End of year lists!

I’ve arrived back home in Staffordshire and have finally put my feet up after a rather intense six months working as a full-time carer and nanny. Not entirely sure how I ended up in that position so quickly, but hey, it’s fulfilling work, it’s kept the bills paid, and most importantly, it has helped get this album over the finish line.

But lets park the new album for now, and wrap up the year with some good old lists!

This year it felt like books replaced music for me. I’ve done a lot of commuting, and somewhere along the way I felt more at home, or perhaps more detached from the Tube, with a book rather than headphones. I managed a new personal best of 24 books, and I have to shout out one in particular: The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. This book absolutely rocked my world. It’s devastatingly funny at times, yet I don’t think a book has ever made me cry, or gasp, more. Truly a special read, and one I can’t recommend highly enough.

Despite all the books, there were still plenty of incredible music releases this year, and my number one was Madison Cunningham’s Ace. I’ve been a fan ever since I first heard “Beauty Into Clichés” back in 2018, and I’ve loved everything she’s released since. I’ve always been in awe of her guitar playing and songwriting, so I was surprised, and floored, to hear the first single from the new album, and my favourite song on it, “My Full Name,” with her sat at the piano, playing with the same ease and precision she brings to the guitar. She continues to churn out the most beautiful songs, and this album is absolutely full of them. Go give it a listen.

I know I’ve already mentioned a favourite track, but I have to shout out another: Cameron Winter’s “Love Takes Miles.” It feels like all I’ve heard anyone talk about recently is either Geese or Cameron Winter, and when I finally sat down to listen, I went in with my nose turned up, fully expecting to think it was overrated. How wrong I was. The guy’s a genius, and this track in particular is something special. The line “love will make you fit it all in the car” hits me every single time. If by some miracle you haven’t heard it yet, please do.

Alright, that small amount is

about all my brain can manage right now. Time to switch off, spend some time with family, and find a bit of perspective. I can’t wait to hopefully see you all somewhere on the road in the new year, and I promise new music is just around the corner.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all,
Dan
x

FAVOURITE ALBUMS

Madison Cunningham – Ace
Lily Allen – West End Girl
Geese – Getting Killed
Liam Kazar – Due North
Will Stratton – Points of Origin

FAVOURITE TRACKS

Madison Cunningham – “My Full Name”
Geese – “Taxes”
Cameron Winter – “Love Takes Miles”
Joni – “Strawberry Lane”
Flock of Dimes – “Long After Midnight”

FAVOURITE BOOKS

Alexandre Dumas – The Count of Monte Cristo
John Boyne – The Heart’s Invisible Furies
Jacqueline Harpman – I Who Have Never Known Men
Cixin Liu – The Three-Body Problem (1, 2 and 3)
Min Jin Lee – Pachinko