Albums of the Year 2018

What a great year for music it's been with some established artists producing innovative new material and plenty of new bands coming through. It's always a difficult task to narrow it down to just 10 albums but here's my selection of the best of 2018. I've provided a selection of tracks from each of the albums, so please have a listen and let me have your comments and contributions.

1. James - Living in Extraordinary Times

2. Paul Weller - True Meanings

3. Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino

4. Kamasi Washington - Heaven and Hell

5. David Byrne - American Utopia

6. Angelique Kidjo - Remain in Light

7. Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar

8. Villagers - The Art of Pretending

9. Josh Rouse - Love in the Modern Age

10. The Coral - Move Through The Dawn

The 15 Best Albums of 2015

It's that time of the year again, so here's my list of the top 15 albums of 2015. I've provided a selection of tracks from each of the albums, so please have a listen/watch and let me have your comments and contributions.

1. New Order - Music Complete

2.  Paul Weller - Saturn's Pattern

3. The Charlatans - Modern Nature 

4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love

5. Black Rivers - The Forest

6. The Decemberists - What a Terrible World, What a Wonderful World

7. Guy Garvey - Courting the Squall

8. Foals - What Went Down

9. Everything, Everything - Get to Heaven

10. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Chasing Yesterday

11. Joanna Newsom - Divers

12. Richard Hawley - Hollow Meadows

13. Laura Marling - Short Movie

14.Django Django - Born Under Saturn

15. Alabama Shakes - Sound and Color

The Top Ten Albums of 2012

Here's some tracks and videos from my top ten albums of 2012. My favourite album of the year is 'Standing at the Sky's Edge by Richard Hawley, but the other nine ain't bad either.

All feedback appreciated and please let me know me know your top tens.

1. Richard Hawley - Standing at the Sky's Edge

2. Paul Weller - Sonik Kicks 

3. Cat Power - Sun

4. Beach House - Bloom

5. Rumer - Boys Don't Cry

6. Alt J - An Awesome Wave

7. Saint Etienne - Words and Music

8. The XX - Coexist

9. Django Django - Django Django

10. Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth