 | ||
 | Album: 1 of 11 Artist: Richie Havens Title: Simple Things Released: 1987 Tracks: 9 Duration: 41:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 Drivin (04:24) 2 Simple Things (04:13) 3 Songwriter (04:06) 4 Passin By (04:48) 5 Wake Up and Dream (03:58) 6 I Dont Wanna Know (04:28) 7 Shouldnt We All Be Having a Good Time (05:28) 8 Arrow Through Me (04:28) 9 Runner in the Night (05:36) |
 | Album: 2 of 11 Artist: Goldfrapp Title: Felt Mountain Released: 2000-09-11 Tracks: 9 Duration: 39:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 Lovely Head (03:47) 2 Paper Bag (04:05) 3 Human (04:36) 4 Pilots (04:29) 5 Deer Stop (04:06) 6 Felt Mountain (04:17) 7 Oompa Radar (04:42) 8 Utopia (04:18) 9 Horse Tears (05:10) |
| Felt Mountain : Allmusic album Review : Though her collaborations with Tricky, Orbital, and Add N To X focused on the sheer beauty and power of her singing, on her debut album Felt Mountain Allison Goldfrapp also explores more straightforward styles. Together with composer/multi-instrumentalist Will Gregory, Goldfrapp wraps her unearthly voice around songs that borrow from 60s pop, cabaret, folk, and electronica without sounding derivative or unfocused. From the sci-fi/spy film hybrids "Human" and "Lovely Head" to the title tracks icy purity, the duo strikes a wide variety of poses, giving Felt Mountain a stylized, theatrical feel that never veers into campiness. Though longtime fans of Goldfrapps voice may wish for more the exuberant, intoxicating side of her sound, lovelorn ballads like "Pilots," "Deer Stop," and "Horses Tears" prove that she is equally able at carrying -- and writing -- more traditional tunes. A strange and beautiful mix of the romantic, eerie, and world-weary, Felt Mountain is one of 2000s most impressive debuts. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 11 Artist: PJ Harvey Title: Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea Released: 2000-10-22 Tracks: 12 Duration: 47:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover Mercury Prize *** WINNER *** 2001 | 1 Big Exit (03:51) 2 Good Fortune (03:20) 3 A Place Called Home (03:41) 4 One Line (03:15) 5 Beautiful Feeling (03:56) 6 The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore (03:58) 7 This Mess We’re In (03:56) 8 You Said Something (03:19) 9 Kamikaze (02:23) 10 This Is Love (03:47) 11 Horses in My Dreams (05:35) 12 We Float (06:06) |
| Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea : Allmusic album Review : During her career, Polly Jean Harvey has had as many incarnations as she has albums. Shes gone from the Yeovil art student of her debut Dry, to Rid of Mes punk poetess to To Bring You My Love and Is This Desire?s postmodern siren; on Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea -- inspired by her stay in New York City and life in the English countryside -- shes changed again. The album covers stylish, subtly sexy image suggests what its songs confirm: PJ Harvey has grown up. Direct, vulnerable lyrics replace the allegories and metaphors of her previous work, and the albums production polishes the songs instead of obscuring them in noise or studio tricks. On the albums best tracks, such as "Kamikaze" and "This Is Love," a sexy, shouty blues-punk number that features the memorable refrain "I cant believe life is so complex/When I just want to sit here and watch you undress," Harvey sounds sensual and revitalized. The New York influences surface on the glamorous punk rock of "Big Exit" and "Good Fortune," on which Harvey channels both Chrissie Hyndes sexy tough girl and Patti Smiths ferocious yelp. Ballads like the sweetly urgent, piano and marimba-driven "One Line" and the Thom Yorke duet "This Mess Were In" avoid the painful depths of Harveys darkest songs; "Horses in My Dreams" also reflects Harveys new emotional balance: "I have pulled myself clear," she sighs, and we believe her. However, "We Float"s glossy choruses veer close to Lillith Fair territory, and longtime fans cant help but miss the visceral impact of her early work, but Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea doesnt compromise her essential passion. Hopefully, this albums happier, more direct PJ Harvey is a persona shell keep around for a while. