90: And Now That I’m In Your Shadow, Damien Jurado

Some albums open with a bang, a clatter or shimmer in gently as if on a wave. Not this one. And Now That I’m In Your Shadow starts as if it were already half way through, almost immediately the ache and intimacy is in full effect as the violins steer ‘Hoquiam’ to Jurado’s vocals. I’ve [...]

91: Dust, Screaming Trees

A sitar styled guitar doubled up with some frantic acoustic strumming and the world-weary, railroad, whiskey soaked voice arrives with “She wears a halo of ashes, Specter on the wind.” Thus begins the best album by the oft-overlooked greats of the grunge era; Screaming Trees. Listening to Dust always gives me the feeling of discovering [...]

92: August And Everything After, Counting Crows

“You know ‘Mr Jones,’ of course…” were the words offered to me when trying to recall if I’d heard any Counting Crows. This was 7 years or more ago now and, at the time, I didn’t. Given that the guy talking to me had a similar taste in music to mine and was so determined [...]

93: War, U2

If any of the albums are likely to land me in murky waters with my musician, musical and band mates, it would be this one. U2 no longer being cool in the (true)indie circles thanks to Bono’s stadium posturing and walk-on-water diety like nature. But to them I say: sod it, War is a great [...]

94: Heartbreaker, Ryan Adams

I got this album at just the right time; when it was fresh, new and without all the hype that would later engulf him and the follow up Gold. Not that that album was poor. Heartbreaker was awarded the accolade of “Album of the Month” in one of the magazines I was reading at the [...]