Phil Shaw
1 Bloomsday – Samantha Crain Anthem to hope and a glistening beauty from the Choctaw songwriter, taking its title from James Joyce’s Ulysses, its harmonies from heaven
2 Blame – Gabriels Category-defying sonic feast from Los Angeles showcasing the voice of Jacob Lusk, at once both spiritual and mysterious
3 Like I Used To – Angel Olsen & Sharon Van Etten Heartbreaking big ballad with a Sixties sensibility, channelling Jackie DeShannon as well as Spector and Springsteen
4 Heart Attack – Dave
Brutal, harrowing and compelling rap about knife crime and street violence, and how they ensnare young black men
5 I Do This All the Time – Self Esteem Spoken-word gem from the Sheffield singer Rebecca Lucy Taylor, based on bittersweet experience and topped off by irresistible choruses
6 Robber – The Weather Station The Canadian Tamara Lindeman’s cool vocal, framed by jazzy backing and beats, delivers a timely warning about rising populism
7 Canola Fields – James McMurtry Americana at its finest from the Texan storyteller, rich in landscape and characters; a road movie in under five minutes
8 Mohabbat – Arooj Aftab US-based Pakistani singer’s delicate meditation on love and letting go, which made Barack Obama’s summer playlist
9 Dancing Away In Tears – Yola Bristol’s gift to Nashville, produced by Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, is sumptuous soul tinged with country and roots
10 Change Will Come Anyway – Mauv, Pixx
Urgent Krautrock-style rhythm plus airy Kirsty MacColl-like vocal add up to an earworm that climbs to a crescendo
11 Blue Heaven – Public Service Broadcasting featuring Andreya Casablanca
12 Brando – Lucy Dacus 13 You Could Have Been A Roosevelt – Aimee Mann
14 Down In The Country – Israel Nash 15 Faceless Angel – The Coral 16 Hold Yourself – Tune-Yards 17 Mine Forever – Lord Huron 18 Brooklyn Bridge – Anaïs Mitchell 19 Call Me A Fool – Valerie June featuring Carla Thomas 20 I Don’t Live Here Anymore – The War On Drugs featuring Lucius
MY FAVOURITE COVERS OF THE YEAR
1 The Moon Is Blue (Colourbox)
Future Islands
2 Blind Willie McTell (Bob Dylan)
Chrissie Hynde & James Walbourne
3 Save Yourself (Sharon Van Etten)
Lucinda Williams
4 The Day After Tomorrow (Tom Waits)
Phoebe Bridgers
5 Love Song (Lesley Duncan)
Starry Eyed & Laughing
6 It Don’t Bother Me (Bert Jansch)
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
7 Name of the Game (Badfinger)
Susanna Hoffs featuring Aimee Mann
8 For Free (Joni Mitchell)
David Crosby featuring Sarah Jarosz
9 The Ballad Of Easy Rider (The Byrds)
The Natvral featuring Jen Goma
10 Days (Television)
Real Estate
Such interesting choices
thank you