I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : 81-90

 

For the last eight 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. A reminder that only new albums are included among these 100.

Narrowing things down to this 100 has been really difficult. The 100 albums are 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.

81 Shenanygans - On Monte Verita      IDHAS Review

82 Mothboxer - Timelines      IDHAS Review

83 Lions Of The Interstate - Strange Empires      IDHAS Review

84 The Toms - Rock Paper Scissors      IDHAS Review

85 Bottlecap Mountain - Electric Love Spree     IDHAS Review

86 Them Elephants - Come Calling       IDHAS Review

87 Mountain Movers - Walking After Dark      IDHAS Review

88 Swiftumz - Simply The Best      IDHAS Review

89 Wesley Fuller - All Fuller No Filler      IDHAS Review

  

90 StoneDog - About Time     IDHAS Review

...............................................

Swiftumz - Simply The Best

 

So nine years on from Everybody Loves Chris. Simply The Best finally gets properly out of the starting gate. Initially planned to be released in 2022 before the Record Plant went bust. Simply The Best is 28 minutes of Christopher McVicar allowing spectators and listeners to realise why he has been so influential across the San Franciscan scene.

McVicar's third album under the Swiftumz banner is enhanced by the Guitar work of Chris Guthridge, a partnership that fully realises the depth and variety of the duos work, But the added help from Kelley Stoltz and members of The Aislers Set, Dirty Ghosts and The Bananas add a lot to the offering.

28 minutes may not seem a lot, particularly when the magnificent Almost Through takes up almost 6 minutes of it, but so much is packed into that time and the results are outstanding, Yet listening to the opening title track would have you believe that you are in for another early Teenage Fanclub album like affair. It is a fine opener, very Big Star, but not repeated elsewhere.

Unconditional is all Glasgow C86 Jangle in a fuzz haze. For Bucher branches out with its Brit Pop instrumental opening which leads to a breathy vocal that mixes Indie Guitar riffing with something verging on experimental Modern Prog.

Falling is Indie Pop on the edge of Dream Pop,  Fall Apart is late 60s Beat Pop wrapped in gentle Psych, wonderfully melodic with an ace Guitar Solo, whilst Finally Through is a strummed Campfire all together now affair. Demoralized revokes memories of Madchester. 

Never Impress is expertly Twee, yet Second Take has a Bolan like whispered vocal, beautifully melancholic with added Psych Jangle and a jaw dropping solo. But Almost Through is in all ways the centrepiece, a corking mix of well ......everything. 60s Farfisa, Glam Rock Guitar solos, switching between Psych and Pop Rock with a touch of Shoegaze. It needs all of its 6 minutes.

Simply The Best is just Top Notch!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl (Hurry! They are selling fast) and as a download.