01. Build Something Better – Grace Petrie
We're living in an age ripe with protest songs. Petrie has written many herself. What sets Build Something Better apart is something so many forget to cling onto: HOPE. A blistering summary of the fight we face and a mantra to keep going.
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02. Humble as the Sun – Bob Vylan
Slightly dialling down the punk rock in favour of dance and grime elements, and interestingly, not featuring the band's full time drummer Bobbie, Humble as the Sun nevertheless sees Bobby triumphant, defiant, and still starting fires. Vital.
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03. Anti-Fun Propaganda – Gen and the Degenerates
Sounding very much like a Germ Free Adolescents for Gen-Z, Anti-Fun Propaganda is hilariously flippant, blackly comedic, furiously political, casually self-depreciative & uproariously carefree. THIS is how you make a debut.
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04. What a Life – The Meffs
After two blisteringly brilliant EPs, The Meffs finally unleashed their utterly essential debut album. Fast, loud, and politically savvy, there's venom for bigots and distrust of those in power, but also cathartic release as a means to fight back.
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05. Songs of a Lost World – The Cure
After 16 years of keeping us waiting, The Cure finally returned with a new album. The oceans of time melted away as Robert Smith and the boys finally delivered us a deeply melancholic reflection on life and death, youth and old age. Blissful.
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06. There Goes the Neighbourhood – Kid Kapichi
Like Madness before them - and Suggs has a stonking cameo here - Kapichi's happy go lucky tongue in cheek bops have political bite. The alt rockers know when to have fun but also unleash furious fire on a Britain that isn't so great.
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07. Skinwalker – Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard
On stage in Manchester this autumn, BBB's frontman Ed Rees said this record was when he finally decided to get serious. It shows: mostly ditching the band's earlier jaunty whimsy for dark, horror-tinged Scary Monsters style art rock.
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08. Audio Vertigo – elbow
After a genteel 9th album in 2021, the Bury blokes return to the trajectory of 8th, but get a little bit weirder in the process. Highly poetic and casually flamboyant, with latter-era jazz-Bowie soundscapes that demand attention. Their best yet? Maybe.
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09. Wake Up Shut Up Work – Millie Manders and The Shutup
At turns uplifting autobiographical, and others distressingly so. At times furiously political, at others flippantly carefree. MMATSU's second album is filled with ska-tinged punk rock anthems that know how to work a crowd.
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10. A Psalm for Emily Salvi – Nerina Pallot
The ever reliable multi-talented Nerina Pallot returns with her strongest album in years. Stark honesty, self-depreciating wit and raw emotional beauty permeate a record that perfectly encapsulates the dilemma of the mid-life crisis.
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11. Saviors – Green Day
Some critics hailed this as a return to form for the stadium rockers. Those who have been paying attention know it's a continuation of the 50s rock n roll vibes the band have been playing with for several years. What we're all agreed on is: it's fab.
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12. Still + Bright – Amythyst Kiah
Self proclaimed as "funny talking, sci-fi loving, queer Black", Kiah's long waited third solo album is a captivating blend of southern gothic country and acoustic political pop rock. Americana never sounded so vital.
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13. Lives Outgrown – Beth Gibbons
As any Portishead fan will remind you, Beth Gibbons doesn't rush things. So when she releases her second solo album 22 years after her first, and only her 5th studio work in 30 years, it's going to be worth the wait. Phenomenal chamber art rock.
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14. No Obligation – The Linda Lindas
Four musicians with a COMBINED age of just 67, yet already releasing their second LP, touring with Green Day and bagging a Weird Al Yankovic guest slot. The Linda Lindas play dynamic punk rock that's filled with optimism as well as attitude.
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15. Burn the Ration Books of Love – Peter Alexander Jobson
After years as a sideman Pete steps into the spotlight with a collection of thoughtful tales. Sprinklings of Cave, Cash, Cohen Waits & Gainsbourg influences abound, but the result is so distinctly Jobson - a true original.
