I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : 31-40

 

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.

31 Lunchbox - Pop And Circumstance     IDHAS Review

32 The Society Of Rockets - Tough Trip Through Paradise      IDHAS Review

33 The Smashing Times - Mrs Ladyships and the Cleanerhouse Boys     IDHAS Review

34 Sharp Class - Welcome To The Matinee Show (Of The End Of The World)     IDHAS Review

35 Alex Pester - Boy     IDHAS Review

36 Supermilk - High Precision Ghosts        IDHAS Review

37 Velvet Attack - Visions From Inner Space      IDHAS Review

38 Pulse Park - First Second      IDHAS Review

39 Rural France - Exactamondo!      IDHAS Review

  

40 The Special Pillow - Meets The Space Monster     IDHAS Review

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The Smashing Times - Mrs Ladyships and the Cleanerhouse Boys

 

Prepare to be amazed. Baltimore's The Smashing Times' last album was a wonderful Pop album. They follow it with something very different. Gone are the catchy ditties, replaced with something absolutely wonderful. Underground Pop is a description that doesn't really do it justice.

I listen to a lot of music, too much sometimes and I'm always looking for something out of the ordinary. There is Intelligent Indie to be had, great Psych Pop too, but you have to search hard for it. Too much music sounds the same as everything else. Lately it has been even more of a challenge than usual.

The song titles will give you an inkling that this album is something out of the ordinary. I suppose you might call it Left Field, but what exactly is that. Vocally, it does sound very Brit and with the band beginning a 7 date UK Tour at the end of November, you can witness that in the raw.

Mrs Ladyships and the Cleanerhouse Boys is one of those albums that will take time to appreciate, but they are usually the best long players and last the longest. There is a 60s Psych edge, but there is also a fair bit of Jangle around.

For all the Syd Barrett descriptions that will spring out, there is even an Indie C86 feel at times and songs come from unusual angles, for instance, it is a while since I've heard whistling on an album.

Rupert Tingle, Button Thief is great Psych Pop, bordering on Toytown, yet still has a breakout part that could be Brit Pop. Wednesday, On A Hummingbird's Wing is incredibly inventive. It is a song built on a Jangled riff, but could be Julian Cope or Pulp and yet still sounds very 1967.

The references are very 60s, but there is more within. This is an album that you might find on the Fruits de Mer label or Gare Du Nord. It may take time to appreciate, but that time is well spent. In a sea of mediocrit, The Smashing Times are a shining beacon of light. Totally Splendid!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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