I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2019 : 61- 70

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.



61 Traffik Island - Nature Strip      IDHAS Review








62 Rainbow Danger Club - Treehouse Empire       IDHAS Review








63 Mannequin Pussy - Patience       IDHAS Review








64 Doug Tuttle - Dream Road       IDHAS Review








65 The Gold Needles - Through A Window       IDHAS Review

66 Big Eyes - Streets Of The Lost       IDHAS Review

67 Bottlecap Mountain - Dismayland      IDHAS Review 

68 Fangclub - Vulture Culture       IDHAS Review

69 The Greek Theatre - When Seasons Change       IDHAS Review

70 The Needs - You Need The Needs      IDHAS Review 








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Traffik Island - Nature Strip

It's back to Australia for the debut Traffik Island album. I've long been an admirer of Flightless Records, a superb Melbourne Psych label, home of King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard, The Murlocs and ORB. The latter is relevant.

ORB come across as a modern day Hawkwind, a sort of Psychedelic Space Rock that is bewitching. Zak Olsen has taken a break from leading that band and been touring as Traffik Island. Live, the band are a fourpiece, but Nature Strip is largely his solo recordings.






This is great Psych Pop, splendidly twee and lo-fi, there's an endearing quality to the whole shebang. That's not to say this is throwaway or bedroom doodling. Queens Park is Syd Barrett Pink Floyd in Bike mode, Mind You has a 60's film soundtrack charm with unexpected twists.

Ode To Everything is wonderfully Toy Town, as if played on Party Bag Instruments and has Olsen crooning away. Bluish pale is piano led and again very 60's groovy. Something Sweet barrels along like a Madness Song.






The closer, Lazy Cat, is all Sunday Afternoon Kinks, but overall, I'm very much reminded of Orgone Box, particularly on the jangling 17. There's also a great gentle Psych instrumental present with One Tenth Of A Second.

Nature Strip is one of the best Psych Pop albums that I've heard in ages. It's the sort of album that you just don't hear so much these days. I'd recommend it to all. Wel Done Zak Olsen and yet again, well done Flightless!






You can listen to and buy the album here.


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