I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2021 : 41-50

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 41 : Caddy - Detours And Dead Ends Vol. 1    IDHAS Review

No 42 : The Summer Holiday - B-Sides Volume 1       IDHAS Review

No 43 : Dolph Chaney - This Is Dolph Chaney     IDHAS Review

No 44 : This Circus Life - The Vast And Endless Sea         IDHAS Review

No 45 : Real Sickies - Love Is For Lovers    IDHAS Review

No 46 : Empty City Squares - The Disappearing Architect      IDHAS Review





No 47 : The Mono LPs - Shuffle / Play    IDHAS Review

No 48 :  Cheap Trick - In Another World    IDHAS Review

 

No 49 : the black watch - Here & There   IDHAS Review

   

No 50 :Portable Radio - Portable Radio        IDHAS Review

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Empty City Squares - The Disappearing Architect

 

Empty City Squares last album, 337, was Pop Rock gold. It justifiably was in the Top 20 of I Don't Hear A Single's Best Of Year and you can read the IDHAS Review here. Whereas that album was recorded over a 7 year period, this follow up was recorded in a much shorter time frame.

So could New York's John Fotiadis keep up that quality? The answer is definitely yes, although the territory is slightly different to 337. Whereas that album was centrally Brit Pop, The Disappearing Architect feels and sounds far more 70s Pop Rock.

This is all fine and dandy. Done well, this genre can provide great melodic pop, although the territory is getting more and more crowded lately. It is also interesting that one of the best songs here is the only one that you could really label Brit Pop.

History Rhymes is four minutes of top notch 90s Guitar Pop, an absolute joy, but that isn't to downgrade the other 13 songs that surround it. There are some really interesting departures. For instance, Miss Ambition is great 90s Power Pop.

Letter To A Friend is an interesting almost Indian tableau and Sacrificial Lambs is in Alan Parsons Project territory and even a little Psych Pop at times. The title track is very very Andrew Gold and I'm reminded of Gold a lot across the album, ditto 10CC.

I Go Inside is a splendid meandering closer, beautifully arranged. Hail To The Cheato, the lead single still sounds as great as ever. The album is wonderfully melodic,  a seemingly gentler affair than 337, but this works beautifully allowing a laidback joy to the whole album.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2019 : 11 - 20

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 couple of years I have compiled Best Of 2019, normally I just said what my favourite album of the year is. I've done it again, 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.

I would also add that the Top 100 includes albums available as Download Only. To suggest that they are anything less than equal to a Physical release is patently nonsense and omits many wonderful albums.

I will compile a Top 20 of Reissues and Compilations combined after all this is complete. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the review, where you can find further details on how to listen or buy the album.



11 Andy Bopp - Maker       IDHAS Review










12 Lannie Flowers - Home       IDHAS Review

13 Mounties - Heavy Meta       IDHAS Review

14 Empty City Squares - 337       IDHAS Review








15 Daystar - The Complete Recordings       IDHAS Review








16 The Bobbleheads - Myths And Fables       Review







17 Project: Ghost Outfit - Project: Ghost Outfit       IDHAS Review

18 Scott Gagner - Hummingbird Heart       IDHAS Review








19 The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club - End Over End       IDHAS Review







20 The Mommyheads - Future You       IDHAS Review










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Empty City Squares - 337

There's something of a Pop Rock Fightback in the UK in 2019 and even more pleasing is that it is female led. With the writing of Julie Fowler and the Radio Shows from Kathy Barham and Beth Dobson, it longer feels like I'm shouting in a vacuum. I feel a bit like the Charlie to these Angels, perhaps more Bosley. Look out world, the guitar isn't dead.

Beth started her new NWR show on Sunday, you can find details here. I listened to the show, applauding and Beth played three songs by Empty City Squares, an act that I'd heard of, but not gone much further. Silly old Don!







Empty City Squares is New Jersey's John Fotiadis and his latest album, 337, was recorded over a 7 year period. It's a very anglophile affair, at times reminiscent of the much better and less observed Pop end of Brit Pop. It is a melodic masterpiece, smack bang in the territory that we reside.

Brit Pop's better bands nodded heavily to the great Pop Rock artists of the 70's, 337 does the same. The excellent Slip Into A Daydream sounds a bit like John Miles fronting a Psych Pop band, A Conversation With The Sun is pure Andrew Gold. My Name Is Nobody could be Liverpool Express.








Nothing Got In The Way starts with a Cult like riff and morphs into a hint of jangle psych. It's Your Day is 60's Mod UK Beat and the big closer, Talk About The Weather is a six minute anthem that breaks into a riffaholic close. Campaign Song is another stand out song, anti politics, it is spot on McCartney in jaunty mode.

I'm reminded of the likes of Octopus, Straw and Superstar. All three are bands that should have been much bigger. Here's hoping that Empty City Squares break out in a way that these bands didn't. 337 is an album that demands your attention. Pop Rock of the very highest order.







You can listen to and buy the album here.  You really should!


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