Amazon exiles discussion

It's that time again, people. Time to loudly proclaim what you spent your hard earned on this year, or sheepishly admit to, if you like! ;-)

Music - both new and archive releases
Books
TV and movies

Have fun

Kicking off with my top ten albums of 2018

1. Kamasi Washington - Heaven And Earth
2. Hen Ogledd - Mogic
3. The Last Poets - Understand What Black Is
4. Khruangbin - Con Todo El Mundo
5. Anna Von Hausswolff - Dead Magic
6. Beak> - >>>
7. Cucina Povera - Hilja
8. Sneers - Heaven Will Rescue Us, We're The Scum, We're In The Sun
9. Bonnacons Of Doom - Bonnacons Of Doom
10. Mary Lattimore - Hundreds Of Days

Other new stuff

Siavash Amini & Matt Finney - Gospel
The Aphex Twin - Collapse e.p.
Delphine Dora - Eudaimon
(Erased Tapes Artists) - 1+1=X
Goat - Double Date
Tim Hecker - Konoyo
Hekla - Á
Halo Maud - Je Suis Une Ile
Meat Beat Manifesto vs Terry Riley
The Melvins - Pinkus Abortion Technician
Merzbow, Mats Gustafsson, Thurston Moore & Balazs Pandi - Cuts Up Cuts Out
Abul Mogard - Above All Dreams
Phew - Voice Hardcore
Emma Ruth Rundle - On Dark Horses
Jessica Sligter - Polycrisis:yes!
smallhaus - lutra
Underworld & Iggy Pop - Teatime Dub Sessions e.p.
Urthona - Destruction Rules
Xylouris White - Mother
Thom Yorke - Suspiria

A good year for archive releases, especially for Bowie fans

David Bowie - Welcome To The Blackout (Live London '78)
David Bowie - Glastonbury 2000
Kate Bush - Remastered, Parts 1 & 2
Holger Czukay - Cinema
Family - At The BBC
Public Image Ltd - The Public Image Is Rotten

And some other oldies highlights (the first two being excellent RSD reissues of music from Brazil and Capo Verde)

Djavan - A Voz, A Violao, A Musica De Djavan
António Sanches - Buli Povo
Älgarnas Trädgård - Framtiden är ett svävande skepp, förankrat i forntiden
Marc Almond - Jacques
Brast Burn - Debon
Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (original Obscure Records recording)
Karuna Khyal - Alomoni 1985
Jefrey Leighton Brown - Change Has Got To Come!
Shimshon Miel - Orchard Of The Whispering Embers
The Red Krayola - God Bless The Red Krayola And All Who Sail With It
Residents - Meet The Residents
Supersilent - Supersilent 6

Books has been limited this year to long overdue purchases of George R.R. Martin's 'A Song Of Ice And Fire'

A Game Of Thrones
A Clash Of Kings
A Storm Of Swords
A Feast For Crows
A Dance With Dragons

And his latest
Fire And Blood: A History Of The Targaryen Kings, vol. 1

Likewise, TV and movies on disc have been limited this year

Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery
Phantasm 1-5 box set
Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman (26 movies!)
2001: A Space Odyssey

Disclaimer : my tastes seem to be narrowing with age. I haven't really added any new genres to my listening.

My best Australian albums of 2018:

1. Perry Keyes - Jim Salmon's Lament
2. Halfway - Rain Lover
3. Marlon Williams - Make Way For Love
4. Michael Waugh - The Asphalt & The Oval
5. Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird - Electric Brown
6. Campfire - Kasey Chambers
7. Dan Parsons - Sunday Morning Cinema
8. Paul Kelly - Nature
9. Neil & Liam Finn - Lightsleeper
10. Cat Canteri - Inner North

International albums I've enjoyed:

1. Joshua Hedley - Mr Jukebox
2. The Milk Carton Kids - All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn't Do
3. Jason Isbel - Live from the Ryman
4. John Prine - The Tree Of Forgiveness
5. Dawes - Passwords
6. Joan Baez - Whistle Down The Wind
7. Eddi Reader - Cavalier
8. Christine And The Queens - Chris
9. Barbra Streisand - Walls
10. Reimagination - Lamont Dozier

Best book purchase of 2018:

Markus Zusak - Bridge Of Clay

DVDs

I have bought Series 1 & 2 of "The Crown" only because I can't be fashed with Netflix.

An extremely apt and rather obvious one from me ;o> ...

I've discovered, and now greatly enjoy buying regularly, Fatherson Bakery Ltd Cakes at our nearest Wyevale Garden Centre - and most especially of all, their absolutely fantastic 'Rich Fruit Loaf' Cake ;o>

It's the closest to the very best-ever kind of homemade Fruit Cake that I've bought previously.

