Can’t believe this album was released 25 years ago today. Where has the last quarter of a century gone?

Released 40 years ago today in 1985. Not Prince’s strongest album but Around The World In A Day showed that he was much more than just Purple Rain, as he introduced his unique brand of trippy psychedelic funk. Raspberry Beret, Paisley Park & Pop Life still stand the test of time.

Can’t believe it’s thirty years to the day since Radiohead released The Bends. Came out the same day as Elastica’s debut (which beat it to number one), but this is the one that has truly stood the test of time. As essential now as it was then and one of the all time great albums.

Some of my favourite albums of the 1980s:

The Police - Synchronicity
Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight
Pet Shop Boys - Actually
Pixies - Doolittle
Prince - Sign O’The Times
Depeche Mode - Violator
Stone Roses - Stone Roses
De La Soul - 3 Feet High & Rising
New Order - Technique

Albums that are 30 years old in 2025:

Pulp - Different Class
Oasis - What’s The Story
Blur - The Great Escape
Elastica - Elastica
Radiohead - The Bends
Garbage - Garbage
Supergrass - I Should Coco
Chemical Brothers - Exit Planet Dust
Leftfield - Leftism

Those were the days, eh?

I know that feeling…

Some of my favourite films of 2024:

Anora
The Apprentice
The Bikeriders
Blitz
Challengers
Civil War
Conclave
Emilia Perez
Fall Guy
Hit Man
Juror #2
La Chimera
The Outrun
Sing Sing
The Substance
The Wild Robot
The Young Woman and the Sea

With honourable mentions to:

Hermano Gutierrez - Sonido Cosmico
Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes
Rahim Redcar - Hopecore
Sault - Acts of Faith
Anaiis & Groupo Cosmo - Anaiis & Groupo Cosmo

Those would be my Top 15 albums for the year. Something for everyone in this eclectic mix!

My top albums of 2024:

The Smile - Wall of Eyes / Cutouts
The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstacy
Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us
English Teacher - This Could Be Texas
Khruangbin - A La Sala
King Hannah - Big Swimmer
Our Girl - The Good Kind
Nilufer Yanya - My Method Actor
NewDad - Madra

James Blake - Like The End (Official Video) YouTube video by James Blake

This is a remarkable new track from James Blake. Blew me away on first listen. Perfectly captures the sense of existential dread after world events this year. It’s OK Computer for the 21st Century. Can’t wait to hear the new album. youtu.be/sglbIVO9IQQ

I care. 😜

I said the same! The Outrun is in danger of being overlooked this awards season, which would be scandalous. Outstanding from Saoirse Ronan, she deserves all the plaudits…

It was disappointing that A24 dropped the ball with Sing Sing, but my favourite of the year to date in terms of those that haven’t received enough attention yet would be The Outrun. Outstanding performance from Saoirse Ronan.

Aintree definitely for number 4. Loved the old weighing room!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 4K-SONG: Mr. Blue Sky ARTIST:ELO-Intro & credits-out of the way-Groot YouTube video by JohnnyFrickinRico

Sun is shining in the sky
There ain't a cloud in sight
It's stopped raining
Everybody's in the play
And don't you know
It's a beautiful new day?
youtu.be/QFwy579Gd90