It seems end of year list season gets a little longer each time round and the debates about the inclusions and exclusions fuel our passage toward festivities. We’ve contributed our views to a few this time round but this one is about our artists – a list of lists featuring Reckless Yes 2018 releases.
Reckless Yes releases 2018 – a quick recap
Here’s what flew off the presses under our name this year:
- Grawl!x – Appendix
- LIINES – Stop-Start
- Mighty Kids – Won’t You Reconsider EP
- Fightmilk – Not With That Attitude
- Chorusgirl – Shimmer and Spin
For The Rabbits
Coming in at number 9 in the EP of the Year countdown on For The Rabbits was Mighty Kids debut. They said, “moments of melancholic bedroom pop collide with dance floor worthy bangers.” Read the full list here.
We also placed highly in the Albums of the Year list with Fightmilk charting at 5 and Chorusgirl at 3. In glowing write-ups they said of Fightmilk, “Musically, Not With That Attitude walks a line between the seriousness of classic jangling indie and the more playful end of pop-punk, it is a record that can do seriously sad, then throw in a riff so bombastically joyful that Fall Out Boy might consider it a little too much.”
And of Chorusgirl they wrote, “Shimmer And Spin is a record that emerged from the darkest of places to glisten and sheen, a triumphant celebration of just about getting through, a record even better than we ever thought it could be.”
Find the countdown of album of the year from 10-1 on For The Rabbits here.
The Guardian
Phil Mondgredian, having given LIINES at 4 star review in Q earlier in the year, also picked them out in his end of year list with debut Stop-Start as part of The Guardian’s writer’s picks. See the full list here.
Even The Stars
Even The Stars have been big supporters of LIINES for a long time – in fact it was editor David Brown who tipped off Sarah about them way back in 2014 – so we’re delighted Stop-Start made their end of year list and was riding high at number 3! They said, “There’s not a single second on this album where they’re trying to be anything else but themselves. Inspired by post-punk and riot girl heroines – Sleater Kinney, P J Harvey, Eilidh from the much-missed local heroes Solar Race, they’re laying claim to be the inspiration for future generations of girls to pick up an instrument and use it to express themselves without the need to pander to the whims of anyone but themselves.” Read the full countdown here.
Louder Than War magazine
LIINES topped editor in chief John Robb’s list but scored a 64 placing overall for the print magazine’s countdown for the year. They said of the album, “a sound which is marking them as one of the most exciting new bands in the country.” Pick up the current issue in newsagents now or order online here.
LouderThanWar.com
With Fightmilk’s Not With That Attitude orbiting the upper echelons of this 200 album countdown John Robb shot LIINES nearer to the top with a number 5 placing. They said, “Stop-Start grabs the listener by the scruff of the neck and demands attention, there’s no hanging about while they slowly introduce you to their work, no, it starts like a pistol and doesn’t let up”. See the full list here.
Loud Women
Fightmilk made an appearance in the top 20 shortlist but it was LIINES that found themselves at number 4 in the Loud Women list. They said, “taut, claustrophobic menace like a UK postpunk time capsule.” Find the full list here.
Get In Her Ears
LIINES found themselves highlighted in the Tracks of the Year list on Get In Her Ears (after being one of their Ones To Watch for 2018) for Shallow. They said, “an intense blast of perfect post-punk with shades of the likes of Savages of Sleater Kinney.” Find Tracks of the Year list here.
When it comes to albums of the year Get In Her Ears recognised both Fightmilk and Chorusgirl as highlights in their year. Of Fightmilk they said, “An utterly life-affirming, and completely addictive, collection, Not With That Attitude is not only one of my favourites of 2018, but will hold a special place in my heart for years to come.” And of Chorusgirl they were similarly full of praise, “Despite oozing a darker undercurrent than previous offerings, Shimmer And Spin showcases Silvi’s distinctive, lush vocals throughout, as effervescent harmonies and impressive driving riffs flow, creating Chorusgirl’s utterly unique, shimmering sounds.” Find the Albums of the Year list here.
Sweeping The Nation
Both Fightmilk and Chorusgirl featured in Sweeping The Nations’ Top 50 Albums of the Year – Shimmer and Spin was at number 37 and Not With That Attitude at number 27. See the full list here (including Spotify playlist).
Cowboys and Indies
Chorusgirl and LIINES both made the festive 50 show from Cowboys and Indies – Shimmer and Spin charted at 34 while Stop-Start was at number 9. See the countdown from 35-1 here.
Joyzine
Both Fightmilk and Chorusgirl made it into the end of the year favourites list from Joyzine. Of Fightmilk they said, “sparkling indie pop gem with an unapologetic 90s glint in its eye” and of Chorusgirl they summed up the album’s sound saying it had, “an air of beautiful melancholy beneath gentle showers of reverb”. Read their full list of 2018 highlights here.
Manchester Music Forever
In a Twitter countdown Manchester Music Forever placed LIINES Stop-Start at number 4 in their albums of the year. They said, “A truly outstanding debut album from this Manchester band who in their own words are a furious blend of Riot Grrrl, post-punk and alt-rock sounds.” Find them on Twitter.
Honourable mentions elsewhere…
As a label we made the end of year honours list from For The Rabbits for championing DIY and putting out music the editor loved. It was lovely to be seen in this way – and alongside other indie labels we love too!
Drowned In Sound writer James Thornhill highlighted Grawl!x, calling him an ‘one of the UK’s most underrated acts’ and sharing his interview from earlier in the year.
While passed over in their main chart God Is In The TV editor Bill Cummings placed Chorusgirl Shimmer and Spin at 48 in his personal Top 50 albums of the year.
In 2017 we released a one-off digital single Liar Liar with You Want Fox and this was the lead track from their second album, Reverse the Curse, which they self-released this year. Even The Stars placed the album at 19 in their end of year top 20 calling Liar Liar ‘a more playful approach’.
For a bit more about each of our 2018 releases check out this piece and watch out for more on them here in the next couple of weeks. Find our full roster of artists here and if you’re thinking of contacting us please read our demo and submission policy first.
