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vexx-ation · 4 months

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12 Albums of 2023

The nature of my current job means that I have pretty long periods where I'm doing hands-on but mindless work. Since I'm working with samples that can't be contaminated, being able to mess with my phone to adjust my music is out of the question, and so I entered the world of Youtube playlists and full albums, giving me hours of uninterrupted jams. Because of that, I've widened my music taste quite a bit and found a ton of new albums, so I thought it would be fun to highlight some of my favorites from this year!

TECHDOG1-7: Patricia Taxxon

There isn't anything I can say about this album that encapsulates the experience of listening, except to assure you that about a third of the way in I could feel new neuronal connections happening in my brain. This album puts all of her talents on display, reaching an almost divine level of vibes. Drawing on all her experiences and previous work, this feels like a beautiful medley of all the things that made her previous albums so beloved. The lush quality of Taxxon's music is all-encompassing, stimulating the senses so thoroughly that I can't recommend anything but sitting back, closing your eyes, and letting the album itself guide you.

Note: Including TECHDOG1-7 is a bit of a cop out on my part, as this is a compilation of 7 albums released in succession by Taxxon. They're all great though, so you can't do wrong picking any one of them :)

2. Music for Animal Cafes: Nobonoko

Though I find Animal Cafes to be one of many absolute bangers in nobonoko's discography, there's something to be said about this album in particular. It has all the brightness and joy present in their other works, and vibes spectacularly throughout its hour runtime. The established mood is jazzy and comfortable, and serves as a great entry point into the rest of their music.

3. SEPPUKU: chocomilk-chan

At almost two hours in length, SEPPUKU is easily the longest album in this list (not including the TECHDOG compilation). It uses that time effectively, effortlessly changing timbres and textures throughout its run without ever losing its core. The harsh, almost crackly drum synths provide an effective foundation for whatever new components chocomilk adds on top, from lush chords to piercing chimes. This is an album that experiments with sound while focusing on maintaining momentum, smooth enough to chug along in the background and complex enough to intrigue anyone who wants to listen more deeply.

4. arc,regn: greenhouse (Halley Labs)

I don't think Halley Labs has ever produced anything but great albums, and this is no exception. Right from the beginning, you're met with lush chords and masterful use of panning, which continues throughout the entire album like a lifeline. Not only is the music rich with complexities, catchy lines, and musical talent, but there is an obvious mastery of the medium itself on display. The album creates a world all its own as it weaves through new sounds and arcs. I wouldn't bother putting this on as BG music, as the layers of sound here are more likely to draw you in like it did me!

5. Pawprint Panic!: Napcast

This album absolutely jams. Calling to mind indie DS-era titles, the bouncy and bright synths are kept moving by a groovy bassline and funky drums. Jazzy melodies soar overhead on toybox-esque synths and piano, maintaining a grounded but playful quality. Expertly unified, it truly feels like an OST dredged from the 00s golden age, imbued with an infectious rhythm and bangers that make you wonder how this isn't on every VGM playlist. Listen in an open room, because this album WILL make you want to dance.

6. anemoia: kurokocchi

This album is all about contrast. The piano melodies wouldn't feel out of place in a lofi jam or a music box, but thrashing beneath is a drumbreat that lends an almost manic energy to the songs. With simple, looping lines that encircle and chase the frenetic percussion, anemoia captures the essence of gleeful, uncontrolled anxiety. The bursts of sound and wild motion makes the album pass by in an instant, leaving you breathless with its memory when the final beat hits. Don't listen after a cup of coffee-- your heart might stop.

7. Mage's Cauldron for Sweet Dreams: Tottomori

And now for something completely different! A reprieve from the endless list of high energy beats and breakcore that I just recommended, Mages Cauldron instead creates an overwhelming sense of calm, relishing in the stillness and silence. With sparse melodies and long stretches of quiet, Mages Cauldron soothes and placates, seeming to slow down time itself as it constructs its ambiance. Building as the album continues, you can see the forest take shape in your mind's eye through the melodies. This is an album to sit by the fire with-- let yourself be invited to the world it creates and relax.

