Another high scoring week, we've had 3 in a row averaging ~ 7 which is a rare thing.
Respectable result for Amazons, just outside our top 10 for the year š
Matt and Jim keep hold of our šā¹ļøfrom last week, Jim shares his with Mark this time .
Andy
The Amazons - It's hard to be totally objective as these are my guys but I really like this album. Lots of big arena sized stompers and they have a few slightly cheesy lyrics but I've had these rattling through my head all week 8.5
Ozzy Osbourne - Hard to imagine a bloke who can barely speak has such a strong voice. Ably backed by a cracking lineup of axe wielders this is cracking stuff 8
Jockstrap - It's all a bit too experimental really. Some of it hits (Concrete Over Water) but it mostly misses. sometimes spectacularly so, notably with Angst 5
Hot Chip - The opening three tracks gave me great hope here but slowly settled into mild tedium. OK I guess 6
Track of the Week - Surprisingly not Amazons, going to go for Parasite by Ozzy
The Queen Is Dead - Anyone who knows me knows I'm one of the few people of our generation who just never got The Smiths, I like Marr's jingly guitar but Mozza's vocals just make me want to throw myself off of a bridge. As a result I've never listened to an album of there's all the way through so I hoped to be proved wrong all this time, sadly this was not the case. A couple of the tracks I knew (Bigmouth and The Boy...) weren't too bad but he opening 4 tracks were even worse than I've always imagined The Smiths to be, with the opening title track being particularly bad. I'll leave it to everyone else in the world to enjoy 4
Jim
Amazons 7.5
Solid rock with a batch of absolute bangers inc bloodrush and 3 in the middle. Although I thought there was some filler in the first and last few. Defo ready for the Wolf Alice Saturday fest slot .
Ozzy Osbourne 6.5
A pleasant surprise, more variety and polish than I was expecting, No Escape From Now was a TOTW contender. Looses half for being a tad too long
Jockstrap. 5.5
Well that was an experience, what a mash up! Some of it was almost unlistenable, some bonkers a la Anna Meridith, but there were a few interesting and original tracks. They saved the best to the end with Glasgow and excellent 50/50.
Hot Chip 7
First listen I thought it was a tad bland, but it grew on me without setting my hair on fire. Pet shop boys meets Beloved meets Fat Boy Slim.. Time was a great track.
TOTW Ready For Something , Amazons .
Smiths 9. The original JJ and not close to being bettered. Still sounds fantastic and fresh. There Is a Light.. is one of my all time favs. I remember seeing Morrisey at Old Trafford CC many moons ago and the sing along when he played this was up there with Noel doing Don't Look Back in Anger. 2 legends in one band IHMO.
Sam
Amazons : proper rock band that know how to make bangers . 8.4
Ozzy : what a voice , with fabulous support from guest guitarists he knocks it out of the park at 73 .. 8.2
Jockstrap : 80% of this was made by someone in their bedroom after drinking 2 bottles of Buckfast . 2 good songs . 4
Hot Chip : despite a song called Eleanor, I found it a bit dull ā¦ desperately searching for a banger ! 6
Tune of the week : I could have chosen virtually anything from Ozzy or Amazons but Iāll go Bloodrush by Amazons
The Smiths : the right wing shit bag can write a tune for sure and most of it bounces along very nicely . 7
Justin
Amazons - I wanted to like this more, but quite a few tracks were a bit bon jovi meets del amitri. There were good tracks such as ready for something and given they are from Reading 7
Ozzy Osbourne never listened to a solo album before. Really enjoyed it and gave it a few listens. One of those days with Eric Clapton just misses out on tune of the week. 7.5
Jockstrap its different but not really enjoyable. Scores points for originality 6
Hot Chip - I love hot chip and this album is great. Great electronica/house/funk. A real grower. 8
Totw Miss the bliss Hot Chip
Smiths Never listened to the album before. The singles are absolute classic tunes but the rest is pretty terrible. The greatness of the good tunes still push it to a healthy 8.
