2005: A Year In Music

A retrospective on one of the most important years in music.

Hurricane Katrina wipes out New Orleans, Pope John Paul the second’s dies and Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory was rebooted. Although 2005 was plagued with these tragic events, there was some light in the form of some game-changing entertainment, and I’m not just referring to the fact that Madonna STILL had a music career. What follows is a list of artists and albums who helped to not only make 2005 a bit less dire but made a direct impact on music in one way or another, some of which are still apparent in music nowadays.

Bloc Party – Silent Alarm

An album that has been argued as being one of the best of the noughties, let alone 2005, Silent Alarm came out of nowhere to take the music world by storm. Although other indie rock artists such as Kaiser Chiefs were releasing music that year, their album being the vastly popular Employment, no other artist could make the same dent as Bloc Party did. Evoking global and political woes at the time such as the Iraq War (Pioneers) and the rise in price of oil (Price of Gas), Silent Alarm is a true testament to the power music has. Even now, a full decade after the album was released, Silent Alarm’s messages are more relevant than ever and manages to showcase not only Bloc Party’s excellent lyrics but also their tight music writing that manages to show off its energy while still keeping its head afloat to deliver its message.

Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better

Remember how I said no other indie rock artist could make a dent on the amazing Silent Alarm? Well that wasn’t exactly true. 2005 was a tremendous year as it provided a surge in growth of indie rock and one of the most prominent figures of this genre even to this day are Franz Ferdinand. Politics at this time were shady: Tony Blair had just won his third election and the public were furious after he had led the country to war out of pure greed. This could arguably be the catalyst for this growth as shown by the Glaswegian rockers second album, the follow up to their eponymously titled debut. The song You’re The Reason I’m Leaving is an excellent example of the political worries at the time, serving as a tongue in cheek song about PM Tony Blair and the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time Gordon Brown. “I’d no idea that in 4 years I’d be hanging from a beam behind the door of number ten.” The album overflows with crunchy guitars and catchy hooks that really show that you can have it so much better than your debut.
Kanye West – Late Registration

Along with indie rock, RnB was in full bloom. New artists were invading the stage, most notably Dr Dre protégé 50 Cent and contender for the title of queen of pop Rihanna. However, one loud-mouth self-titled genius with the ego the size of Jupiter was cementing on the success of his critically acclaimed debut with his sophmore release. The genius in question is none other than Kanye West and he did not disappoint. Regarded by many as a modern day classic, Late Registration features a tracklist that would make a Hollywood blockbuster go green with envy. Although there were pop hits like Touch The Sky and Gold Digger, which isn't surprising with West’s history in music production, but there were also thought provoking tracks. Album opener Heard Em Say is one of these songs, discussing the subject of being honest with yourself in a world that’s corrupt with lies. This release made way for Kanye’s heated rants that would be a notable theme in follow up albums Graduation, 808’s & Heartbreaks and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Fall Out Boy – From Under The Cork Tree

Musical fallacy seems like an appropriate term to use when describing Fall Out Boy's sophmore album. With all the tragic events that happened in 2005, it seemed inevitable that a genre such as emo music (style of rock music characterized by expressive, often confessional, lyrics ) would grow in popularity. Fall Out Boy were without a doubt one of the most prominent bands in the mid 2000's, it was almost impossible to find a teen magazine that wasn't covered in pictures of Pete Wentz. Their music was bipolar in nature and From Under The Cork Tree was no different. It was immensely popular with younger people due to their lyrical content that would have you kicking with teenage angst one minute, the next crying with despair over romantic woes. Lyricist and bassist Pete Wentz, in an interview that was as dark as his eye-liner, said “the lyrics are about the anxiety and depression that go along with looking at your own life” which is a universal theme regardless of age. To this day their sound still has an effect just like blink-182 did and bands like Neck Deep owe a lot to Fall Out Boy for making their style of sound more accessible to the general public.

