MrDylanRecords on YouTube

If you're in any way a vinyl collector or Bob Dylan fan, please check out my YouTube channel over at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MrDylanRecords?feature=mhee

My Top 20 Albums of 2012

20. Brother Ali - Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color

This album hugely surprised me this year, coming from nowhere and grabbing my attention with a great balance of touching personal lyrics and an intelligent political slant, Brother Ali seems to touch a nerve of both present and past affairs with Government and world issues. The beats are nice and organic and Ali's voice is beautifully soulful, keeping my interest for the whole 52 minutes. This is worth checking out if you want to hear something a little bit different from the world of hip hop this year. His rapping style reminds me a little bit of Jay Z, which can't be that bad.

Favourite track - All You Need


19. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz

Animal Collective came back this year with another dose of their trademark psychedelic experimental rock. Yet again they produced a great array of tracks that will no doubt satisfy their loyal fans. The melodies are punchy and vibrant and the interesting vocal loops are  used to pretty good effect. However, some of the tracks lacked a little direction in my opinion. Luckily this was a rare happening and I think Animal Collective just about pulled off what they wanted to on Centipede Hz. It is perhaps one of their more risky albums to date, but it is exciting to see them taking such a forward direction.

Favourite track - Applesauce


18. Matthew Dear - Beams

Matthew Dear released one my favourite electropop dance albums this year, coming up with the goods on this incredibly slick, well produced collection of songs. Matthew has a knack of bringing you into his artificial world through this music and often there are lots of unique musical elements bouncing off one other on some of these songs. Even his voice acts as a kind of instrument, almost dissolving into the music at some points. The lyrics are surreal and not overly complex but are a welcome addition to the beautiful music. Overall I really enjoyed it all, from start to finish.

Favourite track - Temptation


17. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! 

A new Godspeed album is obviously going to spark a lot of hype, but I
could not have prepared myself for this. It blew me away. Post rock is not a genre I have really heard that much from. Mogwai's album from last year really got me hooked on the progressive nature of this genre. This year, Godspeed showed me another example of some amazing post rock and considering this is their first album in 10 years, they've well and truly shown that they've still got it. The only negative I have is on replay value. I played it through a good handful of times, but after that I felt I'd listened just about enough. I will probably revisit it sometime in the future but I feel I've played it enough for now.

Favourite track - We Drift Like Worried Fire


16. Death Grips - No Love Deep Web

The second Death Grips album of the year provided us with more nightmare inducing hardcore hip hop to which we have come to expect for Zach Hill and MC Ride in the last year and a half. The album was shrouded in controversy for a time, firstly for the artwork (a dick) and secondly for the band releasing it themselves for free and consequently being dropped by their record label Epic. I liked this release for the same reasons I liked The Money Store. For me this album was louder than its predecessor, but lacked a cohesiveness which didn't make it as appealing in my view. However it is another example of just how boundary pushing this outfit has been since Exmilitary and I for one cannot wait to see where they take it next.

Favourite track - World of Dogs


15. Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

Bruce is back with a truly inspiring album this year in Wrecking Ball. Telling a variety of moving stories, Bruce seems to really care about what he is singing about on these songs. Some lyrics may refer to the declining of the world economy and the backlash of that on some of America's most traditional industries. I've never been a huge Springsteen fan, I only really enjoy the hits and a couple of early albums. This is my favourite Bruce Springsteen album and I can say that with confidence. After listening to this I felt incredibly emotional and reflective about the world and when an album can leave you in a state like that, you know it's a good one. Like Dylan, it seems Bruce still has the stamina to tour and record new music to a very high degree and that's great to see.

Favourite track - Shackled and Drawn


14. BADBADNOTGOOD - BBNG2

BBNG2 is an album that takes many listens to fully appreciate, but when it hits you, this band can really give you something to remember. Basically, the album is a collection of reinterpreted songs from a variety of different artists, many of them hip hop. BBNG cover Tyler, The Creator, Kanye West and even James Blake on this hugely inventive album. The band uses a jazz influence to rework the songs and give them a whole new flavour and feel. I really liked the energy these songs displayed,  never providing a dull moment and taking you into musical bliss for many moments. I certainly think this is a nice step up from the band's first effort and I can't wait to see where they go next.

