My Favourite Album of 2018: An American Treasure - Tom Petty

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An American Treasure - Tom Petty

Reprise Records

 Compiled by: Mike Campbell, Adria Petty, Dana Petty, Benmont Tench, and Ryan Ulyate

Released 28th September 2018

US Chart #9

UK Chart #38

 

Listen To The Whole Album Here.

  Tracklist
    1970's
1-1 Surrender (from Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Sessions 1976)
1-2 Listen To Her Heart (Live at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA 1977-11-11)
1-3 Anything That's Rock 'N' Roll (Live at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA 1977-11-11)
1-4 When The Time Comes (from You're Gonna Get It! 1978-05-02)
1-5 You're Gonna Get It (Alternate Version feat. strings from You're Gonna Get It! Sessions 1978)
1-6 Radio Promotion Spot 1977
1-7 Rockin' Around (With You) (from Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers 1976-11-09)
1-8 Fooled Again (I Don't Like It) (Alternate Version from Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers 1976)
1-9 Breakdown (Live at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA November 11, 1977)
1-10 The Wild One, Forever (from Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers 1976-11-09)
1-11 No Second Thoughts (from You're Gonna Get It! 1978-05-02)
1-12 Here Comes My Girl (Alternate Version from Damn The Torpedoes Sessions 1979)
1-13 What Are You Doing In My Life (Alternate Version from Damn The Torpedoes Sessions 1979)
1-14 Louisiana Rain (Alternate Version from Damn The Torpedoes Sessions 1979)
1-15 Lost In Your Eyes (Unreleased Single from Mudcrutch Sessions 1974)
  
1980's
2-1 Keep A Little Soul (from Long After Dark Sessions 1982)   
2-2 Even The Losers (Live at Rochester Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY 1989)
2-3 Keeping Me Alive (from Long After Dark Sessions 1982)
2-4 Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger (UK B-side single of 'I Won't Back Down' April, 1989)
2-5 The Apartment Song (Demo Recording with Stevie Nicks 1984)
2-6 Concert Intro (Live Introduction by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, The Forum, Inglewood, CA 1981-06-28)
2-7 King's Road (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA 1981-06-28)
2-8 Clear The Aisles (Live Concert Announcement by Tom Petty, The Forum, Inglewood, CA 1981-06-28)
2-9 A Woman In Love (It's Not Me) (Live at The Forum, Inglewood, CA 1981-06-28)
2-10 Straight Into Darkness (Alternate Version from The Record Plant, Hollywood, CA 1982-05-05)
2-11 You Can Still Change Your Mind (from Hard Promises 1981-05-05)
2-12 Rebels (Alternate Version from Southern Accents Sessions 1985)   
2-13 Deliver Me (Alternate Version from Long After Dark Sessions 1982)
2-14 Alright For Now (Album track from Full Moon Fever 1989-04-24)
2-15 The Damage You've Done (Alternate Version from Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) Sessions 1987)
2-16 The Best Of Everything (Alternate Version from Southern Accents Sessions 1985-03-26)   
2-17 Walkin' From The Fire (from Southern Accents Sessions 1984-03-01)   
2-18 King Of The Hill (Early Take with Roger McGuinn 1987-11-23)
  
1990's
3-1 I Won't Back Down (Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA 1997-02-04)   
3-2 Gainesville (from Echo Sessions 1998-02-12)   
3-3 You And I Will Meet Again (from Into The Great Wide Open 1991-07-02)   
3-4 Into The Great Wide Open (Live at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, 1991-11-24)   
3-5 Two Gunslingers (Live at The Beacon Theatre, New York, NY 2013-05-25)   
3-6 Lonesome Dave (from Wildflowers Sessions 1993-07-23)   
3-7 To Find A Friend (from Wildflowers 1994-11-01)   
3-8 Crawling Back To You (from Wildflowers 1994-11-01)   
3-9 Wake Up Time (from Early Wildflowers Sessions 1992-08-12)   
3-10 Grew Up Fast (from Songs And Music From 'She's The One' 1996-08-06)   
3-11 I Don't Belong (from Echo Sessions 1998-12-03)   
3-12 Accused Of Love (from Echo 1999-04-13)   
3-13 Lonesome Sundown (from Echo 1999-04-13)   
3-14 Don't Fade On Me (from Wildflowers Sessions 1994-04-20)   
  