Gorillaz – Demon Days

Thinking about this album has me feeling pretty old. Not only because it came out ten years ago but also because it was the first album I bought with my own money. I can still remember going to Asda and seeing the cartoon members of the fictional band adorning the cover, playing on my love of Saturday morning television that made up a large chunk of my childhood. What I heard though was exactly what I was expecting yet I was still surprised by what I heard. I can still remember the first time I heard Kids With Guns which gave me the image of a apocalyptic world where the playground has no barriers or rules, something that at the time both amused and frightened me. The maniacal laughing that's fundamental to the track Feel Good Inc will never leave my mind for as long as I live, as will every element of that track and this album. It's undeniably one of the most important albums I've ever listened to and with the recently confirmed new album in production, Gorillaz are now more relevant than ever.

I know I've missed out a lot of classics such as Danger Doom's The Mouse and The Mask as well as LCD Soundsystem's eponymous album but I didn't want to bore the lot of you with my constant droning about how much I love each individual album. If there's any albums you think deserve to be on this list then drop me a tweet @blinkclyro and I'll be back next Saturday with some more youthful ramblings. 

Best of 2014

Best of 2014
The albums and songs that made this year

2014. What a year. It may have the blockbuster nature of 2013 but that's what made it all the better as new artists that were previously unknown to the masses made a name for themselves with some of the most impressive records in their retrospective genres. That's not to say that there wasn't any big names releasing albums this year. If 2013 was a AAA film directed by Tarantino then 2014 was a Zach Braff film with Bill Murray and who could deny the appeal of both of them.

Albums

5. Weezer – Everything Will Be Alright In The End

1996. 5 Californian boys in an alt rock band write what's been hailed as one of the greatest albums of the 90's. The band in question is Weezer and for the past decade or so they've suffered from the success of Pinkerton. With every new release, fans are expecting a worthy successor to the album and are regularly disappointed but this was all changed with the release of Everything Will Be Alright In The End. Featuring some of the best songs that the band has produced in recent memory, arguably their whole career, EWBAITE is an apology letter to the fans and one that makes it hard not to forgive Rivers Cuomo and co.

4. Mac DeMarco – Salad Days

"I feel sort of weathered and beat down and grown up all of a sudden. I've always had some kind of plateau that I wanted to reach, and now I just can't see the next one.” This is how Canadian musician Mac DeMarco felt after his extensive touring that lasted over a year and you can really hear it. Salad Days , recorded in DeMarco's apartment, is laid back and relaxing, drawing you in with unwinding melodies like Let My Baby Stay and Blue Boy. It'll be a hard feat to find any other album that can calm and entertain you as much as this psychedelic pop beauty.

3. Aphex Twin – Syro

2014 wasn't just the year of the up and coming, as proved by the return of this borderline insane genius. Announcing his return by flying a small blimp over London carrying the trademark Aphex logo, master of ambience Richard D. James came out of nowhere to clinch the bronze with an album full of a sound that is brand spanking new yet quintessentially Aphex Twin. Starting off with what is arguably the best song of the year, Syro manages to captivate its audience from beginning to end with lovely minimalistic piano solo aisatsana [102] delivering an amazing end to an amazing album.

2. Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow

Fans of Bombay Bicycle Club can relax knowing that the boys have cemented themselves as one of the best in the current wave of British indie bands with such a tremendous album, infusing everything from synth pop to RnB that transfer to their live performances seamlessly. It’s odd to think how a band could create a record that has every single track bringing something new or tremendous to the table but Bombay Bicycle Club have managed it and from the looks of things, it’s not set to be the last time.

1. Run The Jewels – RTJ2

Hip Hop was a dominating force last year with Drake, Kanye, Tyler The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt and A$AP Rocky just a small slice of what the genre had to offer. However no album last year could prepare you for what Run The Jewels have to offer. You need proof? Take Blockbuster Night Part 1, a song true to its name as Killer Mike and El-P rap over a Godzilla-like beat, rap's equivalent to the Jaws theme tune. Every track is dark and fresh, I could honestly write page after page on why I love this abum. I'll save you all the earache and just tell you to go pick up Run The Jewels 2, it's in a whole fucking league of its own.

