Lizard Hips – Top 10 albums of 2017

My top 2 will not surprise some people and it’s mostly business as usual. Some returning bands and truly outstanding work all round from nearly everyone that’s released an album this year that I’ve enjoyed. Even albums that didn’t make the top ten (sorry Pissed Jeans, you’re in at 11…) were stonking great. Enjoy.

JOHN – God Speed In The National Limit

Being able to find stuff is overrated anyway. JOHN (comprised of John on drums and vocals and John on guitar) are, I’m guessing, more deadpan than a churchyard full of deceased cooking pots. They know the joke and are sticking with it and why should they crack a face to please you?

Night Owls – Informaldehyde

Night Owls are comprised of drummer and vocalist Will Pollard and guitarist Liam Waddell. There particular brand of poison? Well, I’m honestly not sure. If you were to ask them what they sounded like, they’d probably shrug and start chucking things at you until you eventually walked away, looking a bit lost and sheepish.

Ampwrecked: New Tracks For Your Ears #6

Welcome to Ampwrecked. In this issue, John and Big Business prove that duos make the loudest noises, Brand New continue to be cryptic, USA Nails are the funniest band on the planet, MSTRKRFT make harrowing chaos, METZ team up with the Swami and Zack Lopez brings the riffs in a huge truckload.

Hawk Eyes – Everything Is Fine

Everything Is Fine. It’s not though, is it? Hawk Eyes are far from smiles, rainbows and fuffy kittens on this, their third album. That’s not to say this is all misery and sadness – there’s no time to be miserable, not when all your feelings can be tightly compacted into seething malevolence, stretched over the 46 minute running time that this Leeds four-piece uncomfortably take you on.