Albums of the Year 2018

Here are my favourite ten albums of 2018 with a short blurb of recommendation, a video and a playlist.

10) Living The Dream by Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
Slash's latest album is one of the best hard rock albums in years.  This is a genre I have generally stayed away from for twenty years as it seemed a pale imitation of its glory years but this is something of a revival.     

 

9) Flow State by Tash Sultana
Talented Australian singer and multi- instrumentalist released her debut album this year and has already become well respected around the world.  It's good music to chill out to.



8) Marble Skies by Django Django
Third album from UK band chock full of tasty tunes and they haven't put a foot wrong in their career to date.



7) Combat Sports by The Vaccines
The Vaccines are now on their fourth album and show no signs of slowing down or fading away.



6)  Pound For Pound by The Nextmen Vs Genleman's Dub Club
Dub rhythms, horn sections, a plethera of guest vocalists and a collaboration between two English reggae groups produced this awesome album.     



5) Good Mood by Ball Park Music 
An Australian band from Queensland who have earned the love of Aussies over the last decade.  Not sure if they have much of an international profile but their fifth album has just been voted Triple J's listeners album of the year in a national poll.   



4) Little Dark Age by MGMT
MGMT had three worldwide hits on their debut album back in 2008 and then disappeared from my radar whilst they actively avoided radio friendly music and went very experimental.  In January 2018 MGMT unleashed this mini epic inspired by early eighties dark synth pop and the rise of Trump.   



3)  SECT by Golden Features
A DJ and producer from Sydney released his debut album of excellent dance music that has more than enough interesting golden features to please those of us who don't have the energy to dance.



2) Parcels by Parcels
It's an excellent album of groovy funky electroinica from Australians based in Berlin.  It sounds like the sequel to Daft Punk's Random Access Memories.  Daft Punk have been quiet for five years now so Parcels can fill that void.



1) Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys have also been away for five years before this release.  Whilst Alex Turner has been active with the Last Shadow Puppets the fans were keen for a follow up to AM.  What they got was a surprising change of styles as Arctic Monkeys released a lounge jazz concept album about a hotel on the moon.  Alex' Turner's genius has pulled this off and after initial confusion it is very rewarding album when you immerse yourself in it.  Four stars out of Five.



I have compiled a spotify playlist with four tracks from each album if you want to dip in.


Happy New Year

Old Indie Kid's Mixtape December 2018

These are the twenty tracks that have pushed their way to the top over the last month just in time to appear on my final monthly mixtape.  But expect plenty more over the next month as I will work on the end of year best of mixtapes and maybe a few bonus playlists from my Eighties retrospectives.  Years 1977 to 1984 are already out there and I will turn my attention to 85 next.

Merry Christmas

1) My Antidote by Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Slash appears on my playlist twice in subsequent months.  A huge return to form after 25 years of obscurity.  This is pure rock music and reminds me of "You Could Be Mine" era GN'fR!!!!

2) Lips Like Sugar (Transformed) by Echo & The Bunnymen 
This is a re-recording of a 1987 single but much better than the original which I hadn't heard before.  Taken from an album of re-recorded hits by E&TB.

3) New Direction by Sloan Peterson 
Indie rock in the best tradition - short, punky, spunky, catchy riffs and great lyrics.

4) My Friend's A Liquid by Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
Perth band who have dialled down the fuzz guitars and are headed in a more commercial direction - for them.  Now they sound as commercial as King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard.  KG&TLW have taken 2018 off after releasing five albums in the previous year but I expect they have been recording at their usual work rate so expect new albums soon. 

 5) Something For The Pain by She Drew The Gun
Marxist pop so probably not very popular but another great protest song.

6) My Hands by Running Touch 
A dark and deep dance track by this Melbourne producer.

7) Santa's Comin' Down The Chimney by Confidence Man
A very catchy beat and one of the cheekiest Christmas singles since The Darkness sang "Christmas Time - Don't Let The Bells End".

8) Hope You Found What You've Been Missing by Cults 
Haunting tune from Cults - do I hear sleigh bells in the mix?  Crafty bastards - that always works on me at this time of year.

