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

Mixtape September 2018

This month the guitars have taken a backseat making room for lots of reggae, dub, drum n bass and Welsh Gansta Rap.  This blog was accidentally deleted so I had to do it again and second time around I couldn't be bothered to rewrite additional info or witty comments for all the songs - so you will have to use your imagination - Appreciated ;-)

1) Kontraband by Kabaka Pyramid & Damien Marley
Mr Pyramid appears twice on this playlist - he he is with one of Bob Marley's sons.

2) Cry On My Guitar by Miles Kane
A glam rock shuffle with a random fight video.

3) Run Out Of Time by Mystic Braves
L.A. 60's influenced band have just released their latest LP The Great Unknown.

4) See You Next Tuesday by The Nextmen Vs Gentleman's Dub Club
Cheeky track taken from their excellent album Pound for Pound.

5) No Fenke Fenke by Yardcore ft Shanique Marie & Kabaka Pyramid
Mr Pyramid's second entry - Fenke means "Puny" in Jamaican slang - I had to look it up.

6) Rebel Lion by Freestylers ft K-OSS
Reggae drum n bass from the UK.

7) Need Some1 (Friction Remix) by The Prodigy
The Prodigy's new single provides extra drum n bass and the now obligatory Friction Remix.

8) Trapped by Underworld ft Iggy Pop
The one where Iggy berates mortgage holders.

 9) Sticky Dub by Sons Of Dub

10) You Look So Fine (Fun Lovin Criminals Remix) by Garbage

11) Wasted Years by Ryan Adams
Acoustic cover of Iron Maiden's 1986 single.

12) Loading Zones by Kurt Vile
Everyone's favourite stoner troubadour rambles through his stream of semi-consciousness.

 13) Lessons by Protoje

14) Sweet Like Chocolate by Hollie Cook

15) Dub Like Chocolate by Hollie Cook

16) There's A Reason Why (I Never Return Your Calls) (Satin Jackets Remix) by Blossoms

17) Moonshine Freeze (Drones Club Remix) by This Is The Kit

18) Put Your Money On Me (Steve Mackey Remix) by Arcade Fire
The Arcade Fire's last album was produced by Steve Mackay from Pulp and Thomas from Daft Punk.

19) Resister by She Drew The Gun

20) Auf Wiedershen Mate by Goldie Lookin Chain
The Welsh Rap collective with their Brexit breakup song sampling Dry Your Eyes by The Streets - originally released in 2016 but still topical today.