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 11 Artist: Tom McRae Title: Tom McRae Released: 2000-10-02 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:05:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 You Cut Her Hair (02:46) 2 End of the World News (Dose Me Up) (03:48) 3 2nd Law (02:51) 4 Bloodless (03:38) 5 Draw Down the Stars (02:14) 6 One More Mile (04:16) 7 The Boy With the Bubblegun (03:01) 8 Hidden Camera Show (04:17) 9 A & B Song (04:15) 10 Language of Fools (03:57) 11 Untitled (03:51) 12 Sao Paulo Rain (04:51) 13 I Aint Scared of Lightning (01:25) 1 End of the World News (Dose Me Up) (04:19) 2 Sao Paulo Rain (05:42) 3 Draw Down the Stars (03:38) 4 Street Light (04:12) 5 I Aint Scared of Lightning (01:57) |
 | Album: 5 of 11 Artist: Elbow Title: Asleep in the Back Released: 2001-05-03 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:05:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 Any Day Now (06:17) 2 Red (05:11) 3 Little Beast (04:15) 4 Powder Blue (04:30) 5 Bitten by the Tailfly (06:16) 6 Newborn (07:35) 7 Don’t Mix Your Drinks (03:16) 8 Presuming Ed (Rest Easy) (05:26) 9 Coming Second (04:56) 10 Can’t Stop (04:36) 11 Scattered Black and Whites (05:29) 12 Vum Garda (07:55) |
| Asleep in the Back : Allmusic album Review : Elbow fiddles with a battery of widescreen dynamics and slight prog rock tendencies, delivering an epic debut of Manchester miserablism that will likely gain comparisons to fellow Mancunian band Doves (rightfully) and Coldplay (wrongfully). Like Doves, Elbow has enough supple shadings and tasteful textures to hold interest without vocals. However, where you have dance producers at the core of Doves, you have a highly emotional songwriter at the core of Elbow. Despite constantly dipping into an overflowing well of sonic tricks (the non-wank variety), each of Guy Garveys songs would be able to survive with a lone acoustic providing accompaniment. Judging from Garveys rough-hewn voice, he could be forgiven for sinking into a misery-addled torpor; thankfully, thats not the case -- given enough instrumental prodding from his cohorts, Garveys voice can soar and seethe with the best of them. Tally these qualities and you have a record that glides above the host of bands who prattle aimlessly about their pin cushion-frail souls. After all, Asleep in the Back is more about getting through and sustaining than it is flat-out moping or asking for a hug. The tempos might not ever exceed mid-level, and half of the songs might exceed five minutes, but the record is anything but a difficult listen or tough to wade through. When the acoustic strumming, piano twinkles, liquid basslines, and muted horns are this engaging and well arranged, its difficult to wring yourself from the web. If you can only spare eight minutes to test drive the record, go straight to "Newborn," the sweeping centerpiece with enough catharsis and heavenly Talk Talk-informed organ that youd swear it came from the second side of Catherine Wheels Adam and Eve. Stacked against other debuts out of Manchester, theirs is no disgrace. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 11 Artist: Gorillaz Title: Gorillaz Released: 2001-03-26 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:12:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 Re‐Hash (03:40) 2 5/4 (02:41) 3 Tomorrow Comes Today (03:14) 4 New Genious (Brother) (03:58) 5 Clint Eastwood (05:41) 6 Man Research (Clapper) (04:32) 7 Punk (01:38) 8 Sound Check (Gravity) (04:41) 9 Double Bass (04:46) 10 Rock the House (04:10) 11 19‒2000 (03:28) 12 Latin Simone (Qué pasa contigo) (03:38) 13 Starshine (03:32) 14 Slow Country (03:37) 15 M1 A1 (03:50) 16 Dracula (04:42) 17 Left Hand Suzuki Method (03:08) 18 19‐2000 (Soulchild remix) (03:29) 19 Clint Eastwood (Ed Case refix) (04:28) |
