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Top 9 ScumFiles Albums of the Year



1. Dogrel - Fontaines DC

The debut album from Irish post punk band Fontaines DC. Fontaines DC first gained our attention from supporting IDLES on their first US tour, and being a rock band from Ireland with Grian Chatten howling out in his clear Irish accent a patriotic sound. This album is a true journey, from the first track they tell us “my childhood was small, but I’m gonna be big” setting the tone of their proud and strong Irish heart. Leading you through to hits such as ‘Too Real’ and ‘Boys in the Better Land’ taking you to different genres yet making them all make sense together in one album. Then staying true to their true Irish roots, they fishing your ears off with the perfection that is ‘Dublin City Sky’ giving a nod to Irish folk but with their own FDC spin. This album is a MUST for your record collection and in effect is our ALBUM OF THE YEAR and we hope that this isn’t the last we’ve heard from these lads.



2. Eton Alive - Sleaford Mods
The 5th album from the loud mouth northern garage punk duo SLEAFORD MODS. It's moddy, it’s garage-y and it’s punky. They definitely did not disappoint with this one. The Sleaford Mods frustration continues…














3. Not Waving But Drowning - Loyle Carner
Carner comes through in 2019 with his second album, described once before by us as the album that is going to send him on his way to rap royalty. This album is a voyage, if you haven’t played it the whole way through, we suggest you do so.
4. Schlagenheim - Black Midi

The debut album from experimental rock band Black Midi. Wild sounds coming from every angle with this album. When asked about the album frontman Geordie Greep once explained “the idea was to do stuff that’s impossible to do live” and let us tell you now Geordie, mission complete!













5. Nothing Great About Britain - Slowthai
It's finally here! After being teased with single after single, then an EP back in 2017. Vox pop artist Slowthai has released his debut album, and it f***ing bangs! He goes all over the shop in this one, with “Inglorious” which features Skepta, and two tracks produced by the great Mura Masa. After you hear this album it’s unquestionable that Slowthai’s presence in grime is significant and lucid.











6. Amyl and the Sniffers - Amyl and the Sniffers
Well here we are, I couldn’t spend a year in London with a bunch of Aussies, experiencing their view on ‘punk’ rock and not respect this magnificent beast with giving it a place on our list. After seeing them live this month and blaring out their tunes on the daily. This album is a forest of rock-chick emotion, they sound like they had a f***ing blast on this one. A true smash in the teeth from start to end, ripping guitars, slamming drums and the front-woman Amy telling you what’s what!











7. Itekoma Hits - Otoboke Beaver
Did someone say Japanese Girl punk band? Yes that’s right, Kyoto’s garage punk quartet has taken inspiration from their colourful and futuristic past in Japan from the likes of Yapoos and Hikasyu, and they’ve brought Japanese punk BACK! Super obscure and funky this album is a masterpiece of passion!














8. No.1 - Pottery

Hit ‘Lady Solinas’ was released earlier on this year and it really did sound different. With subtle vibrations from 1960’s Britain this was really cool to find out this was a new band bringing out their first album, then as we dove deeper it was uncovered that they were from Canada! We’re big fans of their sounds and looking forward to their return to the UK early next year. Well deserved place in our top 9 albums.












9. Squid - Town Centre EP
Ok ok, we’re well aware that its ‘top 9 albums of the year’ and this is an EP but you’ll be happy that you where informed after you give this a listen, coming in at number 9, its Town Centre by Squid. We first came across these lads when they played the Brixton Windmill earlier this year and after their single ‘houseplants’ their long awaited EP shot to the top of everyone’s playlists.









Words: Cane Valentine
Editor: Christiana Garvie

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