1 shame – Food For Worms
When shame released their first album Songs of Praise in 2018 I fell in love with it immediately. And even though I really, really like their second album „Drunk Tank Pink“ from 2021 (especially the themes and lyrics) I kind of lost track of them for a bit, but after they released Food for Worms this year they went from „a band I really like“ to „one of my absolute favourite bands of all time“ for me.
I love the different genres they explore on this, it is a very rich and multi-layered record with exceptionally good lyrics. And it fits every mood from a dance-y, mosh-able one (like on Six-Pack and Fingers of Steel) to a melancholic, sad and almost emo one (Orchid, Adderall).
I also had the pleasure of hearing the songs on this played live a couple of times this year (also read my live review further down below) and honestly, the songs on this feel like they were written for sweaty club shows. Fingers of Steel is usually the first track on the setlist and I can see why. It’s a song that gets everyone moving and in a good mood in the span of a few seconds and grew to be a favourite of mine.
Favourite tracks: Fingers of Steel, Orchid, Adderall, Six-Pack
2 Grian Chatten – Chaos For The Fly
If this would have been released in another year, it would have probably made Nr. 1 on my list (but this year my passion for post-punk was at an all-time-high).
This album grew very special to me. I kind of knew that I would like it, even before I listened to it entirely for the first time. Grian Chatten is one of my favourite artists and no matter what he puts out, be it the music he does with Fontaines DC, his collaboration on the fantastic „I Saw Light“ with the equally amazing Kae Tempest or just the deeply observant things he says during interviews or day-to-day conversations, deserves every bit of attention. He has a poetic way of looking at the world that turns everything into gold. Like the Midas touch of poetry.
I like these songs so much. I had some of them stuck in my head after first listen and it feels like I’ve known them all my life. They are reminiscent of The Pogues at some points and have a very folk-y, tender touch to them.
A theme that makes me really connect with Grian’s lyrics and songwriting, one that he already explored with Fontaines DC on songs like „I Don’t Belong“ is very present on this, a feeling of not really fitting in anywhere, feeling misunderstood or sickened by the ways societies work on a large scale and on a small individual scale.
Grian has recently found himself surrounded by lot of media attention and an almost religious worshipping by his fans (I’ve been to gigs where you almost couldn’t hear him sing because the people in the crowd kept chanting „Grian, Grian, Grian“ at an extremely high volume). I don’t think he enjoys that too much. Grian seems interested in the world, but at the same time very cautious and probably rightfully mistrusting of it. The songs on „Chaos For The Fly“ sound just like that. A melange of capturing the beauty of the world and its emotion while at the same time rejecting and retreating from all that is, well, not so good. A love letter to humanity and at the same time highly critical of the human potential to do bad.
And I want the line „She felt too deeply, too often, too long. And now she’ll feel nothing forever“ off Salt Throwers Off A Truck written on my gravestone, if anybody is taking notes.
Favourite tracks: Fairlies, Bob’s Casino, The Score
3. The Murder Capital – Gigi’s Recovery
I like their first album – When I Have Fears – even better, but I can appreciate the new depths they took on on this record.
After I saw the songs played live I grew to really love this album.
Favourite tracks: Ethel, Return My Head, The Lie Becomes the Self
4. Wednesday – Rat Saw God
It’s music that reminds me of my youth and the sounds I liked when I was a teenager. I really like the lead singer’s voice and the grungy, non-chalant guitars.
Favourite tracks: Bull Believer, Chosen to Deserve
5. PJ Harvey – I Inside the Old Year Dying
It took me a few listens and the right mood to really connect with it, but once I did I really fell for it. It is a very complex and interesting record and one of my favourites of this year.
Favourite tracks: Prayer at the Gate, August
6. Osees – Intercepted Message
7. Sprain – The Lamb as Effigy
8. Lana Del Rey: Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd.
9. Drain – Living Proof
10. Cory Hanson – Western Cum
11. Lankum – False Lankum
12. Blondshell – Blondshell
13. JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown – SCARING THE HOES
14. MF Tomlinson – We Are Still Wild Horses
15. The Kills – God Games
