The last time I heard from the bookmakers, Daft Punk were about to clinch the fastest selling album in UK chart history. Fair play to ‘Random Access Memories’, I say. It has ambition and humour, a svelte orchestra and the magic sashay of Nile Rogers. You will know that it’s graced by Pharrell Williams, Giorgio Moroder, Julian Stroke and other notables. It’s the soundtrack for a cyborg dalliance, for triple dip gestalt, a bit anxious and sometimes partial to solace in retro particles. But hey, it’s transcendental at best.
The current title for fastest-selling record is ‘Be Here Now’ by Oasis. Yes, that oafish, self-regarding babble. Over-dubbed and absurdly stimulated, the band thought they were Sgt Pepper’s when they were actually Privates On Parade. The media bottled their critique and 350,000 bought it on the day of release. If you really need to listen to the record, then I suggest you simultaneously read Kill Your Friends’ by John Niven, a barely fictionalised novel about Britpop and an industry gone filthy, baseless, pathological. We don't deserve Oasis as the cap on any commercial achievement. Come on in, Daft Punk and consider yourselves welcome.
The Cashmeres – Yes Yes Yes (Mercury)
Camera Obscura – Do It Again (4ad)
David Bowie – The Next Day (ISO)
The National – Sea Of Love (4ad)
Palma Violets – Best Of Friends (Rough Trade)
Bell XI – The End Is Nigh (Belly Up)
Lloyd Cole – Period Piece (Tapete)
Daft Punk - Give Life Back To Music (Sony)
Desert Hearts – Powertrash (No Dancing)
The National – Don’t Swallow The Cap (4ad)
Johnny Cash – Redemption Songs (American)
Oscar And Jeanette – Hey Boy Hey Girl (EMI)
Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra – Guns Fever (Absolute)
The National – Fireproof (4ad)
Dion – In And Out Of The Shadows (Ace)
Daft Punk – Beyond (Sony)
Melt Yourself Down – Free Walk (Leaf)
Patti Griffin – Highway Song (New West)
Primal Scream – Walking With The Beast (First International)
CocoRosie – Tears For Animals (City Slang)
The National – Heavenfaced (4ad)
Daft Punk - Doin It Right (Sony)
Feathers – Soft (BMG)
