Year In Review: Emily Solan's Top Albums Of 2013

Words: Emily Solan

The FG collated writer poll of albums of 2013 is still to come but in the meantime, here's five top albums from the past year. Honourable mentions go to David Bowie, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Miles Kane, The Courteeners, Foals, Manic Street Preachers, and Suede.

Album Review: Franz Ferdinand - Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action

Franz Ferdinand – 'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action' (UK Release: 26 Aug '13) // Words: Emily Solan

Franz Ferdinand were the first band I properly fell in love with, the first proper band I loved and their debut was quite possibly the first album I went out of my way to get - thanks Grandma for making it my 13th birthday present. They were the reason I went to my first festival and quite possibly the reason I’ve turned out as I did. However, their last release 'Tonight: Franz Ferdinand' just didn’t capture me as the previous two had and until recently, I was completely non-plussed by this new release.

Playlist: Record Store Day 2013 Recommendations

Words: Team FG

Today is Record Store Day, an annual worldwide independent music extravaganza. By the time you read this, you may already have returned from your outing, records in tow. Equally, you might not have set out - every day is something of a record store day, after all. Either way, here are some of our recommended special releases that have come out on Record Store Day 2013.

Album Review: The Strokes - Comedown Machine

The Strokes - 'Comedown Machine' (UK Release: 25 March '13) // Words: Emily Solan

2011's 'Angles' hardly feels like a distant memory, though some of us may wish it was, but new album 'Comedown Machine' is proof that The Strokes are back stronger than ever. Maybe even rounding things off to a fitting end if there’s anything to those split rumours? Enough of that though.

Album Review: The Courteeners - Anna

The Courteeners - 'Anna' (UK Release: 4 Feb '13) // Words: Emily Solan

People say that the second album is the hardest but I don't believe that - the 'difficult second album' curse generally lowers expectations for album two so you're either underwhelmed or blown away. Album three is the important one, the one that determines whether you're a solid albums band or a repeat offender with more bad than good albums under your belt. Thankfully, 'Anna' has knocked it out of the park for The Courteeners.

Playlist: Top Ten Pop Tracks Of 2012

Words: Alison Potter, Emily Solan, and Saam Das

Sometimes we don't give pop quite the attention it deserves at FADED GLAMOUR. Then again, our definition of pop is probably looser than most people's. Anyway, here our ten favourite pop tracks of 2012, in a handy YouTube playlist. Gingers, Koreans, Girl Power - we've got it all covered.

Playlist: Emily Solan's Top Tracks Of 2012

Words: Emily Solan

To accompany my top ten albums of 2012, here are my top ten tracks of the last year. From older acts like Blur to the brand spanking new Palma Violets, listen to the ten tracks below. Watch out for a couple of surprise appearances....

Year In Review: Top 25 Tracks Of 2012

Words: Alison Potter, Emily Solan, Howard Gorman, Jack Thomson, Rajan Lakhani, Raman K, Saam Das, and Simon Opie

If you thought that end of year lists were history (winking smiley) by now then you'd be sorely wrong. We adopt an overly careful and considered approach when putting our lists together. We think the effort is worthwhile. Judge for yourselves below with our favourite songs of 2012 featuring everyone from big hitters like Bobby Womack and Arctic Monkeys to upcomers Mt. Wolf and LULS.

Playlist: Emily Solan's Top Ten Albums Of 2012

Words: Emily Solan

So many good albums came out in 2012 but here are my top ten from last year, including strong debuts from the likes of TOY and Spector and excellent follow-ups from Richard Hawley and Tame Impala. Read on and watch the video playlist to find out who came out on top.

Listen: Swim Deep - Honey [New Single]

Words: Emily Solan

Since their support slot on the Spec-tour the other week, to say that I'm a fully paid up member of the Swim Deep fan club would be a little bit of an understatement. Aside from being almost surgically attached to my Swim Deep bracelet and rocking their tees on runs around Leeds, their latest release 'Honey' has clocked up well over 1000 plays on my iPod since its release earlier this month.

Live Review: Spector @ Leeds Uni Stylus

Spector live at Leeds University Stylus (19 Oct, Leeds) // Words: Emily Solan

Tonight part of me really hoped Swim Deep and Splashh were taking notes on how to put on a show. The the other part of me saw them glide over our heads during a pretty incredible rendition of Spector anthem 'Chevy Thunder'. It was definitely that kind of night.

