A cross a multitude of genres, it’s been an impressive 2019 for a whole host of Classic Pop mainstays. First out of the blocks was the much-anticipated return of The Specials and I was hugely impressed by their emotive and politicised Encore. Despite Jerry Dammers’ absence, Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter more than did justice to the band’s illustrious – if brief – studio recordings heritage.
Staying the course as my favourite album of the year, though, has to be Jenny Lewis’ On The Line. Much interest was piqued by the album’s celebstudded guest list including Beck and Ringo Starr, but it was the former Rilo Kiley frontwoman Lewis’ songwriting and vocal talents that were the real star of the show here. Quite why she isn’t one of the most fêted artists in the music world right now is beyond me.