• Top 40 tracks
• Top 40 albums
• Top 10 live shows
• Best Artwork
• Biggest letdowns

To kick off, here’s the first installment of the tracks countdown.

	40: The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go Columbia I’m starting my 2008 countdown with a confession; I was wrong. Wrong to blast this Salford duo as force-fed music industry pap. I’ll still count my bile as valid againts the horrendous That’s Not My Name, but this and stablemate Great DJ are perfect pop songs. MP3 Video
	39: Foals - The Race For Radio Supremacy Transgressive Foals entered 2008 as media darlings, yet some of the hype faltered in the news that Antidotes would not include Hummer or Mathletics. Yet the record was still intriguing, and probably benefited from the lack of big-single syndrome. This is the pick of the LP for me. MP3 Buy Antidotes
	38: LCD Soundsystem - Big Ideas DFA After a blistering 2007 where James Murphy and co strode above end-of-year lists like a colossus, Big Ideas was a rare 2008 outing for LCD. The knowledge of pop-hook craft remained, and this cut from the soundtrack to 21 is no mere offcut from Sound Of Silver. MP3 Buy Big Ideas
	37: Madonna - 4 Minutes Warner A huge success from the otherwise disappointing Hard Candy LP. Surely it would be difficult to fail with a superstar team of Madge, Timberlake & Timbaland? One of the pop records of 2008. MP3 Video Buy 4 Minutes
	36: The B-52s - Eyes Wide Open Astralwerks “I don’t want to clash, I don’t want to rehash the past” Kate sings, and it is no rehash - I never dared to think that the B-52s would sound this good, this up to date, yet so utterly them in 2008. A totally unexpected pleasure. MP3 Buy Funplex
	35: Mogwai - Batcat Wall of Sound There’s no following of the post-rock quiet-loud-quiet formula here, Batcat belts out of the speakers obliterating everything in it’s path. A highlight of their excellent 2008 live shows, where it sounded even louder and even more vital. MP3 Video Buy Batcat
	34: The Kills - U.R.A. Fever Domino Scuzzy, short and superb. The Kills finally got some mainstream exposure for this record - and that was before Jamie Hince’s massively publicized on-off thing with super-stick Kate Moss. MP3 Video Buy U.R.A. Fever
	33: Duffy - Rockferry Polydor Originally released at the back end of 2007, well before her media star began its rise, Rockferry is a rare treat, a blue-eyed soul classic and free of the Winehouse-isms that afflict the rest of her debut LP. MP3 Video Buy Rockferry
	32: Errors - Cutlery Drawer Rock Action Signed to Mogwai’s Rock Action, Glaswegians Errors outshone their illustrious stablemates in 2008. Cutlery Drawer is slightly atypical of their output, featuring a stark spoken word vocal by Londoner George Pringle. Wonderful. MP3 Buy It’s Not Something But It Is Like Whatever
	31: Emiliana Torrini - Gun Rough Trade How had I never caught Ms Torrini before? It was only an Amazon recommendation that belatedly turned me on to Me And Armini. Housed within was this staggering track - dark, taut and twisted with a breathy vocal to die for. MP3 Buy Me And Armini

It is dark inside St Giles, an eighteenth century church deep in the West End, and Anthony Gonzalez has just walked unannounced between the pews. He steps alongside his transparent box of tricks as analogue hiss seeps from the speakers. Slowly Gonzalez builds and tweaks the waves, heading towards a gentle pulsating crescendo. It’s an unassuming yet fixating live introduction, and begins a gig that I have awaited with absurd levels of excitement.

The night didn’t start that well - due to a late soundcheck the doors didn’t open for over an hour, leaving a cosmopolitan queue snaking it’s way along St Giles High Street on a cold December night. Once the doors opened, it was strange to head down the aisle of a church and file into the pews, facing an altar spread with all sorts of wired boxes and synths. To my great pleasure there’s a full drum kit alongside an electronic equivalent. The full band wouldn’t appear for three tracks or so, leaving Gonzalez to demonstrate his prowess with electronic manipulation and a guitar. And when he sings the clarity is amazing - I’d been told the acoustics in the venue were superb, and my source wasn’t wrong.

