December 21, 2018

It seems remarkable to me that I have listened to 287 new albums this year. A total of 195 were released in 2018 and another 92 releases were from earlier years. Nearly all the new releases were digital files given to me by three outlets. Two of them gave them to me as a pool of stuff to review. The 92 earlier releases can be various purchases of vinyl or CD’s that I’ve picked up in charity shops. I have an unquenchable desire for a complete understanding of many genres and at £0.50 a time then the world is your oyster. The big question is when do I listen to it all? In my study, in my car, washing my car, gardening, listening to Anna (!) and always on my bike. I erroneously put in one blog that I listened to 10 hours of music a week. Crap, frankly I may even be north of 40 hours!

I know several of you will scan the list below for artists you know. Sorry! Please trust me that I listen to all this alongside Earth, Wind & Fire, Bryan Ferry, Bob Dylan, The Isley Brothers, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, The Rolling Stones, The National, Van Morrison, B B King, Eric Clapton etc. I always retain my bearings.

So below is a list of the stuff that stuck in my head or appealed to my taste. Where I don’t put a date then assume it is 2018. Enjoy:

1. Courtney Marie Andrews – May Your Kindness Remain                    Singer Songwriter
2. The Curse Of Lono – As I Fell                                                                          Rock
3. Rich Krueger – NOWthen                                                                                 Singer Songwriter
4. Sunny Sweeney – Heartbreaker’s Hall Of Fame                                      Country (2006)
5. Bindley Hardware – Ever Satisfactory                                                         Americana
6. Elkie Brooks – Live & Learn                                                                               Rock (1978)
7. Kayla Ray – Yesterday & Me                                                                              Country
8. Victor Wainwright & The Train                                                                        Blues
9. Dusty Ross – Stolen Horse                                                                                 Country
10. Ross Cooper – I Ride The Wild Horses                                                          Country
11. Erin Enderlin – Whiskeytown Crier                                                                 Country
12. Ashley McBryde – Girl Goin’ Nowhere                                                           Country
13. Dave Kelly – Solo Performances : Live In Germany 1986 – 89              Blues (2016)
14. James Scott Bullard – Full Tilt Boogie                                                           Blues Rock
15. Tom Hambridge – The NOLA Sessions                                                           Blues Rock
16. Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History                                                     Indie Rock (2010)
17. Brandi Carlile – By The Way, I Forgive You                                                   Americana
18. Meghan Patrick – Grace & Grit                                                                       Country (2016)
19. Candi Staton – Unstoppable                                                                             Soul
20. Old Crow Medicine Show – Volunteer                                                           Country/Bluegrass