W/e 09/05/25 - Blondshell, Car Seat Headrest, Model/Actriz, PUP, Young MC

Quite a week with our highest set of scores since October.

Congrats to Car Seat Headrest who storm into the top spot for the year and make the first real dent in the top of our chart, landing at #11 between Ash and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They also have our TOTW.

Blondshell’s follow up sits just a dozen places above her debut thanks to almost identical reaction from the group. Pretty good work to have 2 in the top quarter.

Andy has his equal-most enjoyable week since we started, so takes our 😀. He is on the Redfern rollercoaster with either a happy or sad face for the last 5 weeks. Phil has the ☹️.

Young MC was a nice reminisce for many, and land between the juggernauts that are The Rolling Stones and Black Sabbath mid table on the classics.

Andy

Blondshell - Very nice bit of female pop vocal. A modern comparison is Beebadobee but for me she’s at her best when she’s channeling Tanya Donnelly. Delightful 7.5

Car Seat Headrest - I don’t know if it’s the fact that Will has let the rest of the band contribute to the songwriting or the fact that CSH are no longer all about the lo-fi production but this has the feeling of becoming my favourite album by them after 2 listens. Absolutely cracking stuff, massive tunes throughout and then, holy shit, they drop Planet Desperation, an absolute monster of an epic. Blown away 9

Model/Actriz - This wasn’t totally up my street, even with a delivery reminiscent of Lonely Island’s “Jizz in my Pants” but it wasn’t totally unpleasant. The harder ones towards the end were less fun for me, although I appreciate the sentiment behind “Ring Road” perhaps they could do one about the pedestrianisation of Norwich high street next time? 6.5

PUP - Glorious melodic hardcore. PUP are on my top finds of this whole experiment for me. Wonderful stuff 8.5

TotW - Best Revenge by PUP

Young MC - Cracking album this, lovely tuneful beats and Young’s rapping is clear yet rapid. Had no idea he was born in Wimbledon 7.5

Guy

Blondshell – Nice bit of indie pop. An easy listen albeit without much differentiation from others – 7

Car Seat Headrest – I’ve never been as much of a fan of these guys as others have, but this is a top notch album with plenty of great tunes on it – 8

Model/Actriz – some of this was pretty good but it’s spoiled by the grating techno backdrop on most songs – 6

PUP – Not normally my genre but this had plenty of energy and was punky enough for me to put up with the occasional frat rock vocals – 6.5

Young MC – Stone Cold Classic more like. This guy is the doyen on rhymes. Shame he never really kicked on – 9

TOTW – CCF (I’m Gonna Stay With You) – Car Seat Headrest

Simon

Blondshell: remember her first album being decent enough without shooting the lights out - this is more of the same, has its moments but didn't really leave that much of a lasting impression. 6.5

Car Seat Headrest: the songs are about students at a fictional university apparently, but that bit passed me by - musically though it's immense, 10 min plus songs can often drag but not here. Always hesitant to describe an album as 'epic' but in this case it is fully warranted. 8

Model/Actriz: not the easiest on the ear with its abrasive, clattering rhythms and agitated vocals, but I liked it - they've got a distinctive style and I think this album will be a grower. 7.5

PUP: noisy and chaotic, and whilst that's not necessarily a bad thing this didn't do much for me. 6

Young MC: vaguely remember Know How but otherwise this completely passed me by at the time - it's well done but not really my thing. 6

TotW: Car Seat Headrest - Gethsemane

Justin

Blondshell - not bad and no filler but not overly different from a lot of rock indie with a female vocalist 6.9

Car Seat Headrest - not historically over impressed with them and this still lacks a bit of production, but there are some great tunes on here and it just misses the mark for being a real classic 7.5

Model/Actriz - some of this was a bit of a challenging listen but still good to hear a varied electronic noise album 7.1

PUP - loud, Pixies stylee classic indie. Very enjoyable 8

TOTW Paranoid - PUP

Young MC - never listened to this at the time but know some of the songs. Know How was a Thurs at the Hacienda classic. I always have time for this 89/90 laid back rap 7.8

Jim

Blondshell 8

Delightful slice of sludgy rock to follow up her decent debut - just the right side of my melancholy fence. Similar to Wednesday and even some Wolf Alice when she put her foot down. What’s Fair was my standout track.

Car Seat Headrest 9

Wow, what a piece of work. Will T truly is the king of the 8minute+ opus. From the simple (Deveraux) to the elaborate (CCF, Gethsemane) to the bonkers (Plant Desperation) – all brilliant. That’s a quarter of 9’s they’ve knocked out in 10 years imho. Bravo.

Model/Actriz 6

Some interesting noises when they go a bit AKDK but lacking really decent tracks.

