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.
It's been almost a year since we had a Garden Of Earthly Delights column, I have no idea why it has taken so long. I must do these more frequently as they provide the opportunity to mention albums that I love that wouldn't, in some cases, naturally fit on IDHAS.
Narrow Head - 12th House Rock
Texas's Narrow Head's songs have been described as a cross between Shoegaze and Grunge. I don't see that at all, this feels more like Stoner Rock and I'm reminded of Masters Of Reality a lot. So from that you can deduce that the album is suitably noisy, wonderfully so.
The riffs are hypnotic with the vocal pushed back, but 12th House Rock is a fascinating list. At times the band edge towards Space Rock, but they know what they are about. Yer Song is a cracking listen and the likes of Stuttering Stanley and Nodding Off are just as enjoyable.
Martin Månsson Sjöstrand Trio - Universum Faller (Name Your Price)
Some of you may know Swede Martin Månsson Sjöstrand from the superb Dog, Paper, Submarine. Here he teams up with Josef Moller and Hannes Dahlrot for an instrumental album, but this isn't an excuse to solo for six minutes. 9 songs in 29 minutes is just right and the Guitar, Bass and Drums power format is astoundingly great.
The general theme is Space, but there is loads here. Surf, Psych and Rock seep out. Common Redhift 7 could be Cream and One Day Mary Anning Shall Find You drips Prog. The standout though is Innanför Händelsehorisonten, which could almost be Kraut Rock.
You can listen to and buy the album here and at Name Your Price, how can you not be enticed?
Iron City Houserockers - Have A Good Time But... Get Out Alive (Remastered With Bonus Tracks)
I've always had a real soft spot for this album, maybe due to the Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson and Steve Van Zandt connection. Van Zandt produced five of the 12 songs, Hunter and Ronson the rest and the fingerprints definitely show.
The album is very much in Southside Johnny territory and Joe Gruscheky's vocal is very Graham Parker. The stand out is the title track where the guitar sounds very Ronson influenced. This edition adds a bonus CD with 16 Tracks, plus there is something really tummy tingling about seeing Cleveland International back.
You can listen to and buy the album everywhere. All 28 tracks are on you tube here.
The Transpersonals - This Is the Sound Of A Ship On The River Avon
Bristol Trio, The Transpersonals offer up a cracking Psych album. Just five songs here, but three are 11 minutes long. Those three are very different, Timothy Leary's Not Dead is as hypnotic as the title suggests. The title track is just as trippy, but far more laid back, a bit more ambient.
San Francisco is a wonderfully gentler affair with a long mind bending outro. The two shorter songs are very different. The Sun And Moon Are Closing In has a killer riff with an Indie 1985 vibe whilst It Feels So Good is very west coast dreamy Psych. The three longer pieces interest me most, but I've embedded It Feels So Good to listen to here.
You can listen to and buy the album here.. You can find out more about The Transpersonals here.
