Gordon's Albums of the year

A new year is about to begin so here at Middleboop we’re all selecting our favourite albums from the last year. Hope you enjoy them

Mogwai- The Hawk is Howling
Middle Boop favorites Mogwai have done it again. A brilliant album featuring tracks that are a lot longer and more stripped down than Mr Beast. Took me a while to get into as every album does but now that it's hit me I think its amazing. Especially 'I Love You, I’m Going To Blow Up Your School' and the epic finale 'The Precipice.'

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Ingenious Avante-Garde pop, dance, whatever.
This album is their biggest to date and has some really amazing tracks on. With a show at the Koko just sold out and a date at the Forum on the way, Animal Collective are starting to get
recognized for the geniuses they are.

Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover
The first release from the Canadian outfit is pure brilliance.
Made up of people from ... and Wolf Parade they seem to have incorporated the best bits from other bands to create some really interesting, catchy music. Check out Winged/Wicked things.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig !!! Lazarus Dig !!!
From start to finish this album features so many delights this could easily be
one of his best albums to date. This album tells many stories, with the big opener
Dig !!! Lazarus Dig !!!, to the more mellon collie, 'More News From Nowhere.' There simply is not a track to skip. I haven't stopped listening to it yet.

Sigur Rós - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
A much more upbeat approach from the Icelandic band. The only let down was the artwork which I felt could have been more exciting as their earlier albums. That said, the music is stunning and is only consolidating their status as one of the most breathtaking contemporary bands.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
The man just does not stop creating awesome music. Real Emotional trash has some real gems on and although certainly has the Pavement ethics Malkmus shows a different to his music. This album was stuck in my car for months. Check Hopscotch Willie.

Cinematic Orchestra - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
absolutley breathtaking music from start to finish. My only wish is that I was actually there for the gig.
Amazing on cd, something else live.

Errors - It's Not Something But It Is Like Whatever
These guys crop up quite a bit on our blog and rightfully so. They have a great mix of influences ranging from Justice to Explosions in the Sky. Creating a really cool sound. A band on the up for 2009.

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Bridging the gap between Electro Indie and the pop charts. These guys were the soundtrack to a lot of peoples summers and have got bigger than probably they even imagined in such a short time.

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
What can be said about Fleet Foxes that hasn't been said before? They need no introduction.
Pick up any music magazine and you will find their album reviewed as one of the years greatest and rightfully so. You can listen to the album over and over without getting tired. In the little time they have been around they have done amazingly well.