I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2020 : 91-100

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 List person, I just think what's the point.

However, for the last few years I 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. 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.

I would also add that the Top 100 includes albums available as Download Only. To suggest that they are anything less than equal to a Physical release is grossly unfair, even more so in 2020 with all that has happened during the year. To qualify, an album has to be available for sale in any format.

For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to where you can find further details on how to listen or buy the album. 

No 91 : J.P. Cregan - Twenty       IDHAS Review

No 92 : It's Karma It's Cool - Woke Up In Hollywood           IDHAS Review









No 93 : Love Sport - And Justice For All        IDHAS Review









No 94 : The Galileo 7 - Decayed           Review

No 95 : The Szuters - Sugar       IDHAS Review

No 96 : Dennis Davison - The Book Of Strongman      IDHAS Review









No 97 : Giant Eagles - Second Landing      IDHAS Review









No 98 :  Kekker - Greatest Hits Volumes 1 And 2     IDHAS Review









No 99 : Psychotic Youth - Forever And Never     IDHAS Review

No 100 : The Transpersonals - This Is the Sound Of A Ship On The River Avon    IDHAS Review

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Psychotic Youth - Forever And Never

 

In 1985, amidst the legwarmers and short sleeve jackets, you could need to sell a million singles to get to Number 1. Much has changed since then, but thankfully Psychotic Youth haven't. Forever And Never is the band's 14th album and their Garage Power Pop still sounds as great as ever.

The IDHAS Review of 2017's The Voice Of Summer could easily be written for Forever And Never and that is what is so refreshing. Through all the 2020 nonsense, it is wonderful to listen to something that reminds you of how it should be. You can read The Voice Of Summer Review here. 

I've seen many comparisons to The Ramones during the band's lifetime and although there is a little of that, most of these descriptions are lazy because Psychotic Youth are far more melodic and have more in common with Glam Rock and New Wave if anything.

Indeed, if there is a difference here to the previous two albums, it is that there is less Dr Feelgood and more Chinn and Chapman. Ten O'Clock Postman is the killer song here, an absolute Power Pop classic, but there is much to be admired elsewhere.

Goodbye Summer is Late 50's Rock and Roll, Come On (And Give Me Something Good) is pure Undertones and Before You is another Power Pop gem. Can't Call On Me is more down and dirty and That's The Way A Woman Is could be The Cars.

The only real heads down affair is Detention and the closer, Picture Of You is a New Wave Joy.  17 songs in 43 minutes with hooks aplenty, big choruses and sprinklings of delightful Farfisa, what more could you want? There are many great things to have come out of Sweden, Psychotic Youth should  definitely be included amongst them.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Psychotic Youth - The Voice Of Summer

There's loads of great Scandinavian Pop and Rock, it just doesn't get the attention it deserves. It really just isn't all about Roxette. Fortunately, we have an expert on these matters at IDHAS, Nick Fletcher, I just wish the public would get to hear from the man more.

After 18 years, Sweden's Psychotic Youth are back and they've lost nothing of their drive and punch. The Voice Of Summer is brilliantly up and at them, a breath is rarely taken. Think of any of the great New Wave and Power Pop bands of the early eighties and this lot stand comparison.





The speed of delivery gets many Ramones comparisons, but the American Power Pop bands are far nearer the mark. Bands like The Plimsouls and The Beat or when the organ drives the songs, The Fleshtones spring to mind.

But there's plenty of UK influences, The Vapours and The Undertones and their like. Goodbye Girl's chorus sounds suspiciously like Squeeze's chorus from the song of the same name and the vocals can be like a rocked up Lloyd Cole.





If you like your crunching riffs and particularly if you've delighted in the recent trend of great harmonic pop but wished it would rock a bit more, this is the album for you. It made me think I was 16 again and heading off for the next gig.

This Is Rock N Roll made me yearn for a Dr Feelgood gig. I could go on far more about how great the album is, but I'll let you confirm it by listening to it here. It's impact may have been exagerrated by my yearn for an album to let loose, this certainly does that. It's simply ace.




You can buy the album on CD at Kool Kat, the vinyl at Juno and get the download at the likes of CD Baby.