31 In 31 Update

 

Good Intentions mean little. But the 31 Reviews In 31 Days Extra in August hasn't worked out. Largely, because of my recent recovery led to a strange writer's block. No idea why, but the illness had took a lot out of me. All is fine and Reviews will be back in earnest and there are a lot awaiting my Parker Pen work.

The aim now is to get as many up as possible at the back end of this month and all through September before we hit the traditional 31 In 31 in October. I'd just run out of steam a little. I did think of putting IDHAS on a sabbatical for a couple of weeks, but preferred to just step out for a short while.

I'm listening a lot at last and I will tell you all about what I heard onwards. Thanks for your patience. It has been a blast seeing old Reviews feature heavily in Popular Posts over the last few weeks. It was what was intended here, but the Blogger format and sheer number of reviews doesn't make that easy for readers / listeners. Thankfully, you have taken up the challenge.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 17 August

Welcome to the latest Listening To This Week. 23 songs. As usual, a mix of the Guitar Pop you might expect with some left field surprises and returning heroes. A new single from Colin Moulding with accompanying video from our old friend Thomas Walsh. Plus the return of New Radicals who continue from where they left off.

The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about those who appear here. 

The Feeders - Back To Indiana

Western Union Hall - No More Feelings

Colin Moulding - Want It Bad

Mock Media - Mock City Rock

Bagful Of Beez - Keep Up With The Joneses

Dropkick - Side Note

The Low Prioriies - Ruler Of Venice

Shredded Sun - ifihadahifi

The New Radicals - One Night Only

Adult Magic - Sore Eyes

Oddysses - Cerbie

Smug Brothers - Extra All The Time

Librarians With Hickeys - 1972

Exploding Flowers - Spinning Carousel

Fantastic Shams - Fresh Start

The Allwells - Greta

Das Phaedrus - Confidence Is High

The Schwa - Madison Crybaby

Benny J Ward - Fear Of Going Out

The Jet Black Berries - Rocketfire Sex66

Eaten By Trees - Sensational

Mopar Stars - Everyone Wants What I Got

Ceylon Sailor - Love Is A Detour

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Sparks - Live On The Moon

 

Where do I begin with Sparks? Now over half way into their 6th Recording decade. The few bands that have this longevity tend to tour with Greatest Hits sets, yet the Mael Brothers promote a new album on each tour and are able to incorporate a phenomenal back catalogue amidst the more recent songs. They tour a lot now, when normal practice for a long time was to rarely play Live. I am a fan since buying Propaganda on release and they toured then, but the audience was more screaming girls in a Bay City Rollers type of affair.

They are as popular as ever with an audience spanning generations and it is amazing how someone so quirky can become so popular. The Facebook groups show the age range and there can be an irritation from older fans thinking they were first and so most important. Sparks have always moved on, through Glam Rock, Synth Pop, hardcore dance to the now where they do what they want to across more of a soundscape. As an 11 year old, I knew every word of Propaganda and I still do and I have been a completist ever since.

One thing that many long term fans fail to do is admit that not every album is ace. Personally, I think the 80s after Whomp That Sucker and Angst In My Pants was a bit of a nadir in their career, Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat anyone? But even in that period, there was some gold, Music That You Can Dance To is a fantastic album and gets a welcome Deluxe Reissue this year. It is nice to hear the title track here. But, the creativity remains in abundance and as well as Grandparents, Parents and Grandkids are in the audience, there are many who discovered them under their own steam. Fans who only slightly remembered This Town Ain't Big Enough.

The fact that they have worked with the likes of Visconti and Moroder is ace, but they are a band of the now. Live albums can be a reminder of being there and generally are something that you listen to once and file. But Sparks are different. Live, they are a band and the soundscapes are replaced by a slightly more Rock sound that provides different interpretations of the new and the old. It is of course, wonderful to hear the classics such as This Town and When Do I Get To Sing My Way, but now the anthems are also more recent. The opener, So May We Start sets the scene perfectly. The closer, All That, has taken on a magnificent life of its own to become a major piece in their catalogue.

It is amazing to hear the likes of Reinforcements and Goofing Off join the later stuff. No1 In Heaven is perhaps overrepresented with half of the album here. Maybe, Academy Award Performance could have been replaced with something older. The MAD! material seems to translate less well and I did think that that most recent album was a little light in places. But these are minor quibbles. Just enjoy how a band so left field can be celebrated so much in 2026. Since you ask, my favourite album is Indiscreet, an album that has been in my Top 10 Albums forever, fighting XTC's Oranges And Lemons for first place.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available everywhere on Vinyl, CD and as a download.

