2014 review by Crash Club

One of Neal McHarg's favourite albums of 2014 from one of his favourite bands

I first met Neal McHarg when Nevada Base ventured out to Ayrshire to play with Neal's band Crash Club. I admired the way he played the bass, there was real attitude. We got talking, discovered we shared similar taste in music  and have talked on and off ever since and when I got tickets to Primal Scream's secret show at the Poetry Club last year, Neal was one person I knew that would truly appreciate a ticket.

Neal's passion for music is clearly evident to anyone who has ever met him. He has a thirst for new music and a desire to delve back into musical history to discover all kinds of stuff.

Crash Club have really kicked on in 2014 and 2015 is shaping up to be a big year for them. They play King Tut's on New Year's Eve with Medicine Men and Tijuana Bibles.

I caught up with Neal to find out what he had been listening to through 2014. I'm sure you'll agree that it is a superbly eclectic mix. I hope Neal dj's sometime!

1. What singles/songs that have been released in 2014 have stood out for you?

the war on drugs -  red eyes
I remember hearing about them for a while and never really getting excited then I heard the new album and being blown away, this is the stand out for me.

Todd terje - Delorean Dynamite
thanks to a night out with Nevada base’s calum muir I discovered this track, the drive of the track just caught me straight away, yet parts of it sound so chilled, amazing mixture.

Medicine Men – Show What You're Made Of
Can’t get enough of this, tho big Ian defo gets enough of me telling him how much I love it ha. Brilliant groove and it just gets big as it goes on. Live wise its just unreal. 

Medicine Men

Tijuana bibles – Crucifixion
Dirty sleazy rock and roll at its finest, fat fuzzy bass line to tony’s husky vocal this is how rock n roll should sound.

Vigo Thieves – This Love
Remember hearing this for the first time on my way to Ayrshire and just feeling uplifted and having to listen to it over and over again, ridiculously catchy. 

   

2. What albums released in 2014 have you enjoyed?

black angels – clear lake forest
they really can’t do anything wrong in my eyes, yet another great explain of why their one of my favourite bands ever.

klaxons – love frequency
was really surprised by this, I wasn’t really a fan of the new rave stuff they done and we I listen to this for the time, I was amazed at how early 90’s influenced it was. Right up my street.

the war on drugs – lost in the dream
as I said earlier, the album is just outstanding.

deathcats -  all hail deathcats
got to love james and the boys, one of the hardest working bands in Glasgow and this album is great fuzz rock, Saturday night golden retriever is my personal stand out.
jagwar ma – the time and space machine dub sessions
Jagwar ma are right now my favourite band in the world, the album last year was unbelievable, and tho these sessions appeared on line last year, the vinyl only came out this year, and its so different track remixes yet still brilliant.



3. What old music/bands have you discovered/gone back to in 2014?

the bee gees – first 
they get a bad rep for cause of the whole disco stuff, but people forget how good the bee gees actually are! First is a 60’s classic.
john kongos – he’s gonna step on you again
all thanks to the happy Monday doing a cover of this with step on.  Love both but hadn’t really listened to the original for a long time.

supergrass – in it for the money
I miss supergrass loads, and with gaz releasing his next solo album, I went back and listened to my favourite supergrass album

Relaxed Muscle -  a heavy nite with…
my mate G loves Jarvis cocker during this part of his love, and when it was first out I wasn’t really listening to much of this period, but found my way back to it at the start of this year.

Nirvana- Bleach another album you kinda forget about just because what was to follow  blew your mind. brilliant all the same.

4. What has been the musical highlight of 2014 for you?

Seeing nine inch nails at primavera sounds was one hell of an experience so that is definitely a highlight, along with jagwar ma at the art school for stag and dagger.
but being asked to open for the klaxons and to finish of the year playing with 2 bands I love and have worked with in medicine men and Tijuana bibles will be up there as well. 

5. What are you plans for 2015?

We’re going to put out a vinyl with yoko pwno next year which will be brilliant to do, keep the momentum going for this year and step it up another level with the live show, introduce some visuals and stuff along with the lights, and target doing some festival shows this year.

2014 review by Everything Flows

I started 2014 by buying quite a lot of new music, then tended to delve back into a lot of older music as nothing new was exciting me enough to buy it. Just when I was feeling a little downhearted I got into the albums by War On Drugs and First Aid Kit.

There are songs and albums that have been released in 2014 that I will discover years down the line and kick myself for not buying them at the time and seeing the act live - so I thought that I would use my blog to ask bands, artists, labels, writers, fellow bloggers and friends to do their own mini-review of 2014 so I might discover some music released in 2014 that I might have missed.

So throughout December you can expect to read mini-reviews from Vigo Thieves, Kevin Harper, Olive Grove Records, Skinny Dipper, Woodenbox, Crash Club, TeenCanteen, Model Aeroplanes, Duglas T Stewart, Hot Gem Records, Atom Tree, Machines In Heaven and more.

In the meantime - here is my own mini-review.

1. Singles/songs that have been released in 2014 have stood out for me

Seasons - Future Islands
I'm not the only person who fell for this after seeing the Letterman performance on YouTube. A brilliant song performed with real passion and panache.

You're Still Mine - TeenCanteen
Vagabond (live) - TeenCanteen
You're still mine is Phil Spector mixed with New Order, whilst the live video of Vagabond is jaw droopingly gorgeous 3-part harmonies and heartfelt lyrics.

