I Don't Hear A Single Best 100 Albums Of 2025 : 11- 20

 

Nearing completion now with the penultimate post revealing Numbers 11 - 20 in the IDHAS Best 100 Albums of 2025. 

11 The Wellingtons - Baby Moon      IDHAS Review

12  KEYS - Acid Communism      IDHAS Review

KEYS · The Greatest Joke of All

13 The High Frequencies - The High Frequencies      IDHAS Review

14 Caper Clowns - Without The Aid Of A Safety Net      IDHAS Review

15 Drool Brothers - Psychology      IDHAS Review

16  Greg Pope - The Roar Of Silence     IDHAS Review

17 Dom Mariani - Apple Of Life   IDHAS Review

18   Camp Trash - Two Hundred Thousand Dollars    IDHAS Review

19 Kicking Bird - 11 Short Fictions     IDHAS Review

20 Baker Island - Love Eggtually      IDHAS Review

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Greg Pope - The Roar Of Silence

 

Out of nowhere, three years on from Rise Of The Mythical Creatures (review here), a new album from Greg Pope arrived trailed by a killer single, Fallen Star, which is on the current Listening To This Week Playlist. It may be a cliche to state it, but this may be his best album yet.

There are two solo artists that followed us on from Anything Should Happen coverage wise. Nick Piunti and Nashville's Pope. These two offer up a glorious past, but continue to release revelatory albums. Piunti's arrives next February, Pope's is now.

Greg Pope differs from most because he has an unmistakeable production. As soon as you hear one of his songs, you know it is him. Many may not his work at Power Pop and I see that. But there is a much bigger take. Songs take take on completely directions, often in the same song. 

The man's ability to write a memorable chorus no matter which way the verse goes is legendary, but he is never afraid to take chances. His songs are hard to categorise, maybe there should be a special Greg Pope genre. I can't think of an artist to compare him to, but if many want to settle on Power Pop that's ok.

He regularly bothers our Top 20 in the Best Albums Of The Year. Yet the quality and diversity of his material makes it hard to describe individual songs. I will pick my favourite 3 (today) to embed, but I urge you to listen to the whole album. Newbies are in for treat.

He can Rock, edge into Psych Pop and Alt Rock, yet the Power Pop choruses and unusual angles make every song an adventure. The Album Of The Year for 2025 is gonna be a challenging pick, because this is another contender. Long may Greg Pope continue to be Greg Pope.

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 2022 : 11-20

This year, the standard has been the highest since IDHAS began six and a half years ago. Narrowing things down to this 100 as been really difficult. 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.

A reminder that anything reviewed on I Don't Hear A Single is highly recommended. 

No 11 : Lannie Flowers - Flavor Of The Month     IDHAS Review





No 12 : Custard Flux - Phosphorus    IDHAS Review

 

No 13 : Tamar Berk - Start At The End     IDHAS Review

 

No 14 : Maple Mars - Someone's Got To Listen          IDHAS Review

      

No 15 : Ward White - Ice Cream Chords    IDHAS Review

       

No 16 : Amoeba Teen - Amoeba Teen       IDHAS Review


 


No 17 : Greg Pope - Rise Of The Mythical Creatures     IDHAS Review

No 18 :  Communicant - Sun Goes Out   IDHAS Review

No 19 : Fuzzbubble - Cult Stars From Mars   IDHAS Review

          

No 20 : Skeleton Staff - Malapropism         IDHAS Review

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Greg Pope - Rise Of The Mythical Creatures

 

People looking at the title and cover of the new Greg Pope album would be forgiven for thinking this is a Prog album, not a bit of it. Regular IDHAS followers will know how much we admire the man. He never ever releases an ordinary album. You can read past album reviews on here and you will get a flavour.

Pope specialises in Pop Rock of the highest quality, but just calling it Pop Rock does no justice to how splendid his albums are. Inventive is an over used word, but it is more than applicable here. He seems to have a sound that is his own, highly melodic, chorus heavy, but uniquely him.

