Album Of The Year (Prelude)

1/4/2026

Album Of The Year (Prelude)

I have been feverishly assessing the many great LP releases in 2025 with a view to selecting my fave.

Before we get to the drama, here are my previous top LPs going back to 2020- the year I fully rotated back to collecting predominantly vinyl.

2020

ILIKE TRAINS 🇬🇧

“Kompromat” (Self released)

This under the radar outfit from Leeds self- released their 4th full length in August of 2020. Although recorded well before the madness of the year, this dark, brooding masterpiece perfectly captured the angst of the day.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OWz_IOi_brs&list=RDOWz_IOi_brs&start_radio=1&pp=ygUdSWxpa2UgdHJhaXNuIGV5ZXMgdG8gdGhlIGxlZnSgBwE%3D

SPOTIFY-

https://open.spotify.com/track/7d3iLIIVMGWldJMXwJWivi?si=Fq7-Rd9vS8etF5-fMERiGQ

(SONG 1486)

2021

ARAB STRAP 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

“As Days Get Dark” (RockAction)

Still in the throes of the pandemic, one of my all-time fave artists staged a stunning comeback after a 15 year hiatus from studio recordings.

As if they had never gone away, AIDAN MOFFAT and MALCOLM MIDDLETON released a masterpiece for our times touching on many of the themes of the so-called “modern life.”

Live version on YouTube:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VrnyowW-4zc&list=RDVrnyowW-4zc&start_radio=1&pp=ygUUQXJhYiBzdHJhcCBrYWJhYnlrb26gBwE%3D

SPOTIFY-

https://open.spotify.com/track/4HMbBFbNcAZfg9AEcyBy8T?si=2rycRS5sTsSFx4yMI7lyUA

(SONG 1487)

2022

SPIRITUALIZED 🇬🇧

“Everything Was Beautiful” (Bella Union/ Fat Possum)

In almost 30 years of releases by this JASON PIERCE led group, SPITIRITUALIZED have never released a duff song, let alone a mediocre LP. This gem was no different, Right from the incredible cover (with a removable prescription pill box containing the song list and other essential LP data) to the 7 classic tunes, this was immediately in my personal hall of fame. Here is the stunning video of my favourite song on the release to match-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hze3Su59kFE&list=RDhze3Su59kFE&start_radio=1&pp=ygUbc3Bpcml0dWFsaXplZCBtYWlubGluZSBzb25noAcB

SPOTIFY-

https://open.spotify.com/track/7vCx7LyKEyfmAMw9kYdYHq?si=lUZkS-LJQZOE4Z8m9JTh0w

(SONG 1488)

2023

TREASURES OF MEXICO 🇲🇽

“Burn The Jets” (Spinout Nuggets)

Perhaps a shock to even the most dedicated and knowledgeable indie individuals in our little group, this is a killer indie pop classic. Former members of legendary outfit The DENTISTS 🇬🇧 added indie legend BETH ARZY 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 on vocals to make a near perfect dreampop gem with perfectly sinister lyrics.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W4SjaaYDLSY&list=RDW4SjaaYDLSY&start_radio=1&pp=ygUYWXJlYXN1cmVzIG9mIG1leGljayBoYWxvoAcB

SPOTIFY-

https://open.spotify.com/track/2WKUkTRI06BiaZLUHc6y8Q?si=XvGSh8EiRtKvC–XgzlH9g

(SONG 1489)

2024

RIDE 🇬🇧

“Interplay” (Wichita Recordings)