Vol. 58
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Full Pelt Magazine
Tag: Will Varley
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Album of the Year 2021
We countdown our Top 50 Albums of 2021
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2021 has been another tough year to live through. There have been some signs of normal life, for example the return of live music, but we end it as we started with true normality a distant memory.
This year has however been a stunning year for new music releases. Yes, lockdown musicians and the odds are their creativity will take over. In Full Pelt Music’s first full year of existence we have reviewed 65 albums and the quality of those releases has been exceptional.
Last year we counted down our Top 20 albums of the year, with a special Advent Calendar countdown on our Twitter. This year we have expanded! Our 2021 countdown has taken place across all our social platforms, and has listed our Top 50 albums of the year!
With that social media countdown completed, it’s now time to compile our completed Top 50 in one place. So let’s get started!
What we said:
“there are stunning moments spread throughout the album”
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What we said:
“there are plenty of songs on this album that rate amongst the best that the band has produced”
Read our review of ‘Waiting For Good Luck’
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What we said:
“Garbage are an incredible musical force”
Read our review of ‘No Gods No Masters’
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What we said:
“we have thrashing guitars, thumping drums, bizarre lyrics and plenty of bells and whistles to emphasise his brilliantly quirky musicianship”
Read our review of ‘The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy’
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What we said:
“was anybody craving a new album from The Offspring in 2021? Perhaps not, but actually in this messed up world we live in, maybe, just maybe, we needed it!”
Read our review of ‘Let The Bad Times Roll’
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What we said:
“this is an artist pouring all of their self into their creation and discovering magic”
Read our review of ‘Watch Me Break Apart’
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What we said:
“this record manages to encapsulate the sound that the band has nurtured over the past few years both on record and in the live setting”
Read our review of ‘How to Ruin Your Life’
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What we said:
“remind you how gloriously heavy yet anthemic the band can get”
Read our review of ‘The Bitter Truth’
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What we said:
“it won’t take long for people to stop and take notice of this great young band”
Read our review of ‘Fractured Party Music’
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What we said:
“this is Volbeat at their very best”
Read our review of ‘Servant of the Mind’
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What we said:
“vitality shouldn’t be mistaken for relevance and whilst the band may have peaked commercially, they remain of utmost importance to a generation of music fans”
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What we said:
“anybody that had any doubts about the natural talents of this group of musicians, they should now acknowledge a new force”
Read our review ‘The Battle at Garden’s Gate’
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What we said:
“over the top, outlandish, brash and most of all fun, the album not only lives up to but surpasses all expectations”
Read our review of ‘Van Weezer’
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What we said:
“quality continues to run throughout the entire record and there is very little ease on the throttle”
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What we said:
“another very good release from a band overdue commercial success”
Read our review of ‘Into the Blue’
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What we said:
“a middle finger up at the haters”
Read our review of ‘Still Sucks’
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What we said:
“a delicate masterpiece from a songwriter of the highest level”
Read our review of ‘The Hole Around My Head’
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What we said:
“an enjoyable listen and the band clearly still has something to say”
Read our review of ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’
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What we said:
“up there with the best that Beans On Toast has released”
Read our review of ‘Survival of the Friendliest’
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What we said:
“it really is time to stop being surprised by the quality in this band”
Read our review of ’21st Century Love Songs’
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What we said:
“the extravagance of the band is what makes them great and thankfully their 7th studio album has it in abundance”
Read our review of ‘Motorheart’
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What we said:
“for their tenth album the band has set out to create their masterpiece”
Read our review of ‘Coral Island’
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What we said:
“a strong debut album that lays the foundations of what will likely be a long and successful career”
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What we said:
“this is a stunning pop rock album”
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What we said:
“the album is laced with quality and shows the ease with which AFI are able to produce catchy songs”
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What we said:
“Iron Maiden doing exactly what you’d expect Iron Maiden to do”
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What we said:
“this is very much Numan at the top of his game“
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What we said:
“the signature of a band comfortable in their skin”
Read our review of ‘Pressure Machine’
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What we said:
“the very thing that identifies their sound is their lack of boundaries, their quirkiness and willingness to experiment”
Read our review of ‘The Myth of the Happily Ever After’
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What we said:
“well crafted and superbly delivered album that is well worth your time and attention”
Read our review of ‘A Matter of Life & Love’
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The quality of this year’s releases has been truly phenomenal as our opening 30 albums attests. The competition is extremely tight for the coveted top spot and that is clear throughout the prestigious Top 20 that follows.
