I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : 41-50

 

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.

41 Gentlemen Rogues - Surface Noise     IDHAS Review

42 Macseal - Permanent Repeat       IDHAS Review

43 Mt. Misery - Love In Mind     IDHAS Review

44 I Do You Do Karate - III      IDHAS Review

45 Caddy - Caddy     IDHAS Review

46 The Junipers - Imaginary Friends        IDHAS Review

47 Steve Conte - The Concrete Jangle      IDHAS Review

48 Nick Frater - The Rebutles 1967-1970      IDHAS Review

49 The Resonars - Electricity Plus      IDHAS Review

  

50 Extra Arms - Radar     IDHAS Review

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I Do You Do Karate - III

 

Bergen's I Do You Do Karate caused quite a stir when we reviewed their second album, One Last Job In Mexico in 2020. This was largely because it ticked so many boxes of what the average IDHAS follower likes. It went on to feature in the Top 10 of our Best 100 Albums of that year.

With a following here that has grown and added a younger audience, it will be interesting to see if Album 3 (or III) has a similar reaction. I think it will. Again on the splendid Australian label, Half A Cow label, the band's third outing is a cracker.

Peanut Carter kicks in with an Another Girl Another Planet Intro before raving up into great 80s Indie Rock with a hint of Jangle. Secretly Australian is great Jangle Rock, more like the American version, particularly vocal with a spectacular riff and solo.

Buckle Bunnies picks up the pace even more, but in a great UK late 70s way and Royal Loggerheads gets all Weezer. Plywood To The Moon is a much more laid back affair, almost Lounge, until another Guitar Solo lets loose.

HCF comes across as a more melodic New York Dolls and Egas Moniz mixes Brit Pop with the more modern-day Guitar Pop bands. Irene gets all Countrified, but gets very close to TFC. Indeed the inevitable early Teenage Fanclub comparisons may come from elsewhere. But if they are accurate, it is more a vibe, or the odd backing track. There isn't a song that is a direct nod.

What there is however is a real lyrical wit to accompany the big riffs and awesome Guitar solos. III is a real rock out, but also so melodic, littered with big choruses and sheer joy. The band name may confuse some, but the songs will absolutely delight.

You can listen to and buy the album here. You can find out more about the Half A Cow label here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2020 : Top 10

01 The Corner Laughers - Temescal Telegraph       IDHAS Review

02 Derrero - Time Lapse       IDHAS Review

03 Spygenius - Man On The Sea       IDHAS Review








04 Tugboat Captain - Rut       IDHAS Review

05 Chris Church - Backwards Compatible      IDHAS Review

06 Ward White - Leonard At The Audit      IDHAS Review








07 Paul Molloy - The Fifth Dandelion        IDHAS Review

08 I Do You Do Karate - One Last Job In Mexico        IDHAS Review

09 Davey Lane - Don't Bank Your Heart On It        IDHAS Review

10 Custard Flux - Oxygen        IDHAS Review






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I Do You Do Karate - One Last Job In Mexico

 

Bergen's I Do You Do Karate's second album emphasizes that their wonderful debut album was no flash in the pan. This is Indie Guitar Pop at its very very best. It also provides the opportunity to praise Nic Dalton's wonderful Sydney label, Half A Cow. Half A Cow has been an Indie beacon of light for 30 years.

One Last Job In Mexico resides somewhere between UK 80's Indie and IRS, probably leaning more towards the latter. You can just imagine them being produced by Mitch Easter. A Norwegian band on an Australian label sounding like UK and US Indie, you just know it is going to be great and it more than is. 

The Power Pop brigade will love this (if they can put down their Badfinger and Raspberries albums long enough), as will the fans of clever Indie Pop, think XTC, The Sugarplastic et al. The lyrical wit oozes out across big hooks and killer riffs.

I really can't praise this album enough. Suffice to say, the difficult part has been selecting three songs to embed, I could have chose any of the 10. 30 minutes in total, you can play it twice in an hour. Whilst most here are three minute gems, a big shout out goes to the closer, Wild Bunch Rocking, which is close on six minutes. The last two and a half minutes rock out in Everything Flows style, truly splendid.

Don't expect ballads and I love you do, yes I do's here. Every song is small but perfectly formed, says what it wants, cleverly, to say and gets off. Styrofoamed is like a popped up REM. The Kicking And Screaming Song sounds all gentle Housemartins, until it kicks and spits. 

The slowest and most pop they get is on the wonderfully titled Olivia Newton John in Xanadu. Then there are the absolute joys like the Weezer-ish Love Comes To Town. What a fantastic album, it'll definitely be high up in the IDHAS Albums Of The Year. One of the reasons for not doing your Best Of 2020's until the year is actually done.

You can listen to and buy the album here. You can find out more about the Half Cow label here.

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