Year In Review: Rajan Lakhani's Top Albums Of 2021

Words: Rajan Lakhani

I’m doing things a bit differently this year and writing a general review of the music I listened to in 2021, instead of doing short reviews of my top 10. Rest assured, you can still see my top 10 below, and I’ve curated a best of 2021 playlist that starts with songs from my top albums before moving into my favourite songs from the year.

Year In Review: FADED GLAMOUR Top Albums Of 2019

Words: Rajan Lakhani & Saam Das

If you thought you'd escaped another "best albums of 2019" list, then you thought wrong. We've collated our top albums of 2019 below, nipping it down to a lean fifteen, ordered alphabetically to avoid mummy and daddy fighting. Honourable mentions include the likes of Fontaine DC's fearsome 'Dogrel', Charli XCX's poptastic 'Charli', Thom Yorke's 'ANIMA', and Slipknot's visceral return 'We Are Not Your Kind'.

Year In Review: Ten Of The Best Albums Of 2018

Words: Rajan Lakhani

Rajan here. It's been a tough ask to cut down my favourite albums of 2018, with excellent records by the likes of Beach House, Father John Misty, Janelle Monae, Jeff Tweedy and Boygenius just missing out on the top ten below. Tracks from these albums do however make it onto a Spotify playlist, alongside my other favourite songs of 2018, so check that out after you've read the list of ten of the best albums to come out last year below.

Year In Review: Rajan Lakhani's Top Ten Albums Of 2017

Words: Rajan Lakhani

Following up my top tracks of 2017 comes a list of my favourite ten albums of the past year, including promising newcomers and returning giants. The YouTube playlist below will also handily take you through a song from each record.

Year In Review: Rajan Lakhani's Top Ten Albums Of 2016

Words: Rajan Lakhani

Before we jump right into my top ten albums of 2016, here's a collection of my top tracks of 2016 (some of which can be heard below):

Suede - 'No Tomorrow' / The Weeknd - 'Starboy' / Christine And The Queens - 'Tilted' / David Bowie - 'I Can’t Give Everything Away' / Jamie T - 'Tinfoil Boy' / Clare Maguire - 'Spaceman' / Mitski - 'Your Best American Girl' / Weezer - 'Wind In Our Sail' / Rae Stremmund - 'Black Beatles' / Band Of Horses - 'Hag'.

Year In Review: Simon Opie's Top Twenty Albums Of 2016 [Part Two: 10-1]

Words: Simon Opie

Following Part One of this best of 2016 albums, featuring the likes of Sub Pop's Heron Oblivion and the now departing Dillinger Escape Plan, comes ten quite exceptional albums that really could have been placed in any order. But here they are, for the purposes of presentation, from 10 to 1:

Year In Review: Simon Opie's Top Twenty Albums Of 2016 [Part One: 20-11]

Words: Simon Opie

It’s been a quite turbulent year, as they say, and I rather doubt next year will be any calmer. That may be good for music as artists have a cause to create, but in fact 2016 was already a really good year for music. Here’s my list of my favourite 20 albums in descending order – preferences naturally change so I’ve tried to be honest about which records have really inspired my listening this year. I think it’s a cracking collection of geographically diverse albums – hope you enjoy it too!

Year In Review: Rajan Lakhani's Top Ten Albums Of 2015

Words: Rajan Lakhani

10: Sufjan Stevens - 'Carrie And Lowell'

When an artist lays bear their emotions and experiences so explicitly, the result can often be uncomfortable and overwhelming. 'Carrie And Lowell' avoids this fate, with Sufjan delivering a truly elegant record that is moving and memorable.

Year In Review: Simon Opie's Top Twenty Albums Of 2015 [Part Two: 10-1]

Words: Simon Opie

As is now traditional, here's my view of the best of 2015 – twenty albums, in a loose interpretation of the term, featured in reverse order. We’ve posted albums 20 – 11 (featuring the likes of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Sir Richard Bishop) and now the final countdown, complete with Spotify playlist (embedded below). Enjoy!