8. Lucky Tiger: Telenights

Ever listen to an album that just *vibes*? If you like that kind of music, Lucky Tiger might be your jam. With steady grooves, carefully placed pads, and a subtle yet confident mastery over sound design, Lucky Tiger creates an atmosphere like no other. The albums slides effortlessly back and forth between more ambient qualities and forward grooves, encouraging you to move along with it. Disparate elements from classical guitar to jazz sax to hiphop percussion hold hands, nothing overpowering the other as the album fuses these styles to create something all its own. Take a sip: it goes down smooth.

9. Sun Colored Eyes: Mabisyo

In the same (vapor)wave as Telenights, Mabisyo delivers expertly with snazzy beats and a concrete atmosphere throughout the mixtape. This album serves as a highlight to the refinement of their production process, expertly blending samples and making great use of their sonic toolkit to elevate the experience. Each song builds on the last, adding more layers and using samples in entirely new ways that form a melodious, cohesive whole of all the disparate parts. TLDR? This thing bangs.

10. music for bugs - camiidae

Light, airy, and with the cutest accompanying visuals I have ever seen, music for bugs wins my vote for most delightful album of the year. Laying the bells and piano with nature sounds gives the album a friendly and soothing ambiance, which carries the soft melodies and sparse chords. A great album for a nice walk

11. Meadow Theatre - Gumboot

In the same vein as music for bugs, Meadow Theatre creates a naturalistic, quiet ambiance accented by soft, hiphop beats. Drawing from a myriad of samples and mixing them with elegance, the album creates the ideal environment for quiet contemplation, settling into looping sections at the end of each track that know just when to change things up before they overstay their welcome. It's a nice album to settle down with

12. Seasons - Kate Short

Rounding out the list is the only non-instrumental album, which maintains a sweet and soft acoustic quality throughout. With poignant lyrics and a masterful understanding of space and silence, Short creates an album that glides along with poise. With lush instrumentals and a clear voice, this album becomes nothing short of transcendental

#music #album recommendations #long post

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newmusickarl · 1 year

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New Year, New Music – Welcome to 2023!

I’m not going to lie, 2022 may have been one of my favourite years for music since I started my blog back in 2013. Every week last year, there seemed to be great album after great album dropping, with lots of my favourite artists of recent years releasing career best efforts, or at the very least solid additions to their expanding discography. More than anything else though, there were some great new artists to discover.

Whether it was artists like Gang of Youths or Kevin Morby who may have been around for years but I was only newly introduced to in 2022, or breakout acts like Bob Vylan, The Haunted Youth and Opus Kink, it was a year that showed the future of music is shining bright. In the end though, it was two veteran artists at the top of their game that were jointly awarded my Album of the Year title, with rap stars Kendrick Lamar and Little Simz sitting atop the throne by the end of December (have a flick through my blog archives if you want to read more!).

So with 2022 being such a strong year and a lot of my favourite artists dropping albums, I had in my mind that 2023 might be a bit of a quieter year by comparison. However, if January is anything to go by, it seems this next 12 months could easily match up to 2022 if this current pace continues. 2023 may not even be a month old yet, but it has already delivered a mountain of great new music to feast upon – here’s the songs and albums I’ve enjoyed the most across the first few weeks of the year.

Album & EP Recommendations

Prize by Rozi Plain

There is no album I have enjoyed more in January then this gorgeous fifth album from Winchester-based, alt-folk musician, Rozi Plain. Having not been familiar with Rozi’s previous work, the album landed on my “to-listen” pile through seeing numerous positive reviews for this latest opus. It would remain there for a few weeks, before Twitter pal Joe (@jackabouting) gave me the nudge to finally dive in – and I’m so glad I did.

