10 for 01... (Top 10 albums of the year 2001)

Name: missbrowneyedgirl

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Product:	Top 10 albums of the year 2001
Date:	22/02/02 (559 review reads)
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...and all but one under £10 too!

I nearly wet myself when I noticed this category. You see it's a combination of two of my favourite pastimes - music and deliberating! You see I'm a Libra, constantly striving for equilibrium, or at least a new CD!

Anyway, back to the task - picking my ten favourite CDs from 2001. From a list of at least 40, I managed to throw some away, as they hadn't been released in 2001. This meant kissing goodbye to Esthero, Jill Scott, Mr Scruff, Red Snapper, Nu Yorican Soul, Lemon Jelly, Kinobe and the Nightmares On Wax amongst others. Of course, I argued with myself about this as they had been my favourite CDs during last year but I had to be ruthless, so here are the best of the rest.


~ 1: Playgroup by Playgroup ~
Released on Source, October 2001

Coming in at number one and rightly so, this is the best album I have heard in a long time. Playgroup's sound can be compared to so many bands but it tops them all! Playgroup is the recording name of producer Trevor Jackson who has worked with U2 and Massive Attack, to name but two, as a designer, producer and all round-one man band!

I came across this album quite by accident. Amazon.co.uk recommended it to me and I thought I'd give a couple of the tracks a chance courtesy of Audiogalaxy. Roughly 30 minutes later I was on my way to HMV to buy the CD! It was so good that I couldn't even wait for the tracks to download - I just had to have it there and then! Jackson's wide range of musical experience is clearly reflected in this outstanding album where every track is a pleasant surprise.

Starting with the 'Daft Punk'esque Number One the album throws only quality at the listener right through to the closing cover version of Paul Simon's 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover. There are no fillers on this album and the styles range from dance to trip hop, dragging rap, funk, reggae, hip-hop and disco along for
the journey!

I really can't recommend this CD enough! If you aren't already convinced try downloading a few of the tracks. You'll soon see the light!

My favourite tracks: Pressure / 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £9.99 at HMV, appropriately as a part of the Best of 2001 promotion
More information: http://www.playgroup.mu/


~ 2: Rooty by Basement Jaxx ~
Released on XL, June 2001

I was dying for this album to come out. Not literally of course but the release of Remedy (1999) knocked my socks off so I was sure this was going to do the same. I wasn't disappointed!

Rooty shows a much funkier and sexier side to Basement Jaxx, if that was possible! I wouldn't say it was better, but I think it's equally as good as Remedy, just in a different way (cue tons of comments from folk that disagree).

You'll have been hard pushed to escape Rooty last year. With the release of the classic Jaxx 'Romeo' featuring Kele le Roc, the beautiful house of 'Jus 1 Kiss' and the funky, punky, shouty 'Where's Your Head At' the charts, airwaves and TV were flooded with Jaxx! And a jolly good show it was too!

There are surprises on this album too. Crazy Girl stands out as something a little different and I'd defy anyone not to smile or shimmy through Do Your Thing. This album is just classic feel-good funky house and it's going to be as relevant in 10 years time as it is now. A real classic.

My favourite tracks: Broken Dreams / Where's Your Head At / Do Your Thing
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £6.99 at Amazon.co.uk, as a part of the Brits 2002 promotion
More information: http://www.xl-recordings.com , http://www.basementjaxx.co.uk


~ 3: Simple Things by Zero 7 ~
Released on Ultimate Dilemma, May 2001

I must thank Jo Whiley (Radio 1) for this one as I fell in
love with the beautiful 'Destiny' the first time I heard it. It was enough for me to buy the album on the basis of that one track alone. As you can see by its presence here, the rest of the album is brilliant too.

I also saw Zero 7 live at V2001 but I'm not going to say any more. I'll let you read my ops 'Simple things are always the best...' on this album and 'V Good!' on V2001 (Chelmsford). Well I have to try and get more reads somehow!...;)

My favourite tracks: Distractions / This World
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £6.99 at Amazon.co.uk, as a part of the Brits 2002 promotion
More information: http://www.zero7.co.uk


~ 4: Versus by Kings of Convenience ~
Released on Source, October 2001

This is another one that I came across quite by chance. Amazon.co.uk actually recommended the KoC album Quiet Is The New Loud to me. Obviously I downloaded it, and I liked a lot of the tracks but as an album I found it a little too lo-fi or laid back.

Some time later I saw Versus on the featured section in HMV, you know - the bit at the ends of the aisles so to speak. The blurb next to the CD told me that Versus is a remix album of Quiet Is The New Loud.

The Kings of Convenience are Norwegian and hence have attracted fellow Norwegians Royksopp to remix a track, as well as Alfie, Four Tet and Bamboo Soul. Personally I think this is much better that the album in it's original format. It's very laid back and easy going but it has an edge to it.

My favourite tracks: I Don't Know What I Can Save You From (Royksopp Remix) / Failure (Alfie Remix)
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £7.00 at Musica.co.uk
More information: http://source.astralwerks.com/koc/


~ 5: Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub) by Groove Armada ~
Released on Pepper, September 2001

This is another one I was waiting on the edge of my seat for. It
's so exciting when you hear those rumours that one of your favourite artists is releasing a new album, and you spend the following weeks scouring the music press for snippets of information!

Groove Armada earned my respect way back in 1998 with the release of Northern Star. In 1999 they followed this up with the incredible Vertigo and GC(HN) completes the trilogy. There have been other releases - Vertigo Remixes and Back To Mine to name two - but these three are the only 'real' albums in my eyes.

The first track on the album, 'Suntoucher' is an incredible introduction. It's guitar still sends shivers up my spine every time I hear it! You will probably know the releases the ragga influenced Superstylin' was a massive summer hit all over the charts and clubs, and the beautiful My Friend didn't do as well but got a lot of radio airplay.

