HALF-TERM REPORT!!!
The Best Albums Of The Year...So Far!

Well, here we are again. Halfway through the year already! To be fair, 2020 has been an exceptionally strange year with the worldwide Covid-19 epidemic causing untold misery to many and lockdown restrictions from country to country proving disastrous for all kinds of sectors. The music business hasn't been immune at all with gigs effectively cancelled until next year and many major album releases postponed until the winter. Fortunately, there has been a superb range of releases so far this year and - as is usual - I have spent many a moment indulging myself and filling my ears with the glorious sounds on offer. So, without further ado, here's my pick of the best of the year so far. Enjoy!

15: SONIC BOOM: ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL
14: KHRUANGBIN: MORDECHAI
13: MARK LANEGAN: STRAIGHT SONGS OF SORROW
12: PHOEBE BRIDGERS: PUNISHER
11: THE STROKES: THE NEW ABNORMAL
10: BEN WATT: STORM DAMAGE
9:  E.O.B.: EARTH
8:  CARIBOU: SUDDENLY
7:  ARBOURETUM: LET IT ALL IN
6:  TAME IMPALA: THE SLOW RUSH
5:  NADA SURF: NEVER NOT TOGETHER
4:  MARK KOZELEK/JIM WHITE/BEN BOYE: 2
3:  FOUR TET: SIXTEEN OCEANS
2:  PEARL JAM: GIGATON
1:  ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER: SIDEWAYS TO NEW ITALY