2012: TOP TEN ALBUMS

By now you’ve probably read a fair few end of year pieces reflecting what has been a particularly fast-moving year musically speaking. I cannot possibly claim to round up everything that went down this year, so instead I here present 2012 through my own narrow lens, starting with a rundown of the year’s top ten albums. 

#10: 2:54 – 2:54

Earthy, murky, relentless.

#9: School Of Seven Bells – Ghostory

Soaring, mellow, intricate.

#8: Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood of Colour

Powerful, thought-provoking, DROPS.

#7: Lucy Rose – Like I Used To

Raw, introspective, BEATS.

#6: Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon

Mature, amorous, triumphant.

#5: Jessie Ware – Devotion

Sultry, old-school, irresistible.

#4: Alt-J – An Awesome Wave

Addictive, ingenious, daring. 

#3: The Killers – Battle Born

Expansive, revitalised, nostalgic.

#2: Lone Wolf – The Lovers

Hazy, DIY, personal.

#1: Muse – The 2^nd Law

Indefatigable, intimate, pompous.

LIVE: LUCY ROSE @ THE TEMPLE, HMV INSTITUTE 26/10/12

Off the back of the release of debut album Like I Used To, Lucy Rose has embarked on a lengthy UK tour to sing some songs and sell her wares (the Lucy Rose tea and jam is particularly popular). On this chilly night in Birmingham, Pete Roe opened and tried to warm the crowd’s hearts with his pleasant voice and acoustic guitar. You can see why he has been picked to support Rose; he fits a similar musical mould to her, delivering heartfelt vocals accompanied by intricate folk melodies.

Roe set the stage perfectly for Rose, who shuffled into the limelight rather shyly, picking up her guitar and starting the first song without ceremony. It is this unassuming, down-to-earth personality which makes Rose such a well-loved artist right now, as well as the strength of her work. There is a mutual gratification at work throughout the gig; Rose is simply thrilled to be playing to a full crowd, and the crowd reflect her own warmth back at her in abundance. This atmosphere elevates the songs to a new level, buoyed along by a buoyant crowd. Single ‘Middle of the Bed’ gets a raucous reception and an impressive sing-along, while ‘Bikes’ provides a goose-bumps moment as Rose sings “everybody scream out loud” and the crowd obliges with almost religious fervour.

It would not do to pick out a single highlight, as there was not a weak moment to be seen. ‘Shiver’ was as utterly heart-breaking live as it is on record, ‘Watch Over’ just as bouncy and full of life. An encore performance of ‘Don’t You Worry’ capped off a terrific set which showed all the promise seen on Like I Used To and transformed it into full-blown success. Even with all the superlatives thrown her way, Lucy Rose still has her feet firmly on the ground, still selling her own merchandise and talking to fans after the gig. It is clear, through both her talent and humility, that she deserves all the superlatives she gets. 

ALBUM: LUCY ROSE - LIKE I USED TO

Lucy Rose has spent most of the last year touring with good pals Bombay Bicycle Club, and now she takes centre-stage with the long-awaited release of her debut album Like I Used To. The beginning of the record is familiar to those who have been following Rose’s progress; the first three tracks have gone ahead of the album as successful singles. ‘Red Face’ is a strong opener with its well-paced build up to a pleasantly chaotic crescendo and ‘Middle Of The Bed’ is defiant and irresistible. ‘Lines’ introduces the innovative rhythms that permeate this offering; it snakes in and out of several time signatures yet never once feels disjointed.

A solid start is built on by ‘Shiver’, arguably the high point of Like I Used To. The raw minimalism of a lone acoustic guitar and Rose’s heart-breaking vocals would touch the nerve of even the most hardened listeners; the simplicity of it is stunning. ‘Night Bus’, in contrast, has a much more upbeat and triumphant tone; it’s the kind of song you wish was a person so you could give it a big hug. ‘Bikes’ is much in the same vein, and includes a plea for people to “Listen up, listen here, everybody scream out loud” which no doubt will be answered in a live setting. Elsewhere, ‘Watch Over’ is filled with afrobeat influences, perhaps a happy side-effect of hanging out with Bombay Bicycle Club.

Sadly though, all good things must come to an end and the close of Like I Used To falls away into mediocrity. There is no discernible change in what we are hearing; it just seems that by the time we get to ‘Don’t You Worry’ and ‘First’, Rose has run out of steam. ‘Be Alright’ is pleasant enough but falls flat as an album closer, leaving an initial sense of disappointment. However this disappointment must be rationalised and a flat ending does not erase the brilliance that came before it. Like I Used To has been a long time coming, and bar a few hiccups it exemplifies everything that makes Lucy Rose such an intriguing prospect. 

8/10

Listen and buy here

NEW MUSIC: BIFFY CLYRO, LUCY ROSE

Zane Lowe had first plays of both Biffy Clyro's 'Stingin' Belle' and Lucy Rose's 'Bikes' tonight (31/07/12) on BBC Radio 1. I made notes while I listened because a new Biffy single is a big event and note-taking is very important. Here are those notes:

• heavy yet triumphant, much like 'The Captain'
• trademark blunt Biffy lyrics
• is that a bagpipes solo?

Simon Neill also dropped the name of the double album out in the near future, entitled Opposites. On the evidence of 'Stingin' Belle' we will not be disappointed.


I didn't take notes during 'Bikes' because I was too busy basking in the loveliness that is Lucy Rose. 'Bikes' has everything we have come to expect from her work: beautiful lyrics and vocals and compelling acoustic guitar work. Her debut album Like I Used To drops on 24th September. 


Biffy Clyro
Lucy Rose