My Favourite Albums Of 2015

I think this year has been one where I have struggled to find much inspiration in music. I don't know if it's my age finally catching up on me or a lack of music out there to excite me, but I suspect it's the former. I hope it doesn't last but in any case it was pretty easy this time for me to whittle down my favourite albums of the year to just 11. I'm crossing my fingers that 2016 reignites some kind of fire in my music-loving soul but in the meantime here are the few that meant the most to me over the past year.

My Favourite Movies Of 2015

1. Brooklyn
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
4. Whiplash
5. It Follows
6. Inherent Vice
7. Girlhood
8. Far From The Madding Crowd
9. Clouds Of Sil Maria
10. The Skeleton Twins

Merry Christmas!

Best Gigs Of 2015

This definitely wasn't a prime year in gigs for me but it was nice to finally see a few reunited acts live for the first time, most notably The Replacements and Sleater-Kinney, and of course the incomparable Christine McVie back singing with the Mac. You would think that the Fleetwood Mac shows would be my absolute favourites (they were certainly the gigs that cost the most, probably as much as the rest combined) but seeing and hearing McVie singing Everywhere and You Make Loving Fun, although undoubtedly thrilling, was slightly overshadowed by finally seeing The Replacements and the pure ramshackle, joy of their show. Other than my usual fare of alternative and classic rock, I also got to experience some heartwarming pure country shows (Sturgill Simpson and Kacey Musgraves) and even a pop concert, albeit a rather unusual one (the fantastic Marina & The Diamonds). I can't imagine I'll go to many more pop gigs in the future but I do hope next year has some more country in store for me.

Marina & The Diamonds at the London Palladium

Marina & The Diamonds
Clock Opera
London Palladium, 6 December 2015

This has to be the most "pop" show I've ever been to but after thinking about it, in some ways it wasn't million miles from the theatrical St. Vincent show I attended last year. Of course, Annie Clark didn't have gay guys voguing at the front or half the audience appearring to be young teenage girls dressed as their idol and accompanied by parents. I was definitely out of place! I do love Marina and she is a fantastic pop artist but it took me a while to get my head around it all as it is so unlike my usual fare.

Neko Case at the Union Chapel

Neko Case
Basia Bulat
Union Chapel, 1 December 2015

It's been just over a year since Neko last played the Union Chapel but there is something quite nice about seeing her here, even if she keeps saying the place is haunted "by something evil". She actually played the even smaller Lexington the night before but the Union Chapel with it's natural glow, gorgeous echo and holy atmosphere, seems to suit her more, plus, since I'm getting old, it is so nice to sit at a gig these days and I manage to secure my favourite spot at the front despite being a little late.