Tunes of 2020

I'll probably pull together a top10 albums list at some point, but in the meantime here's the last.fm stats on what I listened to in 2020. 

So Top Artists for 2020:

So no huge surprise there. The Floyd will be due to the Later Years boxset, and the Prince boxsets also got hammered last year.

I don't remember playing the magic flute that much, oh well. of the most played 2020 albums, the three I'd really rate are Mark Kelly's Marathon, Borknagar, and Fish. But for sheer fun, Powerwolf win everytime.

B

the 2015 music longlist

Righto, I've done the initial cut and have a list of 32 to cull to 10 (ish).

Because I know you all care, here's the full 32.

Admiral Fallow	Tiny Rewards
Amorphis	Under the Red Cloud
Anekdoten	Until all the ghosts are gone
Bruce Soord	Bruce Soord
Crippled Black Phoenix	New dark age
David Gilmour	Rattle That Lock
Delaney Davidson	Lucky Guy
Father John Misty	I Love You, Honeybear
Gazpacho	Molok
Gloryhammer	Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
Godspeed You! Black Emperor	Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress
Iron Maiden	The Book of Souls
Julia Holter	Have you in my wilderness
Kamasi Washington	The Epic
Karnataka	Secrets of Angels
Mark Knopfler	Tracker
Mountain Goats	Beat the Champ
Nightwish	Endless Forms Most Beautiful
Nordic Giants	A Seance of Dark Delusions
Ozric Tentacles	Technicians of the Sacred
Phoenix Foundation	Give Up Your Dreams
Public Service Broadcasting	The Race for Space
Redtenbacher Funkestra	Dr Hypenstein
Sam Hunt & David Kilgour & The Heavy 8s	The 9th
Shooglenifty	The Untied
SJD	Saint John Divine
Susanne Sundfor	Ten Love Songs
Tim Bowness	Stupid Things That Mean The World
Trembling Bells	The Sovereign Self
Wilco	Star Wars
Zero She Flies	The River

Steven Wilson : Hand. Cannot. Erase.

Top albums 2014 numbers 1-5

So the top5.

5 - Swans 'To Be Kind'
It took the previous Swans album, The Seer, and added Krautrock. There's almost trance-like vibe in some of the tracks, although it's still brutal and an almost physical aural assault. Which is nothing compared to seeing them vibe, the manchester uni O2 has a cavern like approach to sonics and adding in the nut shredding volume the Swans play at, somewhat intimidating.

4 - Jakob 'Sines'
New Zealand's post-rock lads delivered a superb album this year, strings by Rhian Sheehan (who has popped up in other years top10 lists). All win this album.


3 - Alcest 'Shelter'
More post-rock/shoegazer, this time French. Alcest have dropped the cookie monster vocals, and gone for glorious soaring melodies. Definitely worth a punt.


2 - Abel Ganz 'Abel Ganz'
It appears to be my most played album this year (from a quick look at last.fm), prog / rock / pop / celtic - a little hard to categorise this one. But it's wonderfully tune/melody based. It also has a brass band, more pop music needs brass. [that may not be true] Apparently AG have been going for some time, but this album is a big departure for their style. I've since picked up the previous album, and I'd strongly recommend this new one.


1 - Opeth 'Pale Communion'
The days of Opeth as a black metal band are well and truly behind them. The previous album was a big lurch towards 70s prog, and Pale Communion continues that. A quite stunning combination of prog, jazz, funk and metal, which reflects how the band approach playing live. Admittedly live you get the feeling all band members are doing all those styles within the same track, and not at the same time. Brilliant album.

Love, B

Top Albums 2014 : Number 6-15

It's more usual to have a top 10, but I usually struggle with that and have at least two tenth equal, and 2014 was a brilliant year for music. So I decided 15 was reasonable, unlike some (ehh HippyDave) who went for 25.
I decided the top5 could probably be ordered, and the next 10 were a block. So you get the block now, and the top5 shortly.

Firstly, as usual, the disappointments.
Anathema - Distant Satellites
The last few albums have been, for me, of diminishing returns. The passion present in A Natural Disaster seems to have bled away to a bland mix of vaguely new-agey lyrics and portentous music. None of which sits too well for me, but I'll freely admit it's working for a lot of other people. Half of Distant Satellites was an improvement on the previous two albums as they were trying something new (almost hints of Mogwai?) but it didn't save it for me. As a friend put it, when he heard they were doing a tour of cathedrals, 'well they've gone right up their own arse', hard to disagree.

Amplifier - Mystoria
Octopus, the sprawling, complex, intense, confusing, brilliant double album from a few years hooked me. The follow up felt like a band trying to record something quickly to stop going insane, this new album feels like a punk album. Direct and short. And it didn't work for me.

