I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2023 : 91-100

 

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.

91 The Sugar - Somewhere To Go      IDHAS Review

92 Turnstyle - Citizen's Handbook      IDHAS Review

93 Super Cassette - Continue?      IDHAS Review

94 John Dunbar - What A Difference Indifference Makes      IDHAS Review

95 Sprinter - Sprinter      IDHAS Review

96 Scott Gagner - Reverse      IDHAS Review

97 Vast Robot Armies - The What Gallery      IDHAS Review

98 Curling - No Guitar      IDHAS Review

99 Jumbo Chords - Saturday Night, Sunday Morning      IDHAS Review

  

100 Mighty Dan Gerous - Everybody Needs A Hero     IDHAS Review

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Scott Gagner - Reverse

As we prioritise catching up on reviews this month and with a 31 in 31 upcoming as is the October tradition, I've been listening to a lot of music and generally my tastes have partly become a little harder sounding. But the counter balance is the return of old favourites and one such fave is Scott Gagner.

Hummingbird Heart was in the Top 20 in our Best Albums Of The Year and we were honoured to premiere the lead single from the follow up Blood Moon album. So you know the new album is gonna be ace and Reverse doesn't disappoint in any way.

With long time IDHAS favourite Nick Frater helping out on parts and the album being recorded at Abbey Road Studios, the bar is gonna be set high. There is also a concern with Abbey Road recordings that the sheer history of the place can allow artists to raid the music cupboard and involve every piece of kit available.

You don't ever really get that from Gagner. He knows what he's about and that is big melodic Pop Rock. Reverse as a complete piece feels mellower than previous albums. The arrangements are outstanding, particularly the Brass accompaniment, yet they never intrude on the song itself or become gratuitous.

You also know that you are going to get some great Piano Pop along the way and on both Jesus In reverse and Goodbye, Gagner's vocal is uncannily like Elvis Costello in similar mode. Then there is the splendid string arrangement on the melancholic Her Idea.

Friend Like You is very Andrew Gold and Sunlit Saturday is a great catch all Pop song and not a million miles away from errrrrr Nick Frater. There is also a touching tribute to Christine McVie which as you might imagine is very Fleetwood Mac.

There is a real departure with There Was A House Here which is very 80s in feel. I can't help comparing the vocal to Rush's Double Agent. There is an absolute show stopper though and as it is Abbey Road, the mellotron has to make an appearance.

Never Could See Any Other way is pure 1967 with Gagner's wonderful vocal and a Psych Pop, almost Toytown arrangement. It has an incredible Brass arrangement and becomes the centrepiece of a top notch Pop Rock album.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Ten Wonderful Albums From 2021

 

The above photo is not my collection, although if you listened to Tez Cain, she would tell you that it is something like this. It is more a reference to the amount of albums, I Don't Hear A Single gets in to review. You may have noticed the self created hype about the upcoming IDHAS Best 100 Albums of 2021.

That starts tomorrow with 81 - 90 and 91 - 100. It was so difficult deciding what did and didn't make it as it has been such a great year for the type of music that we like. So the rule of having to have been reviewed on I Don't Hear A Single in 2021 had to be stuck to.

With this in mind, I noticed 10 albums that I should have reviewed and just ran out of time. These ten, there fore will not be in the Best 100, but are albums that could and probably would've been in it, if that time hadn't evaporated.

I thought of reviewing them and delaying the Best Of. However, IDHAS is traditionally one of few that publish the Best Of Year in January and reviewing them now would have meant the best 100 being published in February, which seemed too late.

So I will assure the artists and inform readers and listeners that these ten albums will be reviewed in February. Each of these albums is a cracking listen and I hope you can find the time to give them a whirl / spin / stream or whatever you kids do.

