So, first impressions of some stuff:
Thor & Friends: a veritable who's who of 90s/early 2000s indie rock luminaries over two albums: Low, Michael Gira, Jarboe, Bill Callahan. Both albums are primarily instrumental, not sure if I'd describe them as ambient (which tends to imply electronic) or post-rock (they're not quiet loud). They're maybe a bit post-prog.
Throwing Muses: it's a Throwing Muses album, it's good/very good but you know what you're getting. 7.8/10 and move on.
Emily Barker: a very, very nice folkish singer-songwriter album. Cracking voice!
Girl Band: going out on a limb, I'll say that this slaps several bunnies. Probably better than either of their studio albums.
Danny Keane: jazz, the good jazz, the very good stuff. He's been side man for a lot of well known people previously.
Jeremy Tuplin: the sound of a million bunnies being slapped at once. This seems to be his third album and he's from the west country (says Uncut). Vague comparisons to Kevin Morby but he's a bit more varied than Morbo is.
Currently listening to the Marc Bolan tribute album. Five tracks in and Nick Cave and Lucinda Williams have been excellent, Devendra Banhart has chosen a non-hit, Joan Jett's Jeepster is fun but not really necessary and I'm not arsed whether I hear Kesha's take on "Children of the Revolution" again.
And the rest:
Angelheaded Hipster: the Bolan tribute abum. Generally good, some tracks unnecessary, some brilliant.
Hannah Georgas: I quite like this. A bit synthy, a bit guitary, a bit poppy. Won't change your life majorly but an enjoyable album.
Bill Callahan: a heartbreaking work of staggering genius. A sensational, warm, fuzzy album basically.
Galya Bisengalieva: modern classical, themed around an environmental disaster. Not so warm and fuzzy but pretty good TBH.
Krononaut: jazz, the bad jazz.
Afel Bocoum: lovely, lovely African blues. In many weeks, would be album of the week.
Tricky: a bit of an oddity. Quite short tracks, mostly female fronted, quite poppy.
Grant-Lee Phillips: a pleasant album of Americana. Well made, well sung, maybe a tad one paced.
Girls In Synthesis: they're not girls, nor are they, to my knowledge, in synthesis. This is an enjoyably angry post-punk album.
Dream Nails: politically, they're firmly on the radical left. Musically, they go from 60s inspired indie-pop (think All Girl Summer Fun Band) to something verging on nu-metal. Quite a short album, 15 tracks but a few are skits or short intros. Promising TBH.
Declan McKenna: I like this. Upbeat, guitar pop, clever lyrics, constantly energetic.
Michael Rother: enjoyable, to me it sounds a bit like a post-reform Orbital album. Good but I'm not getting 10/10.
Album of the week: Bill Callahan easily although both Jeremy Tuplin and Afel Bocoum would get the honour in many other weeks.
