Musick's Top 20 albums: 16

Jack Peñate – Everything Is New



The title of Peñate’s second album could not have been more appropriate had he called it This Second Album Is Really Quite Different To The First One. As with friends The Maccabees, Peñate ditched the prevailing sound of his debut (a kind of annoying indie rockabilly) in favour of a much more expansive sound, taking in afrobeat (‘Tonight’s Today’) and elements of dance and gospel (‘Pull My Heart Away’). Helped by producer Paul Epworth, Everything Is New is the sound of a young talent realising his potential.

Key track: ‘Pull My Heart Away'

Musick's Top 20 albums: 19

The Maccabees – Wall Of Arms



Drafting in Arcade Fire’s producer Markus Dravs and adding a whole load of shimmering guitar lines does not a band make, of course, but on The Maccabees’ second album it makes for a far more dynamic album then they mustered with their debut. Built around those towering guitars and Orlando Weeks’ swollen, yelping vocals, the “indie also-rans” (source: just about every music journalist, circa 2007), have taken a massive leap towards building a lasting career. Plus, ‘Love You Better’ is properly amazing.

Key track: ‘Love You Better’

The Maccapeas

We're well aware that this song was first aired way back in July (it's October already!?), but we only heard it recently and can't stop listening to it. Now, we all know that Jo Whiley is an unforgivable arse, but her 'Live Lounge' thing has produced some interesting cover versions. From little Will Young re-imaging 'Hey Ya' as a jazzy epic to Florence & The Machine tearing strips off of Beyoncé's 'Halo', there were moments when the artist really "made the songs their own". For The Maccabees that song was 'Boom Boom Pow' by the Black Eyed Peas...



Imagine if the Editors had tried this...awful, huh? The Maccabees don't take it seriously, they have a bit of a giggle, but at the same time the beat and the guitar sounds are amazing and Orlando Weeks gives it his best, "Will.i.am drop the beat now". The beat cover version since Robson & Jerome's 'Unchained Melody' and we really mean that.