The first stretch of the record will pull you in right away, with the magical instrumental flourishes of Alabaster Deplume collaboration, Agreeing For Two, majestically gliding across your headphones. Before long, the whirring organs of Help and sparkling acoustic splendour of Prove Your Good then wash through to put you completely under this record’s spell. That said, it is the second half where my favourite moments occur, with the synth-driven pulse of tracks like Painted the Room and Standing Up beautifully complimenting Rozi’s soft whispery vocals. If I was to pick just one standout though it would be Sore, with it’s hymnal-like vocal harmonies and utterly entrancing orchestral sways – without a doubt, one of the best songs I heard all January.

This is a simply stunning album from start to finish, one that will grab hold of you tightly and fill your ears with beautifully woven, intricately crafted arrangements.

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Gigi’s Recovery by The Murder Capital

The Dublin music scene has been set alight by post-punk in recent years, with Fontaines D.C. of course leading the charge. However following closely behind is The Murder Capital, who have successfully built on their roaring debut with their more mature and accessible sophomore outing, Gigi’s Recovery.

Whilst the similarities and comparisons to Fontaines are inevitable, Gigi’s Recovery feels like The Murder Capital breaking away and starting to forge their own voice. After short ominous opener Existence, the album kicks off properly with the spiralling vortex of Crying, which actually has more in common with Primary Colours-era The Horrors than their Irish compatriots. The whirlwind indie rock of Return My Head and the menacing jangle of The Stars Will Leave Their Stage impress early on, before the album hits a peak bang in the middle.

The Lie Becomes The Self is undoubtedly my favourite here, a moody, vulnerable piece which sees James McGovern’s passionate vocals take centre stage, surrounded by stripped-back, atmospheric guitars. At one point towards the end there is a nod back to Crying with the same riff flickering in the background. It really highlights the band’s maturing songwriting capabilities, with A Thousand Lives then continuing the album’s strong purple patch with its hard-hitting snares, spacey vocals, glistening guitars and invigorating outro. The near six-minute title track then sees the band continue to boast their rhythmic chops, before acoustic closer Exist brings the album wonderfully full circle.

As someone who really struggled with The Murder Capital’s debut I’ve taken to Gigi’s Recovery straight away, with arguably more parallels to the likes of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Radiohead here than their contemporaries from the post-punk scene. An album I’ve already returned to several times over, this one is a big step up in class for the Irish band and another of my favourite records of the last couple of weeks.

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Derealised by Jadu Heart

Back in 2019 (which was another exceptionally strong year for music) dream pop duo Jadu Heart made a lifelong fan out of me with their incredible debut Melt Away, a record that would go on to finish 11th in my final Album of the Year list. However as is always the case with having such a strong, captivating debut, matching that record’s magic was always going to be a tough ask and although I still enjoyed parts of follow-up Hyper Romance, I never quite took to it the same way.

Now back with their third album Derealised, this one has already kept me returning more than their previous effort. With Cocoon and Blame setting things alight early doors, the swirling, distorted guitars on tracks like Freedom, I Shimmer and Derealisation bring welcome shades to the hazy sounds of 90s alt-rock.

So whilst it has still not captured me quite like their debut, it’s great to see Jadu Heart continue to evolve. Although this record feels like it could do with tightening down slightly, maybe being a couple of tracks shorter, there’s also plenty of enjoyable moments here to keep you coming back. It’s also made me want to revisit their second album to see if I hear anything I missed three years ago - always a positive sign.

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Cautionary Tales of Youth by Låpsley

As a big fan of the ambient electronica of Låpsley’s second album Through Water, I was keen to hear if her third record would have the same impact. I’m pleased to say it does, as Cautionary Tales of Youth sees the English singer-songwriter share feelings of romance and domestic unease, along with describing her lockdown adventures across the album’s blissful twelve tracks. If you are looking for a chilled-out record to stick on in the background or get lost in on your headphones then this is the one for you, with tracks like the Msaki featuring Close to Heaven, Pandora’s Box and Lifeline all standing out.

