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Your album of the year so far?

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Looking for a few Spotify download ideas for the hols.

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  2. Not sure it’s quite your thing, Twang, but I think 2017 is going to have to go a long way to beat Beautiful Thugger Girls by Young Thug. It’s a fascinating and beautiful record.

    • If you’ve not already had a look, I think last year’s Jeffery is even better – gone back to it a lot in 2017 and it just improves the more I listen to it. Lots going on.

  3. Penguin Cafe – The Imperfect Sea
    Surfer Blood – Snowdonia
    Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory
    The xx – I See You
    Blanck Mass – World Eater
    Young Thug – Beautiful Thugger Girls

    Though I’d say it’s been more of a year for singles than albums.

  4. For me, Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band – Big Machine (big, bold folk) and Bargou 08 –
    Targ (Algerian wigginess) so far.

    P.S. I wrote a rather substantial post for the folk music thread yesterday evening but I’m being told it’s awaiting moderation. No rush, I know the mods are volunteers, but I haven’t had it happen before, so wondered if I should be doing anything. I may have included too many vids!

  7. Hannah Aldridge’s Gold Rush, is an album I think will be up your street. It’s been out a couple of months and I intend to post a review soon. I love it.
    Aimee Mann’s album Mental Health is also pretty good.
    Karen Elson’s Double Roses has been growing on me.
    And last but not least, restoring some semblance of gender balance Sam Outlaw’s Tenderheart.

  9. London Grammar: “Truth is a Beautiful Thing”. Builds on their stunning debut. Hannah Reid’s voice is beautiful and she can really sing. Very atmospheric. Play loud on a good system!

      • LG is indeed a superlative record, at least unless you listen to the 2nd disc first, a totally superfluous waste of shininess, duff drafts of duff songs. Only 1 track is listenable and is duplicated, with polish, on the 1st disc. Mrs P loves LG and somehow listened to the 2nd disc and now won’t have ’em in the house.

  11. Home Counties by Saint Etienne is the best thing they’ve done since Tiger Bay.

    Prisoner by Ryan Adams, who I’d given up on years ago, is quite brilliant.

    And the English Weather compilation is a treasure trove of early 70s obscura.

  12. I know I’m a stuck record about this, but it’s still Marling’s Semper Femina for me. A good friend recommended Roger Waters’ record to me the other day but our tastes are somewhat divergent….

  13. Nadia Reid – Preservation
    Mac Demarco – This Old Dog
    John Murry – A Short History Of Decay
    Grandaddy – Last Place
    Richard Dawson – Peasant
    David Corley – Zero Moon
    White Reaper – The World’s Best American Band
    R Stevie Moore & Jason Falkner – Make It Be
    This Is The Kit – Moonshine Freeze
    Group Doueh & Cheveu – Dakhla Sahara Session
    The Mountain Goats – Goths
    Kevin Morby – City Music
    Cloud Nothings – Life Without Sound
    Alasdair Roberts – Pangs
    Yola Carter – Orphan Offering
    all good in my opinion. Ye might like some of ’em.

  15. At the moment I’m obsessed with Pond – The Weather, a delicious psych cocktail of space disco and Pink Floydian apocalypse therapy.
    And the gorgeous solo versions of his own songs by Jeff Tweedy.
    Other good albums have been made by John Moreland, Kevin Morby, Aimee Mann, Rhiannon Giddens, Säkert!, Laura Marling, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Tamikrest, Gorillaz, Les Amazones d’Afrique… and if it counts (says it was released in -16?) Courtney Marie Andrews (which, if it does count, definitely is the best album so far!)
    But most years sees the best albums coming out in the autumn, so I’m sure we’ll get quite a few gems during the next half of the game.

    • I’m with you on the Courtney Marie Andrews, my best one too, and released here in January so definitely counts (although annoyingly we had to wait for it a good 3-4 months after it was released in the US).

      • Ah, that explains it. I was pretty sure it came out this year, but the date on the album made me question if it was an album I had bought to catch up with albums I didn’t have time to buy in -16!
        It’s great, and I never get tired of listening to it. The best country album in ages.