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16. Nonetheless – Pet Shop Boys
Easily their strongest collection of songs in 15 years, perhaps longer, Nonetheless is all the conformation needed to confirm Messrs Tennant and Lowe have hit a new purple patch. At turns heartfelt, intelligent, witty, nonchalant and devastating.
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17. Daylight – Hifi Sean & David McAlmont
While not as emotionally resonant as their first album together, Daylight isn't trying to be anything so deep: instead, it wants you to have a good time, and throws high energy dance bops and the occasional Sad Banger your way.
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18. The Art of the Lie – John Grant
Continuing's Grant's trajectory into electronic soundscapes, but also maintaining his confessional autobiographical song writing, the funky disco tinged tunes allow space to place his tongue even further into his cheek. Captivating AND groovy.
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19. African Polyglot – Wiyaala
Turning this set of nine singles into an album almost feels like an afterthought, but there's no denying the prowess on display here. With the assistance of fellow Ghanaian genius K.O.G, Noella Wiyaala delivers joyous Afrobeat to get you grooving.
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20. Millennials – The Snuts
Jingly, jangly, retro indie hasn't sounded this good in decades. Quintessentially British lyrics flit around these uplifting, electro-twinged productions. Part mid-00s nu-rave, part full on Robert Smith in happy go lucky mode, but all out pure pop fun.
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21. For Cryin’ Out Loud! – Finneas
The cynic in me wonders if O'Connell saved his best compositions for himself this year, as his second solo album proper is considerably stronger than his sister Billie's third longplayer. An eclectic, laid back masterpiece for dark gloomy nights.
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22. Abomination – Lynks
Opening with the clearing of his throat before a dissertation on why he needs to shag more men, Lynks' long awaited debut album is full of the masked electro-pop rapper's trademark wit and debauchery, while also challenging societal norms and bigotry.
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23. We Are Not Robots – Terrorvision
Their first studio album in 12 years, and only their third this side of the millennium, We Are Not Robots sees Terrorvision firing on all cylinders. The title is particularly apt: these are 12 songs about real life and the human experience.
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24. Unt – Pinhead Gunpowder
Providing an outlet to Billie Joe Armstrong for a rawer punk rock edge in the 1990s, Pinhead Gunpowder's back catalogue reissues prompted a full band reunion, and the result is an energetic slab of short, sharp, fuzzy, scuzzy California punk.
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25. Don’t Take My Soul – K.O.G
UK based Ghanaian Afrobeat guru K.O.G is a man of many talents, and many of them are on display across his latest long-player. Jazz influences abound, but ultimately this record just wants to get you moving and smiling, and will probably manage it.
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26. This World Fucking Sucks – Cassyette
Industrial metal soundscapes but pop production and anthemic choruses, Cassyette sometimes feels like P!nk has taken over Nine Inch Nails for the weekend. A logical progression for gothy teen angst, and captivating for us older folk, too.
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27. AIKONIC – Aiko
The UK based Czech singer's third album dropped off the back of her acclaimed entry into the Eurovision song contest, but this is far from a throwaway record. No, this is a thoughtful, gothic alt-pop record reminiscent of early Billie Eilish but much heavier.
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28. Dance, No-One’s Watching – Ezra Collective
Hugely acclaimed follow up to the band's 2022 Mercury prize winning Where I'm Meant To Be, this third longplayer blends jazz, neo-Soul and Afrobeat into a hypnotising concoction designed to get your feet moving and your heart warmed.
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29. The Need for Speed – Johny and the Dead Girls
Really a front for former Goldblade & Kopek Millionaires guitarist Johny Skullknuckles solo work, this is good ol' fashioned sex and drugs, guitars and rock n roll. Reminiscent of Motörhead, but punkier and sleazier.
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30. The Light Fantastic – John Bramwell
The former I Am Kloot frontman's first record in quite some time sees him in a reflective, gentle, hopeful mindset, a long way away from his old tales of drinking & disaster. His stark honesty and poetic turn of phrase still shine brightly.
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