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Professor And The Madman - Dreamworld

 

We've previewed this by the lead singles, patiently awaiting the release date. The US / Anglo quartet are back after six long years. Sean Elliott and Alfie Agnew are from California, whilst Rat Scabies and Paul Gray are from the UK.

Scabies and Gray are well known in these parts from their days in The Damned and what a rhythm section they are. A great counter balance for the songs of Elliott and Agnew, who share vocals, which adds even greater variety to proceedings.

On first listen, Dreamworld sounds like a great Pop Rock album, but repeated listens unravel the layers and reveal a great variety. Very 60s led, but moving across that decade and as soon as anyone heard the single, 12 Strings And Tambourines, would soon realise that they are listening to something special.

If you liked that, then you are gonna love Adams Street, one of the best things that you will hear all year, part Brit Pop, part Big Rock. The changes song by song are remarkable. Nuclear Boy is great UK Wave, Mental Tape is smooth Bossa Nova that breaks out.

The Light is 1965 UK Beat, Merseybeat even. Brand New World starts all 60s McCartney Pop before moving into something slightly Music Hall with its Ob La Di barrel piano. Temple Of Madness is a big production, classic 70s Pop Rock.

The title track which opens and closes the album is great fun, a real let's do the show right here, march through the street affair. The scope and range of the album is so impressive, a ton of ideas are brought to conclusion on a beautifully arranged and produced offering.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and limited edition 8 Track as well as a download.

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Hurry - Zoned Out

I Don't Hear A Single may wander more around the genres these days, but it should never be forgotten that it was built on Power Pop and Hurry have been a key part of that. 2014's Everything / Nothing was reviewed on Anything Should Happen. 2016's Guided By Meditation missed out due to the gap between ASH ending and IDHAS starting.

But the three albums that followed are all reviewed here and all 3 were in the year's Best Of's. So we hit 2026 and other reviews note Zoned Out as the 6th album, I had it down as the 7th, but that's immaterial. I said in 2021 that you know what to expect, but that is the beauty of previous albums.

Matt Scottoline's vocals suit Power Pop perfectly, he writes some of the most joyous melodic songs that you could ever wish to hear. There's never been any doubt that he is a Teenage Fanclub fan and now Gerald Love appears on the excellent, Moving After You to underline this. 

The guitars are chunkier and there is more synth than usual, which actually enhances the relevant songs, but this is a Guitar album, a brilliant Guitar album. It is also the best Teenage Fanclub album that Teenage Fanclub didn't write and perform.

Zoned Out sounds like TFC in their glory period from the early days to Grand Prix. The riffs are omnipresent, the solos extended and the songs are ones that you will be singing along. It is a little rockier and beautifully arranged and performed.

The whole album underlines the beauty of the Guitar and the chorus. I defy anyone to put together 10 songs of absolute quality and consistently. You may have some idea of what you are gonna get, but I just want more and more of it.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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Fantastic Shams - Back Of My Mind

 

You get the impression that the Indianapolis quartet, Fantastic Shams think of themselves as a Garage Rock band, but are so damn melodic that what comes out is wonderful atmospheric Guitar Pop and it is really fine. 

Recorded Live to Analogue, Back Of My Mind is totally engaging. It does feel a little 60s at times, wonderfully so, but they constantly hit the right buttons. My Side Of Town and Window Shopper are delicious blasts of 60s Psych.

Yet Back Of My Mind mixes the band's Garage strength with something far more modern Angular and the chorus is addictive. Bianchi Celeste, as heard on the current Listening To This Week Playlist, is much more Indie Pop and that arrangement is spot on.

Walking The Dog again flirts with Psych Pop, but also chugs along like a Creedence Clearwater Revival song. What Arthur Said is great UK Beat, hints of The Move with a killer Guitar solo. Walking The Dog has an epic vibe that may represent best what the band want to be. It has a real Rhythm and Blues feel.

The closer, Fresh Start comes in at 6 and a half minutes allowing the quartet to hit a hypnotic groove, it is mind blowing, a sort of acid trip. The whole album resonates, a little DIY as you might expect from the way it was recorded. But Back Of My Mind is refreshingly wonderful.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD and as a download.

