Top 10 Recent Bits on DiS (for those not on our mailing list)

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D R O W N E D
I N _ S O U N D
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Hello,

We've been rather busy and forgotten to update you all with what's on the site. Here is our current top 10 things to see/do/read/share...

1. THE DEAD WEATHER live!
On the frontpage http://drownedinsound.com/ tonight you can watch Jack White and Alison Mosshart's new band The Dead Weather live From the Basement. In the lead up to the show you can see the best of the sessions they've done so far.

2. NIGEL GODRICH
DiS had a natter with Radiohead's legendary producer, who's also the man behind From The Basement.http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137177-from-the-basement-on-a-television--dis-talks-to-nigel-godrich

3. GLASTONBURY
Last week we had a special Glastonbury preview week, where, amongst other things we made a gigantic selection of mixtapes/Spotify playlists, spoke to some of the bands playing and cherry-picked the must-see acts.

Find all of our Glastonbury coverage here:http://drownedinsound.com/lists/glastonbury . Also if you'd like to follow our coverage of the festival over the weekend, follow our DiS-at-large Twitter http://twitter.com/drownedin

4. What's the best cover version of all-time?
A huge thread with audio playlists and lots of suggestions. Join in and let us know which your favourite cover is:http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4186407

5. MANIC STREET PREACHERS
In an epic three-part interview, Nicky Wire told DiS all about their album-of-the-year-contender Journal for Plague Lovers. He talked openly about everything from working with Albini to his love of The Horrors to putting music to Richey's words. He even talked about Richey Edwards, the man behind the myth and much much more http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137098

6. MARS VOLTA
Are they? Aren't they? At the Drive-In getting back together that is. DiS asked the question and got a better answer than we could have dream of http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137051

7. SUNSET RUBDOWN score 10/10!?
Alexander Tudor courts controversy with this 10/10 (in his opinion) review http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14463/reviews/4137069

8. FRIENDLY FIRES
Played a gig in the dark. DiS has a chat with them about ithttp://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137096 - check back later this week for a special video interview and night-vision footage from the Pitch Black gig.

9. FUTURE OF THE LEFT
Andy Falkous is a heroic ranter and amongst the former-Mclusky man's bile, there's an awful lot of sensehttp://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137105

10. MONTH IN RECORDS... Best of May
The Field, The Horrors, St Vincent, Phoenix, Sunn0))) and Manic Street Preachers make our best of the monthhttp://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137002

And that's not all, we have...
- Photos of the Pixies, The Horrors, The Gossip, Doves...
- Interviews with Yo La Tengo, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Speech Debelle...
- News on the reformation of Hole, Iranian punk-rock, ATP 10th Anniversary...
- Community discussions about the worst band in the UK, Little Boots album dropping from 5 to 40, last.fm, Spotify, whether Twitter is killing journalism...
...and lots lots more.

Until next week, keep on the green grass to avoid the mud

DiS xo - http://drownedinsound.com

Rough Trade People's Voice Prize - Press release

Rough Trade People's Voice Prize, powered by DrownedinSound.com.

Two of independent music's most authoritative voices have combined forces to create a new People's Voice award to highlight the year's best independent releases.

The top 50 albums of the year have been nominated by Rough Trade staff, and now readers of Drowned in Sound have been asked to pick their favourite three records. The list includes the likes of TV on the Radio, Crystal Castles, Vampire Weekend, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Friendly Fires, Kings of Leon, Portishead, Foals and Last Shadow Puppets. The award also provides a platform for releases you might not have discovered (yet) like Fuck Buttons, Vivian Girls, Zombie Zombie, Johnny Flynn, Crystal Stilts...

From today, and for the next month, music fans can vote for their favourite three albums and one lucky winner will also win all 50 albums. The record which receives the most votes will be announced on December 17th. The band behind the winning album will receive £1000 worth of Rough Trade shops vouchers and DiS will reveal what they'll spend their winnings on.

For the full list of nominees and to vote click here http://drownedinsound.com/rt50 . For queries regarding the award or about DiS contact sean@drownedinsound.com

For more details regarding special in store events and to purchase all of the nominated albums visit roughtrade.com or contact press@roughtrade.com

Best Albums of 2008 (getting it out of the way early to avoid the rush)

Apparently it's not too early, my ol' mucker Mike Diver has already done his over on his blog. As there's little left to be released this year and as I'm bound to be asked what mine are about 20 times in the next few weeks (and give out a different list and have them in varying orders whenever asked) here're the albums I've not been able to get enough of this year...


1. Cut Copy In Ghost Colours (Modular)
I've been utterly addicted to this mongoloid-space-monkey-disco album all year. (My Review)

2. Crystal Castles Crystal Castles (Last Gang)
I struggle to think of a record that sounds quite so refreshingly inventive for quite some time. Can totally believe Alice was frustrated being in a hardcore band and I won't be shocked if they implode before making another album.

3. The Stills Oceans Will Rise (Arts & Crafts)
I was obsessed with their debut and loved the follow-up so much that I released it. This record is a step above and beyond the previous two, it still has shimmering guitars and a definite brood to it but there's something perfectly sinister about the way the melodies stalk you for days after listening to it.

4. These New Puritans Beat Pyramid
5. Friendly Fires Friendly Fires
6. M83 Saturday = Youth
7. The Kills Midnight Boom
8. Youthmovies Good Nature (which, er, came out on my label and there are plenty left in the shops)
9. Panic at the Disco Pretty. Odd.
10. Nine in Nails Ghosts I-IV (available here for free)


Other notable goodness included newies from: Lykke Li (lacks any genuine sparkle), Santogold (bit over affected), Hauschka (really lush but gets a little dull), The Raveonettes (not quite as good as The Kills), Cathy Davey (breaks its promises), Gemma Hayes (little beyond her great voice and some nice hooks), Martha Wainwright (out via my label), Rolo Tomassi (haven't managed to listen to the whole album), Foals (runs outta steam), TV on the Radio (not as addictive as previous albums), No Age (not a patch on the last one), Deerhunter (ditto), Errors (being better than Foals doesn't make you the best band ever), Bon Iver (got a little dull when the addiction to 'Skinny Love' wore off), White Williams (probably would have been better as a covers album), Chairlift (lacks any life-affirming personality), Dandy Warhols (nice try at inventing stoner-disco), El Guincho (rarely play more than the first three tracks), Death Cab for Cutie (something a bit cringey about it), Olafur Arnalds (haven't had it long enough for it to make the 10), and other stuffs thati'veprobablyforgotten...

And whilst we're being premature here're some of my tips for 2009: Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man., Catherine A.D., Baddies, Gentle Friendly, Sudden Weather Change...