When the full band did join the noise levels went up a notch, but only from the low dais. Befitting the ecclesiastical surroundings, the crowd remained relatively silent. The first widespread nods of recognition occur when the spoken word introduction to Moonchild echoes around the high space. As with many of the tracks, it gets a live re-working with the crashing drum fill delayed until the midpoint of the song. It doesn’t quite sound as huge as I have imagined it would in concert, but it doesn’t prevent the angelic stabs sending pulses down every spine in attendance.

Unsurprisingly, the set is weighted towards this year’s supreme Saturdays=Youth LP. Even relative lowlights on the record such as We Own The Sky are reinterpreted as windswept epics, pounding beats from the excellent drummer pegging down cyclonic patterns from the two keyboards. Whilst the drummer is excellent, the second guitarist and the female vocalist are equal - supporting and enhancing Gonzalez’s singular vision. The band are tight, rhythmic and clearly enjoying themselves. Gonzalez and his opposite are frequently pumping at the keys, hips thrusting against equipment racks.

As the set builds towards climax, M83 have saved the best until last, launching into the keening strains of Saturdays=Youth’s highlight Skin Of The Night. Spun out and spiralling it is the peak of the set - the vocals striking incessantly and poignantly, as electronic beats shudder the wooden seats. The set is finished with the unfolding, complex and utterly breathtaking Couleurs, the instrumental pivot that the rest of the album rotates around.

And then it is done - Gonzalez heads back down the aisle to a standing ovation. Whereas coming into the evening M83 had been merely an artist I’ve enjoyed greatly; I leave with it concrete in my mind - 2008 belongs to them.

M83 - America
M83 - Skin Of The Night

Photos: Matt Biddulph

Oh, to be young again! Under 18 special featuring some of 2008’s best artists, and some great picks for the coming year. Headlining are the excellent White Lies, who have to be the favourite in the recent BBC Sound of 2009 longlist. Backing them are the immense Metronomy, currently riding high in the cumulative Best of 2008 charts. Also on the bill are the great live act Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, whilst the eclectic mix is topped off with Rolo Tomassi. Head down to Scala early on Saturday as things kick off at around 2pm, if you’re young enough that is.

White Lies - Death

Metronomy - A Thing For Me

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip - The Beat That My Heart Skipped

Golden Silvers - Magic Touch

Gig Of The Week 2: Fee Fie Foe Fum @ Cargo

Fantastic folky sorts populate Cargo on Tuesday as Laura Marling headlines a strong line up including Jay Jay Pistolet and Johnny Flynn, in celebration of the Fee Fie Foe Fum tour, which many of the artists present took to the USA earlier this year. Somewhat unsurprisingly due to Marling’s ever-growing popularity this is well sold out. But - if you have a chance to pick up spares by hook or crook this could be one of the last great shows of 2008.

Laura Marling - Night Terror

Mumford & Sons -Roll Away Your Stone

Johnny Flynn - Cold Bread

Jay Jay Pistolet - Holly

Laura Marling photo: ipickedmynose

Continue reading for a selected list of what London has to offer this week…

Monday 15 December

The Boy Least Likely To, The School, Mia Vigar - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen

Carbon/Silicon - Hammersmith Club

Coldplay, The High Wire - O2

Dark Captain Light Captain, Extradition Order, Lil’ Lost Lou - Metro

James, Athlete - Brixton Academy

Seun Kuti And Fela’s Egypt 80 - Cargo

Tuesday 16 December

Carbon/Silicon - Hammersmith Club

Manu Chao - Forum

Coldplay, The High Wire - O2

Frightened Rabbit, Babel, Stagecoach - Brixton Windmill

James, Athlete - Brixton Academy

Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons, Johnny Flynn, Jay Jay Pistolet, Peggy Sue, Cherbourg - Fee Fie Fo Fum @ Cargo

