I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2020 : 21-30

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 21 : Foxycontin - This Time You’re on Your Own    IDHAS Review

No 22 : Gretchen's Wheel - Such Open Sky      IDHAS Review









No 23 : The Successful Failures - Pack Up Your Shadows     IDHAS Review

 

No 24 : The Amiimopps - Life On Pluto          You Tube Group

       

No 25 : The Bye Bye Blackbirds - Boxer At Rest    IDHAS Review

 

No 26 : The Mommyheads - New Kings Of Pop       IDHAS Review




 




No 27 : Answering Machine - Bad Luck     IDHAS Review

No 28 :  The Happy Fits - What Could Be Better    IDHAS Review



 

No 29 : KEYS - Home Schooling   IDHAS Review

Libertino · KEYS - The Strain

 

   

No 30 : DISQ - Collector         Review

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Gretchen's Wheel - Such Open Sky

As I prepared to review the new Gretchen's Wheel album, I realised that this is the only artist that I have reviewed every album of. There is a reason for this and that word is talent. Album Number 5 just enhances that opinion, Lindsay Murray could sing the Phone Book and make it sound interesting.

With the delicacy of her voice, she could make a mint joining the volume of female artists singing whimpering cover versions of well known, but irritating, songs on TV Adverts. Instead she chooses to provide inventive self written gems that use that voice in unexpected ways.






You can read my previous album reviews here and you'll note that I mentioned that her last album, Black Box Theory, appeared darker with less guitar. Well there's only a little of that here as Such Open Sky rounds up the things that she has been great at in the past and takes things on a notch. The Guitar is definitely back!

There is far more use of THAT voice here, whether it be alone or with some excellent backing vocal assistance. With help from the likes of Matthew Caws, Brendan Benson and Jon Auer, you can imagine the quality, but you are left in no doubt that this is a Lindsay Murray album.

Murray has always mastered the moodier songs, her voice is ideally suited to them, but here she stretches out, even more than her earlier work. Songs are beautifully arranged, vocally and instrumentally. The whole thing is a triumph.






The three opening songs are incredibly strong. You Should Know and Interloper, with Backing Vocals from Caws and Benson respectively, are just top notch. Heat Death is the type of trademark song that has made Gretchen's Wheel name.

Can't Shake The Feeling is the real favourite of mine. A wonderful unexpected riff and very modern pop, unexpectedly so. Shapeshifters has a killer chorus and there is also a wonderfully moody cover of Robert Pollard's Learning To Hunt on which Murray makes the song her own.

It is common for an artist to state that their latest album is their best yet. Please allow someone who is completely independent to tell you that it is. This the most fully formed Gretchen's Wheel album yet. It is a glorious selection of songs and oh THAT voice is still worth the admission alone.







You can listen to and buy the album on Vinyl, CD or as a Download here. There is also a current offer on a download of the complete Gretchen's Wheel discography that is too good to miss.


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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2019 : 81- 90

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.


No 81 Gretchen's Wheel - Moth To Lamplight : A Tribute To Nada Surf      Review









No 82 The Nines - Shipwrecked - Eggers Songbook Volume 1    Review








No 83 The Decibels - Scene, Not Herd      IDHAS Review









No 84 Pictures - Hysteria       IDHAS Review









No 85 Kimberley Rew and Lee Cave-Berry - Enjoy The Rest Of Your Day      IDHAS Review

No 86 Sofa City Sweetheart - Super(b) Exitos     Review









No 87 Nagillum - 52 Weeks      IDHAS Review









No 88 Slumberjet - World Of Sound     Review

No 89 Charlie Rebel - The People's Republic Of Earth      IDHAS Review









No 90 Bertling Noise Laboratories - The Frodis Tape     Review








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IDHAS Exclusive Premiere : Gretchen's Wheel - Amateur

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We get a fair bit of stuff at IDHAS, well ahead of release and it's frustrating at times, holding back the excitement of telling you about it. We are currently sitting on releases as far away as May and June, so we hit on the idea of premiering exclusive tracks from albums with the help from the artists and labels involved.

