Welcome to Uncut’s legendary Assessment Of The Yr concern. Starting on web page 49 of our newest concern, you’ll discover a bustling 37-page part that includes our High 75 New Albums, High 30 Archive Releases, High 20 Movies and High 10 Books. Alongside these lists – let the nice debate start! – you’ll discover new interviews with a number of the artists who’ve helped form our yr: The Smile, Elvis Costello, Sharon Van Etten, Dexys, Michael Head, Joan Shelley and Nathan Salsburg, black midi, Richard Dawson, Makaya McCraven and Michael Rother. As you’d think about, there’s rather a lot to dig into.
You possibly can hear 15 songs from our High 75 New Albums record on this month’s free CD, in fact.
This yr, I’m happy to report, 43 contributors voted in our polls for a complete of 411 new albums and 207 archival releases. These strong numbers are a reassuring signal that the disruption caused by the pandemic continues to recede. In fact, there are different issues forward, however as our lists exhibit good music will at all times endure. For example, one among my favorite albums of this yr, Jana Horn’s Optimism, was launched privately within the depths of lockdown earlier than No Quarter gave it a wider launch: a win for Horn and proof that somebody out there’s at all times listening.
What else can you discover in retailer this month? For our cowl story, Peter Watts goes deep right into a trove of uncommon and unreleased Hunky Dory materials within the firm of David Bowie’s buddies, bandmates and collaborators. Brace your self for revelations galore. All copies of the difficulty additionally include two unique Hunky Dory artwork prints.
Elsewhere, we bid farewell to Jerry Lee Lewis and Loretta Lynn, there’s the return of Invoice Berry, Sparklehorse, The Homicide Capital, Roxy Music, Richard Williams on Springsteen, Rick Rubin on Neil and the Horse, Al Jardine on “an entire new imaginative and prescient for the Seashore Boys” circa 1972, plus Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell on Tom Petty. There’s extra, in fact.
We’re again subsequent month with a significant interview that includes one among our most beloved cowl stars. No spoilers, however he has lots to speak about…
