It's Christmas Eve and the snow is falling slowly outside. I'm indoors with a cuppa Yorkshire Tea and the heating on full. I've been wondering about how I'd sum up the last 10 years of music - a lot's changed, both personally and globally, and it seems right to try and make some sense of it. So, here it is: a selection of videos of some of my favourites from the last decade - it's by no means conclusive, concise or scientific. Just a few tracks / albums that have made a big impact on me in the last few years. There's tons more that I love, I've got a list of over a hundred tracks that were significant in one way or another, but I could spend the next decade posting about it. I realise that this is a strange way to blog about stuff - in one long post full of videos, but hey, that's how I roll! You'll also note that there's no First Word stuff on there. There's several tracks that would undoubtedly make my list, but I suppose I'm a bit too biased to really judge that. This is a bit of a one-off - next year the blog will be more focussed on what's going on at First Word, so make sure you check back in 2010. Feel free to comment, disagree, protest etc. Here's to the next 3652 days. Peace (and goodwill), Gilla x
Steve Spacek - Dollar (Prod. J Dilla)
No list would be complete without some Dilla - an incredibly prolific producer sadly taken too soon. Looking at his list of work it's remarkable how much released this decade. Classics such as Fuck The Police, the amazing Four Tet Remix, another Spacek collab with his rework of Eve, and of course the amazing Donuts and Jaylib albums. This track is something else though - taking a Billy Paul sample and creating a piece of future soul music that stops you in your tracks every time. This live version below is killer (even if the video isn't the best).
Burial - Untrue
Not an original choice, but this album is worth the hype. Dubstep had entered my consciousness through Skream's Midnight Request Line, and whilst I enjoyed much of it through a big soundsystem there wasn't much musicality to it. For me Burial isn't really dubstep, well, if the term dubstep didn't exist it'd probably be called cinematic garage or something equally inane. Either way, it's fantastic music that really could only have been made this decade. Hyperdub (Burial's label) are taking the genre into new dimensions, with artists such as Rustie (not actually on the label, but this remix is), Joker, Mark Pritchard and the brilliant Darkstar, whose 'Aidy's Girl's A Computer' is one of my favourites of 2009. The video is for Burial's remix of Jamie Woon, another one to watch next year.
The Cinematic Orchestra ft Roots Manuva - All Things To All Men
Roots Manuva has dominated the decade on the UK rap tip - Witness is still one of the few UK Hip Hop tracks to truly cross over - the show we put on for him at The Warehouse in 2001 is one of the most memorable events I've been involved in. This track with the Cinematic Orchestra is a stand-out - Every Day is one of my favourite albums, and this is the tune I come back to again and again. Apologies for the strange Russian video - for a band with the word cinema in their title, they're strangely lacking in video content. Hmm....
Madvillian - Shadows Of Tomorrow
It's been a funny decade for Madlib, despite creating some of the noughties standout albums, the last few years have been a bit unfocussed for me. There's been a few gems here and there, but the consistency that saw Jaylib, Shades Of Blue, Quasimoto's The Unseen and the Madvillian album has been a hard act to follow. There's new Madvillian stuff in the works, and not a moment too soon. This track defines that period for me - it's worth checking the FlyLo rework too.
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One
Another great album from Erykah - I actually really dug the Worldwide album / EP from 2003, but with this one the stakes were raised. Production from Dilla, Madlib and Sa Ra was incredible and Erykah's never sounded so good. Soldier is probably my favourite track on the album, but this video for Honey is lovingly created (gotta love the Hey Ya! rip in the middle) and has a great message to it too.
Flying Lotus and Andreya Triana - Tea Leaf Dancers
This is a track that is one of the most influential of the last few years and effectively launched two talents that are going to go on to do incredible things. Andryea Triana is releasing her debut album on Ninja Tune next year (you can also check her on First Word releases from kidkanevil and Homecut), and FlyLo's debut came out on Warp earlier this year. This is the track that started it all though - a collaboration at the Red Bull Academy that opened up so much music that has come since. The video isn't official (I don't think) but it's nice enough.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
I don't know much about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I spent most of the last decade getting more into Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk and all that isht. Although I still pick up on good bits outside of that, I don't get the full story as I used to - my days of devouring the NME (and Melody Maker) every week are behind me. This is a stunning song though - and in these Lady Gaga-obsessed times, it's great to see a proper female star. Great video too.
The Arcade Fire - Wake Up
If I was 15, The Arcade Fire would be the most important band in the world. Funeral was an album that re-affirmed my faith in indie-rock. Bold, intelligent, ambitious and heart-felt, here is a band that you can believe in. This performance at Glastonbury is stunning.
