Spot on assessment of Final Summer. I listened to this a lot, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough to make my top 10. I will say that I was lucky enough to see these guys play and they are loud AF. Sometimes I feel like wearing earplugs to a show telegraphs that I’m old. Not this time- I haven’t been that happy to have had them in years. Incredible show, but damn…
Fontaines DC’s “Favourite” has my vote as the hook of the year, and I might be off here, but I think Lou Tilsley turned me onto The Vaccines?
I will definitely have mentioned it in the Monday discussions so it’s entirely possible. For what it’s worth, I also agree with the Cloud Nothings assessment and they definitely came to my attention through you, Kevin.
I love A Pick Up Full If Pink Carnations and have no issue with its inclusion in your list. I think your assessment is spot on. It absolutely is not as good as Come of Age or Contact Sports but those are big shoes to fill and it’s a great listen from start to finish. It sits quite happily in my top 40 this year maybe a bit higher than in yours.
I love Romance too. It’s a top 20 album for me, I think, although outside of a top 10, I haven’t been precious about ranking them. I didn’t make a connection with Radiohead to be honest. My friend pointed out that it owes something of a debt to Oasis and I can definitely hear that in songs like Bug. Anyway, I rate it very much. I knew I would from the second I heard Starburster. I love how different all the singles were but just how well they all fit together on the album.
Where we are going to disagree a little is with The K’s. I’ve actually just put it on again to check but I’d have to say that while it’s very good, there is nothing really stand out about it for me (except maybe No Place Like Home which is an excellent track.) I also love Sarajevo which is how I first found them but I just think they have a sound that is very typical of a lot of British indie bands and I don’t find exciting because I’ve heard it so much. I’d rather stick to specific songs than a whole album from these guys. I can totally see why you like it though.
Your comments are always so thorough and thoughtful, Lou. I love it.
I completely understand your feeling re: The K's. I've often felt the same when trying to wade through American indie bands, all so similar as to be indistinguishable. For me, theyre fresh. For you they're more noise.
Spot on assessment of Final Summer. I listened to this a lot, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough to make my top 10. I will say that I was lucky enough to see these guys play and they are loud AF. Sometimes I feel like wearing earplugs to a show telegraphs that I’m old. Not this time- I haven’t been that happy to have had them in years. Incredible show, but damn…
Fontaines DC’s “Favourite” has my vote as the hook of the year, and I might be off here, but I think Lou Tilsley turned me onto The Vaccines?
The rest are all new to me, so
I’ve got some homework to do!
I will definitely have mentioned it in the Monday discussions so it’s entirely possible. For what it’s worth, I also agree with the Cloud Nothings assessment and they definitely came to my attention through you, Kevin.
I love A Pick Up Full If Pink Carnations and have no issue with its inclusion in your list. I think your assessment is spot on. It absolutely is not as good as Come of Age or Contact Sports but those are big shoes to fill and it’s a great listen from start to finish. It sits quite happily in my top 40 this year maybe a bit higher than in yours.
I love Romance too. It’s a top 20 album for me, I think, although outside of a top 10, I haven’t been precious about ranking them. I didn’t make a connection with Radiohead to be honest. My friend pointed out that it owes something of a debt to Oasis and I can definitely hear that in songs like Bug. Anyway, I rate it very much. I knew I would from the second I heard Starburster. I love how different all the singles were but just how well they all fit together on the album.
Where we are going to disagree a little is with The K’s. I’ve actually just put it on again to check but I’d have to say that while it’s very good, there is nothing really stand out about it for me (except maybe No Place Like Home which is an excellent track.) I also love Sarajevo which is how I first found them but I just think they have a sound that is very typical of a lot of British indie bands and I don’t find exciting because I’ve heard it so much. I’d rather stick to specific songs than a whole album from these guys. I can totally see why you like it though.
Your comments are always so thorough and thoughtful, Lou. I love it.
I completely understand your feeling re: The K's. I've often felt the same when trying to wade through American indie bands, all so similar as to be indistinguishable. For me, theyre fresh. For you they're more noise.
Yes! That’s it exactly. Although in this case it is very pleasing noise!
#32 is first rate. I haven't listened to the others... yet!
Let me know if, or when, you do!