The idea is for a journal for every month listing new albums I listen to and what I think so that when I review the year's music in December, I will have a handy reminder. I will add to this as the month goes on. Suggestions welcome.

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Play the radio: My Gang Featured Albums 11 http://static.last.fm/matt/tinyradio.gif

January | February

2011 Year-end list contenders

w/c Mon 28 February:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PaYpKtniL._AA115_.jpg Ron Sexsmith - Long Player Late Bloomer
The Canadian singer-songwriter teams with producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Motley Crue) for his 11th LP.
We7 | Spotify | mflow | MySpace

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31sU0TqWX5L._AA115_.jpg The…

Track: Get Some [ Soundcloud | Download mp3 ]
Artist: Lykke Li
Album: Wounded Rhymes
(Atlantic, 28 Feb 2011) [ Hype Machine ]
Tags: indie pop, electronic, dance, drums, my gang rotw
Video: Click the pic…

http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/-TTPGAy5H_E/hqdefault.jpg YouTube, official video

http://content.warnerartists.com/lykkeli/images/ll_new_page_10.jpg(Source: Official site)

A dramatic single from the extraordinary new album from Lykke Li (pronounced: lickey lee), streaming exclusively at Hype Machine this week.

It features tribal drums and surfer guitars with Lykke Li's vocals dominating over the top. It's a come hither, to put it mildly, and is meant to be played loud. It was…

Track: Lightbulbs [ Soundcloud | Hypem ]
Artist: Ben Ottewell
Album: Shapes And Shadows
(Eat Sleep Records, 7 Feb 11) [ We7 | Spotify | mflow ]
Tags: folk rock, acoustic, americana, my gang rotw
Video: Click the pic…

http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/a-lzRNnzVy4/default.jpg YouTube, audio upload

My recommendation this week isn't as obscure as it looks. Ben Ottewell is one of the vocalists with Gomez, he's the gravel-voiced one. The band are still together, this is his solo debut, five years in the making. The track I have chosen is the lead single, Lightbulbs.

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/58377033/Ben+Ottewell+ben_ottewell.jpg

Again, I have…

Track: Summer Of All Dead Souls [ Soundcloud full stream ]
Artist: ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Album: Tao Of The Dead (Superball Music, 7 Feb 11) [ We7 | Spotify | mflow ]
Tags: post-rock, art rock, my gang rotw
Video: Click the pic…

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/4Ik5V6_8QC4/default.jpg YouTube, audio upload

I think the Trail of Dead boys have given us the best album of their career. As much loved and wroughtly worked previous albums were, this one, which was pulled together in next to no time, has all the magic.

For me, the magic…

2011 top albums:
http://lastfm.dontdrinkandroot.net/tools/user/albumcloud/babs_05/12month_thumb.png

Don't want to miss any come December and I'm trying to figure this out!

Work in progress…. (obviously)…

January

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5103rbZqv%2BL._AA115_.jpg Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi
We7 | Spotify | MySpace

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61M9coQ6n4L._AA115_.jpg Abigail Washburn - City of Refuge
We7 | Spotify | MySpace

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LmcGyjPUL._AA115_.jpg Wire - Red Barked Tree
We7 | Spotify | MySpace

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61hpwxfB9zL._AA115_.jpg Gregg Allman - Low Country Blues
We7 | Spotify | MySpace

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51vD3EjYSuL._AA115_.jpg Madison - Noise Some People Make
We7 | Spotify | MySpace

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BlrV39zvL._AA115_.jpg Joan As Police Woman - The Deep Field
We7 | Spotify | MySpace

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415fBd0kruL._AA115_.jpg Dolorean - The Unfazed…

Track: The Girl With The Sun In Her Hair (1967)
Artist: John Barry [ Spotify | We7 | mflow ]
Album: The Music Of John Barry (Columbia, 1976)
Tags: 60s, orchestral, my gang rotw
Video: Click the pic…

http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/J3LopRkEPOI/default.jpg YouTube, audio upload

How do I pick just one track for my tribute? This is an impossible task. With my Dad a massive fan of James Bond movies (Sean Connery) to the extent they influenced his wardrobe and haircuts, I was weaned on the music of John Barry. Me and everyone else - Guardian tribute

http://www.bfi.org.uk/filmtvinfo/library/eventsexh/images/bond-drno.jpg
(Source: BFI)

John…

The idea is for a journal for every month listing new albums I listen to and what I think so that when I review the year's music in December, I will have a handy reminder. I will add to this as the month goes on. Suggestions welcome.

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Play the radio: My Gang Featured Albums 11 http://static.last.fm/matt/tinyradio.gif

January

2011 Year-end list contenders

w/c Mon 31 January:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-y2AnGg8L._AA115_.jpg Bobby Long - A Winter Tale
After a big break from the 'Twilight' soundtrack, the British singer-songwriter releases his first official studio LP. (Spinner) Soothing. No loud, unexpected noises. Good, because I have…

Track: My House [ Hype Machine ]
Artist: Hercules and Love Affair
Album: Blue Songs (Moshi Moshi, 31 Jan 11) [Full stream: The Guardian]
Tags: 90s, house, dance, my gang rotw
Video: Click the pic…

http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/9wjc7-s1o2Q/default.jpg YouTube, official video

I saw this video the day The Guardian posted it on 5th January and ran away, sharpish. I hated it. Good tune, though.

There isn't anything much lyrically in 'My House', it's all in the energy and the beat. If you like dance music, this is incredibly addictive.

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/55114937/Hercules+and+Love+Affair.png

However, I wasn't expecting anything quite so faithful to…

Track: Someone Like You
Artist: Adele
Album: 21 (XL 24 Jan 2011 (UK) 22 Feb (US))
Tags: blue eyed soul, ballad, my gang rotw
Video: Click the pic…

http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/s_Zs7XS3XUo/default.jpg YouTube, (on 'Later Live with Jools Holland') - Nov 2010

Something leftfield for me. I wasn't a fan of Adele's first album, 19, and I couldn't stand Chasing Pavements, though I liked the video. As a general rule, I try to steer clear of Brit School kids and I wasn't sure at all about her winning a Brit award in 2008 before her debut was even…

Work in progress, I'll add to this as I go along. Assistance welcome!

Radio stations that scrobble to their profiles as they broadcast:

Profile: absoluteradio
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Profile: absolute80s
Profile: absoluterad90s
Profile: absoluterad00s
Profile: absoluteclassic (classic rock)
Group: Absolute Radio

Profile: bbc6music (BBC digital radio station)
Group: 6 Music Listeners / 6music

Profile: bbc1xtra (BBC digital radio station)
Profile: bbcradio1 (BBC FM and digital radio station)
Profile: bbcradio2 (BBC FM and digital radio station)
Build : BBC Radio Player widget (Scrobble BBC Radio 1, 6 Music and 1Xtra)

Profile: BlueHeronRadio (Japanese Music: Traditional, Contemporary, and Soundtracks.)

Profile: ChillDAB…