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Speaking of bands you can believe in, Radiohead have continued to be such a vital group. Considering that they had their first release in 1992 with indie-anthem Creep, this is even more remarkable. The honesty-box approach of In Rainbows got the headlines, and Kid A has to rate up there as one of the best of the decade. I really enjoyed Thom Yorke's solo project for XL - a beautiful, eerie record that is perhaps overshadowed by the full band's work. The video is actually the track Us Placers - Kanye West, Pharrell and Lupe Fiasco rapping over The Eraser instrumental. I've included this for a couple of reasons - it's a track that really crosses those musical divides that Radiohead have always (well at least in this decade) tried to bridge, and it also has some amusing casting. As you can see, the video features children in the roles of Kanye et al - they're all a pretty good match, except Thom Yorke, who just seems to be the first white kid they could find. I guess after decades of 'you all look the same to me' maybe this is a bit of payback. Made me laugh anyway.
MIA - Kala
Again, not the most original selection, but MIA is another artist that I feel couldn't have existed in any other decade. It's hard to describe MIA, easier to just play the music. Paper Planes (rightly) ruled the airwaves last year, but Bird Flu and Boyz are equally mind blowing in their strangeness.
Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River
Right, I've discarded any attempt at being cool, but I LOVE this song. Gotta be honest right? Pop music's been getting a real kicking lately with the much-hyped Rage vs X Factor shenanigans, but there have been some great pop moments in the last 10 years. Timberlake's first album is a case in point: he had Timbaland and The Neptunes at their peak on production and the tabloid Britney-drama was in full swing. Whilst 'Like I Love You' is probably my favourite (how many chart-toppers have Clipse doing a verse?), this video and track captured the moment. On the subject of Timabaland, I shouldn't forget Missy's 'Get Ya Freak On' - kidkanevil's beat of the decade, which is hard to argue with.
Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River (Official Music Video) - Watch more top selected videos about: Justin_Timberlake
Quantic - Tradition in Translation
Will Holland is an artist that has developed massively over the last decade, creating some of my favourite club tracks of recent times. Albums such as Mishaps Happening, An Announcement To Answer and the brilliant Spanky Wilson collaboration have established him as a fantastic creative force. Now a resident of Cali in Colombia his latest work with his Combo Barrio is outstanding.
Back to the UK for this one - Jehst is, without doubt, my favourite British MC. With more memorable lines in a single verse than most manage in an entire career, Jehst also created one of the few genuinely great albums from the genre. Falling Down crystalised a moment in British music with a precision that no other managed, a moment when we thought our music might cross over into the mainstream. This of course never really happened in the way we imagined it, (although Dizzee Rascal might disagree) but there's still a few dusty gems out there worth preserving.
Jay Electronica - Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)
This popped up right at the end of 2007, and just blew me away. Choosing a beatless 9 minute track (with a spoken intro from Just Blaze and Erykah Badu added on) is a bold way to announce yourself, but Jay is no ordinary guy. He's been strangely quiet since then, apparently Act 2 is out tomorrow (Christmas Day), but whatever he does next will be worth checking.
Roots Manuva has dominated the decade on the UK rap tip - Witness is still one of the few UK Hip Hop tracks to truly cross over - the show we put on for him at The Warehouse in 2001 is one of the most memorable events I've been involved in. This track with the Cinematic Orchestra is a stand-out - Every Day is one of my favourite albums, and this is the tune I come back to again and again. Apologies for the strange Russian video - for a band with the word cinema in their title, they're strangely lacking in video content. Hmm....
Madvillian - Shadows Of Tomorrow
It's been a funny decade for Madlib, despite creating some of the noughties standout albums, the last few years have been a bit unfocussed for me. There's been a few gems here and there, but the consistency that saw Jaylib, Shades Of Blue, Quasimoto's The Unseen and the Madvillian album has been a hard act to follow. There's new Madvillian stuff in the works, and not a moment too soon. This track defines that period for me - it's worth checking the FlyLo rework too.
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One
Another great album from Erykah - I actually really dug the Worldwide album / EP from 2003, but with this one the stakes were raised. Production from Dilla, Madlib and Sa Ra was incredible and Erykah's never sounded so good. Soldier is probably my favourite track on the album, but this video for Honey is lovingly created (gotta love the Hey Ya! rip in the middle) and has a great message to it too.
Flying Lotus and Andreya Triana - Tea Leaf Dancers
This is a track that is one of the most influential of the last few years and effectively launched two talents that are going to go on to do incredible things. Andryea Triana is releasing her debut album on Ninja Tune next year (you can also check her on First Word releases from kidkanevil and Homecut), and FlyLo's debut came out on Warp earlier this year. This is the track that started it all though - a collaboration at the Red Bull Academy that opened up so much music that has come since. The video isn't official (I don't think) but it's nice enough.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
I don't know much about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I spent most of the last decade getting more into Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk and all that isht. Although I still pick up on good bits outside of that, I don't get the full story as I used to - my days of devouring the NME (and Melody Maker) every week are behind me. This is a stunning song though - and in these Lady Gaga-obsessed times, it's great to see a proper female star. Great video too.