Simon
Amazons: of a similar view to Justin - One By One is a banger but a lot of it sounds too close to Del Amitri-style MOR for comfort. 6.5
Ozzy Osbourne: I wouldn't say I enjoyed it but it was a lot more tolerable than expected. 6
Jockstrap: not heard anything like this in a while - certainly original, and whilst it's tricky to keep the experimentation going for a whole album I think they get it right more often than not. 7.5
Hot Chip: had a few spins now since it came out and it's definitely a grower, although not as strong as their last album. 7.5
The Smiths: was always lukewarm about the Smiths and never understood the accolades this received when it was released. Hatful of Hollow and Meat is Murder are far better imo. 6
TotW: Miss the Bliss - Hot Chip
Guy
Amazons: I'm not sure this album grabs me as much as previous albums. But it's still got lots of quality sing-a-long indie anthems in it. I've only given it one listen mind and think it could be a grower - 8
Ozzy Osbourne: What Simon said. I expected the worst. It's not that bad. It's the kind of rock I like - tuneful and not screechy. And he can definitely sing. Axe work is decent too - 6.1
Jockstrap: gets progressively better in my view. The first few tracks are just weird. Some of the latter tracks e.g. 50/50 are pretty good. Certainly original - 6.8
Hot Chip: I found this a bit disappointing. Not a phrase that has been uttered that often but I thought it was a poor-man's TDCC actually - 6.4
The Smiths: Glad I insisted on this as a 'Special Classic' in honour of Her Maj. Not listened to it for ages. Great album. Guitar riffs are right up there from Johnny. Cemetery Gates is such an uplifting tune (if you ignore the lyrics!). And 'There is a light that never goes out' is a nailed on classic. - 9
TotW: Bloodrush - The Amazons
Mark
Amazons - solid, if unspectacular indie rock. When they're on it, like Bloodrush, they're great, just needs a few more like that - 6.5
Ozzy - lyrically risible in places, but some monstrous riffing and great guest spots from Iommi and Clapton. Some tracks wouldn't sound out of place on a Royal Blood album, so an unexpected treat. Welcome back, Prince of Darkness š¦- 7
Jockstrap - a conundrum wrapped in an enigma, what an odd disjointed collection this was. Not my bag and won't be relistening - 5
Hot Chip - although it verges on 1975 yacht rock in places, I really liked this, loads of intelligent dance floor friendly bangers, a good time listen. Vocal reminds me of Ian Broudie from Lightning Seeds on a few tracks - 8
TOTW - was honestly tempted by a few on the Ozzy album, but will give it to Down by Hot Chip
Queen Is Dead - remember buying it the week of release on a school trip to Oxford, superb LP. Title track is a brilliant opening to an album and it's great all the way, a definite 9
Erol
Amazons - I am now a convert. I saw them at GE with Sam and Andy pre-covid and they didnāt make much of an impression but this has changed my opinion. A really good album. Throughly uplifting and anthemic (almost) throughout. 7.5
Ozzy - a must-listen for any fan of old school heavy metal. Ozzyās vocals arenāt quite what they once were but who cares. The Prince of Darkness can still carry a tune and any gaps in his delivery are more than made up for by the driving backtrack. A massive round of applause for the bounty of guitar solos. Letās put on some black eye liner and go and see him next year. 8.2
Jockstrap - painful to listen to and disjointed. The experimentation just becomes tiresome after the first few tracks. I would rather sniff my own jockstrap than have to listen to this again. 4.1
Hot Chip - 80s synth with a modern twist. Cool nerd music for middle-aged men like us. It fizzles out a bit after the first handful of tracks but still very listenable. 7.1
The Smiths - I was never really a big fan back in the day. The singles from the album are still strong - and There is a Light is beautifully wistful- but the rest is all a bit too downbeat and/or dated for me. 6.5
Matt
Amazons - 7.8 At their best you hear touches of the Vaccines or Killers on some tracks but they have some way to go to match either bands' variety or lyricism. Good progress though and some solid crowd pleasers.
Ozzy 6.5 Some listenable tracks like Patient No 9, but ultimately a run through of metal tropes. Hats off though still putting in shift at his age.
Jockstrap 7.9 A interesting selection but there were shades of the Avalanches, some late 80s style sampling and Bacharach-like strings. Admittedly an acquired taste but I enjoyed it.
Hot Chip 7.5 Easily mocked as dinner party electro pop but some very enjoyable tracks, Eleanor especially.
TOTW Greatest Hits Jockstrap
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