Albums of the Year 2019

That was a year of some great music with established artists producing new material and plenty of challenging new artists making an impact. It's always a difficult task to narrow it down to just 10 albums but here's my selection of the best of 2019. 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. The National - I Am Easy to Find





2. Bon Iver - i,i





3. Michael Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA





4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen





5. Beirut - Gallipoli





6. Loyle Carner - Not Waving, But Drowning





7. Kate Tempest - The Book of Traps & Lessons





8. Sean O'Hagan - Radum Calls, Radum Calls 





9. Jenny Lewis - On The Line






10.  Elbow - Giants of All Sizes





Bubbling under: Beck- Hyperspace,  Iggy Pop - Free, The Comet is Coming - The Afterlife, The Specials - Encore, John Coltrane - Blue World.

Albums Of The Year 2017

This year it's been a very difficult task to narrow it down to just 10 albums but here's my selection of the best of 2017.  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. The War of Drugs - A Deeper Understanding




2. The National - Sleep Well Beast




3. Elbow - Little Fictions




4. Michael Head And The Red Elastic Band - Adiós Señor Pussycat




5.  Future Islands - The Far Field




6. The XX - I See You




7. St Vincent - Masseducation




8. The Charlatans _ Different Days




9. LCD Soundsystem - American Dream




10. Beck - Colors




Bubbling under:
Grizzly Bear - Painted Ruins;  British Sea Power - Let The Dancers Inherit The Party;  Laura Marling - Semper Femina;  Alt  J - Relaxer;  Arcade Fire - Everything Now;  Everything Everything - A Fever Dream;  Paul Weller - A Kind Revolution; Fleet Foxes - Crack Up.

The Top Ten Albums of 2013

Here's the almost famous Open Neck Shirt top ten albums of 2013. My favourite album of the year is 'AM' by the Arctic Monkeys. I know it's maybe an obvious choice but I think it stands above everything else that's been produced this year. Having said that the other nine are well worth a listen too.

As always, please let me have your comments and contributions.

1. Arctic Monkeys - AM

2. Prefab Sprout - Crimson Red

3. Midlake - Antiphon

4. Laura Mvula - Sing To The Moon

5. The National - Trouble Will Find Me

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

7. Laura Marling - Once I Was An Eagle

8. The Villagers - Awayland

9. Foals - Holy Fire

10. Noah and the Whale - Heart of Nowhere