Welcome once again to the annual tradition of Song Bar’s favourite album releases of 2023. This is Part 2, and Part 1 was yesterday. There’s no such thing as a chart rundown or ‘best of’ here, and these come in no particular order …
Read moreFavourite albums of 2023 Part 1: Anna B Savage to Young Fathers
Welcome once again to the annual tradition of Song Bar’s favourite album releases of 2023. This is Part 1, and Part 2 is also out here. There’s no such thing as a chart rundown or ‘best of’ here, and these come in no particular order. This is all about quality and innovation …
Read moreFavourite albums of 2021 - Part 2
Favourite albums of 2021 – Part 2: Welcome the second instalment, following Part 1, which can be found here. A huge number of excellent releases, of which again this is just a selection many of which were written during, and about lockdown, but also saw many outstanding voices emerge as well as innovative sounds developed
Read moreFavourite albums of 2021 - Part 1
Favourite albums of 2021, part 1: Another difficult year for everyone, but from soul and jazz, electro-pop the experimental and avant-garde, an outstanding one for music releases, perhaps in part because out of diversity comes great art. Also feel free to explore Part 2, which is now available to view here.
Read moreU-Roy: Solid Gold U-Roy
New album: This final album by Ewart Beckford, the veteran pioneer of reggae toasting who died in February this year is fitting collection of classic tracks joined by a variety of guests including Ziggy Marley, Santigold, Shaggy and Mick Jones
Read moreAgnes Obel to Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers to Sault: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 2
Albums of 2020 roundup: Out of crisis comes great art. A year of lockdowns, no gigs, alternative sounds, experimentation and surprises. This is the second half of our roundup of favourite albums of 2020. Part 1 was here
Read moreFiona Apple to Lianne La Havas to Yves Tumor: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 1
Albums of 2020 roundup: A year of lockdowns, alternative sounds, experimentation and surprises. This is the first half two roundups of a total over 50 favourite albums of the year that musicians stayed at home. And here’s Part 2.
Read moreAlbum reviews roundup: Elvis Costello, Dizzee Rascal, Sun Ra Arkestra, Eels, Oneohtrix Point Never, Action Bronson, Jim White, Adrianne Lenker, Keaton Henson
Album reviews roundup: This week’s selection again reflects the times - divided political America to grief and isolation, but also presents an abundance of creativity, wit and musical invention crossing everything from jazz to hip hop
Read moreBillie Eilish to FKA twigs to Weyes Blood: favourite albums of 2019 – part 2
The second part of this year’s LP favourites again includes several superb female artists. Also check out the first part published yesterday
Read moreAldous Harding to Richard Dawson to Michael Kiwanuka: favourite albums of 2019 – part 1
The first part of our selection of the pick of albums from 2019 by Song Bar readers and the Landlord editor, in alphabetical order by title, not a ‘best of’ or countdown. The second part is here.
Read moreNew albums: The Comet Is Coming, The Who, Carla dal Forno, Ms Banks, Tune-Yards, Nolan Potter's Nightmare Band, Doon Kanda, Stick In The Wheel, Jeremy Walmsley, Various
This week’s roundup includes The Comet Is Coming’s second album of 2019, the first by the Who for half a generation, beautiful stark work by Carla Dal Forno as well as Doon Kanda and psyche by Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band
Read moreNew albums: Sleater-Kinney, The Murder Capital, Shura, The Hold Steady, Ride, Blanck Mass, Oh Sees, Friendly Fires, Kurt Vile, King Gizzard and TLW, The Rails
Cracking returns from Sleater-Kinney, The Murder Capital, Ride, Oh Sees, The Hold Steady, and some Prince-style funk pop from Manchester’s Shura are among this week’s latest roundup of album releases
Read moreNew albums: The National, Erland Cooper, BCUC, Lewis Capaldi, Slowthai, Josephine Wiggs, Steel Pulse, Hey Colossus, Tyler The Creator, Carly Rae Jepson
This week’s new album roundup has something for everyone – soft, soothing, moving gentle experimental and lo-fi, fierce and soulful hip-hop, African dance music, political reggae and cheesy pop
Read moreNew albums: LP, Van Morrison, Earl Sweatshirt, AMOR, Planningtorock, and compilations
This week’s selection brings a mixture of mainstream pop and dance in the LGBTQ setting, hip-hop poetry, Van Morrison paying homage to old masters, some innovative electronica, and two intriguing compilations
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