As usual my list of albums is not arranged in order of preference. Instead it’s listed chronologically, either based on album release date or when purchased! There are many more I could have included, however I prefer to focus solely on albums actually purchased and played on heavy rotation. Particular standouts for me are Beth Orton, Arctic Monkeys and Weyes Blood.

1. Cate le Bon – Pompeii
2. Widowspeak – The Jacket
3. Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia
4. Sharon Van Etten – We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong
5. Gwenno – Tresor
6. Julia Jacklin – Pre Pleasure
7. Beth Orton – Weather Alive
8. Katy J Pearson – Sound of the Morning
9. Wet Leg – Wet Leg
10. Taylor Swift – Midnights
11. Caitlin Rose – Cazimi
12. Weyes Blood – And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
13. Arctic Monkeys – The Car
14. First Aid Kit – Palomino
15. Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork
16. Aoife Nessa Frances – Protector

Well it’s certainly been a while since I last blogged. I feel that the pandemic has really affected my creativity. Sometimes I have a vague idea for a blogpost but then the idea quickly floats away on the breeze. So in the spirit of New Year Resolutions here I am making an effort to work through my creative block. I realise I failed to blog my top album list for 2020 oops! Anyway here is my list for 2021. I don’t like to rank them in order but I must just highlight a few in particular.

Little Simz must surely take the award for most heavily played record in our house this year. Epic and soaring – this album stopped my in my tracks from the 1st listen and repeated plays brings new discovery each time. No surprise it appeared in many year-end lists.

By contrast the Lou Hayter album seems to have slipped under the radar but it almost single-handedly got me through the summer. I listened to this daily whilst out in the garden tending to my veggies and creating my flower borders. This is pure 80s vibe feelgood pop and it gave me such joy in a year of continued pandemic-fuelled anxiety.

Field Music are firm favourites in our house and their latest album Flat White Moon is so fabulous I bought it twice! No seriously I have 2 copies – I mean who can resist a picture disc?! It always amazes me how the Brewis brothers manage to be so prolific yet also so creative and inventive with each new album. Flat White Moon is a real gem, full of quirky rhythms and catchy lyrics that worm their way into your brain.

Here’s the list in full:

1. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz
2. Private Sunshine by Lou Hayter
3. Flat White Moon by Field Music
4. Collapsed In Sunbeams by Arlo Parks
5. Flock by Jane Weaver
6. New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning
7. As The Love Continues by Mogwai
8. Already, Always by Bess Atwell
9. Home Video by Lucy Dacus
10. Former Things by Lonelady
11. Late Night Tales presents Version Excursion (selected by Don Letts) by Various
12. Sketchy by Tune-Yards
13. On All Fours by Goat Girl

I’m a bit late posting this (I know!), I really hoped to get this posted before the end of the year.  However, Christmas combined with crazy house decorating (upside down living and frantic glosswork) took their toll. So here’s my list of musical gems for 2019 (in order of release).  Better late than never…

1. Remind Me Tomorrow by Sharon Van Etten
2. Crushing by Julia Jacklin
3. On The Line by Jenny Lewis
4. What A Boost by Rozi Plain
5. Reward by Cate le Bon
6. 45 by School of Language
7. Until The Tide Creeps In by Penelope Isles
8. Lost Girls by Bat For Lashes
9. All Mirrors by Angel Olsen
10. Two Hands by Big Thief
11. Kiwanuka by Michael Kiwanuka
12. Athena by Sudan Archives

In no particular order these are the albums that really stood out for me this year. Maybe you’ll discover a new gem from this list…..

 

1. Open Here by Field Music
2. Le Kov by Gwenno
3. Tell Me How You Really Feel by Courtney Barnett
4. Ruins by First Aid Kit
5. Heaven and Earth by Kamasi Washington
6. Goat Girl by Goat Girl
7. Silver Dollar Moment by The Orielles
8. Deafman Glance by Ryley Walker
9. Piano & A Microphone 1983 by Prince
10. All Nerve by The Breeders
11. Hunter by Anna Calvi
12. Tracyanne and Danny by Tracyanne and Danny
13. Until The Lights Fade by Juanita Stein