Album review: NME The Album 2009

Album review: NME – The Album 2009

NME presents their soundtrack of 2009 but it smells like Radio 1’s playlist.

It’s about as edgy as the defunct Just 17 magazine, beloved by 11-year-olds, I almost expect a giant Johnny Depp or Christian Slater poster and silver plated dog tag necklace to pop out.

Who needs compilation albums anymore? Half the tunes are obsolete or any worth having should already be in your collection. In the digital age we hold the power; if you don’t like it, skip it, don’t pay £10 for an album full of it.

Many of these tunes may already be imprinted into your memory because they are played 50 times a day by Radio 1, including the gorgeous 80s throwback Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition and indie anthem Kasabian – Fire.

Dad rock staples from Muse, White Lies, Franz Ferdinand, Ian Brown and the Manics are totally predictable, but no lucky charms. Though Esser’s Headlock is a groover, and other keepers include Friendly Fires indie love song Kiss Of Life and Golden Silvers – Please Venus, is from another time.

But I wouldn’t piss on Jamie T’s Sticks and Stones or Paramore’s emo-rocker Ignorance. Skip the ghastly, overhyped Little Boots. They didn’t get the licensing for any decent tracks from BBC (Bombay Bicycle Club) so settled on The Hill.

Throw in indie hymns and more radio faves The Big Pink’s Dominos and the ‘kooky’ Marina & The Diamonds’ Obsessions with ringleaders Biffy Clyro and Enter Shikari for the hobbits.

If you like Radio 1 you’ll love this. If you like bands because NME tell you to you’ll probably buy this. They’ll be playing this inoffensive background music in a Harvester pub any day now.

CD1
1. Muse – Uprising
2. Kasabian – Fire
3. Friendly Fires – Kiss Of Life
4. Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero
6. Jamie T – Sticks & Stones
7. The Big Pink – Dominos
8. Maximo Park – In Another World
9. The Enemy – Be Somebody
10. Franz Ferdinand – Ulyesses
11. White Lies – Death
12. Passion Pit – The Reeling
13. The Maccabees – No Kind Words
14. Gossip – Love Long Distance
15. Jack Penate – Tonight’s Today
16. Peter Doherty – Last Of The English Roses
17. Esser – Headlock
18. The Virgins – Private Affair
19. The Cribs – Cheat On Me
20. Gallows – I Dread The Night

CD2
1. Biffy Clyro – That Golden Rule
2. Paramore – Ignorance
3. Green Day – Know Your Enemy
4. The Prodigy – Warrior Dance
5. Enter Shikari – No Sleep Tonight
6. The Horrors – Who Can Say
7. The View – 5 Rebeccas
8. Ian Brown – Stellify
9. Bombay Bicycle Club – The Hill
10. Howling Bells – Into The Chaos
11. Little Boots – Remedy
12. Marmaduke Duke – Je Suis Un Funky Homme
13. Marina & The Diamonds – Obsessions
14. Animal Collective – My Girls
15. Danananananakroyd – Back Wax
16. Golden Silvers – Please Venus
17. Phoenix – 1901
18. Manic Street Preachers – Peeled Apples
19. Graham Coxon – Dead Bees
20. Glasvegas – Flowers & Football Tops