Thursday, December 31, 2020

Album of the year for 2020 & the winner is......

Released on Valentine's Day (how romantic) Tame Impala's fourth studio record, The Slow Rush is my album of 2020. It follows the 2015 album Currents, along with 2019 singles It Might Be Time and Borderline.

All tracks on The Slow Rush are written by the main man Kevin Parker. The album features six sensational singles. Early (very early) in 2020 my favourite cut from the album was released as a single, Lost in Yesterday. Early August the wonderful Is it True was released as the sixth single from the album.

The album has received critical acclaim, topped the charts in Australia, Scotland, Portugal and US alternative and rock album charts.

This album has meant so much to me as I leaned into music in a big way in 2020. I flogged Lost in Yesterday early in the year. Then again in August Is it True was a top played song on my Apple Music.

I lost my pet in 2020 and this album helped me remember Maverick whilst also continuing to push through 2020. I never thought Tame Impala would give us tunes we could dance to, reminisce to all in one album.

The Slow Rush really is the album of 2020. Well done Tame Impala, its been a long time coming to this very blog.

Sunday, December 27, 2020

Summer Music Lists Specials Return early 2021

The start of my biggest tunes of 2020 kicks off next week as well as the Album of the Year for 2020 announcement.

Happy Holidays. Here are some truly ace gems floating around at present...

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Boxing Day 2020 MixTape

Here are some of the most impressive hits from recent Fresh Friday Countdowns. Happy Holidays y'all!

Friday, December 25, 2020

The Fresh Friday Countdown will be Back...

Friday 8 January, 2021. Yes 2020 is almost over. Praise Be! The Fresh Friday Countdown continued throughout 2020, so many number ones, so much great new music. However I feel like history is repeating this time last year, Tones and I was number one with Dance Monkey.

This year sees Tones and I sitting pretty at number one with Fly Away.

Will Tones and I still be number one when the countdown returns in early January (again)?

Here is the number one track right now!

Thursday, December 24, 2020

BENEE, hey u x Guest List

hey u x by BENEE had a pile of fab guests on board. Some new, some very familiar. Lily fricken Allen is also on this release! WTF.

Take a look, listen to the guest list below. One week till the Album of the Year for 2020, goes LIVE right here!

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

New Tame Impala Video Drops

The Album of The Year race is on. With the winner to be announced on New Years Eve. Originally I was meant to be in Canberra, however the borders aren't playing nice. So maybe it's a no frills home affair investing in a full listen to this years album of the year.

What will it be? BENEE, this weeks feature star. The Weekend, Disclosure, Tame Impala or Halsey?

Tame Impala decided to drop an end of year gift with their new Breathe Deeper clip. Check it out below and get thinking? Who had the biggest album of 2020?

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: December 2020

The late (Mini) Monday Spotlight update for 2020. Going all the way up until this Monday, the (Mini) Monday Spotlight has unearthed another serious amount of talent. Kicking off December with WA's finest Death by Denim.

Next up was one of my favourite stars, George Maple. Yes we got George's debut album all the way back 2017, however along with her new MYTH project, 2020 saw George Maple return after a couple of quieter years.

And keeping December local we went to Melbourne for debut album kids, Cry Club.

Yep 2020 has been random, but the new, talented acts have been outstanding. Some seriously top notch debut albums landed in 2020. What will 2021 bring musically?

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Male Artists of 2020 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part Three

20 - Saint JHN 
19 - Khalid 
18 - Duckwrth
17 - Ty Dolla $ign
16 - Dominic Fike
15 - Flume
14 - Calvin Harris
13 - Channel Tres
12 - Jack Harlow
11 - Drake
10 - Ruel 
9 - Travis Scott
8 - Joji 
7 - Headie One
6 - Post Malone
5 - Alfie Templeton
4 - Machine Gun Kelly
3 - Juice WRLD
2 - The Kid Laroi
1 - The Weeknd

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Streaming... NOW! | Key Friday 18 December, 2020

It's heading into the summer slack period so releases are a little slower than normal. However 2021 already has some top notch releases on the calendar. So exciting! So here are the new singles that caught my eye this week.

