Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Most-read articles in 2014

Here are the most-read articles on Sacred Cowpats in 2014:

10. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues

http://sacredcowpats.blogspot.ie/2014/03/album-review-nick-cave-and-bad-seeds.html

One half of Cave and co's 2004 set of albums, reviewed for your delectation

8. Juliana Hatfield - Only Everything

http://sacredcowpats.blogspot.ie/2014/08/album-review-juliana-hatfield-only.html

Hatfield's underrated follow-up to Become What You Are jointly with...

8. The Lemonheads - Car Button Cloth

http://sacredcowpats.blogspot.ie/2014/06/album-review-lemonheads-car-button-cloth.html

This Lemonheads album is a bit all over the shop, but when it works... (a bit like the band really)

7. Mark Eitzel - 60 Watt Silver Lining

http://sacredcowpats.blogspot.ie/2014/07/album-review-mark-eitzel-60-watt-silver.html

Eitzel does smooth, wine bar jazz.  You know it couldn't last.

6. Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man

http://sacredcowpats.blogspot.ie/2014/07/album-review-leonard-cohen-im-your-man.html

An oldie but a goodie.  The album too.

5. Top albums of 2014

http://sacredcowpats.blogspot.ie/2014/12/top-10-albums-of-2014.html

One of the many broken-hearted lists of the year.

4. The Jesus and Mary Chain - The Power of Negative Thinking

http://sacredcowpats.blogspot.ie/2014/04/album-review-jesus-and-mary-chain-power.html

More Jesus and Mary Chain B-sides than any normal person could possibly deal with.

3. Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones

http://sacredcowpats.blogspot.ie/2014/08/album-review-tom-waits.html

Inscrutable, uncategorisable Tom Waits

2. The Durutti Column - Short Stories For Pauline

http://sacredcowpats.blogspot.ie/2014/05/album-review-durutti-column-short.html

Exquisite guitar goodness from Vini Reilly.

1. A Winged Victory for the Sullen - Atomos VII

http://www.meg.ie/a-winged-victory-for-the-sullen-atomos-vii-ep/

Transcendent EP teaser for the full album.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Highlights for 2015

It's looking quiet enough so far in 2015.  The Juliana Hatfield Three have reunited and are releasing the follow up to 1993's Become What You Are on 17th Feb and based on the first track to emerge If I Could, it will be a summery janglefest.  Dakota Suite are collaborating with Quentin Sirjacq for The Indestructibility of the Already Felled which should appear early in 2015.  If it's noise you're looking for there's a choice between A Place To Bury Strangers' fourth album Transfixiation, out 17th Feb or The Soft Moon's third album Deeper, out 31st March.

Scott Weiland is recording a rock album with The Wildabouts.  Entitled Blaster, it should be out in March.  Elsewhere, Richmond Fontaine and And So I Watch You From Afar have new albums expected.  On the more outlandish scale of the spectrum, Mark Kozelek is working with industrial band Godflesh, and maybe My Bloody Valentine will release an EP??

There'll surely be more than this next year...

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Album Review: The Smashing Pumpkins | Monuments To An Elegy

Review for www.meg.ie

EP Review: Mogwai | Music Industry 3 Fitness Industry 1

Review for www.meg.ie

Album Review: Loscil | Sea Island

Review for www.meg.ie

Gig review: Morrissey at 3 Arena, Dublin

Review for www.meg.ie

Monday, December 1, 2014

Top 10 Albums of 2014

Ok I'm just going to put this up now and be done with it.  No, Mark Kozelek doesn't feature:

10. Caught In The Wake Forever - My Family Goes On Without Me

More exquisite melancholy from Scotland.


9. Earth - Primitive and Deadly

Lengthy, bombastic instrumental rock.


8. New Secret Weapon - New Secret Weapon

Exciting new Irish band.


7. Mark Lanegan Band - Phantom Radio

Lanegan keeps pushing the boundaries of his sound.


6. Morrissey - World Peace Is None Of Your Business

Old misery guts finally decides to mix things up... a bit.


5. Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams

Almost too smooth at times, yet it really works at others.


4. Dakota Suite and Quentin Sirjacq - There Is Calm To Be Done

Chris Hooson and co continue to turn out flawless albums.


3. Mogwai - Rave Tapes

One of the most consistent bands around.


2. Bob Mould - Beauty & Ruin

An unexpected late career highlight, the fire still burns.

http://spillmagazine.com/album-review-bob-mould-beauty-ruin/

1. A Winged Victory For The Sullen - Atomos

I never thought my album of the year would be a droney, instrumental ballet soundtrack.