Years Like These

So, here it is people. It's nearly 2010. End of a decade,beginning of a new era blabla.
Could you believe that, ten years ago, I was wearing black and worshiping some androgyn british guitarist ? (Who said 'You didn't change' ???)

Anywayyy. As it's december, aka 'the month where everyone makes lists and brings nostalgia in our heads', We, Groupies/Teasers/Bitches, contribute to that madness, by writing here about albums that owned us these last ten years.

Here's my list. Enjoy. Or don't. It doesn't count, does it?


The Joy Formidable - A Ballon Called Moaning (2009)
omgomgomgomg. You all know my ears have been feed by My Bloody valentine and Smashing Pumpkins. When I first heard 'Cradle',the first single, I thought I've found Heaven. That said, that mini album is one of the best things released this year. Whirring or Ostrich are perfect exemples.

Johnny Foreigner - Waited Up Till It Was Light (2008)
Everything is just perfect in that 1st album : lyrics I can relate to (even if I'm not from Birmingham, ie 'Sometimes in the Bullring'), inventive guitar tricks ('Hennings favorite' someone?), the boy/girl yelps I cherish. Since last october, these 13 hymns follow me like ghosts.Not that I'm complaining tho.

Blood Red Shoes - Box Of Secrets (2008)
Without this band, I wouldn't be here telling my stories. Back to 2006, when I first listen to them, I loved the grungey vibe they got. One year later, they were the 1st band I interviewed 'for real'. One year after, their first album appeared and I was caught by 'This is not For You'. We're late 2009 now, and most of my friends are related to this band. See The Subways for a similar story.


Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (2008)
October 08 document, post UK-traveling : How to sum up your complicated/catastrophic love life in 11 songs? ask Gareth Campesinos. Btw, Gareth, please stop being in my head when you sing 'It's Never That Easy Though, Is It?, my heart can't stand it. Sometimes known as 'best album ever', when I'm up for it.


Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (2007)
Late discovery, thanks fellow BRS boardies!!! Rusted Wheel is brilliant. Reminds me of my beloved Smashing Pumpkins. Excellent album


Serena Maneesh - Serena Maneesh (2006)
In 2004, I met someone who introduced me to My Bloody Valentine. In 2005, I met Serena Maneesh, who got the same spirit and taste for weird sounds and jazzmasters. In 2006, I saw their album in Covent Garden's Rough Trade. Little things make me happy.

The Subways - Young For Eternity (2005)
2005 was really intense for various reasons. I could actually tell you it was the worse year of my entire life. Strangely enough,it was also the year everything changed musically (for me). The Subways and their YFE weren't only that great,fresh teens with lots of energy on stage (euphemism), they were (still are) the band that changed my existence : creating a website, traveling through UK, meeting & partying with people who are now close friends.There's no goodbyes, they said.

The Rakes - Capture/Release (2005)
Burning dancefloors, being invited to hip parties, drinking orange juices when everyone is on drugs, sleeping in trainstations/on strangers floors, meeting scenesters and waving to Alan McGee. That's what this album is related to, in my mind.

Editors - The Backroom (2005)
Other part of the 'Great/horrible year 2005'. Munich and Fingers in the Factories still ringing in my ears. The whole album is stunning tho.

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (2005)
I remember thinking 'waow, a Cure side project' when i first heard 'Banquet'. Pardon my ignorance folks. 'Plans' is my favorite track.


The Cure - The Cure (2004)
I was so impatient to listen to that album that i've skipped school to buy it. Lost is an amazing track. The End Of The World and Before #3 are some of the best tracks Robert Smith has written.Btw,yes, I'm still in love with Simon Gallup.

Indochine - Paradize (2002)
French band. First cult following I was allowed to do. (hey I was only 16). First gigs,fans and longtime friendships; The band? some Depeche Mode/Cure/Pumpkins/NiN copycats.But fun anyway. 'Dark' & 'La Nuit des Fees' are real standouts. Plus, Melissa Auf Der Maur appears on one track!

The Libertines - Up the Bracket (2002)
Because of them, I : started a band, went to famous parties, improved my english, dreamed of Albion, skipped school a thousand of times and had endless chats about Pete&Carl, met some awesome people. I don't care what people will say about it : This album was a big breath of oxygen in our lives. that is all.

Queen Adreena - Drink Me (2002)
2nd year of high school. New town, new faces and Rocksound magazine, one cold morning, just before the english lesson. Katie Jane Garside is interviewed : her band is playing the french festival 'Les Transmusicales'. The journalist compares her to an 'UFO'. She compares herself to 'a bit of sand in the whole Universe' and truly thinks that 'all the world is a collective dream. We don't exist properly'. Of course, I bought the album afterwards. Her raw punk coupled to her fragile voice still amaze me, seven years later.



Damien Saez - God Blesse (2002)
French artist. Arrogant and talented. In 2002, he released his 2nd album, a double-album actually. Controversial and risky choice, amplfied by the fact half of the compositions are classical music. God Blesse/Katagena is sometimes pure as snow, sometimes dirty, but always intriguing and beautiful. How many times did I put that album at night, crying for a better tomorrow? I've lost count.


Muse- Origin Of Symmetry (2001)
at 15, I was way more impressed by Brian Molko singing about bi-love, but this album totally owned me. Bliss is still a tune, and Hyper Music often helped me during this year.And I think I've learnt to sing with Feeling Good.

Placebo - Black Market Music (2001)
Teenage years hello! I have to confess a deep obsession for Sir Molko, from 13 to ...18,yes. Black Market Music isn't my favorite album (Without You i'm Nothing ftw), but Taste In Men is one of the sexiest tracks I've ever heard.

Depeche Mode - Exciter (2001)
Before being a shoegazer, I was 'new waver' (sometimes mistaken as Goth.) I've never been able to resist Dave Gahan's voice and Martin Gore melodies ; 'I am You', 'I feel loved' and of course 'Dream On' : soundtracks of my last year before high school.That was good.

Marilyn Manson - Hollywood (2001)
Yes. Oh don't tell me you didn't listen to it. To be honest, it was fun to frighten classmates with songs like Fight Song or The Nobodies. Apparently, one of my nicknames at the time was Suicidal Girl. Classy.

Ash - Free All Angels (2001)
Summer album!!! 'Burn Baby Burn' was really popular in my 1st year of high school.But I definitely prefer 'Walking Barefoot' or 'Sometimes'. See, I'm a teenage romantic. Oh , did you know 'Candy' has its own french version? It's hilarious.

Smashing Pumpkins - Rotten Apples (best of) (2001)
BEST BAND EVER EVER EVER. Excuse the fangirlism here. I discovered Billy C and his posse the year they announced their spilt-up. Sad times heh? This best-of was released the year after, and, even if I already owned 'Adore', I obviously bought it. Covering all eras, this 2-discs edition got some interesting bsides. And a beautiful booklet.



The French One x