Yeah, Ian, come on. Don't grow old. Face it, you are young. Having said that, I'm really enjoying Pixies new album. Saw them last night and they were very impressive for a bunch of old blokes (and a much younger woman, obvs).

Favourite new voice discovered this year was Shilpa Ray, kind of acidic cabaret with killer lyrics and also enjoyed albums by Toy and Hayley Bonar.
6Music and Spotify Discover Weekly are how I hear new stuff in the main.

Ian wrote:

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Ok, so we never got any material from Pulp and I doubt we ever will but I'm thinking that there have been a few decent records out this year:

Suede - Night Thoughts
A reviewer summed this up perfectly for me with something like "a worthy entry in a fine discography". It improves upon "Bloodsports" and almost stands up against "Dog Man Star" for me. I think that the only thing it is missing is an "Asphalt World" (Suede fans will know what I mean by this)

Divine Comedy - Foreverland
There are moments here will certainly appeal to you if you're a fan of Pulp. "To The Rescue" is a swirly, orchestral thing - imagine "This is Hardcore" with a more coherent verse-chorus structure. "Other People" is essentially a short Scott Walker ballad and similar to, say, "TV Movie" or "Roadkill"

Teenage Fanclub - Here
I repeat - "a worthy entry in a fine discography".

Lush - Blind Spot EP
New Lush material after 20 years is just... wow. It's just a shame that the reunion was so short.

Super Furry Animals - Bing Bong single
I wasn't too sure about the last 2 albums, I think that they delivered but didn't excel in the same way their others did. This single, however, is great and I hope that the rumours about it being their last ever release are not true.

Of course, we got the "Likely Stories" songs from Jarvis. I think that they are pretty average to be honest. He has done better before so here's to hoping he will do it again.

I could go on with a couple more but would love to hear what you think

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I agree with suede, and should get around to listening to Divine Comedy (likewise Last Shadow Puppets and Radiohead).  Other than the superb Blackstar (Bowie's best this century and IMHO on a par with LPs like STATIONTOSTATION, Lodger, Low, Heroes and Young Americans), I can't think of much else new I have been intetested in.  I have been a bit pretty retro this year having bought more reissued Pulp LPs along with some Who, Bowie, Clash, Damned, Boomtown Rats, Sex Pistols and Stones LPs.   Night Thoughts is the exception rather than the rule.

I am looking forward to the return of Arcade Fire next year and expect Julian Cope's drinking songs EP to be utterly brilliant!  His is the only gig I have on the horizon.  Still can't believe I haven't been out on a Friday/Saturday night since the night tube started back in September.  

I like what The Tuts are doing.

I forgot to mention the two great EPs from Paul Draper as well. They are at least on a par with the Mansun material.

I think I felt the need to put a lot more effort in back in the old days, where, when it came to a band I wasn't already into, I would buy a new album based on the strength of what I read in the press plus one or two singles I had heard on the radio. Of course, I was financially limited to one or two albums a month. Then I was stuck with what I chose to buy so I would always make the effort, and it worked. The only one I ever took back to Woolworths, claiming it was a present that was bought for me twice was that one with Berwick Street on the cover featuring lyrics about blisters on palms of hands...