I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : 51-60

 

For the last eight years We have compiled annual Best Of 's  because these posts seem so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists. A reminder that anything reviewed on I Don't Hear A Single is highly recommended. A reminder that only new albums are included among these 100.

Narrowing things down to this 100 has been really difficult. The 100 albums are posted in reverse batches of 10. For each album, A song is embedded from the album and a link is provided to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album.

We now reach the halfway point.

51 Gustavo Warnunk - Semi​-​Detached Tales Vol. I      IDHAS Review

52 8X8 - Life During Wartime      IDHAS Review

53 The Reflectors - Going Out Of Fashion     IDHAS Review

54 Lava Fangs - Sub Auroram      IDHAS Review

55 Dave Cope And The Sass - Hidden From The World     IDHAS Review

56 Hoaster - Everything Is Great        IDHAS Review

57 Brent Seavers - Exhibit B      Exhibit B by Brent Seavers

58 The Martial Arts - In There Like Swimwear      IDHAS Review

59 Pantomime Horses - Forever Polyester      IDHAS Review

  

60 The Drywall Heels - Today's Top Hits Playlist     IDHAS Review

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8X8 - Life During Wartime

 

Six years on from New Data New Day, an album that was high in our 2018 Best Albums Of The Year, Life During Wartime has really snuck up on me and it is as wonderful as you might expect. The mix of Piano Pop and Psych Pop makes me think that the album has been recorded just for me.

The collaboration between Lane Steinberg and Alex Khodchenko has never released a bum note. You can expect Pop Rock excellence from Lane Steinberg who inhabits a space somewhere between Paul McCartney and Andrew Gold with a fondness for 60s and 70s sound. 

But Khodchenko takes proceedings in a very different direction instrumentally, treading into Prog, Psych and much more, sometimes via Guitar solos, other times by genres or arrangements, the speciality being Psych Pop.

The song is never lost sight of, particularly harmony and melody wise, but the addition of mellotron, Farfisa etc and wonderful Guitar playing takes the material into unexpected realms. The best example of the mix is the opener I.T.B, a heady mix of the two prevailing genres.

But the stand alone areas also excel. The King Of Everything is one of the best Pop songs that you will hear this year. Tepache Terrace is magnificent Psych Pop, bordering on Toytown that adds unexpected parts regularly.

Mississippi Window is McCartney Pop of the highest order whilst Old Dogs is much moodier, gently heading towards Modern Prog or even Symphonic Rock. Loneliness is another example of the great Pop on show as a duet with Rebecca Ona.

Finally, those who know me know of my distaste of Christmas songs. All that forced jolliness and sleigh bells and twee is not for me. I don't need to be cheered up by mediocrity and jaunt, I'm happy enough thank you! But this album closes with Psychedelic Christmas, a great song. 

If any song could change my mind about Christmas songs in general, it is this, but you know it won't. Life During Wartime is stunningly great and will be a shoe in for the Top 10 in the end of year praise and deservedly so.

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

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2018 : 21-30

2018 has been a fantastic year for the type of music that we like. It's been difficult to get these choices down to 100. I'm also not a believer in saying one album is better than another. Most of the time you are comparing Apples To Oranges. I'm not a Top 10 person, I just think what's the point.

However, for the first time last year, I did a Top 50, normally I just say what my favourite album of the year is. I've simply done it again, because those five posts of last year were so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists.

As I said the standard this year is incredibly high, so much so that I've extended the choice to 100 albums. There is no meaning or judgement on an album that is Number 1, Number 100 or not on the list. Anything that I review on here, mention on Social Media or play on the Radio Show is as highly recommended.

For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the IDHAS Review if applicable.


No 21 : Jeff Whalen - Ten More Rock Super Hits 

No 22 : The Speedways - Just Another Regular Summer     IDHAS Review here.







No 23 : Checkpoint Charley - Pomp, Twaddle And Bombast : Songs 13 - 24   IDHAS Review here.

No 24 : Summer Magic - Sharks And Other Dangers    IDHAS Review here.

No 25 : Yorick Van Norden - The Jester

No 26 : Salim Nourallah - Somewhere South Of Sane






No 27 : Bill Lloyd - Working The Long Game 

No 28 : Rob Bonfiglio - Trouble Again    IDHAS Review here.

No 29 : Groovy Uncle - Meanwhile Back In Medieval 






No 30 : 8X8 - New Data New Day 

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