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Feaster - Big Super

 

I've been listening to this for a few months and it hit a nerve pretty early on. Sometimes, it is hard leading a double life. I Don't Hear A Single is my main realm, but away from it, I listen to much noisier stuff, particularly Psych and Prog. The two don't often mix. But when they do, Wow!

Initially, I thought Big Super, a little noisy for here, but repeated listens made me realise that great albums should translate anywhere and this is Great. Feaster are a quartet from Philadelphia and I've seen them labelled as all sorts from Indie to Psych Rock. Maybe best sticking with Rock with a heavy Psych tint.

They raid genres at will whilst remaining quite unique. They aren't Prog, but random changes within songs  may make you think they are. At times, they flirt with 90s Rock, but you think you've nailed them and they come up with a Surf solo.

The album is an incredible listen. The arrangements are complex, but built on a riff or a vibe. They can also be very melodic. I said they aren't Prog, but Footguns is a great Prog song. They can also be gentle, particularly, the magnificent Rally For The Win. Yet, BABA goes full on Led Zeppelin.

Simple John is a corking mix of 60s Psych and Brit Pop. Surprise is probably my fave, it broods and then breaks out. Come To is another cracker, more commercial, great Psych. All 10 songs are different. As we hit August, this will feature high in the Best Albums Of 2026.

You can listen to and buy the album here. An album that serves a physical release.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 10 August

24 songs this week and the LTTW Playlist sounds a little more quirky than usual. Still plenty of Guitar Pop, but also adventures into different areas. Oh! and is that Mitch Easter with his first solo single in 20 Years? 

The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about those who appear here. 

Tom Coward - Waitrose United

Dave Cope - Bard's Blessing

The Kind City - Corpse

The Happy Somethings - Meanwhile

Timothy Ivan - Relax

Winterbury - toky$t@r

Mitch Easter - Fine Forever Wanting

Charming Arson - All The 2s Are 1s

Moon Construction Kit - Down The West Coast

Hello London - Bad Acting

Fantastic Shams - Bianchi Celeste

Corde Sortie - Bizarre

Beans - Remember

Imperial April - Wake Me From My Sleep

Bill Baird - Karma Loan

Anton Barbeau - Come Home To Me

The Cindys - Glass Shattered

Psychotic Youth - Girls

Awake & Dreaming - Cold Shoulder

Awake & Dreaming · Cold Shoulder

Downpilot - Strange Horses

Winter TV - Can't Dine

Lady Flash - ティターンズベイベー (Titans Baby)

Jeff Vidov - Signs Of Life

Translucent Veil - The Veil

Translucent Veil · TRANSLUCENT VEIL - THE VEIL

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Ozconscious - Nostalgia For The Moment

 

My connection with Winnipeg's Ozconscious was a submission for the Listening To This Week Playlist from the Singer, Songwriter and Guitarists of the band, Tate Hiebert. That song is Gaze and it closes the current Playlist. It fits what the Playlist tries to do and the song itself is very much I am about musically, in and out of I Don't Hear A Single.

I'm always concerned about the track order of LTTW, with approaching 30 songs each week, there is a worry that listens drop off as it progresses and so I try to temper that by varying the songs throughout the whole thing and by also making the closer, one of the most interesting things on it.

Gaze fitted the bill perfectly. A cracking mix of melodic Prog and Psych, the type of song that I listen to a lot away from IDHAS and introduce here when I think it fits. There's been great success with this approach, but never have I had so much praise back for one particular song.

I had to listen to the album and I have, a lot! No surprise that they are Canadian, because that country has been one of the bigger providers here, normally Power Pop. The six piece's album is largely different to Gaze, more beautifully produced Pop Rock.

There is variety and Be Real is a cracking slab of Classic Rock. Hiebert's vocal is very close to Ricky Ross and the production even bigger than Deacon Blue. Indeed Dead End Dollar sounds like a rocked up version of Deacon Blue, although throughout the emphasis is more on Rock.

After a couple of EPs, the last in 2015, the band return with a refreshed line up and a much more vigorous sound. Cryptomnesia is a great jaunty Pop song, the type that great Indie bands of the second half of the 80s broke through with.

Be Real is anthemic with a slight eastern feel that rocks out into a massive chorus. The Intro build on Powder Love is splendid, building into a melodic Pop Rock chorus. My Eyes Are Wide Open is much smoother, a little funky, a great joint vocal with a Red Hot Chilli Peppers like intro.

