I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2018 : 51-60

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 51 : The On and Ons - Welcome Aboard      IDHAS Review here.

No 52 : Odd Robot - Amnesiatic     IDHAS Review here.







No 53 : Half Man Half Biscuit - No One Cares About Your Creative Hub So Get Your Fuckin' Hedge Cut

No 54 : The Amazing - In Transit 






No 55 : Rob Clarke and The Wooltones - Big Night 







No 56 : Glowbox - Fossil Few       IDHAS Review here.







No 57 : Extra Arms - Headacher







No 58 : Big Sunset - Big Sunset      IDHAS Review here.

No 59 : Michael Simmons - First Days of Summer







No 60 : Valley Lodge - Fog Machine 







.

Liverpool IPO 2018 Preview : Rob Clarke And The Wooltones

Rob Clarke is really one of our local heroes. Although his solo career took him all over the country, he is one of our own. That solo career included playing live and involved in sessions for Pretenders, Fischer Z, The Truth and Peter Hammill. He returned to Liverpool after teaming up with A Flock Of Seagulls' Paul Reynolds and Frank Maudsley in the band, Almighty Atmosphere.

His later solo work included three acoustic albums before the Telecaster Psych blitz of 2014's The World Of The Wooltones. There followed an Alt Country album, 10 Country Greats And 1 Other, which you can listen to and buy here.

It is however the development of The Wooltones that caught most people's attention. It's a 60's Psych Pop noise that just grips you. The World Of The Wooltones was repackaged as a compilation with two extra tracks and a bonus disc on my great friend Ray Gianchetti's Kool Kat Label. The resultant, Are You Wooltoned was reviewed on I Don't Hear A Single here.

The new album, Big Night Out has just been released. Kool Kat have a bonus disc with a Quarrymen connection which you can buy here. You can listen to the album and buy the download version here. There will be a full review on IDHAS after the IPO Liverpool Previews are done.

Rob cites amongst his influences, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Byrds, Neil Young and The Tornados. His aim is to "broaden The Wooltone brand, trying to take some of the good stuff from the 60s particularly the way things were done. The aim is to look at it from the standpoint of today without losing too much of the innocence along the way."

He explains, "There was a lot of naivety in the 60s, but it was also mixed with some extreme intelligence and a lot of people maybe did have some inkling or perception of how things were going to go."

Clarke thinks "IPO is different from almost every other event locally as it draws bands who aren’t necessarily very well known from all over the place, especially other parts of Europe. That alone gives it a completely different flavour."

"People go to it and like it for what it is so it tends to have a wide audience who are thrilled to be where they are and to enjoy it and to soak up the atmosphere of the Cavern. Which makes it fun to do. The whole thing feeds off the energy of David Bash, who puts on IPO events all over the US and Europe on a seemingly never ending tour."

Rob's research shows that "Our audience is primarily 45-54 year old men." So "Everything from now on will be scientifically assessed, so as to appeal to them and them alone." I think he might be joking, but I'm also surprised by the audience feedback, because the DIY Psych Pop feel of Wooltones' albums should really appeal to the more hipster market.

Rob Clarke And The Wooltones play The Cavern Club on Wednesday 16 May and The Cavern Club on Monday 21 May. For those interested in Rob Clarke's earlier solo work, you can listen to and buy it here.

Rob Clarke And The Wooltones - Are You Wooltoned?

I've long been a fan of Kool Kat Musik. Ray has long been a supporter of the kind of Pop that we know and love through his online store and his Kool Kat label is just pure class. In our world, he's probably the most important person left since the end of Not Lame.

That Kool Kat label has promoted forgotten gems from the likes of True Hearts, The Genuine Fakes, John Wicks, Andy Reed, Cloud Eleven and the magnificent, The Idle Wilds. He also released Somerdale's debut album and you know how highly I rate their latest, Shake It Maggie.

So I'm delighted to be reviewing a Kool Kat release from a band close to where I live in the world. Rob Clarke And The Wooltones are from Woolton (Get It?), a suburb of Liverpool.





Mind The Gap, Henry Beck is a a classic slice of Psych Pop, but that's not only what the band is about. There are hints of loads of different influences contained here. Certainly Merseybeat, definitely the later 60's UK Beat, but I hear The Plimsouls, The Byrds, even the wit of Brit Pop's The Bluetones and The Supernaturals.

Butter is another Psych Pop gem, you can imagine Austin Powers grooving to Monkey Mind. Iron Eyes Cody has a great lazy vocal to an early The Who style beat.




Colours (Of The Sun) has an hypnotic riff with a CSN like vocal.  Pancake Cupcake is pure Merseybeat. Peas is really bluesy and Mystic Room has a Bo Diddley beat. Our Business has a real glam guitar feel, almost Spirit In The Sky. Are You Wooltoned? has plenty of jangle.

It is the Psych Pop that appeals most and this is ably demonstrated by Ambrosine which is very Orgone Box in it's feel.




It's brilliant to note that the spirit of Scouse Pop isn't dead and this compilation is certainly one of the better releases that I've heard this year.

Kool Kat's CD Release has a 7 Track bonus disc that is equally as excellent. This includes covers of Stepping Stone and Pushing Too Hard. You can order the CD and discover more of the Kool Kat delights here.

You can find out more about Rob Clarke And The Wooltones and listen to the whole album here.