Songs

10. Alt J – Hunger Of The Pine

9.Kasabian - eez-eh

8. The Black Keys – Fever

7. Lana Del Rey – West Coast

6.Bombay Bicycle Club - Luna

5.Weezer – Back To The Shack

4.Run The Jewels – Lie, Cheat, Steal

3.Jack White - Lazaretto

2. Slaves – Where's Your Car Debbie?

1.Aphex Twin – minipops 67

4.Sun Kil Moon – Benji

Mark Kolezek, love him or hate him, is undoubtedly one of the best songwriters of all time. And Benji (his 6^th record under the Sun Kil Moon moniker) has cemented that claim. Benji isn’t an easy ride, but it’s a vital one. All of the album’s 11 tracks are heartbreakingly sad, from album opener Clarissa (which tells of one of Kolezek’s relatives who died in a freak fire at the age of 25) to closer Ben’s My Friend (Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie being the Ben in question), each and every song paints a vivid picture of a man who doesn’t truly know how to express himself outside of his music. Look past the public beefs and media bullshit and lose yourself in the mind of the 21^st centuries finest solo artist.

3. La Roux – Trouble in Paradise

If you’d have told me that the girl who sang Bulletproof would one day write one of my favourite pop albums of all time I would have laughed right in your face, yet here we are. Trouble in Paradise is a pop masterpiece. It’s 9 tracks are nothing short of pop-funk brilliance and I urge anyone and everyone to listen to it as soon as possible if you haven’t. The departure of founding member (and Elly Jackson’s former boyfriend) Ben Langmaid was, at the risk of sounding like a dick, the best thing that could have happened to La Roux from a creative standpoint. It gave Jackson more freedom to experiment with funk, afro-pop and Caribbean sounds, and these influences compliment Jackson’s voice greatly. Songs like Kiss and Not Tell and Sexoteque will instantly put a smile on your face, and remind me of Prince at the height of his powers. In short, this album is absolutely essential.

2. The Xcerts – There is Only You

Ah, the Xcerts. Hailing from my hometown, I couldn’t help but feel a wee twinge of pride when listening to their latest LP “There Is Only You”. This record is an absolute monster. It’s relentlessly catchy (I can say with complete honesty I get at least one song from the album stuck in my head a day, and I’m still not sick of it) but underneath the catchiness lies real lyrical heart. Songs like Pop Song and Kick It, while feverishly memorable, are truly sad at their core. This, from an outsider’s perspective, sounds like the album the Xcerts have always wanted to make. Heavy, poppy, sad, brilliant.

1. Taylor Swift – 1989/The Twilight Sad – Nobody Wants to be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t pick between these two albums. I tried, so hard to make a call and I just couldn’t. They’re both the best albums of the artists’ respective careers and they’re both absolutely stunningly brilliant. Content-wise, however, these albums couldn’t be any more different from each other. Taylor Swift has perfected the art of the pop song. She’s 100% the best pop star of the 21^st century, and she may well end up being the biggest pop star ever. Songs like I Know Places and Blank Space solidify this, some of the best pop songs to come out in YEARS. I could have used any song on the album to make that point thought: from start to finish it is nothing short of pop perfection. Now onto the Twilight Sad, the polar opposite to Swift’s bubblegum sweetness. The Twilight Sad are gritty, raw. Their songs have no happy endings, and they couldn’t give a fuck. There’s more heart and sadness poured into this album than there is in all the album’s released this year put together. From the devastating Drown So I Can Watch to album closer Sometimes I Wish I Could Fall Asleep and all the songs before and after, you’re grabbed by the throat and taken on a journey. It’s not an easy album to listen to, it’s a harder album to truly enjoy, but it is crucial to listen to.

