He's Dead Jim - Ludovico Technique EP (Bandcamp Name Your Price)

 

Hot on the heels of the These Men, These Monsters album release at the start of the year, a real favourite of followers here, comes a follow up EP and is as interesting as this quartet ever are. I suppose you might call this lot Art Pop, but that doesn't nearly tell the story.

Each song comes in on a different angle packing so much into its time. Glam Droogs is all 1974, a year that I still apparently live in, all Flares and Butterfly collars. Slumber Down is so 80s smooth with Sax and everything, a song that you can imagine Sade singing.

Love Plus Death shows a more default approach, wonderfully all over the place. A little Brit Pop, a little Noise Rock. rocking your socks off, even a little Punk. I can't help imaging Liam Gallagher or John Lydon  singing it. It doesn't half rock.

The real surprise is the cover of Sheila & B. Devotion's Spacer. There's not a hint of Chic about it. this is more Indie Rock anthem and inspired. It would be on tomorrow's Listening To This Week if we allowed cover songs on it. This band is so ultra interesting!

You can listen to and buy the EP at Name Your Price here.

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He's Dead Jim - These Men, These Monsters

 

Welcome to the new album from one of our favourites. I love what these three do, it comes from unusual angles, but is wonderfully inventive. Guitar Pop that is all over the place, but essential listening, a little Art Rock at times and a tad 70s feel mixes with the UK New Wave and Power Pop.

The recent cover of Avenues And Alleyways is inspired and not even on the album. Instead they offer up a wonderfully chaotic version of Art For Arts Sake. I've known Neil Christie for a good while due to him being an Emperor Penguin and his fellow Penguin Nigel Winfield adds guitar to two songs.

It may only be January, but we already have a contender for the Best Album Of 2026. The whole thing is exhilarating, tons of variety. You can sit back and admire the inventiveness it all or find yourself helplessly singing along. I can think of no there band that could write a better song than The Process. It is gobsmackingly great.

Under A Rock is very different. Almost Noise Rock, but so damn catchy, part Glam Rock, part Power Pop.Human Zoo gets all Garage Rock and Negative Vibes is a cross between Pun and the New Wave that followed it, wonderfully messy and noisy. 

Living In Memory is top notch Power Pop, a little reminiscent of The Motors and yet has memorable 70s Pop Rock vibes. Dragonsfiels starts the album off and shows the album means business, great Brit Pop at a rapid pace.

I was delighted that He's Dead Jim returned, but could not have imagined how explosive their return was. No living on past glows, These Men, These Monsters are of the now, the past was the past. What an incredible album. Every phase the band takes just gets better and better.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD and as a download. The CD is on the Kool Kat label and can also be ordered here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Best 100 Albums Of 2025 : 61- 70

 

Today we reach Numbers 61-70 in our Best Albums Of 2025. It has been really pleasing to see followers visit the albums thus far. 2025 was a great year for the type of music we cover and it is very competitive for the remaining 60 albums in the countdown.

With it being our 10th year we thought that we could back to the old images that were posted as a bit of fun with the Audio Extravaganzas. A reminder of the old, much quieter, days for us and hopefully a bit of fun for newcomers. 

61 The Len Price 3 - Misty Medway Magick      IDHAS Review

The Len Price 3 · Emily's Shop

62 Jumbo Chords - Throw Away (Buy Another One)      IDHAS Review

63 Nick Frater - OH CONTRAIRE!      IDHAS Review

64 Lolas - Big Hits And Freak Disasters      IDHAS Review

65 Girl For Samson - Blend All The Seasons      IDHAS Review

66 Cherry Fez - SUPEREXCITED     IDHAS Review

67 He's Dead Jim - Head Like A Toyshop    IDHAS Review

68   Them Elephants - Quattro    IDHAS Review

69 The Elbow Patches - Achingly Familiar     IDHAS Review

70 Drugs In Sport - If Only We Could Use These Powers For Good     IDHAS Review

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He's Dead Jim - Head Like A Toyshop

Aberdeen's He's Dead Jim return and you are as always in for quite a journey. Variety may very well be the spice of life and if so then Head Like A Toyshop is very very spicy. Melodically and without missing a beat they switch from genre to genre with ease.

On the odd song you can compare them to other bands that we like who are similarly able to offer considerable depth such as Spygenius and Emperor Penguin, but this lot take it to extremes. Don't dare to try to label them because the next song will be nothing like your nailed genre.

Let's offer up some examples. Paradise Fayre is top notch Toytown yet Ticket To Explode could Pete Wylie Wylie and WAH!. Wire Buddha could is West Coast Jangle and heads towards fellow Scots Teenage Fanclub.

Haywire is splendid 70s UK New Wave, but Tomorrow Is Yesterday mixes The Farm with big 70s funky Pop Rock.Why I Gave Up mixes Stiff Records and Marmalade with some wonderful Brass. There is even a Part Two which is very different, all Folk with a touch of INXS and a cracking vocal from Jenny Channel.

On The Beach gets all Undertones, whilst Seventh Night Of Sin gets all 1 2 3 Classic Power Pop. Adam Eternal is classic 60s Psych Beat and Back To You follows a similar direction is followed, but with a more modern slant. Swim To Oblivion sounds very 1978, but also gets close to another Scottish band, The Supernaturals.

There is even a faithful rendition of Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear The Reaper. I've embedded three tracks as always, but these could have been any of the others and don't tell you enough about how great this album. It takes astounding talent to make an album half as good as this. Feast you ears!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD and as a download.

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