          • I didn’t, @duco01, just bought my ticket for it now, so thanks!
            I swear I don’t know how people find out about gigs…most of the time I find out when I read the review in the paper after the event. Sure, I get emails from different ticket sites and concert promoters, but only for acts I have no interest in at all. And lots of annoying stuff that has nothing to do with music at all – booze cruises to Finland, lottery tickets, magazine subscriptions! Very annoying.
            Anyway, that’s my birthday present for myself sorted, brilliant! Very close to home as well, but I’ve never been to Bryggarsalen. Have you been there, is it any good?

            • Bryggarsalen is … all right.
              It’s mainly a stand-up venue, but with a few tall circular tables dotted around, complete with bar stools. So, basically, most peope are standing, with the exception of a few luckly souls, who have their bottoms perched on the bar stools strewn randowmly across the venue. Bizarre.

              I’ve been there twice:

              Mary Gauthier: 4 stars
              Ryley Walker: 3½ stars

              Kaisfatdad and I may go to the Courtney Marie Andrews gig. I’m not sure. If we do, it could be a historic Afterword Stockholm meet-up. Woo-hoo!

  16. It hasn’t soaked in, indeed I have only heard it once so far, but the Cigarettes After Sex LP is way better than their name. Here, go listen……

    Ona more orthodox front, maybe Laura Marling’s Semper Femina.

  17. Kendrick Lamar – Damn

    His last album set me off on a year devouring all things hip hop. I don’t think I’ve had a year of listening to more ‘new’ music (new to me, that is), well, ever, and 18 months down the line I have lots of new favourite artists, albums and tracks. Lamar is right up there with the hip hop greats. What’s more, his music bearing more than a little influence from Prince also set me off on a major Prince rediscovery, which I was getting into when he sadly died (or should I say passed, as nobody seems to use the word died any more!). It was great hearing that Prince’s musical decline was nothing of the sort, and he did some great records during his so called wilderness years. So I have a lot to thank Lamar for and, whilst the new album has yet to reach the heights of ‘…Butterfly’ it grows on me each time I hear it.

    I am also enjoying Melodrama by Lorde, but I only picked that up recently. I am finding that I am enjoying quite a bit of the same new music as my 11 year old daughter – The Weeknd, Stormzy, Christina & The Queens, etc. Don’t know whether this should worry me!

    • DAMN. is brilliant. At first, I felt let down after the kalaedoscopic wonder of Butterfly. What is he doing? This is just an ordinary Rap album. But, it isn’t. It’s an extraordinary Rap album, beautifully sparse, poised and tense. I could listen to it for ever. Oh my.

  18. Another vote for the Penguin Cafe, London Grammar and Aimee Mann albums all mentioned above and all excellent.

    Album of year so far for me is Big Big Train “Grimspound”. Still think its a little stronger than their second album this year “The Second Brightest Star”.

    Honorable mentions to Little Steven “Soulfire” and the new Chris Robinson Band one “Barefoot In The Head”, although only really listened to a couple of times, so will reserve judgment…

  21. Without checking a list to see what’s been released so far this year, Tinariwen’s Elwan is being played a lot at home. Those slow rolling rhythms and singing I can’t understand a word of relaxes me.

  22. Xordox — Neospection.

    It’s a new project from J G Thirlwell (aka Foetus) and has a synth-soundtrack feel familiar from Tangerine Dream, Goblin, Moroder, and more recently Survive (who did the Stranger Things soundtrack), and Cliff Martinez.

    What I particularly enjoy is that it sounds like a really cool soundtrack but hangs together as an album — which is something of a holy grail for me*. I bought the vinyl from Amazon, which included an Autorip of the album and thus an extra 14-minute track, ‘Asteroid Dust’. Scoring that extra track made me feel like I was winning at life.

    (*All suggestions welcome!)

  23. There have been some belters this year IMHO.

    Pick of the bunch are albums by;

    Loyle Carner
    Big Thief
    Lea Porcelain
    Fionn Regan
    Cigarettes After Sex (as mentioned above)
    Declan McKenna – only released last week but I have hardly had it off.

