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....

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.

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

Top 50 Albums Of 2011: 20-11 [Part Three]

Words: Saam Das

Our top fifty albums of the past year continues in this penultimate post. We'll wrap this up tomorrow.

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

Top 50 Albums Of 2011: 30-21 [Part Two]

Words: Saam Das

Our top 50 albums of 2011 list continues....

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

Top 50 Albums Of 2011: 50-31 [Part 1]

Words: Saam Das

Some magazines did their albums of the year list back in November. Albums of the past 11 months, more like. We've decided to take our time, while aiming to be equally comprehensive in the manner of our poll - I asked the FG team for their list of albums of the year and the resulting posts exhibit democracy in action. Further parts are due shortly.

Live Review: The Chapman Family @ Independent

The Chapman Family at SUMO Sunderland, Independent (4 Nov '11) // Words: Emily Solan

The newest clubnight to hit Sunderland, SUMO bought all guns ablazing by treating clubgoers to not one but two live bands on Friday night - headlined by The Chapman Family. That terrible concept of pre-drinking that my flatmate insisted upon meant that I missed all but one song by Liars Lie!, but what I heard I did like. And considering that the city of Sunderland is pretty much chav central, there was a decent turn out.

Album Review: Summer Camp - Welcome To Condale

Summer Camp - 'Welcome To Condale' (UK Release: 31 Oct '11) // Words: Emily Solan

Welcome to Condale, the imagined surroundings of this long-awaited debut release from one of the years greatest prospects, Summer Camp. Encapsulating every emotion that teenagers encounter in life, Elizabeth Sankey and Jeremy Warmsley have packaged love, loss and heartbreak into an audio delight that could soundtrack any 80s Bratpack movie.

Album Review: Manic Street Preachers - National Treasures [The Complete Singles Collection]

Manic Street Preachers - 'National Treasures - The Complete Singles' (UK Release: 31 Oct '11) // Words: Emily Solan

As a band older than I am, I’ve grown up with the Manics. I’m never one to shy away from how much I love them, having been brought up in a household where it verged upon compulsory to adore the band. With all that history, it really is a bit of an occasion for the band to reach the incredible milestone of a second Greatest Hits album (and in my new capacity as a “journalist”, I have for once had the pleasure to beat my parents to owning this!)

Album Review: Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

Ryan Adams - 'Ashes & Fire' (UK Release: 10 Oct '11) // Words: Emily Solan

A regularly occuring discussion between me and friends is how certain artists suit seasons. And at the forefront of the argument is often Ryan Adams, whose newest release 'Ashes & Fire' is a god send for the forthcoming season of cold nights, rainy days and hot chocolate. Opening with 'Dirty Rain', the raw power of Adams' voice alone is the first thing to catch you, yet its his honest lyrics coupled with that delivery that sends shivers down the spine. And thankfully, the same can be said for the rest of the album.