Johnny Spice’s End of Year Awards & Review
We’ve come to the end of the year, and it’s time to recognize all the good that
has come our way this year.
Album of The Year
This one was so hard, it ended in a 4-way tie.
“Making Life Rhyme,” by Lulu – The Pop album of the year. Every song
on this album is a winner. Standouts include, “Every Single Day,”
“Hypnotised,” and the title track “Making Life Rhyme.” Such a good record,
we MUST make Lulu bring the show to America so everyone here can enjoy
it. #makeliferhymeintheusa
“No Cities to Love,” by Sleater-Kinney – A welcome surprise if there was
ever one. I didn’t think this band would ever come back, much less release
the best record they’ve ever done. One that you must have if you ever even
liked Sleater-Kinney a little.
“MCIII,” by Mikal Cronin – A new artist (to me) that I stumbled upon this
year, I heard one song on a comp Merge Records sent out (yes kids, always
play the free comps that come with any mail-order, you never know what
you’ll hear). This is a record that is not to be missed, I just know a few years
from now I’ll be re-reviewing for “Back of the Closet.”
“Non-Believers” by Mac McCaughan – After 25 years, Superchunk
singer/Merge Co-founder Mac McCaughan unleashes his first (and hopefully
not last) solo LP. I could fill pages writing about how great this is, but at the
end of the day, YOU just have to have it. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it
again and again and again, “Barely There,” is the video in my head away
from being a hit single.