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Cacti by Billy Nomates

“Now with the previous record for reference, the growth on Cacti is immediately ear-catching. Thanks to Maries’ middle-class upbringing and her experiences of trying to fit into an office setting while yearning for a more creative outlet, she is poised to explode onto the scene with a rooted base that’s often lacking in an industry built upon backroom handshakes of connected parents who have come before.

Not only have Maries lyrics matured, but so has the music. Cacti still revolves around the slinky bass and drum machines of her debut, but now the keyboard synths and guitar textures are given more room to breathe. Maries once again recorded most of the album at home, but teaming up with co-producer James Trevascus, who has worked with fellow badass women like PJ Harvey, pays off with a more expansive, warmer scope this time around.”

Read Kiley Larsen’s full review here

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Turn The Car Around by Gaz Coombes

“Turn The Car Around finds Coombes on a new level though, leaving behind the rollicking snot-nosed days of being “Caught By the Fuzz” in favor of effervescent fully-fledged observations by someone who has lived a few lifetimes since the height of Brit Pop fever.

Whether it’s the title track or the Bowie-esque grooving “This Love,” much of the record deals with a marriage’s transition from early excitement to navigating everyday domesticity, and Coombes is determined to sing his way out of the stagnation - it’s easy to find yourself rooting for him with this lovely record. Turn The Car Around and the record’s January release fits the mood perfectly, as it’s the kind of thoughtful singer-songwriter record that demands full attention while pushing through the itchy sweater months. Oh, and don’t forget your good headphones, thanks to co-producer Ian Davenport’s warm and inviting mix.”

Read Kiley Larsen’s full review here

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Lobes by We Are Scientists

“We Are Scientists' eighth studio album Lobes has been presented as a sister album to 2021’s Huffy and is best described as a late-night synth-heavy record designed for post-midnight city driving. Speaking to Psychedelic Baby Magazine, Keith Murray recognises their new direction, describing it as being “more electronic, dancier, ambitious in their production and arrangements, but still easy as hell to down like a spectacular, fruity cocktail on a light-up dance floor.” It’s hard to disagree, Lobes has so many earworms in its arsenal. The late-night aspired sound sees We Are Scientists explore unfamiliar funky territory. They may be removed from their garage rock origins, but the record just sounds so refreshing, the band able to escape the one-dimensional criticisms which often followed them in the past.

We Are Scientists new late-night vision finds the perfect balance in its retro disco feel and futuristic synth-pop style. Despite the change in approach, the charisma and punchiness still remain. All in all, it slaps...pretty hard for the most part. The underappreciated heroes of the indie sleaze era are here to bring a little mood and light to your evening.”

Read Matt McLister’s full review here

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Also worth checking out: Every Loser by Iggy Pop, Atomic Mango Drive (DJ Mix) by Hot Chip, Higher Lonely Power by Fireworks, Geodesic by Weak Moves, Frightful Places EP by Frightful Places

Tracks of the Week

Emily I’m Sorry by boygenius

Rumours began swirling when their name appeared on this year’s Coachella line up, but it has now been confirmed that the trio of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus will deliver their much-anticipated debut album this March. Five years on from their much-loved EP and several star-making solo albums later, everyone’s favourite indie rock supergroup finally returned with three brand new tracks to serve as the first sampling of The Record.

There is the raw, grunge thrusts of $20 and the emotional soar of True Blue, but it’s Emily I’m Sorry that is my personal pick of the bunch so far. Led by Phoebe and backed by a light sprinkling of strings, when the trio’s harmonies come together for the chorus swells the goosebumps on your arms and neck are sure to stand on end.

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Tropic Morning News by The National

Another huge return, indie darlings The National also announced their ninth studio album will land this April, intriguingly titled The First Two Pages of Frankenstein. Even more intriguing, we already know it will feature collaborations with heavyweight stars like Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift.

