We’re just about at the halfway stage of this very strange year. I hope everyone and your friends and families have got through the past few months unscathed, although I don’t think we’re out of the water just yet. But now seems as good a time as any to look back on what have been your favourite albums so far, and what have been the disappointments. We’ve just had a few outstanding years for new music, 2017 in particular, so it’s no surprise that 2020 has already seen lots of very good new albums and, in my opinion, a couple of outstanding ones from a pair of seasoned campaigners.
Bob Dylan has just released what is probably his best album for decades. I’m expecting it to win all the album of the year awards in December. But it’s Marc Almond’s Chaos and a Dancing Star which is leading the way for me. It is absolutely fantastic. He said it was going to be his final album, but I hope he was kidding, as he has said things like this before. It’s the second album he has made with producer and co-writer Chris Braide, after 2015’s equally fantastic The Velvet Trail. If you haven’t heard these two albums yet, I urge you to do so. I think they are the best two albums of Almond’s career.
Another artist who is having a great run deep into his career (not quite as deep as Dylan and Almond, mind) is Damien Jurado, and I think What’s New, Tomboy? is his best one since Rehearsals For Departure. Joe Pernice has spent lockdown making a new solo (naturally!) acoustic record which he released through his website last week. It’s called Richard and it’s lovely. And Norah Jones’ new album, Pick Me Up Off The Floor, is one of her best.
When not listening to hundreds of reggae and jazz albums (my latest fads!) I am also enjoying The Weeknd’s new one, although it doesn’t hit the heights of Starboy. Ghostpoet has made a welcome return and his new one is growing on me with every listen. And Isobel Campbell has returned with one of the best of her career. Morrissey has followed up a great covers album with his best album of new material for some time, despite getting more detestable every time he opens his mouth. I’m also enjoying the new ones by Dom & Roland, Thievery Corporation and Nicolas Godin, whose album is sort of Air-lite, as I guess you’d expect. And if dark ambience is your thing, Nine Inch Nails’ Ghosts V: Together is brill.
A few new (to me) artists have impressed me, not least Jhené Aiko with Chilombo, which is one of my favourites of the year so far. Moses Sumney’s græ has been getting repeated listens as well, as has Alpha & Omega’s new one (along with their rich back catalogue).
In the world of rap, I don’t think I’ve yet heard the best album of the year. Or at least I hope I haven’t! There have been some good ones, but nothing yet that has blown my socks off. Elaquent’s Forever Is A Pretty Long Time is the pick of the bunch, although from what I’ve heard so far, the ever reliable Apollo Brown’s new one with Che’ Noir is going to trump it. Ras Kass’s group, Jamo Gang, have released a pretty good album, Walking With Lions, and I’ve also enjoyed the albums from Rhys Langston, Ka, Eleven & Jason D, Boldy James & The Alchemist and R.A.P. Ferreira. Closer to home, Wiley’s Boasty Gang, is the better of his two new albums, and the new one by the UK rap supergroup, The Four Owls, has taken them up a notch, with a little help from big hitters like DJ Premier, Kool G Rap and Roc Marciano. And Skepta has maintained his high standards on his new record with Chip & Young Adz.
The only real disappointment for me this year is the Roger & Brian Eno collaboration. It’s good, but I was expecting a little more. Oh, and whatever possessed Chris Lowe to think using bits of The Wedding March in the final track of the new Pet Shop Boys album is beyond me. They haven’t misfired much throughout their career, but I thought it spoiled what had been a good album.
So what have been your favourites and disappointments so far?
I barely consume new music, Wadmeister, but one of the very few new albums I’ve acquired this year is Wishbone Ash’s 50th anniversary ‘Coat of Arms’. Their classic sound is present and correct and a number of sprightly toe-tappers are included. Here’s one:
Favourites: Lost In The Moment by Dom & Roland, Angel In Disguise by Leifur James, Illusion of Time by Daniel Avery & Allesandro Cortini, Every Bad by Porridge Radio, I Am Not A Dog On A Chain by Morrissey, Quattro by John Digweed, Sixteen Oceans by Four Tet, England Is A Garden by Cornershop, Serf’s Up by Fat White Family, Apparatus by Carl Finlow.
