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Glasswerk Staff Releases Of 2013 – Part 3

• 19th Dec 2013

2013 is drawing towards it’s close, so it must be time for the ‘Best Of..’ feature again. Here’s out Scotland editor Gordon Johnston with his personal highlights.

After taking a look through the many reviews I’ve posted on Glasswerk over the past twelve months – all 130 of them – I’ve come up with my ten favourite releases of the year.
The outstanding album of the past twelve months for me is Home To Andy’s from Bath based rockers Carousels And Limousines. Their modern, blues influenced rock sound is energetic and bold, and the musical maturity shown on this superb debut album speaks of a bright future. Great vocals, outstanding music and fine songwriting make C&L ones to watch. And I hope that 2014 will see them finally find their way to Scotland to play a show or two …

The remainder of my Top Ten consists of another five excellent first albums and four very good releases from some more established artists.

Two female fronted rock bands produced tremendous debut albums this year. Eva Plays Dead (previously BuryTheLadybird) from Derby released the excellent Guilt Trips And Sins, full of powerful, driving rock music but with touches of subtlety and some variety too. Skarlett Riot from Lincolnshire gave us Tear Me Down, a great collection of high octane, old school hard rock music played with real attitude. Both of these bands have big futures ahead of them.

Another first-rate debut came from Saint Max And The Fanatics. The exciting young Scottish band have an unusual sound that mixes indie guitars, horns and occasional ska influences to create a fast paced and rousing fusion. And they are very entertaining as a live act too.

Alice And The Rampant Trio are also young, Scottish and talented. The band’s debut album ART3 is filled with fine acoustic rock songs and their dark and sexually charged tales have a real Fleetwood Mac feel at times. Powerful vocals and fine instrumentation give them an unusual and exciting sound.

Fossils from Aoife O’Donovan is a quite beautiful debut solo album. The American folk singer uses her expressive vocals to give life to alt-country and folk songs that vary in pace but never in quality. O’Donovan has a lovely voice and she combines power with a sultry edge to create some stunning music.

Lucky Numbers, the third solo album in recent years from Dave Stewart, is also very good. Mixing country rock and blues and contrasting Stewart’s low passionate voice with contributions from various female collaborators is a winning combination for a veteran with much still to offer.

Stay True is the fourth album from Danny And The Champions Of The World and is definitely the band’s best yet. Their British take on the Americana sound is mellow and yet also passionate, with great stories turned into fine songs.

Chastity Brown is a new name to UK music fans, but she is a highly rated roots musician at home in the US. Back-Road Highways, her first release over here, draws from folk, soul and blues traditions and showcases a lovely voice that she uses with passion and feeling.

The Stand-In is the second album from Nashville’s Caitlin Rose. It has a much fuller sound than her debut, but still showcases the same beautiful vocals and clever songwriting. This release marks young Ms Rose out as a major league talent.

I’m pleased that so many good debut albums are on my list again this year. There is so much talent out there, so many good young bands and solo artists playing gigs and looking for that break. It is always rewarding to see a new act producing a first album that has an immediate impact – and to imagine what might come next.

2013 has been another fine year for the music fan with many high quality albums to savour. Let’s look forward to more of the same in 2014.