I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2023 : 21 - 30

 



For the last few 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. 

Narrowing things down to this 100 has been really difficult. The countdown is 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

21 Portable Radio - Counting To Three      IDHAS Review

22 The Make Three - You, Me & The Make Three      IDHAS Review

23 Andy Bopp - Tower City Vol. 1      IDHAS Review

24 Kicking Bird - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack      IDHAS Review

25 Lomma - Torrey Pines      IDHAS Review

26 The Supernaturals - It Only Gets Worse      IDHAS Review

27 KC Bowman - Crushes Of Context      IDHAS Review

28 Hoagie - Other Folks      IDHAS Review

29 Mason Lowe - Morning People      IDHAS Review

30 Strange Neighbors - Party Of None      IDHAS Review

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Mason Lowe - Morning People

 

Seattle's Mason Lowe is the drummer for the splendid Bread & Butter, who are two albums in and part way through a third. Morning People is Lowe's debut solo album and it is ace melodic Pop Rock, drawing from a wide range of influences from the genre. 

The style is very much of the 60s and 70s, but it is expertly achieved. Songs are very much his own, they certainly remind you of Pop Rock song genres without pointing too much at bands. The album is like a tour of Pop Rock from 1966 to now.

Stoned and Cold is in Ray Davies territory, Whiplash is great UK Glam Rock with additional surprises, World Class is very 60s Top Of The Pops, think Edison Lighthouse and Christie. I Can Do Well is pre Punk Pop Rock of the highest quality and Hanging Round is fine Toytown Psych Pop.

Yet Scab On Your Arm is very Glasgow late 80s / early 90s when the city was a bit of outlier in the wave of Dance Rock that was trying to engulf all. Pre Brit Pop, when everything thing that was catchy got wrongly labelled as such. 

If You Ever Your Change Your Mind is a torch song bordering on Merseybeat, it is followed by You Took A Chance On Me which is pure Merseybeat to a tee. You Got The Touch is all happy clappy, real West Coast Summer Pop. Plattered is wonderful UK New Wave. albums promise much, but

Morning People's strength is the consistency of all 12 songs. Too often these sort of albums are front loaded and run out of steam before the half way mark. Not this one! Songs that get you tapping your feet and soon picking up the sing along chorus. Absolutely superb!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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