Here's my annual tally of additions to my music collection. Yes, I know some of them are ancient, but I just hadn't gotten around to them yet.

2018 releases
The Breeders - All Nerve
It’s Briiiiiixmaaaaaas - The Brixton Hill All-Stars (various artists compilation mini album)
Field Music - Open Here
Fonda 500 - I (Heart) Fonda 500
Gazelle Twin - Pastoral
Bill Nelson - That Old Mysterioso
Bill Nelson - The Unrealist
Bill Nelson - Drive This Comet Across The Sky
Bill Nelson - Luxury Wonder Moments
Bill Nelson - Dynamos And Tremolos
Bill Nelson - Auditoria (triple album)
Thumpermonkey - Electricity EP
Thumpermonkey - The Universe Has Moved Beyond You (demos 2007-2016, released 2018)
Thumpermonkey - Make Me Young, etc.
Kavus Torabi - Solar Divination EP
Vienna Ditto - Flat Earth
Vienna Ditto - The Fake Album

Other albums
Animals As Leaders - Weightless (2011)
Animals As Leaders - Animals As Leaders (recorded 2009, released 2015)
Aspects Of Physics - Systems Of Social Recalibration (2001)
Big Black - The Hammer Party (compilation 1986, first 3 EPs)
Big Black - The Rich Man's Eight Track Tape (compilation 1987, including Atomizer 1986)
Broken Social Scene - Lo-Fi For The Dividing Nights (mini album 2010)
Rob Crow - My Room Is A Mess (2003)
Deerhoof - Apple O’ (2003)
Deerhoof - Milk Man (2004)
Deerhoof - Green Cosmos EP (2005)
Deerhoof - Untitled EP (2006)
Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity (2007)
Deerhoof - Offend Maggie (2008)
Deerhoof - Deerhoof vs. Evil (2011)
Deerhoof - Breakup Song (2012)
Deerhoof - La Isla Bonita (2014)
Deerhoof - The Magic (2016)
The Diomedes - Traps (2017)
Gentle Giant - Gentle Giant (1970)
Gentle Giant - Acquiring The Taste (1971)
Gentle Giant - Three Friends (1972)
Gentle Giant - Octopus (1972)
Gentle Giant - In A Glass House (1973)
Gentle Giant - The Power And The Glory (1974)
Gentle Giant - Free Hand (1975)
Gentle Giant - In'terview (1976)
Goblin Cock - Necronomidonkeykongmicon (2016)
Gong - Expresso II (1978)
Heavy Vegetable - Mondo Aqua Kitty (2000)
Allan Holdsworth - The Sixteen Men Of Tain (2000)
How To Destroy Angels - How To Destroy Angels EP (2010)
How To Destroy Angels - Welcome Oblivion (2012)
Rael Jones - Mandrake (2013)
The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar (2011)
The Joy Formidable - Wolf's Law (2013)
Magma - Köhntarkösz (1988)
Nova Collective - The Further Side (2017)
Sanguine Hum - Now We Have Light (2015)
Schnauser - Kill All Humans (2005)
Schnauser - The Missing Link (2009)
Schnauser - The Sound Of Meat (2010)
Schnauser - Where Business Meets Fashion (2013)
Schnauser - Protein For Everyone (2014)
Schnauser - Irritant (2017)
Shrubbies - Memphis In Texas (1999)
The Soft Machine - Volume Two (1969)
The Soft Machine - Third (1970)
The Soft Machine - Fourth (1971)
The Soft Machine - Fifth (1972)
The Soft Machine - Six (1973)
The Soft Machine - Seven (1973)
Stop Motion Orchestra - Instant Everything! (2014)
Strobes - Brokespeak (2016)
Jake Thackray - Jake Thackray And Songs (DVD recorded in 1980, released 2017)
Tin Spirits - Wired To Earth (2012)
Tin Spirits - Scorch (2014)
Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool (2015)
Wolf Alice - Visions Of A Life (2017)
Yeasayers - Fragrant World (2012)
Yeasayers - Amen And Goodbye (2016)
Yes - The Yes Album (1971)
Kristeen Young - The Orphans (2006)
Kristeen Young - Music For Strippers, Hookers, And The Odd On-Looker (2009)
Kristeen Young - V The Volcanic mini-album (2011)
Kristeen Young - The Knife Shift (2014)
Kristeen Young - Live At The Witch's Tit (2017)