Favourite albums of 2014:

• FKA twigs-LP1 Although Britain can boast about its electronic success stories like James Blake, Jai Paul and Jamie XX, female artists in the genre are few and far between. However this year, Tahliah Debrett Barnett, aka FKA twigs, served the U.K (and the rest of the world) a plate of female electronic goodness with her debut album LP1. The album is an absolute beauty, combining experimental pop, R&B/hip hop beats, and layered whispery vocals to create an original, almost angelic sound. LP1 undoubtedly features the newest sounds I’ve heard in British music in a while and is definitely the coolest, most weirdly seductive release this year.
  Favourite track: Give Up
• Nicki Minaj-The PinkprintNicki Minaj is easily one of the most hard working women in mainstream hip hop at the moment. Throughout 2014 she created buzz for the follow up to Roman Reloaded, releasing single after single, controversial video after controversial video and presenting the MTV EMAs. After all the hype I was worried that The Pinkprint wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but if anything, it exceeded them. Minaj is no one trick pony. The record is full of variety, going from emotional looks into her past, sultry duets with the likes of Beyonce and Ariana Grande, heart breaking ballads, pop bangers and impressive examples of her sheer rap talent. Trash talking Nicki is old news. The Pinkprint is fierce, fantastic; and makes her numerous skills absolutely undeniable.

Favourite track: Feeling Myself

• Warpaint-Warpaint

Warpaint are talented ladies. As impressed as I may have been with their debut “The Fool”, this follow up is so, so much more mature and developed. With production and mixing assistance from the likes of Flood and Nigel Godrich, and a new band line up, it seems Warpaint has truly allowed the girls to find their sound. As the songs were written mostly during jamming sessions the record has a raw, experimental feel to it, and as expected the vocals feature heart stopping harmonies that are hauntingly atmospheric. Alongside the indie dream pop vibes there are also aspects of shoe-gaze, electronic music, and most notably hip hop and R&B which gives the album a feel of originality. It’s a stunning release that can be left on repeat and still somehow manage to leave the listener fascinated.
Favourite track: Biggy

Favourite songs of 2014:

• Jack Garratt-The Love You’re Given

This song stunned me into silence the first time I heard it. It’s one of those tracks that makes your whole body feel like it’s melting from utter pleasure. I’m not even sure how you would go about making electronic music of this quality without selling your soul or something, and what’s more did the guy not only produce the thing with captivating samples and intelligent progression, he sings flawlessly on it, in a style reminiscent of James Blake but somehow smoother. I hope to hear a lot more from Jack in 2015 as this song has definitely caught my

attention.

• Pale Blue-The Past We Leave Behind

I have a thing for 80s style synth. The first record I ever bought when I got my turntable was The Human League’s “Dare”. Sometimes on Garage Band I just play with the retro keyboards instead of doing anything productive. I’ve also listened to the Drive soundtrack about a million times. This song is all of these things combined but with Zola Jesus style vocals and a more house-y rhythm that makes it perfect for dancing. It’s the definition of lovely uplifting synth joy.

• Azealia Banks-Miss AmorAzealia’s long awaited debut album “Broke With Expensive Taste” surprised everyone this year. It proved beyond anyone’s doubt that she is a powerful and talented lady, capable of working in various styles and genres. The stand out track from the record is “Miss Amor”, with beats similar to those of Lone and reminiscent of 90s house, as well as a killer flow AND seriously skilled vocals from AB. If you want cool 90s style rap, I suggest you turn to this song and the rest of Azealia’s album to satisfy your craving.
• SBTRKT ft ASAP Ferg-Voices In My Head

The closing track to the excellent “Wonder Where We Land” is an example of the success SBTRKT has found in mixing live recordings with his typical electronic sounds. The stunning piano lead melody sounds like a dark jazz song, accompanied by swirling, faded electronic keys, live drums, and ASAP Ferg’s brilliant flow. Towards the end the girls from Warpaint add in a few airy backing vocals to complete the killer combination, making this easily one of the best tracks of the year.

Sonic Highways by Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters’ eighth studio album received mixed reviews but you can’t deny they’ve still got it. The theory behind Sonic Highways- recording each song in a different city- flaunts the creative ideas of the band. Using the influences of each location, each track is distinctive but the classic Foo’s clash of guitars and strong vocals is still recognisable.

Most of the mere 8 songs are on point and carry a punch, making up for the limited length. As a stand-alone album, the music is more important than the concept, but the Sonic Highways documentary provides a deeper insight into the record.

