I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : 31-40

 

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.

31 Lunchbox - Pop And Circumstance     IDHAS Review

32 The Society Of Rockets - Tough Trip Through Paradise      IDHAS Review

33 The Smashing Times - Mrs Ladyships and the Cleanerhouse Boys     IDHAS Review

34 Sharp Class - Welcome To The Matinee Show (Of The End Of The World)     IDHAS Review

35 Alex Pester - Boy     IDHAS Review

36 Supermilk - High Precision Ghosts        IDHAS Review

37 Velvet Attack - Visions From Inner Space      IDHAS Review

38 Pulse Park - First Second      IDHAS Review

39 Rural France - Exactamondo!      IDHAS Review

  

40 The Special Pillow - Meets The Space Monster     IDHAS Review

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Lunchbox - Pop And Circumstance

 

For artists with a 30 year career, Lunchbox's welcome return amazingly sounds like the excitement of a debut album. Also, for a band that comes from Oakland California, at times they sound very Brit Indie Pop from across the decades.

Dinner For Two kicks in all Pearl and Dean swinging Sixties and is followed by I'm Yours, You're Mine which keeps some of the character of the opener, but treads more into the Indie Pop of the 80s and adds some cracking Brass.

Don't Wait Too Long has a big whiff of French Cinema, yet is driven by a mix of Farfisa and more Great Britain. A little Saint Etienne even. Is This Real returns to 60s, all smooth and almost Jazzy. Time Won't Lie could be Rachel Sweet or Tracy Ullman and all UK Beat and Jangle Pop.

Yet Summer's Calling is great California Bubblegum Pop and fairly pop rocks along with an addictive Guitar riff. Love For Free could be 52s with an Acid Jazz instrumental accompaniment. Don't Wait Too Long however is part Ska, part Mod Pop.

New Year has a poptastic vocal and a Jangle that drives the song along. This World even treads into Psych Pop, but the closer, All Around The World is the real revelation. Part They Might Be Giants, part 90s Slacker Pop. It is wonderful!

Indeed the whole album is. A lesson in Indie Pop that is melodic, varied and inventive. The instrument cupboard has been ransacked to allow arrangements that feature the unusual, Brass especially, but there is also Flute and more. Magnificent!

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

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