30. Barns Courtney – ‘404’
What We Said…
Since the release of his debut album 'The Attractions Of Youth' in 2017, frontman Barns Courtney has been on a serious rush to build his name. While still relatively unknown when his first full-length dropped, the artist has since been pushing his name and music into every crevice imaginable, playing numerous shows and having his singles featured across a range of media. But as he now releases his sophomore full-length '404', it is clear that he has moved away from his initial beginnings as his return sees him filled with a euphoric and uplifting joy we rarely get to hear these days.
With notable influences coming from MGMT, Of Monsters And Men and Kings Of Leon, big and bold anthems are the main intention of this return, delivering one catchy earworm after another. There is no easing into this new collection as the frontman aims to dazzle from the very start, lining up the fresh and vibrant trio of singles 'Hollow', 'You & I' and '99' to kick of this impressive new release. Lacking in all the usual pretence that can plague an artist's second record, Barns Courtney has stripped away any sense of slowing down in order to create an album that has this almost juggernaut like feel, growing in intensity at almost every turn.
He may not be the household name he deserves to be, but this new release is filled with so much energy and tenacity, it is impossible to ignore. An absolute ball-buster of a record that just seems to never stop having fun with itself. Barns Courtney has looked to make a serious impression on his return, and it is fair to say that he has definitely achieved it.
29. Man & The Echo – ‘Men Of The Moment’
What We Said…
Since the release of their eponymous debut album back in 2016, Warrington's Man & The Echo have been one of the best kept secrets on the UK's indie-rock scene. With a socially aware guise running through a bold and hearty selection of new-wave riffs and rhythms, the band have found themselves a cult pinnacle of excellence these last few years. And as the buzz finally comes to a head with the release of their highly-anticipated sophomore release 'Men Of The Moment', it is clear that the four-piece have looked to impress even more on their return.
Coming across like a British equivalent to Talking Heads, Man & The Echo have a familiar style but one that they can call their own. Opening up with the brilliant and vibrant 'Life On An Island', the group have this clear sense of irreverence about them, one that they try to keep in check through this new collection. From there it seems like they have tried to mash together as many offbeat influences as possible as 'A Capable Man' has hints of the art-rock aesthetic of Django Django, while the next singles 'Give Me The Pomp' and 'Pr Masterpiece' has a distinct Franz Ferdinand feel to it, keeping up the feel of a record that shifts and meanders as it plays.
Yet while their inspirations are clear, Man & The Echo have still managed to come out with a strong and impressive return that still retains plenty of originality. 'Men Of The Moment' has been their most high-profile release to date, and thankfully it doesn't fail the fans that have stood by them, nor will it put off anyone who are discovering them for the first time.
28. The Chemical Brothers – ‘No Geography’
What We Said…
Having remained one of the most essential and eclectic electronic acts the UK has had since the 1990s, The Chemical Brothers have obviously gone through some changes over the years. While originally adopting a multifaceted and diverse approach to their ideas at the start of their career, the last few albums have seen them take on a more club-orientated aesthetic. Rather than deliver a string of engaging but totally disjointed singles, their last couple of LPs have had this more fluid appeal, blending each track into the next one in order to create more of a live DJ set direction. Which is exactly what they have shared on their ninth full-length 'No Geography', and boy are they sounding good.
While promoting this new album, the duo released the tracks 'Free Yourself' and 'MAH', two of their most intense and eardrum-shattering releases in years. Yet these two occupy the latter half of the record, creating a thunderous crescendo to the record's overall direction, which is far more energetic and enticing to get into. After just a few cuts into this new collection, it is clear that they have looked to create this more progressive intention, starting off with a string of catchy and sometimes psychedelic individuals that slowly build into an almighty racket, giving the record an extremely focused and anthemic pace.
The main thing to take away from this new LP is just how likeable it is. While their last few albums have taken a couple of listens to really begin to appreciate, 'No Geography' catches your attention right from the start and plugs you in for a fantastic and wild ride. The Chemical Brothers have not only done it again, but look to be getting even better with age.
27. Angel Olsen – ‘All Mirrors’
What We Said…
Over the years, Chicago-native Angel Olsen has built a bold and vibrant reputation as one of the US's most engaging crooners. Much like contemporaries such as Lana Del Rey, she has seen her sound grow and evolve over the years into a fierce and explosive spectacle which now has the whole world watching. But after a devastating break-up during the tour for her previous LP 'My Woman', she decided that the path she had been exploring was no longer for her as she now heads back to her more intimate beginnings on her fourth full-length 'All Mirrors'.