| Gorillaz : Allmusic album Review : Its tempting to judge Gorillaz -- Damon Albarn, Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlett, and Dan "The Automator" Nakamuras virtual band -- just by their brilliantly animated videos and write the project off as another triumph of style over substance. Admittedly, Hewletts edgy-cute characterizations of 2-D, Gorillaz pretty boy singer (who looks a cross between the Charlatans Tim Burgess and Sonic the Hedgehog), sinister bassist Murdoc, whiz-kid guitarist Noodle, and b-boy drummer Russel are so arresting that they almost detract from Gorillaz music. The amazing "Thriller"-meets-Planet of the Apes clip for "Clint Eastwood" is so visually clever that its easy to take the songs equally clever, hip-hop-tinged update of the Specials "Ghost Town" for granted. And initially, Gorillaz self-titled debut feels incomplete when Hewletts imagery is removed; the concept of Gorillaz as a virtual band doesnt hold up as well when you cant see the virtual bandmembers. Its too bad that there isnt a DVD version of Gorillaz, with videos for every song, à la the DVD version of Super Furry Animals Rings Around the World. Musically, however, Gorillaz is a cutely caricatured blend of Albarns eclectic Brit-pop and Nakamuras equally wide-ranging hip-hop, and it sounds almost as good as the band looks. Albarn has fun sending up Blurs cheeky pop on songs like "5/4" and "Re-Hash," their trip-hop experiments on "New Genious" and "Sound Check," and "Song 2"-like thrash-pop on "Punk" and "M1 A1." Despite the similarities between Albarns main gig and his contributions here, Gorillaz isnt an Albarn solo album in disguise; Nakamuras bass- and beat-oriented production gives the album an authentically dub and hip-hop-inspired feel, particularly on "Rock the House" and "Tomorrow Comes Today." Likewise, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Miho Hatori, and Ibrahim Ferrers vocals ensure that it sounds like a diverse collaboration rather than an insular side project. Instead, it feels like a musical vacation for all parties involved -- a little self-indulgent, but filled with enough fun ideas and good songs to make this virtual bands debut a genuinely enjoyable album. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 11 Artist: Ed Harcourt Title: Here Be Monsters Released: 2001-06-25 Tracks: 11 Duration: 52:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 Something in My Eye (03:43) 2 God Protect Your Soul (05:25) 3 She Fell Into My Arms (03:50) 4 Those Crimson Tears (05:11) 5 Hanging With the Wrong Crowd (03:43) 6 Apple of My Eye (04:01) 7 Beneath the Heart of Darkness (07:21) 8 Wind Through the Trees (06:47) 9 Birds Fly Backwards (03:32) 10 Shanghai (03:49) 11 Like Only Lovers Can (04:54) |
 | Album: 8 of 11 Artist: Super Furry Animals Title: Rings Around the World Released: 2001-07-23 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:02:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 Alternate Route to Vulcan Street (04:31) 2 Sidewalk Serfer Girl (04:01) 3 (Drawing) Rings Around the World (03:29) 4 Its Not the End of the World? (03:27) 5 Receptacle for the Respectable (04:32) 6 [A] Touch Sensitive (03:07) 7 Shoot Doris Day (03:38) 8 Miniature (00:40) 9 No Sympathy (06:57) 10 Juxtapozed With U (03:08) 11 Presidential Suite (05:24) 12 Run! Christian, Run! (07:20) 13 Fragile Happiness (03:04) 14 Tradewinds (05:36) 15 Happiness Is a Worn Pun (03:16) |
| Rings Around the World : Allmusic album Review : Super Furry Animals leap to a major label in the U.K. with Rings Around the World isnt that drastic of a change -- Fuzzy Logic was also released on Epic in the U.S., Creation was subsidized by Sony, and they never were exactly wanting of money on their previous records -- but the band nevertheless seizes the opportunity to consolidate their strengths, providing an introduction for listeners that may not have been paying attention before. As such, its hard not to consider it as a bit of a missed opportunity, since this is the first SFA album not to progress from its predecessor, or offer the shock of the new, and thats hard not to miss -- but, if this is the first SFA record you hear, itll likely intrigue, even dazzle, with its kaleidoscopic blend of pop, prog, punk, psych, and electronica. Still, this is nearly Super Furry Cliff Notes, offering a glossy, big-screen variation on all of their themes -- decadently lush pop-psych, chugging rock & roll, bitter leftism, sublimely warped imagery, experimentalism wrapped in luxurious productions. Alluring, to be sure, and satisfying, too, and there certainly are wonderful details scattered throughout the album, the least of which are cameos by John Cale and Paul McCartney. Plus, there is exceptional songwriting here, such as the cinematic "Juxtaposed With U," "Sidewalk Serfer Girl," and "Receptacle