I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2021 : 41-50

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.

There are few rules. All albums have to have been reviewed on IDHAS. Reissues and Live Albums are not included. Previously unreleased albums are included, but Best Of's are not. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album. 

No 41 : Caddy - Detours And Dead Ends Vol. 1    IDHAS Review

No 42 : The Summer Holiday - B-Sides Volume 1       IDHAS Review

No 43 : Dolph Chaney - This Is Dolph Chaney     IDHAS Review

No 44 : This Circus Life - The Vast And Endless Sea         IDHAS Review

No 45 : Real Sickies - Love Is For Lovers    IDHAS Review

No 46 : Empty City Squares - The Disappearing Architect      IDHAS Review





No 47 : The Mono LPs - Shuffle / Play    IDHAS Review

No 48 :  Cheap Trick - In Another World    IDHAS Review

 

No 49 : the black watch - Here & There   IDHAS Review

   

No 50 :Portable Radio - Portable Radio        IDHAS Review

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The Mono LPs - Shuffle / Play

 

It was during the first few months of I Don't Hear A Single that I reviewed The Mono LPs State Of Decay. You can read that review here. I knew that the follow up would be something special, I just didn't expect it to be five years later.

Since then I've discovered another rock and roll band with a cello, although The Happy Fits inhabit very different territory to The Mono LPs. On listening to Shuffle / Play, they've also moved from being the best band In Liverpool to the best in the UK and now seem ready to take on the world.

The album seems much deeper and varied than State Of Decay. Ste Reid sounds less like Dave McCabe, although you can still find some comparison and the whole album is less in your face and more fully formed. For those who think the album is dead, this offering shows you can provide something complete that also allows the Spotify brigade to go to any track and find something different.

There could be a tendency to build everything around the cello at the expense of any other instrument. There's not a bit of that here. It obviously takes centre stage on the slower numbers, being particularly wonderful on Chancy Gardener, that being a wonderful orchestral piece of McCartney Pop. But the album consists of perkiness at pace and here the instrument just slots in as part of the piece. It also rocks incredibly well.

Think About It is the nearest you get to what listeners of State Of Decay would expect. Hell Save My Soul is a slab of 70's Classic Rock, wonderfully celebratory, yet Make Your Mind Up is so atmospheric and moody. Getting Away With It is jauntiness personified.

Love Me edges towards the dance floor, but the real gem is the closer, You Say which is approaching 7 minutes of moody magnificence. It is a meandering atmospheric joy.  Shuffle / Play is so much better than even I expected. Please please don't take so long with the next one. Highly Recommended!

You can listen to and buy the album here,

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The Mono LPs - State Of Decay

I'm gladdened by The Liverpool Scene at present and a good deal of my time at the moment is covering bands from the area, so I'm delighted to bring another to here. The Mono LPs debut album is out and it's great.

The band are a four piece, but one of those four is Cellist, Vicky Mutch, Don't be afraid, because she is a rocking cellist and adds a major difference to other bands around. Her style of playing is not unlike a Roy Wood on ELO 1 (No Answer) and Boulders.




The Guitar, Bass and Drums are fleshed out by this addition. Ste Reid, songwriter, vocalist and guitarist writes real sing along stuff. His voice reminds me a lot of Dave McCabe, you could certainly compare them at times to The Zutons, although the songs have far more structure. There also could be comparisons to Cherry Ghost. However, the band rock far more and are developing a great live reputation.

State Of Decay is a real up and at 'em album. I cannot over emphasise the difference that a Rock And Roll Cello makes, it provides a real signature sound. Energetic riff driven rock and roll with depth. The album is a riot. Well done all!




You can still buy the album from the band's pledge site here and get additional access to extra stuff. Alternatively, the album is available on Amazon from Thursday here.