While written during a period of musical and personal insolation, the general sound of this return feels more inviting than we initially thought. While she is obviously going to great lengths to rediscover herself on this new collection, there are plenty of moments where we feel like she is still looking to push her sound forward throughout. Opening up with the gloriously atmospheric single 'Lark', Olsen has written an album that best expresses her solitary condition, but with such an awe-inspiring level of production, we feel that she is ready to explode once again as each track feels like a ticking time-bomb of emotion and tenacity.
It is fair to say that no matter her frame of mind, the music she produces always leaves us wanting more. 'All Mirrors' may be her yearning to return to a simpler time in her career, but it still packs itself with so much energy and passion that it is hard to see her in any other guise than this one.
26. HEALTH – ‘Vol. 4 :: Slaves Of Fear’
What We Said…
Over the last few years, LA-based noise outfit HEALTH have truly begun to merge themselves into the fold of mainstream contemporary taste. Since releasing their heavily-coveted self-titled debut album back in 2007, the group have moved from a cult, underground following to becoming one of the biggest names in their chosen genre throughout the world. Mixing a dark atmosphere with intense production, the band have been pitched as the new Nine Inch Nails in recent years, and that reputation looks to have cemented itself as they return with their fourth full-length 'VOL. 4 :: SLAVES OF FEAR', a blistering juggernaut of epic proportions.
Usually finding themselves in broad and longing musical soundscapes, this new collection sees them pay more attention to their more anthemic riffs and tones. The single 'FEEL NOTHING' gives the listener a true taste of what to expect on this new record, with pounding guitars and a thunderous production, we see absolutely no punches being pulled as it plays. From there, we hear very little in the way of lightening their sound throughout as the record moves from one bold and intense track to another, making this one of their more energetic and diverse releases to date.
HEALTH may not have the recognition they deserve just yet, but 'VOL. 4 :: SLAVES OF FEAR' definitely goes above and beyond to warrant it. An uncompromising onslaught of raw power, this new album is their most high-profile collection so far, and they have certainly made themselves known on it.
25. Thom Yorke – ‘ANIMA’
What We Said…
Over the last few years, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has been particularly focused on his solo work as opposed to the material with his formative band. Since Radiohead's last studio album 'A Moon Shaped Pool' in 2016, the frontman has been releasing a flurry of solo singles, unveiled his soundtrack to last year's suspenseful horror film 'Susperia', and now returns once again to deliver his third solo offering 'ANIMA'. And much like all of his other work in recent years, this sees the artist pushing the boundaries ever further in his attempt to discover more about himself.
Adopting a distinctly electronic direction this time around, 'ANIMA' seems to have more in common with his debut full-length 'The Eraser' than anything else he has been producing of late. With a uniquely ethereal tone, reminiscent of 'A Moon Shaped Pool'-era Radiohead, the frontman has chosen to pepper this release with a mixture of bold and brash electronica that gives the record a wonderfully warm and at times dark aesthetic. With the majority of the tracklist each running over the 5minute mark, this gives him the opportunity to fill each composition with as much flair and dexterity as he can possibly muster, making for fresh and atmospheric return.
In all, this feels like Thom Yorke 2.0. Adventurous and experimental as always, but with a intention that still manages to separate it from anything else we have heard from him before. 'ANIMA' may have its odd slow moments, but in all we are hearing a man that still looks to be having fun with his sound, branching away from expectation and delivering a warm and vibrant full-length.
24. Metronomy – ‘Metronomy Forever’
What We Said…
Over the last decade or so, Metronomy have worked like a chameleon in the growing world of British indie music. Having found a club-friendly aesthetic on their breakthrough record 'Nights Out', the band then continued to grow in adventurous territory with its fantastic follow-up 'The English Riviera. Since then the group have been looking to get back to their more irreverent and exploratory roots with their subsequent full-lengths 'Love Letters' and 'Summer '08', the latter of which was greeted as a strong return to their formative sound. But as they deliver their sixth full-length 'Metronomy Forever', it is clear that their journey to self-discovery has come full circle as they deliver another brilliant blast of lo-fi indie-pop.
