Advent Artists - Dinosaur Pile Up
- Dec 04, 2010
Dinosaur Pile-Up are the latest band to take on Advent Artists, picking their favourite music of 2010.
Harry Johns from Dinosaur Pile-Up chooses his top five albums and singles of the year. Do you agree? Let us know your own choices on Virgin Red Room Twitter and Facebook, and look out for a new Advent Artist every day on Virgin.com.
Top 5 Albums of 2010
5. The Black Keys - Brothers
I literally LOVE this band. I went to see them about 6 years ago for the first time and I've loved them since I ordered The Big Come Up at my shitty local record store in Lincoln. I love the blues more than anything but with Brothers they've stepped it up into soul, motown and just great pop tunes.
4. Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks
This is my current '6am with a bottle of whiskey' record. Haunting and very moving, yet strangely uplifting too – it’s not the most social record or anything, but if you give it a little patience you'll realise this is a timeless, near-perfect collection of beautiful songs.
3. The National - High Violet
I got into The National late I'm afraid (note to other band members: see, I'm not that much of a hipster!) but this album is amazing. The stillness of Interpol mixed with the intensity of Matt Beringer’s lyrics, so dark! I'd love to see them live, I bet they slay.
2. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
I like to go out and get into trouble and stuff and this record seems to be in the background everytime I'm blind drunk dancing on a bar or doing shots with my mates. That drop in Dance Yrself Clean!!! Intense!!!
1. Deftones - Diamond Eyes
We're all massive fans of Deftones here at DPU HQ. In fairness, I'm pretty over this record now because we rinsed in so hard on the last tour we did, but it’s undeniably one of their best. I've personally always loved Deftones because they're really heavy but beautiful too, and Diamond Eyes mixes these two extremes perfectly.
Top 5 Singles of 2010
5. Mumford and Sons - The Cave
I really like Mumfords, their rise from obscure folky nerds to them essentially becoming the biggest live UK act right now is definitely something to admire greatly. Plus considering how much programming and stuff has crept into music this year, it’s nice to have a band that stick to just playing honest songs on guitars.
4. Magnetic Man - I Need Air
To juxtapose that completely, when I first heard I Need Air I freaked out! For one, it marked the commercial takeover of what is the last UK underground music movement, DubStep, but the simplicity of the track and the melodies just work fantastically. Met Skream once - nice lad.
3. The Soft Pack - Answer To Yourself
I don't know a great deal about these guys. My old band played with them last year and they were cool. Reminded me of what I always hoped Black Lips would sound like but it was a big light for me. The Soft Pack have got a healthy bite to them, you know?
2. Dutch Uncles - Fragrant
So these guys are from Manchester and they're like a better version of Everything Everything. They remind me of like, David Byrne fronting XTC on speed, but sounding very modern and vibrant at the same time. Really catchy songs too, but you have to find the catchiness, if you know what I mean? It's intense, great pop.
1. MF Doom - Gazillion Ear
I'm a massive hip-hop nerd and I absolutely worship Doom. His last full-length Born Like This is one of my favourite hip-hop records hands-down. Plus I love it when there's a little mystery behind musicians you dig, right? I love so much music, it's so easy to miss stuff with the internet etc - but I always keep an eye on what Doom's up to...
Highlight of 2010:
My highlight of the year was finally being able to get DPU back on the road after a summer of line-up change nightmares and the three of us living together, living on noodles and coffee all summer with no money. To finally take Growing Pains out and play live with my favourite boys, definitely a highlight for me.
Christmas Wish:
Hmmm... I guess I'd like someone to buy me an iPad! But that’s pretty superficial so I'll go for... I wish 2011 takes us a few new places and I get to meet a few more amazing people and generally get the word out to as many people as possible. I think our record deserves people’s attention, I mean it's a racket and all, but it's important to me that we're making big dumb rock music with loud guitars in 2010 and I don't want to stop anytime soon!
Dinosaur Pile-Up recently released their debut album ‘Growing Pains’, and are set to go out on the Rock Sound Tour in the new year.
Read more of the year's best bands choosing their own favourite albums and singles of 2010 in Advent Artists:
Advent Artists 2 - The Charlatans
Advent Artists 3 - Mumford & Sons/Communion Records
Greg Rose
