Ahead of casting my vote for the 2010 AMF album poll I'm listening to as many albums as possible. Am sorry to confess that come the year-end lists I normally don't focus on European albums that are not sung in English too much because of the language barrier. But considering that you can find translated lyrics fairly easily on the net, that's just a bit lazy.
I've just listened to El Guincho's Pop Negro and Håkan Hellström's 2 steg från Paradise because they appeared on various national year-end lists - and I liked both. Before I delve into more albums, I was wondering if anyone had recommendations? (I've listened to the usual suspects of European albums that are either sung in English or don't include vocals - Robyn, The Radio Dept, Pantha du Prince, The Tallest Man on Earth, Delorean, etc... oh, and I've also listened to Jonsi's Go).
Quickly (to be continued)
For the French albums, I recommand you, in order :
Florent Marchet - Courchevel
BB Brunes - Nico Teen Love
Arnaud Fleurent-Didier - La Reproduction
Bernard Lavilliers - Causes Perdues et musiques tropicales
Louis Chedid - On ne dit jamais assez aux gens qu'on aime qu'on les aime
Eddy Mitchell - Come Back
Mylène Farmer - Bleu Noir
And excellent French albums in english.
Yann Tiersen - Dust Lane
Cocoon - Where the oceans End
Aaron - Birds in the storm
For the French albums (pop rock chanson), I recommend you, in order :
Florent Marchet - Courchevel
BB Brunes - Nico Teen Love
M - Mister Mystère
Arnaud Fleurent-Didier - La Reproduction
Bernard Lavilliers - Causes Perdues et musiques tropicales
Camélia Jordana - Camélia Jordana
Poney Express - Palladium
Philipe Katerine - Katerine
Louis Chedid - On ne dit jamais assez aux gens qu'on aime qu'on les aime
Chapelier Fou - 613
Eric Arnaud - L'armure
Bertrand Belin - Hypernuit
Alain Chamfort - Une Vie Saint-Laurent
Emmanuelle Seigner - Dingue
Benjamin Paulin - L'homme Moderne
Jacques Higelin - Coup de foudre
Eddy Mitchell - Come Back
Mylène Farmer - Bleu Noir
And excellent French albums sing in english.
Pony Pony Run Run - You need Pony pony run run
Cocoon - Where the oceans End
Angil and the Hiddentracks - The And
Clara Clara - Confortable Problems
Yasmine Kyd - Earth Woman
Yann Tiersen - Dust Lane
Yodelice - Cardioïd
Aaron - Birds in the storm
This is the list of my favorite Spanish albums. I made a playlist in Spotify with three of the best songs from each album. Unfortunately, the album that I put in the first place is not available, but you can see videos in youtube of three songs: Ellas me llaman de usted, Japón Sevilla y Nueva Ola Guardiola.
In brackets, the musical style of each album, and the language of the songs, if anyone has preferences in this regard.
1. Los Directivos: Por amor y jerarquía (Synth Pop) – Spanish
2. Klaus & Kinski: ¡Tierra, trágalos! (Shoegaze) – Spanish
3. Bla: La mejor enfermedad (Twee Pop) – Spanish
4. Nacho Umbert & la compañía: Ay…(Singer/Songwriter) – Spanish
5. Single: Monólogo interior (Pop) – Spanish
6. La Troba Kung-Fu: A la panxa del bou (Rumba) – Catalan, Spanish, English
7. Los Punsetes: Lp2 (Pop) – Spanish
8. Mittens: Dear Park Mirage (Twee Pop) – English
9. Pauline en la playa: Física del equipaje (Pop) – Spanish
10. Aias: A la piscina (Noise Pop) – Catalan
11. Marlango: Life in the Treehouse (Soul/Pop) – English
12. Tachenko: Os reís porque sois jóvenes (Pop) – Spanish
13. Maderita: Vivir para creer (Folk Pop) – Spanish, Catalan
14. Espaldamaceta: Miedo al silencio, segunda parte (Singer/Songwriter) – Spanish, Catalan
15. El Hijo: Madrileña (Singer/Songwriter) – Spanish
16. Maria Rodés: Una forma de hablar (Pop) – Spanish
17. Delafé y las flores azules: Vs. Las trompetas de la muerte (Hip-Hop/Pop) – Spanish
18. Dotore : Los veranos y los días (Pop) – Spanish
19. Espaldamaceta: Miedo al silencio (Singer/Songwriter) – Spanish, Catalan
20. Gentle Music Men: Cuentos modernos (Pop) – Spanish, English
Thanks Miguel !
I try to put one song for each artist, it's more simple for discovering these artists and the style of each :
Florent Marchet - Courchevel Benjamin
BB Brunes - Nico Teen Love Nico Teen Love
M - Mister Mystère Le roi des ombres
Arnaud Fleurent-Didier - La Reproduction Reproductions
Bernard Lavilliers - Causes Perdues et musiques tropicales L'exilé
Camélia Jordana - Camélia Jordana Calamity Jane
Poney Express - Palladium Palladium
Philipe Katerine - Katerine La Banane
Louis Chedid - On ne dit jamais assez aux gens qu'on aime qu'on les aime Tu peux compter sur moi
Chapelier Fou - 613 Les métamorphoses du vide
Eric Arnaud - L'armure Cheval
Bertrand Belin - Hypernuit La Chaleur
Alain Chamfort - Une Vie Saint-Laurent A la droite de Dior
Emmanuelle Seigner - Dingue Dingue
Benjamin Paulin - L'homme Moderne Dites le avec des flingues
Jacques Higelin - Coup de foudre
Eddy Mitchell - Come Back L'esprit grande prairie
Mylène Farmer - Bleu Noir Oui mais non
Aaron - Birds in the storm U-turn Lili (for the previous album)
Yodelice - Cardioïd Breathe in
Pony Pony Run Run - You need Pony pony run run HEy You
Cocoon - Where the oceans End Oh my god
Angil and the Hiddentracks - The And Lipograms
Clara Clara - Confortable Problems Paper crows
Yasmine Kyd - Earth Woman Rebels
Yann Tiersen - Dust Lane Dust Lane
BB Brunes - BB Brunes Taste of a baby
Thanks very much, Romain and Miguel. I've really enjoyed listening to your recommendations - they are a refreshing change from the American and British music that usually dominate year-end lists. The albums you recommended represent such a variety of styles that I think anyone will find something in this thread they really like.
Romain - these are my favourites from your list of French albums:
1. Florent Marchet - Courchevel
2. Yann Tiersen - Dust Lane
3. Arnaud Fleurent-Didier - La Reproduction
4. Chapelier Fou - 613
5. Bertrand Belin - Hypernuit
Miguel - my favourites from your recommended Spanish albums:
1. Espaldamaceta: Miedo al silencio
2. Pauline en la playa: Física del equipaje
3. Mittens: Dear Park Mirage
4. Gentle Music Men: Cuentos modernos
5. La Troba Kung-Fu: A la panxa del bou
I am glad that Antonius and Dan enjoyed some of the albums I've recommended. It's unusual to find Anglo-Saxons interested in the music of other countries, so thank you, Dan. I must also admit that I am too lazy to listen to European or American music that is made outside the UK or U.S.. Therefore, I'll try to listen to some of the songs recommended by our friend Romain(t). Je le promets!