This Love - Vigo Thieves
Epic anthem from Vigo Thieves, a taster of the epic new material they have been working on this year. I have been fortunate to hear some demos, 2015 will be their year.

Desired Effect - Atom Tree
Ones to watch in 2015, building a superb collection of songs. Electronic wonder.

Blue Moon - Beck 
Heart Is A Drum - Beck
2-tracks from Beck's beautiful album. Melodies delivered in real style and with true soul.

The Secret Of The Tibetan Grapefruit Is...? - Dr Cosmo's Tape Lab
(Return To) Nineteen Canteen - Dr Cosmo's Tape Lab
2-tracks also from Glasgow's Dr Cosmo's Tape Lab. The first is pure Beta Band while the second is rammed full of McCartney melodies

Sweet Discontent - Tuff Love
I loved this track on first listen and still do, great guitars and soft melodic vocals.

My Girl Midge - BMX Bandits
Duglas T Stewart comes up with a real heart breaker. Soulful vocals and Stewart always has a knack for a melody.

Single Spies - The Vaselines
This is a real stand out from The Vaselines album. The melody flows superbly. 

My Silver Lining - First Aid Kit
The gorgeous First Aid Kit won my heart this year with their album and live show at the Old Fruitmarket. This is stunning, check them out and they may win your heart too.

Inspector Norse - Todd Terje
Strandbar - Todd Terje
Playful and melodic electronica. This album was on in my car for ages and these 2-tracks in particular.

An Ocean In Between The Waves - The War On Drugs
Under The Pressure - The War On Drugs
2-tracks from one of my albums of the year, it is so easy to get lost in this album. 

Tears of Joy - Slow Club
The opening track from their fantastic album, modern day soul.

I've also fallen for the Frozen soundtrack and whilst my daughter Zoe's fave track is Let It Go, I absolutely love Do You Wanna Build A Snowman? Genius.

2. Albums released in 2014 I have enjoyed

Morning Phase - Beck
Beautiful on first listen, loads of depth to come back to, an exceptional album.

Stay Gold - First Aid Kit
Stunning harmonies and melodies, First Aid Kit have raised the bar for themselves. An exhaustive tour has taken them around the world and won them many new fans. 

Lost In The Dream - War on Drugs
Springsteen fed through a reverb machine with echoes of Dylan as well. This blew me away.

Ever Evolving Lounge - Dr Cosmos Tape Lab
Home grown psychedelia - two friends in Glasgow get together and record on an old fashioned 4-track and produce staggering tunes that recall the Beatles and the Beta Band amongst others.

It's Album Time -Todd Terje
Superb electronic melodies and a guest appearance from Bryan Ferry. This album was on in my car for about a month.

V for Vaselines - The Vaselines
Raw guitars, hooks and melodies are all over V for Vaselines. It sounds like the band enjoyed making it and that transfers with ease to the listener.

Tied To A Star -J Mascis
We get to hear the mellow side of Dinosaur Jr's J Masic on this gorgeous solo album. The guitar playing is still exceptional, Mascis' vocals still strain, and with J Mascis you are always going to get some majestic moments. 

Complete Surrender - Slow Club
I was late getting into this album so I'm kicking myself for missing live shows this year. Slow Club come of age with a beautiful soulful album. Fantastic song-writing and they've found a producer who has brought out a whole new side of them.

3. Old music/bands I have discovered/gone back to in 2014

I still have loads of CD's that I haven't transferred on to iTunes, so I'll still wander in to look at my collection and pick an album to play in the car. I was amazed that I hadn't transferred Flaming Lips Yoshimi album, so I dug it out and played it for about a week.

Earlier on this year I discovered Controversy by Prince after a friend made me a mix. It is an incredible song and I have played it regularly through the year.

I've discovered loads of good stuff through the DJ Greg Wilson who regularly posts his mixes on his sound cloud page. He'll play anything from The Smiths to disco, house, electro and gospel - basically anything good. His taste is impeccable and his re-edits are sublime.

Summer shows by Belle and Sebastian and Teenage Fanclub caused me to delve into their extensive back catalogues (not that I need much excuse). 

I enjoy buying Northern Soul compilations and discovering some classic tracks via friends who are part of the scene in Scotland.

I've been listening to a lot of Chic since watching them at Wickerman in summer 2013. I can't believe no-one has brought them to Glasgow other than for a Ryder Cup Gala performance!

4. Musical highlight of 2014?

Teenage Fanclub at Kelvingrove Bandstand was just perfect - sunshine, friends, beer and a trawl through the Fannies extensive back catalogue. The mass outbreak of pogo-ing down the front was brilliant.

5. Plans for 2015

I'm looking forward to Teenage Fanclub and The Charlatans releasing new albums and playing live. These bands have been helping to soundtrack my life since 1991.

I hope to get to at least one festival, attend gigs as often as possible and to discover brilliant music - be it stuff from the 60's or brand new bands.

I'd love to see Vigo Thieves get the record contract they deserve and go on to release a brilliant album  and smash it. They have the songs up their sleeves, their progression over the last 2-years has been staggering.

My sisters band TeenCanteen are going into record some songs in the new year and I hope they can get enough money together to finance a full album, then hopefully get someone to release it.

Elsewhere on the Scottish music scene I think Atom Tree have all the makings of a good album and Dr Cosmo's Tape Lab have already announced their second album will come out in March.