Time keeps on slipping, slipping slipping… between posts and while I debate moving another Springsteen series from notebook to keyboard it felt an opportune moment to deposit a selection of those songs that I’ve been enjoying of late.
Built to Spill – Spiderweb
While gaps between Built To Spill albums seem to get longer each time around, When the Wind Forgets Your Name – due in September – is one I’m really looking forward to, Doug Martsch’s guitar playing continues to delight.
Big Thief – Not
Dragon Warm Mountain I Believe In You is easily one of this year’s finest but 2020’s Two Hands still rewards on repeated listens.
The Cure – Doing the Unstuck
Another instance of an anniversary reissue reminding you of the unstoppable march of time… The Cure’s unimpeachable Wish turns 30 this year. Not only does this mean I’ll be able to add the vinyl to my collection without forking out the ridiculous asking price for an original copy but it also means I’ve been joyfully spinning the CD in the car this last week.
Pink Floyd – Dogs (2018 Remix)
After seemingly setting aside their bickering (at least about this subject), the much-touted remix of Animals is almost upon us. How much it adds to an already exceptional album is gonna be one for debate by other people but I’m loving the new cover art.
Rickie Lee Jones – We Belong Together
It’s just an addictive classic. That piano, her voice, the vibe… I could soak in it on repeat all day long.
The Shipping News – Axons and Dendtrites
Flies The Fields is a brilliant album – from the wave of post-rock that was still in thrall to Slint rather than Godspeed! – but this, the album opener, remains a firm favourite that I’ve been replaying a lot recently after catching its use on screen in something that now escapes me.
Billy Joel – New York State of Mind
Speaking of ‘that piano’ and catching things in use on the screen… someone recommended The Boys to me and I ended up bingeing my way through the lot and, for those unfamiliar, Billy Joel features heavily – though not this song. This song ended up in my head after my son was spinning his The Muppet Show 2 album recently which features Floyd’s cover. From there it was a ‘now let’s hear the original’ – easily one of Joel’s finest (of which he has many).
Mumbling About... 
I’ve been listening to the Melody’s Echo Chamber album that you recommended last time, so thank you.
‘We Belong Together’ is amazing – great and unique opener
I only listened to Pirates on your recommendation back when I covered 1981, so I thank you for that too.
Melody has been a real constant lately too, along with Soccer Mommy and Big Thief – very female strong AOTY year list for me so far
Yeah, female indie is really strong at the moment. I think Big Thief are top of the pile though – Lenker has that Dylan/Young kind of mystique. I think ‘Not’ is still my favourite song from them, but the new one is their best album. Still comfortably AOTY for me so far.