From the very start, 'Metronomy Forever' looks to tap back into the magic that we found on 'Nights Out'. Blending a playful and upbeat indie-pop aesthetic with a dancefloor direction, this new collection sees them bring a level of joy back into their work. While records like 'The English Riviera' and 'Love Letters' had their toe-tapping moments, they were not as carefree as this new album. It feels that after so many years of reclaiming the sound that was once theirs, they have simply kicked back and let the music flow rather than force anything, making this one of their most exciting returns in years.
Metronomy have always looked to blend the nightclub with the indie-pop show throughout their career, and this record sees them bite down on that intention more than ever. Filled with a flurry of catchy and engaging new singles, 'Metronomy Forever' is the comeback release we were all waiting for, and what a delight it is to play.
23. Moon Duo – ‘Stars Are The Light’
What We Said…
Since originally starting life as a breakaway group for frontman Ripley Johnson to move away from the work within his formative outfit Wooden Shjips almost a decade ago, Moon Duo have grown from a humble side-project to a venture that he takes more seriously than ever. Working alongside his wife and guitarist Sanae Yamada, the pair have become a staple of the ever-growing psych-rock sound these last few years with a flurry of engaging and captivating full-length releases. But as they release their seventh LP 'Stars Are The Light', it is clear that they have looked to adopt a new sound this time around.
During the build up to this new collection, the duo were constantly explaining that shift in gears as being a retort to the world at large, stating that the planet had changed and so must they. This has given 'Stars Are The Light' a far more dancefloor-friendly vibe that while maintaining plenty of the former tones they have always looked to produce, there is a strong and steady pace to this new release that sees the music separate itself from the rest of their catalogue. Filled with a driven direction and a sense of musical adventure, this new collection looks set to become one of the band's most high-profile records to date.
Although it marks the beginning of a new identity for Moon Duo, fans of their older material will still find plenty to enjoy on 'Stars Are The Light'. It has this wonderfully uplifting and playful attitude running throughout its length, which does become infectious extremely quickly, and makes for one of their most enticing albums of the last few years.
22. Fontaines D.C. – ‘Dogrel’
What We Said…
In the last few years, we have seen British punk returning to make a huge impact on the commercial scene once again. With bands like Idles, Slaves and Shame all taking their own direction in order to forge a unique path for themselves, there has never been a better time for bands like Fontaines D.C. to emerge and bring their distinctive Dublin-based sound with them. With its notable Irish charm and shadowed, lo-fi production, 'Dogrel' is already looking to become one of the best punk records of the year so far.
The first thing that stands out on this new release is the permeating accent of frontman Grian Chatten, who narrates his way through this record like an Irish Joe Strummer, never once dampening his voice and resulting in a hugely visceral sound in the process. And while national pride is clearly a strong element of their overall sound, this isn't an album of Celtic cliches and tales of the Emerald Isle. Instead Fontaines D.C. aim to represent the true sound of modern Ireland, launching themselves into political prose and societal dialogue, all wrapped under this guise of modest production in order to give their message as much prominence as possible.
Not since the heyday of bands like The Smith and Idlewild have we heard such a powerful and exciting debut release that seems so focused on its own state of the world. Throw in a tenacious and uncompromising punk aesthetic and we probably have one of the best debut albums of this year so far. Not a bad start for these young newcomers.
21. King Princess – ‘Cheap Queen’
What We Said…
Since the release of her breakout single '1950' last year, Brooklyn-based frontwoman Mikaela Straus has found herself going from strength to strength ever since. With a flurry of preview tracks arriving in the wake of this new album's release, we were slowly being treated to a wave of bold and dynamic cuts that showcased her as a chameleon of alternative pop music. So after months of waiting, she finally unveils her long-awaited new full-length 'Cheap Queen', a record that explores the broad and multifaceted approach that she has been curating these last few years.
Opening up with the impassioned 'Touch On Myself', a track that conjures up the same flow as Lizzo's 'Jerome', we quickly begin to understand that she is an artist that never likes to stand still for too long. Just as soon as we feel comfortable with what she is producing, she flips up the direction and takes us down a path we weren't expecting. As a result, we enjoy a diverse and eclectic journey throughout this new album, listening to the artist tackle a range of hip-hop-inspired beats, acoustic-led serenades, and atmospheric soundscapes with such ease, it feels like she has been doing this for far longer than she has.
The most refreshing thing about this new collection is that no matter how much you have enjoyed before now, there are still plenty of surprises on here. 'Cheap Queen' is more than just an introduction. It is a repertoire of ideas that she identifies with, giving us a bold and exciting release that rarely falters or stumbles.