the only indie advent calendar worth opening - Day 19

Every week in 2015 seemed to be the 20th anniversary of various cracking albums. It brought to light just how good a year in music 1995 was. Arguably the biggest music story of 1995 was of course the chart battle between Blur and Oasis in August. I pinned my colours to the Oasis mast back then, although deep down the 16 year old me knew that The Great Escape had some impressive songs on it.

20 years on and NME seem to be happy to openly debate the possibility of an Oasis reunion at any given opportunity or to fill a slow news day. What should draw bigger headlines is the fact Damon and co continue to pop their heads into the indie music scene every few years and drop a killer album into the mix without much fanfare.

Appearing from thin air earlier this year, The Magic Whip featured so many delightful pop moments it would be ridiculous to link to them all. Go Out and Lonesome Street would be a good place to start if you haven't already heard the full long player.

The outstanding highlight of the album and one of the singles of the year is an audio and visual delight. So, on the 19th day of this advent of indie music, my gift to you is the ridiculously happy sound of Blur - Ong Ong. Happy listening!

the only indie advent calendar worth opening - Day 18

A proper belta of a track to celebrate the biggest Friday night of the year and today's #indieadvent24. The Prodigy have gone from strength to strength on their most recent releases and 'The Day Is My Enemy' picked up the baton where 'Invaders Must Die' left off in 2009. I'd argue they're creating some of the best music of their long career right now, without getting the true acclaim they arguably deserve.

Fans of The Prodigy in the 90s will find lots to enjoy on the album with lead single Nasty sounding like the mashed up love child of 'The Fat of The Land' singles Firestarter, Breathe and Smack My Bitch Up.

The Prodigy have always divided opinion amongst my mates. I have to admit I don't think everything they touch turns to gold, but on The Day Is My Enemy they've proven once again that they're still as important and relevant to the music scene today as they were amidst the world of 90s Britpop.

So, on this the 18th day of the advent of indie music, my gift to you is a cracking tune to sort out your Friday night, here's The Prodigy - The Day Is My Enemy. Happy listening!

the only indie advent calendar worth opening - Day 17

Great music gets better with age, or is that wine? When the 2015 vintage is served in a few years time, The Libertines third record Anthem For Doomed Youth will most likely feel like more a full-bodied effort than when it first landed at the end of the Summer.

The reason I say this is that in just a few months I've returned to their latest record and it sounds a lot stronger than I initially remember. One of the reasons for this is that they set such a high standard in the early noughties and now over ten years on perhaps it was too much to expect Carl, Pete and co to pick up exactly where they left off.

They've grown up and songs like Anthem For Doomed Youth reflect a more mature and wise sound. That's not to say the cheeky scamps aren't up to their usual tricks. Anyone who heard Gunga Din will already recognise a stadium anthem in waiting and not just for the pleasure of those doomed youth either.

Time will tell if we're lucky enough to see a fourth album from The Libertines, for now we should all be thankful that they finally sorted their bizarre relationships out enough to find time to play some cracking songs in a recording studio. My pick of the album and my gift to you on this the 17th day of the advent of indie music is the sound of Carl and Pete doing what they do best, having fun on record. Here's Heart Of The Matter by The Libertines. Happy listening!

the only indie advent calendar worth opening - Day 16

A four-and-a-bit minute masterpiece from the North West of England marks the 16th day of the #indieadvent24. Bill Ryder Jones dropped this little cracker of a tune back in the summer and it's stayed on my most played list for the rest of this year.

Fans of The Coral will approve of his solo work and should take the time to listen to the album West Kirby County Primary. Two To Birkenhead deserves a larger audience and is the album's highlight track. If you like what you hear then you can expect more of the same sound on Catharine and Huskisson and Wild Roses.

Never has a song made me want to go to Birkenhead before. And I'd argue this will never happen again in the history of music. So, while I dream of getting on an Arriva bus in Merseyside and singing to the driver I'd like two singles to Birkenhead please (who says I don't dream big?) I'll leave you all with my gift to you on this the 16th day of the advent of indie music. Here's the whirringly addictive Bill Ryder Jones and Two To Birkenhead. Happy listening!

the only indie advent calendar worth opening - Day 15

A year in music without Conor Oberst is an empty one. Luckily for us 2015 welcomed the great American songwriter back with a new release. Fans of his distinctive brand of folk may be surprised to find him rocking out with a heavier sound as part of his band Desaparecidos.

While more suited to Reading & Leeds than Latitude, you can still recognise Oberst's trademark melodies and thought provoking lyrics making their mark under the punky post-hardcore sound usually found on the likes of Kerrang.

If you stripped away the heavy guitars and electronics, there's an excellent Bright Eyes album waiting to be found. But for those who love their music a little bit heavier and louder, the album 'Payola' offers something more intelligent than your usual band - see Anonymous and Slacktivist if you don't have time to play the full album.

While it may not be my favourite ever Conor Oberst project, it's an enjoyable record with enough highlights to keep you entertained. So, while we wait in hope for a future Bright Eyes album, my favourite song from the album and gift to you on the 15th day of this advent of indie music is Desaparecidos - The Left Is Right. Happy listening!

the only indie advent calendar worth opening - Day 14

If you haven't discovered the addictively haunting and soulful sound of Algiers yet, today's the day to right that wrong.

'And When You Fall' is one of those songs that sneaks up on you half-way through your first listen, twists itself around your brain and defies you not to reach for the repeat button. You can try to resist but that would be as futile as trying to escape death in Final Destination 7 - Rhythm is gonna get you (probably starring an ageing Gloria Estefan). I digress...

I first shared my love for Algiers back in June. Their sound is a strange one of gospel over guitars that tell stories filled with politically and religiously-charged lyrics. At times you need to remind yourself that this is only a three-piece band. On these cold December evenings, the dark sounds of Algiers will warm your soul. Try them on for size, starting with today's track and continuing with another favourite tune from this blog, Black Eunuch.

So, on this the 14th day of this advent of indie music, my gift to you all is the sublime sound of Algiers - And When You Fall. Happy listening!

the only indie advent calendar worth opening - Day 13

If last Sunday's selection on the #indieadvent24 was the perfect soundtrack to a relaxing Sunday morning, this Sunday's song choice comes from the opposite end of the musical spectrum.

Foals returned to the foald (sorry) this summer with their fourth album and while the full length album showed a safer and less experimental band at work, it would be wrong to ignore one of the musical highlights of the summer months.

The single What Went Down knocked down everything else in its tracks when it flew the indie flag on mainstream radio, and demonstrated a harder sound to previous singles. It also still maintains that classic Foals knack of building up to a crescendo of noise that forces you to get up and dance, which can make you look a bit of an idiot when you're waiting in the car at traffic lights.

While the new album didn't offer anything as spellbinding as Spanish Sahara or Blue Blood, songs like Mountain At My Gates still proved that Foals remain an important force in the indie music world today.

So, on this the 13th day of this advent of indie music, my gift to you is the storming What Went Down by Foals. Happy listening!