June 1: Whitney - Whitney Houston
Whitney 'The Voice' Houston's sophomore album, Whitney, has a sound that is quintessentially 80s. The funky keyboard and electronic drums provide a backdrop for Houston to lay her phenomenal vocals over. The vocals are what carry the album as for the most part, without them, this is a fairly standard pop record. Regardless, the attraction of this musical icon is clear from one listen.
Standouts:
So Emotional
Didn't We Almost Have It All
Love Will Save The Day
June 2: Actually - Pet Shop Boys
From one '87 release to the next, Pet Shop Boys may not have the vocal prowess of Houston, but there's certainly more lyrical insight to be found in Actually. A pillar of the early British dance scene, there's elements of much to come in the genre's future on Actually. Neil Tennant's deadpan vocal delivery delves into the political landscape of Thatcherite Britain against a backdrop of groovy synths with a tongue-in-cheek sort of irony.
Standouts:
What Have I Done To Deserve This?
It's A Sin
Hit Music
June 3: My Soft Machine - Arlo Parks
At the age of only 22, Arlo Parks has nurtured a sound that is very much her own, with a soft vocal performance laid over a blend of R&B and indie pop instrumentation. On her latest album, My Soft Machine, Parks expands on her debut release, reaching new depths and range, having previously taken a rather narrow approach to songwriting. That said, occasionally some of the tracks feel a little one-note, maybe due to the love-centric lyrical themes.
Standouts:
Pegasus
Weightless
Dog Rose
June 4: Cross - Justice
French electronic duo Justice tap into the rock-dance infusion of the 2000s on their debut, Cross. Brought to prominence by their fellow Frenchmen Daft Punk, this genre-bending album has some mean basslines and some even meaner beats. This hard hitting sound is infectious and relentless throughout, which is key for an album that is almost entirely lacking vocals. Justice's discography remains annoyingly small, but luckily this record has aged like fine wine.
Standouts:
Let There Be Light
D.A.N.C.E
Phantom Pt. II
June 5: Rip It Up - Orange Juice
From the subarban streets of Glasgow, the new-wave groove of Orange Juice changes its face with each new track on Rip It Up. Combining a range of instrumental and vocal styles, the only constant to this album is its upbeat energy and underlying punk aesthetic. The 'jangly' guitars also feature on most of the tracks, which are reminiscient of many groups from this early 80s era. Their short-lived career together is surely a real shame.
Standouts:
Rip It Up
I Can't Help Myself
Flesh of My Flesh
June 6: Crop Circle 2 - Nines
UK rapper Courtney Freckleton – AKA Nines – brings a sequel album to the 2018 one that blew him up, Crop Circle 2. As previously, with the help of some of the UK rap scene's most prolific names, Nines brings some serious heat, reflecting on his gritty roots and time spent in prison. Production-wise, the beats go pretty hard but there isn't too much variation brought to the table, which doesn't tempt too many relistens.
Standouts:
Tony Soprano 2
F**k The Worl
Favela
June 7: This Is Happening - LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem's follow-up to the huge success of Sound of Silver may only be nine tracks long, but coming in at over an hour in run-time, each song is fully loaded with energy and depth. James Murphy takes a sober look at the high-flying life all around him with his signature candid tone and electro-rock beats. This Is Happening follows the LCD Soundsystem formula of producing an infectious groove that is uniquely its own.
Standouts:
Dance Yrself Clean
You Wanted a Hit
I Can Change
June 8: Angels & Queens Part I - Gabriels
Made up of parts from both the UK and the US, Gabriels are comprised of a producer-duo and the mighty gospel vocals of Jacob Lusk. Angels & Queens Part I is a statement of intent for what this exciting new group has to offer, combining Lusk's voice with a broad range of instrumentation. I'm reminded of Benjamin Clementine when listening to this record, and it's exciting to see that this wave of neo-soul is alive and well, consistently stepping into fresh spaces.
Standouts:
Remember Me
Angels & Queens
If Only You Knew
June 9: American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
The final LP to be released during his lifetime, Johnny Cash's American IV is a profound and moving listening experience. Recorded while Cash was suffering from very ill health, one can hear both the pain and the passion in his voice, as he reinvents a series of songs into covers that somehow feel entirely of his own making. There are some originals on here, but it's those covers, 'Hurt' being one of the all-time greats, that really hit hard here.
Standouts:
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Hurt
Personal Jesus
June 10: Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits
A guitar beaming over the sky is a very apt cover for Dire Straits' Brothers In Arms, as it's this instrument that dominates the album. Incorporating rock, swing, and a little bit of smooth jazz, it is still those plucky hooks and strums that lay at the heart of each track. Lyrically there's a lot to sink your teeth into as well, some taking a tongue-in-cheek look at commercial society, and others concerning journies of self discovery.
