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Showing posts with label James Sullivan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Sullivan. Show all posts

Friday, 31 January 2025

I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : Top 10

 



So we get to our Best 10 Albums Of 2024. Any of these 10 could have been Number 1 and this reflected how diverse I Don't Hear A Single has become over the years. It is essentially a home for Indie Pop Rock, but it isn't afraid of taking different paths. For instance Prog and Psych is placed well amongst the 100 albums, which is a testament to how open the ears of followers are.

We chose The Armoires because we believe it was so different to much of everything else we heard in 2024. But, any album that is reviewed on IDHAS is recommended. We only review what we have liked. The 100 albums will be posted as a list later.


1 The Armoires - Octoberland     IDHAS Review



2 The Mommyheads - One Eyed Band      IDHAS Review



3 Teenage Frames - Everything Has Led To This     IDHAS Review



4 King Black Acid - Victory For Mad Love    IDHAS Review




5 Emperor Penguin - Gentlemen Thieves     IDHAS Review



6 Silk Cut - Silk Cut       IDHAS Review




7 Amateur Ornithologist - Hide      IDHAS Review



8 Silent Forum - Domestic Majestic      IDHAS Review



9 Ward White - Here Comes The Dowsers      IDHAS Review

  


10      James Sullivan - Vital Signs     IDHAS Review



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Friday, 19 April 2024

James Sullivan - Vital Signs

 


I loved More Kicks, you can read the review of 2022's Punch Drunk here, and so now that James Sullivan has gone solo, it is interesting to see which direction he takes. Not only the direction, but More Kicks were such a great Power Trio, it is also interesting to hear the sound and vibe,

Sullivan was the leader of that particular trio, so you expect the songs to be great and they are. There are a couple of songs that you can imagine More Kicks doing, but this album is much more Indie and stripped back. This allows Sullivan to venture much further than the trio format.



There is a real Indie 80s vibe, the inventiveness and Gravitas Pop of say a Robin Hitchcock. The major surprise is that such a previously electric anthemic artist excels most on the Acoustic songs. La Rochelle is magnificent Baroque Pop that edges towards Psych Pop.

All I Wanna Do (Is Nothing With You) is a wonderfully gentle Acoustic, almost Americana song. There are also numerous surprises. Guilty As Charged is a cracking story telling song with a talking vocal and a fantastic Noise Rock accompaniment.



Back To The Start goes all Folky Dylan. Dronify is great 60s Psych. But there are also moments that you might expect bearing in mind Sullivan's past. Day Late Dollar Start is the sort of up and at 'em Guitar Pop that jangles and fuzzes melodically.

My Best Friend is another that nods to what was his major songwriting strength. The album is a little sparse instrumentally, but that suits the material. Vital Signs is an outstanding listen, different to most that is currently around. A real Indie songwriter album with a side order of unexpected arrangements.



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


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