Previous posts in this countdown can be found here.
60. Gruff Rhys – American Interior (2014)
Tell me about the album
Internet review:
“You can’t say the singer lacks imagination here, as the record is centred around a distant relative of his, John Evans, who in the 1700’s supposedly traveled from Wales to America to seek out a mythical tribe of Welsh speaking Native Americans – not your average musical direction. Not only is the singer releasing this album recounting Johns journey in his own way, but he’s also written a book about it, releasing a film documenting his own travels following the story, and also releasing an app to tie everything together. ”
(taken from Renowned For Sound)
Personal thoughts/ramblings:
There was some kind of competition around the time this was released where you had to try and recreate the album cover using objects at home (IIRC). I don’t remember what the prize was, and I didn’t win, but this photo still amuses me:
Chantal’s Last.fm album stats:
Most played track: ‘The Whether (Or Not)’ with 12 scrobbles.
Where can I buy it?:
It’s on Discogs here.
Favourite song on the album:
59. Helen Love – Power On (2020)
Tell me about the artist
Seen them live?:
Yes, twice:
18th April 2014 – As part of Wales Goes Pop at The Gate in Cardiff
10th December 2017 – As part of the Odd Box Fundraiser at The Moon in Cardiff
Chantal’s Last.fm artist stats:
Total number of scrobbles: 283
Tell me about the album
Internet review:
“Power On by Welsh power-punk-pop veterans Helen Love is an exhilarating torrent of pop culture references served up on a bed of fizzing, feelgood bubblegum punk and I think you should buy it. If you do, I guarantee that the godawful shittiness of 2020 will be alleviated for a very entertaining 32 minutes. Play on repeat and you could be grinning hugely all day.”
(taken from The Punk Site)
Chantal’s Last.fm album stats:
Most played track: Currently jointly ‘Top Of The Pop Chart’ and ‘Wear Your Hair Long’ with 5 scrobbles each.
Where can I buy it?:
It’s on Bandcamp here.
Favourite song on the album:
58. Super Furry Animals – Dark Days/Light Years (2009)
Tell me about the album
Internet review:
“At their best, they find the interface between exotic, arcane sounds and rich tunes; Crazy Naked Girls is a perfect nexus of melody and odd falsetto funk. The band find joy in repetition – as ever – in psych-rocker Pric. Elsewhere, Nick McCarthy from Franz Ferdinand raps in German over Inaugural Trams, which has the buoyancy of a twisted kids’ TV theme. And, to further recommend it, there’s a track called The Very Best of Neil Diamond.”
(taken from The Guardian)
Chantal’s Last.fm album stats:
Most played track: ‘Crazy Naked Girls’ with 25 scrobbles.
Where can I buy it?:
It’s on Discogs here
Favourite song on the album:
57. The School – Wasting Away And Wondering (2015)
Tell me about the artist
Internet bio:
“The School are a Welsh indiepop group based in Cardiff, Wales. Their sound owes heavily to 1960s influences such as The Beach Boys and girl groups such as The Ronettes and The Shangri-Las, along with more recent indiepop acts Camera Obscura and Belle and Sebastian.”
(taken from Wikipedia)
Artist website:
TheSchoolBand.com
Tell me about the album
Internet review:
“The guitars still chime with shades of Camera Obscura, the organ still buzzes a classic pop melody; they remain masters at taking the beautiful simplicity of a pop song and dressing up in rich, ornate arrangements, whether that’s waves of strings, the clanking of glockenspiel or delightfully punchy horns. Even the lyrics, are classic pop, they’re ruminations on young love where, “every day that is wasted with you, is a day never wasted at all.””
(taken from For The Rabbits)
Chantal’s Last.fm album stats:
Most played track: ‘Put Your Hand In Mine’ with 11 scrobbles.
Where can I buy it?:
It’s on Bandcamp here.
Favourite song on the album:
56. The Loves – Love (2004)
Tell me about the artist
Chantal’s Last.fm artist stats:
Total number of scrobbles: 303
Tell me about the album
Internet review:
“It is a cliché yes, but it’s also true that every single note of every single song on this album is insanely catchy. If crusty scientists haven’t yet worked out a formula for the most appealing sequence of notes (to be clinical about it all!) then they should fupping well listen to this!”
(taken from Pennyblack Music)
Chantal’s Last.fm album stats:
Most played track: ‘…Love’ with 33 scrobbles.
Where can I buy it?:
It’s on Discogs here.
Favourite song on the album:
It’s ‘…Love’ but I can’t find it online anywhere. This album’s seemingly missing from the streaming services, which is a shame. You’ll have to just trust me it’s a great song (or buy a copy of the album on CD via the Discogs link!)
The next set of 5 songs should be posted on Sunday 3rd July.