9) The Poison Tree by The Good The Bad And The Ugly   
After eleven years this band resurfaces with four grumpy men moaning about Brexit Britain and the music is largely unbearable.  This closing album track is the exception - a real Damon tearjerker.

10) Bison On The Plains by Grandaddy 
A new single from the recently reformed American band.

11) Back For Good by The Wedding Present 
Perth will host a friendly game next year between Man Utd and Leeds Utd.  In this warm up The Wedding Present (Leeds) take on a Nineties hit from Take That (Manchester). 

12) Stars Around My Heart by Steve Mason
Feel good music from the former Beta Band head honcho.

13) She Works Out Too Much by MGMT  
An album track taken from the Little Dark Age album about the breakup of a relationship caused by gym membership.

14) All My Friends Are Falling In Love by The Vaccines 
New single not included on their 2018 Combat Sports album.   

15) For The Record by Winston Surfshirt 
Australia's Winston Surfshirt release some fresh Summer vibes.

16) Rudeboy by The Nextmen Vs Gentlemen's Dub Club featuring Gardna
Taken from the excellent Pound for Pound album.

17) Out Of Place by The Delta Riggs 
Aussie indie rockers who are not evolving musically at all.  However, if you liked them last time then you will again.

18) Brighton Pier by Razorlight 
Over ten years since their last album and Razorlight are back and on top form.  I've enjoyed all the new tracks I've heard so far and will be listening to their new album soon to check if its as good as I hope.

19) Leave Me Lonely by Hilltop Hoods 
New track from the biggest group in Australian Hip Hop.  Get ready for their new album The Great Expanse in February 2019.

20) Zombie Bastards by Weezer
Taken from Weezer's Black Album - an instant classic "Die! Die! You Zombie Bastards!"

Mixtape June 2018

Half way through the year already so I have now selected 120 songs/tracks to soundtrack 2018 and I will continue to plow through new releases to uncover the best new music.  I found the Spotify algorithms were delivering me very predictable suggestions for new releases so I reviewed and unfollowed a few hundred bands trying to mix it up.   

Confident Music For Confident People 

1)  Out the Window by Confidence Man
This is a storming tune - sounds like Primal Scream circa 1991 meets the Polyphonic Spree.

2) Anything U Want by Needshes
Indie disco track hailing from Tashkent, Uzbeckistan. 

3) Your Love Is My Favourite Band by The Vaccines
Another great tune from the London band.  Love a song that mentions listening to the chart countdown.  Takes me back to the 80's with my tape recorder and finger hovering over the pause button.

4) Long Wave by Bonny Doon
This Detroit band take things in a more relaxed direction.

5) Walking To Oman's by Fraser A. Gorman
Australian musician has just released this beautiful downbeat track ahead of a new album.

6) Far Away Truth by Albert Hammond Jr.
Whilst The Strokes are on hiatus we still have Albert Hammond Jr. releasing music of a very similar nature.

7) Little Dark Age (Ghost Vision Remix) by MGMT
A remix of the title track of MGMT's last album.  I'm trying to find out who is behind this remix and it appears they might be related to UK duo Psychemagik and I will be delving deeper into their music.

8) Star Treatment by Arctic Monkeys
This new album has divided and alienated their fans.  I personally love it as Alex Turner is surely the best lyricists of his generation and he fills the whole album with his wordplay delivered via a trans-Atlantic lounge lizard crooner character.  Welcome to Smoothcore. 

9) Cactus by Teleman
The definitive song about finding freedom via cactus impalement.  Don't try this at home indie kids.

10) Bells & Circles by Underworld & Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop rants like a madman about the golden age of air travel when he could smoke on planes and pull air hostesses over an pounding Underworld track.

11) Contradiction by Alborosie ft. Chronix
Chronix appeared on three new singles this week collaborating with Alborosie, Richie Spice and Protoje - popular guy.

12) Dare (Friction Remix) by Gorillaz
This month I have been mostly enjoying drum n bass artist Friction.  Gorillaz have also just returned with a new song this month.