Discoveries of the year:
Deerhoof, Schnauser and Kristeen Young
Bargain of the year: The Soft Machine albums Third to Seven in a 5 CD box set for £13

i'm making no judgement on the music they play, but "Goblin Cock"? - gies a brek!

new 2018
'understand what black is' - the last poets
re-issue 2018
'linval presents dub landing vol.1'
'linval presents dub landing vol.2'
'lets get started' - tetrack
'journey through a body' - throbbing gristle
'mission of dead souls' - throbbing gristle
'flying saucer attack' - the rezillos
'repatriation' - u brown
'this is trojan reggae' - various
'this is trojan roots' - various
'this is trojan dub' - various
others 2018
'this is dub clash' - the clash
'this is augustus pablo'
'king tubby meets the aggrovators at dub station'
'dubbing at king tubby's' - various
'east of the river nile' - augustus pablo
'showcase' - aswad
'lamb's bread' - sylford walker
'clash' - dillinger/trinity
'as the veneer of democracy starts to fade - mark stewart
'trouble' - tetrack
'the best of gregory isaacs'
'super ape returns to conquer' - lee scratch perry and subatomic sound system
'time to tell' - cosey fanni tutti
'fraction of jah action' - i benjahman
books read 2018
https://www.goodreads.com/user_challe...
'killing commendatore' - haruki murakami
'the beastie boys book' - michael diamond/adam horowitz
'this is joe public speaking' - anthony davie
film/t.v. 2018
'twin peaks' 3rd series dvd box (santa bringing)

Tech wrote: "i'm making no judgement on the music they play, but "Goblin Cock"? - gies a brek!"

But Throbbing Gristle's such a subtle name?

well, throbbing gristle is simply a state of being, whereas goblin cock would suggest some kind of hobby or pastime! no?

In more or less alphabetical order:

John Adams- Grand Pianola Music
Tom Baxter - The Other Side of Blue
Tom Baxter - Uncarved Block
Grant Lee Buffalo - Fuzzy
Grant Lee Buffalo - Mighty Joe Moon
Michael Daugherty - Orchestral Works
Duke of Norfolk - Attendre et Espérer
Luke Haines - Rock ‘n Roll Animals
Hear In Now - Not Living In Fear
Micah P. Hinson - When I Shoot You With Arrows.........
James - Living In Extraordinary Times
Loose Lips Sink Ships - Contemporary Issues Of Celibacy
Loose Lips Sink Ships - self-titled
Peter Murphy - Deep
One Thousand Violins - Halcyon Days
Tom Petty - Highway Companion
Steve Reich - Drumming etc.
Steve Reich - Duet
Terry Riley - Sunrise Of The Planetary Dream Collector
Suede - The Blue Hour
Sweet Baboo -Ships
Transcendence Orchestra - Modern Methods For Ancient Rituals
Uccellini - La Bergamasca
Visionary Hours - Beyond The White
Visionary Hours - Footfalls Echo

DVDs

Michael Nyman - Make It Louder, Please!
Sing Me The Songs That Say I Love You - Concert For Kate McGarrigle
Still Life At The Penguin Café - ballet

Usual suspects that won't make any end of year lists!

Protomen - Act II gatefold pop-up sleeve! (nearly 10 years waiting for Act III)
Pagan - Black Wash
Pan - The Boreal Coast
Farmer Boys - Born Again (waited 14 years for this!)
Wardruna - Skald
Kadhja Bonet - Childqueen
Band Maid - World Domination
Lovebites - Clockwork Immortality
Satan - Cruel Magic
VNV Nation - Noire
Mouse - Elephant Island
Supersuckers - Suck It
Candlemass - House of Doom
Magnum - Lost on the Road to Eternity
Orphaned Land - Unsung Prophets
Half Man Half Biscuit - No One Cares About Your Creative Hub...
Dizzy Sunfist - Dreams Never Die

Ah lots of others Fifth Angel, Kanye West, Monster Magnet, Anderson Paak, Blaze Bayley, Orange Goblin, Architects, Arctic Monkeys, Coheed and Cambria, Fall Out Boy, Janelle Monae, Ragut, Mili, Riot V, Mark Lanegan, Tropical Fuck Storm, Opera IX, Sigh, Plan B, Voivod, Ninja Sex Party, Refuge

Utter disappointments of the year:
Arctic Monkeys
Janelle Monae

Best surprise (what a year to be alive!):
Daphne & Celeste - Save the World

Sorry, can't be arsed to look through all my orders on various websites to see exactly what I bought this year. I'll be back later in the week, when I have a bit more time, with my top 10 albums of 2018 - I'm sure you'll all be fascinated and can't wait to find out what they are! 😋

Well, I know you've all been agog, on the edge of your seats waiting for this list, so here it is........ ;-)

Top 10 albums in no partic order:-

Acid Vatican - Never Forget How To Bear
https://clandestinerecords.bandcamp.c...