2000's
4-1 You And Me (Clubhouse Version 2007-11-09)
4-2 Have Love Will Travel (from The Last DJ 2002-10-08)
4-3 Money Becomes King (from The Last DJ 2002-10-08)
4-4 Bus To Tampa Bay (from Hypnotic Eye Sessions 2011-08-11)
4-5 Saving Grace (Live at Malibu Performing Arts Center, Malibu, CA 2006-06-16)
4-6 Down South (from Highway Companion 2006-07-25)
4-7 Southern Accents (Live at Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, FL 2006-09-21)
4-8 Insider (Live with Stevie Nicks at O'Connell Center, Gainesville, FL 2006-09-21)
4-9 Two Men Talking (from Hypnotic Eye Sessions 2012-11-06)
4-10 Fault Lines (from Hypnotic Eye 2014-07-29)
4-11 Sins Of My Youth (Early Take from Hypnotic Eye Sessions 2012-11-12)
4-12 Good Enough (Alternate Version from Mojo Sessions 2012)
4-13 Something Good Coming (from Mojo 2010-07-15)
4-14 Save Your Water (from Mudcrutch 2 2016-05-20)
4-15 Like A Diamond (Alternate Version from The Last DJ Sessions 2002)
4-16 Hungry No More (Live at House Of Blues, Boston, MA 2016-06-15)

Tom Petty

20th October 1950 - 2nd October 2017

Almost a year after the passing of Tom Petty this marvellous collection of Studio, Outtakes, Alternate Versions and Live Recordings, including music from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty Solo and Mudcrutch spanning 1974 through to 2016 was released.

 Mudcrutch

In 1974 Mudcrutch had released one single three years before (Up in Mississippi in 1971 and decided to make their move from Gainesville, Florida to Los Angeles, California in the hope of making it. Failing to secure a spot on a major label they found someone who had some belief in them and signed with the Independent label Shelter Records which was owned by Leon Russell. They released Depot Street as a single in 1975 but it failed to chart. On this Boxset there's an unreleased single Lost In Your Eyes recorded in a 1974 session (the final track on Disc 1). 

In late 1975 Shelter decided to break the band up and retain only Tom Petty under contract.   Several months later, Petty regrouped with former Mudcrutch members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench to form The Heartbreakers along with fellow Gainesville natives Stan Lynch (drums) and Ron Blair (bass).

 Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty was probably not considered as "An American Treasure" back at the start as he and The Heartbreakers gained more attention in the UK when their debut album was released in November 1976. In the States it only peaked in the chart at #55 (and that was in 1978!) whilst in the UK it reached #24.

The Four CD Boxset covers the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s dedicating a disc to each era. The three live tracks from the Capitol Studios in 1977 (Listen To Her Heart, Anything That's Rock and Roll and Breakdown) are pretty cool. I recently picked up a copy of the whole show and it was great hearing them sounding so fresh back then. The rest of the tracks on Disc 1 cover the first three albums (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - 1976; You're Gonna Get It! - 1978; and Damn The Torpedoes - 1979). I love how the album opens with Surrender (an outtake from the Debut album).

On Disc 2 we enter the 80's and here we find some excellent stuff: Keep A Little Soul, an outtake from the Long After Dark Sessions is wonderful (Keeping Me Alive is another outtake from the same album). The only other outtake is Walkin' From The Fire which was recorded during sessions for Southern Accents.

Disc 3 contains some great stuff from Petty's Solo outing Wildflowers: a couple of Alternate versions and an Outtake in Lonesome Dave. Gainesville and I Don't Belong are Outtakes from the Echo Sessions.

Disc 4 contains Bus To Tampa Bay and Two Men Talking both Outtakes from Hypnotic Eye and there's alternate versions of tracks from The Last DJ, Hypnotic Eye and Mojo. 

