I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2023 : 11 - 20

 



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

11 Thomas Walsh - The Rest Is History      IDHAS Review

12 Chris Church - Radio Transient      IDHAS Review

13 Armchair Oracles - Nothingeveris      IDHAS Review

14 Eyelids - A Colossal Waste Of Light      IDHAS Review

15 The Anderson Council - The Devil The Tower The Star Moon      IDHAS Review

16 Tamar Berk - tiny injuries      IDHAS Review

17 Smug Brothers - In The Book Of Bad Ideas      IDHAS Review

18 Odds - Crash The Time Machine      IDHAS Review

19 Mothboxer - Breathe      IDHAS Review

20 King Black Acid - The Rainbow Lodge      IDHAS Review

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The Make Three - You, Me & The Make Three

 

The Anderson Council's latest album has been the most popular review on IDHAS this year. The Brixton Riot remain one of our favourite bands. You can read our reviews of both here and here. So how about a Power Pop Trio featuring the leaders of both bands with Chris Ryan, the ex drummer of The Anderson Council?

Glad that I've got your attention! Peter Horvath, Jerry Lardieri and Ryan provide exactly what you want and expect bringing the best of both bands with a rocked up brand of a genre that appears to be slowly making a well intentioned revival.

Part of the decline came not because of the bands, but due to the fans arguing about what and wasn't Power Pop and dissing anything that was new from non established bands. A younger generation have led the revival, but it is now particularly pleasurable to see veterans if you like join the revival.

It will also allow writers and reviewers to return hopefully. They can now mention Power Pop again, not having to try and name it something else. The Make Three adopt the Trio format that generally provides the best of the genre.

The band only come up for air on a couple of occasions, this is mostly up and at 'em stuff. Parts Unknown is one of those slower moments and is one of the best things here. It is brooding, slightly jangly in a TFC way and underlines that these 10 songs offer great variety.

Having said that, the standout song is Emily Strange and demonstrates perfectly what the best of both bands brings. The album is released on 21 July, so not long now. You can pre-order now and I will add and I heartily suggest you do. You'll love it! Highly Recommended.

You can pre-order the album here. I will embed two more songs on release.

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The Anderson Council - The Devil The Tower The Star Moon

 

A more than welcome return of The Anderson Council after almost four years is indeed a reason to celebrate, Their brand of Psych Pop with more than a nod to Power Pop certainly tingles my musical senses and this album is like a shot of medication.

Following on from 2019's World Collide (IDHAS Review here), this is a band who know what they are doing and do it so well. You can read the IDHAS Review of 2016's Assorted Colours here. My love of Psych Pop is well known, probably my favourite sub genre and The Anderson Council are the kings.

The likes of Cotton Mather and Spygenius venture into similar areas often, but few live there permanently. You hear what you've missed from the opening chords. Tarot Tornado rips in with its Guitar Riff and even includes a diversion into Toytown just over half way through.

Alone With You is great Power Pop and Million Miles A Day is great 60s UK Beat, think Christie, and with these first three songs you realise that you are in for hell of a melodic ride and there are still nine songs to come. We really don't deserve this aural joy.

Picture This has a real Merseybeat feel, Untrained Eyes has a real Country Twang and Buying A House could be on The Move's first album. Times On Thames is top notch 70s Pop Rock, Give It Time is splendid Jangle Pop and Sunday Afternoon is Jaunty Village Green.

The band reveal that they are no one trick pony. Indeed, this feels like their most Pop orientated album. Lyrically adept, riff laden and incredibly melodic, I hear few bands that are able to offer up such consistent melodic Guitar Pop. 

Messes Up My Mind is the song that probably demonstrates best what the band are about. Jem Records must be delighted to have The Anderson Council on their roster. To me, these are the gems of the label. Album Of The Year Material? You Betcha! Higher than Highly Recommended!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2019 : 21 - 30

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.



21 The Supernaturals - Bird Of Luck     IDHAS Review

22 Spelling Reform - Stay Inside       IDHAS Review








23 The Anderson Council - Worlds Collide       IDHAS Review

24 Custard Flux - Echo       IDHAS Review








25 The Voluptuals - Terminal Patience      IDHAS Review 








26 Dave Cope And The Sass - Dave Cope And The Sass        IDHAS Review








27 Green Buzzard - Amidst The Clutter & Mess       IDHAS Review

28 Colin Wylie - Colin Wylie       IDHAS Review

29 In Deed - Everest (US Edition)       IDHAS Review








30 Ronny Tibbs - Lone Fry       IDHAS Review








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The Anderson Council - Worlds Collide

The Anderson Council follow up 2016's splendid Assorted Colours with Worlds Collide. You can read the IDHAS Review of Assorted Colours here. In a career that has hit the two decade mark, every album has moved one step further and this album is exceptional.

