Crazy's 2025 New Release purchases

[CRAZY-HORSE]

MYLES SMITH  "a minute, a moment...."

from England
folk-pop/alt-folk for the most part
released as two separate EP's in his homeland,
the last seven tracks were released on an EP called "a minute" in 2024
the first six tracks this year, released as a double-pack EP as "a minute, a moment" in England/Europe earlier this year
released as a full length LP outside Europe everywhere else
im hearing bits of George Ezra, Vance Joy and Mumfords in places as slight comparisons
a really good album, the guy has talent and can write a catchy hook for sure

my two favourite tracks linked below:

1:   made for me  **
2:   gold  ***
Myles Smith - Gold (Glastonbury 2025)  -  great live version
3:   my first heartbreak  **
4:   someone new  **
5:   all my life  ***
6:   dreamers  **
7:   nice to meet you  ***
8:   stargazing  **
9:   waste (featuring James Bay) **
10: wait for you  ***
11: whisper  ***
Myles Smith - Whisper (Lyric Video)
12: 3AM  **
13: little by little  **

3s - 5
2s - 8
1s - 0

rating:  2.38

[CRAZY-HORSE]

ELTON JOHN & BRANDI CARLILE  "who believes in angels?"

from England and US respectively
Elton's 47th album if you count soundtracks/collabs and solo albums
Brandi's tenth studio album
if there was an album i was hesitating about listening to again it was this one
i really liked it when it came out, other people i know werent keen on it soit had me second guessing myself
mainly duets on here as in they harmonise together, a couple where Brandi takes the lead andElton does one on his own (the album closer).
still a very good album to me with its up-beat happy/poppy style with a ballad and a couple of solid rockers thrown in.
several great tracks but several awful ones too
not Elton's best work but way better than most of his output over the last twenty years

my two favourite tracks are linked below

1:  the rose of laura nyro  ***
? Elton John & Brandi Carlile - The Rose Of Laura Nyro (⚡️HYPER LYRICS) (2025)
2:  little richard's bible  **
3:  swing for the fences  *
4:  never too late  *
5:  you without me  *
6:  who believes in angels?  **
7:  the river man  ***
8:  a little light  ***
9:  someone to belong to  **
10: when this old world is done with me  ***
When This Old World Is Done With Me

3s -  4
2s -  3
1s -  3

rating:  2.10

[CRAZY-HORSE]

VIAGRA BOYS  "viagr-aboys" 

from Sweden
fourth album, only thing i know
experts call it 'post-punk'. i dont know exactly what that even means??
i say sounds-likes, and they sound like: Ween, Weezer, Cake and Eagles Of Death Metal (EODM)
one track has a Nick Cave "dig lazarus, dig" vibe also
a really solid alt-rock/punk-ish type album

two favourite tracks linked below

1:  man made of meat  ***
Viagra Boys - Man Made of Meat (Official Video)
2:  the bog body  ***
3:  uno-II  **
4:  pyramid of health  ***
5:  dirty boys  **
6:  medicine for horses  ***
7:  waterboy  **
8:  store policy  **
9:  you n33d me  **
10: best in show pt: IV  ***
Best In Show pt. IV
11: river king  **

3s - 5
2s - 6
1s - 0

rating:  2.45

[CRAZY-HORSE]

LADY GAGA  "mayhem"

from US
her sixth solo album
eleventh if you count collaborations and soundtracks
fourteen tracks
majority have a dance vibe as expected
one duet, the closing track, is with the brilliant Bruno Mars and that track is brilliant too but doesnt fit the sound of the album
the other two that i love have a distinct funk/disco style reminiscent of 70s funk

two favourite tracks linked below

1:  disease  **
2:  abracadabra  **
3:  garden of eden  **
4:  perfect celebrity  *
5:  vanish into you  **
6:  killah  ***
7:  zombieboy  ***
Lady Gaga - Zombieboy (Official Audio)
8:  lovedrug  *
9:  how bad do you want me  **
10: dont call tonight  **
11: shadow of a man  *
12: the beast  *
13: blade of grass  **
14: die with a smile (feat: Bruno Mars)  ***
Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile (Official Music Video)

3s - 3
2s - 7
1s - 4

rating:   1.92

[CRAZY-HORSE]

WET LEG  "moisturizer"

from Isle Of Wight
sophomore album
alt-pop, indi-pop sounds on here
musically its slightly more diverse and mature than the debut 
while still maintaining the strengths of the debut
a very good album but if im honest i still prefer the debut overall

two favourite tracks linked below:

1:   CPR  **
2:   liquidize  **
3:   catch these fists  ***
Wet Leg - catch these fists (Live on KEXP)
4:   Davina McCall  ***
Wet Leg - davina mccall (Live on KEXP)
5:   Jennifer's body  ***
6:   mangetout  **
7:   pond song  **
8:   pokemon  **
9:   pillow talk  **
10: dont speak  **
11: 11:21  **
12: U and me @ home  ***

3s - 4
2s - 8
1s - 0

rating:  2.33

[CRAZY-HORSE]

ARCADE FIRE  "pink elephant"

from Canada
seventh studio album
songs are more synth-pop based than previous efforts 
mellow and repetitive as one would expect with that style
its not a bad album but it is starting to sound tired and wearing thin already
nothing great on here but the first side (first four tracks) are the best for sure

two favourite tracks linked below

1:   open your heart  **
2:   pink elephant  **
3:   year of the snake  **
Arcade Fire - Year of the Snake (Official Video)
4:   circle of trust  **
Arcade Fire: Circle of Trust | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
5:   alien nation  **
6:   beyond salvation  *
7:   ride or die  **
8:   i love her shadow  **
9:   she cries diamond rain  *
10: stuck in my head  **

3s - 0
2s - 8
1s - 2

rating:  1.80 

[CRAZY-HORSE]

MY MORNING JACKET  "is"

from Kentucky
tenth studio album, i own all ten
the sound on this one is very commercial compared to other releases
it is radio friendly and Jim James' velvet smooth vocals are int he foreground for a change
first half is slower and more laid back than the second half and i prefer it
on one track, "i can hear your love", Jim's vocals are eerily similar to The Big "O"
a solid album for a band ten albums i n to a career

two favourite tracks linked below

1:  out in the open  ***
My Morning Jacket - Out In The Open (Official Audio)
2:  half a lifetime  ***
3:  everyday magic  **
4:  i can hear your love  ***
My Morning Jacket - I Can Hear Your Love (Official Video)
5:  time wasted  ***
6:  beginning from the ending  **
7:  lemme know  **
8:  squid ink  **
9:  die for it  **
10: river road  **

3s - 4
2s - 6
1s - 0

rating:  2.40

[CRAZY-HORSE]

TAYLOR SWIFT  "the life of a showgirl"

from the U.S of A
twelfth studio album, i own them all
after several lo-fi/folkie albums Taylor returns to her pop leanings here
hints of soft rock in the mix too.
for the most part the tracks are melodic catchy foot tappers
the issue i have is that they all basically sound the same without too much variation
not her best album by any means but i think her folkie LoFi albums had just about outlived their welcome

two favourite tracks are linked below

1:   the fate of ophelia  ***
Taylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia (Official Music Video)
2:   Elizabeth Taylor  **
3:   opatite  **
4:   father figure  **
5:   eldest daughter  **
6:   ruin the friendship  *
7:   actually romantic  *
8:   wishlist  **
9:   wood  ***
Wood
10: cancelled!  **
11: honey  **
12: the life of a showgirl  **

3s - 2
2s - 8
1s - 2

rating:  2.00

[CRAZY-HORSE]

...OF GODS AND MEN  "the stare"

from the UK
debut album
post punk/mod revival/indi rock
hearing hints of Clash, Kinks and Jam in small doses on here
well crafted songs with half decent thought out lyrics
sound is well balanced also being able to focus on whatever instrument i tuned in to

two favourite tracks linked below

1:   flawed  ***
...of GODS and MEN - 'Flawed' (Official)
2:   yellow door  **
3:   vindicate me  **
4:   witness  ***
5:   world of pain  **
6:   hollow  **
7:   gone this day  ***
8:   rebel dance  **
9:   kingdom come  ***
Kingdom Come

3s - 4
2s - 5
1s - 0

rating:  2.44

[CRAZY-HORSE]

and my final purchase for 2025:



LENNON WELLS   "blink (and youll miss it)"

from Tasmania
debut album
indi-rock/pop
hearing hints of Talking Heads on first two tracks,
some Franz Ferdinand and REM influences also 
track 5 is a lovely country tinged tune 
overall a very good debut album so ill be keeping an eye out for future releases

two favourite tracks linked below

1:   no kings  ***
Lennon Wells - No Kings (Official Video)
2:   baddie  ***
3:   take a year  **
4:   gotta be something  **
5:   honey, youll always be home  ***
Honey, You'll Always Be Home
6:   TNF  **
7:   waiting on a call  **
8:   hey michael  ***
9:   come to the light  ***
10: blink  * 

3s - 5
2s - 4
1s - 1

rating:  2.40