It's 2025... though as far as these guys are concerned, it might still be 1995...
19. Kim Deal – Nobody Loves You More
A spur-of-the-moment purchase earlier this year based on the fact that the CD was selling for less than a tenner in its week of release… let that be a lesson to all pop stars out there: if Kim can do it, you can too!
Anyway, this is Kim Deal’s debut solo album – worthy of note, considering that the artist
formerly known as Mrs. John Murphy has been banging away at this racket for 40
years now (and has released a bunch of solo singles over the years, just never
a long player).
Certain tracks naturally remind us of The Breeders…
…but there’s a real range demonstrated across this record,
including a deeply moving song about the effects of Alzheimer's on Kim's mum…
Are you mine?
Are you my baby?
I have no mind
For nothing, but love
Are you mine?
How you seen me lately?
I have no time
I have no time
Let me go
Where there's no
Memory of you
Where everything is safe
And nothing is true
…and the title track, which may well be the sweetest love
song I’ve heard all year.
18. The Lemonheads – Love Chant
There always has to be a caveat when compiling these end of year lists that records released in the last month or so probably won’t do as well as ones that I’ve been enjoying all year. It should come as no surprise to anyone though that Evan Dando was one of the last people to get off his lazy arse and offer up a new record this year… particularly as this is the first original Lemonheads album in almost 20 years (not counting two fine cover version collections, Varshons I & II).
The
Lemonheads - Fear of Living
Much has been written about why the Slacker King has been
absent so long – and from what I’ve heard of his live shows this year, he’s
still not completely on the wagon. His voice is a lot deeper than it used to
be, and he looks less like the Grunge Heartthrob of the 90s… and more like a
street bum who’s wandered into the recording studio in search of some White
Lightning. Despite that, as one of the heroes of my youth, it’s great to have him back.
18. Counting Crows - Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!
And now for the one that should have been disqualified on the grounds of a) good taste; b) the worst album cover I’ve seen in a long time; b) the fact that half of it was originally released as an EP in 2021. In my defence, when I posted a song from it back then, Martin was grudgingly seen to reply, “That was better than expected.” Which only goes to show that whatever you post on the internet will one day be dug up to embarrass you in later years… so be very careful next time you’re planning on telling anyone how much you’re looking forward to the new Oasis album. (I have no idea whether there’s a new Oasis album… god, i hope not... but really, how could they resist the opportunity to cash in further?)
Counting
Crows - With Love, From A-Z
Anyway – Counting Crows. From a similar era to the Lemonheads, yet somehow unable to achieve the same level of cool. The very fact then that I place this record one spot above Evan and co. will damn me in the eyes of many. (And looking like a street bum these days is one step up on looking like an extra in The Sopranos, Adam.)
I could offer the defence that this came out in May, so I’ve had much longer to relish it, but really… I should probably quit while I’m ahead. If you’re of the opinion that Counting Crows are beneath you, nothing I can say will change that. Bring on the brickbats…
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