I agree that the wedding song on PSB is a bit shit, but I was pleasantly surprised by the album as a whole
Disappointments: Tifelmuzik by the Dandy Warhols, Radio Silence by Radio Slave, Gentle Grip by Public Practice, Abolition Of The Royal Familia by The Orb.
Anticipating: new Kompromat by I Like Trains, new Daniel Avery.
Have been raving about Quattro. Best Digweed in …. yonks. Shows what he can do when (for him) he focuses down to just the 4CDs – the middle two really are his best set since before the Live In…era
@Paul-Wad love Thievery Corporation – is the new album you refer to Symphonik?
Love that album but wasn’t sure it was released this year or if it is an older release.
Only recently bought it but don’t recall seeing any reviews which suggests it might be older.
Symphonik came out this March. I loved the lead track but all those strings got to me over the course of an LP.
yes, that’s the one. It’s their best one for a while, but they rarely let you down.
I’ve bought a fair bit of stuff so far – but the majority is old stuff, catalogue fillers, and belated upgrades to CD that I forgot about.
Of the “new”, I don’t think I’ve found any real duffers.
The closest is probably Green Day – Father of All Motherfuckers. It’s very good, but a bit disposable. I really though it was their best since American Idiot, but I hAven’t felt the urge to return to it as much as I initially thought.
Favourites/Recommendations:
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott put out another album (Manchester Calling) with no real flaws (OK, maybe it’s a bit long)
Duncan Reid & The Big Heads released their fourth album to a ravage a good press. And they deserve it – it’s a very good album, and entirely self produced (with fan funding on their website).
The Humdrum Express – Ultrcrepidarian Soup, continues their guitar and voice HMHB-esque view on the world with another entertaining slab of observations.
Block 33 – 6:36 To Liverpool Street shows theirs a market for another Mod Revival (even if that market is just me).
Those last 3 acts are missing out on playing live – CD sales are just a bonus income stream. Hope they can get back out soon.
Feel particularly sorry for Block 33 – this was their debut album and was to be launched at the 100 Club. This show is now delayed to next year (a full year after the albums release)
Due soon: Sparks (who rarely disappoint) and Paul Weller (who sometimes does, but I’m likikng what I’ve heard so far)
I still devour new releases so plenty of good stuff for me:
Cornershop (a joy)
Arborist (Northern Irish folky)
A Girl Called Eddy (as featured on this very website)
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (more of the same, which I am fine with)
Badly Drawn Boy (most unexpected resurgence)
Pet Shop Boys (I even like the wedding song mentioned twice above)
Phoebe Bridgers (proves the debut was no fluke)
BC Camplight (bonkers and brilliant)
Laura Marling (never paid attention to her before, either she is now better or I was wrong)
Kevin Tihista (lost talent from early noughties with demos better than most studio albums)
Can’t think of a whole lot of real stinkers. There are albums I have tried that weren’t for me by bands I had never tried before, but they hardly class as disappointments. The new Destroyer one hasn’t really taken, where a couple of his albums over the last ten years have been brilliant.
Looking forward to, amongst others, The Lemon Twigs, Jarvis and Rufus Wainwright
About Laura Marling….you were wrong. She’s always been great. This is more melodic, and Ethan Johns production has more of a sheen, than some of her earlier records (reminds me of his Dad’s work with Joan Armatrading). But if you like it I would recommend the rest of her records – maybe Semper Femina next.
Fair enough! Thanks for the recommendation. The new one is lovely.
About Laura Marling.. go with your instinct, terrible bedsit whiny stuff up there with Carrie & Lowell.
Thanks Wad for letting me know about a new Joe Pernice , I had sadly forgotten all about him.
I just cant make up my mind about the Dylan album – is it really that good or is it the Kings new clothes? Not sure if there is real substance or if he is just playing us.
