A fair few of these overran from March or earlier and then the whole list just got ridiculously long.
- Japanese Breakfast: For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women). I like Picture Window best. Was going to say it’s a bit too chill for me, but that’s silly as I love chill stuff, but unfortunately I can put this on and forget I’m listening - Nothing grabs my attention.
- Greentea Peng: Tell Dem it’s Sunny. It’s ok and I enjoy listening to it, but it doesn’t excite me much. One Foot is good, CREATE OR DESTROY 432 is kind of interesting. Green is ok. I supposed Green, One Foot and Stones Throw are the most “single” like tracks. Whatcha Mean is probably my favourite though.
- Perfume Genius: Glory. Chilled so I suppose I should like it, but it doesn’t grab me.
- Panda Bear: Sinister Grift. I like Ends Meet which is the one that’s been on 6 music. Beach boys ish?
- Jadu Heart: Post Heaven. Not as good as Derealised. U is pretty good, also Aux, and Mild To Moderate Pain. SOS is a nice ending to the album. A little bit too Ethel Cain art installationy for me.
- Chy Cartier: No Bring Ins. There is no Like Magic which I love, but Not the One is a good substitute.
- Scowl: Are We All Angels. 2000s skate punk vibes? B.A.B.E. and Not Hell, Not Heaven are good. Are We All Angels is a great fisher. I think maybe this album does get a bit harder as it progresses.
- Lady Gaga: Mayhem. How Bad Do You Want Me if I was going to pick one. The last song is truly terrible.
- Aya: Hexed. Gives me Aphex Twin vibes. A lot of electronic noise. Not really for me, definitely not “easy” listening, but Huddersfield represent!
- Throwing Muses: Moonlight Concessions. I was forced to pick a favourite for my “One from each album” playlist so picked the first track.
- Jennie: Ruby. Some great guests, but not really my thing.
- Lisa: Alter Ego. I like Rapunzel (Kiki Solo Version) best.
- Winona Fighter: My Apologies to the Chef. A bit like Scowl. Same 2000 vibes..Would have probably been all over this years back.
- Water Margin: Gleaming Cursed. From the cover and name I expected folk, but this is actually hardcore. Really liked it, but I can’t pick a particular track. Maybe Two Eggs if I had to pick one? Palisades is pretty cool too. None are bad. Just nothing stands out.
- Honeymoan: Pink Hell. I like the cover. Maybe like the last track best?
- Quickly quickly: I heard that noise. Less noisy and more slow than you’d think. Very chilled in bits. Maybe a bit Mogwai-ish in bits? he last song anyway.
- Cassyette: This world still fucking sucks. It’s ok, but not super exiting.
- Emma Jean Thackray: Weirdo. I really hate the opening track. I really want to like this because it’s jazz and she’s very cool, but it’s just not quite my thing (Corto.Alto is/are more up my street). Maybe Nowhere is my favourite (and less jazzy).
- Samia: Bloodless. Beautiful vocals. I like this. She’s getting better with each release. It’s a nice easy listen. My faves are Dare (fantastic!) and North Poles.
- Self Esteem: A Complicated Woman. Nothing is ever going to be as good as Monster from Compliments Please. I do really like her more spoken word stuff though, like I Do and I Don’t Care - it’s good with the choir like backing vocals. Hate the album cover.
- Maria Somerville: Luster. Garden is a bit shoe-gazey and probably my favourite. Spring is good too.
- Prima Queen: The Prize. I like Prima Queen. I love the story of how they met, etc. But this is just no Eclipse. Maybe The Prize and Oats (Ain’t Gonna Beg). Or Meryl Streep?
- Sunflower Bean: Mortal Primetime. I just want everything to sound like Moment In The Sun and it hasn’t for years. Champagne Taste is pretty good though. Also Take Out Your Insides.
- Model/Actriz: Piroutte. Noise. Discordant. If had to pick one it’d be Diva.
- Kali uchas: Sincerely,. Flows beautifully from song to song. It’s all about Angels All Around Me.
- Blonde shell: If You Asked For a Picture. T&A and What’s Fair, the singles before the album, are my favourites, but 23’s A Baby is good too.
- Sherelle: With A Vengeance. Freaky (Just my Type) is the obvious standout to me.
- Miso Extra: Earcandy. Certified is really good.
- Carla Aakre: things I forgot to tell you. Outstandingly beautiful. These Hours is what put this on my watch (listen?) list and that and Through are just utterly sublime. Utterly. They make me want to crumple onto the floor and cry. I listened to this album on repeat the day it was released and that wasn’t enough times.
- Annahstasia: Tether. Believer is very much a stonking finishing track. Probably Villain is still my favourite (it was a single before). This is really good though.
- Loyle Carner: hopefully !. The closing track, About Time, is heads and shoulders above everything else on there. It’s beautiful.
There is probably even more than this list. I think next time round, since I seem to be doing this quarterly, I just need to pick the highlights and not try to list everything. The problem with intentionally trying to listen to new and different music is that it can become a chore when most of it doesn’t end up exciting you that much. But I suppose overall this is better than just listening to old and familiar stuff (I wouldn’t have discovered Carla Aakre otherwise). Also, sometimes, it takes a good few listens to an album for songs to click or standout - case in point, I nearly overlooked (overlistened?) Samia’s Dare which is superb - and I just don’t really have the time for that anymore.
Stuff I just didn’t have enough time to get to (or didn’t have enough time to listen to enough times to have even the briefest of opinions):
- Clipping: Dead Channel Sky. I think I listened to some of it, but it is a lot of tracks.
- Ray Vaughn: The Good The Bad The Dollar Menu.
- Billy Nomates: Metalhorse.
- Sault: 10.
- Little Simz: Lotus.
- Pulp: More. (I’m guessing Spike Island will be the standout)