What I really loved about this collection was that it would have been almost too easy to just bring together all the hit singles etc but they really went the extra mile to bring Outtakes, Alternate Versions, Live tracks and maybe lesser known album tracks by digging around into Tom Petty's archives. I guess if you wanted the hits then you are best looking elsewhere. This is really an album for the fans who are appreciative of some of the hidden gems that were maybe just gathering dust.

I'm glad to annouce this one as My Favourite Album of 2018. 

Favourite Albums of 2018: Joe Strummer 001 - Joe Strummer (September)

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Joe Strummer 001 - Joe Strummer
Ignition Records
Produced by Robert Gordon McHarg III
Released 28th September 2018
UK Charts #11
UK Independent Albums #5
Scottish Chart #11
US Independent Albums (Billboard) #27

Tracklisting Information

CD1:
1. Letsagetabitarockin' (2005 Remastered Version) - The 101ers - 00:02:08 (2005 remastered version originally released on Elgin Avenue Breakdown)
2. Keys To Your Heart (Version 2) [2005 Remastered Version] - The 101ers - 00:03:08 (2005 remastered version originally released on Elgin Avenue Breakdown)
3. Love Kills - Joe Strummer - 00:03:59 (Originally released on the soundtrack to the 1986 film Sid and Nancy)
4. Tennessee Rain - Joe Strummer - 00:02:55 (Originally released on the soundtrack to the 1987 film Walker)
5. Trash City - Joe Strummer & The Latino Rockabilly War - 00:04:11 (Originally released on the soundtrack to the 1988 film Permanent Record)
6. 15th Brigade - Joe Strummer - 00:02:40
7. Ride Your Donkey - Joe Strummer - 00:02:21 (Originally released the 1989 album Earthquake Weather)
8. Burning Lights - Joe Strummer & The Astro-Physicians - 00:02:43 (Originally featured in the 1990 film I Hired a Contract Killer)
9. Afro-Cuban Be-Bop - Joe Strummer & The Astro-Physicians - 00:02:53
10. Sandpaper Blues - Radar - 00:04:44
11. Generations - Electric Dog House - 00:05:30 (Originally released on the 1997 compilation album Generations 1: A Punk Look at Human Rights)
12. It’s A Rockin' World - Joe Strummer - 00:02:25 (Originally released on the 1998 album Chef Aid: The South Park Album)
13. Yalla Yalla - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - 00:06:57 (Originally released on the 1999 album Rock Art and the X-Ray Style)
14. X-Ray Style - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - 00:04:34 (Originally released on the 1999 album Rock Art and the X-Ray Style)
15. Johnny Appleseed - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - 00:04:02 (Originally released on the 2001 album Global a Go-Go)
16. Minstrel Boy - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - 00:05:42 (Originally released on the 2001 soundtrack for the film Black Hawk Down)
17. Redemption Song - Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer - 00:03:24 (Originally released on Cash's 2003 box set Unearthed)
18. Over The Border - Jimmy Cliff & Joe Strummer - 00:03:51 (Originally released on Cliff's 2004 album Black Magic)
19. Coma Girl - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - 00:03:48 (Originally released on the 2003 album Streetcore)
20. Silver & Gold / Before I Grow Too Old - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - 00:02:39 (Originally released on the 2003 album Streetcore)

CD2:
1. Letsagetabitarockin' (Strummer Demo) - Joe Strummer - 00:01:49 (Unreleased demo)
2. Czechoslovak Song / Where Is England - Strummer, Simonon & Howard - 00:03:49 (Unreleased version of "This is England")
3. Pouring Rain (1984) - Strummer, Simonon & Howard - 00:03:29 (Unreleased)
4. Blues On The River - Joe Strummer - 00:04:37 (Unreleased)
5. Crying On 23rd - The Soothsayers - 00:02:52 (Unreleased)
6. 2 Bullets - Pearl Harbour - 00:03:11 (Unreleased)
7. When Pigs Fly - Joe Strummer - 00:04:06 (Song from the 1993 unreleased soundtrack for the film When Pigs Fly)
8. Pouring Rain (1993) - Joe Strummer - 00:04:06 (Song from the 1993 unreleased soundtrack for the film When Pigs Fly)
9. Rose Of Erin - Joe Strummer - 00:04:12 (Song from the 1993 unreleased soundtrack for the film When Pigs Fly)
10. The Cool Impossible - Joe Strummer - 00:04:32 (Unreleased, one of the final songs Strummer recorded)
11. London Is Burning - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - 00:03:14 (Unreleased, one of the final songs Strummer recorded, alternate version of "Burnin' Streets" from the 2003 album Streetcore)
12. U.S. North - Joe Strummer & Mick Jones - 00:10:32 (Unreleased song intended for the movie Candy Mountain, there is also a live Big Audio Dynamite version floating around that is just over 7 minutes long)

