I don’t know about anybody else, but I find the end of year
lists a little bit intimidating.
This year I have tried my upmost to stay in touch with what’s
going on, follow the right magazines, blogs and purveyors of all things cool in
the music biz, I’ve even been writing about new music for the bastions of
brilliantness, When the Gramophone Rings, but it appears I am still
vastly out of touch.
There are those who pick up the complete unknown and give it
a leg up and crow about their brilliant digital only E.P recorded in their
bedrooms, but then are those who do mix it up and have your bigger names with
the majors behind them or one of the bigger independent labels but will also
include just anything they love.
Without naming names, I was perusing the Top 100 list by a
magazine I respect and enjoy the writing and enthusiasm and spirit with which
they write, but out of those 100, I could count the number of albums I’d
LISTENED to, let alone LOVED on one hand. Ok maybe two hands. Still, 10% is not
a good figure. Unless it’s a discount on a record you want to buy.
Considering there have been an array of great records by
legends of the game, top bands of the last ten years and some smaller fry
making a big noise, you’d think they’d have made a bit of an impact on a Top
100. What you also should take into account is that I wouldn’t exactly say my
favourite albums of 2015 are littered with big names but some aren’t getting a
look in on these lists. I feel a bit overwhelmed really. Is all this stuff
really that good?? Am I really missing out on ninety flippin’ brilliant
records??
Firstly, I’ll address a couple of albums that have gone over
my head a little that seemed to garner universal praise. Father John Misty’s I
Love you Honeybear is generally regarded as a classic this year and I feel
I may need to give it more of a chance. The title track didn’t knock me
sideways but
it seems as a whole, it’s a knockout record. One to go back
to. Kurt Vile I blive I’m goin dwn (or however it’s badly spelt) sounded
pretty good when I streamed the first few tracks but again, I wasn’t chomping
at the bit to order it. Pretty Pimpin’ is an earworm, so that’s another
to investigate further.
I also won’t flap gum about No.2 and No.3 as I think I have
mentioned these two enough over the year.
Instead, I’m going to do a lovely list of records, songs,
bands, artists, and other such nonsense that you’d normally find on a voting
form from NME or Q or any other major magazine. Because as much as you might
protest and moan in comments sections, you all love a list. So you can moan
about what’s there and what’s not there.
So, without further ado…….
Albums of 2015
1) Eaves – What Green Feels Like
2) Desperate Journalist – Desperate Journalist
3) Menace Beach – Rat World
4)
Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool
5)
Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think,
and Sometimes I Just Sit
6)
Guy Garvey – Courting the Squall
7)
Idlewild - Everything Ever Written
8)
Joanna Gruesome – Peanut Butter
9)
Noel Gallagher – Chasing Yesterday
10) Blur – The Magic Whip
I like the Noel Gallagher record. Fair enough, you may not,
but I don’t really care. I’m not sure when it became unacceptable to think
that. Why he is so derided but it’s cool to like Carly Rae Jepson or Taylor
Swift. For my money, neither are writing/releasing better songs than Noel, but
that’s just me.
Next up, Tracks/Songs of the Year. Potentially an
inexhaustive list of songs but I’ve tried to whittle them down to 25…
1)
George Glew – Bury Me
2)
Desperate Journalist – Heartbeats
3)
Tree Machines – F*cking Off Today
4)
Eaves – Pylons
5)
Wolf Alice – Giant Peach
6)
Editors – Marching Orders
7)
The Staves – Black & White
8)
The 1975 – Love Me
9)
Anna B Savage – I
10)
Blur – Lonesome Street
11)
Ryan Adams – This is where we meet in my mind
12)
Kassassin Street – To be Young
13)
Saltwater Sun – Wild
14)
Desperate Journalist – Perfect Health
15)
Guy Garvey – Angela’s Eyes
16)
Idlewild – All things Different
17)
Noel Gallagher – The Right Stuff
18)
Embers – The Bitten Tongue
19)
Tree Machine – Arms Length
20)
Eaves – Jack Madness
21)
The Magic Gang – Jasmine
22)
Ryan Adams and Johnny Depp – No Shadow
23)
Screaming Peaches – Sad Kid
24)
The Shanklins – See Through
25)
Courtney Barnett – Small Poppies
I bet there aren’t many of you out there who know George
Glew. “Bury me” is the only thing he released this year, or has ever released.
It’s incredible. His howling like he is in pain sends shivers up the spin.
Don’t take my word for it. Listen below:
I think last year I only did a list of 5 so you can see how
good this year has been.
Quick breakdown with the winners of the big awards as chosen
by me:
Best Band: Wolf Alice
New Band: Desperate Journalist
International Band: Tree Machines
Solo (Male): Eaves
International Male: Ryan Adams
Solo (Female): Anna B Savage
International Female: Courtney Barnett
Most Anticipated for 2016: Paul Draper
Best Comeback: Blur
Best Unsigned: Kassassin
Street
Live: Johnny Marr
Compilation: Sensible Records RSD Comp
Live Album: Ryan Adams Live at Carnegie Hall
Cover: Mark Morriss – Lucretia (My Reflection)
Well there you have it. So this is Christmas, and what have
you done? Another year over…blah blah blah!!
2016 is going to have to go some top that.
But here comes Paul Draper’s solo album!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment