I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2023 : 81-90

 

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.

81 Paul McCann - Alter Ego      IDHAS Review

82 Ex Norwegian - Sooo Extra      IDHAS Review

83 Poppy Robbie - Neighborhood Beautification Commission      IDHAS Review

84 The World Famous - Totally Famous      IDHAS Review

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85 Nick Bertling - Process And Contact     IDHAS Review

86 Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam       IDHAS Review

87 Vanilla - Vanilla 77      IDHAS Review

88 Silver Car Crash - Shattered Shine      IDHAS Review

89 The Bouncing Souls - Ten Stories High      IDHAS Review

  

90 Hurry - Don't Look Back     IDHAS Review

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Paul McCann - Alter Ego

 

Ireland's Paul McCann releases his second album and I'm amazed that one of the big labels hasn't picked up on this. It certainly ticks all the boxes and really deserves the promotion push that one of those labels could give it.

Guest appearances from IDHAS favourites, Jason Falkner, Roger Joseph Manning and Charlotte Hatherley only adds to the appeal here. Alter Ego is a Pop Rock album that you sit back and admire. The material gets the arrangements and production that it fully deserved.

We were bowled over by the lead single, Divide And Conquer and still are. A magnificent song with a killer riff that surprisingly turns into a Barry Gibb like section before rocking to a close. It is an album Tour De Force.

But that song didn't hint at the variety across these 12 songs. The gentler riff and wonderful Brass of World Keeps Turning with its mix of 70s Pop Rock and Modern Prog. The jauntiness pf The Voice Of Reason and the moody ethereal Out Of The Blue.

Then there is the Folk balladeering of Red River Run with another splendid arrangement and Something Is Changed all 60s Pastoral Psych Pop which races along. Weight Of The Bow closes the album bordering on Americana but with a vocal and general arrangement that takes the song to a different level.

McCann is at ease with the slow and the fast, the gentle and the blasting. He is a multi instrumentalist, but some of the Guitar work is absolutely top notch. Alter Ego isn't really meant to get you out of the seat, it is an album to admire and let it wash over you. But then there's Divide And Conquer!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2018 : 81-90

2018 has been a fantastic year for the type of music that we like. It's been difficult to get these choices down to 100. I'm also not a believer in saying one album is better than another. Most of the time you are comparing Apples To Oranges. I'm not a Top 10 person, I just think what's the point.

However, for the first time last year, I did a Top 50, normally I just say what my favourite album of the year is. I've simply done it again, because those five posts of last year were so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists.

As I said the standard this year is incredibly high, so much so that I've extended the choice to 100 albums. There is no meaning or judgement on an album that is Number 1, Number 100 or not on the list. Anything that I review on here, mention on Social Media or play on the Radio Show is as highly recommended.

For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the IDHAS Review if applicable.


No 81 : Cursed Arrows - Rebirth          IDHAS Review here.







No 82 : Crayola Lectern - Happy Endings

No 83 : Emperor Penguin - Walnut Fascia







No 84 : Henry Chadwick - Marlin Fisher          IDHAS Review here.







No 85 : Simon Felton - Topsy Turvy







No 86 : Paul McCann - Here Comes The Rapture







No 87 : Steve Barton - Tall Tales And Alibis 

No 88 : Tommy Lorente - Stupefaction






No 89 : Major Murphy - No. 1         IDHAS Review here.






No 90 : Michael Slawter - Last Call For Breaking Hearts





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Paul McCann - The Magician EP

I've been meaning to review this for a while. I'd planned to post it as part of a I Do Hear A Single thing, but I haven't done one for a while and the EP deserves stand alone attention. Cavan's Paul McCann has spent time around the likes of Duncan Maitland and it shows.

The stand out song is the Power Pop Gem, Keep The Devil Within. It has all the hooks and jangles required and it's testament to Paul that the rest of the EP isn't from the same mould.





Widow Maker Blues features Majella O'Reilly and is storytelling Folk Country with banjo and all the twangs. All The Words You Say is a big ballad, very 70's, very good with a fine guitar solo. The Magician is like Jefferson Airplane in singalong mode. It's a sweeping five and a half minutes with a late 60's West coast solo.

All in all, The Magician is a really varied four track EP. Although it shows off Paul's obvious talent, the variance may confuse people as to what he's about. It's a splendid introduction, but I can't help feeling that the strength of Keep The Devil Within means that Power Pop is his true way forward.




You can buy the EP here, there and everywhere.