On The Limited Edition Vinyl Deluxe Box Set there is also included:
12" Vinyl Single:
A1. U.S. North - Joe Strummer & Mick Jones - 00:10:32

7" Vinyl Single:
A1. This Is England - Strummer, Simonon & Howard - 00:03:04 (Unreleased demo)
B1. Before We Go Forward - Strummer, Simonon & Howard - 00:02:49 (Unreleased demo)

Cassette:
A1. Full Moon (Basement Demo)* - Joe Strummer - 00:03:02 (Unreleased demo)

*This track is not included on the playlist above as I couldn't find it on You Tube.

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The 32 song album was released on 28 September 2018 by Ignition Records and features 12 previously unreleased songs, as well as known favourites from his recordings with The 101ers, The Mescaleros and his extensive soundtrack work along with alternate versions of previously released songs. 

I'm not always big on Anthologies, Compilations, Best of, Greatest Hits albums etc but every now and again one comes along that's really worth getting a little excited about (there is another one actually on my list that I'm yet to post about so there were at least two that took my fancy this year!).

I liked from the offset that this collection didn't involve a lot of stuff related to his days with The Clash because that has been seen, done, bought the t-shirt etc! Not that they are entirely absent because they sort of appear in the form of The Clash Mark II, whom most people would actually like to forget about because of that one album that barely gets a mention when discussing the history of The Clash, you know what one I mean!

It was great that they kicked off the album with The 101ers but I must admit that the version of 'Keys To Your Heart' that was chosen sounded quite twee and although it's been on a stack of compilations before, I wish they had used the 7" Single Version.

Also good was the move to show how Strummer's musical output was very diverse after The Clash with Soundtrack work as well as putting together another couple of bands that he could front and unleash the message that was on his heart and mind. For some strange reason it had totally escaped me that The Astro-Physicians were actually The Pogues! His backing band for the song 'It's A Rockin' World' included Flea (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers), Tom Morello, DJ Bonebrake (original drummer for the band X) and Benmont Tench (from The Heartbreakers) - now if that's not a bizzare gathering then I don't know what is!

One of my favourite things regarding Strummer Post-Clash was that his vocals actually begun to sound so much better and clearer even. His work with The Mescaleros is some of the most adventerous stuff he's ever done I think (and I cautiously say this especially thinking of some of the brilliant stuff he did with The Clash). There's a real collision of sounds incorporating everything from Rockabilly, Rock 'n' Roll, Reggae, Folk, World Music and so much more and there's some top tunes amid that great catalogue.

As we are drawing close to the 16th anniversary of his death (22nd December) I post this in a spirit of remembrance and joyfulness that he has left behind such a great legacy of music for us to enjoy.

"Raise a toast to Saint Joe Strummer. I think he might have been our only decent teacher." - Constructive Summer - The Hold Steady.

My Favourite Albums of 2018: MxPx - MxPx (July)

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MxPx - MxPx
Self Released via Kickstarter Campaign
Produced by MxPx
Released 25th July 2018

 Album Personnel
    Mike Herrera – lead vocals, bass guitar
    Yuri Ruley – drums, percussion
    Tom Wisniewski – lead guitar, backing vocals
    Chris Adkins – rhythm guitar, backing vocals.

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Released on these formats:

Black Vinyl 1st Pressing with Solid Teal, “Official Cover Artwork” limited to 1109 Copies.

Starburst Vinyl 1st Pressing Collector's Limited Edition, Numbered, with Silk Screen Cover 258 Copies.

 Teal Vinyl 1st Pressing limited to 564 Copies (Sold exclusively through Kickstarter).

