The VT Albums of the Year 2019

[bickster]

It's officially December and it's that time of the year, The VT Albums of the year thread. Something I actually look forward to each year

If you wanna do a list, do a list, If you don't, don't. Post one album or as many as you want

I'll make a start on sifting through mine later

[Ingram85]

Only one contender for me. 

Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

Edited December 2, 2019 by Ingram85

[villa4europe]

think I've bought 2 albums this year, the national I am easy to find on a nice special edition vinyl of some sort and Liam Gallagher, both are solid 7/10s not incredible

tried to give kano a good listen but just ended up back on made in the manor

roll on next year with Bombay bicycle club and tame impala

Edited December 2, 2019 by villa4europe

[mjmooney]

Tom Russell - October in the Railroad Earth 

Neal Sawyer (aka VT's ReasonForRevolution) - Ballads of the Mortal 

That's about it. Compared with 2018, when I easily came up with a top ten, this has been a very poor year for me, new music-wise. 

 

[Designer1]

Another cracking year 

Sleaford Mods - Eton Alive
Snapped Ankles - Stunning Luxury
Drenge - Strange Creatures
Helms Alee - Noctiluca
Ho99o9 - Cyber Warfare
Fontaines DC - Dogrel
Full of Hell - Weeping Choir
Fleshgod Apocalypse - Veleno
Dinosaur Pile-Up - Celebrity Mansions
3Teeth - Metawar
1782 - 1782
Amyl and the Sniffers - Amyl and the Sniffers
Rosalie Cunningham - Rosalie Cunningham
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Infest the Rats Nest
Redd Kross - Beyond the Door
Twin Temple - Satanic Doo Wop
Black Futures - Never Not Nothing
Mike Patton and Jean-Claude Vannier - Corpse Flower
Chelsea Wolfe - Birth of Violence
Sleep Token - Give
Nick Cave - Ghosteen
DJ Shadow - Our Pathetic Age

[Seat68]

The Highwomen self titled album. Had a look through my purchases and this is the one still being played consistently. 

[mjmooney]

3 minutes ago, Seat68 said:

The Highwomen self titled album. Had a look through my purchases and this is the one still being played consistently. 

Must check that out. 

[wazzap24]

[cyrusr]

Relatively easy this year, certainly some standout ones that have come out. Probably mentioned them on this site at one point or another. 

Albums (not in any particular order):

Tool – Fear Inoculum

Definitely worth the wait. The more I listen to it, the more I enjoy. In particular 7empest and Invicible are wonderful songs that are very apt for this day and age. Also, a portable video screen for the CD? Farcical but typical Tool. Love it. 
 

Devin Townsend – Empath

Devin at his finest for years. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the Projects album, this has clearly challenged him to create an album that is an amalgamation of all his sounds. Sheer joy to listen to and looking forward to seeing him playing this properly live in a couple of weeks.
 

Conjurer & Pijn – Curse These Metal Hands.

2 bands coming together to play music that truly is a blend of both. Only 4 songs and 30 minutes long, but absolutely brilliant. A real must listen, I just wish they would tour it live properly rather than just play at Arctangent. 

Mammoth Weed Wizard B*stard – Yn Ol I Annwn

Firstly, great name (and for all you sheep lovers, yes they are Welsh as you could tell from the album title).  They are one that I have seen the name around for a few years and finally got round to listening to them. What an absolute delight. Sheer heaviness but beautiful at the same time. Jessica's vocals are definitely something and looking forward to hopefully catching them live soon. 

 

Honourable mentions:

Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

Far better than All Hope is Gone and .5: The Gray Chapter with some really good songs (Nero Forte & Solway Firth in particular). Not convincing enough to see live again but pleased to see them getting back to some form. 

Boris – LΦVE & EVΦL

Not had a chance to delve into this as much as I would like, however its Boris so it is great anyway. Already a fine addition to their catalogue and looking forward to seeing them live in a couple of weeks and for further indulgence in due course. 

Baroness – Gold & Grey

Good to finally hear the new addition properly. She has definitely had a positive influence on the band. Some better tracks than others but some beauty in there. Much better production that on "Purple" which helps focus on the songs rather than the sound which was a shame as there was good tracks there. However, this is a nice return to form for them and looking forward to a headline tour next year (hopefully). 

 

Live Albums

King Diamond – Songs For The Dead Live

King Diamond setting up nicely ready for new album in 2020 .Very, very excited. 

Flight Of The Conchords – Live In London

Nice to hear some new songs from them, in possible set up for a new album which may be linked to film (if the ever lasting rumours eventually become true). 

Zeal & Ardor – Live In London

Finally Baphomet is on a widely distributed release (though I did pick up the Live in Montreux vinyl from the show last year which has been selling for over £120.00 on discogs) and is generally a good live album. Probably going to get a new album next year. 