The Arcade Fire - Wake Up
If I was 15, The Arcade Fire would be the most important band in the world. Funeral was an album that re-affirmed my faith in indie-rock. Bold, intelligent, ambitious and heart-felt, here is a band that you can believe in. This performance at Glastonbury is stunning.
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Speaking of bands you can believe in, Radiohead have continued to be such a vital group. Considering that they had their first release in 1992 with indie-anthem Creep, this is even more remarkable. The honesty-box approach of In Rainbows got the headlines, and Kid A has to rate up there as one of the best of the decade. I really enjoyed Thom Yorke's solo project for XL - a beautiful, eerie record that is perhaps overshadowed by the full band's work. The video is actually the track Us Placers - Kanye West, Pharrell and Lupe Fiasco rapping over The Eraser instrumental. I've included this for a couple of reasons - it's a track that really crosses those musical divides that Radiohead have always (well at least in this decade) tried to bridge, and it also has some amusing casting. As you can see, the video features children in the roles of Kanye et al - they're all a pretty good match, except Thom Yorke, who just seems to be the first white kid they could find. I guess after decades of 'you all look the same to me' maybe this is a bit of payback. Made me laugh anyway.
MIA - Kala
Again, not the most original selection, but MIA is another artist that I feel couldn't have existed in any other decade. It's hard to describe MIA, easier to just play the music. Paper Planes (rightly) ruled the airwaves last year, but Bird Flu and Boyz are equally mind blowing in their strangeness.
Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River
Right, I've discarded any attempt at being cool, but I LOVE this song. Gotta be honest right? Pop music's been getting a real kicking lately with the much-hyped Rage vs X Factor shenanigans, but there have been some great pop moments in the last 10 years. Timberlake's first album is a case in point: he had Timbaland and The Neptunes at their peak on production and the tabloid Britney-drama was in full swing. Whilst 'Like I Love You' is probably my favourite (how many chart-toppers have Clipse doing a verse?), this video and track captured the moment. On the subject of Timabaland, I shouldn't forget Missy's 'Get Ya Freak On' - kidkanevil's beat of the decade, which is hard to argue with.
Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River (Official Music Video) - Watch more top selected videos about: Justin_Timberlake
Quantic - Tradition in Translation
Will Holland is an artist that has developed massively over the last decade, creating some of my favourite club tracks of recent times. Albums such as Mishaps Happening, An Announcement To Answer and the brilliant Spanky Wilson collaboration have established him as a fantastic creative force. Now a resident of Cali in Colombia his latest work with his Combo Barrio is outstanding.
Tradition in Transition: A Postcard from Cali (TRAILER) from Quantic on Vimeo.
Jehst - Falling DownBack to the UK for this one - Jehst is, without doubt, my favourite British MC. With more memorable lines in a single verse than most manage in an entire career, Jehst also created one of the few genuinely great albums from the genre. Falling Down crystalised a moment in British music with a precision that no other managed, a moment when we thought our music might cross over into the mainstream. This of course never really happened in the way we imagined it, (although Dizzee Rascal might disagree) but there's still a few dusty gems out there worth preserving.
Jay Electronica - Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)
This popped up right at the end of 2007, and just blew me away. Choosing a beatless 9 minute track (with a spoken intro from Just Blaze and Erykah Badu added on) is a bold way to announce yourself, but Jay is no ordinary guy. He's been strangely quiet since then, apparently Act 2 is out tomorrow (Christmas Day), but whatever he does next will be worth checking.
Bugz In The Attic - Booty La La
Ah broken beat, where are you now? There was a period of about a year, back in 2004 / 2005 when we thought broken beat was gonna change music. There'd been a few big club tracks that had appeared, Bugz remixes for 4 Hero, Amy Winehouse and Macy Gray amoung them, as well tracks from pioneers such as Domu, IG Culture and other members of the BITA extended family. Then this P-Funk monster dropped and it suddenly seemed like it really was gonna happen. Then, as is often the way, things fizzled out. But at the back end of 2004, this was the tune. I'd not seen the video before today - it's kinda strange.
Dead Prez - Hip Hop
The big track - a track so firmly part of the culture that I found it hard to believe that it's from this decade. The sound of dozens of gigs at sweaty nightclubs, rowdy dancefloors, buzzing ears and driving home as the sun rises. It's bigger than...
Kanye West - Jesus Walks
I nearly left this out because Kanye seems intent on acting like a complete knob, but this is still a great tune, and from one of my top films of the decade too. Dave Chappelle's Block Party is well worth a watch, as is everything from director Michel Gondry.
Dave Chappelle's Block Party - Kanye - Jesus Walk
Uploaded by eazy3000. - Watch more music videos, in HD!
The XX - The XX
I suppose I should end with something that's really doing it for me right now, and this certainly fits that. The XX album is a thing of beauty: delicate, emotive music that is so brilliantly realised it catches you unawares. The cover of 'You Got The Love' is a perfect marriage of so much that's good about British music in 2009, but there's no video for that, so you get this instead.
