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Jack Ryan writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2018: Jack Ryan
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Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2018. Our first list for this year is from DJ Jack Ryan. Like most years in this decade, 2018 was kind of a mixed bag. Some good stuff happened, some bad stuff happened. Famous people that we looked up to died. People who we thought were decent people turned out to be class A Scumbags. Throw in over a dozen mass shootings, a smidgen of terrorism, refugees fleeing destruction in their home country for a better life in the United States/Canada/Europe and [insert corrupt, borderline fascist, fear-mongering politicians name here] consistently made an effort to blur the lines between evil and stupidity. Even though it's far easier and takes less effort to get mired in the misery of it all, I'm choosing to take Monty Python's advice to look on the bright side of life and remind myself that every year, some really talented bands, singers and rappers come out with some rocking good records, and 2018 was no exception. Here's my top 10 of the year. |
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Dear Annie by Rejjie Snow (300 Entertainment) |
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Twentytwo in Blue by Sunflower Bean (Mom+Pop) |
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Hope Downs by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Sub Pop) |
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Blac Rabbit EP by Blac Rabbit (How Far) |
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Let's Go Sunshine by The Kooks (Lonely Cat) |
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Egypt Station by Paul McCartney (Capitol) |
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Nina Cried Power EP by Hozier (Columbia) |
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Summer Pack by Childish Gambino (RCA) |
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One Man & His 30 Watt Pram by Lewis Floyd Henry (Self-Released) |
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Till You Lie In Your Grave by Miss Ludella Black (Damaged Goods) |
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Honorable Mentions:
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Ireland is a land of many things. It is a land great writers, lush greenery, superb liquor, and excellent rock 'n' roll. Until now, however, it would probably be the last place you would associate with hip-hop. Dublin rapper, Rejjie Snow, seeks to change that with his first studio album Dear Annie and mellow funk jams like "Rainbows", "Pink Lemonade" and "Mon Amour" and in between song skits reminiscent of golden era rap groups like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.
Brooklyn is known for a lot of great music. Indie trio Sunflower Bean is no exception. This band gives you a pretty good idea of what would happen if T. Rex were fronted by Stevie Nicks with glam rock jams like "Burn It" and "Crisis Fest", or more mellow songs like "I Was A Fool" and "Memoria".
After keeping us waiting with two promising EPs, Melbourne Australia based indie quintet Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever delivers the goods with their debut album Hope Downs. You could dive in anywhere on this record and land on something good, but my personal favorite tracks off this album would definitely be "Cappuccino City" and "Sister's Jeans."
Blac Rabbit gained fame earlier in the year from videos posted online of them playing Beatles covers in subway stations of New York City. Because they sounded earlier similar the vocals of Lennon & McCartney, this catapulted them to notoriety and led to performing slots at Beatle festivals in Chicago, New York, and Guatemala, the Afropunk festival in Brooklyn and an appearance on Ellen. This EP they released shows that they're more than just a Beatles cover band and have solid songwriting chops with psychedelic pop hits like "Over The Rainbow" and "Closer to the Sun". They have a full-length album out soon. Can't wait to hear what else they've got.
After experimenting with disco and funk on their 2014 album Listen, it's nice to hear Luke Pritchard and the Kooks return to doing what they're best at, which is writing feel-good ballads and indie rock dance tracks. "Four Leaf Clover" and "Tesco Disco" sound like early material from their 2006 debut album. Without question, the best track on the album has to be the lead single "No Pressure", which sounds like it would've fit in on David Bowie's Hunky Dory, the album that's responsible for the band's namesake.
Whoever said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks obviously hasn't heard Paul McCartney's latest album Egypt Station. The legendary Beatle had his first solo No.1 album in 30 years. Upon listening to the album, it's easy to see why. New tracks like "Happy With You", "Come On To Me" and "I Don't Know" showcase the same familiar style of music and lyrics that made him famous in the Beatles and Wings, while at the same time sounding fresh and relevant to today's pop sound without pandering to trends or regurgitating old material. Well done, Sir Paul!
Another Irishman makes an appearance on this list. While the other tracks on his new EP are worth a listen, it's the title track featuring a gospel choir and Chicago soul legend Mavis Staples that should force to add this to your Spotify queue.
It's been quite a year for Donald Glover, AKA "Childish Gambino". He had a starring role as Lando Calrissian in Solo and his lament about the current state of the country on his single "This Is America" launched a discussion about racism and police brutality against black people. For a guy who earlier in the year dropped the bombshell announcement that he would be, it hasn't stopped him from making the end memorable with a double single of smooth summer jams, followed by a brilliant animated music video one of them ("Feels Like Summer").
I'm cheating a little bit with this entry. This album came out in November 2017, but it's a record from an artist that I believe more people should listen to. Lewis Floyd Henry has made a name for himself as a one-man band busking in the UK and Europe. He plays guitar with the ferocity of Jimi Hendrix and backs himself up with a homemade drum set that he plays with his feet. He's become famous on youtube for mashing rap songs like Big Shaq's "Man's Not Hot" with Nick Drake's "Day Is Done". However, as songs like "Sacred Gardens" or "Guardian Angel" show you, he's not a bad songwriter. Hopefully, he'll be making an appearance on the streets of Chicago sometime soon.
I'm a simple man with simple interests. There's nothing I dig more than British garage rock and Miss Ludella Black knows what I like. Anyone who can write great tunes like "Dead Sea Fruit", cover Black Sabbath's "Am I Going Insane" and was tight with the likes of Billy Childish is alright in my book.
Next entry: CHIRP Radio Best of 2018: Carolyn Kassnoff
Previous entry: @CHIRPRadio (Week of December 10)