Pineapple Thief - Magnolia
Never thought I'd put a 'thief album in my disappointments! I can see why they released it, it builds on (and is very similar to) the previous album which did well. Unfortunately having enjoyed the progression and changes in each album, this one doesn't have anything I haven't heard before.
Having said that, they are still on the best bands playing live, so go see them.

And so to the 6-15.
Don Walker - Hully Gully
Fair to say it wasn't easy to get hold of this album from the main songwriter of Cold Chisel. But it's worth it. And his website (link above) now has a bandcamp page. Kind of pub blues with great observational lyrics.


David Kilgour - End Times Undone
What is it about The Clean and their alumni? Can they produce a bad album, ever? Apparently not. This one takes the guitar based music of Left by Soft which is also a favourite album, and moves it to almost psychedelic overtones - particularly on the superb Christopher Columbus.

Robert Scott - The Green House
The Bats, solo, he can't make a bad album. Particularly if you like jangly guitar pop, this stuff is perfect. Being an addict I grabbed the deluxe OTT package from FlyingOut which was ridiculously good value. I felt guilty the amount of crap I got and minimal outlay for it. Yes, me, guilty. Weird.


Jonathan Crayford - Dark Light
Brings back memories of sipping cocktails/craft ale at Havana bar with others trying to forget their PhD's. Superb piano based jazz trio. It was a close run thing between this and Matthew Halsall + the Gondwana Orchestra, which Neil suggested. But the memories of Crayford and beer trumped Matthew, just. Both are well worth checking out. There's some sound samples of the Crayford here.

Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems
How does an 80 year old make on the best albums of the year (and it's not just me, he seems to have popped up on a number of best-of lists)? Eh who cares, Len's renaissance is great, and there's still a very wry sense of humour in those lyrics.


IQ - Road of Bones
They appear to be on a bit of a roll with their last few albums. But this one steps up, it's heavier (kind of), the new keyboardist has changed their sound - making it darker, and everything seems a degree better than the last album. Sure it's prog, and they ain't no pretty boys, but damn it's a fine album that pulls you in making you listen to the full 50+ minutes. There's not as much prog on this list as normal, and I'd really recommend giving this a spin.


Behemoth - The Satanist
Fuck me. Behemoth disappeared after the previous album with the lead singer Nergel being treated for leukemia. They came back with this, by far their best album (and Evangelion was superb). It's brutal riff based black metal, and in a year of some stunning metal releases, this stands above them all (honourable mentions to Scar Symmetry and Epica). It is everything I want in a metal album, aggression, riffs, tunes ... go forth and spin the video. It's also one of the best metal vids in years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQVVS0pFn0

Scott Walker+SunnO))) - Soused
We appear to be getting almost regular releases from Scott Walker. This can only be a good thing. Although described as a collaboration, it feels more like a Scott Walker album with SunnO))) as the backing band. There's a bit more of their noise/sound scapes in there, but it's certainly very close to what you'd expect (?) from a SW album. It's dark, intense, and unsettling, so no change there. If you haven't heard SW before, this isn't a bad place to start, but I'd recommend watching the documentary 30th century man first.


Pink Floyd - The Endless River
A bunch of leftovers from the Division Bell sessions? Nick had mentioned in his book there was enough material for an ambient type album which the band had briefly thought about as a companion to TDB. I had low expectations, but what the hell, I knew I'd be buying it. It's a wee bit good. There's a lot of haters out there, but really as a parting shot for one of the most influential bands, it's a perfect eulogy. Lots of Rick Wright throughout, and lots of referneces to earlier Floyd albums. I'm not convinced the lyrics are the best for the one song, but eh, they could be a lot worse.


Robert Plant - Lullaby and ... the ceaseless roar
I'm not a LedZep fan, at all. But Plant solo? yep, it's interesting and varied. This new one is probably the best of his solo work, what struck me is the space within the tracks - it's beautifully recorded. Yeah I'm sure someone out there is criticising him stealing from xx or yy, but what the hell, it's a great album.


So there ya go. And three kiwi albums in there. Great stuff.

More to come.
B

Albums of the year 2013

I'd like to thank our Thursday Night Music Night group for making me listen to a whole bunch of new stuff this year - even for me there seemed a lot of new, unusual, stuff that I spun. Not bad for a group that spun out from a few of us who like beer and music and decided Thursday night was a good night to combine these interests -- across many time zones too...
I've tried to link to the artists pages, so if you do feel like buying the album - get it from them. And marked which artists are from NZ as I was surprised how many are in the top10 this year.