Listen by The Kooks

From the first time hearing Listen, it felt like a world away from The Kooks’ earlier albums. They’ve gone in a completely different direction, experimenting with a variety of ideas. No more indie rock, although the guitars are still there, disguised under layers of funk, tambourines and claps. If you don’t want to sing along then you’re not listening properly. Each track is individual, standing out from the others, making their fourth album the most diverse one yet. Their older fans may not like the big change but some may be pleasantly surprised by this fun, upbeat release.

There Is Only You by The Xcerts

You can’t help but keep coming back to this album. The Xcerts put so much passion into their music and There Is Only You is no different. Blending rock with a small amount of pop, they’ve found the perfect balance of not-too-heavy but still rough enough. Even from the first listen, the songs leap out and don’t all mix into one. Catchy? Definitely. And the elegant title track is an unusual but beautiful finish. Touring recently with fellow Scottish band Twin Atlantic helped to boost their popularity along with this energy-filled album.

Royal Blood by Royal Blood

You only need to listen to this to see why Royal Blood have become so popular in such a short space of time. This self-titled debut has propelled their career- going from small shows to supporting Foo Fighters next year. It’s incredible how full and heavy the sound is for just bass and drums. Every song is epic in its own way, whether it’s for the pounding drum beat or the killer riffs. This album is filled to the brim with energy and it would be amazing to see them play live for it to come to life.

3. Temples // Sun Structures

Anyone who knows me will know I'm a huge Temples fan, in fact I also run a Temples Fan Blog, with my friend Andrew. I've seen them twice this year, and will see them for the third time in December. They're a fantastic Psychedelic rock band from Kettering, in England. The album sounds very like some of their influences, personally I feel their guitars sound quite Byrds-esque in some parts. James Bagshaw is an excellent writer, as is Thomas Warmsley. The pair wrote the full album together on their own. Their song "Shelter Song" has an excellent riff, as does "Colours To Life". The album sounds quite Egyptian in parts, with the organs and relatively simple drums. James has a thick guitar tone, with lots of distortion in songs like "Sun Structures" and "Mesmerise". The album is full of fantastic bass lines, all of which are complex.

2. The Orwells // Disgraceland

Until a few weeks ago this was probably my favourite album of 2014, and definitely up there with my favourite ever. It's an incredible album. The guitars are everything I've ever wanted to get through my crappy amp in my bedroom. The lyrics are fantastic and also at times really relatable, due to the band being approximately the same age as me. Grant Brinner lays down some great bass lines on the albums, as expected following up from their debut "Remember When" which is also worth a listen. The band produce excellent lyrics, and their drumming is pretty good too. To pin the album down to one track to one song is hard to do, but "North Ave" and "Dirty Sheets" are the ones I mostly find myself listening to. It's an album you'll listen to once, and each time have to listen louder, and louder.

1. Honeyblood // Honeyblood

Yep, you guessed. It was incredibly close, but Honeyblood's debut just beat The Orwells. I absolutely love this album, and seeing Honeyblood literally just made me want to drop everything and start playing gigs, really loudly. They're a two piece, and have an amazing sound. They're all killer, all filler. There's no empty spaces. The guitars suit every single song perfectly. The drums are simple and complex when they need to be, and there’s no overdoing it, or under-doing it. Stina has a sweet, prominent Glasgow accent in her voice, and it is full of attitude, and I love that. The band go from punk, to grunge, to pop, to light rock in the space of a few songs. The album is full of amazing songs, and I could go on about them for a lot longer, but you can read that in my full review. "Killer Bangs", "Super Rat" and "Fortune Cookie" are worth a listen, but the whole album is really. Forget HAIM. This is the band you want to be listening to. Also, did I mention they're Scottish too? Fuck yeah.

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Best of Biffy: Barra Special

Top albums chosen by fans on Twitter

2014 has undoubtedly been an important year for Biffy Clyro. Not only have they released another album, B-Side compilation Similarities, but they've been extensively touring the world, bringing their unparalleled passion to festivals around the world. From their 10^th appearance and first headlining set at T In The Park, where the Kilmarnock born rockers careers took off, to their staggering performance at the Belsonic Festival in Northern Ireland, bandmates and life long pals Simon Neil (Lead vocals, Guitar) and twin brothers James (Bass, Vocals) and Ben Johnston (Drums, Vocals) have worked their fingers to the bone to please their huge army of avid fans. With a set of upcoming gigs for the Barrowlands this week coming up, which will have the band playing the majority of their massive back catalogue, I thought it would be a great idea to see what everyone thinks of their career so far and ask them a difficult question; which Biffy album tops them all?