    If you are not going til later in the week then the new Arcade Fire is out on Friday. Based on the singles its going to be a good one!

    • You may hardly have ‘had it off’, but it’s hardly Declan McKennas fault, is it?

      I suggest you just try harder.

      Really, at your age.

      This is not a dating site you know.

      • Haha! That was a Freudian slip (when you say one thing but mean your mother!)
        Next up I accuse the hot new indie acts of today for my inability to speak to women!

        That should of course have read ‘I have hardly had it off the turntable. I have also hardly had it off ON the turntable but that is for another thread.

        This would be the greatest dating site ever. ‘Mahavishnu Orchestra fanatic (55) WLTM 30 year old scorcher with shared interests. Must have GSOH’

        • Well by extraordinary coincidence, via this site, I have met a ‘Mahavshnu Orchestra’ fanatic – via a PM of course.

          We met in a very dark place. We went upstairs. It was even darker.

          I think he (yes it was a ‘he’ – I think) may have been younger than the 55 you suggest, but he was very enthusiastic, experienced and quite ‘loud’. Possibly Northern Irish – although as they can’t speak properly it was difficult to place.

          You may be right. Perhaps this could be the place to meet the opposite of your dreams.

  25. Japandroids – Near To The Wild Heart Of Life will satisfy any big dumb rock boxes you need ticking off. It’s great fun.

    Afghan Whigs’ In Spades is superb, will probably end up as my AOTY. The Pumarosa album is well worth a listen, like a modern take on Siouxsie & The Banshees. I really like the new Public Service Broadcasting as well, surprised it hasn’t been made more of on here.

    If electronica is your thing, then Forest Swords put out another great album of dubby downtempo stuff, and the Kelly Lee Owens album is your go to if you’re looking for something more dance floor friendly.

  27. The clunkily titled Diversions Vol 4 by the Unthanks is wonderful. Have also enjoyed the 2 listens I’ve so far given to the new one from Public Service Broadcasting.

  28. I find myself tickled by the phrase “of the year”, when lately I’ve been mostly listening to
    Joey Badass’s All Amerikkkan Bada$$ – which is the in sound of mid 90s,
    DJ Format/Abdominal’s Still Hungry – which is excavated old skool 80s hip hop,
    Cody ChesnuTT’s My Love Divine Degree – which tips its beanie hat to 70s vintage soul
    and Valerie June’s The Order Of Time which was retrieved from The Time Tunnel.
    Ultimately, I’m probably with Gary – a trimmed down Thievery Corporation would probably get my nod as of today..

  30. I, too, love the Afghan Whigs new platter, and am giddily excited for the concert at the 930 Club.

    I love the saltfishforty album, too, ‘Bere’. It won’t be for everybody, I admit that now. If you don’t like the fiddle, then steer away now. But they have two tracks on there that transcend any genre-boxing. “Tender” and “Woe” are up there for songs of the year for me.

    I’m holding out for the Allison Moorer/Shelby Lynne collaboration and show. If it all I hope for, it might just be the winner.

      • I’m not concerned by the covers aspect Steve. They are not obvious song choices.

        The list is (with the original artists):
        “My List” (The Killers)
        “Every Time You Leave” (Louvin Brothers)
        “Not Dark Yet” (Bob Dylan)
        “I’m Looking for Blue Eyes” (Jessi Colter)
        “Lungs” (Townes Van Zandt)
        “The Color of a Cloudy Day” (Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires)
        “Silver Wings” (Merle Haggard)
        “Into My Arms” (Nick Cave)
        “Lithium” (Nirvana)
        “Is It Too Much” (Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer)

        The song from Mr & Mrs Isbell is a rarity, which I’m looking forward to earing.

  32. Albums I’ve enjoyed so far:

    Arca – Arca (absolutely startling)
    Jlin – Black Origami (mesmerising, dislocated rhythms)
    Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. (vulnerable, strong, confessional, domineering)
    Slowdive – Slowdive (dreamy and transporting)
    SZA – CTRL (assertive soul music of the 21st Century)
    Algiers – The Underside Of Power (weird, dark and moody).

