2018 end of year lists

Got to admit it hasn't been as strong this year as other recent years, I probably listened to far more new music this year than the last few years and i'm happy with the top 10, I think they're all strong records, but 21-40 probably aren't competing with some other albums in recent years falling into those positions, Still nwards to 2019..

A few mentions of albums that either just missed out or were disappointing. Two albums that I felt similar about were the Iceage and Daughters albums, both decent sounding, but just let down a little by the production, which just felt a bit light to me. Noname's album 'Room 25' didn't have the same impact on me as her first, not sure why as it seems to be getting serially praised, i'm sure it's just me.. Anderson Paak's record had a couple of great moments but felt very safe overall. I'm sad to say that the Bill Ryder-Jones album I found a real slog and seemed to lack the subtleties of his previous album. I've really been getting into a lot of newer local bands this year,most of whom don't have albums yet, i'll probably try and do a write up of some of the stuff that i'm enjoying as I think the Soapy might enjoy some of it.

Anyway, here are my top 40 albums, numbers 40-21..

40.Milo – Budding ornithologists are weary of tired analogies

I just have a real soft spot for everything Milo does, his flow and his lyrics work for me all the time, I’m inclined to say that he’s the most interesting lyricist in Hip-Hop at the moment. This album is a little bit of a step down from his previous two (as Milo), but that’s more of a nod to those two albums than a knock on this. Again working with Kenny Segal on the beats, it’s another collection of languid and sardonic, jazzy, psychedelic hip-hop tunes. It suffers a little as it feels a little fractured, but understand this was the intention, so can’t complain too much. Spolier alert, I think he made a better collaborative album this year, which may have had a bearing on experience of this.

39. Arctic Monkeys – Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino

Yeah, I went there! I said this at the time, but I haven’t bothered with Arctic Monkeys for years, the last couple of albums have just been of no interest at all to me. The only album of theirs that I actually really like is Humbug, which everyone else seems to dislike. I only really gave this a go because of the conflicting reviews it was getting and, after a few listens, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s not perfect, it’s a little cheesy and try hard at times, but I like the production on it, I like the arrangements, and, though it was one of the initial hurdles, I really grew to love the vocal delivery. Once you get through some of the obvious obstacles, there are some decent songs underneath. Enough to pique my interest back into them, at least. And, in spite of whether you like it or not, it is refreshing to see a ‘mainstream’ band at least attempting to throw a bit of a curveball, which seems to rarely happen in this day and age.

38. Club Kuru – Giving In

This is weird and fun little psychedelic pop record, just something I stumbled across after hearing a song on the radio. It has a similar hazy production to a few of the records that have made my list this year. Very much a warm summers evening feel to the production and arrangements. Never tries to be anything other than what it is and doesn’t outstay it’s welcome. Good fun.

37. Mitski – Be The Cowboy

Although I do really enjoy the record and It rightly sits on my list, the reason it’s quite low is because it just feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. There’s just something about it that feels a little underwhelming. And though it seems to have done well critically, some of the criticisms of it are how short the songs are and unfinished it sounds, oddly that isn’t my issue with it, I like what she’s done with the arrangements and the song lengths. My take is that it feels a little like she (or her label) tried to do what St Vincent did with her last record and make a bit of a play for a bigger market, polishing some of the songs with the production, having some really striking artwork etc.. but it feels like they missed that target a bit, because the songs aren’t as suited to that production style as the one’s on the St Vincent record. I wish she would have been a little more daring with the production because the basis of what’s on here is great, it just feels like it’s operating at 70%.

36. Primo! - Amici

Primo are a band featuring one of the girls from Terry (though when I saw them live, both were playing). It’s very much in the same ballpark as Terry, short sharp indie pop songs. It doesn’t quite have the same ‘bounce’ as Terry, but it’s a good, fun record.