Standouts:
So Far Away
Money For Nothing
Why Worry?
June 11: Armed Forces - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
The politically-fired Armed Forces is true to Elvis Costello's style, with a musical-esque songwriting style - a vibrant contrast to the lyrical content. Costello's vocals guide most of the album, with some plain drum beats setting a nice base leven throughout. A range of instrumentation brings breadth that keeps each new track fresh, but it's those lyrics that keep you invested - despite a badly dated use of the n-word.
Standouts:
Accidents Will Happen
Oliver's Army
Goon Squad
June 12: Guy - Jayda G
Canadian house/electronic producer Jayda G's latest album, Guy, shows off all her multifaceted talents. Working on the whole production side, as well as providing the vocals Jayda G rides in on a new wave of producers who deliver the all-in-one package. Mellow beats ride along nicely with some similarly smooth vocals, and while these nay not be the same club hits that some of her contemporaries are making, it's some pretty fresh house music.
Standouts:
Scars
Heads Or Tails
Meant To Be
June 13: Midnight Cleaners - The Cleaners From Venus
In an era before computers made music production accessible to anyone with the time and passion, The Cleaners From Venus – AKA Martin Newell – was setting the standard for what indie music could be. Working with cheap instruments and recording equipment, Midnight Cleaners has a real authenticity to it, and a jangly rock sound that is simply charming. Washed out vocals and melancholy guitars remind one of The Cure or The Smiths.
Standouts:
Only a Shadow
This Rainy Decade
Corridor of Dreams
June 14: Dreamboat Annie - Heart
Heart's debut record Dreamboat Annie feels like a staple of the hard rock era that emerged through the 70s, with powerful vocals, pounding drums and energetic guitar lines. It is those vocal performances, primarily from Ann Wilson and assisted by sister Nancy, that drives each track along. The album also knows when to slow down, finding strength in the more quieter songs that come to be entirely carried by Wilson.
Standouts:
Crazy On You
(Love Me Like Music) I'll Be Your Song
White Lightning And Wine
June 15: Every 1's a Winner - Hot Chocolate
Get your groove on with the British funk/soul group Hot Chocolate on the never-dull Every 1's a Winner. The incorporation of a more electronic sound on top of the classic soul approach brings a new dimension of energy to the table, and at times the orchestration on display reminded me of Electric Light Orchestra. It is Errol Brown's iconic lead vocals, though, that provide the backbone of the group's sound.
Standouts:
Every 1's a Winner
Make You Feel a Woman
Confetti Day
June 16: Fever - Kylie Minogue
Coming out at the turn of the century, Kylie Minogue's seminal album Fever feels like a bridging of the gap between the disco sound of the past, and the bass-thumping dancefloor hits to come. This really is electro-pop at it's finest, with clean production, catchy hooks and of course excellent vocals from Minogue. It's no surprise that after this breakthrough album, she'd go on to become the highest-selling female Australian artist in history.
Standouts:
Fever
Can't Get You out of My Head
In Your Eyes
June 17: Veni Vidi Vicious - The Hives
The eccentric and never-dull Swedish garage rockers The Hives provide pure adrenaline with Veni Vidi Vicious. I'd be seeing them support Arctic Monkeys later this day and while I knew a few tracks I thought I'd get an album under my belt. The record stays true to the garage rock revival era from which the band emerged with high-tempo drumbeats and truly rockin' guitars - Pelle Almqvist's charisma on vocals rounds off their booming sound.
Standouts:
Die, All Right!
Main Offender
Hate To Say I Told You So
June 18: Reelings - The Mysterines
The Monkeys' other support act – The Mysterines – really put on a show so I decided to check them out as well. Hailing from Liverpool, The Mysterines tap into the alt-rock sound which has become a bit of a mainstay on the British scene. Loud and angry, Reeling is both lyrically and sonically in your face at all times. To me, this style is becoming a little one-note this late in the game, but a few years ago I would have been all over this.
Standouts:
Hung Up
Old Friends Die Hard
All These Things
June 19: CRAWLER - IDLES
The British punk revival has been in full swing for a few years now, and IDLES are one of the main engineers behind that. After starting out with a raw sound that harks back to the greats before them, their latest record CRAWLER incorporates some more experimental elements. Produced by hip-hop giant Kenny Beats, there are definitely features of the genre in here, playing into IDLES' growing ability to subvert expectations and tread into new ground.
Standouts:
Car Crash
The New Sensation
The Beachland Ballroom
June 20: Space Heavy - King Krule
South London alternative heavyweight King Krule has polished a sound that feels entirely his own over his thirteen-year career, and on his latest project, Space Heavy, this style only continues on an upward trajectory. There's a murky nature to Archy Marshall's aesthetic, achieved using his raspy vocals and an instrumental composition that at times feels a little chaotic. The emotions evoked in this way are powerful and conjure up vivid imagery in one's head.