Favourite track - You Made Me Realise (Feat. Luan Phung)


13. Portico Quartet - Portico Quartet

I only ended up listening to this album after watching Anthony Fantano put it in his top 10 on The Needle Drop. I am so glad I did. The band's sound is made particularly distinctive by the use of a Hang, a 21st century percussion instrument. This sound is intricately beautiful and the arrangements on this album are nothing short of dreamy. The album really transports you to another world and just when you find yourself getting short of things to listen out for, the band will throw in another interesting musical twist. The female vocals on songs like 'Steepless' perfectly compliment the blissful music and provides some really emotional moments on the album. Overall, there is no weak spots on this and I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Check it out.

Favourite track -Spinner


12. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel...

At number 12 we have Fiona Apple's 2012 release. It is a testament to how great this year has been that Fiona has not made the top 10 with this. It is arguably the best singer-songwriter LP of the entire year and almost definitely Fiona's best album to date. In this album she continues to be quite funky and alternative, whilst laying her out her whole emotional repertoire on the table for all to see. She has no shame in telling everybody exactly what is going on in her head with little censorship. The images she conjures up are often violent and aggressive, but also contain a softness and elegance at times which help to give the album a sense of balance. Fiona has shown unlimited potential with this release, any other year it would have easily made the top 10.

Favourite song - Hot Knife


11. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

In my opinion, Channel Orange is an almost perfect R&B album. It has all of the ingredients to be in a lot of peoples top 10's this year. The only reason it is not placed higher on my list is that this isn't typically a genre of music I like listening to. Nonetheless I was really taken by surprise by this album as it seemed to convey amazing versatility and class. Frank's songwriting on this album is magical, putting together some fantastically relatable, heart wrenching lyrics and blending them effortlessly with some beautiful melodies and beats. 'Thinkin Bout You' is a classic opener but the album never seems to lose any momentum, leading on to some huge tracks like 'Pyramids' and 'Bad Religion', my favourite two on the album. Like Fiona Apple, it is hard to exclude this from the top 10 but I have to commend Frank on a really killer album in Channel Orange this year.

Favourite track - Bad Religion


10. Bill Fay - Life Is People

The surprise of the year for me has to go to Bill Fay for returning with his first major album in over 40 years. Not only has he come back, he's put out potentially the best album of his career. Life is People is something truly special, a collection of songs that really touched my soul. As with his first two albums, Bill has always shown himself to be a great lyricist and this album was no exception. Writing with religious themes, he sparks up feelings of awe, wonder and reflection on this album. It feels to me like this might be Bill's final flourish in the music industry and subsequent interviews have pointed to the fact that he does not like being at the center of attention. Whatever the future of Bill Fay, this is one beautiful set of songs that will no doubt leave you thinking heavily about your own future and destiny.

Favourite track - The Healing Day


9. Big K.R.I.T. - 4Eva N A Day

Big K.R.I.T.'s final mixtape before being picked up by Def Jam is my favourite album of his thus far. KRIT is a southern rapper whose 2011 mixtape 'Return of 4Eva' created significant hype in the underground hip hop scene. Although I liked 'Return of 4Eva', it didn't hold my full attention for the whole duration of the album. But when he put out '4Eva N A Day', I realised what a special rapper KRIT was. This is a concept album that takes you through a day in the life of Big K.R.I.T. There are many ebbs and flows, but he rarely seems to fall into any of the hip hop stereotypes which seem to plague the genre's connotations. KRIT is talking about real life on this mixtape, his childhood memories shaping how he perceives the world he lives in today. It is a very honest album as far as hip hop goes and he has me hooked to his story 100% of the time. The lyrics are backed up with some authentic beats and samples that keep the album feeling fresh for the whole duration. Not bad for a free mixtape, eh?

Favourite track - Red Eye


8. The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now

Kristian Matsson has stepped up his game even more this year with the release of 'There's No Leaving Now', an intricate and typically melodic set of songs from this highly proclaimed singer-songwriter from Sweden. I really enjoyed what he did with this album, the songs seem to flow beautifully from one to another to create a really cohesive collection of tracks. Kristian's voice is one of the most emotive and powerful out there today and he puts it to great effect on this, belting out many of the lyrics in ways that only he knows how. The melodies are tuneful and catchy, causing me to constantly want to come back for more. I have listened to this album over 10 times and it still sounds new to me. An album that can withstand the test of time is normally a brilliant one and this is no exception.

