between now and Christmas, T&G will count down our top 20 albums of the year. Before I start, I should mention the 'disappointment of the year'. If anyone had told me on January 1st that a new Hold Steady album wouldn't make this top 20, I wouldn't have believed it, but 'Stay Positive' didn't make the 20. The problems with the record just show themselves more and more as you continue listening, the rushed feel, the ugly production and the '...kitchen sink' mastering. Very, very disappointing and I notice that even the monthly music mags are now retreating slightly from their initial, hysterically positive reviews. Anyway, here's the first few from the T&G Top 20....
20- Willard Grant Conspiracy 'Regard The End'
A sombre, majestic, return to form from Robert Fisher and co.
19- Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan 'Sunday at Devil Dirt'
Mixing blues, folk and alt.country, this was a consistent collection of songs, some of which (like the supreme 'Trouble') already sound like standards.
18- She and Him 'Volume One'
Collaboration between M Ward and Zooey Deschanel. When it was good, it was a joyful, Spector-ish heaven! The 60s girl band style stuff sounded stunning and it was only held back from greatness by the slighly predictable country ballads.
15-17 coming up in the next couple of days. 'Film of the Year', 'Single of the Year', 'Reissue of the Year', 'Shop of the Year' and other such stuff coming all through December.
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