Posted on Friday 27th December 2019 at 15:42
As we wave goodbye to 2020 and look forward to 2021 and all the great shows on offer, we thought it would be the perfect time to bring you our favourite 50 albums of the year!
Here at alt. tickets we keep our fingers on the pulse, with weekly updates of all our favourite releases, but when it came to recapping a whole year of excellent music it was hard to narrow it down to just 50! We've made some tough decisions and we have such a great list, so without further ado here is 30-21.
30) Everything Everything – RE-ANIMATOR
For fans of: Mystery Jets, Bombay Bicycle Club, Django Django
Released: 11th September
What the critics say: "Re-Animator picks up where 2017's A Fever Dream's absurdist satire of populism left off without ever going over old ground. The instrumentals stay restlessly creative too, this time absorbing hip-hop cadences, wistful fiddles and dreamy post-punk." - Q
Stand out track: Violent Sun
See Everything Everything live in Nottingham next year. TICKETS HERE.
29) BC Camplight – Shortly After Takeoff
For fans of: Field Music, Gruff Rhys, Baxter Dury
Released: 24th April
What the critics say: "Brian Christinzio’s fifth album as BC Camplight is a marvel, in which currents cut across each other in a half hour or so that roils with anxiety, stuns with beauty and, occasionally, provokes laughter." - The Guardian
Stand out track: Back To Work
See BC Camplight live in Nottingham and Bristol next year. TICKETS HERE.
28) Gabrielle Aplin – Dear Happy
For fans of: Lewis Watson, Nina Nesbitt, Lauren Aquilina
Released: 17th January
What the critics say: "One of the enjoyable things about Dear Happy is how Aplin isn’t afraid to step out of the acoustic, indie scene and dive into pop. Although the new album isn’t something to cry to at 2am (like her previous albums), it’s definitely enjoyable and more radio friendly because of the colourful pop tunes." - Gigwise
Stand out track: Losing Me (feat. JP Cooper)
See Gabrielle Aplin live in Cardiff, Bristol, Nottingham and London next year. TICKETS HERE.
27) Alexandra Savior – The Archer
For fans of: The Big Moon, Miles Kane, Alex Turner
Released: 10th January
What the critics say: "The collection ebbs and flows steadily, and it’s undeniably sleek in its vintage Americana-style production. Some songs leave the listener gagging for more, as Savior flexes masterful lyrics, effortless style and poise. This is a timeless collection." - NME
Stand out track: But You
See Alexandra Savior live in London next year. TICKETS HERE.
26) The Chats – High Risk Behaviour
For fans of: Amyl and The Sniffers, Skegss, Hockey Dad
Released: 27th March
What the critics say: "Obviously inspired and influenced by the classic first wave of punk bands, the album still resonates with a heat and intensity that, just like those bushfires, can’t be easily put out. Like Amyl & The Sniffers’ debut last year, it hits that sweet spot of matching a classic sound with a set of rampaging anthems, unafraid to dabble in new styles that will continue to drag punk by its hair, whatever the style, deep into the 21st Century." - Upset
Stand out track: Pub Feed
See The Chats live in Nottingham. TICKETS HERE.
25) DMA's – THE GLOW
For fans of: Middle Kids, The Rubens, Lime Cordiale
Released: 10th July
What the critics say: "Stimulating, surprising and supreme, ‘The Glow’ is a remarkable outcome, a place where guitars receive as warm a reception as sequencing, drum looping and synths. This platform melds technology and beats with accuracy while allowing for alternative pop sensibilities to be enjoyed as much as being a actual means to exploration." - Clash
Stand out track: Silver
See DMA's live in Norwich next year. TICKETS HERE.
24) Beabadoobee – Fake It Flowers
For fans of: The 1975, Gus Dapperton, Snail Mail
Released: 16th October
What the critics say: "The leap from bedroom-dweller to teenage riot instigator has been a swift and fruitful one, and what could be considered derivative is genuine in every sense." - NME
Stand out track: Worth it
See Beabadobee live in Nottingham next year. TICKETS HERE.
23) The Flaming Lips – American Head
For fans of: Mercury Rev, Yo La Tengo, of Montreal
Released: 11th September
What the critics say: "For the first time in nearly two decades, they’ve rediscovered this winning formula. As a result, American Head stands alongside The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots as one of the very best records The Flaming Lips have recorded." - Consequence of Sound
Stand out track: Dinosaurs On The Mountain
See Teh Flaming Lips live in London next year. TICKETS HERE.
22) Porridge Radio – Every Bad
For fans of: Crack Cloud, Sorry, Squid
Released: 13th March
What the critics say: "It's a thorny and ferocious record that beats emotional complexities into their most elemental form, each simple mantra or thunderous guitar containing mountains of unspoken meaning." - Exclaim!
Stand out track: Give/Take
See Porridge Radio live in Leeds and Nottingham next year. TICKETS HERE.
21) Another Sky – I Slept On The Floor
For fans of: Orlando Weeks, bdrmm, Willie J Healey
Released: 22nd June
What the critics say: "An album that manages to be both delicate and thunderous at once, ‘I Slept On The Floor’ is a potent and empowering statement of intent." - DIY
Stand out track: Fell In Love With The City
See Another Sky live in Cardiff and Bristol next year. TICKETS HERE.
