Albums of the Year 2019

Here is Old Indie Kid's Top Ten Albums of the Year 2019

I found this sitting in my drafts from December 2019 and it was never published until now. 

Being a top social media influencer if any of the bands featured want to send me any free merchandise or VIP concert tickets I will continue to promote your careers. ;-)


10) Days of the Bagnold Summer by Belle & Sebastian 
I understand that this is the soundtrack to an unreleased comedy film directed by Will from the Inbetweeners about a boy living with his mother set in the 1990s.  This explains the return to their original nineties sound and the inclusion of a couple of re-recorded tracks but it is mostly new material.  Top Track: "Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying".

9) A Bath Full Of Ecstasy by Hot Chip
Great songs with catchy hooks that grow on you like an unpleasant fungal infection but leave you grinning from ear to ear. Top Track: "Melody Of Love".

8) Hot Motion by Temples
They remain devoted to replicating 1960's psychedelic pop and they are unrivaled in the Chamber Psych genre. (Yes Chamber Psych. Try and keep up).  Top Track: "You're Either On Something".

7) Encore by The Specials
Social commentary in an age that needs it when too many artists appear to avoid it.  I only know their early material so was surprised by how good this modern album was. Top Track: "Embarrassed By You". 

6) Midnight Love, Vol 2 by Sloan Peterson
Only 8 songs on this release but all killer and no filler.  Beautiful vocals from Sloan singing classic pop songs accompanied by an Aussie garage band.  Sounds like Lana Del Rey fronting the Vaccines.  Top Track: "Our Love"

5) Lux Prima by Karen O & Danger Mouse
I always preferred the ballads from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  Karen O has a great voice when she isn't being a shrieking punk rocker.  This album is her best work so far.  Switching a NYC punk band with the funky genius of Danger Mouse has elevated the quality of the music from the gutter to the coffee table.  Top Track: "Lux Prima"

4) Weezer (Teal Album) by Weezer
A covers album where Weezer manage to interpret classic songs faithfully whilst the album retains the homogeneous sound of a Weezer album.  Weezer's Teal album contains covers of famous songs originally released by Toto, Eurythmics, Black Sabbath,  Michael Jackson, The Turtles, Ben E King, TLC, ELO, Tears for Fears and A-ha.  Top Track: "Africa".

3) Apple Crumble by Winston Surfshirt
Laid back funky hip hop beats with Winston crooning away.  They sound like the Fun Lovin' Criminals if they chilled out and moved to a beach-side suburb in Australia.  Top Track: "Make A Move".

2) No Geography by The Chemical Brothers
A solid dance album that ranks alongside their 90's albums in big beats, squelchy 303s, use of samples and the overall consistency and intensity makes this the best dance album of the year.  Top Track: "Got To Keep On".

1)  Smooth Big Cat by Dope Lemon
A hazy narcotic trip from Angus Stone. Top Track: "Salt N Pepper".


Honorable mentions to bands that missed out in the top ten - Ride, Methyl Ethel, The Black Keys & Kaiser Chiefs.

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!"

Old Indie Kid Mixtape October 2018

This month I have focused exclusively on Australian music.
Twenty new songs from a Land Down Under.

1) Our Place by Verge Collection
Verge Collection have released their debut album this year although this is an earlier single that makes me smile from ear to ear.

2) Scream Whole by Methyl Ethel
Fresh psychedelic music from Perth's Methyl Ethel, the first from their forthcoming third album.

 3) Outlaw by Deep Sea Arcade
It has been six years since the debut album of DSA and it appears a second may be imminent. That is a gap longer than the Stone Roses took to record the Second Coming.  Still it could be quicker than the sixteen years that the Avalanches took.

4)  Our Love by Sloan Peterson
Sloan is a singer/songwriter from Sydney as she's ace!

5) Shoot The Breeze by Thundamentals
This Aussie Hip Hop act has been around for ten years now and this stoner's song is taken from their sixth album - I Love Songs. 

6) Fake That by The Delta Riggs
Australian Indie Rock coming out of Melbourne.  Does what it says on the tin.

7) Talking Straight by Rolling Blackouts, Coastal Fever
Melbourne indie rock band - taken from their debut album Hope Downs.

8) Worship by Golden Features
Sydney dance music producer who released his impressively intense debut album SECT in July.

9) Graceville by Strangely Enough
I know nothing about this band but what I can piece together from Spotify is they have released two singles and have 32 monthly listeners.  I am one of two people who listen to them in Perth.  I wonder if these stats will be boosted by featuring them in this blog?  Probably not.

10) Exactly How You Are by Bell Park Music
Another track lifted from their treasure trove fifth album - Good Mood.

11) Treaty '18 by Youthu Yindi, Gavin Campbell featuring Baker Boy
Originally written in the late 1980s this political song from Aboriginal band Youthu Yindi from the Northern Territory's Arnham Land has been re-recorded with additional raps from Baker Boy.

12) Seven by Tash Sultana
Tash is very talented and has produced a number of excellent tracks over the last few years.  Her debut album has just been released and is good background music for stroking your hipster beard.  However, this instrumental shoots off in all directions and is a sublime piece of music.