What we said:
“a sublime collection of upbeat, heartfelt and powerful songs that is bound to be stuck on repeat for the foreseeable future”
Read our review of ‘A Funeral For Youth’
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What we said:
“The Pretty Reckless have solidified themselves in the upper echelons of Hard Rock”
Read our review of ‘Death by Rock and Roll’
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What we said:
“you are fully absorbed by the mix of heavy hooks and catchy sing-a-long pop vocals”
Read our review of ‘Dark & Beautiful Secrets’
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What we said:
“Trash Boat have delivered their best work yet and they appear ready to lead the charge for British rock”
Read our review of ‘Don’t You Feel Amazing?’
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What we said:
“there are moments of grandeur that harness the bands expansive sound spread throughout”
Read our review of ‘The Greatest Mistake of My Life’
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What we said:
“the album attacks your senses and gets your feet stomping and your head banging”
Read our review of ‘When Life Was Hard And Fast’
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What we said:
“Trivium have well and truly earned their place at the top table of metal”
Read our review of ‘In the Court of the Dragon’
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What we said:
“a stunning release from a band assumedly at the peak of their powers”
Read our review of ‘American Noir’
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What we said:
“there is a real good mix of sounds on this album which together encompass Kennedy’s various alter egos”
Read our review of ‘The Ides of March’
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What we said:
“the power of this album doesn’t just lie with Bennett of course and the rest of the band have summoned even more power and majesty then before”
Read our review of ‘The Hope List’
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What we said:
“the album really feels like a love letter to both the bands own history and the music of those that influenced the members”
Read our review of ‘Medicine at Midnight’
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What we said:
“an album packed with rock club dancefloor fillers, designed to get you moving”
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What we said:
“there are grandiose ambitions spread throughout the album with the band obviously striving for more”
Read our review of ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’
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What we said:
“IDLES continue to be one of the most exciting and vital bands around”
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What we said:
“an album of pure, unadulterated, adrenaline-filled pop rock pleasure”
Read our review of ‘Amazing Things’
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What we said:
“Press To MECO have always had a knack for creating ferocious yet catchy songs and this album is packed full of tasty rifftastic bangers”
Read our review of ‘Transmute’
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What we said:
“the band are still able to mix catchy pop melodies with hard hitting beats to create a sound equally at home in front of mosh pits and dancefloors”
Read our review of ‘Seize the Power’
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What we said:
“the duo however manage to amplify these electronic elements without losing their rock attitude and resonance”
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What we said:
“a rare talent that have now reinforced their passion and ability to create great music for anybody who wants to listen but without concession on their vision”
Read our review of ‘Written & Directed’
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What we said:
“this record feels like it comes from a band at the peak of their powers, but knowing this group, they will still have plenty more to come”
Read our review of ‘Blue Weekend’
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Well there you have it! What a truly magnificent year for new music 2021 has been. What will 2022 have in store? Remember to discover the best new acts by following our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist’!
Stay tuned for our 2021 Year in Review coming very soon.
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Will Varley
The Hole Around My Head
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WILL VARLEY – THE HOLE AROUND MY HEAD – ALBUM REVIEW
Folk troubadour Will Varley has once again sat with his acoustic guitar and plotted the creation of a collection of songs. His latest album is entitled ‘The Hole Around My Head’ and it finds Varley in typically defiant and reflective mood.
There is a real tenderness to this album however that finds Varley unafraid to address the vulnerability of life. It’s a sombre reflection of life, love and the world that we live in, as always crafted with care and designed to captivate.
Watch The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guest Frank Turner
The likes of ‘Colour TV’ and ‘Dreamland’ will be held up to as standout moments, but the reality is that this isn’t the collection of songs we mentioned. ‘The Hole Around My Head’ is a singular piece of art that is perfectly melded together by Varley and deserves to be consumed in its entirety.
The name Will Varley is criminally underappreciated and the sad reality is that this album isn’t likely to trouble the very top of the charts. Put a name on the cover such as Ed Sheeran, James Blunt et al and ‘The Hole Around My Head’ is being touted as the best thing since sliced bread.
WATCH ‘PUSHING AGAINST US’ ON YOUTUBE
There is an incredible pool of talent in this world that are plugging away and deserve a spotlight and Will Varley typifies this. ‘Live Again’, ‘Pushing Against Us’ and ‘The Lonely & The Brave’ close out an album of beautiful and powerful songs that deserves all the praise it will hopefully receive.
‘The Hole Around My Head’ is a delicate masterpiece from a songwriter of the highest level.
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Read our review of ‘A Matter of Life & Love’ from Skinny Lister