I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : 81-90

 

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.

81 Shenanygans - On Monte Verita      IDHAS Review

82 Mothboxer - Timelines      IDHAS Review

83 Lions Of The Interstate - Strange Empires      IDHAS Review

84 The Toms - Rock Paper Scissors      IDHAS Review

85 Bottlecap Mountain - Electric Love Spree     IDHAS Review

86 Them Elephants - Come Calling       IDHAS Review

87 Mountain Movers - Walking After Dark      IDHAS Review

88 Swiftumz - Simply The Best      IDHAS Review

89 Wesley Fuller - All Fuller No Filler      IDHAS Review

  

90 StoneDog - About Time     IDHAS Review

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Wesley Fuller - All Fuller No Filler

 

I can't believe that we are in the 7th year since Wesley Fuller's debut album, Inner City Dream. You can read our review here. He's lost none of his accessibility. This second album is as catchy as catchy can be with great big singalong choruses.

This will be labelled as Power Pop, but it seems more Pop Rock, 70s Pop Rock is the base and it successfully treads that line between Easy Listening and great Pop that those great 70s bands did successfully, in fact it does far more than that.

The Velvet Affair does this most successfully. It is great Pop Rock, but with big hints of Psych Pop. Jacaranda follows a similar suit, swapping Psych with Jangle this time. Everything Is Strange, however, is all US 60s Sunshine Pop, brilliantly so.

Trade War rocks proceedings considerably towards 70s New Wave, but All Of My Dreams is splendid UK Top Of The Pops Glam Rock. The gentle psych riff on Inside And Out is countered by great catch all harmonic Pop, particularly on the chorus.

Counting Down The Days is great all together now Pop with a fine arrangement and a chorus that is very ELO. The album is at its best when it is at its jauntiest. Back To Square One is a great example with its 1974-ish vocal matched to a more progressive arrangement and spacey keyboard run.

And if you want a stomping ear worm that will stay in your head all year then you should hear Alamein Line. All Fuller Not Filler is superb at what it does and that is great Guitar led Pop. If I am being hypercritical,I have just one minor quibble and that is the drum sound which is way too mechanical and holds back the overall feel a little bit. But this album is an absolute winner.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl. The CD is available on the Kool Kat label here.

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Wesley Fuller - Inner City Dream

Melbourne's Wesley Fuller offers up his first full length album and it's great 70's Pop. A mixture of Bubblegum, Jangle and images of 70's Kids TV shows. There's a real charm throughout the album that is both endearing and admirable.

Both Inner City Dream and It Can Change My Ways are pure late 60's Bubblegum, The Archies spring to mind. Yet, Someone to Walk Around With is all 70's Glam Rock, handclaps and all. Whilst, Morality is like a theme to a 90's Japanese Cartoon series.

It's not all poppity pop though, the moodier Miranda Says is slower and atmospheric, very early 80's before the UK scene was taken over by make up and what you wore, almost BEF. No More Chances could be on a late 60's Film Soundtrack, all trip Beat Pop.

There's also signs of a more New Wave direction, away from the Pop to a darker experimental side, never more so on Biggest Fan. After the excellence of last year's Melvista EP, Inner City Dream moves on apace and promises even more for the future. If there's a better single than #1 Song around I haven't heard it. It's all jingle jangle and even has a cars like keyboard break.

You can buy the album everywhere. Sound samples can be heard on the likes of Amazon here.