The two that didn't make it into the top10:
Jordan Reyne - Annihilation Sequence   [kiwi]
The Eels - Wonderful Glorious  [which, as an album it is]

10= Gloryhammer,  Tales from the Kingdom of Fife.
Yeah, if you'd told me I'd have been rating a pisstake prog-metal album in my top 10, I'd have clipped you one. But it's ace. Go on, just watch this video - and if you get the chance to see them live, take it, possibly the most enjoyable gig of the year.


10= Nathan Haines - Vermillion Skies  [kiwi]
I've listened to NH over the years and never really clicked, enjoyable and good, sometimes great, live. But this album is something special, approachable jazz, chilled out, late night whisky drinking stuff (Neil, I'd recommend this one to you). He's apparently based in London now, so must keep an eye out for him...

9 Rhian Sheehan - Stories from Elsewhere  [kiwi]
Continuing on from Standing in Silence and Seven Tales of the North Wind, Sheehan's odd mix of spacious, atmospheric and yet personal instrumental music just gets better and better. Initially a little jarring, as the album is slightly closer and more intimate, and he's found a small glockenspiel kinda thing, but it's a grower. Wonderful stuff.

8 Light Bearer - Silver Tongue
Recommendation from Scott (possibly). Post-rock, metal, concept driven rock. Fucking great, brutal, powerful, melodic.

7 Roy Harper - Man or Myth
Eventful year for Roy (go google if you haven't heard). I've spun his albums occasionally over the years, nothing had really grabbed me, but reviews (and TNMN) raved about the new one. So I picked it up. Brilliant. He's a twisted, cynical bugger, and damn he can write dem good tunes.

6 Phoenix Foundation - Fandango  [kiwi]
The lads return with a big, bold, sprawling double album. Pushing the psychedelic more, and possibly their best? Certainly running Pegasus close. Enjoyed the gigs this year too, the Liverpool one was a bit ramshackle, bringing back lovely memories of those San Fran BH gigs...ahhhh....

5 Boards of Canada - Tomorrows Harvest
First album in years. As good as the last one. Great electonic stuff.

4 Pere Ubu - Lady from Shanghai
Ok, I expected to like this. But not as much as I did. I dunno if it's a good starting point for Pere Ubu, but it's worth spinning - especially if youre a fan of late era Tom Waits, or late era Scott Walker. It's not as avante garde, but it's very fresh and very creative.

3 Fish - Feast of Consequences
Being a fan of Fish has, recently, been a fan with diminishing returns. So I preordered the new album out of a sense of duty (since I've enjoyed so much of his output), and the expectation of some great artwork by Mark Wilkinson.
Wow. Lyrically strongest for years, he's really engaged with the topics, musically almost up to the lyrics. And live, very emotional with the war suite visuals.

2 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away
far more spacious than his more recent albums, shorter, and songs are allowed to breath. Getting close to being his best album? yeah I'd say so. And great to see live in Prague.

1 Steve Wilson - The Raven Who Refused To Sing (and other stories)
No surprise here. It's a blinder.

Top10 albums of 2009

This list is the definitive, objective 2009 list and anyone who disagrees has been shot, what with the revolution happening ‘n all. 

In keeping with previous years self-imposed rules, live albums were out (bye bye Len C, Tom W, Iron M) as were compilations (bye bye the superb Pineapple Thief 3000 days) and reissues (byebye King Crimson remasters, Red in particular was a revelation, and Elbow Asleep at the Wheel deluxe edition).

Generally 2009 saw a number of excellent releases and limiting the list to 10 (well ok, 11 but thats chauvinism coming through) was tricky, hence the bonus ones in the next post. 

I’ve tried to roughly order them, but really, aside from the top3 the rest are all just great albums. 

10= Family Cactus “Gone Howling” / Lawrence Arabia “Chant Darling”

The first of the NZ releases, I tried separating the two of them, but it proved too difficult so, in keeping with last years cop-out, let them both in. FC supported Okkervil River when I saw them in Wellington, and blew me away. Brilliant pairing of two stunning bands. Both quite similar, although FC are more guitar-americana than OR. There are similarities to their city-mates, Phoenix Foundation, and that can’t be a bad thing.

I really don’t know how to describe LA, it’s a beautiful, whimsical, quirky and sometimes upbeat album. It is very typical of NZ music, but for most of you that won’t help, so think Neil Finn addictive melodies but more quirky music to them (I’m not a big fan of the Finn’s so don’t like this description). The influences LA has had recently, including OR come through with, I felt, more time allowed for the songs to grow - you do need to listen to it to get hooked, but it is delightful reveal when it happens.

LA review: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/43nv

LA is currently touring the UK, definitely recommend seeing him.