The new Girl Called Eddy album is brill and in the same vein the new Bacharach / Daniel Tashien collab sounds very promising judging from the single.
Apart from those :
Laura Marling ‘Song for our Daughter’ – she is like a new discovery for me as I didn’t get on with her early stuff and ignored her until ‘Semper Famina’ which was fab and the new one is even better.
Really enjoying Jeff Parker ‘Suite for Max Brown’ (post rock/jazz).
Finally Jonathan Wilson’s ‘Dixie Blur’ is big step up from his last one.
Joe did a couple of online shows last Saturday. He did one at 8pm EST, but first he did one at 8pm UK time, so us over here didn’t have to stay up till 2am. I would tell you what it was like, but despite mentioning it several times throughout the day so I didn’t forget…well, you know the rest! There is, however, one he did the week before on YouTube.
I heartily endorse Feedback’s vote for the new Jeff Parker album, ‘Suite for Max Brown’. Very fine indeed.
Still familiarising myself with Dylan, but would be very surprised if it turns out to be superior to 2001’s Love and Theft, I suppose that’s nearly 2 decades though (3 other originals in the meantime).
There’s been some really good stuff so far this year.
In the “not even done on proper instruments” corner, we have bow church‘s
dark gothy electronica, Craven Faults‘ Erratics And Unconformities, upsammy‘s beautifully summery Zoom, and as of last Friday a new Daniel Avery, which moves from furious banging to relaxing ambience, and may well be his best record yet. Daniel Davies released an album of John Carpenteresque synth that, let’s face it, is better than anything his dad ever did (tee tee). Holy Fuck‘s Deleter also bangs, and has soundtracked a lot of kitchen discos these past few months.
The department of “noisy banging and shouting” has been well served by two excellent shout along punk albums in Jeff Rosenstock‘s No Dream and Dogleg‘s Melee, as well as Sløtface‘s slightly poppier Sorry For The Late Reply. In metal, Envy‘s The Fallen Crimson was an excellent return, with maybe my favourite cover art of the year so far, while Fluisteraars‘ Bloom proved that trumpets can work in black metal. Even old troupers Paradise Lost didn’t disgrace themselves with Obsidian.
The jury is still out for me on the new Phoebe Bridgers, but Waxahatchee made a glorious transition from indie rock to Americana on Saint Cloud.
The new GoGo Penguin is very good, and a real return to form after the slightly disappointing last one.
Run The Jewels‘ RTJ4 might be their best record yet, raucous aggressive hiphop with a burning political edge. It’s music for our times.
Throwing nh in some albums not yet mentioned:
Tradition Disc In Dub – Nat Birchall meets Al Breadwinner
Piano 2 – Peter Judge
Fetch The Bolt Cutters – Fiona Apple
Nick Of Time – The James Hunter Six
Piano Variations On Jesus Christ Superstar – Stefano Bollani
Mussorgsky orch Ravel- Les Siècles
Diversions Vol. 5 Live And Unaccompanied – The Unthanks
Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
We Are Sent Here By History – Shabaka And The Ancestors
Myopia – Agnes Obel
I’ve been listening to Tradition Disc In Dub a fair bit myself…
Well, you turned me on to Nat years ago and I’m very grateful. He is remarkable. His Dub work is tremendous but his Jazz is getting better and better. He used to be too much Coltrane-like but, now, he is very much his own man. His Storyteller album late last year is fantastic. On Friday, he released Mysticism Of Sound. He plays all the instruments. It’s on Bandcamp. Everyone should listen to it at least once.
https://natbirchallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/mysticism-of-sound
Everyone?
Yes. Especially you Lodey. In fact you should listen to it twice.
I really enjoyed seeing Agnes Obel live this year, and was really looking forward to “Myopia.”
But …. hmmmm ….. I dunno. It hasn’t really grabbed me yet. Not at all like “Aventine” and “Citizen of Glass” did.
Perhaps it needs more time….