The Rascals, Twisted Wheel, The Hugs - Scala

Tindersticks - Union Chapel

Wintersleep - Borderline

Wednesday 17 December

Biffy Clyro, Frightened Rabbit - Brixton Academy

Manu Chao - Forum

Gideon Conn, Roxy Rawson, Scott Raba, Sara Schiralli - Soho Revue Bar

David Cronenberg’s Wife, Candythief, The Cedars, Congregation - Brixton Windmill

Fucked Up, The King Blues - The Underworld

Herman Dune, The Baby Skins - Scala

The Hold Steady, The Mark Inside - The Roundhouse

James Yorkston, Alasdair Roberts - The Luminaire

Thursday 18 December

The Black Angels, Fujiya & Miyagi - ULU

Dashboard Confessional - Astoria

The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - 93 Feet East

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - Pure Groove Records

Gogol Bordello - The Roundhouse

Eugene McGuinness, Nick Harrison, Gold Teeth, Cosmo Jarvis - Kicker Conspiracy @ The Legion

UNKLE, The Heritage Orchestra - Union Chapel

The Wedding Present, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Forum

Friday 19 December

Billy Childish & The Musicians Of The British Empire - Boston Arms

Napoleon IIIrd, Pagan Wanderer Lu, Ratface - Brainlove Christmas Party @ The George Tavern

The Organ, Bathroom Sally, The Tape Recorder, The Stilts - Dublin Castle

The Orb, Autolump - Islington Academy

The Pogues, DJ Scratchy, Urban Voodoo Machine - Brixton Academy

The Sabretooth Tiger Band, Magnificent Shimmering Beasts, Rumble Strips - Brixton Windmill

Stereolab, The Week That Was - Koko

Frank Turner, Ben Marwood - Filter @ Proud Galleries

Chris Wood - Dulwich Hamlet FC

Saturday 20 December

Dirty Pretty Things - Astoria 2

Peter Doherty - Rhythm Factory

Dogs, The Late Greats, The Hoodlums - Islington Academy

Gogol Bordello - The Roundhouse

The Pogues, DJ Scratchy, Urban Voodoo Machine - Brixton Academy

Martha Reeves And The Vandellas - Bloomsbury Ballroom

Stereophonics, The Courteeners - O2

White Lies, Metronomy, Golden Silvers, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Tommy Sparks, Rolo Tomassi - Underage Club @ Scala

Sunday 21 December

The Blockheads - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Peter Doherty - Rhythm Factory

Gig of the Week: Twisted Christmas - Barbican

As Christmas hurriedly approaches, the larger venues around London have been largely booked up by comedians and tribute shows. Fortunately the smaller venues keep the variety levels high, and this week is no exception. Pick of the bunch is the second in the Barbican’s series Only Connect, the first of which was the Drifting and Tilting concerts featuring the music of Scott Walker. The theme this time round is the underbelly of our traditional festive practices, with the artists performing their own versions of classic and modern Christmas tunes. With artists like Jarvis Cocker, Patrick Wolf and Kathryn Williams involved the event surely has to be interesting to say the least…

Tickets are still available from the Barbican’s website, from £13 to £22.

Jarvis Cocker - Baby’s Coming Back To Me

Patrick Wolf - Stars

Kathryn Williams - Flicker

Don’t forget to vote in our Best of 2008 section

Photos: Patrick Wolf: sugicy; Jarvis Cocker: Lizzka

Read on for the rest of Stereo Jealousy’s recommended London gigs this week…

Monday 8 December

A Place To Bury Strangers, Ten Kens, Sian Alice Group - ICA

Billy Bragg - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Union Chapel

Duffy - Brixton Academy

Fantomas - Astoria

The Human League, Heaven 17, ABC - Hammersmith Apollo

Loney Dear, Martin Carr, Adam Donen & The Drought - Old Blue Last

The Slow Life, Gregory And The Hawk - Local Mondays @ Big Chill House

Winnebago Deal, Bad For Lazarus, Assembly Point 3 - Monto Water Rats

Women - Rough Trade East

Tuesday 9 December

Ben Kweller - Union Chapel

David Cronenberg’s Wife, Kong, The Slow Blade - Artrocker @ Buffalo Bar

Duffy - Brixton Academy

Joan As Police Woman - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Melvins - Scala