Tropic Morning News is the first taste of the record and while it very much sticks to the usual National playbook, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Co-written with Matt Berninger’s wife Carin, it’s a depression fuelled belter that comes alive midway through thanks to a vintage Dessner guitar solo.

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UK Grim by Sleaford Mods

The UK’s most productive band announced their twelfth studio album will be arriving this March, with aggressive, electro-driven opener and title track the first taste. With Jason Williamson taking no prisoners as he unleashes his sardonic fury on the current state of Tory Britain, it’s best experienced with the accompanying Cold War Steve animated music video.

Watch the video here

Love From The Other Side by Fall Out Boy

Finally this week, pop punk royalty Fall Out Boy also announced their first new album in five years this month. Titled So Much (For) Stardust, it also arrives this March and we have already had two teaser singles to give our first taste of their new material. My pick of the two is Love From The Other Side, which will serve as the album’s opening track and raises the curtain with a flurry of classical strings and piano. It doesn’t take long for the full-throttle guitar riffs to crash in, forging a dramatic and ultra-catchy returning anthem for the veteran outfit.

Listen here

Also out, also great: Fold by Bonobo & Jacques Greene, (pls) set me on fire by Enter Shikari, Modernise by The Slow Readers Club, Get Out of My House by Miya Folick

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thrill-kill-kult · 7 months

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#I hope a lot of people see this #poll #music #metal #Im genuinely just so curious about how people build their music taste #I’d say I most often find an artist on a Spotify generated playlist or in my recommendations #and I’ll listen to their top songs then start going through their albums #but I do love using gnoosic and obscurify #I also love finding small playlists #esp ones made by musicians #huge fan of the aggrotech attack playlist #I like pride myself on having extremely obscure taste in music lol #I love showing people cool small bands they’ve never heard of before #on that note check out My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult #and Xorcist

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irisbellemoon · 1 year

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Give me album recommendations!!! I need new stuff to vibe to!!

#honestly my spotify is so barren #i know artists are going to release a lot of music this year but still #music rec #album rec #album recommendations #music recommendations

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animusrox · 1 month

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11 Essential Synthwave Albums

Kavinsky | OutRun

Starcadian | Midnight Signals

The Midnight | Endless Summer

FM-84 | Atlas

Night Runner | Starfighter

FM Attack | Stellar

Lazerhawk | Redline

Trevor Something | Synthetic Love

Miami Nights 1984 | Turbulence

NINA | Sleepwalking

Timecop1983 | Night Drive

#new retro wave #retrowave #synthwave #synthpop #albums #music #music recommendation #userrobin #userbrittany #zombooyah #mikaeled #usergal #userksusha #tuserdana #kane52630

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thefearandnow · 1 year

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It’s December which means I’m trying to catch up on all the music that came out this year! What are some of your favorite albums from 202? Any genre, doesn’t matter if it’s a big name artist or someone local.

Some stand out releases for me:

Saba

Animal Collective

Hikaru Utada

Destroyer

Quelle Chris

Toro y Moi

Grace Ives

Regina Spektor

Alvvays

Kenny Beats

Stuff I want to come back to:

Denzel Curry

Built to Spill

Dry Cleaning

Joey Bada$$

MAVI

#music recommendations #2022 in review #albums from 2022 #music #album recommendations

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ot3 · 3 months

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okay guys i'm going to open the floor for media recs: what is your favorite media wrt Lots of Female Characters or Really Good Female Character Writing? please put it in the replies so everything is in one place, i don't want any asks or dms. please refer to the following chart for how im grading these.

any media format, any genre. actually that's a lie. don't recommend concept albums to me. a concept album isn't real media they made that shit up for theater kids. femslash is a bonus but not necessary, however if you recommend anythign really het i will probably side eye you. okay thanks xx

#you may think im being unnecessarily specific by saying no concept albums #but one time i made a post offhandedly complaining about how i wish there was more popular stuff with femslash #and someone was like you should try listening to this concept album from the band the magnus archives guy was in #i was just so thrown by that recommendation more than i've been by pretty much anything else in my life