9: The Decemberists - Hazards of Love I only heard this late in the year as reviews had been pretty damning. Well a brit-folk-prog-americana album shouldn’t work. As a genre, it’s one I’d avoid like the plague. Annoyingly this album has made it work. Damn them. Sure there’s Tull in there, there’s Beach Boys, there’s Enid, but over-all it’s so different, so catchy, so gorgeous, it transcends the influences (like how Muse used to).

8: Dredg - The pariah the parrot the delusion A band who have featured in my top10 previously, where I suspect I described them as pop/rock. They’ve gone more prog-pop on this one, and it’s a winner. It’s certainly not as accessible as their previous album, Catch Without Arms, but the hooks are there and I like it. Very guitar driven, but the main focus of the band is definitely the lyrics. Intelligent without being pretentious, and interesting without dominating - so not really typical prog ! Good comparison would be The Weakerthans. 

7: Porcupine Tree - The Incident. The previous album caused division within the fans for being too metal or lyrically too immature, personally I liked it. This one is more a combination of recent material, as such there appears to be a bit of oohhh that’s from album XX. But it works, everyso often it’s good to consolidate, and PT have done very well with this. It is complex, multi-layered album, both sonically and lyrically, as you’d expect from PT. But it also has some killer hooks. And some tracks will not get out of your head, Drawing the Line in particular is stunning in surround sound. Based around a song-cycle (oh dear god, how prog is that) concerning a road accident (or incident) the album seems to explore more how people react to suffering. Perhaps the next album could explore similar themes but focus on bankers, should be quite upbeat...

6: Steve Hackett - Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth. I’d never listened to much Hackett outside of Genesis, so when Neil suggested we catch him at a festival, it seemed churlish to say no. And he blew us away. The new tracks he played were stunners and caused me to pick up some (well ok quite a few) albums from his website. The new album has been, so far, my favourite. It’s diverse, it’s interesting, and it’s a great combination of rock, prog, and a bunch of other influences. It seems more accessible than other albums of his, which I suspect is the rock influences coming through. The songs, although hitting the 5+ minute mark, don’t seem too long (common criticism of prog), suggesting SH knows how to let them breath without stretching them too far.

5: Mark Olson and Gary Louris - Ready for the flood. The legendary Jayhawks reunite for a this-is-not-a-jayhawks album. It’s rough and loose, and it works. Their voices work beautifully - the harmonies on this album are quite stunning. There is a danger in this type of music that it becomes too dull, too samey, but the variety and relaxed approach to delivery doesn’t allow this to happen - conjuring up dust-bowls with interesting dusty characters,  very much in the Dylan mode. 

4: The Enid - Arise and Shine Vol 1. Now, I’m not a huge fan of the Enid, but something about this album has hooked me bad. Symphonic-electronica? Yeah it shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. As far as I can tell, it’s a website only purchase. But you do support the band directly and if the plaintive emails coming out of Enid land are anything to go by, they need it. So the album, well it’s symphonic, almost bombastically so in places, but there’s a very sympathetic electronica sitting underneath a lot of it. It’s lush, it sweeps you up, and it makes you lose yourself in the album, I can’t ask for more than that.

3: IQ - Frequency. I loved Seventh House but was largely bored by Dark Matter, which I felt lacked emotion and punch. No such complaints with Frequency, loved it from first listen. It’s more direct, it’s got hooks, and it’s got variety. Love it. Title track in particular is classic IQ without out-staying its welcome.

2: Rhian Sheehan - Standing in Silence. No vocals, ambient, film-ic, electronica, symphonic. This is the most complete of Rhian’s recordings. I’ve had the feeling that his previous albums have suffered from a lack of funds for production. Thankfully this wasn’t the case on this album. A film made to this music would have to include vast open spaces, for that’s how this album sounds. There’s a huge spacial quality to the album that just envelops the listener, imagine staring out on an Antarctic landscape, that’s this album. But just as the vastness threatens to overwhelm, small details are introduced. This should have been my #1 album. More kiwi music too!!

1: Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings No I don’t know how this got to #1 either, but looking at the albums released in 2009 I kept coming back to this album. It’s everything you want from a DT album, rock, metal, prog, solos, but none sounds too over the top (certainly an achievement when Portnoy is involved). It’s got hooks and tunes in obscene levels, James sounds like he’s really having fun singing, and it works as a whole. Buy the 3 disc version, well it’s prog, of course there’s a 3CD version, the covers album includes a blinding version of tracks from my favourite Queen album, Queen II. Also quite partial to their cover of Crimson’s Larks Tongues in Aspic. 

Next up, also rans and WTF where they thinking...