    Best so far is the thoroughly human, warts and all, story of one man’s life, The Magnetic Fields – 50 Song Memoir.

  33. Conor Oberst – Salutations
    (Ruminations was raw, brittle and virtually a set of demos. Salutations was the full band take on these songs (plus a couple of newies). Initially not convinced at first hearing, but prefer it to Ruminations now)

    Public Service Broadcasting – Every Valley
    (same concept, but darker subject matter. Not as triumphant as previous, but still a great way to spend 40 minutes)

    Sharks – Killers Of The Deep
    (proving that “old blokes can still cut it”. Some Girls-era Stones meets New York Dolls. A proper swagger from start to end)

    Paul Weller – A Kind Revolution
    (Weller continues to do what he pleases. Picks up where Saturns Patterns left off, goes off somewhere else again. Perhaps a bit “safer” than before, but still a good ‘un)

    John Otway – Montserrat
    (Mad ideas pay dividends. And Otway is madder in thought than most. The plan was to rebuild Air Studio on Montserrat and record the album. In the end he didn’t actually rebuild Air Studios (it would’ve needed a lot more than the £40k from Kickstarter), and recorded the album in George Martin’s basement)

    • Pleasantly surprised by A Kind Revolution (after really not liking Saturns Pattern). I think Weller just sees where his muse takes him these days, and is all the better for that.

  34. British Sea Power for me so far. Let the Dancers Inherit the Party is up there with their debut and Do You Like Rock Music.

    I’ve also enjoyed Aimee Mann (where’s any of her albums on that top 150 female albums list), The Unthanks and Eliza Carthy, although I saw Eliza and Co perform the album live before I bought it and, for me, it’s a better album heard live.

    I’ve played the Laura Marling album a lot too.

  35. Tinariwen – Elwan
    Aldous Harding – Party
    David Corley – Zero Moon
    Mark Lanegan Band – Gargoyle
    Japandroids – Near To The Wild Side Of Life
    Thurston Moore – Rock n Roll Consciousness
    Kevin Morby – City Music

  37. This year I have mainly been listening to electronica/post-classical stuff. If that sort of thing is up your street I would thoroghly recommend the following:

    Max Richter – Three Worlds: Music From Woolf Works
    A Winged Victory For The Sullen – Iris (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    LTO – Storybook
    Jarvis Cocker & Chilli Gonzales – Room 29
    Max Richter – Behind The Counter With (a Rough Trade compilation. It’s not on Spotify, but someone has put together the album as a playlist)

    Laura Marling’s ‘Semper Femina’ is probably my album of the year so far. I know he’s a bit ‘Marmite’ but I keep coming back to Father John Misty’s ‘Pure Comedy’. My TV highlight of the year was ‘American Epic Sessions’ on BBC Four and the album doesn’t disappoint.

  38. So far Magnetic Fields, Jane Weaver, Richard Dawson have been stunning but the Sufjan Stevens, Bruce Dessner etc Planetarium album has been my fav.

    Best reissue? Probably Alice Coltrane or The Moomins

  39. I currently have 32 albums on my duco01 Favourite Albums of 2017 list.
    I also have 17 albums on my duco01 Favourite Reissues and Hisorical Recordings of 2017 list.

    Am I going to reveal them all to you?
    No I am not.
    Because that would mean that when we come to December, you’ll already be familiar with half my ‘albums of the year’ lists, and that would never do. The nail-biting excitement of counting down the Top 50s would be lost.

    So I’ll just give you a little taster of one record on the Favourite New Albums list – a little amuse-bouche, if you will.

    The UK/Bahraini trumpet lady Yazz Ahmed has assembled a top-class 12-piece ensemble for her lastest offering, called “La Saboteuse”. It’s accessible jazz that has one foot in the east, one in the west. And it’s on Naim Records, which means that the sound is top notch.
    Anyway, the whole album is on YouTube, so have a bit of an audio-browse. Think you might like it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-w1hivFgC8&list=PLi8kf51LPvBdvjvfSnARFpvwMwgf3p-TV&index=1

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