I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2021 : 61-70

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 List person, I just think what's the point?

However, for the last few years I 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. 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.

There are few rules. All albums have to have been reviewed on IDHAS. Reissues and Live Albums are not included. Previously unreleased albums are included, but Best Of's are not. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album. 

No 61 : It's Karma, It's Cool - Homesick For Our Future Destinations     IDHAS Review

No 62 : The Embryos - National Absurdatory        IDHAS Review





No 63 : The Brandy Alexanders - The Brandy Alexanders        IDHAS Review

    

No 64 : Andrew Taylor And The Harmonizers - Andrew Taylor And The Harmonizers             IDHAS Review

No 65 : Ghosts Of Jupiter - Keepers Of The Newborn Green       IDHAS Review

No 66 : Dave Cope And The Sass - Pied Piper      IDHAS Review





No 67 : Vegetarians & Carnivores - A Day Of Rainbows     IDHAS Review

No 68 :  Stephen Flint - Onanmatopoeia    IDHAS Review





No 69 : Hurry - Fake Ideas     IDHAS Review

   


No 70 : Gordon's Crowbar - Songs About Stuff     IDHAS Review

                              

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Andrew Taylor And The Harmonizers - Andrew Taylor And The Harmonizers

 



Three or four of us writers joke about how there are periods when every band are compared to another so much that it becomes cliched and ends up with completely inappropriate comparisons. We've seen it with XTC, Jellyfish, Nada Surf and currently, Guided By Voices.

But none of these compare to the number that used to get compared to Teenage Fanclub. Now that that has died down, it seems ok to mention TFC again and the band that has always been closest (and maybe have even surpassed them) are Dropkick. 

I've mentioned before how consistently great the band are, but I'm also in admiration of Andrew Taylor's adventures away from the band. His soothing gentle vocal lights up all of his projects and this is no exception.

I've spent 2021 praising artists who avoided the lockdown offering up something lo fi that suitably tells you how sad the year has made them. The Harmonizers have done just that and the trio of fellow Dropkick mate, Ian Grier, Iain Sloan and brother Alastair Taylor should be applauded for this.

The sound is exemplary and in many parts, the album sounds like a Dropkick album. But there is a difference and that is Sloan's wonderful Pedal Steel. This emphasises the difference and the variation. It marks out the Country Rock and Americana. It even makes some of the Guitar Pop in to something different.

The simplistic way to describe the album in general terms is it being like a cross between early Eagles and latter day TFC. The best example of the Country Guitar Pop that I mentioned is the magnificent, Life Is Good. Many of the songs are equal to it, but none would make a better opener.

I could make the case for any song, but for the reason of brevity only, I'll pick out the deviations from the norm. I'll Never Win is all Gerry Rafferty. Everything's Really The Same follows that trend with its melancholic Stealers Wheel feel. The vocal is even a ringer for the Egan - Rafferty Voice blend.

Roundabout is very Doolin' Dalton in style, It's About Time is a stripped down joy and For This To Pass is an absolute Tour de Force, a perfect example of how Pop can be more complicated than it appears and yet still be incredibly melodic.

For all of this variety, it is strangely the two most Dropkick like songs that appeal most. When I Don't Understand and Older are those and the latter mixes Jangle Pop with Pedal Steel. The vocal harmonies should also get a mention. The whole album is welcoming top notch fayre. 

You can listen to and pre-order the album here.

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Andrew Taylor - From The Outside Looking In

One of the great mysteries of my musical sphere is why Dropkick don't get more attention. Their brand of Jayhawks go Power Pop is always an excellent listen, yet album after album seems to go unappreciated by the great unwashed.

The Scots seem to have a larger following in the likes of Spain than what you would think is the more fertile ground of the UK and America. They are very much in the Teenage Fanclub and Daniel Wylie field, but despite every album being highly listenable, name checks are few. Last year's Balance The Light was a cracking offering.






There is a new Dropkick album nearing completion, but in the meantime Andrew Taylor steps out into the solo spotlight gathering songs that haven't made Dropkick albums over the past 15 years. He plays everything and it's a cracking listen.

From The Outside jingles and jangles to great effect, in fact it reminds me a lot of Grand Prix era Teenage Fanclub. I think followers get used to my criticism of front loaded albums. This is an album that gets better and better as it progresses, rocking a bit more track by track, but gently of course. The last three songs are probably the strongest on the album.






I Saw You has a great TFC jangle, In Their Shoes sounds like something off Tomorrow The Green Grass. Someone moves along at a swift pace, stressing the melody of these songs. Stories is wonderfully brooding and features some lovely mandolin, an instrument not used enough on songs.

It's those last three songs that make the album though. It's at it's best when the songs are faster. Couldn't You Call? is a bit Matthew Sweet, Standing Still is a real Windows Up, Long Drive joy and Can't Clear My Head ends in almost Eagles mode. I've decided that Andrew Taylor can join my North Of The Border Supergroup with Daniel Wylie and Norman Blake.






You can listen to and buy the album here.