Squarepusher, LFO - Astoria

Vivian Girls, Wet Dog, Holiday Romance - Madame Jo Jo’s

The Zutons, The Redwalls - Hammersmith Apollo

Wednesday 10 December

Lisa Hannigan - St John’s Smiths Square

iLiKETRAINS - 93 Feet East

Land Of Talk, Will And The People, Buffalo 77 - Monto Water Rats

The Locust - Barden’s Boudoir

Nightmares on Wax Soundsystem - Scala

Supergrass - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

They Came From The Stars (I Saw Them) - The Lexington

This Town Needs Guns, Blakfish, Shapes, Shoes And Socks Off - Brixton Windmill

Thursday 11 December

Chromeo - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Gotan Project - The Roundhouse

Kings Of Leon, M83 - O2

Lightspeed Champion - BFI Southbank

Twisted Christmas - The Barbican

Rachel Unthank& The Winterset, Félix Lajkó - Union Chapel

James Yorkston & The Athletes, Malcolm Middleton - St Giles In The Fields

Friday 12 December

Alphabeat, Sam Sparro, Tommy Sparks, The Rumble Strips - Matter

Autokratz - Club NME @ Koko

Chrome Hoof, Bass Clef, David E Sugar - Cargo

Electric Six, Tragedy - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Errors, Tim Exile - The End and AKA

Friendly Fires - Koko

Jeniferever, Prego - Club AC30 @Luminaire

M83 - St Giles In The Fields

Jesse Malin, Dave Bielanko - Monto Water Rats

Let’s Wrestle, The Brute Chorus, La Shark, Josh Weller - 93 Feet East

The Prodigy, Fight Like Apes - Brixton Academy

Angie Stone - Jazz Cafe

Vivian Girls, Chew Lips, Plug - Macbeth, N1

Saturday 13 December

1990s, We Are The Physics, Peter Parker, Betty & The Werewolves, Spinmaster Plantpot - Buffalo Bar

Chromeo - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Concert Against Knife Crime - Queen Elizabeth Hall

Good Shoes, Flashguns, We Stole Cairo - Watershed

Elton John - O2

The Prodigy , Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Fight Like Apes - Brixton Academy

The Rascals - Push @ Astoria 2

Angie Stone - Jazz Cafe

Sunday 14 December

Tom Baxter, Beth Rowley plus many more - The Living Room @ The Hideaway

Coldplay, The High Wire - O2

The Dandy Warhols, Fabienne Delsol - Astoria

Jamie Lidell, Fujiya & Miyagi, Micachu - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Gig Of The Week - Vivian Girls - Brixton Windmill

Brooklyn’s Vivian Girls have had a whirlwind 2008. Recently named in Rough Trade’s 50 albums of 2008 (#9, no less), the band follows support slots with Deerhunter, Fucked Up and Love is All over in the States with a couple of shows here in London. The first is the peach, set in the dark, cramped surroundings of Brixton’s tiny Windmill venue. The sound is resolutely lo-fi, with hints of Sarah Records influence along with classic girl group vs Jesus And Mary Chain noise. So ignore the glitzy XFM bash up the road at the Academy and go and head for Brooklyn in Brixton.

You can stream the entire debut album over at Last.fm

Where Do You Run To (mp3)

Photo: Mercurialn

Don’t forget to vote in our Best of 2008 section!

