The Best 20(of)11, From 10 to 2

I've always found it odd when people put up a list of the best albums in mid-November seems a bit unfair to anyone who's daft enough to release an album in December and try and battle the twin behemoths of Michael Buble and the X-Factor for chart supremacy (good on all those plucky indie triers!) That said I must admit that the 31st of December is really pushing it for an end of year list but heck I made it before big Ben chimes and the proverbial decending glitter ball marks the end of all things 2011, so here is the the next installment in Sam's Best 20 albums of 2011 which will take us all the way up to number 2, before later today I reveal the album of the year...oh gosh it's exciting isn't it?!?!

Number 10

British Sea Power - Valhalla Dancehall

Number 9

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

Number 8

Bonnie Prince Billy- Wolfroy Goes To Town

Number 7

Beirut - The Rip Tide

Number 6

Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know

Number 5

Tom Waits- Bad As Me

Number 4

Josh.T.Pearson - Last Of The Country Gentlemen

Number 3

Metronomy - The English Riviera

Number 2

Wild Beasts - Smother

Merry Christmas from T.R.T.P

Seasons Grettings everybody!

Here's a little gift from us to you as a way of thanking you all very much for your support throughout this year and looking forward to an even better 2012.

This track is taken from the recording sessions we did at Hall Place with the wonderful producer that is Richard Formby that made up our new album Twin Beds (Out February 13th on Oddbox Records!)

This track didn't make the final track-listing through no fault of it's own and it didn't deserve to be confined to the dustbin, as we think a b-sides and rarities compilation is unlikely to rear it's head in the near future we thought we'd save you the wait.

So here's wishing you all Merry Christmas and we'll hopefully see you all in the new year!

Advent Day 24: The Christmas Times They Are a'Changin

Quoth the Guardian Review of Bob Dylan's opinion dividing Christmas album

"Sceptics should go to YouTube and watch the Must Be Santa video clip. This rollicking song, featuring a rattled-out list of US presidents, is set to a high-kicking shuffle rhythm, decorated by Hidalgo's exuberant Tex-Mex accordion, and delivered by Dylan as a sort of punk-Dickensian Father Christmas from amid the incipient mayhem of a slightly out-of-hand Christmas Eve party. More fun than Renaldo and Clara, for sure"

So come on sceptics gather round...fun yes, good maybe

Advent Day 23: How To Steal Christmas

So looking around the world (well Twitter anyway) it seems like today is the day that the natural cynics around us are getting a little tired of all this forced jollity, that maybe it's been one novelty Christmas cover too many, one too many ho-ho-ho's and one too many turkey themed sandwich.

So here's something decidedly unfestive that the wonderful Twilight Sad have put out as something of an antidote to all that, so here it is in all it miserable glory The Twilight Sad covering INXS's Never Tear Us Apart, you can pick up a copy of this track over at their website now

Bah-Humbug to one and all...

Advent Day 22: Speaks For Itself

For todays I really have nothing to add, just sit back and enjoy as Santa Dances to Breakbot's Baby i'm yours...it really is quite something.

Advent Day 21: Fa La La La

It had to happen eventually, a child of the 80s put in charge of a Christmas countdown of any sorts would eventually end up with The Muppets, from Gonzo to the grumpy old men who didn't love the Muppets?

And when they combined with Dickens to make a Muppets Christmas Carol it'd take a heart of stone to say no, this clip is a personal favourite clip from the film as it involves puppets rhyming! what more could anyone want?

Advent Day 20: The Christmas Brothers

Recently I went to the Independent Records Market at Old Spittalfields market that was designed to raise funds for those affected by the PIAS fire, a very noble cause that I would feel much better about if I hadn't come back empty handed bar a load of free samplers and an Aiden Moffat bottle opener (every little helps as they say)

However on those samplers from Loose Records I finally got around to discovering The Felice Brothers, one of the many bands in the world i'd always assumed I liked but never actually got around to listening too, and it turns out I was right. So if anyone's stuck for Christmas Presents for me (i'm sure you're all getting me one right?!) then Loose Records and The Felice Brothers is a great place to start...and who says my inner cheap skate wasn't helping anyone!

Here's a rather lovely number festive they've done entitled simply The Christmas Song...enjoy then buy a record from one of the many wonderful independent labels we're lucky to have around