It's particularly relevant that we kick of this series with Gretchen's Wheel. We are long term fans of Gretchen's Wheel and were gobsmacked to have another album offering, so soon after the magnificent Black Box Theory which was one of IDHaS's Best Albums of 2018.

We've described Gretchen's Wheel as Sloan fronted by Chrissie Hynde, but Black Box Theory concentrated on the a darker more mellow side of Nashville's Lindsay Murray and the exclusive track here reveals more of that.

Murray's tender, almost fragile, vocal is again very much to the fore here suits the Nada Surf songs beautifully, although Clear Eye Clouded Mind rocks like a good un'. That voice of an angel strikes through gracefully.

I know some will think, oh a Tribute Album, but it's the take on these songs that makes the album so worthwhile. It's like hearing the songs afresh from one of the best female vocalists around. This is most relevant on the Acoustic Version of Rushing.

You can pre-order the album here now. The digital release is a bargain Five Dollars and there is also a 12 Inch Format for you Vinyl freaks, as well as a CD Version. There will be a full album review here before the 22 March release.

In the meantime, if you need more convincing here is that exclusive IDHAS Preview Track. To get you in the mood further, the complete Gretchen's Wheel back catalogue is available at Name Your Price here.





You can read more about that back catalogue here.


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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2018 : 31-40

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 31 : Mike Viola - The American Egypt   

No 32 : The Orange Peels - Trespassing







No 33 : Gretchen's Wheel - Black Box Theory    IDHAS Review here.







No 34 : Ward White - Diminish      IDHAS Review here.






No 35 : Will Wander - Moon Station Volume 1      IDHAS Review here.






No 36 : TGL - The Grand Leve    IDHAS Review here.

No 37 : Ruler - Winning Star Champion






No 38 : Linus Of Hollywood - Cabin Life

No 39 : Custard Flux - Helium    IDHAS Interview here.






No 40 : Chris Richards And The Subtractions - Peaks And Valleys    IDHAS Review here.





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Gretchen's Wheel - Back Catalogue At Name Your Price

I think most of you that are paying attention know how much of a fan of Gretchen's Wheel that IDHAS is. All four of Lindsay Murray's splendid albums are now available at Name Your Price on her Bandcamp site.






You can read my reviews on three of the four albums here. If you weren't convinced before or Gretchen's Wheel are unfamiliar to you, now is the time to realise the error of your ways. You can listen to and download the albums here.

Gretchen's Wheel - Black Box Theory

The quality continues with album Number Four from Lindsay Murray's Gretchen's Wheel. Followers here will know that I'm a great fan. You can read my reviews of Behind The Curtain here and Sad Scientist here. There was also the show stealing Power Pop on the Sloan Tribute CD here.

Black Box Theory marks a slight departure for Gretchen's Wheel, all of it good. The songs seem a little darker, the guitar less at the forefront and it works beautifully for a number of reasons. Plus there is THAT Voice, it can melt a million hearts.





The songs seem a little sadder and the vocal more laid back. That lack of noise lets the songs breathe more to the point where this is probably Murray's best album yet. When a song like Tatyana rocks, it is gently, you listen to the lyrics more. Power Pop is often accused of being a one trick pony, total rubbish of course, but it is nice to hear arrangements that are different.

This is a fine collection of songs. I defy anyone to write a song better than Funny Thing, the songwriting standard here is incredibly high. The likes of Something's Coming and Untethered will become ear worms for a long time. The bar has been set incredibly high for Album Five.






You can listen to and buy the album here. It's also available as a wonderful Multi Splatter Vinyl and CD Set.

Gretchen's Wheel - Sad Scientist

One of my favourite albums from last year was Gretchen's Wheel's Behind The Curtain. So much so, that I've been eagerly awaiting the third album. The great news is that it is only a week away from release and the it's a cracker.

Imagine Sloan fronted by Chrissie Hynde and you have some idea of how good Gretchen's Wheel are. Lindsay Murray has one of those calming voices that just washes away the blues. One of th most underrated female vocalists around.

