Best Of…

• 30th Dec 2008

Well, it’s that time again where we can reflect over the past year. What we did do, what we didn’t do, what we should have done, sigh… Anyway, at this time of year the media tends to compile best of lists, don’t ya know. So lets join the masses and write our very own Glasswerk best of…

Top albums
In no particular order here are some of Glasswerk’s favourite albums of the year…

The Kills – Midnight Boom
Now lets put aside the fact that Jamie Hince goes out with Kate Moss, or at least he did…oh I give up I don’t who Kate Moss is going out with now. Anyway, Midnight Boom gets the Glasswerk vote because it was just so good –fact!

Black Kids – Partie Traumatic
Aww, indie pop heaven at it’s finest. Black Kids are like a happy American version of The Smiths. The combination of catchy pop songs with clever and funny lyrics gave me a warm glow all over, Im getting excited just thinking about this album.

Los Campesinos – We Are Beautiful We Are Doomed
This band of merry Welsh men and women, had originally intended this release to be an E.P. However, lucky for us they got carried away with themselves and turned it into a fully blown album. With lyrics that are poetically formed and injected with humour, they had me hooked.

Glasvegas – Glasvegas
This Glaswegian band wowed us this year with their undeniable coolness, Johnny Cash hair styles and their self titled debut album. Highlight of the album was the anthemic and ever popular stand out track ‘Daddy’s Gone’.

Ida Maria – Fortress Round My Heart
Not exactly the shy and retiring type, this Norwegian lovely seduced us all with her raucous tunes and we loved it.

Santogold – Santogold
How many singles have been released of this album? About fifty? Even so, as the saying goes it’s ‘quality not quantity’, yet Santogold has managed to provide us with both – yay! Highlights being, L.E.S Artists and Lights Out.

Other album highlights of the year included…Foals – Antidotes, Bloc Party – Intimacy, Beck – Modern Guilt, Portishead – Third.

Top Live Reviews
We’ve been lucky enough to send our reviewers to some amazing gigs this year, here are a few highlights…

Duffy @ The Ritz, Manchester – 16th June
It’s hard to believe that Duffy’s only really been in our consciousness for little more than a year. However, her performance at The Ritz in June showed of her genuine talent and beautiful voice.

Black Kids @ Barfly, Liverpool – 15th July
Black Kids were the band that managed to shake me up, spin me around and still haven’t put me back down again. Their album was a pop triumph and to see them live was exhilarating, definitely a must see band.

Glasvegas @ Barfly, Liverpool – 15th September
Glasvegas look so fine they don’t really need any music, but fortunately they do and it’s damn good. What also stood out about this gig, was the beautiful dark aesthetic that the band employed for their on-stage set up.

Kings Of Leon @ Echo Arena, Liverpool – 12th December
One of the biggest bands around at the moment! Comments like this give them a lot to live up to, but they proved they can deliver. With storming versions of Sex On Fire, On Call and Use Somebody, they won over the Echo Arena.

James @ Brixton Academy – 15th December
It’s always good to see James touring. One of the best bands ever, yet in many ways underrated. James have written lyrics that could rival Morrissey, so it was a joy to get a live review for them.

Finally, how could we forget all the festivals Glasswerk covered this summer, these included… Leeds/ Reading Festival, Creamfields, Secret Garden Party, Benicassim, Lattitude, Wakestock and Hop Farm Festival.

My New Year’s Resolution is to campaign to have all articles on the website written in spontaneous prose…

Talking of the website, just because you’ve all had a nice holiday over Christmas it doesn’t mean I have. I’ve been scouring the world of music to keep you upto date on all the latest news.

So on the site you’ll find loads of Christmas music news and new videos. Not forgetting, cd reviews, live reviews and interviews. Also, we’ve still got gigs to keep you entertained.

If you still haven’t decided what to do for New Year’s Eve get on down to Manchester’s Dry Bar for The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. Coming up in January we have Scanners @ 93 Feet East on the 14th January.

Happy New Year from Glasswerk