DZ Deathrays – FU

Glades – Get In The Way

Imanbek & Goodboys – Goodbye

Alicia Keys feat. Diamond Platnumz & Kaash Paige – Wasted Energy

King Princess & Avalon Emerson – Pain (remixes)

The Paper Kites feat. Aoife O’Donovan – Climb On Your Tears

WAAX – Fired Up

Friday, December 18, 2020

Final (for 2020) Fresh Friday Countdown #241 - Friday 18 December, 2020

20 - Amy Shark - C'MON {Feat. Travis Barker} 
19 - Amy Shark - All the Lies About Me
18 - SAINt JHN - Roses (Imanbek Remix)
17 - The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
16 - PNAU & Ladyhawke - River
15 - Megan Thee Stallion - Body
14 - Kita Alexander - Can't Help Myself
13 - The Kid LAROI - SO DONE
12 - Sia - Together
11 - Alison Wonderland & Valentino Khan - Anything
10 - Amy Shark - Everybody Rise
9 - Paul Woodford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me
8 - Jax Jones & Au/Ra - i miss u
7 - Hooligan Hefs - SEND IT!
6 - The Kid LAROI - WITHOUT YOU
5 - The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
4 - David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love
3 - Joel Corry - Head & Heart {Feat. MNEK} 
2 - Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am
1 - Tones And I - Fly Away

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Disclosure Vs The Weeknd

The two nominees did work together a while back on Nocturnal. However now they go head to head for the 2020 Album of the Year. Let's take a look at some of their respective hits.

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Female Artists of 2020 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part Two

20 - Sampha The Great
19 - Doja Cat
18 - Wafia
17 - Rina Sawayama
16 - Grimes
15 - Hayley Williams
14 - Eves Karydas
13 - Megan Thee Stallion/Cardi B
12 - KLP
11 - Fiona Apple
10 - Charli XCX
9 - beebadoobee
8 - Sia 
7 - Miiesha
6 - Tones And I
5 - Tkay Maidza
4 - Halsey
3 - Billie Eilish
2 - BENEE
1 - 
Amy Shark 

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Streaming... NOW! | Key Friday 11 December, 2020

Maybe the last big update for 2020 for new releases. So let's kick it off with a big new release, the third record from The Avalanches, We Will Always Love You.

It's been 20 years since the Deftones released White Pony. So along with the 20th Anniversary Edition version there are some new remixes to boot.

Tasman Keith has given us the, To Whom It May Concern Mixtape. Check out a cut from it now.

George Maple has returned with a new release, MYTH. Live shows are also on the way. Yay for the return of live music.

OK Beyonce, y'all got some catching up to do in 2020. Taylor Swift has given us her second surprise album for 2020, evermore.

New singles this week include PNAU teaming up with an old friend, Troye Sivan re-releasing Easy with a few friends on board this time and Channel Tres is back with even more impressive new music.

박혜진 Park Hye Jin – Clouds

Bakar feat. Lancey Foux – Play

Channel Tres – i can’t go outside

Manu Crooks – Top

H.E.R. – Hold Us Together

Illy – I Myself & Me

SG Lewis feat. Rhye – Time

Otosan – Nowhere

Peking Duk x Tommy Trash – Lil Bit

Pnau feat. Ladyhawke – River

Troye Sivan & Kasey Musgraves feat. Mark Ronson – Easy

Skegss – Wake Up

Slowly Slowly – Comets & Zombies

Emily Wurramarra – Cruisin’

Friday, December 11, 2020

Fresh Friday Countdown #240 - Friday 11 December, 2020

20 - Gwen Stefani - Let Me Reintroduce Myself
19 - Sia - Together
18 - Amy Shark - C'MON {Feat. Travis Barker}
17 - The Kid LAROI - SO DONE
16 - SAINt JHN - Roses (Imanbek Remix)
15 - Amy Shark - Everybody Rise
14 - Kita Alexander - Can't Help Myself
13 - Amy Shark - All the Lies About Me
12 - Megan Thee Stallion - Body
11 - Alison Wonderland & Valentino Khan - Anything
10 - The Kid LAROI - WITHOUT YOU
9 - Hooligan Hefs - SEND IT!
8 - Troye Sivan & Kacey Musgraves - Easy {Feat. Mark Ronson}
7 - Jax Jones & Au/Ra - i miss u
6 - Paul Woodford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me
5 - The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
4 - David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love
3 - Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am
2 - Joel Corry - Head & Heart {Feat. MNEK} 
1 - Tones And I - Fly Away

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Hits of Spring 2020 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part One

20 - Sgt Slick -  Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

19 - Kita Alexander - Can' Help Myself

18 - Juice WRLD & Marshmello - Come & Go

17 - Bring Me The Horizon - Obey {Feat. YUNGBLUD}

16 - Tones And I - Fly Away

15 - Powderfinger - Day by Day

14 - DJ Khaled - POPSTAR {Feat. Drake}

13 - Birdz - Bagi-la-m Bargan {Feat. Fred Leone}

12 - Amy Shark - C'MON {Feat. Travis Barker}

11 - Jax Jones & Au/Ra - i miss u

10 - Paul Woodford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me

9 - Headie One - Ain't it Different {Feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy}