35. Various Artists – We Out Here

A compilation, I know.. (And not the last..) This is the only Jazz record that makes my list this year. This is an album released through Gilles Peterson’s ‘Brownswood’ Label who do put out some interesting stuff. Essentially its billed as a ‘primer’ featuring a collection of different young Jazz artists from TCOTU, all recorded in three days with everyone performing with each other. So you get a dichotomy of a difference of styles and sounds, but with a cohesive feel as all the players are working with each other. There is a 30 minute documentary that was made along with it that’s worth a watch for anyone who might be interested.

34. Josh T Pearson – The Straight Hits!

I’m very much a newcomer to Josh T Pearson, I never got into his last record, though it seemed to get a lot of love, and the only reason I gave this a go is because Karl had accidently bought an extra ticket to his gig earlier this month and I said I’d go. Turned out he didn’t play a single song from this album that night, but I’m glad I got into nonetheless as it’s opened my eyes to his stuff. I like the mix of full band ‘rockier’ stuff, that sometimes delve into Bad Seeds having fun territory and then the more singer/songwriter acoustic stuff. Still early doors with the album, could have got higher with more time.

33. Nostrum Grocers – Nostrum Grocers

Nostrum Grocers is a collaboration between rappers Milo and Elucid, I think this a stronger album than Milo’s solo record from this year. It’s a tight and concise album, 10 songs and just shy of 30 minutes long, which does help to keep the whole record on point and reduces the fat somewhat. The beats are reminiscent of what Milo usually does, but the flows between the two rappers are quite different, Elucid has a much harsher tone to his delivery, which bounces well of Milo’s languid and lazy style.

32. Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel

It’s a lot of fun and skips along quite nicely, but it does feel a little ‘light’. More so musically, as the lyrics are still as witty and acerbic as ever and probably a little more personal and heartfelt than her previous stuff. It feels a little safe for me, there’s a particular sheen to the production which just takes a little bit away from what she has done previously. Perhaps it was a bit of a play to make that extra step up and I suppose she’s done that to a certain degree. But as said, still a lot of fun and when I revisited it recently after some time away from it, I was surprised by how much it had held up.

31. Thom Yorke – Suspiria OST

I think this is the first Soundtrack to ever make one of my lists, I’ve always been largely indifferent to them barring a handful here and there and often struggle to enjoy away from the accompaniment of their films. I think what might have helped more with this is that I was listening to this a few weeks before I saw the film. I also really enjoyed the film, which helps. The Soundtrack is a mix of both ‘score’ type elements, along with ‘conventional’ songs with lyrics. I always enjoy Thom Yorke as piano man and the songs on here mostly fall into that category, there are a couple of really strong songs on the album which helps to elevate it up that notch.

30. Lithics – Mating Surfaces

It’s quite straight forward, angular post punk stuff, but more in the American new wave style than UK stuff. Reminds me a little of the B-52’s, that sort of thing. Female fronted and frenetic. There are a lot post punk bands doing the rounds at the moment and a few in my list, which is great because i’m really into that sort of sound, though I could understand where this could put someone off as it does sound a little reminiscent of a few other bands floating around. They just catch my ear.

29. Jack White – Boarding House Reach

In much the same spirit as the Arctic Monkeys, I’ve not had any joy with anything Jack White has done since the White Stripes and I only gave this a listen because it was dividing opinion so much both critically and from fans. I think it’s the best record he’s made since Get Behind Me Satan. It’s also not as crazy and out there as critics would have you believe, once the album digests, it makes more sense. But there is still plenty of experimentation and weird ideas to give this album the push on from the two bland and safe sounding solo records he’s put out so far and again, a good mix of styles ranging from the Jack White by numbers thick and sludgy riff rockers, a couple of beautiful ballads and then a few weird, funk tinged experiments.

28. Nine Inch Nails – Bad Witch

This is a bit of a curveball for me, I’ve never been into Nine Inch Nails, I don’t think I’ve ever actually listened to one of their albums until this. I’ve always liked the idea of Trent Reznor more than the actual music and my only real experience with this stuff is through his soundtrack work. NIN did make an appearance performing in the recent series of Twin Peaks which piqued my interest and then seeing this get decent reviews made me give it a go. I love the production on it, it’s still a little industrial, but there’s a lot of interesting sounds going on throughought. It manages to float between some jazzier stuff, with programmed beats and aggressive guitars a real mixed bag Another really short album from this year as well, which seems to be a bit of a thing, I understand this was originally conceived as an EP, but they decided to turn it into and album instead.

