Here are some more records from this year which I found to be a good distraction from the hollow futility of existence...
15. Scott Lavene - Disneyland In Dagenham
I'm not sure if it was George (in his tribute to Fray Bentos) or John Medd who first tipped me off to the work of Scott Lavene, but then I was fortunate enough to see him play live earlier this year, in support of Craig Finn. Since then, I've spent rather a lot of time listening to his latest album, which is all about how they originally tried to build Eurodisney in Essex, the perils of not being Steve McQueen, and Scott's great love of custard. With the odd tender love song thrown in for good measure... and even a "duet" with Mr. Finn himself. Very enjoyable stuff and nonsense.
Take the bread out of that - it's not a toaster!
14. The Pernice Brothers - Who Will You Believe?
Joe Pernice has slipped off my radar somewhat in recent years, so I was pleased to rediscover his work through the ninth Pernice Brothers album (I remember getting into the first two around the turn of the millennium). It's another collection of shiny indie pop with soaring vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Not a bad song to be heard, though the one that really stopped me in my tracks was the epic closer, The Purple Rain (no connection to the equally epic Prince tune, just half the duration).
If you were here we could hang out all night and wash our rags till they were almost white
I stopped there on my way, but it didn't feel right
No longer knew a soul
No soul knew me
I never called you, and you never came
I stayed a couple streets away from blame
Hole up in a poem made of pith and pain
I often read the end before the start
13. The Decemberists - As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
Missed the Decemberists album, will have to check it out
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