Standouts:
Seaforth
Tortoise of Independency
Hamburgerphobia
June 21: Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
Riding on the huge wave of success within Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks shifted gears with her first solo record, Bella Donna. There are definitely elements of a Fleetwood Mac sound in here, with some epic guitars and rather dramatic vocal performances. Nicks does manage to cultivate a style more unique to herself, though, honing in a little more on the country style that her voice compliments so well. A real rockin' time, to be sure.
Standouts:
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Edge of Seventeen
After the Glitter Fades
June 22: Cry - Cigarettes After Sex
Having recently listened to their first LP and with the group providing the support for an upcoming concert, I thought I'd get Cigarettes After Sex' second and thus far latest album under my belt. While I enjoy the group's somber and downplayed style, Cry fails to step into any new territory unfound in their self-titled debut. Good background noise, but this does become quite an impatient listen pretty quickly.
Standouts:
Heavenly
Touch
Falling In Love
June 23: The Age of Pleasure - Janelle Monáe
The Age of Pleasure could not be more different from the previous day's listen - Janelle Monáe's new album is a non-stop R&B party from start to finish. Blending song and rap, Monáe's versatility is on full display, and her smooth balance of genres keeps things exciting with each new track. With the 14-track album coming in at just over half an hour, no time is wasted, with clean mixing making it hard to know when one song ends and the next begins.
Standouts:
Champagne Shit
Haute
Only Have Eyes 42
June 24: Worlds End FM - Hak Baker
One of the most underrated artists on the London scene, Hak Baker's new album, Worlds End FM departs from his folk roots but stays true to his innately political lyrical style. Here, Baker explores the lost legacy of Britain's Windrush generation and the complexities of trying to redefine what it means to be black in modern-day London. Baker's charming vocal performance is ever-present, with a nice mix of instrumental styles to back him up.
Standouts:
Windrush Baby
Bricks in the Wall
Telephones 4 Eyes
June 25: Grace - Jeff Buckley
In what what come to be the only studio album before his tragic premature death, Jeff Buckley introduced the world to his magical talent on Grace. Influenced by the folk sound of New York's East Village, Buckley delivers his sound almost entirely through voice and guitar strings. His vocals are hypnotic and the mystique found within the tracks can only make one imagine how much more potential the man had in him.
Standouts:
Grace
Last Goodbye
Lover, You Should've Come Over
June 26: Injury Reserve - Injury Reserve
Following a series of successful mixtape releases, alternative hip-hop group Inury Reserve dropped their self-titled debut album. Tongue-in-cheek lyrics riding a mixture of flows are accompanied by some creative and eccentric beats, all-in-all producing a sound that is loud and entertaining. The group are assisted by an array of features too, each bringing components of their own sound into the mix.
Standouts:
Jailbreak the Tesla
Gravy n' Biscuits
Wax On
June 27: Closing Time - Tom Waits
Singer-songwriter – and part-time actor – Tom Waits' debut album Closing Time is a gentle folk record which encapsulates the feeling of adolescent love. The album cover aptly fits the mood of the album of mostly piano-led pieces, and which evoke the feeling of being in a late-night jazz bar. Waits' raspy vocals add to the melancholy atmosphere, but there's also something really comforting about this sound - his music feels like a real safe space.
Standouts:
Martha
I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You
Ol' 55
June 28: Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
Born To Run was the album that provided the commercial breakthrough for All-American rocker Bruce Springsteen, and for good reason. There record is coated in a granduer that can only be explained by the energy Springsteen is able to bring through his powerful vocals and epic musical composition. Essentially it feels like the credits have just rolled on a blockbuster movie for most of the duration of Born To Run.
Standouts:
Thunder Road
Backstreets
Born To Run
June 29: Breakfast In America - Supertramp
After maintaining a prog-rock sound for most of their career, Supertramp switched gears and headed in a more pop-oriented direction on Breakfast In America. This album just simply feels iconic, from the album cover to the long list of hits it produced. The electric piano is the sonic drive behind most of the album, giving it a sort of jukebox feel - songwriters Rick Davies and Roger Hogdson just seem like they had a blast making this.
Standouts:
Goodbye Stranger
The Logical Song
Breakfast In America
June 30: In the End It Always Does - The Japanese House
The weekend after this I was going to be seeing The Japanese House as a suporting act so I thought I'd give their just-dropped album a listen. Amber Bain, the brains behind the group, expands on her debut album while staying rooted in her indie pop foundations. The production influence of members of The 1975 is apparent, with dreamy instrumentation and washed-out vocals, but Bain manages to maintain a sound that is confidently her own.
Standouts:
Touching Yourself
Sad to Breathe
Boyhood
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