Click below to see the full week of London gigs…

Monday 1 December

Abe Vigoda, Lovvers - Old Blue Last

Asobi Seksu, Manhattan Love Suicides - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen

Gallows - The Macbeth, N1

Glasvegas - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Slow Club - Union Chapel

The Week That Was - Metro

Wolf Parade - Electric Ballroom

Tuesday 2 December

Beach House, Jana Hunter - Cargo

Deerhoof - ULU

The Hours - Proud Galleries

Mika Miko, Abe Vigoda, Anavan - The Dome, N19

Vivian Girls, Betty & The Werewolves, The Bridport Dagger - Brixton Windmill

XFM’s Winter Wonderland (Kaiser Chiefs, Ladyhawke, Ida Maria, White Lies) - Brixton Academy

Wednesday 3 December

Department of Eagles, Hush Arbors, Mr David Viner - Borderline

The Slits - Astoria 2

Vivian Girls, Shitty Limits, Graffiti Island - Old Blue Last

The Wave Pictures, Ish Marquez - Club Fandango

Thursday 4 December

Alabama 3, Utah Saints - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Wintersleep - Venue 2 @ 229 Club

Hockey - Water Rats

Isis, Torche - The Scala

The Locust - Barden’s Boudoir

Meat Puppets - ULU

Nouvelle Vague, Okou - Forum

Pendulum - Brixton Academy

Friday 5 December

The Gaslight Anthem - Astoria 2

John Power, The Volt, Urusen, Jake Morley, Folks - Water Rats

Pendulum - Brixton Academy

The Roots - Forum

Saturday 6 December

IAMX, The Modern - Astoria 2

Popular Workshop, Look See Proof, Cross Town Riot, Death Cigarettes - Old Blue Last

The Roots - Forum

Sunday 7 December

Badly Drawn Boy, Joe D’Urso - Half Moon Putney

Bon Iver - Apollo Victoria

The Residents - Forum

This song contains the word Hal-lel-ujah. Words that strike fear into my very heart. The Water Rats resounds with silence - the act that just left the stage proclaiming ‘I’m a Christian, yeah that’s my thing‘ successfully murdered the very concept of rock music. Anodyne instrumentation is overlaid by the worst kind of X-factor, teapot-dancing, yelping, pious nonsense. Thankfully I can’t remember the act’s name (despite several exhortations to ‘friend her up’ on myspaz) but AVOID.

Thankfully, Bears from Labrador are much, much better. Fresh from a Track of the Week nomination on the Radcliffe and Maconie show, the band are clearly high on confidence. Recent EP Wilderness is garnering glowing reviews across the board. The main theme here is smoky MOR, shot through with occasional jolts of mariachi brass.

The overall sound transmits perfectly live, especially as the band is tonight augmented by a trumpeter. Aforementioned radio triumph God is tossed in second, and fizzes with the kind of Americana done so well by bands like Midlake. In fact the whole set is a curious clash between the stateside sounds and quintessentially English psychadelia.

Set highlight Trees is a case in point, kicking off with a Calexico brass-blast, pinned back by an elastic Pixies bassline, before singer Dylan Rippon pops up with the kind of wistful vocal that made Syd Barrett’s name. Strangely towards the end, the band shift into what I am sure sounds like a Cream cover - Dylan assures me afterwards it isn’t (not a bad band to sound like though, he smiled) but it just adds to the performance.

Big things are expected in 2009; further EP releases, constantly rumoured US dates… For now though, their reputation is being built here in the UK and shows like this can’t help but spread the word. Catch them next time around - it may be your last chance in surroundings like this.

God (Live Video from Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen)

Trees (mp3)

All photos by me!

Don’t forget to vote in our Best of 2008 section!

They’ve split up… Oh no they haven’t!

LCD Soundsystem’s constituent parts caused a fluster in my world earlier today when the comic quoted live guitarist Al Doyle as saying the project was on permanent hold. He followed this by claiming Murphy and bandmates would record and tour with a series of disco singers, leaving behind the LCD name.

Mere hours later and an about turn came from Murphy himself, who revealed he had an album’s worth of new material sitting in his cranium. Sounding a little Bon Iverish he went on to say the album would be recorded solo, away from New York sometime next year. So, does this mean a new LCD album in ‘09? I really, really hope so. Sound of Silver was just incredible, and as a live act they are improbably good. Here’s to good news (in the end) and the first album announcement for 09 that has me excited…

LCD Soundsystem - Us vs Them

Photo: eMA!

