Top 10 Albums of 2015

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

http://nomoreworkhorse.com/2015/11/30/top-10-albums-of-2015-killian-laher/

Killian Laher – Top 10 Albums of 2014

Article for No More Workhorse:

http://nomoreworkhorse.com/2015/01/02/killian-laher-top-10-albums-of-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.

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.

http://www.meg.ie/caught-in-the-wake-forever-my-family-goes-on-without-me/

9. Earth - Primitive and Deadly

Lengthy, bombastic instrumental rock.

http://www.meg.ie/earth-primitive-and-deadly/

8. New Secret Weapon - New Secret Weapon

Exciting new Irish band.

http://www.meg.ie/new-secret-weapon-new-secret-weapon/

7. Mark Lanegan Band - Phantom Radio

Lanegan keeps pushing the boundaries of his sound.

http://www.meg.ie/album-review-mark-lanegan-band-phantom-radio/

6. Morrissey - World Peace Is None Of Your Business

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

http://www.meg.ie/morrissey-world-peace-is-none-of-your-business/

5. Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams

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

http://www.meg.ie/album-review-ryan-adams/

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

Chris Hooson and co continue to turn out flawless albums.

http://www.meg.ie/dakota-suite-quentin-sirjacq-there-is-calm-to-be-done/

3. Mogwai - Rave Tapes

One of the most consistent bands around.

http://www.meg.ie/mogwai-rave-tapes/

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.

http://www.meg.ie/album-review-a-winged-victory-for-the-sullen-atomos/

meg - My 5 favourite albums from 2013

Article for www.meg.ie http://www.meg.ie/my-5-favourite-albums-from-2013/

The Spill Best of 2012

Contribution for www.spillmagazine.com http://www.spillmagazine.com/Best_Of_2012.html

2012, something different for music

Article for www.meg.ie http://www.meg.ie/2012-something-different-for-music/

Least worst 20 albums of 2012

No point in waiting any longer.  I’ve decided to do a top 20 this year of the least worst albums of 2012:

20 Lee Ranaldo – Between the Times and the Tides

19 Paul Buchanan – Mid Air

http://www.meg.ie/paul-buchanan-mid-air/
 

18 I Like Trains – The Shallows

http://www.meg.ie/i-like-trains-the-shallows/
 

17 Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas

http://www.meg.ie/leonard-cohen-old-ideas/

16 Peter Broderick – www.itstartshear.com

http://www.meg.ie/peter-broderick-httpwww-itstartshear-com/

15 Earth – Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II

http://www.meg.ie/earth-angels-of-darkness-demons-of-light-ii/ 

14 Bob Mould – Silver Age

http://www.meg.ie/bob-mould-silver-age/

13 The Soulsavers – The Light, The Dead See

http://www.meg.ie/the-soulsavers-the-light-and-the-dead-see/

12 Seti the First – Melting Cavalry

http://www.meg.ie/seti-the-first-melting-cavalry/

11 Tindersticks – The Something Rain

http://www.meg.ie/tindersticks-the-something-rain/

10 RM Hubbert – Thirteen Lost & Found

Scotland’s most accomplished guitarist turns in a stellar follow up to First & Last.

http://www.meg.ie/rm-hubbert-thirteen-lost-found/

9 Dinosaur Jr – I Bet On Sky

J Mascis can still churn out the heavy riffs like nobody else.

http://www.meg.ie/dinosaur-jr-i-bet-on-sky/ 

8 Sun Kil Moon – Among the Leaves

A Mark Kozelek private joke?  Possibly.  He’s still a damn good guitarist.

http://www.meg.ie/sun-kil-moon-among-the-leaves/

7 Dirty Three – Toward the Low Sun

Epic comeback album from the Aussie rockers.

http://www.meg.ie/dirty-three-toward-the-low-sun/ 

6 Dakota Suite – An Almost Silent Life

A more varied release than usual for Dakota Suite…

http://www.meg.ie/dakota-suite-an-almost-silent-life/

5 Mark Eitzel – Don’t Be A Stranger

This album sounds like nothing special at first, but it’s quite an addictive collection of songs, from the most enjoyable whiner in music today.

4 Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill

In Driftin’ Back this album has one of the tracks of the year and definitely the longest.

http://www.meg.ie/neil-young-crazy-horse-%e2%80%93-psychedelic-pill/

3 Mark Lanegan Band – Blues Funeral

A strong collection of songs from the uber-serious Lanegan.

http://www.meg.ie/mark-lanegan-band-blues-funeral/

 

2 Caught In The Wake Forever – Against A Simple Wooden Cross

Not an easy listen.  But what an album.  Debut album of the year.

http://www.meg.ie/caught-in-the-wake-forever-against-a-simple-wooden-cross/

 

1 The Twilight Sad – No One Can Ever Know

This should have been a wrong move, but the electronic-tinged material is brilliantly cold.  Now if they could just find directions to Ireland…

http://www.meg.ie/the-twilight-sad-no-one-can-ever-know/