Of the ones I’ve heard:
1. Louise - Confessions: Obviously I’m biased, but I wasn’t really expecting another studio album from her after Heavy Love, so for her to come back with a career-best record at this stage of her career was just sheer joy. That it was so well received was just the cherry on top.
2. JADE - That’s Showbiz Baby! : I was never a Little Mix stan, but she had me at the Eurovision sample. A strong debut and a real love letter to pop music to boot.
3.CMAT - EURO-COUNTRY: Take a Sexy Picture and Jamie Oliver Petrol Station are two of the smartest, most rousing songs of the year, and Let That Tesla Crash is one of the most poignantly beautiful. The rest is pretty good too, but that trio alone would get it into my top five.
4. Lily Allen - West End Girl: Early days but this feels like a surprise masterpiece. I’d entirely written her off.
5. Lady Gaga - Mayhem: Might have been higher had she not ditched it after two singles, but a welcome return to form - even if I suspect she’d quite happily never record anything remotely like this ever again if only the general public would show the slightest interest in her terrible jazz albums.
6. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Perimenopop: Not the shimmering post-Saltburn triumph I was hoping for, but still a solid album by one of my favourite artists. The singles campaign and general rollout was unforgivable though. I eagerly await her reflections on this period once she’s back off a major label.
7. Alison Golfrapp - Flux: Didn’t really stay with me, but her stuff never does. A shimmering pleasure though.
8. Sabrina Carpenter - Man’s Best Friend: More of the same, but fine.
9. Lorde - Virgin: I’m sadly coming to terms with the fact that the Lorde I loved in the Pure Heroine era is unlikely to come back to me. As much a me problem as a her problem though, and I wish her well. Maybe lay off the gear for a bit before the next one though, eh?
10. Mariah Carey - Here For It All: Gave it a curiosity listen last week after @dub’s delightful podcast. Out of respect for the Moopy lamb community, I will not elaborate further on my thoughts.
11. Taylor Swift - Life of a Showgirl: Just dreadful.