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theplacesaysstuff · 5 months

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One of the BEST albums I’ve heard in so long. It reminds me of Zelda, animal crossing, and chill music with lots of childish fun and nostalgia

PLEASE LISTEN TO IT I WILL INSURE YOU IT WILL CURE YOUR INNER CHILD

youtube

#music for bugs #please listen #album #inner child #music recommendation #fypシ #fypage #fyp #music #Youtube #Spotify #naturecore

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charminglyantiquated · 6 months

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✨birthday playlist!✨

it's october! if you're so inclined, please tell me one song you love - every year I make a playlist of all of them and it gets me through the winter. there's always something really special to me about knowing each song on there is important to someone else, and I've found some of my favorite artists through it. thank you thank you thank you!!

(like previous years, I'll make the playlist available on youtube and spotify when it's done!)

#just for the sake of brevity if you recommend an entire album i select one song at random from it #because the playlist averages 9hours already lol #it's late bc i had covid. but on my last birthday i was on a boat that caught on fire. onwards and upwards baby #birthday playlist

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dailyalbumrecs · 16 days

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Brain Salad Surgery- Emerson, Lake & Palmer

The 1973 album Brain Salad Surgery is a fantastic prog rock album that focuses ~2/3 of the runtime to a multi part song named Karn Evil 9. Because 30 minute multi part songs are not radio friendly the part of Karn Evil 9 you'll likely hear on radio is 1st Impression Pt 2, but the full song is cool and in the 2nd Impression section it appears that Keith Emerson quotes the Sonny Rollins song St. Thomas. My favorite song is Toccata.

Apple Music:

Spotif:

#music #daily album recs #music rec #album recommendation #album recommendations #album recs #album rec #music recommendation #music recommendations #dailyalbumrecs #emerson lake and palmer #Emerson #Lake #Palmer #emerson lake & palmer #Karn evil 9 #brain salad surgery #Music #Spotify

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daily-ethoslab · 4 months

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[608] Heres a scavenger hunt! Try to find the album that inspired the colors of this etho! Hint: the name of the author is on the shirt :^P

#the prize is that you get to listen to the album #I recommend #community gardens #starstruck #admire the architecture #and Jeannie youre a Tragedy #thos are just my favs from the album but ohfjsadfksj the whole thing is great #idk i love the scary jokes #all the music they make is #chefs kiss #etho #ethoslab #hermitcraft #etho fanart #day 608 #im quite sure ive talked about them if not this album before #tikas favs

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newmusickarl · 1 year

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Top 50 Albums of 2022

8. The Car by Arctic Monkeys

“Don’t get emotional” are the words spoken by Alex Turner at the start of There’d Better Be A Mirrorball, the lead single and glorious string-drenched opening track to Arctic Monkeys’ sixth album, The Car. It’s quite an ironic line in the circumstances as since its release, the reaction to the album has been a highly emotional one - from both fans and critics.

Much like their previous effort Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino (TBH&C), the response to their 2022 record has been highly divisive and multiple warring factions amongst their fanbase have been made. From a 5/5 classic review from NME to a 3/10 slating from The Needle Drop, to fans who love the new direction and those that just want the old rocking & rolling Arctics back, everyone has a differing opinion it seems. For me, I understand both the praise and the criticisms of The Car but if I’m being honest and am going to pick a side, this is not only one of my favourite albums of the year but one of my favourite Arctic Monkeys' records, period. Controversial I know!

Now in the mid-00s, like many kids my age at that time, Arctic Monkeys were far and away my favourite band. Their Mercury Prize-winning debut telling tales of working-class shenanigans in Sheffield arrived with all the impact of a nuclear bomb, resonating with me like no other record at that moment in my teenage life. From there the band continued to cement themselves for me and millions more, with Favourite Worst Nightmare in many ways even better than their star-making debut. Later on, it would then be the swaggering riffs and intricate lyricism of AM that would see the band enter a new stratosphere of global superstardom. Sadly, that took them to the moon and TBH&C happened.