I understand where you are coming from. Myopia is full of signature Obel sounds, even if it is stripped back. Yet, her vocals are odd. I can’t properly make out the words. It’s not a slurring, I think, more of a treatment.
If you are unfamiliar with her work, it’s as good a starting point as any. However, we established fans expected more, whereas she’s deliberately, I suspect, given us less. Nevertheless, the more I listen, the more I enjoy it.
It’s a perennial problem for all artists. Embrace change and adopt a radical root and branch change of direction and in doing so risk alienating fellow travellers or stick to the tried and true and risk boring the arse off fellow travellers until you finally become irrelevant.
The shock of the new usually wears thin around the forth album.
I think it is treatments: she plays around with tones and timbre electronically much more than on the last album. There are some excellent youtube vieos of her and her all female band playing in a studio setting. At the time of writing I think it a natural progression from Myopia, with Aventine’s bleak stark beauty perhaps still, just, holding the edge.
To think we would all be none the wiser without our stripey chum, or I would have been. The UK leg of her tour has been again postponed, from next feb to next september.
Funny how she, as undoubtedly a favourite artist, didn’t quite manage a single album in my 2000s best of. An undersight, maybe….. Hmmm.
Yay! for Dua.
Young, lively, bright, in all senses of the word. Just what the world needs in 2020.
Absolutely. Can’t wait to see her next year.
The albums I’ve listened most to this year are:
A Girl Called Eddy – Been Around
Andy Shauf – Neon Skyline
John Moreland – LP5
Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
Sam Doores – Sam Doores
Alice Boman – Dream On
Anders F. Rönnblom – BLÄRK! Ballader och Mysterier
Slightly less loved, but still different levels of good:
Bonny Light Horseman – Bonny Light Horseman
Marc Almond – Chaos and a Dancing Star
Slowgold – Aska
Watkins Family Hour – Brother Sister
Frazey Ford – U Kin B the Sun
Moses Sumney – Grae (although a disappointment after the brilliant “Aromanticism”)
Dana Gavansky – Yesterday Is Gone
Jonathan Wilson – Dixie Blur
Mattias Alkberg – Bodensia
Tami Neilson – Chickaboom!
Allison Moorer – Blood
I have a bunch of albums I’ve yet to listen to enough times to form an opinion, and plenty of albums I’ve been unable to get so far, and some stuck in covid-slow mail transport…
I felt April and May warranted a light touch.
Summery music, to stop me getting on a train, getting on a tube, getting on a bus, and running to head-butt Dominic Cummings (born 1971, don’t laugh), so it was Beach Boys’, Miracles’, Temptations’, Beatles’, Impressions’ albums (mainly pre-66) all the way.
Slap-head 60s-dodging bastard.
Now I’ve decided to pick choice cuts from the ho-hum – no “Absolutely Free,” no “Free,” no “Sound of Fury????” – Uncut Special on 60s albums.
“Creepy John Thomas” 69 (which also isn’t in the Uncut Special) – highly recommended, with a great cover, the only one on the album, of The Honeybus’s “(Do I Figure) In Your Life.”
Quite brilliantly, Alexa heard it as “Creepy John Thomas” by Creepy Johnson yesterday!
Not wrong there, Alexa.
But the absolute revelation has been “Cauldron” by Fifty Foot Hose, 67.
I’ve always rather put-up with San Francisco groups (famously, The Pink Floyd were inspired by the “look” of the scene without knowing about the music, and on hearing it, realised they were far more way out than it was!) but in Fifty Foot Hose’s case, I’ll make an exception.
Think: The Byrds fronted by Judy Dyble produced by Delia Derbyshire on an above-average experimental day.
If we were having that album poll now, it’d have as my no. 1.
I have liked US Girls, “Heavy Light” (clever pop), The Heliocentrics “Infinity of Now” (psychedelic excursions aka Stereolab/Broadcast), no less than three Bob Stanley and Peter Wiggs’ compilations for Ace- “Tea & Symphony” (baroque pop), “Tears of Technology” (UK synth pop) and “Occasional Rain” (1970 melancholy)-and the reissue of White Heaven’s “Out” (Japanese acid rock from the ’90s).
