the artwork. I haven't heard this album but have heard a lot of good things. I will buy it when I can get a hard copy.
  

Les Savy Fav - Lets Stay Friends

• I got into Les Savy Fav at the beginning of school. They are kind of a hard band to listen to but they are pretty awesome. Loud and Absurd and I have heard the live show is amazing. "Best Before Year 2000" is my favorite song from the album that I have heard.
  

Battles - Mirrored

• Meshing human and computer in ways that Kraftwerk nor T-Pain could imagine. I am not sure that an entire album of this would be enjoyable, but a couple songs are good to break up the playlists. My favorite is "Leyendecker".
  

A Place to Bury Strangers - S/T

• This year I got really into Jesus and Mary Chain. These guys are a lot like Jesus and Mary Chain but with My Bloody Valentine technology. The songs are loud and overwhelming like swimming in a sea of guitar. Ultra hard to find, I guess, but they are on itunes. "Ocean" or "I Know I'll See" are the songs.

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

• This and Modest Mouse's new album are the two albums I can not figure out why I did not buy. I really like Of Montreal and have no idea why I don't own this album. All the tracks I have heard are solid. And the EP they released right after this is also very good.
  

Deerhunter - Cryptograms

• I alternate between hating and liking this group. Pitchfork is way too in love with them and the lead singer annoys me, but the music is pretty damn good. Maybe a little to homo-erotic for my taste but it is interesting and invigorating. "Crytograms" which is track one is my favorite song, sounds a lot like Joy Division.
  

Liars - Liars

• Seriously weird guys but seriously good tunes. They seem to go all over the place with their records but not in a kitsch way. I am interested to hear all of this one. "Sailing to Byzantium" is my personal favorite track.
  

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

• Another wild album. Panda Bear, who is a member of Animal Collective, put out an album that I loved. Thus I checked this out. Sometimes the songs are a little too long and wild but other times they are great. "Peacebone" is the track I would check out and if you like it then try the rest of the album.

Ok so there are the top ten albums I haven't heard all of. There are plenty more and honorable mentions goes to:

Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings
Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
The Field - From Here We Go Sublime
Akron/Family - Love is Simple
Jose Gonzales - In Our Nature
High On Fire - Death is Communion
Black Octopus Project - Hello, Avalanche
Shocking Pinks - S/T
Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release
Wiley - Play Time is Over
Dizziee Rascal - Maths + English
Two Gallants - S/T

Hint - All of these Albums would make excellent gifts - Hint