W/e 26/09/25 - The Divine Comedy, Nation of Language, Wednesday, Youth Sector, The Airborne Toxic Event

A midding week overall, no great movers or shakers.

Perhaps surprisigingly Youth Sector take the win over previous favs and land in our top 20 this year.

Wednesday are 100+ places below their 2023 offering. NOLs previous 2 are both in our top 100.

Sam and Matt share the 😄 which is Sam’s 4th in 7. Andy has his 2nd ☹️ in a month.

Solid showing from Airborne Toxic Event, into the top half of the classics alongside The The and Iron Maiden.

Andy

The Divine Comedy - Pleasant enough but lacks the wit and charm of their previous output 6

Nation of Language - The tunes are decent enough but I can’t get on with the vocal, even when it starts to sound like Talk Talk 5

Wednesday - Ray Saw God was probably the discovery of this process over the last five years. I didn’t love this one quite as much but it’s still a quality album and Karly Hartzman’s vocals are haunting throughout 7.5

Youth Sector - Their Devo-esque art rock stage show translates fantastically to record. A storming debut 7

TotW - Pick Up That Knife by Wednesday

Airborne Toxic Event - I thought this was so-so. Sounded like Americans trying to do UK indie. I definitely think I preferred their 2020 album 6

Guy

The Divine Comedy – Thought I’d like this but no. Slow and tedious. In places it sounded like a Play School soundtrack - 4

Nation of Language – Another good album. I do like the synths and vocals they knock out. Not sure it’s up to the last album though – 7.5

Wednesday – Eclectic mix of dark rock, country and western and indie. A pleasant listen and I liked her voice. But probably won’t live too long in the memory – 7

Youth Sector – Album of the week for me. This Brighton bunch know how to mix up Indie and funky tunes and deliver something a bit different to many of their peer group. A modern day ACR - 8

Airborne Toxic Event – A great choice. Not listened to this for ages. Orchestral indie with so much depth and emotion. Sometime Around Midnight is one of my favourite tracks of all time. - 9

TOTW – God’s Work – Youth Sector

Phil

Divine Comedy 7.5

Strangely, since they’ve been around for years, I don’t know much of the Divine Comedy’s work. I need to catch up because I really enjoyed this! Old school songwriting and orchestral arrangements that are decorative and don’t just swamp the songs. Gets an extra half point for Mar-a-Lago by the sea.

Nation of Language 6.5

Sort of New Order-lite. The beefier tracks are quite engaging and they do occasionally nail the sort of yearning feel that Beach House do so well but they can also be a bit bland.

Wednesday 8.5

Now this is more like it! This album has a number of things that float my boat – a singer with a bruised voice, loud, unruly, messy guitars that occasionally threaten to totally derail tracks and a proper, bar-band vibe. But there’s plenty of light and shade here too – The way love goes and Carolina murder suicide are among the best tracks here. Excellent stuff and a definite album of the year contender.

Youth Sector 6.25

Devo? ACR? Yeah, I guess. I was also getting definite Wham vibes here. There’s some serious post-punk bass playing in the mix as well. The opening track is a cracker but after that it felt as though every track needed to be bold, brassy and loud.

TOTW – Wednesday – The way love goes

Classic

Airborne Toxic Event 7.5

I enjoyed this a lot. Energetic, melodic rock with inspired arrangements and lyrics. I’ve never listened to this band before but I’m delighted to make their acquaintance.

Sam

Divine Comedy: definitely not as jaunty as his previous offerings. But he still has a lovely voice and great lyrics . Does meander a bit so 6.9

Nation of Language: some banging dance music on here , enjoyed listening to it ebb and flow .7.5

Wednesday: loved their last album but this does wander about a bit. Parts are great tho . 7 .

Youth Sector: they’ve been listening to their parents Hue and Cry albums ! This was great fun . Really enjoyable uplifting stuff . 8.1

Airborne Toxic Event : what a great album . Full of indie rock bangers . Always loved Gasoline. 8.5

TOTW: Fit for Purpose by Youth Sector

Matt

The Divine Comedy - 5.9

Nation of Language - 8

Wednesday- 7.7

Youth Sector - 7.9

TOTW In Another Life, Nation of Language

Mark

Divine Comedy - all a bit twee and irritating, All The Pretty Lights is especially naff, but to be fair there were some decent numbers in the second half, textbook melancholy bridge - 6.5

Nation Of Language - initially didn't think this was as good as their previous outing, but got a couple of plays this week and it started to grow on me, decent shoegazetronica - 7

