6 Music Album of the Year

Caught the countdown of the top ten albums (as voted for by the presenters, not listeners) on the radio this morning. There was a lot of chat about how good 2019 has been for music but I wasn't that impressed with the list really, the only album on there that I've been out and bought is The Comet is Coming. Each to their own though I guess and there's a lot of Green Man alumni or acts you could see appearing in the near future included. I'm suprised at how low down Nick Cave is too. The list for those who might be interested...

1. Fontaines DC - Dogrel

2. Sleaford Mods - Eton Alive

3. Michael Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA (apparently the capitals are important)

4. The Comet Is Coming - Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery

5. Little Simz - Grey Area

6. Warmduscher - Tainted Lunch

7. Kate Tempest - The Book of Traps and Lessons

8. Brittany Howard - Jaime

9. The Specials - Encore

10. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Ghosteen

Richard Dawson, Bonny Prince Billy, Joan Shelley and Orville Peck would be up there for me.

My top 20

you all do top 20s don't you?

actually I have a top 100

that's normal, isn't it?

1. 2020: Richard Dawson

2. The Route to the Harmonium: James Yorkston

3. Like the River Loves the Sea: Joan Shelley

4. Titanic Rising: Weyes Blood

5. I Made a Place: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

6. Terms of Surrender: Hiss Golden Messenger

7. Olympic Girls: Tiny Ruins

8. Bad Wiring: Jeffrey Lewis and the Voltage

9. Designer: Aldous Harding

10. Birthday: Pom Poko

11. The Fiery Margin: Alasdair Roberts

12. Otterburn: Alex Rex

13. Travelling Bright: David Ian Roberts

14. The Unseen In Between: Steve Gunn

15. Grenades: Kaia Kater

16. Face Stabber: Oh Sees

17. New Music for the 12 String Guitar: Toby Hay

18. Girl: Girl Ray

19. Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery: The Comet is Coming

20. Pang!: Gruff Rhys

A top 100 is impressive, I don't think I could name an all time top 100 albums never mind for a year. Your top 20 definitely floats my boat more than 6 music's offering. 

top 20?

that's easy!

top 10 is hard

but, in no particular order:

 

l'épée - diabolique

jessica pratt - quiet signs

tindersticks - no beauty but hope

BPB - i made a place

a winged victory for the sullen - the undivided five

damien jurado - the shape of a storm

gospelbeach - let it burn

angel olsen - all mirrors

modern nature - how to live

ezra furman - 12 nudes

the blank tapes - look into the light

bat for lashes - lost girls

purple mountains - purple mountains

royal trux - white stuff

daniel norgren - wooh dang

proper ornaments - 6 lenins

jenny lewis - on the line

temples - hot motion

fionn regan - cala

stella donnelly - beware of the dogs

 

bubbling under:

otterburn - alex rex

the dream syndicate - these times

the felice brothers - undress

brian jonestown massacre - ST

rose city band - ST

 

the nick cave album is astonishing - but in all honesty, i've only played it once

I'm pretty ashamed that I left Purple Mountains out of my previous comments. It's a hard listen after what happened following the release but it is probably in my top 3 for the year.

Love looking at other people's lists. My current top 20 would be:

1. Hatchie - Keepsake

2. Charli XCX - Charli

3. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising 

4. Jenny Hval - The Practice of Love

5. Big Thief - UFOF

6. Black Midi - Schlagenheim 

7. Bat for Lashes - Lost Girls

8. Richard Dawson - 2019

9. (Sandy) Alex G - House of Sugar

10. Ada Lea - What We Say in Private

11. Nilufer Yanya - Miss Universe 

12. Julia Jacklin - Crushing

13. Aldous Harding - Designer 

14. Little Simz - Grey Area

15. Sharon Van Etten - Remind me Tomorrow 

16. FKA Twigs - Mary Magdelene 

17. Angel Olsen - All Mirrors 

18. Stella Donnelley - Beware of the Dogs 

19. Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell

20. Kelsey Lu - Blood 

I can see Orville Peck, Mount Eerie and Nick Cave sneaking in there at some point but I haven't had a chance to listen to them more than a few times yet. 

Some good lists and agree with a lot of above.  Bill Callahan Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest is also definitely worthy of mention.  Right up there with some of his best work.

shit - yeah...

don't know how i missed that out!

it must have been a good year

So no love on here yet for 5 of the albums that would be in my top 10, the first 4 of whom have been great to see live this year, and the last being one I wish I'd seen 50 years ago when it was recorded (but only just released) :

WH Lung - Incidental Music

The Murder Capital - When I Have Fears

Dry Cleaning - Sweet Princess / Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks

Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Live at Woodstock

I like the albums by Richard Dawson, Nick Cave, Charles Rumback and Ryley Walker, Bill Ryder Jones and Toby Hay.

Struggling with Bill Callahan's latest but it's not him it's me.

So my favourite albums this year, having properly thought about it, are..

Erland Cooper - Sule Skerry

Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains

Orville Peck - Pony

Lambchop - This (Is What I Wanted to Tell You)

Jason Lytle - Nylon and Juno

The Comet is Coming - Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery

Callum Easter - Here or Nowhere

With honourable mentions to Joan Shelley, Richard Dawson and Bonnie Prince Billy as I mentioned earlier. I've probably still missed something obvious.