MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: MAD MACKEREL’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

And so here is the final personal Top Twenty of the year. This time it is my turn! Another twelve months neatly wrapped up and delivered for your listening pleasure and here’s to 2016… 20. Quiet Hollers – Mont Blanc An apocalyptic, “end-is-nigh” rolling, country rock anthem. Pure poetry with the best coda to a song I heard all year, “shed a tear for the books … Continue reading MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: MAD MACKEREL’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: MRS MACKEREL’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

Our Best of the Year posts are coming to a close and for the penultimate list we hand over to the ever fragrant Mrs Mackerel. Over to you Mrs M… Another year banked. As ever, I look at my list and think yes, there are some that are keepers and others that maybe were just a mirage. A little like life really.   20 The … Continue reading MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: MRS MACKEREL’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: POLLY POCKET’S TOP TEN SONGS

The latest instalments of personal Top Tens comes from regular MM contributor Polly Pocket. Enjoy.   10. Courtney Barnett – Pedestrian At Best I always find myself smiling and shouting along to this one in equal measure. A ton of lyrics that shouldn’t work together but somehow sound perfect. I’ve always loved origami.   9. Noah Gundersen – Slow Dancer This is a beauty. A … Continue reading MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: POLLY POCKET’S TOP TEN SONGS

MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: CHRIS T POPPER’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

Our third personal Top Ten comes from ever-present contributor Chris T Popper… Another set of mighty fine tunes…   20 Telegraph Canyon – Why Let It Go 19 Songhoy Blues – Soubour 18 Assed Out – Bueno 17 Houndmouth – Sedona 16 Kurt Vile – Pretty Pimpin 15 Abandoned Delta – I Never Lived In New Orleans 14 Tallest Man On Earth – Sagres 13 … Continue reading MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: CHRIS T POPPER’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: THE ITALIAN JOB’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

Following Barry-Sean’s welcome return to the MM bosom yesterday, we are equally delighted to now introduce The Italian Job’s debut entry into MM’s Best Of annals (and don’t try saying that when you’ve had too much eggnog). Providing us with a welcome European flavour, and writing better in her second language than we can in our first, we invite you to sample her pleasingly punk-tinged favourites … Continue reading MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: THE ITALIAN JOB’S TOP TWENTY SONGS

MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: BARRY-SEAN’S TOP TEN SONGS

It is a warm welcome back into the fold for Barry-Sean, and he kicks off our individual contributors personal favourites of the year. Take it away maestro…   10. Slaves – The Hunter  So, they’re not the most mature lyrics ever. In fact they make a lot of the old punk stuff I listened to as a teenager sound quite sophisticated. But there’s a rawness … Continue reading MM’S BEST OF THE YEAR: BARRY-SEAN’S TOP TEN SONGS

Festive fair (16): New Ben Franklins

Filled with raw emotion and the earnest, powerful voice of lead singer David DeVoe, this New Ben Franklins track, Christmas Song (All I Wanna Do) is a less-than-cheerful holiday song that speaks of the loneliness and the despair that so many encounter during the holidays. The band is releasing the song, free for download at their bandcamp site today and follows fast on the heels of the October … Continue reading Festive fair (16): New Ben Franklins

MM’S BEST TRACKS OF 2015: 25-1

Here we go then, our final countdown of our favourite tracks of 2015, with no fewer than three artists managing two entries in the top 25 this year! And don’t forget you can see the other 75 choices here (100-75), here (75-51) and here (50-26). Enjoy. 25 Ghostpoet – Off Peak Dreams   24 Tracy Thorn – Goodbye Joe (2015 re-issue)   23 Calexico – Follow … Continue reading MM’S BEST TRACKS OF 2015: 25-1

MM’S BEST TRACKS OF 2015: 50-26

It’s the third instalment of our end of year list of our favourite tracks of 2015. Today we enter the top half of the chart with numbers 50 through to 26.   50 Mutual Benefit – Not For Nothing   49 Rats On Rafts – Last Day On Earth   48 Slaves – Ninety Nine   47 Diet Cig – Harvard   46 Decemberists – The … Continue reading MM’S BEST TRACKS OF 2015: 50-26

MM’S BEST ALBUMS OF 2015: 15-1

Here are our favourite albums of 2015. 15 Julien Baker – Sprained Ankle   14 Joe Ely – Panhandle Rambler   13 Low – Ones And Sixes   12 James McMurtry – Complicated Game   11 Titus Andronicus – The Most Lamentable Tragedy   10 Quiet Hollers – Quiet Hollers   9 Girl Band – Holding Hands With Jamie   8 Ezra Furman – Perpetual … Continue reading MM’S BEST ALBUMS OF 2015: 15-1