But to be honest, lockdown has meant enforced house cleaning, digging out CDs from old packing-boxes for my last big move, and playing mostly old albums again.
As for the ‘story’ of 2020, everything has to be seen through a lens blurred with coronavirus, lockdown, social distancing, paranoia, empty supermarket shelves, wild hair and fraught relationships. 2020 had a quiet, unassuming start but, since then, loud stuff sounds louder, soft stuff more fragile, emotional stuff more heartrending and chest-beating stuff more feral. Almost all of the albums I’ve loved were in the pipeline before the virus was around but mean much more now it’s here. Shabaka & The Ancestors apocalyptic LP had climate change in mind. Fiona Apple’s brain dump was always within her. Bollani’s personal love of Jesus Christ Superstar began when he was a teenager. Phoebe Bridges’, no doubt, was capable of edginess in her work from the start of her career. Run The Jewels have been at the forefront of Black Lives Matter for years, simmering with anger. Dylan’s growling voice and wordsmithery was bound to find its moment at some point. However, in the context of Covid 19, they all sound so much more pertinent, potent and poignant. They all move me much more powerfully than they would otherwise done. Part of it is my own fragile state as a listener. My edges are frayed, my emotions labile, and my fears dark. Music is an emotional bell weather, amplifier and enhancer.
In short, since March, I’ve been feeling it, man.
I saw someone on TV making a(n ice) hockey analogy, could also be football. We are at the exact halfway point of the year 2020, it has been the worst and we are 4-0 down at half time. Let’s hope we can turn it around by Dec 31st and triumph 5-4.
On the other hand, it could be like Man. City versus Huddersfield in 1987, and we end up losing 10-1…..
There’s been some pretty good stuff so far this year.
Similar favourites to posted above and elsewhere on the blog – the new Bob Dylan, GoGo Penguin, Jason Isbell, Norah Jones, Gretchen Peters, Girl Called Eddy, Jonathan Wilson….. A couple of others not mentioned that have been on constant rotation – The Lickerish Quartet / Threesome Vol1 EP, which I have mentioned a couple of times on the site (to zero interest !) and the latest Joe Bonamassa side project – the Sleep Eazys / Easy To Buy, Hard To Sell – a collection of instrumentals.
I have both the Laura Marling and Fiona Apple albums, but so far neither have really grabbed me – need more listens I think (too much back catalogue stuff clogging up my listening at the moment).
The other positive this year in music has been some of the creativity shown by artists during the lockdowns – the YouTube concerts, live streams etc etc. Some of which have made it to physical (or at least digital) releases. You would hope that with these 6 months or so free from touring that artists will have been furiously writing and recording new material – hopefully we will see the fruits in the next 6 months to a year – maybe 2021 is going to be an epic year…..
Main disappointment has been the push out in releases of various albums – notably Steven Wilson. We have time to listen to new stuff at the moment – get it out there !
Dunno the remastered “In Absentia” is fab.
**any excuse to post “Trains”**
That has been one of the highlights of this years reissues.
Also worth checking out is the Porcupine Tree Bandcamp page that has a load of miscellaneous live albums / radio broadcasts / etc that have been remastered. They seem to be pretty good at adding new items.
https://porcupinetreeofficial.bandcamp.com
If you go down the Porcupine Tree rabbit hole you never come out. They made sooooo many albums, from when it was a pseudonym for SW in his bedroom to a full on band. Everything from ambient through synth pop, both metal, prog….a guide to PT needs to be written (in fact it probably has been) and I’ve only scratched the surface really.
I know what you mean – it’s impossible to keep track of even the various versions of the official albums (remasters, Japanese editions, special editions, etc etc) let alone all the EPs, non-album tracks.
