12. TV On The Radio
The Magical X-Factor Energy. On record, TV On The Radio have a peerless sound that effortlessly blends influences from jazz, funk, rock, electro, hip-hop and various exotic forms that make me feel deeply uncool. Live, their sound can be summed up in one word busy. It often feels like there's several polyrhythms taking place at once; all undercut by some seriously focused performances including the ingenious sonic wizardry of Dave Sitek and the compellingly soulful vocals of Tunde Adebimpe. It's a dense sound in which you can lose yourself either giving way to deeply appreciative chin-stroking or pure, wild abandonment or both, as the case may be.
11. Coldplay
The Magical X-Factor - That warming feeling of being part of something much bigger than yourself. I'm utterly unrepentant in my love of Coldplay, and a large part of my apprecition stems from the fact that their live shows are phenomenal. Whilst commenting on
my recent article, one Mark Hammond perfectly summarised the appeal of their live shows, so I hope he doesn't mind my quoting him: For capturing the love, he says, with everyone, and I mean E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E clapping and singing to Clocks...But you know, as Chris usually says after his welcome, Lets get on with the show and thats what it is, just ****ing fantastic. Just effing fantastic. Couldn't have put it better myself.