In the UK we remain in lockdown. The perfect opportunity to listen to another 100 albums. Shame we can’t see live acts…
 No.1674 23/04/2021 – The 2001 album Free All Angels by Northern Irish rock band Ash celebrates a 20th anniversary today! Wheeler has a knack of crafting catchy indie pop melodies. Includes the singles Shining Light, Burn Baby Burn and There’s A Star.
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 No.1666 15/04/2021 – The 1981 Chaka Khan album What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me celebrates a 40th anniversary today! LP begins with a cover of We Can Work It Out by The Beatles, the title track is the star event, although And the Melody Still Lingers On (Night in Tunisia) includes guest appearances from Herbie Hancock and Dizzy Gillespie.
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 No.1665 14/04/2021 – The 1981 album, Faith, by The Cure celebrates a 40th anniversary today! The band continued with their hypnotic gloomy tones with their third LP. Well received by critics at the time, but Faith now is often cited as an underrated classic. How do you rate?
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 No.1663 12/04/2021 – The 2011 Foo Fighters album Wasting Light celebrates a 10th anniversary today! The LP was recorded in Dave Grohl’s garage using analog equipment and is probably their heaviest release. Includes the singles Rope and Walk.
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 No.1662 11/04/2021 – The 2011 album Nine Types of Light by the Brooklyn art-rock quintet TV On The Radio celebrates a 10th anniversary today! The LP was the last to feature bassist Gerard Smith, who died of lung cancer nine days after release.
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 No.1661 10/04/2021 – The 2001 Monster Magnet album, God Says No, celebrates a 20th anniversary today! The LP was released earlier in the UK, but the US had to wait. The New Jersey quintet followed their breakthrough LP Powertrip with another brash rock album.
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 No.1660 09/04/2021 – The debut Gillian Welch album Revival celebrates a 25th anniversary today! The Grammy nominated album was recorded at Sunset Sound studios in Hollywood, and marks an impressive debut by the American folk singer. Love Orphan Girl and One More Dollar.
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 No.1659 08/04/2021 – The 2011 album, The English Riviera by English synthpop band Metronomy celebrates a 10th anniversary today! The Mercury Prize nominated LP, written by lead singer, Joseph Mount, was inspired by his hometown of Torquay. Simply charming.
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 No.1658 07/04/2021 – The 1981 Rick James album, Street Songs, celebrates a 40th anniversary today! The funky LP was James’s bestselling long player, and a welcome hit following the previous disappointment. Includes the singles Give It to Me Baby, Ghetto Life and the popular Super Freak.
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 No.1657 06/04/2021 – The PJ Harvey album Stories From The Sea was based around her love of New York City. The LP released in 2000 received critical acclaim and for many people her best work. Your favourite Polly LP?
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 No.1656 05/04/2021 – The 2011 Bill Callahan album Apocalypse celebrates a 10th anniversary today! The LP is Callahan’s third released after dropping the Smog name. A master wordsmith crafting narratives around American Myths.
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 No.1655 04/04/2021 – The 2009 Sweet Billy Pilgrim album Twice Born Men was nominated for the Mercury Prize, and was released on David Sylvian’s Samadhissound label. A sonically brilliant album from Tim Elsenburg, Anthony Bishop and Alistair Hamar. Love Bloodless Coup. |
 No.1654 03/04/2021 – The debut Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album B.R.M.C celebrates a 20th anniversary today! The fuzz guitar was akin to British bands such as Jesus and Mary Chain, but with a modern twist. The track Spread Your Love was used in movies and adverts.
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 No.1653 02/04/2021 – The 3rd James Taylor album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon celebrates a 50th anniversary this month. The 1971 Rolling Stone review declared the LP a ‘dull listen.’ Includes the Carole King standard and hit single You’ve Got a Friend. A masterpiece or dull listen?
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 No.1652 01/04/2021 – The debut Katy B album, On A Mission, celebrates a 10th anniversary today! The Mercury Prize nominated album incorporates various dance music genres with emotion and energy. Includes the singles Katy on a Mission and Lights On.
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 No.1651 31/03/2021 – The 1977 Randy Newman album Little Criminals is Newman’s highest US charting LP. Members of the Eagles in particular Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh and Don Henley performed on some tracks. Love Short People, Baltimore and I’ll Be Home. A masterful storyteller and song-writer.
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 No.1650 30/03/2021 – The new album, WE ARE, by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert bandleader Jon Batiste is steeped in gospel, R&B and 70’s funk, but for the modern generation. Batiste also worked as a jazz coordinator for the Pixar movie Soul. Incredible LP.
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 No.1649 29/03/2021 – The 2015 album Sub-Lingual Tablet by The Fall was the band’s 30th LP and penultimate studio album before singer Mark E. Singer passed away in 2018. Nothing new, but nothing wrong. A snarling usual Fall release.
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 No.1648 28/03/2021 – The 2006 debut album, Fur and Gold, by Bat For Lashes received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. An entrancing and beautiful debut from Natasha Khan. Includes the singles The Wizard, Trophy, Prescilla, and What’s a Girl to Do?
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 No.1647 27/03/2021 – The 1966 debut self-titled album by the Small Faces, released on Decca Records, wonderfully captured the sound and style of the era. Includes the hit singles Whatcha Gonna Do About It and Sha-La-La-La-Lee, and the great Sam Cooke cover Shake.
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 No.1646 26/03/2021
The self-titled debut studio album by Damon Albarn’s virtual band Gorillaz celebrates a 20th anniversary today! Includes the singles Clint Eastwood, 19-2000, Rock the House, and Tomorrow Comes Today. Not a concept album, but a concept band. |
 No.1645 25/03/2021
The second studio album, Call the Doctor, by the American punk rock band Sleater-Kinney celebrates a 25th anniversary today! Apparently written in three weeks and recorded in four days, the LP was well received by critics. Recorded with no bass guitar. |
 No.1644 24/03/2021 – The 2005 debut Rachel Unthank and the Winterset album Cruel Sister was awarded Folk Album of the Year by MOJO magazine. The LP of traditional folk songs includes a cover of Nick Drake’s Riverman.
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 No.1643 23/03/2021 – The 1967 debut Country Joe and the Fish album Electric Music for the Mind and Body was one of the earliest psychedelic albums to come out of San Francisco. The tracks Section 43, Grace, and Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine were popular radio played songs at the time.
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 No.1642 22/03/2021
The debut solo album, Diva, by Annie Lennox was a huge commercial success for the former Eurythmics singer. Included the singles Why, Precious, Walking on Broken Glass, Cold and Little Bird. A beautifully produced LP. |
 No.1641 21/03/2021
The 1985 self-titled Heart album moved the band further into the mainstream, and consequently gave them commercial success. The LP includes the hit single These Dreams, and other singles in |