PUP 7

Solid US rock. Preferred the tracks towards the punk pop end of the spectrum and the couple that had a something of The Amazons about them

TOTW – hard to choose but I’ll go with CSR – CCF

Young MC 8

A lot of fun and found it impossible not to bust some moves. Feels quite quaint and innocent compared all the modern-day bombast and BS many acts spit out. Know How is an absolute classic

Adam

Blondshell

Enjoyable indie pop but sounding very familiar to other slightly shoegazey offerings. 7

Car seat headrest

What to say - a rock saga. Long tracks that don’t drift into pure noodling. Good vocals, riffs and more. Great example of modern rock all round. 8

Model/Actriz

Too scattered in focus for my liking. Hard to connect with this one. 5

PUP

Good old, but new, punk rock. Angsty with tempo tunes. 7

TOTW

Car Seat headrest - Planet Desperation

Classic

Top draw hip hop. West coast style from the 90s (know this is 89!) is one of the few hip hop/rap styles I really like. This is a cracking listen, loads of bangers. 8

Erol

Blondshell - enjoyable indie rock. Would have been even better with a bit more bite but she can sure deliver a decent grungy sad track. 7

Car Seat Headrest - for me, one of the best albums of the year so far. A kaleidoscope of tracks, many of which are unashamedly long and superbly self indulgent. Gethsemane and Planet Desperation are right up there with some of the best stuff we’ve listened to since I joined the group. Imagine the result if they teamed up with Jack White. 9

Model/Actriz - moderately interesting but I struggled to hear past the background electronic clattering. 6

PUP - there’s some decent catchy stuff on this album but they have a disappointing tendency for profanity, especially when they veer towards college frat rock. Would probably be fun to see at a festival though. 6.5

TOTW - it has to be Planet Desperation by CSH

Young MC - have never listened to this before. It sounds a bit dated but he can sure deliver some quick fire rhymes. Know How is an all-time classic. If I only I still had a ghetto blaster..! 7

Mark

Blondshell - likeable girlie indie pop, above average for the genre I reckon, channelling classic Throwing Muses vibes - 7

Car Seat Headrest - well, where to begin with this one, a veritable opus Magnus. He certainly doesn't lack ambition or invention this guy, swinging from driving power pop through psychedelic folk, prog and full on Who rock opera. Rare that such a lengthy tome holds my attention, but this was a fantastic album - 8.5

Model / Actriz - Some of it gets a bit too industrial for me but I didn't mind some of the banging techno, not so much a fan of his vocal though, often it just sounded out of keeping with the music - 5.5

PUP - an enjoyable thrash, tunes to go with the noise and some hooky melodies - 6.5

TOTW - CCF (I'm Gonna Stay With You) by Car Seat Headrest

Phil

Blondshell 7.25

I enjoyed this a lot. I was reminded of Juliana Hatfield, for me the ultimate indie rock chick. The noisier tracks here are the best but Blondshell can still manage a mean slow number, with nary a hint of waftiness. What’s fair is a great track, but then so are Event of a fire, He wants me and Model rockets.

Car Seat Headrest 6.25

After six months of being a Hannah, I’m well used to being at odds with most if not all of y’all. But the OTT love for this record has me completely baffled. It’s not that I dislike it – I don’t – but to my ears it’s at best a 6.5 and I’m tempted to dock points for Planet desperation alone. I’d have to play that track alone four or five times to try and work out why it needs to be that long. But twice was more than enough.

The first half of the album, even the 8 minute opening track was enjoyable melodic rock. But when we got to Gethsemane, with the two monsters to follow, I lost patience. Whatever it was the band were trying to communicate was just not getting through.

Model/Actriz 6.75

There is an increasing number of hip bands playing what I suppose is noise-rock ; Gilla Band, for one, Mandy, Indiana another. I’m not sure what Model/Actriz bring to the table that’s different and/or exciting. This album was enjoyable enough but I’m not sure I’ll be listening out for their next one.

PUP 6

Loud, cheerful, punky indie. I wasn’t greatly moved.

TOTW : Blondshell – Event of a fire

Classic

Young MC 6.5

Pretty enjoyable rap album. Uncluttered production lets the words shine and Young has a nice flow. I particularly liked the line from Got my rhymes : “I only sleep with women ‘cos I’m heterosexual”.

Sam

Blondshell: pretty decent in a crowded genre . 7

Car Seat Headrest : Very talented and some great guitar and singing but it does wander around a bit at times . 8

Model/ Actriz: if they varied it a bit this could be a solid album . Pretty different from

Most bands but songs are quite samey .7

Pup : best Canadian band since Sum41 . Fabulous stuff . 8.8

TOTW : No Hope by Pup

Young MC what an amazing trip down memory lane , cheers Guy . Fupping loved this . He is one of the best rappers ever . Chock full of bangers . 9

Matt

Blondeshell - 6.8

Car Seat Headrest - 7.9

Model/Actriz - 6.9

Pup - 6.5

TOTW - Car Seat Headrest, CCF

Annette

Blondshall: 8

Car Seat Headrest: 7

Model/Actriz: 6 5

PUP: 6.5

TOTW: T&A by Blondshall

Classic: Young MC 7