I Love Myself (I Hate Myself) is again great pacy Pop and catchy as catchy can be with a hypnotic riff. Nostalgia For The Moment is a top notch listen, wonderfully produced and arranged, it is not only about Gaze. 10 songs that make you forget about the outside world as you sing along.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It cries out for and deserves a physical release.

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Tom Coward - Have A Word With Yourself

 

Welcome to something wonderful! I know little about Tom Coward, except that he is from Glasgow, but Have A Word With Yourself is an exceptional listen. 5 songs, but more of a mini album than an EP as it runs for over 24 minutes.

Send Closure is on the current Listening To This Week Playlist, but all 5 songs are worthy of your attention, all are very different to each other. Send Closure is ace Jangling Pop, slightly Folk, but it houses a killer riff and a big harmonic chorus.

Waitrose United is one of the finest songs that you will hear this year, perhaps any year. Pastoral Pop of the highest order, hints of Glasgow Pop and Intelligent Indie, a song of beauty, charm and melody. The Dinner Party is more direct, built around an incredible arrangement, almost Baroque Pop.

Christmas In Jail is more Indie Pop with an incredibly addictive Baseline, beautifully constructed with a breakout chorus, again wonderfully put together with the Sax again providing a different feel. These four songs only partly prepare you for the closer.

Stalingrad is just short of 7 minutes long, but those 7 minutes fly by. It is an essential reminder of the great Piano led Pop Rock of the 70s. Epic in scope and arrangement, it has a real jaunty bouncy feel with some wonderful harmonies. A real altogether now vibe and rounds off an exceptional album. Where have you been hiding Tom?

You can listen to and buy the album here. Surely someone will give it a Physical release. Last Night From Glasgow maybe?

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Invisible Rays - Blame It On The Rays

 

The downtime here has allowed has allowed me to discover quite a few albums that I've wanted to cover, but unlike the norm, have given me the time to see what others are saying about these bands and it hasn't been a lot. Surely there aren't just the few of us looking around to discover something new to us.

Those that have, have been linked by a common theme of adapting the PR as though they haven't listened to the album at all. It is a poor state of affairs. Boston's Invisible Rays are a band worth noting. The beauty of Guitar led Indie is that there are so many strands. Compare these four to my previous review of Attic Salt and the only common thing is that they are both Guitar led.

I find most Indie bands are like this, all taking different routes. Many outsiders say that Indie is all bands doing the same thing, which is rubbish. Invisible Rays don't rely on the strength of their choruses, great though they are, it is their adaptability that marks them out, especially the variety.

Interstellar Sweetheart is great Classic Rock, yet I Don't Dream Of You is ace Jangle Pop and Sir David Mineham is great 90's Power Pop, College Rock even. Owe Me even gets a little Prog instrumentally. These differences are what marks out the band.

Landline is on the current Listening To This Week Playlist and is outstanding Indie Rock. Kill The King Of Rock And Roll has a great instrumental track, all Psych Jangle and an outstanding chorus. In Store comes up for air, slowing things down acoustically, almost Camp Fire like.

The stand out song is the magnificent Violent Says which has an R.E.M. vibe, but sort of incorporates everything they are good at and is so damn catchy. Blame It On The Rays is a wonderful listen, the arrangements are beautifully thought out and it is different to a lot of the stuff that I listen to.

You can listen to and buy the album here. 

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Attic Salt - Stay In The Midwest

Attic Salt hit their third album, a long six years since the previous, Get Wise. The Springfield Illinois quartet press all of my buttons and so will likely push yours too. This is life affirming Indie. Power Pop, I suppose, but much more than that.

Songs are built around key requisites, killer riffs, big choruses and top notch solos. Slightly noisier than you might think, without ever losing the melody. A little Punk, a bit more detached from the genre that you might expect, more of a distorted feel, a tad Slacker, but as effective as say, a band like Ash.

They are in the mould of the new breed of Power Pop, but happier to ramp things up more. This is real singalong stuff, aided by the split vocals of Andy Harmon and Alyssa Currie, the male / female split works wonderfully well and their twin Guitars chime together splendidly.

Held together by the rhythm section of Frederick E. Malcolm and Skip Davis. Those joint vocals work even more when shared on songs. The energy on show is awesome, the four don't come up for air, Stay In The Midwest will shake the cobwebs off.

Not one song is over 3 minutes and this say what you wanna say and then get off is part of the album's charm. A few tears ago, I moved away from Power Pop, simply because it became too rooted in the Classic, all I Love You, Yes Ido, I've lost my girl on repeat.

