Bad Religion Against the Grain (Epitaph)
After 15 albums and 30 years, still their best. A spellbinding roller-coaster that’s the place to start for new fans.
Tribute to Bad Religion String Quartet to Bad Religion (Vitamin)
Conversely, this is the last record new fans should get. However, if you have everything by the group and/or are looking to convert say your mum or pop this is easy on the ears and showcases the incredible melodies at work in the band’s sprawling yet nearly always excellent oeuvre.
Teenage Fanclub Shadows (Merge)
Well worth being on the cover of the new Big Takeover, Teenage Fanclub really shines here. Songs like “Sometimes I Don’t Need to Believe in Anything,” “Baby Lee,” “The Fall,” “Dark Clouds,” and “The Past” are all instant classics. If you’re looking for sweet as honey harmonies and first-rate song writing then look no further.
Brian Eno Small Craft on a Mile Sea (Opal)
An extremely solid record that touches on many aspects of Eno’s past. The beginning and end are most satisfying. Attempts at more percussive and modern sounds in the middle don’t work as well though as a whole this is a highly interesting and engaging record.
Love Four Sail (Elektra)
Heck, after Love’s masterpiece of “Forever Changes,” how could anything compare? But the truth is that even without Arthur Lee’s (not so) secret weapon guitarist Bryan MacLean, Love created a sensational record here on their fourth proper LP. Many fans forget that, instead talking about how the first three records form a holy union triumvirate of sorts. I’m on board with the sophomore effort Da Capo. In fact, side one of Da Capo is a masterpiece, basically perfect, and still stunning 44 years on. However, Love’s debut, as great as it is, is slightly overrated.
Captain Sensible Women and Captains First (Cherry Red)
An excellent reissue by one of my all-time favorite artists. The synth-pop gems found here pale slightly next to Captains “Power of Love,” but this is a keeper. Moreover, in the handsome liner notes you get a quality interview with the good captain himself. The disc comes with six bonus tracks too, including the underrated “Strawberry Dross.”
Michael Head and the Strands Magical World of the Strands (SBME)
A record that seems to be as revered as it is hard to find, “Magical World of the Strands” is a relatively new addition in my seemingly never satiated collection. I’ve always been an enormous fan of Shack and as such this was a key record to hear. The first listen was enjoyable but not entirely visceral. That said, I have a good feeling that repeated listens will unlock more magic.
Robyn Hitchcock A Star for Bram (Editions PAF)
These “Jewels for Sophia” outtakes have much to recommend. In fact, they are far better than what an outtakes record would suggest. At the same time, the record isn’t great by objective standards and pales next to most of Hitchcock’s output. The record’s highlight is “1974” a tune filled with groovy melodies that would fit right in in 1974 and lyrics that straddle the silly/serious nexus ever so artfully.
Fops Yeth Yeth Yeth (Monotreme)
Arrgh. A slight disappointment. I’ve been a massive champion of Thee More Shallows, one of the most underrated groups of the past decade. So I came to this with very high hopes but have been somewhat underwhelmed. Fops is Dee Kesler, lead singer and songwriter for TMS, and Chadwick Bidwell of Ral Partha. While there’s nothing per se wrong with the low-fi and impressionistic record, it pales next to TMS.
Kaleidoscope Faintly Blowing (Repertoire)
Worth owning simply for the staggering title track. A 1969 gem well worth owning.