Wednesday - nice Breeders / Throwing Muses country grunge vibes, liked their last one and I liked this - 7.5

Youth Sector - couldn't quite make up my mind if this is pretty cool or a bit irritating, probably somewhere between the two and I'll just about give them the benefit of the doubt, at least they've got a bit of a different sound - well, unless you grew up in 80s and watch a lot of TOTP of course - 6.5

TOTW - Townies, by Wednesday

Simon

The Divine Comedy: never been the biggest fan of Neil Hannon's old-style crooning but his lyrics are always worth listening to and I did enjoy Mar-a-lago by the Sea. 6.5

Nation of Language: not a bad album by any stretch but it didn't grab me as much as their previous offerings (although they set a high bar) - In Another Life and Inept Apollo were the highlights. 7.5

Wednesday: lots to enjoy on here, although given my general aversion to country music I can't say I loved all of it - it was at its best when they channeled their inner mbv (e.g. Townies). 7

Youth Sector: bright and breezy stuff, although it did get a bit samey after a while - plenty of 80s influence but also reminded me of Franz Ferdinand (House Proud and Bed Bound). 7

Airborne Toxic Event: had it in my head we had listened to this lot before but perhaps not - solid stuff, like a more robust but less sophisticated version of early Arcade Fire. Sometime Around Midnight is indeed a great track, Guy. 7.3

TotW: Nation of Language - In Another Life

Paul

The Divine Comedy (7)

Aware of his previous work but not really sat down and listened to it at any length. Quite a nice easy listen all in all, liked most of it but maybe a couple of tracks too long.

Nation of Language (6.5)

Started strongly, liked the first couple of tracks but dragged a bit in the middle. picked towards the end with In Your Head

Wednesday (7)

Interesting mix of styles on this one. I enjoyed the heavier tracks more than the country influenced tracks but overall a good listen.

Youth Sector (7.5)

A really enjoyable lively listen throughout. Few bangers in there. Big sound and again I enjoyed the occasional subtle trumpet contribution.

Airborne Toxic Event (7)

Not heard of this before but a decent indie album, rattled along a decent rate.

TOTW - Wednesday - Bitter Everyday

Jim

The Divine Comedy 5

This quirky style needs to have very entertaining lyrics and most of this didn’t

Nation of Language 8

A real grower, not at the level of the previous cracker, a little more downbeat but hugely enjoyable none the less

Wednesday 7.5

Again, didn’t quite hit the last highs but there is a lot of love about this mashup of garage rock and county, and they radiate cool

Youth Sector 7.5

Enjoyed this- Infectious upbeat pop with the few twists

TOTW: NOL - In Another Life

Airborne Toxic Event 8.5

Cracking tracks throughout , with the full range from JJ indie to

rock . On reflection could have dropped the last couple for brevity and a 9

Erol

Divine Comedy - 6.7 (melancholy easy listening)

Nation of Language - 6.3 (dated electronica and a bit bland)

Wednesday - 7.5 (not quite as good as their last album but still strong. A great vocalist)

Youth Sector - 7.6 (bouncy, fun youthful exuberance)

TOTW - Primetime, Youth Sector

Airborne Toxic Event - 9 (never listened to them before but this was a revelation. Loved it)

Annette

Divine Comedy: 6.5

Nation of language: 6 5

Wednesday: 7

Youth Sector: 7.5

TOTW: Fit for purpose by YS

Classic: Airborne Toxic Event- 9

Adam

Divine Comedy: Some good tunes but very much melancholic melodies and a little bit of a drudgery in places. 5

Nation of language: Moody and slightly shoe-gazey with the synth on offer. 7

Wednesday: Distorted, punky offering. Could imagine this being a good pub gig but struggle to imagine them being bigger than that. 6

Youth Sector: Best of the bunch this week. Energy and some slightly funky tinges to this indie rock offering. 8

TOTW: Break Something - Youth Sector

Classic: Felt nostalgic listening to this even though this is a first listen through. Thought late naughties indie was my pub quiz super power. Very much quality upbeat indie of the time and another education. 8

Justin

Divine Comedy - twee and too clever by half but actually listened to it a few times and ultimately quite charming. 7

Nation of Language - bit like OMD who I don't like with a little Hot Chip who I do. Sadly too much OMD 6

Wednesday - started well but ran out of steam. 6.3

Youth Sector - enjoyable boppy indie 6.9

TOTW Divine Comedy - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.

Airborne Toxic Event - never listened to this before and it was okay but nothing special 6.4