What Do You Think About The Car? – Declan McKenna
At the age of 15, Declan McKenna was the youngest solo artist to perform at Glastonbury winning the Emerging Talent Competition in 2015. His debut album ‘What Do You Think About The Car’ has a certain maturity to the lyrics and topics that it explores for such a young singer and did I mention that they are ridiculously catchy.
Top five tracks:
The Kids Don’t Want To Come Home
Paracetamol
Humongous
Brazil
Why Do You Feel So Down
Attractions Of Youth – Barns Courtney
Barns Courtney has certainly come a long way since I saw him at a very intimate gig at the Oporto last February. Putting Barns Courtney in a single music genre is a virtually impossible task and ‘Attractions of Youth’ just goes to show what a diverse musician he is. From rock to folk(ish) and then rap this album is a treat for your ears.
Top 5 tracks:
Glitter and Gold
Fire
Hobo Rocket
Little Boy
Kicks
Emerging Adulthood – Dan Croll
Dan Croll’s second album has been a long time coming and I can assure that it was certainly worth the wait. ‘Emerging Adulthood’ cwas released in July and with catchy hits like ‘Bad Boy’ and ‘Tokyo’ was a definite favourite for my summer playlist.
Top five tracks:
Tokyo
January
One Of Us
Bad Boy
Educate
Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect – Sundara Karma
On twelfth night the three wise men came to a stable in Bethlehem bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and on the 6th January 2017 Sundara Karma gifted the world with their debut album ‘Youth is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect.’
This album has become such a ‘go to’ soundtrack for me that I often forget that it was actually released this year!
With highs…..and more highs, because there literally aren’t any lows when it comes to the infectious sound of Sundara Karma, this record is all I need for dancing round my room.
P.S introducing Mandy to SK’s music remains, to this day, my greatest achievement in life.
Top 5 tracks:
She Said
Flame
A Young Understanding
Watching From Great Heights
Lose The Feeling
This Life, Vol. 1 – Coasts
Who are we kidding, of course Coasts were going to be on my list of Top 5 Albums and taking the top spot too!
Coasts second album ‘This Life, Vol. 1’ has a certain maturity to it, exploring themes that have often challenged the band. All of this is done whilst maintaining a distinct Coastsness and includes some absolute belters.
Top 5 tracks:
Take Me Back Home
Heart Starts Beating
Chase The Night
Make It Out Alive
White Noise
(I wanted to put all ten tacks on my ‘top’ list but Mandy said that I had to choose five)
Adore 