First time in years that I really loved a Sleaford Mods album, it's more melodic and varied. The use of features is great, especially as they bring a vocal balance to Jason. Sleaford Mods always uses a baseline of simplicity to get clear points across, and the baseline this time is my favourite since probably Key Markets.
Xiu Xiu back fully in the noise train it sounds like, allowing Forget to be the pop version, and them exploring experience, and experiment again. Can. Not. Wait.
First impression: Freaking great. Energy overload, great emotional diversity, lots of intensity, and a bunch of punk with pop sensibility. One of the few acts in pop punk I actually enjoy, and he's made a great album here.
With some more time: This is political and intense, and SO replayable. It's on repeat. Helps that it's barely the only new thing out right now.
Another album that I have loads of fun with and gives me energy. It’s short, it’s fast paced, and it makes me want to sing and shout and move! Crystal Run is my favourite, where the auto-tuned vocals are used brilliantly in this over-glitzy, synthetic song about taking charge of your own life.
More: https://medium.com/@bentn/my-top-40-albums-of-2017-fafe0848a2bf
It took me one listen of this album to put it on here, and I have no doubts on it. Dancing to sounds of a different world, Dar es Salaam, the production has choppy and high energy bits. It feels like an espresso taken straight to the body, it’s jittery and fascinating.
"here": https://medium.com/@bentn/my-top-40-albums-of-2017-fafe0848a2bf