Joined Eighth 0% each

It wasn't surprising to me that the majority of b-side albums weren't shown as much love as their superstar counterparts. Although they didn't receive the same appreciation in the poll, it's clear to anyone that the following albums are still well loved by those who have listened to them with material like And With The Scissor-kick Is Victorious, off of the Vertigo of Bliss B-side compilation, being a strong fan favourite.

Missing Pieces

Released: May 14^th 2009

Infinity Land B-Sides

Released: 24^th September 2012

Vertigo of Bliss B-Sides

Released: 11^th June 2012

Blackened Sky B-Sides

Released: 2^nd April 2012

Fact: The band were formed in 1995, originally called Screwfish. “Mon the Screwfish” doesn't have the same kind of ring to it.

Joined Seventh 1% each

Similarities

Released in July of this year, Similarities not only features B-sides from sixth album Opposites but an unreleased track, Children's Limbs. Personally I think it's one of the weaker albums. By that I don't mean the tracks on selection are awful, Milky starts off with a instantly loveable country riff and ends in a blazing finish reminiscent to 2009's Bubbles, but during the album I felt like it was a bit too safe and few of the tracks stuck out to me as anything utterly mind-blowing.

Lonely Revolutions

Arguably the best b-side album, Lonely Revolutions came out in the summer of 2010, less than a year since the release of Only Revolutions. It's not hard to see why so many people prefer this over OR as the tracks on offer could have been released as it's own follow up album. Once An Empire features a great range of absurd lyrics that'll bring back memories of A Day Of... and Robbery will keep fans of the band's new found sound after their first 3 albums extremely pleased. All in all, a fantastic album that is well balanced and a joy from start to finish.

Fact: No one knows for sure what Biffy Clyro stands for. Explanations for it have varied from a pen named after Cliff Richard to the name being an acronym for “Big Imagination For Feeling You 'Cause Life Yearns Real Optimism.”

Sixth place 3%

Opposites: Live From Glasgow

Released just last month, the album is pretty much self explanatory. With 14 live recordings from the band's gig at the SECC last April, the album captures the consistent quality of their performances though the album does miss out some killer tracks that were played such as There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake.

Fact: Biffy were concerned when they allowed X-Factor winner Matt Cardle to cover their song 'Many of Horror'. Simon Neil told Kerrang, "We don't want to be too closely associated with (X Factor).

Fifth Place 4%

Revolutions : Live At Wembley

Another live album, this time better done with the full length of the gig recorded, no track left unplayed. Not only does the album come with a CD, it also comes with a DVD that shows footage of their Wembley arena gig as well as their T In The Park set from 2010. Oh, and band commentary, so there's really no excuse to not pick this up if you're a fan.

Fact: Robbie Williams asked Biffy to play football and collaborate on his new album. Neil explained to NME: "I got asked to play a solo on his record too, but I turned it down. I wish all the best for Robbie, but I don’t think he needs my help. Bizarrely, I think Slash is going to play the solo now, which makes the whole thing cooler."

Joined Fourth Place 9% each

Opposites

Released: January 28th 2013

Opposites is the band's sixth album and their first double album, a point that was heavily discussed from the album’s early days by Neil who was divided on whether or not it should be a double or triple album. I was lucky to get the album on release and was anxious for the result. Thankfully, Biffy released not only a great album but one of their finest albums that can sit along with the likes of Puzzle and Infinity Land. Different People can only be described as being a stadium anthem and is definitely one of the best tracks on the album with Victory Over The Sun being a personal favourite of mine. One of the strong points of the albums is the energy that you can practically feel when listening, probably due to the amount of years they have been in the business for. Although it's only a year old it's already loved by music fans and has been a stepping stone into the band, allowing them to dwell into their deep back catalogue.