 CD Digipak 1st Pressing limited to 1,638 Copies (Originally sold via Kickstarter).

Yellow Vinyl 2nd Pressing limited to 584 Copies (Released 20th November 2018).

Test Pressing limited to 27 Copies.

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The twelfth studio album from MxPx arrived in July via a Kickstarter Campaign as they are currently not signed to a particular label. 

It's their first album of brand new material since Plans Within Plans released 2012 on Rock City.

Life on the road, love, mad weekends, friendship, family are just some of the themes that come through the 11 tracks on the Self-Titled album. It's not rocket science just great Punk Pop tunes (not everything has to be a great debate about the state of the world!).

Twenty Four years down the road and MxPx are still out hitting stages and I would imagine this latest batch of songs will be going down a storm.

Favourite Albums of 2018: Fight The Good Fight - The Interrupters (June)

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Fight The Good Fight - The Interrupters
Hellcat Records
Produced by The Interrupters and Tim "Timebomb" Armstrong
Released 29th June 2018
US Billboard 200 Chart #141
US Billboard Independent Albums #2

She's Kerosene Promo Video (May 2018)


Tracklist
A1 Title Holder 2:42
A2 So Wrong 2:32
A3 She's Kerosene 2:50
A4 Leap Of Faith 3:17
A5 Got Each Other (feat. Rancid) 2:42
A6 Broken World 2:42
B1 Gave You Everything 3:06
B2 Not Personal 2:06
B3 Outrage 1:51
B4 Rumours And Gossip 2:40
B5 Be Gone 2:33
B6 Room With A View 2:35

Listen To

Fight The Good Fight

Click Here.

Vocals – Aimee "Interrupter" Allen   
Bass – Justin Bivona
Drums – Jesse Bivona
Guitar – Kevin Bivona

Acoustic Session for ALT98.7FM (October 2018)

Setlist:
1. A Friend Like Me
2. She's Kerosene
3. Take Back The Power
4. Gave You Everything
5. On A Turntable
6. Be My Baby
7. Family

 91X Live Studio (July 2018)

 
Setlist:
1. A Friend Like Me
2. By My Side
3. She’s A Kerosene
4. Take Back The Power
5. On A Turntable

Interview with Aimee and Kevin for the OC Weekly.

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Another of my Favourite Albums of 2018  is the third album from the LA based Ska/Punk band The Interrupters.

They just seem to get better with each release I think. Some guy said to me once, "Dude", (I think he had been watching too much Beavis and Butthead or Waynes World or something! 😀), "what are you listening to The Interrupters for? That's Young People's music and you are a dusty old man!" I take exception to the "dusty" part but readily admit I'm "old", but not quite ready for the knackers yard yet! 

Yes, it might be music for the Younger Generation but that shouldn't stop anyone older than 18 listening to it, should it? Plus, I may not be able to bounce around with all the enthusiasm of a teenage sprog powered by energy drinks due to my various "old man ailements", but when listening to the music of The Interrupters, inside I'm jumping the highest, crowd surfing and punching the air with the rest of the crowd! 😎

If you didn't already know The Interrupters are the very definition of a Family band. Guitarist Kevin has been married to singer Aimee since 2013 and Justin and Jesse are Kevin's twin brothers. It's no wonder that "Family" is a bit of a theme that runs through their music!

On the previous albums (see below) Tim "Timebomb" Armstrong, frontman of Rancid and formerly a member of Ska/Punk band Operation Ivy, had produced and played with The Interrupters, but on Fight The Good Fight, Armstrong is joined by his fellow bandmates from Rancid on the track Got Each Other. The Interrupters by the way also featured on some Tim Timebomb and Friends early daily recordings (you can read more about this project here, very fascinating stuff indeed).

Anyway, I like it and I hope you take the chance to have a listen, who knows, whatever your age, you might like it to! 😉

The Interrupters - The Interrupters

Hellcat Records

2014

Listen Here. 

Say It Out Loud - The Interrupters

Hellcat Records

2016

Listen Here.