For those not in the loop. the quartet specialise in late 60's Psych Pop, with the emphasis on Pop. It's this Guitar Pop that marks them out at the best in the field. I love the genre, but I don't see anyone better covering Psych around.

Let's get this clear first of all, Worlds Collide is absolutely stunning. It's a must purchase and it's a certain Top 5 End Of Year and something special is going to have to go some to beat in. All of what fans would expect is here, but there's so much more.

There are two different versions of Mrs Kirkby's Refrigerator. The first is a wonderful slice of Flower Pop, the second features Peter Noone and is a ringer for Early Bowie and then you get a superb guitar solo. These surprises are everywhere though.

Your Devices is great Pop Rock, a cross between UK New Wave and Carl Wayne era Move. How Much How Long verges on Chinn-Chapman Glam Rock and there's a Space Oddity Bowie feel to Lads And Lasses.

Gentleman is very Small Faces and Grey Heavenly Lane is breezes by, including a stunning Guitar Solo. Lyrically excellent, there is no major departure here, it's just that the songwriting that gets better and better. Peter Horvath may very well be The Earl Of Psych Pop, I certainly would argue the case.

You can buy and listen to Worlds Collide here.


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The Anderson Council - Assorted Colours

The revival of Marty Scott's Jem Records is a great thing indeed. The label already has Nick Piunti's Trust Your Instincts vying for IDHAS's Album Of The Year and released The Legal Matters' debut album.

Add to that albums from The Bongos, Richard Barone and The Grip Weeds, plus the fact that our beloved Somerdale have signed for the label is enhancing the Power Pop reputaion to extremes. Then we have The Anderson Council, one of the great Psych Pop bands of the past decade and a half.




I say Psych Pop because they excel at that, but the band have hints of Merseybeat, Mod Pop and great late 70's UK New Wave. They certainly have more in common with the UK than their New Jersey roots would suggest.

Any of the band's previous three albums are recommended, but what you have here is a sampler, so you can hear how great they are. Three tracks from each of those albums are enhanced by four new songs and these new songs are just as ace as what's gone before. Never more proven than on Girl On The Northern Line.





Assorted Colours stands up as an album on it's own, the songs are timeless. Prepare yourself for a real melodic rock out. 13 songs of the highest quality that have you crying out for more. I can't praise the band highly enough.





You can listen to the album here. The album is available on the likes of  Amazon, iTunes and Google Play, You can find out more about the band here.

Various - If It Feels Good Do It

First off I'm a big Sloan fan, through great and mediocre I'll always stick by them. I'm like that with Cheap Trick, the band always gets the benefit of the doubt. If an album is disappointing, I'll just wait for the next and these aren't the times of an album a year.

Secondly, I am not that keen on tribute albums, they've been done to death and I've never really seen the point. This is different, I love it. Why? Because it's got a line up of many who are hot in Power Pop land at the moment and secondly, because not all versions are faithful to the originals.




I happened to mention in my Gretchen's Wheel review that not many people dare to cover Sloan and Keith Klingensmith quickly corrected me on this. The 31 song collection is on his label Futureman Records . Incidentally Futureman are one of the more exciting labels around, celebrating the best of new and old Power Pop.

The cast is great including Stereo Tiger, Nick Piunti, The Well Wishers, Chris Richards, Andy Reed, The Anderson Council, Paul Mellancon, Gretchen's Wheel and Ryan Allen plus many more.

Nick Piunti makes Right Or Wrong sound like a Nick Piunti song, Stereo Tiger reinforce their reputation as one of the best around at present and Chris Richards handles Coax Me beautifully.





King Radio cover the title track in a sort of lounge lizard style and Kristin Von B becomes Kim Wilde as if she was backed by the Go-Go's with Devo interruptions. The album is great fun and great value at 31 songs for 10 dollars. The killer though I've already praised in my review of Behind The Curtain. Gretchen's Wheel's cover of Try To Make It is absolutely inspired.




You can buy the album here and then have a look at what Futureman Records are doing. Anyone who is trying to recreate interest in Gladhands is fine and dandy with me.