13) Break Me by DMA's
Time to chillax again.  Sydney's Madchester wannabes offer such an opportunity with some retro shoegazing music.

14) Sweet Release by The Coral
Merseyside rockers are currently touring with the Manics and although they vanished from my radar fifteen years ago they have actually been releasing albums all the time - to my total ignorance.

15) Smack My Pitch Up by The Traffic
I do not know who this band are but they play a great instrumental version of The Prodigy tune.

16) Tracks (Back To You) by Bootleg Rascals
Australian group who describe themselves as "Taco slinging dub warriors".

17) Younger by The Hails
Smooth grooves and indie rock from this band from Florida.

18) Never Start by Middle Kids
Sydney trio who have just released their debut album on the Domino label.

19) Easy Jesus by Naive Set
Guitar indie pop from Amsterdam.

20) The Perfect Life Does Not Exist by Ball Park Music
Playing out this month are Ball Park Music with yet another great song lifted from their Good Mood album.

Mixtape March 2018

Summer is officially over in Australia.  But I won't mope about it as there is plenty of new music to enjoy and several more months before it actually gets cold or wet.  Here's to a long Autumn!

1) In The Air by DMA'S
Love this new song - one of their finest - a real maturity.

2) Lay It Down by Black Gold Buffalo
London based group with a  few singles under their collective belts now finishing off their debut album.

3) Bullet Proof by This Is The Kit
What a voice and what a talent!  Kate Sables is the first of two artists from the English City of Winchester to grace this month's playlist.  Heartbreaking song.  Bullet Proof (I'm Glad I'm Not).



4) Does This Last by Boo Seeka
Straight Outta Sydney - lush layered dream-hop not afraid of a catchy chorus.

5) Charlie by Alice Ivy
Australian Alice Ivy has released her debut album I'm Dreaming which is 36 minutes of blissful Avalanches influenced, beats, samples, raps and songs.

6) I'm Waiting For My Man by Beck
Velvet Underground wrote the original about scoring from their dealer over 50 years ago!




 7) Riverview Fog by The Sadies
Opening track from the latest album by the Canadian indie folk rockers.

8) High Enough by K.Flay
"Love Is The Drug" is the message from this American artist.



9) Something For Your Mind by Superorganism
This list is taking something of a narcotic twist - so why fight it?  Here is a collective operating out of London with their debut album due any day now...



10) S.I.A. by GUM 
Perth associate of the Tame Impala crew with his latest slab of funky synth rock.

11) Surface To Air by Django Django featuring Self Esteem
Django Django have gone from strength to strength with their third album containing their best collection of tunes.  Think The Beta Band remixed by Hot Chip... Hmmmm...

12) Treetops by Cloud Control
Cloud Control drift out of Sydney's Blue Mountains making dreamy psychedelic pop.


13) Far From Earth by Stonefield
The Lindlay sisters wallow in old school heavy metal riffs and cliched space exploration/final countdown themes.  I just can't help enjoying it all.  Rock On!

14) Distant Colours by Manic Street Preachers
New Manics is a return to heart on their sleeve passionate rock.

15) 1933 by Frank Turner 
Written in 2016 in the aftermath of the Brexit vote whilst touring the US tour during the last presidential election.  It was enough to anger this folk rocker from Winchester into penning a punky protest song.

16) Everything Is Now (Part Two) by Belle and Sebastian
My favourite Scottish band ever have released a trio of EPs over the last few months fifteen new songs without the burden of expectation that an album brings. 

17) Me and Michael by MGMT
Taken from the excellent new album Little Dark Age.  Very 80's feel here. Is that still in vogue?

18) Fever Dream Girl by Kyle Craft 
New album Full Circle Nightmare on the Sub Pop label.



19) Call Me If You Need Me by Vance Joy
His second album Nation of Two has just been released and will be huge hit propelling Vance Joy towards the top.  The album contains a several excellent singles which will now get wider exposure.

20) Buzzkill by Ash
Short, sweary punky pop song about the death of Summer.  Appropriately timed for the Southern Hemisphere where the 1st March marks the official start of Autumn.