Gig Of The Week: Genghis Tron, Behold The Arctopus, Rolo Tomassi, The Network - The Underworld

Prepare for supreme noise making at Underworld on Saturday as Americans Genghis Tron follow up their European stint with The Faint with a short UK tour. Backed by a multi-talented string of bands, not least Sheffield stars Rolo Tomassi (for the London show only), the potential of this night is stellar. This amazing line up is unbelievably not sold out - and under a tenner face value!

Tickets: See

Genghis Tron - Blow Back

Behold The Arctopus - Some Mist

Rolo Tomassi - Abraxas

Photo: Justina Villaneuva

Monday 17 November

Chairlift - The Victoria

Mt Eerie, Parenthical Girls, High Places - Upset The Rhythm @ Dome

Vessels, Spokes - Local Mondays @ Big Chill House

Volcano!, Little Comets, Applicants - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen

The Wombats - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Yo Majesty - Barfly

Tuesday 18 November

VV Brown - Soho Revue Bar

Cage The Elephant, AutoVaughn, The Spires - Scala

Julian Cope - Royal Festival Hall

Roddy Frame, Emily Maguire - Cadogan Hall

The Fratellis, Noah & The Whale, Ladyhawke, Sergeant - Little Noise Sessions @ Union Chapel

White Denim - Dingwalls

Wednesday 19 November

Death Cab For Cutie, Frightened Rabbit - Brixton Academy

Jay Jay Pistolet - The Enterprise

Low - Koko

Cass McCombs - The Luminaire

Peter & The Wolf, Ruthie Phoenix, Kish Mauve, Polka Party - 93 Feet East

TV On The Radio - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

The Whip - Scala

Thursday 20 November

The Chap, Speaker Bite Me, Heidi Mortenson - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen

Dengue Fever - ICA

The Faint - Scala

Fight Like Apes, The Electric City - Barfly

Kieran Hebden/Steve Reid, Queen of Swords - Dingwalls

The Kills, XX Teens - Astoria

Lupen Crook and The Murderbirds, Captain Black, La Shark - Amersham Arms

Opeth - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Brixton Academy

Sigur Ros - Alexandra Palace

Friday 21 November

The Holloways, Dirty Harry - Filter @ Proud Galleries

Ladytron - Shepherds Bush Empire

Little Boots, Heartbreak - ICA

The Notwist - ULU

The Rifles - Brixton Academy

Sigur Ros - Alexandra Palace

Soko, Jay Jay Pistolet, Planet Earth - Borderline

The View, Holy Ghost Revival - Astoria

Saturday 22 November

Carter USM - Brixton Academy

Dizzee Rascal - The Forum

Future Of The Left, Little Death - Astoria 2

Genghis Tron, Behold The Arctopus, Rolo Tomassi, The Network - The Underworld

My Vitriol, Enjoy Destroy, Satanic Sluts - ULU

Shearwater, Birdengine, Greg Weeks, Absentee, Radar Bros - The Local @ St Giles In The Fields

These Arms Are Snakes, Russian Circles - Islington Academy

Sunday 23 November

Attila The Stockbroker - Walthamstow Folk Club @ The Plough

Clinic, Threatmantics - Scala

Darren Hayman & Friends - Cookin In The Yard @ The North Star

Kristin Hersch - Borderline

Todd Rundgren - The Forum

Gig Of The Week: Mencap Music’s Little Noise Sessions

Nothing like a good cause to stir bands into action, and this week sees several take the stage to raise funds and awareness for leading mental health charity Mencap. There’s some big names; Stereophonics, Kasabian, Keane amongst the varied line-up. They do seem a bit short of ‘wow’ factor this year after previous sessions had seen the likes of U2 and Noel Gallagher playing sets.

Wednesday’s offering looks the toast of the bunch with Biffy Clyro, Friendly Fires and Frank Turner making up probably the least-known bill of all the sessions. Get along if you can, most of the sessions are sold out but tickets for some of the lesser lights are still available.