27. Against All Logic – 2012-2017

I know very little about dance music to be honest, I’ve dipped in moderately over the last few years, but it’s just not an area I have any real knowledge in. Suppose I suppose it comes down more to feel with stuff like this. I know this album is almost certainly hipster entry music for dance music noobz, but I really like it. I understand the AAL moniker is an alias for Nicholas Jaar and this is some sort of project which is a tribute to his more house inspired stuff. Anyway, the beats are big and I found it great to get lost in, sounds especially good when having a nice stroll.

26. Earl Sweatshirt – Some Rap Songs

A late comer as it was released so late in the year, but jumps straight into my list. As most of thr reviews have probably mentioned, beat and aesthetically, this is pure Madvillain, short, sketchy and loop laden beats throughout. It’s very lo-fi and very anti whatever Hip-Hop is doing in the mainstream. I was never that blown away with Earl in the early days of OFWGKTA, but his style has grown significantly with every release. The album also reminds me a little bit of the NY rapper ‘MIKE’ who does appear on this. I suspect this would be higher had it been released three months ago, because it is a record that needs some listening too, it’s production style is so odd, it’ll need time for your brain to get to grips with it.

25. Bad Pelicans – Best Of

I discovered this album after hearing one of the songs being played by Tom Ravenscroft on 6 Music. Energetic and punchy garage punk with huge hooks. Loads of the songs have references to ‘surfing’, styled ‘svrf’, even though they’re from Paris. There are a couple of absolute bangers on here and the rest holds up pretty well. I went to see them play in a tiny place in TCOTU and about 15 people turned up, but they gave it everything and played like they were playing in front of 10,000 people, so big props to them. Good fun.

24. Gaz Coombes – The World’s Strongest Man

Another surprise release this year as I’d pretty much given up on him following his two extremely tedious solo releases. Was intrigued after the first two singles were released and they sounded great, not just strong songs, but great production as well and that ethos extends to the whole album once I’d heard it. Also, his voice, sometimes he can veer too heavily into that faux American accent, but here, he gets it just right, he sounds a little like Tom Yorke at times. Strong songs throughout, great drum sounds throughout and just an overall sense that a lot of care has gone into the nuances of sound throughout the whole album and the care really shines through.

23. Gruff Rhys - Babelsberg

This is now probably my favourite Gruff solo record as I’ve always found his solo stuff lacking any real big hitters. It’s so much better than it has any right to be, an Americana/Lee Hazlewood/Scott Walker pastiche could sound truly awful in the wrong hands. I think his voice works perfectly for what he’s attempting here, a ‘stronger’ voice would sound too schmaltzy over this. I’m always a bit of a sucker for people who make themed records as well. Saw him perform it live with an orchestra as well, which made me fall for it that bit more.

22. Goggs – Pre Strike Sweep

The first of three Ty Segall related albums in my list this year. Goggs are a band he’s just the guitarist in. This is their second album and I wasn’t at all that keen on their debut, this is so much better. It’s essentially a garage/hardcore punk record, but it has some MASSIVE pop-punk hooks on it. It’s just fat and sludgy riffs throughout. In and out real quick. Big fun.

21. Kadhja Bonet - Childqueen

This is a really beautiful and lush sounding R’n’B/Soul record from a young singer songwriter who I believe plays and records everything herself, which is pretty remarkable when you hear some of what’s going on on the record. It often reminds me of a sort of early 70’s movie soundtrack the way it’s arranged. Subtle psychedelic string arrangements and interesting beats littered here and there. Lot’s going on with the arrangements and production as well. Vocally, she definitely falls veers into the more subtle style of delivery, her voice reminds me a little bit of Natalie Prass, and she used her voice in a similar way. The whole record has a lazy summer Sunday morning feel to it.