Mental Notes

First gig of the year last night. Had to be @dreamwife - honestly might be my favourite performers on the planet, always such a good mix of power and fun.

Largely new material last night, but still had the room in the palms of their hands. Smashed it.

On the surface, it's another indie album that seems to take a variety of the expected influences. But there's also something odd an unique about almost every moment, a changeable tone that makes the album engrossing, fun, and affecting.

I definitely didn't get this one straight away, but something kept me coming back. After several listens to It's A Beautiful Place by Water From Your Eyes, I'm now fully convinced it deserves to be on all those end of year lists it appeared on.

After spending some time, though, I can definitely see whst people love about this album. I'm not sure if I feel the same way yet, but I'm definitely willing to spend more time and find out.

That isn't what I got. This album melds hip-hop, R&B, rock and more - on first listen i found it pretty jarring, not really sure how I felt about the softer, sung moments.

Black British Music (2025) had been recommended to me by several people, but I never got around to it.

I've had to give this a few listens as I'd been expecting a pretty hard-core hip-hop album (I don't know why).

I'm not 100% sure what it is, given it mixes sounds from R&B, indie, jazz, and even punk. But when it works, it really works.

I was pretty close to dismissing The Passionate Ones by Nourished By Time on first listen, but I'm glad that I didn't. I still need more time before I can say what I think of it for certain, but it is definitely an engaging and interesting piece of work.

It maintains his oddball, abstract style but manages to sound more accessible and mainstream at the same time. I'm fully engaged with this after a first few listens.

Thank God I'm the kind of music geek who makes pointless lists like this Albums I Missed in 2025 one.

Billy Woods releases so many albums, that I can kind of forgive myself for missing this one on release.

I wish I hadn't, though. I really like Billy already, but this album is a step forward for him if you ask me.

I've given Baby! By Dijon a few listens now and it's clearly very accomplished. It's sounds so crisp, the production is fantastic, and he's got a huge voice.

Is it for me? No. But all those things still stand.

Well, I tried to give the Addison Rae album a listen - strongly not for me. But then I'm strongly not the market for it, either - feels like Taylor Swift lite and I don't like Taylor Swift, so...

I can definitely see what the fuss is about with this one.

@thelilyallen.bsky.social was up first, and I have to say I never expected to enjoy a Lily Allen album so much - even after people told me I would. It's got shades of Self Esteem, which is a plus for me, but also bags of Lily personality and huge props for putting it all on the line in the lyrics.

Album of The Year - Music Reviews, Ratings, Charts, News Top music of the year. Featuring album reviews, ratings, charts, year end lists and more.

Now I'm finally through with my own Albums of the Year list (which you can find on Instagram @mental_notes_podcast), I've been going through the top 100 over on albumoftheyear.org and making a playlist of the albums I missed.

Glad I was there, though - an outstanding performance.

It's weird seeing a band you love and knowing that it's the last time you'll see them. Torn between respecting them bowing out at their peak, and wondering why a band that seem so tight on stage would call it a day.

Was a genuinely conflicting experience seeing Porridge Radio at Gorilla on Thursday. It was my 6th time seeing them, and definitely the best I've seen them, and yet I felt a little sad all the way through.

Picky Bastards Episode 93 On Episode 93 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. We have new releases by Sigrid, Dave, Tame Impala and Just Mustard. This month’s classic album is Folksinger by Dave…

What did our panel make of the latest album Deadbeat from Tame Impala? Hotly debated online but did we agree on the podcast?

pickybs.com/2025/12/04/p...

Thanks also to Holly for being so open about her #music, #mentalhealth, and many other things.

Search Mental Notes on your favourite streaming platform or podcast app to listen.

The 6th and final episode of Mental Notes #podcast series one is now live.

Thank you so much to the wonderful Holysseus Flyfor joining me, it was a fascinating chat.

Finally back recording today, with the final episode of series one now ready for editing.

Thanks to Holysseus Flyfor a brilliant chat that I'm looking forward to sharing with you.

In the meantime, get yourself a ticket to her show with @ellenbethabdi.bsky.social next week and I'll see you there.

Very late posting this, but what a show from Mckinley Dixon at Yes Mcr last weekend.

Can't think of better band to accompany a nice #autumn walk in Manchester.

On the #podcast, I ask guests what they do to cope with life. This is definitely one of my things.

There are about 10-15 bands/artists who I love so much, that I have to wait for the perfect moment to listen to their new work for the first time. One of those is @bigthiefmusic.bsky.social

#music #mentalhealth #walking #Manchester #levenshulme #cringlepark

Also, the biggest crowd I've been in since my panic attacks earlier this year and I didn't die. So yay, me.

An absolute joy to see Little Simz at Co Op Live on Thursday. Amazing to see an artist who nobody seemed to have heard of when you started listening to them, suddenly absolutely commanding a crowd of thousands in an arena.

I'm 41 and I'm with you. Thinking it might be the worst winner ever.

Stunning show from Chloe Foy at Low Four Studio last night. Catch her tour if you can.

Don't miss Episode 5 of Mental Notes, where I talk to @ellenbethabdi about #music, #mentalhealth, #5asidefootball, and more.

Personally, I think this is a cracking episode. So please search for Mental Notes wherever you listen to #podcasts or follow the link in my bio.