Favourite Albums of 2018: Unstoppable - Candi Staton (August)

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Unstoppable - Candi Staton
Beracah Records/Thirty Tigers
Produced by Mark Nevers
Released 24th August 2018

Where tracks are available on You Tube I have included the link below in the tracklist for the album. If you want to listen to the album in full I'm sure places like Spotify etc have it up on their service.

Tracklist
A1 Confidence 4:41
A2 I Fooled You, Didn't I? 3:49
A3 Love Is You 5:00
A4 It Ain't Over 3:47
A5 People Have The Power 3:57
B1 Revolution Of Change 5:58
B2 Stand Up 4:25
B3 (Whats So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding 4:06
B4 The Prize Is Not Worth The Pain 4:13
B5 Can I Change My Mind? 3:25

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I love finding stuff that takes me totally by surprise and Unstoppable from long time Southern Soul/Gospel singer Candi Staton (aged 78) really turned my head after hearing her cover versions of Patti Smith's 'People Have the Power' and Nick Lowe's '(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding'.

In the UK if you mention the name Candi Staton most people would obviously mention her 1976 #2 hit single 'Young Hearts Run Free' and just assume that she came out of nowhere to have a hit. But Canzetta Maria Staton has had a long musical history that dates back to her travelling the Gospel circuit with The Soul Stirrers, Mahalia Jackson and C.L. Franklin in the 1950s. She went solo in the late 60s and has released around 29 albums (covering Soul, Disco, Pop, Gospel and even Country!) since 1970.

It's a cracking follow-up to her May 2014 release 'Life Happens', which she recorded at FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals alongside with guests like Jason Isbell and John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars) on the song 'I Ain't Easy To Love'. Read a very insightful interview with her from The Quietus from back in 2014.

Read Ben Beaumont-Thomas' Review for The Guardian of the Unstoppable album.

The release of the album and the tour to promote it was dampened by the news that Candi Staton had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer but she has vowed to keep battling on (this news was only made public at the end of October). You can read her statement regarding it that was posted on her website by clicking the link.

Favourite Albums of 2018: Year Zero - The Spitfires (July)

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Year Zero - The Spitfires
Hatch Records
Released 27th July 2018

Watch some Promo Videos and listen to the album Year Zero here:

 

Tracklist
A1 Remains The Same    
A2 Front Line    
A3 Over And Over Again    
A4 Something Worth Fighting For    
A5 By My Side    
B1 Move On    
B2 Sick Of Hanging Around    
B3 The New Age    
B4 Year Zero    
B5 Dreamland

The Spitfires are:
Billy Sullivan - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Sam Long - Bass
Matt Johnson - Drums
Chris Chanell - Keyboards 

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The tagline "the difficult third album" proved to be irrelevant when it came to the boys from Watford because they just seem to progress with every release.

I find it very refreshing that as I get older that there are still up and coming bands that thrill me when I listen to them. The Spitfires, from the first time I heard them, made a mark on me and as an old guy I'm more than happy to sing their praises.

I have a feeling that they might not like it too much if I suggest that there are signs here and there in their music that remind me of bands like The Jam and The Purple Hearts but for me they do. Whereas Old Paul Weller has opted this year to release an album of quiet, acoustic and very pastoral songs, The Spitfires have a fire in their belly dealing with social issues and an ever changing politcal landscape. They have added a few Ska/Reggae touches here and there that add good weight to the songs as well which I found most appealing. Billy Sullivan is currently one of a good crop of British Songwriters I think and his band deserve all the good things that are coming to them.

I've seen a number of really positive reviews of the album, even on a couple of Punk websites, and hope that they continue to grow as a band and carve out a niche that is all their own.

Favourite Albums of 2018: Lucy and the Rats - Lucy and the Rats (April)

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Lucy and the Rats - Lucy and the Rats
Dirty Water Records (CD in the UK)
Stardumb Records/ Surfin' Ki/Monster Zero (Vinyl in Europe)
Produced by Johnny Casino
Released 13th April 2018

Released as:
200 x black vinyl
180 x clear and green marbled vinyl (Stardumb Records)
120 x clear and purple marbled vinyl (Surfin' Ki exclusive)
100 x green vinyl (Stardumb Records exclusive)
100 x white vinyl (Surfin' Ki exclusive)
100 x orange vinyl (Monster Zero exclusive)
Download at Lucy and the Rats Bandcamp Page

Lucy and the Rats, the name was new to me but the lead vocalist Lucy Ellis was definetely not unknown to me (she formerly went under the name Lucy Spazzy as a member of the excellent Australian Pop/Punk band The Spazzys). Lucy brings that same Pop/Punk meets 60's Garage Rock Indie vibe to this band as was in her previous band The Spazzys.