13) Lightenup by Parcels
The Byron Bay band relocated to Berlin and have worked with their disco heroes including Nile Rodgers, Daft Punk and Giorgio Moroder.  They have released many awesome singles over the years and are presumably working on a album that will propel them into the mainstream.     



14) Faces by Holy Holy
A new direction ahead of their third album - doesn't sound like their earlier material but the quality is just as high.

15) Embracing Me by SAFIA
This laid back electronic song was actually released a couple of years ago but I only discovered it recently so I'm going to allow it.  My blog - my rules and I can ignore them when I feel like it.

16) Deserve by Ivan Ooze
Melbourne hip hopper getting what he deserves.

17) Clark Griswold by Hilltop Hoods featuring Adrian Eagle
The Hilltop Hoods team up with a fellow Adelaide singer on this track celebrating being a dad.

18) Undecided by JEFFE
Brooding second single from electronic indie artist from Sydney.

19) Such Great Heights by Cub Sport
Brisbane band with a chilling cover of this classic originally recorded by American band The Postal Service back in 2003.

20) We Are The People by Tia Gostelow
Another cover but this time an all Aussie affair with the song originally written by Empire of the Sun and covered here by the Queenslander in the Triple J studios for Like A Version.

Mixtape December 2017

The last monthly mixtape of the year is here for your listening pleasure.  There is no time for me to relax as I must press on with the deliberations of the ultimate end of year polls for best tracks and best albums.  Luckily I enjoy making lists.  But before that time to pick up a few stragglers from 2017...

1)  God Knows by Nic Cester
The singer from Aussie rockers Jet has released an awesome solo album with a mix of rock, soul and hints of trip hop.

2) Doll by Tricky featuring Avalon Lurks
A stripped back cover of the Courtney Love/Hole original.  Always loved this song.

3) Rats by Sloan Peterson
Aussie Garage Rockers Sloan Peterson with a track that was excluded from last month's all Australian collection but worth a mention.



4) Same Same by Winston Surfshirt 
Speaking of which, Sydney's Winston Surfshirt are also excellent deserve to be massive.

5) If Love Is The Law by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 
Third album Who Built The Moon has just been released and this track features a guest appearance by Johnny Marr, a harmonica and suitably festive jingle bells in the mix. 


6) Sweet Harmony by She Drew The Gun
This green cover from the Liverpudlian indie band is a warning of ecological damage being done to the world and the call for all people and nations to come together and fix the problems.  It is still relevant nearly twenty five years later.  The original was The Beloved's biggest hit back in 1993.

7) Phantom by Sarah Blasko
The excellent Sarah Blasko is back with her first track from her sixth album Depth of Field due next year.



8) Golden Slumbers by Elbow
Taken from a Christmas advert in the UK this Beatles Song is perfect for his gravely Manc voice.

9) Room In My House by Shed Seven
A great comeback song taken from the new Instant Pleasures album.  Bluesy guitar riffs announce their first new material in 16 years.  The Yorkshire Britpop survivors even inject some humourous lyrics to help blow off the cobwebs.

10) Rage by Freestylers & Deekline
Loved the Freestylers B-Boy Stance back in the 90's and they have now strayed into dnb territory and I have been playing this track constantly and my kids are now singing the  to themselves.  "On the stage I rage and I'm rollin'."

11) The Next Time We Wed by The Fratellis
The best thing they've done since Chelsea Dagger.  Sounds like the Scissor Sisters if they had just gone through a messy divorce.

12) Like Gold by Vance Joy
Another glorious indie pop song that Vance Joy seems to churn out effortlessly.

13) Would You Be Mine by Turin Brakes
Adopting an electronic vibe this indie folk band are now having new adventures in hi-fi.

14) Friday On My Mind by San Cisco
Fremantle indie band with a cover of a 1966 worldwide hit for Australia's swinging sixties rockers - The Easybeats.  Founding member, songwriter and guitarist George Young died in October. George was the elder brother of AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm.  Malcolm also passed away this year leaving Angus Young in his school boy outfit as the only remaining original member of Acca-Dacca.

15) Pulsar by Ride
Shoegazer legends continue the new music with this single that doesn't appear on their 2017 Weather Diaries album.  This is a single edit so expect the full track to be twice as long.  I was just getting into it when it annoyingly faded out!

16) The Blackout by U2
Every now and then U2 release an interesting record - usually about once a decade.  The dirty bass sound and apocalyptic lyrics raise it above their regular output.  New album Songs of Experience is released on 1st December and it won't be automatically loaded onto every itunes account this time.

17) January 26 by A.B. Original
Trials and Briggs have been picking up awards for their excellent Aussie Hip Hop album Reclaim Australia and this track was released a year ago critical of holding the national day on January 26 - the anniversary of the British Invasion in 1788.  Australia Radio Station Triple J have just announced they are moving the date of their Hottest 100 Countdown to the following day and the culture war shit is just hitting the fan!       



18) Photosynthesis by Frank Turner
The Wessex Boy who proves that if you had an acoustic guitar it meant that you were a protest singer.  He's very angry and he's taking a stand against sitting down, capitalism and the aging process.

19) Tic Tac Toe by Django Django 
First track taken from their third album Marble Skies due in early 2018.

20) Hell To The Liars (Kolsch Remix) by London Grammar
Playing out the year with a 12 minute Danish techno remix that elevates London Grammar's music onto my radar.