Favourite track - Revelation Blues


7. Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

'An Awesome Wave' was indeed, awesome. British band Alt-J put out the debut of the year right here with their Mercury prize winning album. The band are an indie rock quartet that only formed back in 2007. But my god have they matured quickly, this album could have easily been their 5th or 6th with the level of detail they seem to have pursued. After winning the Mercury prize, the band have exploded into popularity, their songs now being played regularly on the radio and used as background tracks for TV shows.The music is intricate and detailed with the vocal harmonies being the stand out for me. The band have shown amazing potential with this release and I really hope they don't fall victim to popularity and being in the mainstream pop scene. My instincts tell me that they won't.

Favourite track - Matilda


6. Killer Mike - R.A.P Music

This year was a great year for hip hop, as you can see by my list. But I think beyond all others, Killer Mike's 'R.A.P Music' surprised me the most. Teaming up with El-P, he takes the listener on a journey of excitement and anticipation. Listening to this, every track I heard had me wanting to hear the next one. I guess it has something to do with Killer Mike's forceful method of rapping and his ability to be relentlessly in your face on every track. It is clear though that El-P had a strong influence on this album's production, helping it to sound impeccably and meticulously perfected. The production makes it accessible to the core hip hop fan like me, instead of sounding too abrasive and gritty to appreciate. Mike's lyrics are greatly varied. He raps a lot about his hometown Atlanta and what it means to him, but expands his ideology far beyond that on songs like Reagan, telling everybody what he thinks about the Ronald Reagan administration and the war on drugs. Songs like this add a great depth to the album.

Favourite track - Reagan


5. Beach House - Bloom

Bloom is the fourth studio album from the dream pop outfit, Beach House, who have consistently put out very solid LP's for many years. With 'Bloom', I think Beach House have made another very solid album but have also taken there game to another level. In many ways it is similar to their previous album, 'Teen Dream', but I don't think that is in any way a bad thing. Dream pop is a very liberal genre and I think Beach House can get away with putting out albums that sound similar as long it is still A grade material. The songs on Bloom are hugely enjoyable to listen to and have a certain sense of mystique about them. The melodies are catchy enough to get stuck in your head yet there is no shallowness to their production. The album flows nicely from beginning to end and for me the time seemed to fly by listening to this. Many people will see this as Beach House staying in their comfort zone and while I'd have to agree, I think they've taken a winning formula and refined it to the nth degree.

Favourite track - The Hours


4. Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid M.A.A.D City

Kendrick Lamar is on top form. Any other year I probably would have given this album at least a top 2 place on the list. This was also potentially the most hyped up album of the year after the release of last year's 'Section 80'. Kendrick had a lot to live up to and man, he delivered. GKMC is bound together by most probably the best concept of any album I have heard this year. Without this concept, the album would not have worked nearly as well as it did. He tells the heartfelt story of his upbringing in Compton and how much he was molded by his experiences there with the people he grew up with. The album flows from moments of care free jubilation and freestyling, to thoughtful reflection on time spent with his 'homies', to destructive feelings of angst and unresolved issues. This album has everything a true hip hop fan could want and is about as personal as physically possible for a man of Kendrick Lamar's age. I hope Kendrick can further develop on his sound and style in the future and take hip hop into uncharted territory in the coming years.

Favourite track - The Art of Peer Pressure


3. Bob Dylan - Tempest

Dylan is always full of surprises, but even at 72, it seems he was still able to come up with the goods on Tempest. His final album? That remains to be seen, but reflecting on this album it is clear that Dylan's God given talent to tell a great story is still as present as ever. Tempest is wonderful, but I think it's some shining moments and tracks that really makes this album worthy of a top 3 spot on my list. Firstly the title track, a 14 minute epic about the sinking of the Titanic. The song reminds me of 'Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands', with a strong repeated rhythm and long verse structure. This song is beautifully constructed and the lyrics tell the story form the point of view of the watchman, who 'dreamed the titanic was sinking'. 'Tin Angel' and 'Scarlet Town' are stuffed full of dark and emotive imagery that sends chills down my spine. Then to conclude of course, there is 'Role on John', a homage to Dylan's old friend John Lennon. The album is sensational and to top it off I think Bob's voice is finally back in a better place on this.

