Politics and mental health have been a recurring theme of my top ten albums this year (and were prevalent themes of last years too), and both feature heavily on Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes latest, especially mental health, as Carter continues to battle with the ball of fire that’s been in his belly since he […]
Category: Albums of the Year 2019
My Top Ten Album 2019: #2 Cut & Stitch – Petrol Girls
Petrol Girls need to be so so much bigger than they currently are and I hope they grow and fulfil their potential. They’re a band that I keep trying to expose my daughters to listen to as they discuss so many issues that affect women everywhere whilst tying it all into some absolutely fucking amazing […]
My Top Ten Albums 2019: #3 Strength in Numb333rs – Fever 333
To describe Fever 333 I’d probably turn to a mix of Rage Against The Machine and Linkin Park, theres that political aggression that the former are so famed for, and indeed there are moments you do wonder if you are listening to Zack de la Rocha rapping, then the choruses kick in and there’s a […]
My Top Ten Albums 2019: #4 PSYCHODRAMA – Dave
I wrote about this album back in September because it’s such an important piece of work for UK music, for mental health awareness, for the fight against toxic masculinity and for survivors of domestic abuse. It’s an album, that as a man, forces you to reflect, think on the things you take for granted, the […]
My Top Ten Albums of 2019: #5 Gold & Grey – Baroness
I’ve been listening to Baroness since 2012’s Yellow & Gold and they continue to blow me away. Some people will notice there’s a distinct lack of Metal on my list this year, but there’s always room for Baroness melodies. There are very few bands out there that, in my opinion, do what Baroness do, where […]
My Top Ten Albums of 2019: #6 Dogrel – Fontaines D.C.
If Sleaford Mods are almost taking the piss out of their political leanings, Fontaines D.C. are wearing their beliefs on their hearts, with them witnessing their communities struggling to keep up with the modern world. This post-punk outfit are rubbing shoulders with the likes of IDLES and Shame (who both appeared on my 2018 list, […]
My Top Ten Albums of 2019: #7 What’s It Like Over There? – Circa Waves
Circa Waves are probably one of the “safer” artists I’ve listened to this year, their very radio-friendly as popular single Times Won’t Change Me shows. That’s not to discredit them as they’re a very talented group that create some excellent and highly listenable tracks, though it’s probably The Way We Say Goodbye (from How to […]
My Top Ten Albums of 2019: #8 Body Bag Your Scene – Riskee & the Ridicule
Grime is usually regarded as the modern equivalent to 1970s punk, however there’s not been a big movement that combines the two. Riskee & The Ridicule are on a mission to rectify this. As you’d expect from such an infusion, Body Bag Your Scene is very politically charged, and its a sign of our times […]
My Top Ten albums of 2019: #9 38 Minutes – The King Blues
It’s been 15 years since Green Day released American Idiot and yet, as far as I’m aware (and I’m happy to be proven otherwise), no one else has taken on the “punk opera” mould, until now. 38 Minutes isn’t The King Blues best album (that’s probably 2011’s Punk & Poetry), but I’d say it’s their […]
My Top Ten Albums of 2019: #10 Eton Alive – Sleaford Mods
“Funny” albums are normally a bit shit, but Sleaford Mods, a duo from Nottingham who create a hybrid of electronic, punk and rap, continue to defy the odds, both pointing fun at the world around them and themselves. There’s politics there but not on a national scale, as Policy Cream tackles such heavy topics as […]