The heart of these songs is great Guitar Pop that others may do just as well. But it is the twists and turns, unexpected changes of direction, unusual angles, surprise outbursts, big harmonies, yet there is still that gentle melodic voice keeping it all in check.

However, Pope can be straight ahead great. Internet Radio DJ's should be rushing to play something as straight as Sorry I Wrote This Song and the closer, Traditions is a real 70s "come and join us" sing along pop gem.

I could've gone for one of those two songs for the current IDHAS 10 Song Mix, but I wanted something that explained Pope more aptly. Words No One Can Say is that song. Incredibly catchy and melodic, a big chorus which is very different to verse, big harmonies, then a Guitar wig out.

Smile, Nod And Slowly Back Away is insane. How do you fit so much into less than 3 minutes. Essentially Glam Rock with a Guitar solo that becomes Queen like. It feels like there's three or four songs in one. It is a wonderful creation.

Valley High is timid in comparison, but just as effective. With a Monkees like chorus, it is catch all and what a killer riff. Backwards Through A Door has a cracking little Jangle about it, yet Savior Of The Local Rock Scene is more of a Rock Out and still changes into something else completely half way through.

All 10 songs are worth their inclusion and give some indication of the breadth of Pope's ability. I'm not one for saying every new album by an artist is their best yet and Greg Pope certainly sets the bar high, but this is certainly up there. Absolutely magnificent!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2020 : 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 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.

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 grossly unfair, even more so in 2020 with all that has happened during the year. To qualify, an album has to be available for sale in any format.

For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to where you can find further details on how to listen or buy the album. 

No 11 : Nick Frater - Fast & Loose    IDHAS Review

No 12 : Joe Giddings - Better From Here      IDHAS Review








No 13 : Silver Sun - Switzerland     IDHAS Review

 

No 14 : Sparks - A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip          IDHAS Review

      

No 15 : Greg Pope - Wishing On A Dark Star    IDHAS Review

No 16 : Mason Summit - Negative Space       IDHAS Review




  



No 17 : The Foreign Films - Ocean Moon     IDHAS Review

No 18 :  Mooner - The Alternate Universe of Love    IDHAS Review

No 19 : Kiwi Jr. - Football Money   IDHAS Review

          

No 20 : Parsonsfield - Happy Hour On The Floor         IDHAS Review

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Greg Pope - Wishing On A Dark Star

 

The world may seem like The Amazing World Of  Kreskin  presently, so it is nice to have the odd constant. In the world of what is and isn't Power Pop, two solo artists have always shone through. One is Nick Piunti, the other Greg Pope. Both provide consistently excellent albums and their trademark is quality. You are never going to be disappointed with any of their releases, quite the opposite. 

The ex Edmund's Crown guitarist, Pope, has become one of Nashville's finest with a splendid solo career dating back to 2008 when the Popmonster album hit the stores. Nine releases on, it is heart warming that I still get excited when I get a new Greg Pope album. 

His last two albums, A Few Seconds Of Fame (IDHAS Review here) and Guiding Star (here), have been as wonderful as ever, but less up and at 'em. There are still the killer rock out riffs and big choruses present, but these are accompanied by more serene, thoughtful songs. As such, Pope fits far more in the Pop Rock category, than Power Pop, but the enjoyment is enhanced.

Wishing On A Dark Star continues the recent trend,. This album is very laidback, beautifully so. You still have the bust outs, Vacation (From My Vacation) sets a rapid pace. You also have the unusual arrangements, Blue Skies above in particularly has a fascinating arrangement in a great vocal harmony setting. But the majority of the album is unexpectedly chilled which is all very welcoming.

Pope's mellow vocals are ideally suited to the material. Gone is top notch 70s Pop Rock, very Explorers Club with harmonies to match. When The Road Road Began is an acoustic ballad that is almost Country, Crawling Back To You is moody and melancholic built around an hypnotic riff. 

