I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2020 : 31-40

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 31 : Supercrush - SODO Pop    IDHAS Review

No 32 : The Speedways - Radio Sounds        IDHAS Review









No 33 : The Persian Leaps - Smiling Lessons     IDHAS Review

No 34 : Sergeant Buzfuz - Fox Pop          IDHAS Review

       

No 35 : John Howard - To The Left Of The Moon's Reflection     Review

No 36 : Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men - Downtime      Review




 




No 37 : Girl Skin - Shade Is On The Other Side     IDHAS Review

No 38 :  West Coast Music Club - Greetings From Ashton Park, West Kirby    IDHAS Review

  



No 39 : Papills - Too Hot For May   IDHAS Review

   

No 40 : 2 a.m. Orchestra - Trading Graves         IDHAS Review

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Supercrush - SODO Pop

 

Seattle's Mark Palm had spent most of his time in much noisier affairs, gradually mellowing to Shoegaze with Modern Charms. Then a series of great Power Pop 7 Inch singles appeared periodically under the Supercrush banner. Palm is the man behind Supercrush.

Those four singles were gathered together with two bonus tracks on 2019's Never Let You Drift Away. SODO Pop is Supercrush's first album proper and sees the sound further expanded here with the addition of Pedal Steel, courtesy of Jay Kardong, meaning even more variety.

Here, the band are right bang in the middle of The Posies and Teenage Fanclub without ever really landing on one or the other. I Can't Stop Loving You is the nearest they get to TFC and On The Telephone, the nearest to The Posies. 

But Supercrush are no one (or two) Trick Pony. Grace is very much in Cheap Trick Territory and Fair-Weather Fool is great 70's Pop Rock, also bearing comparisons to The Explorers Club and When I'm Gone is a gentle West Coast joy.

On When I'm Gone there's a lovely Pedal Steel accompaniment, ditto on Have You Called Him By My Name when there is a weeping quality added to the Jangle. A shout out also to Bob Reed for a superb solo on Get It Right, the opening track of the album.

There is a great balance here between the riff led songs and the quieter moments. Both work and in a year, affected as it has been, that hasn't been awash with killer riff led Pop Rock releases, SODO Pop is right up there as one of the best. I've chosen three of the pacier songs (as I would), but the whole album is worth a listen to convince you to spend your pennies or cents. 

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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