Infinity Land

Released: October 3^rd 2004

Now this I can see pissing off a lot of people. Infinity Land is arguably the most creative album Biffy have came out with, even the song titles alone are stellar, and it's one of the two albums that always get brought up during the subject of which album is the best, the other being VOB. It's no surprise to see why when you first give the album a listen and hear opener Glitter and Trauma, a track that is eponymous in natures as synths twinkle over scratches of impending doom. There's a lot more to the album than just that one track, the first three tracks alone account for one of the best beginnings to an album I've ever experience, but from that first track you're strapped in and ready to experience something surreal. Despite its low position, it should be listened to by anybody at least once.

Fact: Biffy Clyro have frustrated aspirations to become a hip-hop crew, according to Simon Neil. “We’ll always be a rock band, but I want us to move in different directions," he told NME. "If I could rap, I’d be rapping on the next record. The Kanye record ['Yeezus'] blew me away! Hearing that made me think, Fuck we could be messing around with sounds like that!”

Third Place 13%

Only Revolutions

Released: 9^th November 2009

I'm not so surprised to see this album receive this big a chunk of the votes but I wasn't expecting it to trump IL, that's for sure. However, in a way, it deserves it. Puzzle might have put Biffy on the map but Only Revolutions put it in font size 34 in bold Arial writing with a saltire oozing out every character. The album from start to finish is never, ever boring. The Captain? An explosion of instruments try to silence the shouts and war-cries of the biffy boys. That Golden Rule? An onslaught of guitar riffs and drum smashing with the trademark Simon Neil vocals that are so unashamedly loud yet beautiful they give the hadron collider a run for its money. I could go on all day but all that needs to be said is Only Revolutions is a cracking record.

Joined Second Place 17% each

Blackened Sky

Released: 10^th March 2002

“This will kill you” whispers Simon Neil over a slow patter of drums before a pearl harbour size assault takes place. This is it. The album that started it all and introduced a trio of 20 something year olds to the face of music. From the album title alone it's clear that there's not going to be any happy songs, instead grim songs of heartache and angst. The sound quality is raw. Neil's voice seems to deteriorate with every scream. Ben Johnston scrambles around on the drums. And that's what makes it all so perfect.

Fact: Biffy Clyro wouldn't exist without Kurt Cobain, claims Neil. “Kurt Cobain taught me as a 12-year-old that you didn't have to be a great guitarist to write a song or to say something, so as a songwriter he's my biggest influence."

Vertigo Of Bliss

Released: 16^th June 2003

The follow up to their sinister and superb debut, Vertigo Of Bliss took everything that Blackened Sky did right and then some. Out goes the gloom and in goes a bit more light-hearted goodness albeit not by a lot. This doesn't harm the quality of the album though as each song, to put it simply, is bloody fantastic. Vertigo Of Bliss is the most accessible of all of the older biffy albums and for good reason. Opening track Bodies In Flight starts off pretty non menacingly but before long, it becomes a hurricane of hectic chords and harmonies, as stable as a 3 legged but all the more interesting for it. I could go on for hours about how much I love this album but words can't do it justice. Listen to it and you'll never regret it.

Fact: While touring the American east coast in 2013, the band took a fan up on her offer to host a Biffy gig in her basement to just 25 people. James later described it as one of their best ever shows.

First Place 26%

Puzzle

Released: June 4^th 2007

For many this is the first biffy album that they bought. I know it was for me anyway. I can clearly remember going out to get it around the time I started getting the bus into town, listening to my MP3 player with one song on it: Machines. I played it religiously and still play it whenever I get the chance. That's what I love most about Puzzle and it's not nostalgia affiliated. It's that every track holds some special quality, whether it be the entirely unique Living's A Problem or the heartbreaking and beautiful Folding Stars, a track that is in its own league when it comes to the emotion it evokes from the listener. There's nothing really else I can say, other than Puzzle is a masterpiece.

Fact: The band have pledged to continue to perform shirtless, even into old age. Simon Neil thinks that its “highly likely that you will see us at 55 years old with big pot bellies and our shirts bouncing around the stage, going fucking crazy.”

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