Here is a complete discography of Steven Wilson material update to 2015 that runs to a mere 564 pages……..
http://www.voyage-pt.de/swdisco.html
Dua Lipa, Haim, Neil Y (old but new) and Halsey all pretty good I reckon. Dylan I can’t get with, what with that unpleasant raspy, phlegmy muttering. I realise it’s the patina of age, the traces of the experiences of a great man, but it’s not really listenable. I am not mad about such borrowings as I contain multitudes either. Sounds jarring somehow. I could change my mind. You never know.
I quite like the Neil Young but he completely ruined it by putting that awful spoken word track Florida on there. There is no place e for ir or at least there shouldnt have been.
On the other hand and coincidentally the song Key West on the new Dylan album is superb.
Other very good releases by Drive By Truckers,Jon Moreland, Ray LaMontagne(back to his best after his lacklustre previous release), Ron Sexsmith and Lukas Nelson amongst others. Also a great collaborative album by Garcia Peoples and Chris Forsyth.
Good compilations too my favourite of which is a wonderful box Stax 68 which is stupendous. And the Peter Gabriel film related release PG.
Right now I am just going to check out Prince Fatty doing The model which is intriguing.
It is typical Neil I feel. Don’t think one song can destroy the whole album though. Is is generally pretty great.
Great tip on the Prince Fatty single! What an excellent way to get going in the morning..
Sorry just realised that all above nominations were from the other side of the pond so please include Nadine Shah(excellent) Cornershop (ditto) and Baxter Dury (very good but not as good as his last one).
I’ve been enjoying the Bandcamp Fridays events – first Friday in the month – so this Friday get on it!. They waive their fees and give artists all the revenue so it’s a good way to tip a few quid in the hat of musicians who can’t tour, bag yourself some new music and there’s usually exclusive merch or interesting new/archive stuff released.
That’s been my main source of ‘new’ so I’ve bagged some really good listening from The Nightingales, Porridge Radio, Dutch Uncles on the guitary side and some utterly joyous Dance music from India Jordan, and the brilliant Nottingham dance producer Lone who as so far done two excellent compilations of unreleased early stuff which if you like Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin will be right up your street.
If you fancy some more upfront banging beats, I recommend the R&S Compilation ‘In Order To Care’ 43 excellent ravey tunes and all proceeds for NHS Charities.
I’ve been trying to support my local record shops by ordering stuff from them as I would have been buying otherwise – including some ‘old’ from my local 2nd hand shops, dear old HMV and Boomkat & Piccadilly in Manchester. Notably a great Glam Rock compilation, the brilliant new 10″ from Squid (who I am looking forward to seeing live maybe next year) some terrifying but exciting avant stuff from AllNightFlight in Stockport and best of all, albums ‘Mas Amable’ by DJ Python which is highly recommend if fancy hearing what Ambient Reggaton would sound like, and the inscrutable Beatrice Dillon who makes irresistible head-nodding electronic beats mixed with curious bursts of jazz and ‘real’ instruments.
Lots to enjoy and fend off the Cv19 blues then. The only thing stopping me being back in Record Shops is the advice to avoid public transport – I am tempted to Advance Masked and walk the hour or so into Stockport and do some real world crate digging ASAP, preferably when you can get a sandwich and a drink as well.
Like the sound of Lone so will check that out. I too have been ordering plenty online and decided early in the lockdown to support at least one independent record store. As a consequence Resident in Brighton have had a lot of orders from me – they are more expensive than Amazon mainly due to the postage but a i like their website,they care about the stuff they are selling and write little personal notes with their deliveries. Their mailing list also gives great updates about new releases.
Oh and I ventured out to HMV Vault on saturday. It was not busy but neither was the rest of Birmingham.The
Hopefully things will pick up when pubs and restaurants are open = going record shopping without being able to go for a coffee and a cake is not the same experience.