Year In Review: Simon Opie's Top Twenty Albums Of 2015 [Part One: 20-11]

Words: Simon Opie

As is now traditional, here's my view of the best of 2015 – twenty albums, in a loose interpretation of the term, featured in reverse order. There’s been so much good music this year that JSBX, Kristin McClement, Sleater-Kinney, Fuzz, British Sea Power and many others didn’t make the cut. We hope the 20 records that did will entertain you nonetheless:

Album Review: Clutch - Psychic Warfare

Clutch – 'Psychic Warfare' (UK Release: 2 Oct '15) // Words: Simon Opie

Here’s the scoop – Clutch release greatest hits album called 'Psychic Warfare'. Here’s the catch – it doesn’t contain any of their greatest hits, but trust me it will. Ultra consistent Clutch have followed 2013’s widely acclaimed 'Earthrocker' with their eleventh studio release that may well be their best work yet.

Simon Says: Catch Up On These 2015 Albums

Words: Simon Opie

We’ve been rather quiet of late but I like to think that is a reflection of the quality of the music that’s been released so far in 2015, which has demanded serious attention. To bring things up to date we’d like to share seven albums that should be heard, and so to leap straight in…

Album Review: Sleater-Kinney - No Cities To Love

Sleater-Kinney – No Cities To Love (UK Release: 19 Jan '15) // Words: Simon Opie

Ten years ago 'The Woods' established riot grrrl heroines Sleater-Kinney as one of the very best rock bands around – of whatever gender; but the tour in support of the album was followed by an indefinite hiatus for the band. Now they’re back, and 'No Cities To Love' was worth the wait.

Year In Review: Simon Opie's Top Twenty Albums Of 2014 [Part Two]

Words: Simon Opie

10: Pink Mountaintops - 'Get Back'

We reviewed this one in springtime and it has remained a firm favourite all year. Stephen McBean’s side project exudes freedom and this loose format conveys a wonderful sense of friends together making the kind of music they really like to hear. Borrowing from a host of influences it’s just so, well, unpretentious. Best cover art of the year too.
Buy only one track: 'The Second Summer Of Love'

Year In Review: Simon Opie's Top Twenty Albums Of 2014 [Part One]

Words: Simon Opie

20: Slipknot - '.5: The Gray Chapter'

After the death of Paul Gray, Slipknot’s future seemed unsure and when Joey Jordison, their talismanic and talented drummer, was fired, well the game seemed up. But '.5: The Gray Chapter' shows enormous resolve in the face of adversity and whilst it may lack some of the sheer bombast of previous albums it is undeniably a fine effort and a very fitting tribute to a fallen comrade. Buy only one track: 'The Devil In I'

Simon Says: Then Five Come Along At Once [Album Round-Up]

Words: Simon Opie

Yes that’s right, just like buses 2014 bursts into life with five albums worth checking out so straight to business with some mini reviews - including the return of The Black Keys and side projects from members of Super Furry Animals and Black Mountain.

Year In Review: Top Twenty Albums Of 2013

Words: Team FG

We're finally at a stage where we can conclude our Year In Review, taking in our favourite albums of 2013. Like our films of the year list, we are merely presenting our choices in alphabetical order - we want you to check out anything you might not have already heard. Individual writer choices for the top five albums of 2013 can be found at the bottom of the page, with extended lists also linked to (where available).

Buried Treasures: Humble Pie - Performance: Rockin' The Fillmore

Humble Pie - Performance: Rockin' The Fillmore (UK Release: 28 Oct '13) // Words: Simon Opie

In the 1970s, live albums became highly popular and hence profitable. So labels started recording almost everything by way of live performance, although much has leaked out over the years and is often of questionable quality. Back then, rock music still retained some common roots with jazz – bands played more than one set per night – and both genres exploited the live album as a way of capturing the dynamic quality of the music that often did not come across in studio recordings.

Album Review: Los Campesinos! - No Blues

Los Campesinos! - No Blues (UK Release: 28 Oct '13) // Words: Saam Das

It's possibly fair to say that 'No Blues' sees Los Campesinos! at their most content since their enthusiastic debut 'Hold On Now, Youngster' back in 2008. Since then, the band has lost four of its founding members but they seem to have finally found a happier footing - 'No Blues' is perhaps their most cohesive effort yet, with a couple of particular highlights.

Album Review: Jesu - Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came

Jesu – 'Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came' (UK Release: 23 Sept '13) // Words: Simon Opie

Justin Broadrick played in Napalm Death, pioneered industrial music in the UK with Godflesh and numerous side projects, and now has a solo project, which is sometimes also a band, called Jesu. In addition, he has produced a whole host of big name artists and started several record labels. Many, including me, think he is a genius and if you’re as yet unconvinced, then try listening to Jesu’s new album 'Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came'.