[Music] Albums of the year

[1066familyman]

Cloud 10 - Chip Wickham.

 

[Machiavelli]

I've got 8, although many of those I'm not wild about.
Smile, Binker & Moses, and BC/NR are all great.
Porridge Radio is good
The following all have produced better albums: Julia Jacklin, Big Thief,
Fontaines DC is OK for me, nothing more, and not convinced by Yard Act
Agree with HT that the Floating Points Pharoah Sanders is right up there too. Gabriels is great too.

There are a few on there which I've missed and might get my hands on: Wet Leg, Kelly Lee Owens, Confidence Man, Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, Ezra Collective and Imarhan.

 

[jackalbion]

I've got 8, although many of those I'm not wild about.
Smile, Binker & Moses, and BC/NR are all great.
Porridge Radio is good
The following all have produced better albums: Julia Jacklin, Big Thief,
Fontaines DC is OK for me, nothing more, and not convinced by Yard Act
Agree with HT that the Floating Points Pharoah Sanders is right up there too. Gabriels is great too.

There are a few on there which I've missed and might get my hands on: Wet Leg, Kelly Lee Owens, Confidence Man, Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, Ezra Collective and Imarhan.

Agree with you on Yard Act, not convinced, funnily enough I loved their first EP, and the album was a let down. They are very good live though.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Haven't posted enough on these threads this year, though I think this has not been a great year for music - in fact my album purchases have been at the lowest level for about a decade.

Anyway, here's some recommendations from the Trees household.

Most precocious teenage indie band of the year:


My dad was in a band in the 80s award:

(The drummer is the daughter of Kevin Haskins, drummer of Bauhaus)

Nicest thank you note for buying their album from their website:


Soundtracking an historical event that has just as much relevance today:

(Kuwaiti producer remembers the Gulf War of 1991)

Continuing in that vein, my favourite track of the year comes from the Ukraine:

 

[Perry's Tracksuit Bottoms]

Not sure about anything other than my top 2 which would be Lorna Shore - Pain Remains and Oceans Ate Alaska - Disparity.

Two crushingly heavy albums but the Lorna Shore record is full of emotion and an absolute masterpiece.

Wow, I think this Lorna Shore album might be going straight to the top of my list. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[kevo]

Only Fontaines and Wet Leg.

Surprised Sea Power's Everything Was Forever didn't make the list. Superb album - their best since their debut 20 odd years ago.

 

[1066familyman]

Carlos Niño & Friends - Extra Presence.

ibasso dx300 and Oppo PM - 2 are doing me proud on this one.

 

[AstroSloth]

Wow, I think this Lorna Shore album might be going straight to the top of my list. Thanks for the recommendation!

It's such an incredible album. Heavy, melodic and emotional as f***. The singer described it as an album that you can cry to while listening to.

Also one of the most impressive vocalists around at the moment.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Off the top of my head my favourites are Tresor - Gwenno. Yard Act and Working Man’s Club. My most played Album on Spotify this year was that one by Shame, but that came out last year so doesn’t really count.

 

[CHAPPERS]

New Little Simz album is out and should be pretty high on these lists. Great piece of work

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Here’s my top 10


1. Crack Cloud - Tough Baby.
2. The Smile - A Light For Attracting Attention.
3. Daniel Avery - The Ultra Truth
4. Jenny Hval - Classic Objects.
5. Gilla Band - Most Normal
6. The Soft Moon - Exister
7. Binker and Moses - Feeding The Machine.
8. Hell Fire - Black MIDI
9. Black Country/New Road - Ants From Up There
10. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man*

*I appreciate the last album is actually 50 years old but it’s a stonewall heavily influential classic re-released on 180g doubly gatefold vinyl, an absolute thing of beauty, and it’s my list.

Three favourite gigs were
1. Hot Chip. Seen them many times but they just seemed on fire this time out. So many people just dancing and singing along. Joyous. Whatever it is you’re doing/taking/drinking….let us know.
2. Nil Frahm - on the floor at Funkhaus where his studio is, I literally sat on the floor a few feet from him. So magical I blagged a ticket and went the following night as well.
3. Guerilla Toss, Crack Cloud, Black Midi - 29 euros is stunning value for 3 superb bands.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Yeah Hot Chip were on another level this year.

 

[Machiavelli]

Here’s my top 10


1. Crack Cloud - Tough Baby.
2. The Smile - A Light For Attracting Attention.
3. Daniel Avery - The Ultra Truth
4. Jenny Hval - Classic Objects.
5. Gilla Band - Most Normal
6. The Soft Moon - Exister
7. Binker and Moses - Feeding The Machine.
8. Hell Fire - Black MIDI
9. Black Country/New Road - Ants From Up There
10. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man*

*I appreciate the last album is actually 50 years old but it’s a stonewall heavily influential classic re-released on 180g doubly gatefold vinyl, an absolute thing of beauty, and it’s my list.

Three favourite gigs were
1. Hot Chip. Seen them many times but they just seemed on fire this time out. So many people just dancing and singing along. Joyous. Whatever it is you’re doing/taking/drinking….let us know.
2. Nil Frahm - on the floor at Funkhaus where his studio is, I literally sat on the floor a few feet from him. So magical I blagged a ticket and went the following night as well.
3. Guerilla Toss, Crack Cloud, Black Midi - 29 euros is stunning value for 3 superb bands.

Thanks for this. I don't think I've listened to enough to produce a top 10 for this year. That said, BCNR is my AotY, followed by Binker & Moses. The Smile might be my third, but will have to think a bit more before confirming.
I have a long list of albums to buy and, on the strength of your and a few other astute posters' recommendation, will get The Gilla Band,, might even add Crack Cloud to the list off the back of this.
That Nils Frahm gig sounds an utter treat.

 

[1066familyman]

Samora Pinderhughes - Grief.

 

[AstroSloth]

Whilst not the best album of the year, perhaps the most FUN album of the year is Tekkno Train by Electric Callboy.

The band is just insanely fun and know how to write a banger.

 

[The Clamp]

Amplify Human Vibration
By
Nordic Giants

Also saw them live at Chalk with Arabrot. Spectacular live show

Think Sigur Ros with some heft.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

First part of my favourite tracks of the year

 

[BadFish]

Enjoying the latest Sault album right now.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

I am basing this list on the albums I have listened to the most in 2022.
So..in no particular order.

Porridge Radio- Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky
Dry Cleaning- Stumpwork
The Reds, Pinks and Purples- Summer At Lands End
The Beths- Expert In A Dying Field
Half Man Half Biscuit- Voltarol Years
Gilla Band- Most Wanted
Oh Sees- A Foul Form
Seapower- Everything Was Forever
Working Men’s Club- Fear Fear
Life- North East Coastal Town

Re release of the year
Stereolab- Pulse Of The Early Brain. Vol 5. Which is actually more of a compilation of rare bits.

Also mention to The Wedding Present for its rather excellent 24 Songs project.

Best Gigs
Oh Sees at Chalk
The Wedding Present at Concorde (Friday night of Edge Of The Sea)
Gary Numan at Centre.

 

[Machiavelli]

My best gig was the collaboration between Sons of Kemet and Nubya Garcia at Love Supreme. It was part of Kemet's farewell tour, and the whole crowd didn't stop moving.