I appreciate that some enjoyed the sharp sonic direction change of TBH&C, whilst others also persevered and grew to love it. For me though, I found it mightily pretentious and very, very dull. Sure, there were moments like Four Out Of Five and the title track where there was a spark of magic, but for the most part I found it to be nothing more than uninspiring lounge music that should’ve stayed in the imaginary moon hotel elevators where it was found. It put me off the band so much, that I had rarely listened to them in the years since, aside from a song occasionally appearing on a library shuffle. Thankfully though, The Car has brought me right back on board.

Heading into the album on its initial release, my expectations were - at best - modest. Although I had enjoyed the singles leading up to it coming out, there was still the lingering spectre of TBH&C that I thought may reappear somewhere amongst the album tracks to send me off to sleep. To my surprise after numerous repeat spins, I enjoy absolutely everything about this record. You see although The Car feels like a natural follow on to TBH&C and even carries a similar vibe to that record, there is just so much more going on in the instrumentation to keep me interested.

When the music sweeps across your headphones like a gorgeous movie score or the occasional riff arrives carrying some leftover dust of the Monkeys’ AM days, it’s in these moments where The Car is truly amazing. Then on the lyrics front, Turner has thankfully ditched most of the fictional nonsense and returned back down to earth to talk genuine human emotions again. Although I can also see why people are still turned off by this new direction, I think compared to the last album this is a major return to form – its richly-textured, its beautifully orchestrated and, for me, the Arctic Monkeys are actually back to making fascinating music again.

I touched on the opening track There’d Better Be A Mirrorball earlier and it is without a doubt one of the best moments on the entire album, and indeed all year. Filled with grandiose, stirring strings and noticeably more sincerity than anything on TBH&C, it is just absolutely brilliant. This is followed by their single I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am, with its super funky guitars and smooth soulful passages. It’s a playful track, which makes the contrasting rumbling atmospherics of Sculptures of Anything Goes even more impactful when they eventually arrive. Splendidly descriptive, the goosebump moment comes midway through when Turner’s falsetto speaks of “marble stairs leading to almost wherever you want them to” before a huge, ominous swell of strings - it’s completely stunning.

The opening trio is fantastic, but there’s plenty more to enjoy here too. Even the biggest haters of this record would deny that Body Paint is anything other than classic Arctic Monkeys, with its enchanting organ melody and oddly anthemic chorus of “So predictable, I know what you’re thinking.” The second half is even better, with its Beatles-esque arrangement and spellbinding, climatic guitar solo. Not only one of the best tracks here but also already one of my favourite Monkeys’ tracks.

Elsewhere, Big Ideas shimmers as “The Ballad of What Could’ve Been”, playing out almost like a great lost James Bond theme. Hello You is another personal favourite, with its hypnotic keys, swirling symphonics and big brash AM-style guitars. Closing track Perfect Sense is wonderful too, ending in more mesmerising string-drenched majesty as Turner sings “If that’s what it takes to say goodnight, then that’s what it takes.” Again, just beautiful.

With TBH&C I forced myself to revisit and eventually gave up altogether, whereas with The Car I loved it initially and it has only grown in stature for me with every subsequent listen. Each time I play it, I discover new intricacies in both the words and the arrangements that I didn’t hear previously, which is everything you should want from a record of the year. For me, this is a magnificent album and whilst I understand that a lot of people won’t want to jump in The Car and take it for a spin, I’m personally more than happy to go along for the ride.

Best tracks: Body Paint, Hello You, There'd Better Be A Mirrorball

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#new music #best new music #album recommendations #albums of the year #album of the year #best of 2022 #best of the year #aoty #aoty 2022 #albums of 2022 #best albums of 2022 #arctic monkeys #the car #body paint #alex turner #matt helders #jamie cook #nick o'malley #Youtube

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