It was albums like this that brought me back. Bands who proved there was more than just the same in the genre. Any of these 10 songs will light up your life. I've picked my current three faves, but they'll most likely be different tomorrow. Up and at 'em Guitar led joy at its most effective.

 

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD or as a download.

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31 Reviews In 31 Days

 

An extra 31 in 31 this month, simply to catch up with the backlog. It has been a strange couple of months for followers with unusual gaps, simply because how much the place revolved around Don and his recent illness has led to delays. But now we are back.

The 31 in 31 will have extra Reviews until the day number matches the Reviews posted and then it will strictly be one per day. There will also be a return of some old features and a couple of longer posts concerning recent music events such as the spread of AI and the Goldmine / Brooklyn Vegan debacle.

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Listening To This Week 3 August

Wow! Where do I start with this? Normally, the LTTW Playlist starts as the last one ends, compiled throughout the week as the time allows with all the other stuff that goes on with IDHAS. With me not being around for most of the week, it was approached from cold over the weekend.

The maximum 30 songs are here. All new and as usual, the mixture of what the place is about with returning heroes, Blog debutants and new singles from artists who have already been here. There has also been a lot of personal memories revived. 

Artists are here that I collected both well before the internet days and certainly before my own writing time. The fact that the artists have new songs out is amazing. The likes of Bleu, Roger Manning Jr, The Cleaners From Venus and Teenage Fanclub. 

Indeed, the Bleu song is about Ducky Carlisle and The Major Labels. Incidentally, I Don't Hear A Single is a Major Labels song and one of the three reasons for the Blog title. I've also not forgotten about the reason the Playlist is here and this could be the best ever LTTW affair from start to finish.

I don't usually include instrumentals and have certainly never opened the playlist with one, but The Sinclairs opener is wonderful. There is also the usual aim of closing with something different and exceptional, Ozconcious certainly provide that.

The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about those who appear here. 

The Sinclairs - And Garnish With A Fresh Tarantula

Attic Salt - Dolly Zoom

Jamie Turner - Paint A Good Picture

British Birds - Lie Down With The Dogs, Stand Up With The Fleas

Roger Joseph Manning Jr - Modern Dance (The After School Specials)

Feaster - Surprise

Joe Shade - Tearing It Down

Teenage Fanclub - Day In The Sun

Cheekface - Rent Is Down

Invisible Rays - Landline

Bleu - Start A Band

Peter Cat - Innocent Driver

The Cleaners From Venus - Spring Wings In

Milk St. - Just So https://milkst.bandcamp.com/track/just-so

Ultra Lights - Wild On The Outside

Joel Cosumano - Buying Time

Railcard - Two Steps At A Time

Hard To Miss - Truth

The Hollywood Stars - Hey! LA!

WOLVESofJUNE - TNT

Jeff Graham - Leaving Chicago

st. davis - In The Know

Jack Grisham And The Life Undone - Pain Goes Around

Warren James - Miss Green Tea

Tom Coward - Send Closure

That Old Quiet Lighthouse - Hands Up

Kavus Torabi - Water Into Wine

The Loved Ones - Down That Road

Red Bird - Domino

Red Bird · Domino

Ozconcious - Gaze

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Back To The Music

 

Sorry for the tumbleweed this week. An unexpected Back injury has meant not being able to sit down for too long and certainly not in front of a Mac. The restriction has also made it difficult to collate submissions and I'll be trying to catch up with those tomorrow. It is probably the longest time that I've been away from here for ages and a rare week in that music listening has largely been on the back burner.

This has also meant that Monday's Listening To This Week Playlist has to be started from scratch tomorrow and so a lot of the day will be preparing that and it is looking top notch. Returning heroes, IDHAS debuts and some really great songs for you to listen to.

The likelihood is that I will attempt to get the Playlist out tomorrow night and tag it Monday. There are quite a few Reviews to do and get up. Fortunately, although we do have a fair bit of forward Review dates, as always, most release a bit later in August.

This means the catch up can continue in earnest and the easiest way to do this seems to be adding an extra 31 Reviews In 31 Days. They will start from Monday evening with a couple a day through the first few days and then one a day rigidly.

The amazing thing is that with almost a week's absence, Blog visits have been incredibly high. Listeners have been catching up with the month and before, listening to previous LTTW Playlists and most pleasing, visiting the archive looking back at the last 10 years. 

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