Nelson Bragg - Gratitude Blues     Link

Wanderlust - All A View     Link

The RG's - Your Head On A Stick     Link

The Parlophonics - A Day In The Life     Link

Ed Ryan - Don't Follow Where They Lead     Link

Well Wishers - Spare Parts     Link

Scott Gagner - BloodMoon    Link

West Coast Music Club - Take A Deep Breath     Link

Glowbox - Your Call Is Very Important To Us     Link

Papa Schmapa - Where Are You Now     Link

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Scott Gagner - I Don't Get Out Much (Anymore) Video Premiere

  

We adored Scott Gagner's last album, Hummingbird Heart. So much so that it was in the I Don't Hear A Single Top 20 Albums Of The Year. So we are delighted to bring you an exclusive with first showing of the lead single from his fifth album, BloodMoon. I Don't Get Out Much (Anymore) is a great indication of what to expect from what is an outstanding album. The video offers a stylized twist on the numbing routine of being stuck at home during last year's lockdown.

The song itself was written and recorded in a single day during the summer of 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Scott only had the title and a few rough lyrics before heading to Flowers Studio in Minneapolis The studio — founded by Polara frontman Ed Ackerson — who had only recently passed away. Scott was apparently the first artist to book the studio in months

 

(Viewers can change the video to full screen by clicking on the You Tube bar).

Engineer Kristopher Johnson (Two Harbors) began getting drum sounds while Scott finished writing the song. Ed’s Interscope-funded arsenal of vintage Roland and ARP keyboards quickly became the backbone of the song. 

These were augmented by grand piano, Fender P-bass, electric sitar and gong (which was eventually reversed, providing a hypnotic "vacuum sound" heard at the top of the track). After a good vocal take, the song was wrapped by 6pm. 

BloodMoon, the 13 Track Album is released on 2 November and can be pre-ordered on Apple Music here or Amazon here. Pre-Orders will get instant access to the song "Rise." CD's are also available by emailing info@scottgagner.com. You can find out more about Scott at his website here or on Facebook here. 

I Don't Hear A Single offers this Premiere due to our admiration of Scott Gagner's work. There is no monetary payment or quid pro quo. 

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2019 : 11 - 20

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.



11 Andy Bopp - Maker       IDHAS Review










12 Lannie Flowers - Home       IDHAS Review

13 Mounties - Heavy Meta       IDHAS Review

14 Empty City Squares - 337       IDHAS Review








15 Daystar - The Complete Recordings       IDHAS Review








16 The Bobbleheads - Myths And Fables       Review







17 Project: Ghost Outfit - Project: Ghost Outfit       IDHAS Review

18 Scott Gagner - Hummingbird Heart       IDHAS Review








19 The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club - End Over End       IDHAS Review







20 The Mommyheads - Future You       IDHAS Review










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Scott Gagner - Hummingbird Heart

There was a time, not too long ago, that great Singer Songwriter albums appeared regularly across the year. That seems to have slowed down to a snail's pace over the past couple of years. Singer Songwriters would appear not to be in, particularly in the world of IDHAS.

So it's particularly pleasing to hear the West Coast's Popmeister's return. Hummingbird Heart has to go some to beat the not so difficult, third album, Pins And Needles. Thankfully it does and then some, this is not only a fine listen, it also seems more upbeat than what has gone before.

Ken Stringfellow is present again, an added bonus, but this does feel more Scott Gagner than any collaboration. The Petty-esque vocals are still a joy to listen to, but the melodies are bigger and the songs more fully formed to warrant that comparison.

The lead single, Bella gives notice of what to expect, plenty of Jangle, lots of hooks and some fine harmonies. That Jangle is even more infectious on You Can't Break A Broken Heart. That's not to say that the album is aimed at fans of The Byrds.








Breathe has a real 80's feel with it's synth led croon, When I Had The Chance has even more of a croon with it's Country feel. Put A Little Beauty is charm personified, a great arrangement enhances a Jackson Browne feel.

The album does slow down as it progresses to become more of a curl up companion. But when Hummingbird Heart rocks, it is at it's best. Baby Gets What Baby Wants is a crackerjack of a song. This is a fine album. essential listening.







You can listen to and buy the album here.


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