for the Respectable," which encapsulates nearly every side of the band within five minutes. Still, its hard not to want a little more from the band that was the best pop band of the late 90s. Its hard not to at least want surprises (since there are none) or, if its going to be a consolidation, to have it be a statement of purpose, since it lacks either an overarching theme or a music that gels. So, its not what it could have been, but what it is is still pretty damn great, satisfying with its melodies, textures, and ideas. Compared to what Super Furry Animals have done before, Rings Around the World pales slightly but noticeably, but compared to the dead world of mainstream and indie rock in 2001, it still shines brightly. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 11 Artist: Basement Jaxx Title: Rooty Released: 2001-06-25 Tracks: 13 Duration: 42:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 Romeo (03:36) 2 Breakaway (03:22) 3 SFM (02:39) 4 Kissalude (00:20) 5 Jus 1 Kiss (04:24) 6 Broken Dreams (03:07) 7 I Want U (03:26) 8 Get Me Off (04:49) 9 Where’s Your Head At (04:42) 10 Freakalude (00:29) 11 Crazy Girl (03:20) 12 Do Your Thing (04:40) 13 All I Know (03:47) |
| Rooty : Allmusic album Review : Sophomore album blues from a pair of producers who just want to party all night and make a few tracks during the day? Not a chance. Two years of globetrotting as house superstars fortunately havent dulled the keen blade of Basement Jaxxs production style. So raw you cant believe they spent over an hour per track, so perfect youre glad they stopped noodling about long before most producers would, and so poppy they should get picked up by commercial radio in America as well as the rest of the world, Rooty is the second straight triumph from a pair of producer/DJs who look set to carry the torch for dancefloor electronica in the years to come. Titled after the duos just-recently-closed club night, this is a true party album -- shot through with no-attention-span tangents, bridges, and interrupted samples, nowhere better than on the psychedelic soul of "Broken Dreams," with its Tijuana Brass horns and Middle Eastern flute. Though its missing the genre-spanning flair and red-line energy that made 1999s Remedy the best dance album of the 90s, Rooty comes very close, with a similar emphasis on swinging rhythms and slapping percussion. Its much funkier than Remedy, much closer to commercial pop, and much more sensuous, with several tracks of moaning, juiced-up funk from the Prince playbook. The opener, "Romeo," is groovy and luscious enough to be the next single from Destinys Child (with a tad more vocal histrionics), and almost every track features vocalists who sound less like professional singers (or flavor-of-the-month robots) and more like theyve been tapped as finalists at a posh karaoke bar. (A few of those female-sounding vocalists are actually the Jaxx themselves, altered slightly.) Add a little filtered disco ("Jus 1 Kiss"), a track of rowdy New York house (the Gary Numan-sampling "Wheres Your Head At," with background shouting from Erick Morillo and Junior Sanchez), bleepy acid house ("Crazy Girl"), and some P-Funked-up house ("Breakaway") and the result is a stunning, diverse album thats not only an immediate winner but a great album down the line as well. You can take the boys out of Brixton, but you just cant take Brixton out of the boys. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 11 Artist: Susheela Raman Title: Salt Rain Released: 2001-08-05 Tracks: 12 Duration: 58:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 Ganapati (06:43) 2 Maya (04:37) 3 Mamavatu (03:53) 4 Woman (04:25) 5 Mahima (07:31) 6 Trust in Me (03:24) 7 Bolo Bolo (02:13) 8 Salt Rain (04:42) 9 Kamakshi (04:53) 10 Nagumomo (04:48) 11 O Rama (04:54) 12 Song to the Siren (06:32) |
 | Album: 11 of 11 Artist: Turin Brakes Title: The Optimist LP Released: 2001-03-05 Tracks: 12 Duration: 51:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover Mercury Prize Nominee 2001 | 1 Feeling Oblivion (03:43) 2 Underdog (Save Me) (03:34) 3 Emergency 72 (04:05) 4 Future Boy (03:58) 5 The Door (03:52) 6 State of Things (03:31) 7 By TV Light (04:52) 8 Slack (03:16) 9 Starship (02:49) 10 The Road (05:33) 11 Mind Over Money (04:53) 12 The Optimist (07:41) |