 

Singles/EPs

Mastodon - Stairway To Nick John

A wonderful tribute to their manager who passed away from cancer last year. An excellent cover of a song that whilst has been played to death, provides an excellent alternative to it. 

Ghost - Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic

Any new music from these guys is a delight and this didn't disappoint. Looking forward to the new album (hopefully late next year). 

Iced Earth - Enter The Realm

After last year's rerecording of their initial EP "Purgatory" (which was decent) they rerecorded their first formal one. Far better quality and sounds much better, which is what they needed after a couple of indifferent albums. Whether they bring back the old vocalist or stick with the new guy remains to be seen, but refreshing to hear them sounding better. 

[PieFacE]

1. DIIV - Deceiver
2. Slipknot -  We Are Not Your Kind
3. Mark Lanegan - Somebody's Knocking
4. Nick Cave - Ghosteen
5. Fontaines - Dogrel

Can't think of much else... 

Edited December 2, 2019 by PieFacE

[PieFacE]

Oh special mention to...

The Murder Capital - When I Have Fears

[Brumerican]

3 hours ago, villa4europe said:

think I've bought 2 albums this year, the national I am easy to find on a nice special edition vinyl of some sort and Liam Gallagher, both are solid 7/10s not incredible

tried to give kano a good listen but just ended up back on made in the manor

roll on next year with Bombay bicycle club and tame impala

I think DMA's unplugged came out late last year but if their new album is full of tunes like this then it's already my album of 2020

 

 

[villa4europe]

i think the unplugged album is better than the last one...just something about it that i love, same with the rifles acoustic album that came out a couple of years ago (for which they announced another tour for last night)

its been another really poor year IMO to round off a pretty poor decade, more or less all of my favourite bands have been around for more than 10 years and 5 albums, there's 1 good album between foals 2 decent ones (that's a 3rd album I bought, got the first one but cant find the second)

[AVFC_Hitz]

Spoiler

Kind - Stereophonics 

 

Yeah...come at me with ya rustic wind instrument quartet recorded in a back of Citroen 2CV, printed on vinyl pressed by Teutonic virgins wearing fine Tunisian lace. 

 

[hogso]

4 hours ago, cyrusr said:

Boris – LΦVE & EVΦL

Not had a chance to delve into this as much as I would like, however its Boris so it is great anyway. Already a fine addition to their catalogue and looking forward to seeing them live in a couple of weeks and for further indulgence in due course. 

I'm going to Leicester, I don't think anything can top the last time I saw them (Flood!), but they are playing Boris on this tour, which will be a nice novelty. 

[Brumerican]

3 hours ago, villa4europe said:

 

its been another really poor year IMO to round off a pretty poor decade, more or less all of my favourite bands have been around for more than 10 years and 5 albums

Oh absolutely .  The best thing I've heard this year is Liam and Bonehead unplugged for MTV and that's purely nostalgic . Liam sounded pretty damn good.

The only "new" stuff I bought this year was Steve Mason's About The Light album and "Coup D'etat" EP.

[villa4europe]

I still haven't listened to it! Thanks for the reminder 

Was lucky enough to see him at Union Chapel last year, incredible 

[cyrusr]

1 hour ago, hogso said:

I'm going to Leicester, I don't think anything can top the last time I saw them (Flood!), but they are playing Boris on this tour, which will be a nice novelty. 

When was the flood tour?! 
Last saw them when they played Pink in London, must have been a year or 2 ago now.

Will be at the Leicester gig too, but the Y theatre, who plays at the YMCA?!

[tonyh29]

Other than my mates band and their mini album , I haven't bought any albums  this year  ... so by default my album of the year is

Marvel - Hear the Sun move

 

[theboyangel]

I think its been another decent year of good music - plenty out there from existing bands and lots of exciting new bands too.

In no particular order although I've probably listened to the top 3 the most! 

1) Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - And Now For The Watchamacallit

2) Dinosaur Pile-Up - Celebrity Mansions

3) Ty Segall - Taste

4) Richard Hawley - Further

5) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen

6) Stephen Malkmus - Groove Denied

7) Wand - Laughing Matter

8 ) Jane Weaver - Loops In The Secret Society

9) Mark Lanegan Band - Somebody's Knockin

10) Sturgill Simpson - Sound & Fury

11) Sallow Pillow - Wince Meat EP

12) Angelo De Augustine - Tomb

13) Mikal Cronin - Seeker

14) Temples - Hot Motion

15) Black Belt Eagle Scout - Mother Of My Children.

 

There are a few albums, which were released in 2018 but only discovered (or recommended) this year (such as Nothing and Phobophobes) so I haven't included them!