Best Album

Juana Molina: Un Dia
Domino

Never easy to call a favourite album from an entire year, but even with honourable mentions to the Silver Jews, All The Saints and Lambchop, I would have to nominate Juana Molina’s Un Día, for its inventiveness and depth.

Although Molina is ploughing the similar furrows as she has on previous releases, rarely has she sounded so vital, otherworldly but yet accessible as she does on the opening track. The pace may slow down from there, but the hypnotic cocoon of vocals and instrumentation continue to pile on top of each other without ever taking a misstep. Immediacy and repeat value come together very, very well.




Best Concert

Silver Jews / Monotonix
ULU
29 May

For gig of the year, I’d have to plump for the Silver Jews at ULU in May. Supported by Monotonix, who thunderously shattered any expectations that Dave Berman might go for a support act in an accompanying style.

Setting up in the crowd, they stole beer, spat it back at the owners, mooned the crowd with great enthusiasm and scaled the balconies for a little climbing practice without diminishing some super-charged garage straight out of the Stooges’ playbook.

Following a set like that is a big ask, but the Silver Jews are on a roll and got straight into it. Incorporating some members of Lambchop, they rolled through material that spanned the last 15 years with the freshness of an outfit yet to be jaded by touring, which is about what they are.

Pure class, and an effortless melding of the emotive and the intellectual.

Photo of Silver Jews: Shot2Bits.net