Rough Trade Album of the Month Club: April 2016 Pack

A very good batch!! Core Album: Black Mountain - IV + Bonus Disc. Although not as good as the self-titled debut I really liked the heavy psychedelia of IV. Definitely going in my top ten of 2016. 8.5/10 Cullen Omori - New Misery + Bonus Disc. A good solid album with some pretty catchy tracks. This is the kind of album that I'll revisit now and then and like it more with each spin. 7.5/10 Richmond Fontaine - You Can't go back if there's nothing to go back to. Five years ago I received RF's previous album from the club, the High Country. This new album is just as good with top lyrics. 8/10 PLUS - now subscribers receive a monthly magazine rather than the tiny fold out pamphlet. Hurrah! Next up: May - LUH (Hopefully) June - Max Jury?? Minor Victories?? July - Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve?? ( oh please!!)

Rough Trade Album of the Month Club: March 2016 pack.

An unusual month but rewarding. Core Album: Unloved - Guilty of Love + Bonus Disc. A collaboration between David Holmes and Keefus Cancia aka the guy who soundtracked True Detective. At first I was a bit ambivalent but this album grew on me big time. It's full of sixties sounds, swirling instrumentals and catchy tunes. 8/10. The rest: Cavern of Anti-matter - Void beats/invocation trex. Cavern of Anit-matter consists of two members of the now defunct Stereolab and that influence shows, there's those jangley moments mixed with beats. However there's a keyboardist with them and at times a lot of the tracks sound like something off the Warp label. The album is an hour long and a lot of tracks go over the 9 minute mark so this took about two weeks for it to work its magic but I was rewarded for this is an interesting record. 8/10 Andrew Weatherall - Convenanza. I liked this one instantly. Bouncy post punk grooves mixed with brass and dub. It's melodic and took me by surprise. 8.5/10. April - Black Mountain May - Luh (YES!!!) June - Minor Victories?? Max Jury??? Palace Winter??? ( my money's on Max Jury)

Rough Trade Album of the Month Club - February 2016 Pack

A very good month!!! Core album: Sunflower bean - Human Ceremony + Bonus cd. 8.5/10. I've been eagerly waiting this debut and it does not disappoint! jangle-pop with a hint of Spiritualized gospel style harmonies. The rest: Diiv - Is the is are 7/10. This took a while to sink in as it is over an hour and spread over 17 tracks but a lot of the songs did click. There is some filler though. Tindersticks - The Waiting Room + Bonus DVD. 9/10. Excellent! great songs all around. A surefire album in my personal top 10. March: Unloved, Tiga?? ( I think it will be Unloved) April: Black Mountain??Suuns?? (I think Black Mountain May: No clue yet. June: Minor Victories?? Palace Winter?? Max Jury?? (I think it's Max Jury)

Rough Trade Album of the Month Club: January 2016 Pack

Quite a multicultural month - good way to start the year. Core Album Hinds - Leave me Alone + Bonus CD 8.5 Very good! Catchy indie tunes with a DIY feel. Bill Baird - Earth into Aether + Bonus CD - 6 I probably listened to this one the most but I found it difficult to get into. It's 80 minutes long and varies in musical style. As always by the end of the year this rating could change. Baaba Maal - The Traveller - 8.5 . I enjoyed this one. Now and then the club sends me music from Africa and I always find it a treat. I spent a lot of time walking listening to this album. February - Sunflower Bean (very excited about this) March - Unloved ?? Tiga??? April - Black Mountain???

Rough Trade Album of the Month Club: December 2015 Pack

Usually in December the selection is not as strong and usually does not have bonus discs. This month's pack was a teensy bit disappointing. I'm not complaining though as the Jan to Nov packs were amazing. Anyway, here we go: Core cd: Golden Teacher - The First Three EPs - I did not expect this at all and it came as a pleasant surprise. It's basically dancey post punk rhythms. It's a fun album and I will definitely try incorporate some tracks in my dj sets. 7/10. Sheer Mag - I/II. Excellent. Catchy, fun and short. I'm expecting big things from this band. 8/10. Various Artists - Ghosts of Christmas Past (remake). Every December the club releases a Christmas themed cd or two and in my 8 years as a member I have never received one. It seemed that this year it was my turn. Ghosts of Christmas Past is a reissue of a classic post punk compilation with an added second cd of new material. On the whole it is ok but not something I would play often 6/10. Upcoming core albums January: Hinds (Yes!) or maybe Bill Baird (no clue) February: Sunflower Bean (YES!!!) March: Unloved (no clue here)

Rough Trade Album of the Month Club - November 2015 Pack

Not too shabby Core Album Floating Points - Eleania + Bonus cd. 9/10. Great Electronica album. British Sea Power - Sea of Brass + Bonus Dvd. 8/10. I haven't seen the dvd yet though. Fuzz - II. 7/10. Good riffs but a bit overlong. December - Evangelist January - Hinds or Bill Baird February - Sunflower Bean (YES) March - Unloved.

Rough Trade Album of the Month Club- October 2015 Pack

Great selection! Core Album: John Grant - Grey Tickles, Black Pressure + Bonus Cd. 9/10. In 2012 Grant's second album Pale Green Ghosts was the album of the month, this one is much better. Protomartyr - The Agent Intellect. 8/10. Great post punk. Rhodes - Wishes. 7/10. A bit too poppy for my tastes and too many bonus tracks. However there are some soaring tunes. November: Floating Points December: ???? January: Hinds???, Bill Baird??