This next band came stomping into my life so suddenly that when I listened to the album I almost didn't have time to catch up with my feelings. The heart-racing, fist-pumping Joy as an Act of Resistance from IDLES in at number 16.  

One of my favourite new discoveries of this year! I'd been receiving recommendations from friends about this band since mid-2017, however my love for them wasn't truly, truly cemented until I saw them live at Laneway Festival at the beginning of this year. As soon as I listened to this album I was 99% sure that it would make it's way onto my Albums of the Year list. Punching in at number 21 is Dream Wife with their self-titled debut album, Dream Wife.

With Dream Wife the immediate comparisons and influences are crystal clear from first listen. However, they work each of these influences together to create their own flavour of spontaneously adrenaline fuelled riot grrrl punk rock, with a soft touch here-and-there. Seeing them translate this to the stage is always a glory to behold, with instantly contagious energy and each member having an individual charisma that leaves lookers-on not knowing where to rest their gaze.
   
The album is filled with stadium bangers, dive-bar moshpit-stirrers, and thought-provoking ballads but the major heavy-hitters for me right now are "Let's Make Out", "Fire" and "FUU (feat. Fever Dream)". The album's stand-out track - "Somebody" - is possibly one of the most empowering and candid songs that I've heard this year. The lyric "I am not my body, I am somebody." is so simple but has carried a heavy sense of meaning with me since hearing it for the first time. The band's songwriting ability is something that shines throughout this record. Jumping from the personal to the figurative, Dream Wife's ability to tell a story and hold the listener's attention is admirable to say the least.

Since the album's release Dream Wife have continued from strength to strength. They've played 150 shows across Europe, The UK, and North America, been featured on KEXP and countless other platforms, been affiliated with some impactful movements (for example their collaboration with Girls Rock London), and have simply continued to be bad bxtches in general. If you haven't already listened to this record, do. As the wxmen themselves have already said - 'support your local bad bxtches'.

Here's a look at what album was just pipped at the post for Top 20 last year.

Youth Man have seemed to be a little dormant since their October single/b-side release - "Joy" but that all ended today when they dropped this atom bomb of a video...

YOUTH MAN - Skin

A couple of weeks ago (4/3/14), I went to see Eagulls play at Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath. I was really pumped for this gig because my friend saw them the week before and said that the set was killer, I was getting pit withdrawal and after listening to their debut self-titled record, there was nothing I wanted more than to hear it played live.

When I stepped into the venue and had a look around I saw an unexpectedly older crowd and a completely expected male-dominated crowd, but I didn't think much of it. The first support Virals came on and opened up the gig nicely. Chilled, and occasionally feedback laden indie rock tunes that had the crowd swaying a little bit, beers in hand. The set was little subdued but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the band themselves seemed to be lost in their instruments from time to time - all round a very solid set. Will be interested to see what they're like in front of a festival crowd if I get to catch them at this year's Field Day.

Next up was Autobahn - the crowd tentatively shuffled forward a few more steps. Autobahn didn't waste any time and got straight to the pounding riffs. Although they played a pretty fast paced, powerful set - the crowd barely nodded along (aside from a few enthusiastic headbangers and fist pumpers), but I thought that would soon change when Eagulls stepped on stage...

George Mitchell and co. skulked on stage looking a little more tired than psyched but as they checked their instruments and their mics, I knew that the set would be anything but. The crowd finally edged up close to the stage, being careful to not tread on the almost sacred logo banner strewn over the front monitor. George took a few swigs from his bottle of wine and with a quick signal to the sound guy they came straight in with "Nerve Endings"... and the crowd barely responded. I couldn't even tell whether they were quietly appreciating the music or whether they were just plain bored, but they clapped and cheered at the appropriate times and stood silently waiting for the next song. It was definitely not was I was expecting.

Mitchell's vocals were turned down a little low too which made him hard to hear over the thumping drums and scuzzy guitars. Either way "Moulting" and "Coffin" still riled me up and hit hard. It was a little disappointing when George had to say "There's not much movement guys" and thank God that I was standing by some guys that were ready to mosh. Before long, eight or so of us were throwing each other about and leaping around a small circle to "Tough Luck". Although it was only a small proportion of the crowd, this did have me smiling and singing along - there was a great feel from the pit, it was just a shame that everyone else was kind of stationary and distant. Nonetheless, we leapt about for a couple more songs, the few that remained, shoving each other with all that we had left, before they ended the set ridiculously abruptly with "Possessed". They did not even reach 10 songs by the time they started packing up and striding off the stage.

The crowd finally piped up and practically had to beg them for an encore. George stepped back on stage to play through "Council Flat Blues", but the whole thing just seemed a little bit tired from both the band and the crowd. I don't know - Eagulls certainly deserved a much better and more energetic welcome that night because they have so much to offer live. I just think that the crowd's vibe brought the whole performance down that night, but of course that hasn't changed my opinion about Eagulls' talent. Great band, dead crowd.

Overall Rating - 6/10


Here are some pictures from the night: