I have to admit I haven’t listened to or bought as many 45s this year as the last. If you don’t order them straight away it is getting increasingly difficult to keep track of releases and finding a copy before they are sold out. Spotify is useless for singles and many smaller artists aren’t even bothered with it. Instead, I have found most of these on Bandcamp, or Youtube even. Shivas’ “I’ve Had Enough” is really the standout track of the year for me, since it simply has everything I require of a pop song. At number 2 we have a mini-album from Vexx, which is simply amazing – but also points towards another trend: the ever more diffuse border between what is a single and what is an EP/12″. Since many releases don’t even have a physical format it is also becoming less important to make that distinction. I, however, maintain that albums have to be at least 20 minutes and/or contain 6 or more songs. Some records and tapes on this list have indeed been on other people’s albums list, eg. Peach Fuzz stunning debut cassette. I would also like to congratulate my friend, and owner of Not Unloved, for getting back into the record-releasing business. The label’s first release, by Glasgow group Vital Idles, is sitting pretty at #25.
01 The Shivas – I’ve Had Enough Casino Trash 7”
02 Vexx – Wild Hunt M’Lady’s 12”
03 C.C.T.V. – Piece of Paper and Audiocassette Tape Cristi Califoni MC
04 Peach Fuzz – s/t Dumpster MC
05 Heart Beach – Counting Rough Skies 7”
06 Sheer Mag – III Static Shock EP
07 Straight Arrows – Turn Me Off Rice Is Nice 7”
08 The Side Eyes – s/t Burger MC
09 Snail Mail – Habit EP Sister Polygon MC
10 Soft Candy – Bixarre Luv Pyramids Hozac 7”
11 Scully – No Sense Burger EP
12 The Ar-Kaics – It’s Not My World Goodbye Boozy 7”
13 CC Dust – Shinkansen No. 1 Night School 7”
14 Le Villejuif Underground – Heavy Black Matter Born Bad EP
15 Pleasers – Such a Fool Goodbye Boozy 7”
16 MAMA – Eye In the Sky Maximum Pelt MC
17 CFM – Homegrown Paranoia In the Red 7”
18 Grantby – The Beast System Static Caravan 12”
19 Sick Thoughts / Black Panties – split Goodbye Boozy 7”
20 Couteau Latex – Hostile Environment Goner 7”
21 Beatniks – s/t Goodbye Boozy EP
22 Heavy Times – Black Sunglasses Hozac EP
23 Talkies – Never Fear La-Ti-Da 7”
24 The Jeanies – Amilee Hozac 7”
25 Vital Idles – My Sentiments Not Unloved 7”
