I Don't Hear A Single Top 20 EPs Of 2023

 


2023 is brought to a close with The Top 20 EPs Of The Year. There may be more 2023 releases covered in the early part of 2024, but as for the ramped up Social Media and Countdowns, they all end here. For each EP a song is embedded from the release and a link is provided to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the EP.

1 Svenssen - Falling Out Of Fashion     IDHAS REVIEW

2 Half Catholic - Art In Heaven     IDHAS REVIEW

3 The Chase - Bonzo Bonanza     IDHAS REVIEW

4 Pretty - Citrus Magic    IDHAS REVIEW

5 Jonesy - Doppelgangbangers    IDHAS REVIEW

6 Leon In The Wild - Leon In The Wild     IDHAS REVIEW

7 Movie Jail - Movie Jail   IDHAS REVIEW

8 Råttanson - Trebled Region     IDHAS REVIEW

9 The Popguns - Popism     IDHAS REVIEW

10 Bitter Defeat - Terrific Effort    IDHAS REVIEW

11 Fuzziliers - Would You Believe     IDHAS REVIEW

12 Mansfield - Come Rain Or Shine     IDHAS REVIEW

13 The Vapour Trails - On A Beautiful Day     IDHAS REVIEW

14 Gizmo - Buddy System    IDHAS REVIEW

15 Finn's Motel - Last Year's Leaves      IDHAS REVIEW

16 Rick Kingo - The Truths, The Lies, The Lot    IDHAS REVIEW

17 Dennis Davison - Creaturefeature       IDHAS REVIEW

18 Carl Green In Particular - Off Balance       IDHAS REVIEW

19 Shangri-Lass - Over & Over      IDHAS REVIEW

20 Modern Rituals - Razed      IDHAS REVIEW

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Råttanson - Trebled Region EP

 

I love Rattanson. I listen to so much melodic Pop Rock, that is always a treat to hear something more earthy. Henrik Aspeborg specialises in a sort of Garage Power Pop. His last album, I'd Much Rather Be With The Noise was in the IDHAS Best Of 2019, deservedly so. You can read that review here. 

That album was a solo affair, but the 2023 Rattanson is a 4 piece group and whereas the sound felt very 60s, the quartet have largely moved on a decade and the sound is more rounded without ever losing the charm. The group element are tight and connected and it makes for a splendid listen.

He Had It In Him is wonderful UK Glam Rock, all double denim and rocker dance. How Many Days is great UK late 1970s New Wave Power Pop with hints of the early 80s US version of it. Fighting The Good Fight is ace 70s Pop Rock with both a West Coast bent, but also reminiscent of the great UK Pop Rock bands of the mid 70s.

My Head Is A Troubled Mind is all Stooges Garage Rock, whilst Go Where You Feel The Most Alive is a cracking slab of R & B mixed with UK Beat. My only wish is that there was more to hear, because I could listen to this all day. Top Notch and Highly Recommended!

You can listen to and buy the EP here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2019 : 71- 80

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 couple of years I have compiled Best Of 2019, normally I just said what my favourite album of the year is. I've done it again, 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 patently nonsense and omits many wonderful albums.

I will compile a Top 20 of Reissues and Compilations combined after all this is complete. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the review, where you can find further details on how to listen or buy the album.


71 I Was A King - Slow Century        IDHAS Review 







72 James Clarke Five - Parlor Sounds       IDHAS Review 







73 Extra Arms - Up From Here       IDHAS Review 







74 Råttanson - I'd Much Rather Be With The Noise       IDHAS Review 







75 WarrenScottBand - The New Deal       IDHAS Review 







76 The Galileo 7 - There Is Only Now       IDHAS Review 

77 The Morning Line - North       IDHAS Review 







78 The Pozers - Crybaby Bridge       Review 

79 The Tor Guides - Backwards In Reverse       Review







80 Mothboxer - Time Capsule Volume 1        IDHAS Review 








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Råttanson - I'd Much Rather Be With The Noise

Henrik Aspeborg returns with a new Rattanson album and it's very welcome. Aspeborg gets lumped in with the Power Pop brigade, but his brand of Swedish Garage Pop fits in to so many scenes. that a pigeon hole is unfair and unnecessary.

I'd Much Rather Be With The Noise is deliciously Low-Fi, but enthralling. One minute Rattanson are in Guided By Voices territory, then a song like Hometown Out-Of-Towner sounds like a 50's At The Hop Affair. There's also more than a hint of Psych Pop too, particularly on Dancing On The Head Of Snakes.






In A Peak State brings up images of a 60's dirt path road trip, whilst Sixgun Smile could be sung from a One Horse Town Bar. No Best Of Me has a twanging love song with a be bop chorus. Kiss This Year Goodbye is again great pop.

Bamalamalicious is exactly as the title suggests, 50's Rock and Roll a la The Crickets. These 14 songs offer up anything from Surf to 80's Garage Rock. Small Venue Concerts could be Chinn and Chapman Glam Rock.






Aspeborg's voice comes across as a bit Mink De Ville at times, no bad thing, at other times Dylan-esque folk. The Seeds also spring to mind. However, the whole album grabs you and I still can't get Let Them Win off the turntable.

There's also more than a hint of Wilko Johnson Rhythm and Blues. I'd Much Rather Be With The Noise Is A Fine album and Rattanson are well worth your attention.






You can listen to and buy the album here. You can buy the Vinyl from Open Mind Records via their Facebook page here.



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