We miss things though. It’s inevitable. We have a small team of people who have lives to lead

We miss things though. It’s inevitable. We have a small team of people who have lives to lead up and down the country and across the globe, and whilst we’d love to force them to work for free for ages, the government are already doing that to plenty nationally, so we don’t.By way of apology for the things we’ve missed, it’s only right that you’re as best informed as possible before the year ends.Without further ado, we’ll be posting about a load of great records that we think deserve a place in your Top 10, or that we haven’t already reviewed this year.The DebutantsBully – Feels LikeEvery year there’s records that get music journalists saying shit like “punk’s not dead”. We know we’re full of shit, but when acts like FIDLAR, Metz and Bully exist, there’s only a certain amount of ways to persuade people to listen to them with fresh ears. A sound-byte tends to do the trick, but whilst the words punk and grunge are highly contestable and overarching, the music of Bully is direct, raw, gritty and more in the spirit of punk than most of the punks you think of from the supposed golden era; whilst still maintaining a slightly glossed fuzz level that shares more of its sound with Sonic Youth than it does Hole. From the off, I Remember is a statement of intent that doesn’t allow for respite even during Bully’s slower tracks. Trying is simply one of the tracks of the year and the whole record proves that whilst genres fade and bend, this Nashville band are very much alive.Listen to: “Trying”, “Milkman”, “I Remember”.Kagoule – UrthThree piece rock and roll was really in danger of going out of fashion ever since Green Day put out 21st Century Breakdown and Blink 182 did the last four years of their career. Plus, with Royal c***ing Blood and Sl*ves, who needs a third member? Answer, Kagoule. Taking a grungey sound and making it feel infinitely more intelligent yet unpretentious in this day and age is a tough act but these guys nail it perfectly by taking nothing but their songs seriously.Listen to: “Gush”, “Adjust The Way”, “Centralwing”Will Butler – PolicyWhilst the lesser known brother of the Butler family, Will’s antics are a thing of cult legend these days. By far the most animated member of Arcade Fire, Butler’s debut solo album was predictable in its unpredictability. It dabbles in so many areas whilst never ceasing to be distinctly dramatic and enthralling. In many ways, it’s Bowie, but not a specific era. In others it could be Jane’s Addiction, Animal Collective or Of Montreal. Whatever it is, it’s short, sweet and has kept us coming back for more.Listen to: “What I Want”, “Anna, “Son Of God”.Prides – The Way Back UpI’m gonna say it. I don’t know if the boss will agree, but as far as I’m concerned, Hitsville exists for bands like Prides. [Editor’s note: well that, and to give me a chance to be snarky about how bad The Simpsons has gotten] Their infectious pop music made the organic way, grown in the UK and in the right hands is exactly the kind of music we strive to champion and we’re really glad we get to do so. They’re the perfect heroes for the underground of pop and at the forefront of the modern way of doing the indie-dance crossover. Early comparisons to CHVRCHES, Passion Pit etc were and are still valid but that doesn’t mean that The Way Back Up doesn’t stand of its own accord towards the top of the pile.Listen to: “Out Of The Blue”, “Messiah”, “Higher Love”. -- source link

More pics about