I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : 61-70

 

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.

61 Dan Miraldi - Ulysses      IDHAS Review

62 Ian St. George - Emergency Index      IDHAS Review

63 The Phase Problem - The Power Of Positive Thinking      IDHAS Review

64 ahem - Avoider      IDHAS Review

65 The Shop Window - Daysdream     IDHAS Review

66 The Violet Twilight - Above The Clouds       IDHAS Review

67 Mark & The Clouds - Machines Can't Hear You      IDHAS Review

68 Raised On TV - Make Time To Make Time      IDHAS Review

69 The Real Numbers - Thank You      IDHAS Review

  

70 Spiral Heads - 'Til I'm Dead     IDHAS Review

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Dan Miraldi - Ulysses

 

Dan Miraldi is also from New York, but very different to previously reviewed Marc Pacino. Miraldi is much rockier, landing somewhere between Indie Rock and Pop Rock gloriously with a big sound and even bigger choruses.

The space he inhabits allows him to appeal to those who say they don't like new music and those who lap it up. The sheer catchiness of the arrangements and the hooks allows him to move through genres. Power Pop is something he particularly excels at.

 

Internet Women is ace 60s Power Pop with steps towards Rock and Roll, yet Unfollow Me is more Classic Rock with its big rock riffs. Indie Film is a much moodier affair having more in common with more modern versions of Pop Rock, you can imagine The Killers covering it.

Existential Days is great jaunty Pop Rock. The verse sounds George Harrison as does the Guitar sound. Sublime Love slows things down into Ballad territory, it is moody and melancholic, but hypnotic. Your My Home is out on the porch excellence, Acoustic and built around a wonderful piano arrangement.

Ulysses opens the album and simply rocks your socks off and contrast that with the 60s UK Guitar Pop of Almost Sounds Sincere. All these songs show how easy Miraldi switches genres and decades effortlessly. There is even another Christmas song that I like which is becoming a sort of recent theme.

Christmas (I Think I'm Gonna Be Sad) is a big ace production and reveals that you can make a seasonal song that isn't banal tosh, just move away from the template. Ulysses is simply excellent Pop Rock, great arrangements, big memorable choruses and an album you can listen to from start to finish and then put on again.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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