Shame - Songs of Praise
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Songs-Praise...

Numb.er - Goodbye
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodbye-Numb...

Moon Gangs - Earth Loop
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earth-Loop-M...

Preoccupations - New Material
https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Material...

Hørd - Parallels
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parallels-Hø...

Dead Vibrations - Dead Vibrations
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Vibrati...

The Soft Moon - Criminal Remixed
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Criminal-Rem...

European Ghost - Collection of Shadows
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Collection-S...

Whispering Sons - Image
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Image-Whispe...

Compilation of the year:
Self-Aware III (Ximg Records)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Aware-I...

Reissue of the year:
End Of Data - Sahrah
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sahrah-End-D...

EP of the year:
Phase Fatale - Reverse Fall
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reverse-Fall...

Disappointment of the year:
A Place To Bury Strangers - Pinned

oi were gogged owt moi 'ead waitin'!

I’m disappointed , I thought I might know a couple. Have to listen to them all now!

Lez wrote: "I’m disappointed , I thought I might know a couple. Have to listen to them all now!"

Yeh, I've not got round to listening to the likes of Suede, Interpol, Orbital, Teleman, Motorama etc. yet.

I started making a list but was shocked by how much I'd bought that I hadn't yet listened to

Alright, most important acquisition related to the music this year was exercise bike (to treat my also this year acquisition hips arthritis). Thanks to daily 15 min biking upstairs and recovering from the attic 18 years old Aiwa cd-casette player I started ploughing through my record collection in alphabetical order. Right now stuck on Band Of Skulls.
Surely got some stuff (music) this year, would like to mention only my afterxmas acq...geez...
Thanks to ASDA. Me and wife got totally fed up with our reclusive badger life style, so decided go for adventure to Enniskillen on Boxing Day, never done it before, just to be amongst the people, maybe buy something. Crossed the border (while we can), first stop ASDA. Treated myself with the latest Classic Rock magazine (used to subscribe years ago). Later home, checking out 50 best albums of 2018 was quite surprised how many I missed, also got a few new suggestions.
As a result see what I've got only this week,

Clutch - Book Of Bad Decisions
Billy F Gibbons - The Big Bad Blues
Redfern Hutchinson & Ross - Mahogany Drift
The Struts - Young & Dangerous (nver heard of them)
Halestorm - Vicious (same)
The Sheepdogs - Changing Colours
Blackberry Smoke - Find a Light
Alice In Chains - Rainier Fog
Howlin Rain - The Alligator Bride

and the next two thanks to voting thread,

Black Crippled Phoenix - Great Escape
White Denim - Performance

Love The Sheepdogs PS. If they ever play live in your neck of the woods I heartily recommend seeing them. Their back catalogue is well worth exploring (but not cheap). Looking to get the Mahogany Drift album but I picked up Mike Ross Band's album cheaply and that's a good 'un.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennys-Place...

White Denim play Belfast 9th and Dublin 10th Feb. Dunno if either is feasible for you?

"White Denim play Belfast 9th and Dublin 10th Feb. Dunno if either is feasible for you? ?
Haven't been to live gigs for ages Brass, since my only friend here died in Dublin years ago. What was the last, wait, ACDC black Ice tour?
Somehow no wish to go alone, alright taking wife to annual Rory Gallagher tribute festivals couple times in Ballyshannon.
So have to think about it. Either destinations are some 150 km from my village, couple hours drive.

PS, can't help feeling you'd love Greta Van Fleet too, very redolent of Led Zeppelin (detractors would say copyists).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJg4O...

Yeah, just found out them from the last voting thread too. Was amazed those millions on youtbe having seen them... except me. Not in a hurry for a closer inspection though.
Right now more into Queen lookasounds (yeah inventing new words) The Struts. I saw Bohemian Rhapsody trailer recently and thought "hmm, that bloke The Struts would make much better Freddie M".

The Struts album certainly has a lot of Queen influences. Going to see them next month - The Struts that is

Palaye Royale are another great (relatively) new band doing the retro-rock thing very well. I can't get over the Struts sounding so much like Lorde on Bulletproof Baby!

Sera69 wrote: "Palaye Royale are another great (relatively) new band doing the retro-rock thing very well. I can't get over the Struts sounding so much like Lorde on Bulletproof Baby!"

I'll give them a listen