Overall the album is everything I love about Groove Armada. They have an incredible talent for combining musical styles effortlessly so you end up with a chilled album filled with funk, disco, tribal dance, and all sorts more!

My favourite tracks: My Friend / Suntoucher / Little By Little
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £8.99 at cd-wow.co.uk
More information: http://www.groovearmada.com


~ 6: Discovery by Daft Punk ~
Released on Virgin, March 2001

Again I was desperate for the follow up to 1997s Homework album. I wouldn't say I was disappointed with Discovery as it's a fantastic album but I do think Homework is far superior. The overuse of electric guitar riffs kind of took the shine off it for me.

You'll probably have heard quite a lot of this album as Daft Punk decided to release every track as a single, in order! So far they have released One More Time, Aerodynamic, Digital Love, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger and Crescendolls. Anyway, I'll say no more as I have a whole opinion on this album ou
t there somewhere, titled 'They're Back!'.

My favourite tracks: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger / Short Circuit / Face To Face
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £6.99 at Amazon.co.uk, as a part of the Brits 2002 promotion
More information: www.virginrecords.com/daft_punk/noflash.html , www.daftclub.com (Members only)


~ 7: Space Ibiza Dance 2001 ~
Released on Warner, July 2001

See I'm doing it again! 'Always going on about Ibiza', I hear you mutter. Well, if you're that way inclined then this is the best Ibiza compilation out there. Two CDs, each with a live mix by Space resident DJ Jason Bye, and each with a different theme.

Disc One is phenomenal! Live from the infamous terrace, every single track on this disc will raise the roof. There are no fillers on the CD at all and the only let down in my eyes is the inclusion of Eddy Grant's Electric Avenue. Get over that and you have in your hands the best funky house CD you've heard in ages!

Disc Two is harder and faster and recorded inside the club. Again all of the tracks have earned their place on the CD. I have a whole host of opinions on why I loved the sounds of Ibiza so much but probably the best and most relevant to this CD Is 'Space Cadets!' on Space (Ibiza) in general.

My favourite tracks: You're My Angel - Ron Carroll (Subculture Remix) / Bring it Down - Simpson Tune
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £13.00 at Musica.co.uk
More information: http://www.space-ibiza.com


~ 8: Since I Left You by The Avalanches ~
Released on XL, April, 2001

The Avalanches kicked a storm up the British dance charts with the release of the single Since I Left You early in the year. The Australian mixers are the best in the world, there is no doubt about that in my eyes. Their live sets really have to be seen to be believed. Sampling from such diverse sources as
Hall and Oats and still making it sound fantastic is a very rare skill.

This album has a predominantly dance overture but is incredibly laid back or hyped up in places. Releases also include the outstanding Frontier Psychiatry. I'm not going to say any more about this album as I think you should read Ian Proudfoot's opinion on it. He does it more justice than I can here.

My favourite tracks: Radio, Diners Only
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £6.99 at Amazon.co.uk, as a part of the Brits 2002 promotion
More information: http://www.modularpeople.com/avalanches, http://www.xl-recordings.com


~ 9: Wonderland by The Charlatans ~
Released on MCA, September 2001

Only to hear the beautiful Tim Burgess sing 'Is it in you? I'm a hunk of burning love' is enough for me to put this album in the top 10! The Charlatans have been away since 1999s Us And Us Only and this album makes one hell of a comeback!

The first single Love Is The Key, is in my eyes the only poor track on the album. I'm not sure what it is but there is something about it I don't like. The rest of the album more than makes up for this shortcoming. The second release A Man Needs to Be Told is a lot more indicative of the album.

On the whole, it is typical classic Charlatans and takes the tempo and pitch on a crazy roller coaster ride throughout the tracks.

My favourite tracks: Right On, And If I Fall
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £8.99 at cd-wow.co.uk
More information: http://www.thecharlatans.net


~ 10: A Funk Odyssey by Jamiroquai ~
Released on Sony Soho, September 2001

And last but not least, the cat in the hat, the space cowboy, Mr Jay Kay himself! I haven't just put this in because he's gorgeous. No, indeed this album has 100% bona fide earned its place amongst my top ten. This is Jamiroquai's 5th album and it's a hell of a lot
better than the last three and probably as good as his debut Emergency On Planet Earth.

The album is classic Jamiroquai style funky house typified by the single releases of Little L, You Give Me Something and Love Foolosophy. It's happy, it's funky, it has its tender moments and it will hold your attention right until the very last note. Inevitably the dance mixes are massive in the clubs and deservedly so. However, this is a strictly home-based version. Go mad in your room to it!

My favourite tracks: Feel So Good / Stop Don't Panic
Where to buy it: Best deal at the moment is £6.99 at Amazon.co.uk, as a part of the Brits 2002 promotion
More information: www.jamiroquai.co.uk


~ Joint 11th ~
These are the ones that only just missed out on my top 10 (well, I had to cheat somewhere!):

Hooverphonic - The Magnificent Tree
Supreme Beings Of Leisure - Strange Love Addiction
Stereophonics - Just Enough Education To Perform
Renaissance - Ibiza 2001
The Stanton Warriors - The Stanton Sessions
Travis - The Invisible Band
Jazzy M - 7 Live
Fun Lovin' Criminals - Loco
Turin Breaks - The Optimist
Lowgold - Just Backward of Square
Nitin Sawhney - Prophesy

NB: The best deals were correct at the time I write this opinion but obviously the promotions are going to end. The total price of all 10 CDs is based on this. Ooh, I feel all official with my disclaimer... Kind of like a magazine...;)

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