Jump Back From The Light is a jaunty Acoustic led joy and Wildest Dreams has one of those trademark Pope Guitar Solos that is worth the admission alone. The general feel is very Laurel Canyon, and the title track would adorn any Pop Rock album that you would care to mention. A Special mention must go to Care, a splendid beautifully arranged opening song, co-written with son, Asher. 

Highly Recommended!!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Asher And The Spinners - Born Too Late

One of the great Pop albums of 2019 is sadly by a band that have split up, due to relocation. Asher And The Spinners were a five piece from Franklin, Tennessee. Of even more interest to followers here is that Asher is the son of I Don't Hear A Single favourite Greg Pope. Greg hasn't released am album this year, so this will more than suffice as his influence is definitely here on more than one of the songs.

Released in September last year, Born Too Late is a crackerjack Pop Rock album taking in many styles, all of them incredibly melodic. The range is fantastic from the Big Band sound of Coke And Movies to the splendid McCartney Pop of Everyone Knows.

Pope's vocals are top notch. The joint vocal with keyboard player, Erica Bloc on early 60's Rock And Roll of Second Chances is charming. Pseudo Man is great 70's Pop Rock and Connections would definitely feel at home on a Greg Pope album.

Overall though, it is the Beatles Pop that grabs you most. You immediately think McCartney on Something There and Happiness. The latter joint vocal with Bloc again works beautifully and borders on a Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy ballad.

Long Long Time is a rocker busting to get out, again very 70's Singer Songwriter Pop Rock. Eliza Jane is in the same mould and adds a killer guitar solo to the splendid pop. The standout song is The Thought That Lingers which sounds so Difford Tilbrook.

Born Too Late is not just about the vocals of Pope and Bloc though, it is a beautifully arranged band album. This is a fantastic listen, mature way beyond its years. Here's hoping that the band may reconvene at some stage. If so, it will be well worth listening to.

You can buy the album on CD Bay here and the likes of Amazon. You can listen to the album here.


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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2018 : 11-20

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 11 : The Ragamuffins - Cause Of Causes     IDHAS Review here.







No 12 : Andy Bopp - Wherewithal      IDHAS Review here.

No 13 : Vegas With Randolph - Legs And Luggage






No 14 : Mothboxer - Open Sky






No 15 : The Gold Needles - Pearls       IDHAS Review here.





No 16 : Greg Pope - A Few Seconds Of Fame    IDHAS Review here.





No 17 : Nick Piunti -Temporary High     IDHAS Interview here.






No 18 : Fernando Perdomo - Zebra Crossing 





No 19 : McPherson Grant - Song





No 20 : SUPER 8 - Hi Lo 



 


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Greg Pope - A Few Seconds Of Fame

A welcome return of the Pop Monster. Greg Pope is beloved here in what has been a prolific solo career in the last decade. This is his eighth album in that period and you always know that you are going to get Power Pop Excellence before you open the tin.

You can read my review of Guiding Star here and Fan Boy here. The harmonies and riffs are always present, as is that laid back mellow joy of a voice, but there's always more, adventures into the left field, variation or the pure unexpected.







With A Few Seconds Of Fame, there are far more of those unexpected pleasures and although the Power Pop stamp is still present, this album is more of a move into Pop Rock. The arrangements are bigger, the solos are filled out, it all works beautifully.

The 12 songs are book ended by Forget About You and You Got Inside My Head, both are more traditional Greg Pope poptastic, as though they are reminding you of what default is. The latter, in particular, has a blistering Guitar Solo.







The drums and especially Bass Riffs are far more prominent. She's Already There is encased in a real Prog feel, it works so well. The song gets a Part 2 as the penultimate track, but this time in as an acoustic vocal extravaganza.Hopes And Dreams And Fears is classic 70's Pop Rock, think John Miles, even more so with the solo. There's a splendid tempo change partt way through.

Planet Earth is a sort of Classical Rock. Greg's Son, Micah Pope plays harpsichord and Pope himself, goes all Ritchie Blackmore in the Guitar accompaniment, all this surrounds a melodic winner of a song. Compare all the arrangements in that to the simplicity of Give You What You Want, which is a real vent. build around a fine Bass Run.