Prior to the release of their Self-titled album in April of this year they had released they had released two 7" singles (Girl / Lose My Mind - December 2016 on Surfin' Ki Records and This Situation / Melody in January 2017 on Monster Zero).

The band are based in London (Lucy having been in the UK since 2015 apparently).

I'm not even sure how I stumbled on this one, I probably read about it somewhere whilst surfing around (the Web, not literally surfing because I don't think I'd be able to stand up to catch a splash let alone a wave! 😁).

Ever since picking it up way back in April it's been one that has been played on a regular basis because there's something delightful and bouncy about it. It actually reminds me in places of The Darling Buds, back when they were first playing around and releasing Indie singles before they signed to a major. I don't think this one was ever going to be left off the list of my favourites for 2018.

Louder Than War Review by Nathan Whittle.

My Favourite Albums of 2018: Encore - Anderson East

I decided that I wasn't going to do a chart list of my favourite albums of the year but rather I would just share a few albums that have been bringing me a lot of joy in 2018. It's a nice mixed bag of musical stylings that I trust maybe one or two might be a little pleasing to your ears. The final one in my list will be what for me has been my overall favourite, you are just have to keep coming back to see what that one is.

I haven't been posting an awful lot this year but am grateful to those who have stuck by to read and listen to what little I have shared. The Blog reached over 500,000 Page views a couple of weeks back and for some reason it kind of passed by without fanfare. Thank you whatever land you are in across the globe for visiting Soundtrack4Life. I am really grateful for the continued interest despite my absences throughout the year.

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Encore - Anderson East
Elektra
Produced by Dave Cobb
Released 12th January 2018
US Billboard 200 Chart #48
US Folk Chart #3
US Rock Chart #5

Listen To The Album Here.

  Tracklist*
A1 King For The Day 
A2 This Too Shall Last
A3 House Is A Building   
A4 Sorry You're Sick
A5 If You Keep Leaving Me   
A6 Girlfriend   
B1 Surrender   
B2 All On My Mind    
B3 Without You    
B4 Somebody Pick Up My Pieces  
B5 Cabinet Door

* Here are live versions and Promo Videos of songs from the album taken from various places. Click on the Links to watch.

Anderson East hails from Alabama but currently is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

I have to confess to knowing very little about him but earlier this year I heard him cover Ted Hawkins' 'Sorry You're Sick' (the Cover Version features on the Encore album) and was blown away by it so much I had to check out more from him.

I liked the fact that Dave Cobb had produced the album. His previous work on albums by Jason Isbell, Sturgis Simpson, Zac Brown Band and Chris Stapleton impressed me a lot.

Another Cover Version on the album is a Willie Nelson song ('Somebody Pick Up My Pieces') whilst the rest of the songs are co-writes with a number of folks including Chris Stapleton (his wife Morgane Stapleton also has a co-write credit for 'King For A Day'), Natalie Hemby (who has written for Lee Ann Womack, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town), Avicii (Tim Bergling, Swedish DJ/Producer who died in April 2018), Johnny McDaid (Snow Patrol), Ed Sheeran, and Steve McEwan (who has written songs for the likes of Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Kylie Minogue, Roger Daltrey, Eminem and more).

With a lot of Country type folk involved you might expect that Encore was going to be a Country album but it isn't at all. Yes, there are some tinges of Country (or Country Rock, whatever you want to call it), but there are nods to Southern Soul, Folk, Americana, Pop and R&B as well which all make for an album that is really worth listening to for its sheer diversity of sound.

Encore was the first album of 2018 to really impress me and there were many more to come. Keep your eyes opened for the next one in a couple of days time.