John Killick’s Albums of 2015
Another year older and what do we get,everybody’s getting fat except Mama Cass! Some one said the other day “`That vinyl’s trendy now isn’t it” I said ” No it’s now mainstream” and if you dropped into Urban Trader recently you would have seen amongst the 3 storey wall of vinyl and dodgy record players a copy of Beggars Banquet for £26 quid, Beggars Belief more like. So that now means everything on this years list is vinyl unless otherwise stated.
Unbelievably this year we have a best 10″ I’m going for 3 reissues.
Frank Sinatra/Songs For Young Lovers. In his centenary year a Newly Remastered lush Nelson Riddle arrangement of some of his best songs.
Rory Gallagher/Irish Tour ’74. Unreleased rehearsals from the Irish Tour album which you should already have of course.
Fela Kuti/Fela Fela Fela. Funkier than James Brown and versions from the ’69 Los Angeles Sessions.A must have CD.
There’s also been a flood of box sets The record companies have hit paydirt flogging dead horses but at the same time a great way of getting back catalogue on mass in nice packages.
The first of the three I’ve selected is in fact an older box set of CD’s which has now come around at a silly price.
Bill Withers/The Complete Sussex and Columbia albums.You’ll know plenty of the songs but the ones you don’t are as good if not better. The second half of the set may be a bit patchy but the first half sounds like a funky Gil Scot-Heron eat your heart out Aloe Blacc.
Rod Stewart/The first five albums two of which An Old Raincoat and Never A Dull Moment regularly appear in my Top 100 and have never sounded so good. I’ve recommended these albums many times over the years and this collection really lets you know why Rod the Mod was such a great White Blues/Soul singer.
David Bowie/Five Years ’69 to ’73.This was always going to be a must for me and I can’t wait for the next set.
Can you believe Mojo gave this a cursory review and yet the plaudits handed out to the Queen box issued at the same time yet they made three consistent albums at best (The first three in case you wondered)
This months Uncut has 7 Bowie in it’s top 200 Albums Queen have none should any one have noticed including one of the best Heavy Rock albums ever made The Man Who Sold The World along with one of the best bootlegs by any artist Live Santa Monica ’72.
Reggae Album Of The Year for me is the last in the Jamaican Recordings RSD issues
Linval Thompson/Dreadlock Sessions. Vocal meets version A beautiful voice meeting top musicians.
Not a great year for reggae releases IMO but two very good CD comps are.
Don Letts Presents:Dread Meets Punk Rockers Uptown Vol.2. If you were at any punk gigs in the 70’s you’ll know there weren’t any punk singles played at the early gigs because there weren’t any to play and apart from the odd rockabilly track the only other sounds heard were these and the previous volume.
Virgin Front Line Presents Reggae Discomixes. Much the same as above but just with the rarer long versions.
Americana/Folk Album Of The Year
Patty Griffin/Servant Of Love. Percy Plants ex squeeze. Is it country is it folk who knows but a great sounding story album expertly sung and played.
Jazz Album.
Otis Taylor/Hey Joe Opus Red Meat. This guy has made numerous albums and they’re all boundary crossing
and this is no different probably the best recorded album I’ve heard this year to boot. Amazing guitar work Rock meets Jazz Miles meets Hendrix or something like it. Highly recommended and also a contender for album of the year.
and of course…this years Miles bootleg release.
Miles Davis/At Newport 1955-1975 The Bootleg Series Vol.4. Various classic band line ups from acoustic to full
blown electronics, this series never fails to come with the goods and although bits have come out on other box sets never in full concert versions. How much more is in the archives, plenty I would guess.
World Music.
Tamikrest/Taksera. Get this while it’s still around a RSD release an in concert desert blues guitar performance that hypnotizes.
Mbongwana Star/From Kinshasa. This very nearly qualifies as album of the year. A real breakthrough album.
Africa meets dance floor electronics. One of the surprises of the year.
A couple of Neo classical releases (strokes imagery beard)
David John Sheppard/Vertical Land. A contemporary look at the style of Glass, Riley and Reich.
Julia Kent/Asperities. Cello treated and disturbed can be listened to sitting up or horizontal.
Compilation.
Kruder Dorfmeister/The K&D Sessions. Finally available on vinyl in Audiophile LP Edition. It says so on the sticker but also one of the best compilations ever full stop. Containing definitive versions of many 12″ classics.
Albums Of The Year
I could talk about how disappointing the Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Father John Misty albums were but everybody knows that don’t they, this modern idea of making a great album then completely changing style for the next album as done by John Grant after the Queen Of Denmark, very clever but lacking consistency.
So contenders apart from previously mentioned.
Roisin Murphy/Hairless Toys. Another Electropop masterpiece from ex Moloko singer definitely not chasing the charts very eclectic but at the same time has a commercial feel to it.
Low/Ones And Sixes. You know what your getting with a Low album but they are so darn good at it and this is one of their best.
C Duncan/Architect. A one man band recording in his Glasgow flat with a voice that bears comparison to Colin Blunstone, ethereal pop harmonies that could come from a different decade but sound now.
Beach House/Thank Your Lucky Stars. The second of two albums in one year but this is the one. Mazzy Star
meets The Velvet Underground….again. And if you like the poppier side of the Velvets as sung by one of those sweet girl voices this is for you.
That leaves an album that I’ve come back to time and again this year so qualifies on that ground alone .
Ryley Walker/Primrose Green. Yes he sounds like John Martyn, yes he sounds like Tim Buckley and yes it could be Nick Drake or Van Morrison but as the first three are long dead and Van has artistically been that way since the mid to late seventies you’ll not get anything of this calibre coming out anytime soon. Forget the comparisons just enjoy an album made to their high standards and be thankful that some ones doing it so well. A wonderful record.
That’s all pop pickers.
John