Favourite track - Tempest

2. Swans - The Seer

At number 2 on my list is one of those life changing albums. One of those that you listen to and it changes your perception of the world in some way. Swans is the brainchild of Micheal Gira, who formed the band back in the 80's and released many influential albums under it's name, before closing the band down in 1997. They reformed in 2010 after several other musical projects and now we have The Seer, a mind bending, dream twisting, roller coaster ride through the chasms of hell. Listening to 'The Seer' is well and truly like being in Gira's mind and being able to explore at your own pace. The album is 2 hours long and not for the weak hearted. It will also take a few listens to fully understand as there is just so much to take in, so be prepared to put in some serious time if you are wanting to get the best out of The Seer. It is clear that this is everything Micheal Gira has ever been working towards and an album Swans can look back at with a lot of pride. I don't need to say much more, just listen to it.

Favourite track - The Seer


1. Death Grips - The Money Store

My number one album of 2012 goes to Death Grips' The Money Store, an album which I hope people will look back on in 20 years as a genre defining hip hop album. After the buzz surrounding Exmilitary last year, Death Grips silenced all of their critics with this truly mind blowing release and showed that they have the ability to produce a great album as well as just make the body pummeling music they are famous for. The Money Store is the complete package for me. It boasts some of the most amazing beats and sampling I have heard on any album, relentless energy and attitude throughout, aggressive but also thought provoking lyrics (if you actually read them) and a vocal performance from MC Ride that will keep you engaged for the whole album and beyond. For a debut studio album this is as good as it gets and I think it topped Exmilitary by a big margin, which is a feat in itself. I seriously think Zach Hill, MC Ride and Flatlander can take Death Grips and experimental hip hop in even more exciting directions in the future and that is a truly exciting prospect for fans like me.

Favourite track - The Fever (Aye Aye)



Hope you liked the list, leave me a comment or subscribe, it would mean a lot! Thanks!

My Top 10 Albums of 2012

Check out my latest YouTube video counting down my 10 favourite albums of 2012! In a coming post I will analyse these albums in a bit more depth and expand it to my top 20 albums of the year.

Introduction

Hi There!

This is my first blog post using Blogger, I thought it was about time to get myself a blog that will actually be suited to what I want to post. Previously I have been using Tumblr and noticed that most people on there use it as a microblog, posting quotes and pictures, whereas I was posting longer pieces that weren't particularly well suited to the Tumblr community. I think I will keep my Tumblr account and use it for more spontaneous posts, whilst using this one for longer dedicated pieces. But I will try to post everything on here as well.

My Tumblr blog: http://dylan-quotes.tumblr.com/

Basically I am an avid music fan and vinyl collector. Since the beginning of 2011 I have been involved in the 'vinyl community' on YouTube, a group of committed record collectors who have remained loyal to the vinyl format for listening to music. It started out as just a few guys but has grown into a truly international community of hundreds of people that buy and collect vinyl records. They then make videos showing viewers what they have bought and talking about the music they are interested in. There are also regular 'threads' designed to share thoughts on anything and everything music related. This community has helped me greatly to discover and learn about the endless world of music and all that it entails. I have made many friends through it too from all around the world. I am still making videos but on a much less regular basis than I did in 2011 due to university, but would still appreciate you checking out and maybe subscribing to my channel.

My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrDylanRecords?feature=mhee

As you can probably tell by my blog's name, I am also a huge Bob Dylan fan. His music inspired me to make my YouTube channel in the first place and he continues to be a huge part of my life. So expect a lot of Dylan related content from this blog, among all the other music I am interested in. My taste is greatly more expansive than it was a couple of years ago and now I will listen to anything from hip hop to metal to folk, so don't be put off if you're not a Dylan fan.

Finally if you want to follow me on twitter then feel free, I'm always up for a chat about pretty much anything under the sun.

My Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/Balzo93

Thanks for reading!