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Record Sleeve
121. Beirut
The Flying Club Cup
2007
A prodigy obviously able to play every instrument under the sun who makes great use of this ability by recreating folk music of countries he probably only knows from books. Without doubt one of the great hopes for the next decade.
Record Sleeve
122. David Bowie
Low
1977
The best of his electronic based Berlin trilogy. It's the instrumental half that astonishes. Brian Eno's contribution probably being greater than Bowie would admit.
Record Sleeve
123. The Polyphonic Spree
The Beginning Stages Of
2002
Maybe not the most restrained band of all times. Instead more of a 'think positive' campaign transformed into music using the cast of a hippie musical and songs of euphoric joy.
Record Sleeve
124. British Sea Power
Open Season
2005
Maybe a bit too polished and smooth in some parts but such sparkling and melody-soaked guitar lines certainly have not been heard since the Roses mighty debut.
Record Sleeve
125. Sigur Ros
()
2002
A snow covered landscape under a cloudy grey sky. Although the cold wind's blowing in your face you fell a warm glow inside.
Record Sleeve
126. The Doors
The Doors
1967
Charismatic lead singer, Sophisticated lyrics. All well and good, but without that distinctive organ sound they wouldn't have got anywhere.
Record Sleeve
127. Anna Calvi
Anna Calvi
2011
Where other contemporary female artists usually rely on state of the art equipment this young English lady takes it back to basic with not much more than a guitar and a powerful voice. This decade is hers for the taking.
Record Sleeve
128. Mazzy Star
So Tonight That I Might See
1993  Review
Even more in dept to the VU than heir first album it contains more guitar noise and feedback. Yet it's the quiet songs which stand out. That's where all those 'moon on lake' comparisons started.
Record Sleeve
129. Throwing Muses
The Real Ramona
1991  
Although it may contain two or three rougher songs as well, at the core this a real pop album. The band could have ended up as millionaires but sadly they split, thereby allowing much lesser talented bands like L7 and Hole to make all the money.
Record Sleeve
130. Fuck Buttons
Tarot Sport
2009
Comebacks often do not work out that well. Not so in this case where Andrew Weatherall, nearly two decades after the seminal Loaded, again utilised some desultory blokes to create a brilliantly composed piece of instrumental music.
Record Sleeve
131. Morrissey
Viva Hate
1988
Released a mere six months after the last Smiths album this was much better than anyone expected it to be. And even fewer anticipated him still being relevant two decades later.
Record Sleeve
132. Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Rust Never Sleeps
1979
He could have put together a real classic if he had collected those songs on one album that would later comprise the last third of his epic Decade compilation. So instead this inferior but still valuable set of songs must stand as his best work of the 70's .
Record Sleeve
133. Mercury Rev
Yerself Is Steam
1991
Beauty and chaos balanced on a knife edge. Just look at how that flute on the first track works itself through the guitar noise surrounding it to come out as the winner in the end. Alt.country this certainly wasn't.
Record Sleeve
134. Pet Shop Boys
Very
1993   Review
This album sounded rather anachronistic back then but now we know it is perfectly timeless. When they stopped releasing great singles in the mid 90s a vital part of pop music died.
Record Sleeve
135. The Breeders
Last Splash
1993
This was a bit overshadowed by the preceding Pixies split and the almighty "Cannonball" single. But if you give this a try it can be a joy from start to finish.
Record Sleeve
136. Soap & Skin
Narrow
2012
Sadly this was not the long awaited proper sophomore album. But what we got instead was still well worth the wait. A varied mix of material containing one of the best German language songs ever and some hard hitting other stuff as well.
Record Sleeve
137. Coldplay
Parachutes
2000
Before they got big, successful, bland and meaningless. Sparse, quiet songs which stand on their own feet without overblown arrangements. Never marry a Hollywood star.
Record Sleeve
138. Morrissey
Vauxhall And I
1994   Review
If this would have had a 'last great Morrissey album until 2004' sticker on it we surely would have appreciated it more. For some Elvis is the greatest. For some it's Dylan. But they're all wrong.
Record Sleeve
139. Pavement
Slanted And Enchanted
1992  Review
The quintessential Lo-fi band with their lofiest album. One wonders if it is hard work for them to create songs that sound as half finished and fragmented as those featured here.
Record Sleeve
140. Cranes
Loved
1994   Review
Released in the year Britpop broke big this splendid collection of acoustic gothic lullabies was not very well received. But as with impressionistic painting (as seen on the cover) time will finally prove them right.
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