Like many I have been bandcamp fridaying on the first of the month (and many other days, too, it seems, as PayPal solemnly assures me) Likewise discogs and amazon marketplace have had me hoovering up loads of old. New has been more restrained but I seem to have found room for, in no particular order:
Teddy Thompson/Heartbreaker Please: Several terrific weepy moans and a cluster of lacklustre. Like his Dad, he tends to put out brilliant half-albums.
A Girl Called Eddy/Been Around: A couple more listens and my initial fervour has dipped a little. It is almost too pastiche, echoes of Prefab Sprout, post BB Brian Wilson and, on one track, the Pretenders adding to the more overt Dan vibe, almost too knowingly. Almost.
Sideways to Italy/Rolling Coatal Blackout Fever: Woah, this is ace, the natural evolution of Oz guitar rock from the Saints thru’ the Church, coming over all peak period Teenage Fanclub. Luvverly!
Summerlong/Rose City Band: Not that it has actually arrived in physical, delayed again, but what I have caught has the capabilities of being a year winner. Motorik steel, anyone?
Abolition of the Royal Familia/The Orb: Well, I like it. I always had a blank spot for this lot, that Cloud shite putting me off, but, ever the late adopter, I am now enjoying this enormous.
5/John Moreland: Superb, his best. Dark brown voice, finger picking and discreet bleep and booster in the background. Commended.
Walking Proof/Lilly Hiatt: Yup, John’s daughter, a good old rough’n’ready angry girl bar room stomper, all guitars and angst. Lucinda with monkey glands.
Let It All In/Arbouretum: Long jangly guitar wig-outs, reminiscent of certain folk-rock players but allied to a slowed down stoner vibe. It is seeming to be my year of guitar.
A New Kind of Sky/Hanging Trees: Jings, I love this band. If you like the Rockingbirds etc, but a tad lighter in tone. Their front man was in 18th Day of May, if you ever wondered what happened to them.
Myopia/Agnes Obel: She gets more niche, I guess, ramping up the chamber electronica and strings quotient and it’s just dandy.
Old Wow/Sam Lee: Annoying folkie gets majestic on a sterling effort, full of songs, consummate backing and his lovely voice.
I agree with your assessment of Summerlong. Great stuff. I have to say I’m very attracted to rough’n’rowdy angry girl in a bar. I’ll check her out.
@retropath2 I too have Summerlong on order – God knows when it will turn up.
Same too the Brigid Dawson album.
Agree that Rolling Blackout CF is ace – will definitely be in my year end list – takin the baton of Fountains of Wayne methinks.
Joan Shelley – Live at the Bomhard
https://joanshelley.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-bomhard
There have been a few mentions of albums on Bandcamp already on this thread, and here’s another one. It’s not available in physical form at all, but I’ve been listening to it on Bandcamp a lot.
I know there are quite a few Afterworders who, like me, are fans of the Kentucky singer/songwriter Joan Shelley. Well, this album is a live hometown show from Louisville from December last year. And it’s an absolute gem. To say that Joan has a great band with her is an understatement. They’re basically the cream of the musicians from the Paradise of Bachelors and No Quarter labels who’ve made so many wonderful records in recent years: the great Nathan Salsburg on guitar, Jake Xerxes Fussell on bass, Nathan Bowles on drums and Will Oldham/Bonnie Prince Billy guesting on occasional vocals. Basically, you get warm, stellar versions of Joan’s 16 best songs. An absolute delight.
Thanks for the tip @duco01 – loved her album last year so will check this out.
Owing to all sorts of distractions (polls! upside down life!) the only album I’ve heard in 2020 that I really love is Future Nostalgia. Plenty of tunes, though. I have, for the last few years, enjoyed collecting all the ladies in a playlist – six months in, it’s already looking chunky, featuring my own lockdown anthem “What Am I Gonna Do Today?” and a CupcakKe track which, as ever, is entirely unsuitable for human ears. If you’re at all interested..
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1DUAgmyKsPZLFqoWm9VZoK?si=fI5sgVjEQgeclV-QJuYzsw
A new album by Clem Snide emerged recently. This from it is a rather lovely and touching tribute to the esteemed film critic