We continue our countdown to the best albums in 2018 and in this episode we announce two albums which share the title of the best one at The Little Lighthouse in the past year. I Am The Polish Army debut album My Old Man struck us with its great enthusiasm, musicianship, songwriting and playful performance. Harlan T. Bobo finally put out his record The History of Violence out on Goner, which just might be his greatest yet. Chip Kinman, along with the help of his son on guitar and his brother behind the knobs created a post-modern patchwork of an album with an astonishing amount of historical and rock references under the Ford Madox Ford moniker. Two ladies, Bat Fangs brought us a quick and powerful rock’n’roll album with hits going steady. Tony Molina on his Kill The Light is even more brief, but the brevity just makes you play the album over and over again. Bad Sports brought an excellent barrage of love punk rock tunes worthy of the greatest examples in the past. Patsy Gelb and her Rats compiled all those perfect singles from their inception on a single record, seriously contending Singles Going Steady as one of the strongest compilation records in the history of rock music. Schizophonics with their amps turned to the max gave us an album that floats like a perfect MC5 tribute. Mama Rosin teamed up with Mick Collins on a collection of cajun and zydeco chants. Ty Segall is as active as ever, but his main release this year entitled Freedom’s Goblin is one of the deepest he recorded yet. Krist Novoselic is back with Giants In The Trees. And that’s our top 10 this year! Looking back at that top 10, this was a really good year and we can only wish 2019 can be at least as good as this one.
Best Albums in 2018
01 I Am The Polish Army - My Old Man
01 Harlan T. Bobo - The History of Violence
02 Ford Madox Ford - This American Blues
03 Bat Fangs
04 Tony Molina - Kill The Light
05 Bad Sports - Constant Stimulation
06 Patsy’s Rats - Singles
07 The Schizophonics - Land Of The Living
08 Broadway Lafayette - Subway Zydeco
09 Ty Segall and The Freedom Band - Freedom's Goblin
10 Giants In The Trees
11 Cross Brothers ‎– Living On Sheepheads
12 Dream Machine - Breaking the Circle
13 Mia Dyson - If I Said Only So Far I Take It Back
14 Earthless - Black Heaven
15 Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Hope Downs
16 Dommengang - Love Jail
17 Giant Sand - Return To The Valley of Rain
18 Anna Von Hausswolff - Dead Magic
19 David Nance Band - Peaced and Slightly Pulverized
20 Ruby Boots - Don't Talk About It
21 Tav Falco - Cabaret of Daggers
22 Ty Segall - Fudge Sandwich
23 Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys - Rot
24 Painted Doll
25 Kevin Gordon - Tilt And Shine
Cross Brothers – No White Mystery;
Giants In The Trees – Seed Song;
Ty Segall – Alta;
Broadway Lafayette – Angola Dreams;
Schizophonics – Put Your Weight On It;
Patsy’s Rats – More Than This;
Bad Sports – Constant Stimulation;
Tony Molina – Look Inside Your Mind_Losin’ Touch;
Bat Fangs – Fangs Out;
Ford Maddox Ford – Immediate Nico;
Harlan T. Bobo – Storied;
Harlan T. Bobo – Town;
Harlan T. Bobo – Paula;
I Am The Polish Army – You Don’t Know;
I Am The Polish Army – Setup;
I Am The Polish Army – My Old Man.
We first check out two recent tracks for the Patsy’s Rats, the band of Patsy Gelb, daughter of Howe. We introduce the new band for from Chicago, The Safes. Their latest album Tasty​ Waves has excellent reviews. We also have two new bands that are still waiting for the proper release: Quarx from Baton Rouge recorded a song live at KLSU and my sister’s band Rent Party contributed one song to the Tom Petty tribute Howling At The Full Moon, now digitally available at The Mooster Records. Anna Von Hausswolff is a young singer songwriter from Sweden and that’s another new name for us today. Finally, we check out the new releases from Wreckless Eric and Sarah Shook.
Today we start off with the new volume of The Warfaring Strangers from The Numero Group, Acid Nightmares. Then we stay with The Replacements, and we hear the brand new music from Chris Mars and Bash & Pop. Tommy and Bash & Pop teamed up with Nicole Atkins for a new single. We introduce a duet called Whiskey Charmers from Detroit. Also, M.O.R.T. from Croatia is in our show for the first time. San Mikulec and Å tajner Bend are back with the new record. We also play a tune from ESC Life, who are also from Zagreb, and they used to serve as Grant Hart’s backing band for his Ajvarpalooza toor. Finally, Patsy Gelb and her Rats are back with a new song.
We bring you some cool new stuff. Daughter of Howe Gelb and Paula Jean Brown (of the original Giant Sand line up), has a great band called Patsy’s Rats. Impulsive Hearts from Chicago are also fronted by a lady: Danielle Sines. Miriam Linna of Norton Records has made another new album this year Down Today. We also introduce Green Hornet from Netherlands and Sloming Moops from Zagreb, Croatia. Also from there, Thee Melomen have a new single. Peter Buck of REM is back with a nice solo record. An interesting tribute came out recently in Tucson AZ for Rainer Ptacek.