Tickets

Biffy Clyro - Now I’m Everyone
Friendly Fires - Photobooth
Frank Turner - Vital Signs

Read on for the week’s best gigs in London town…

Goldfrapp. Photo: NRK P3

10 November

Emmy The Great - ICA

Fleet Foxes - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Goldfrapp - Brixton Academy

It Hugs Back, Arms - The Social

Jackie O Motherfucker - Corsica Studios

Stereophonics, Seasick Steve, Duke Special - Union Chapel (Little Noise Sessions)

Laura Marling. Photo: R.W.W.

11 November

Adele, Damien Rice, Angus and Julia Stone - Union Chapel (Little Noise Sessions)

Cut Copy - Koko

Grammatics - Bush Hall

Hush Arbors - Old Blue Last

Laura Marling - Scala

Okkervil River, Cursive - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Kanye West, Santogold - O2

Friendly Fires. Photo: Serhio

12 November

Biffy Clyro, Friendly Fires, Frank Turner - Union Chapel (Little Noise Sessions)

The Black Keys - Brixton Academy

Dark Captain Light Captain - 100 Club

Hot Club de Paris - Proud Galleries

Laura Marling - Scala

N*E*R*D - Roundhouse

Kanye West, Santogold - O2

Scott Walker

13 November

Leonard Cohen - O2

Drifting & Tilting - The Songs of Scott Walker, ft Damon Albarn, Jarvis Cocker & Dot Allison - The Barbican

GZA - Camden Electric Ballroom

High Places - Old Blue Last

Longview - Water Rats

Mercury Rev, Howling Bells - Shepherd’s Bush Empire

James Morrison, Katy Perry - Union Chapel (Little Noise Sessions)

Razorlight - Brixton Academy

James Yuill - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen

Client. Photo: Dr Gonzo Photography

14 November

Horace Andy - Islington Academy

Client - Ghetto

Leonard Cohen - O2

Drifting & Tilting - The Songs of Scott Walker, ft Damon Albarn, Jarvis Cocker & Dot Allison - The Barbican

Kasabian, Reverend & The Makers, The Hours, Fight Like Apes - Union Chapel (Little Noise Sessions)

New Young Pony Club - Proud Galleries

The Research - The Monarch

15 November

Amusement Parks On Fire - Catch

Drifting & Tilting - The Songs of Scott Walker, ft Damon Albarn, Jarvis Cocker & Dot Allison - The Barbican

Keane - Union Chapel (Little Noise Sessions)

Let’s Wrestle - Metro

The Presets, Shy Child, Van She, Ladyhawke - Coronet

The Wombats - Matter

16 November

Lonely Drifter Karen - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen

The Wombats - Coronet

There’s been a survey done and apparently the thing that annoys London commuters the most about their fellow travellers is loud music. The survey, carried out on behalf of Jetsleeper, placed audio abuse higher than broadsheet-splaying toffs and drunken head-droopers. No mention of mobile shouters, pushing pikeys or “scuse me ladies and gentlemen, sorry to interrupt your journey…“…

Granted, hissy cymbal rushes and caterwauling R’n'B divas are pretty damn toe-curling in the most serene of times. Listening to the various snatches of London’s collective musical selection isn’t annoying in itself though. Londoners have been used to it for years - when was the last time you last walked down Oxford Street without hearing some godawful Eurotrance blaring out from one of the shops?

What depresses and annoys me about the proliferation of the little white ear-buds isn’t so much the diabolical taste of my fellow Londoners. It’s the terrible sound you get from those shitty little headphones, cutting out all low end and turning the rest to some hideous mid-range sludge. Not only that but the reduction of music from artform to sonic pavement - how many of these i-drones are actually loving (or even know) what they’re listening to?

On my regular commute I’ve seen suited middle age men stare blankly into middle distance while the Sugababes whirl dolefully in his ear. Occasionally you spot someone in the zone -  I clocked a girl once mouthing the words to Kelly Watch The Stars as the train whizzed through Clapham. For my sins I’ve been told several times to turn my music down - most memorably drawing the dreaded commuter stare as Vex Red’s Can’t Smile penetrated the packed rush hour carriage.

I don’t mind your music, London. Just get some decent headphones, start loving what you listen to and we’re all square.

Photo - Orhantsolak

Commuter Love - The Divine Comedy