A Few Seconds Of Fame is a superb album in a superb year. It gives you just enough of what you'd want from a Greg Pope album, but stretches out far more than on previous albums. It's going to be high in people's end of year charts and rightly so. It's highly recommended.


You can listen to and buy the album here.

Greg Pope - Guiding Star

There is a theme developing in the last quarter of the year. Following on from Nick Piunti's superb Trust Your Instincts, Greg Pope follows up by releasing the best album of his career. We all know that he is a Power Pop God, but Guiding Star reaches out far further than anything that's gone before. The familiar hooks are there, but there is far more variation than you may expect, this is an absolute belter of an album.





Sun Is Gonna Rise is riff after riff to one of his most melodic songs ever, Pretend It's Alright is in classic 70's Singer Songwriter mode, far more laid back than you may expect with a great chorus, driven by a great bass line. I Think Not is Jangle Heaven and what about this for a song, the wonderfully lazy, Four Leave Clover? Great 70's style pop.





If You Want Answers is an acoustic stomper, almost Folk Rock with a Glam Guitar Hook. If You Want To Go varies again, with it's 60's pop heartbeat, a joy of a song. Flaming Arrows, begins with a whistle, yes a whistle and transcends into psych pop. Oppressive Invisible Something is so Beatles time McCartney.





I'd recommend any Greg Pope album, but the beauty of Guiding Star is the variety. Greg Pope could put out any Power Pop album and it'd be ace, but he's opened many boxes here. In doing this, he's shown that he doesn't deserve to be just lumped in with verse verse chorus verse solo chorus. It is one of the great pop albums of this year and any year. The album closer, Eggshells is glammy wonder and a fine end to a fantastic album. I know quite a few people like the subject matter.





As a side issue, there is a running joke on Facebook, where our aging Lurcher, Crash, displays albums to show what a Power Pop Expert he is. Only Nick Piunti and Greg Pope have been "blessed" in the photos so far. I suspect that this album and the vinyl release of Nick Piunti's Beyond The Static will be battling for his next masterpiece. He may settle on both.

You can and should buy this album here. I could have put any of the songs up here, but you can listen to them all before you buy. The CD is available for 10 dollars and that can be ordered here.

Greg Pope - Fan Boy

My two favourite labels at the moment are Sugarbush Records and Megadodo.  

In the unorganised mess of music I have here, I have a "current favourites" shelf and Markus seems to have the knack of releasing limited vinyl releases of it's contents. The latest being Nick Piunti and Pugwash.

John at Mega Dodo also hits the spot. I may seem to be regularly stood on the Power Pop step, but my tastes are all over the place including a love of Prog. John's releases seem to mirror the randomness of my collection, Viv Stanshall next to The Luck Of Eden Hall.

I mention Markus in particular, because I'd love to have something on vinyl from Greg Pope and he seems the man to do it.

The Noughties were a bit mediocre for Power Pop, fortunately, we've been spoilt recently. The quality of Greg Pope's albums can be included in the exceptions.

Greg offers up grown up Power Pop and did throughout those lean Noughties years, lyrics that aren't I love you, yes I do, my girl's left me and I'm sad. He builds melodic lyrics around killer hooks and he can play a mean guitar, not an obvious requisite for the genre.

It really is Pop for adults and his last album, Fanboy just doesn't let up. This isn't an album that's front ended it's a joy all the way through, a proper album. I don't need to mention individual songs because you'll want to listen to it all the way through.

To these ears, it's better than the previous Pop Monster and that's some compliment. I'd put him in the same camp as the likes of Nick Piunti. I have no idea why Power Pop doesn't sell millions of albums or why Greg Pope isn't much bigger.

I should start a campaign to change that.

You can listen to the album here. You can also find out more about Greg, keep up with the latest news and find direct links to buy the album here 

At the very least give the album's opener New Beginning a spin.

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