8 - Sia - Courage to Change

7 - Machine Gun Kelly & Halsey - forget me too

6 - David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love

5 - The Weeknd - Blinding Lights

4 - SAINt JHN - Roses (Imanbek Remix)

3 - Sia - Together

2 - Amy Shark - Everybody Rise

1 - Joel Corry - Head & Heart {Feat. MNEK}  

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Streaming... NOW! | Key Friday 4 December, 2020

It's virtually the last week of new releases. First up we get the delayed, YUNGBLUD album Weird! Following a physical CD pressing issue last month, the album has finally arrived in time for Christmas.

Arctic Monkeys have released a Live At Royal Albert Hall album. This is perfect timing for Arctic Monkeys fans and Christmas gifts.

Featuring Justin Bieber as well as Netflix special landing, Shawn Mendes gives us Wonder.

Can you believe it's time for another So Fresh : The Hits Of Summer 2021 + Best Of 2020!

A couple of new EP's as well this week. One Christmas themed, another a revisited, repackaged just time for Christmas release.

Tori Amos – Christmastide 

Mia Dyson – Parking Lots Revisited 

Some interesting new singles this week. From Billie Eilish's brother Finneas to Holy Holy and a real banger from Anna Lunoe. This week we even jump into some a Bluey favourite. ACCTA award winning Bluey for that matter. Look out as well for some new Logic1000 just in time for the dance floors to open again on Monday!

Au/Ra – Moon River

Bakar feat. Lancey Foux – Play

Bluey – Keepy Uppy

Finneas – Another Year

Goldlink feat. Lukeyworld – Dunya

San Holo – BB U OK?

Holy Holy feat. Queen P – Port Road

Hoodzy – Jumpy

LANKS feat. Yorke – KING

Logic1000 – I Won’t Forget

Anna Lunoe feat. Nakamura Minami – Ice Cream

San Mei – Dakota

Nothing But Thieves – Phobia

Gretta Ray – Passion

Romy – Lifetime (remixes)

Britney Spears – Swimming In The Stars

B Wise & ONEFOUR – Won’t Stop

Friday, December 4, 2020

Fresh Friday Countdown #239 - Friday 4 December, 2020

20 - Sia - Hey Boy
19 - Meduza - Paradise {Feat. Dermot Kennedy}
18 - The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
17 - SAINt JHN - Roses (Imanbek Remix)
16 - Alison Wonderland & Valentino Khan - Anything
15 - Architechs - Black Lungs
14 - Sia - Together
13 - YUNGBLUD - acting like that {Feat. Machine Gun Kelly}
12 - Birds of Tokyo - Weekend
11 - Amy Shark - Everybody Rise
10 - Megan Thee Stallion - Body
9 - Paul Woodford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me
8 - Amy Shark - C'MON {Feat. Travis Barker}
7 - Jax Jones & Au/Ra - i miss u
6 - Hooligan Hefs - SEND IT!
5 - David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love
4 - The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
3 - Joel Corry - Head & Heart {Feat. MNEK} 
2 - Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am
1 - Tones And I - Fly Away

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: (late) September - November 2020

Morning all, my last (Mini) Monday Spotlight was around the end of late September, however one more (Mini) Monday Spotlight snuck in September, Mr Dro Carey. Then came a stacked October, following Dro Carey's dance themed instalment, Elderbrook was next.

The tempo completed changed then for local Stevan from Wollongong, then we travelled across the ditch to NZ for JessB. The borders were still shut but we snuck into Perth for some indie rock with Great Gable.

Somehow in 2020 we made it to November. The four weeks flew by, kicking off with a fan of 90's grunge, beabadoobee. Next up it was a slide of local electronica, with KLLO. Summer was definitely on the way with Whetan and Lastlings firing up the dance floor hits.

And lastly (not Lastlings, LOL) was fun indie pop crew Haiku Hands

2020 has served up and interesting year, while also giving us some great new music. Not to mention great and exciting new artists. I hope to continue the (Mini) Monday Spotlight at some stage in 2021. There are a few more weeks of December acts to come. However for now on my other blog, there is loads of TV and cinema pieces.

Now it's time to take a listen to some cuts from all the (Mini) Monday Spotlight stars below. Or click the artists above and discover some brand new sounds.