Album Review: This Many Boyfriends - This Many Boyfriends

This Many Boyfriends - 'This Many Boyfriends' (UK Release: 8 Oct '12) // Words: Emily Solan

Some bands try hard. They worry about the image, their influences, the chart and all that guff. Rather stupidly though, these bands forget all about the music. This Many Boyfriends are no such band. Their self-titled debut is an album packed full of perfect pop songs, and quite possibly the best new release this year.

Playlist: Record Store Day 2012 [Recommended Releases]

Words: Saam Das (with Jack Thomson and Emily Solan)

Record Store Day, dedicated to independent music shops and celebrated with exclusive releases and instore performances, is now an annual rite of passage for many music aficionados. Lustful collectors and everyday fans come together to show their support for record shops and perhaps get their hands on a special limited edition release. We've collated some of our favourite releases which are coming out today. Listen to the playlist below.

Album Review: Skint & Demoralised - This Sporting Life

Skint & Demoralised - 'This Sporting Life' (UK Release: 12 March '12) // Words: Emily Solan

The story of Skint & Demoralised is quite harrowing. Signed to a major label, an incessantly catchy single that is promoted to hell (including a spot on Britain’s foremost new music output 'Loose Women'), disappointing sales and a debut album leak all added up to create a catastrophic calamity, and a somewhat distressing attempt at a solo career. Thankfully Matt Abbott is back with a second album full of inoffensive sing along ditties that suit the current spate of warm weather perfectly.

Listen: This Many Boyfriends - Starling [New Single]

Words: Emily Solan

This Many Boyfriends are probably the best band you'll ever listen to. Their brand of indie pop makes no excuses for itself, the delightful jingle jangle of guitars in their new single 'Starling' errs just on the right side of being twee. Listen to the track below, along with b-side 'Just Saying'.

Futuresounds: 2012 Tips / Ones To Watch [Full List]

Words: Saam Das

For the lazy/organised among us, you may wish to sample our list of twelve tips for 2012 all in one ago. In which case, you're actually in the right place for once. Honourable mentions appear after the jump. And if you wanted to check last year's for comparision, then here's our Futuresounds of 2011.

Part 1 - Alabama Shakes, Alt-J, BASTILLE
Part 2 - Charli XCX, Daughter, Friends
Part 3 - Michael Kiwanuka, Niki & The Dove, Oliver Tank
Part 4 - Spector, The Staves, Team Me

2012 Ones To Watch / Tips: Spector, The Staves + Team Me

Words: Saam Das (unless otherwise stated)

And so concludes our brief foray into "tastemaking" for the forthcoming months. Will any of the twelve bands/artists we've chosen actually manage to become commercially, or even critically, successful? We're not so sure. But the reason we've chosen them is that we want to support them. The idea is that perhaps you'd like (at least some of) them to do well too.

2012 Tips / Ones To Watch: Alabama Shakes, Alt-J + BASTILLE

Words: Saam Das (unless otherwise stated)

It's coming up to the end of February and I know what you're thinking - what's the point in doing your tips for 2012 now? Well, we'd like to think that this means that the hype has died down on certain bands while prominent others are emerging. We did much the same last year, although this time around, FG writers have chipped in too. To such an extent that I'll be splitting the tips up into four separate posts. Here be part one....

Album Review: Tribes - Baby

Tribes - 'Baby' (UK Release: 16 Jan '12) // Words: Emily Solan

As long ago as it seems, it was this time last year that I was tipping Tribes to be the next big things. It seems that my predictions were wholly accurate, with every man and his dog frothing at the mouth at the release of their debut 'Baby' (count the recent double page spread in The Sun among all this hoo-hah). This collection of faux-grunge, hipster anthems, however, leaves a slightly bitter taste.

Top 50 Albums Of 2011: 10-1 [Part Four]

Words: Saam Das

And lo, our list of the fifty most stupendous albums of 2011 finally comes to a close. Thanks to all our contributing writers, namely: Rajan Lakhani, Simon Opie, Emily Arc, Jon Sidwell, Emily Solan, Jack Thomson, Raman Kamboh and Kieran Toms. Some honourable mentions which didn't quite make the list include efforts by: Laura Marling, Oneida, Oneohtrix Point Never, The Antlers, Low and Metronomy. Feel free to add any others we missed out in the comments below.

Links to the other parts: 50-31 // 30-21 // 20-11 // 10-1