The next ten are dominated by introspection and rock!
30: Clara Mann – Rift
The highest placed folkiest album of this year. Mann is a student and fan of traditional folk music and her original compositions lean into that. This is a beautiful singer-songwriter album full of quiet moments that stay with you long after the album has finished.
29: Celeste – Woman of Faces
A timeless offering from one of the greatest voices in modern music. Hugely emotive songwriting that quickly leaves its mark, with some of the finest orchestration released all year.
28: Lord Huron – The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1
Lord Huron conjure atmosphere and imagery with ease, drawing you into their fully formed world of classic Americana, characterisation and enjoyable rock music. They haven’t quite fully broken into the UK consciousness, but those who saw them on tour in July and September will understand that this is a formidable and acomplished band brimming with talent.
27: Nova Twins – Parasites and Butterflies
Dialling the rock music up to 11, though mixing it with hints of R & B and beyond, are one of the finest up and coming bands in the UK. Their passion shines through in everything they touch and they have gathered an involved fan base that continues to snowball. ‘Monsters’ is one of the singles of the year.
26: The Hives – The Hives Forever Forever The Hives
Only two years after the hugely enjoyable The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons, The Hives return with some of the finest work in their illustrious career. As the opening words of the album attest, Pelle Almqvist is not in the mood to muck about:
“Everyone’s a little f****n’ bitch
And I’m getting sick and tired of this
Went to the doctor ’turns out I’m sick
Sick of everybody’s bull***t”
25: The Amazons – 21st Century Fiction
The local boys delivered on all their early promise with the finest album of their career. They expanded their horizons in the live arena too, adding to become a fantastic sounding six-piece. 21st Century Fiction rocked hard.
24: The Weather Station – Humanhood
One of the earliest releases of the year was also one of its finest. Mature, accomplished songwriting from Tamara Lindeman and her excellent Canadian band.
23: Lambrini Girls – Who Let The Dogs Out
Lambrini Girls are about as subtle as a Molotov cocktail thrown into a paper mill, but are an utterly thrilling feminist punk-rock outfit. This album is chock full of brilliant singles and explosive rants on the difficulty of being a woman in a male dominated world. It flies past in an outstanding 29 minutes and 25 seconds.
22: Central Cee – Can’t Rush Greatness
Central Cee had already sealed his place at the head of the UK rap pack, this proper debut album was just the icing on the cake. This was an artist with full control of a phenomenal flow and an ear for a great backing track for it. Even the notoriously fickle USA jumped on board the Central Cee train.
21: Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong
The forefront runners of London’s Windmill scene returned. Many grumbled that it wasn’t as good since Isaac Wood had departed. The rest of us just got on with enjoying the third album for what it was – a grand opus taking in clever orchestration using their wide range of instruments and voices.
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