The album has quite a list of accomplices too. Donny Brown and Andy Reed who were on most of the best Power Pop releases of last year. The splendid Fernando Perdomo, Ken Stringfellow, Nick Bertling and Paul Melancon amongst them. It's like a Power Pop who's who.





With the album still in the pre-release period, there are only two tracks currently on Bandcamp. So let me tell you about some of the others. Blank Slate is built around a wonderful glam riff, Save The Day is moody, meandering and magnificent.

Disintegrate has another killer riff. I've often thought that Murray could do an Annie Haslam type moody vocal. Well she has on the splendid album closer, a voice of an angel type thing, Same Song, with some ace guitar from Perdomo.

The thing that strikes out most is THAT voice and what a fine thing it is.





You can pre-order the album here. Release date is 17 March, but CD's are being sent out ahead of that date.

Various - If It Feels Good Do It

First off I'm a big Sloan fan, through great and mediocre I'll always stick by them. I'm like that with Cheap Trick, the band always gets the benefit of the doubt. If an album is disappointing, I'll just wait for the next and these aren't the times of an album a year.

Secondly, I am not that keen on tribute albums, they've been done to death and I've never really seen the point. This is different, I love it. Why? Because it's got a line up of many who are hot in Power Pop land at the moment and secondly, because not all versions are faithful to the originals.




I happened to mention in my Gretchen's Wheel review that not many people dare to cover Sloan and Keith Klingensmith quickly corrected me on this. The 31 song collection is on his label Futureman Records . Incidentally Futureman are one of the more exciting labels around, celebrating the best of new and old Power Pop.

The cast is great including Stereo Tiger, Nick Piunti, The Well Wishers, Chris Richards, Andy Reed, The Anderson Council, Paul Mellancon, Gretchen's Wheel and Ryan Allen plus many more.

Nick Piunti makes Right Or Wrong sound like a Nick Piunti song, Stereo Tiger reinforce their reputation as one of the best around at present and Chris Richards handles Coax Me beautifully.





King Radio cover the title track in a sort of lounge lizard style and Kristin Von B becomes Kim Wilde as if she was backed by the Go-Go's with Devo interruptions. The album is great fun and great value at 31 songs for 10 dollars. The killer though I've already praised in my review of Behind The Curtain. Gretchen's Wheel's cover of Try To Make It is absolutely inspired.




You can buy the album here and then have a look at what Futureman Records are doing. Anyone who is trying to recreate interest in Gladhands is fine and dandy with me.

Gretchen's Wheel - Behind The Curtain

Two things we've been discussing separately this week are Nashville and Female Vocalists. So it makes absolute sense to review Gretchen's Wheel as Lindsay Murray is female and from Nashville.

However don't expect any stereotypes here because Gretchen's Wheel is far from what you'd expect. Last year's debut album, Fragile State was produced by Ken Stringfellow and so it's surprising to say that this year's model, Behind The Curtain. at times out power pops that debut.

The lead off track is a given. Invisible Wheel romps off at a great pace, a fine start.





Younger Ever Year meanders beautifully, a cross between Sheryl Crow and Aimee Mann and The Good Things  is even more Aimee like, as complimentary a comparison to have in my opinion. It's the latter though that is a stunner of a song. If you are going to slow things down, do it like this.

Live Through You is where the Power Pop really kicks in and what a gem, a riff that grabs you. Lindsay's voice takes on a lighter tone when it would have been easier to rock it out. It work's beautifully.





This Petrified Heart rocks like a good 'un, a moody vocal underpins the noise around it, Try To Make It reminds me of a more melodic Chrissie Hynde, another Power Pop riff but great melody. If you want quiet, the closing track, Behind The Curtain just smoulders. After all this riffing, it's the right end.

One last thing I have to mention is Try To Make It. I think many of you know how much I love Sloan. Few cover them and those that do mainly get it wrong. What an absolute cracker this Sloan cover is. Whisper it, but this could very well be better than the original.





What impresses me most about Behind The Curtain is the songwriting. All bar Try To Make It are self penned by Murray and that writing quality is of the highest order.

A great album and for Five Dollars, it's an absolute snip. You can buy it here and you should buy it now.