I’ve never really had a best movies of the year list before, because I’ve never really felt that into film – but now winds have changed. You lucky people! I can’t imagine the baited breath that’s been building up.
I am not judging on artistic expertise or anything – just the films I’ve enjoyed the most this year – and those I recommend you check out if you’ve not seen them. The Imposter is an absolute must (and don’t read up on it before hand – the less you know the better.
21 Jump Street
Who’d have thought Channing Tatum could lead a good movie
The Imposter
DO NOT WATCH THE TRAILER
The Muppets
Amy Adams, Jason Segal, Kermit – what could go wrong? (Gervais)
In Darkness
Intense Polish holocaust gaspathon
Carnage
Four people arguing in a room
The Perks of Being A Wallflower
Cutting yourself while listening to The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Michael
Awesome trailer
Skyfall
I’m not a Bond-y but this was big screen wowza
Detachment
Nose of Brody, tears of Kraines
Argo
I possibly enjoyed the trailer more than the film.
And the best non 2012 films I watched this year
Midnight Cowboy
The Departed
Bicycle Thieves
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Thief
Hugo
You can keep track of my film watching skills here at Listal.
I just had an email alert telling me that Ciara was playing a tiny coffee shop in Earls Court. I think not. Upon checking it turns out it’s a girl called Ciara Aaron. I know nothing about her other than she has 126 fans on facebook and last posted a song on Soundcloud a year ago. She is not exactly primed for the Sound of 2013 list.
Yesterday I was struggling to complete my Sound of 2013 votes for the BBC. Some years it’s really clear who I believe will be big next year, but there hasn’t be a huge amount of stuff coming through to my ears of late save for the obvious stuff that’s been specifically set up and held back just to get on the 2013 poll (see A*M*E, Haim, Willy Moon) which is a bit dull.
As I was about to submit my 3, one of Radio 1′s music team posted this gem as his top choice. It’s a band called Clean Bandit and this is the absolutely incredible A&E. There’s soul, classical violins, trippy vocals, garage vibes, everything you need for a smash. Released through the fresh talenthouse that is Black Butter Records, it appears that the band are the instrumentalists and they’re working with a variety of vocalists on their material. This time round we’re listening to the really cool sounds of Kandaka Moore & Nikki Marshall.
I’m off to listen to Goldust and Sweet Like Chocolate now.
I don’t really know much Bauhaus, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and all the artists that have real life influenced Gabriel Bruce – so instead my reference point for this song is The Divine Comedy. as Gabriel’s vocals just give me that hint of Hannon. He’s 22, signed to Mercury, managed by the team behind Florence and has a ridiculously deep voice.
If he doesn’t make it as a pop star I would like to hear him read an audio tape of Victorian horror stories.
Just signed to Columbia Records in the UK, Wild Belle are Chicago siblings Natalie and Elliot Bergman.
Natalie looks like she could be an Olson and sings like she’s just waking up from slumber, sounding cute but like she could quite happily shoot you a look that could kill. Everything is a little ska at the moment but lushly so, with tinges of afrobeat and romance. This will sound great at a sunny Glastonbury.
A big voice, lovely hair, well groomed eyebrows and a pop star moniker – we approve of Foxes. Echo is her first single since signing to new Sony imprint ‘Sign of the Times’ earlier in the year. It’s not quite as good as the last one ‘White Coat’ but the booming chorus will certainly sound nice on the radio.
Out November 11, perfectly positioning her in the minds of Sound of 2013 voters. Snooze.
I would like to twirl round and round and round to this in a Horsemeat Disco-esque environment. Written by Solange and Dev Hynes (!!), it’s the first single from her forthcoming third album something 1989 Madonna would have loved a slice of.
Orlando, Ella, Hamish and Elliot sound like the poshest line-up to a band ever. They are Arthur Beatrice – a little XX, a little Wild Beasts, a little all over the place (in a lovely way) but most importantly, are they named after a Golden Girl??
This is their most recent AA release ‘Charity’/ ‘Not Without Thinking’. I love the pureness of Ella’s voice and the combination of wallowing, dark lyrics with some sprightly choruses. Neat.
Rizzle Kicks are undoubtedly the breakthrough act of the last 12 months of UK music and I hope they get rewarded for it when it comes to Brits time.
This isn’t an official single, but the boys have teamed up with an amazing line-up of Pharoahe Monch, Hines, Professor Green, Ed Sheeran, Foreign Beggars Fam & Chali 2NA for the ‘epic’ remix of their charming ‘Dreamers’.