Sunday, November 29, 2020

Sunday Spotlight: The Avalanches

The Avalanches are the lucky final Sunday Spotlight artists for 2020. It's been a real long 2020. Back in February I had a plan to bring the Sunday post back, little did I know back then, 2020 was going to get weird. In June the weekly post slowed down to make way for some 90's fun.

July 2020 got back on track with the Sunday Spotlight returning with the likes of Jessie Ware, DMA's, The Streets and Cub Sport.

From July through Spring 2020 has seen a tonne of good new music. And next month The Avalanches will give us their third studio album, We Will Always Love You.

The group formed in Melbourne in 1997. They gave us their debut album Since I Left You in 2000 then  we waited and waited for Wildflower in 2016.

Since I Left You was one of those debut albums that seemed almost impossible to follow up. I am not going to lie, Wildflower did not excite me too much, however what I have heard from We Will Always Love You, may very well be a return to form.

The new album will feature all of these folks including Sananda Maitreya, Vashti Bunyan, Blood Orange, Rivers Cuomo, Pink Siifu, Denzel Curry, Tricky, Sampa the Great, Leon Bridges, Johnny Marr, MGMT, Clypso, Neneh Cherry, Jamie xx, Kelly Moran, Cornelius, Karen O, Kurt Vile, Mick Jones, Cola Boyy, Perry Farrell, and Oroño.

Yes literally all of them will appears in some form or another on the album due for release 11 December 2020. The album spans over 25 tracks whilst being over 70 minutes of listening pleasure. Keep an ear out for it.

Until then grab some familiar The Avalanches sounds below.

Here is hoping to a more regular Sunday Spotlight series in 2021. For the remainder of 2020 on Sundays I will bring you Summer Music Lists and other random summer features. It's time to hit the beach, let our hair down, it's been a long year, so why not deep dive into The Avalanches and celebrate their new album in a couple of Friday's time. Is it farewell or fuck off 2020? I am going for the later.

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Streaming... NOW! | Key Friday 27 November, 2020

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Smashing Pumpkins are back with CYR. 20 new tunes and over one hour of new music from the 90's indie heroes.

Miley Cyrus gives us a massive pre Christmas/Summer release, Plastic Hearts. Guests galore, huge vocals, is this Miley V2.0?

Kingswood have followed in Delta G's footsteps with a festive album, A Kingswood Christmas is streaming now just in time for the holidays.

Meet next week's feature release, it's Powderfinger with Unreleased (1998-2010).

An interesting week of new singles this week. From King Princess to George Maple and even some Ocean Grove. Get amongst some of the biggest new tunes streaming right now!

Commandeur feat. Genes – Numb

King Princess – Pain

George Maple – The Hill

Ocean Grove – Dream

ZOLLY – Eyes Wide

Friday, November 27, 2020

Fresh Friday Countdown #238 - Friday 27 November, 2020

20 - Ty Dolla $ign - Spicy {Feat. Post Malone}
19 - G Flip - I'D RATHER GO TO BED
18 - Powderfinger - Day by Day
17 - Foo Fighters - Shame Shame
16 - Rina Sawayama - Lucid
15 - The Kid LAROI - SO DONE
14 - Birds of Tokyo - Weekend
13 - Alison Wonderland & Valentino Khan - Anything
12 - SAINt JHN - Roses (Imanbek Remix)
11 - Paul Woodford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me
10 - Sia - Together
9 - Hooligan Hefs - SEND IT!
8 - Amy Shark - C'MON {Feat. Travis Barker}
7 - Jax Jones & Au/Ra - i miss u
6 - Amy Shark - Everybody Rise
5 - David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love
4 - The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
3 - Joel Corry - Head & Heart {Feat. MNEK} 
2 - Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am
1 - Tones And I - Fly Away

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Sunday Spotlight: Something For Kate

Where do I start with Something for Kate? I grew up listening to the three piece in the late 90's around the time Beautiful Sharks (1999) was becoming a hit.

Something for Kate are Paul Dempsey, Clint Hyndman and Stephanie Ashworth. Hailing from Melbourne the three piece have just released their seventh studio album. The Modern Medieval was released on Friday following the singles Situation Room, Waste Our Breath, Supercomputer andCome Back Before I Come Back to My Sense.

The group have received a total of 11 nominations for ARIA Music Awards in 1999, 2001 and 2003. Being ARIA's month, will they receive some nominations for this record in 2021?

Something for Kate have been an iconic fixture on many Australian music festival line ups as well as Hottest 100's.

The group have so many hits under the belt whilst Paul Dempsey solo also goes alright. So if you have been living under a rock for the past few decades it's time to meet Something for Kate. Maybe one of Melbourne's most loved Australian indie groups. Happy Sunday.