NEW POST "You Don’t Know The Shape I’m In (from 2024’s 'Manning Fireworks') - the strain of a long-distance romance coming to an end, it has a musical maturity with slide guitar & clarinet" @justineharvey.bsky.social picks a top 10 #MJLenderman www.toppermost.co.uk/lenderman-mj/

NEW POST "Inappropriate (on the 2nd album 'Ghost Of Your Guitar Solo') - a short sharp shock, narrative ill-ease that would give Hemingway a run for his money" @justineharvey.bsky.social picks a top 10 #MJLenderman www.toppermost.co.uk/lenderman-mj/

NEW post: MJ Lenderman “The opening lines to She's Leaving You, my first introduction, those lyrics, a big sing-along chorus, alt-country twang, I listened to it on repeat.” @justineharvey.bsky.social picks 10 of the best from #MJLenderman (Photo Charlie Boss) www.toppermost.co.uk/lenderman-mj/

This week's Book Choice: Steve Mason's memoir "Failure is always an Option". Glorious adventures on the Beta Band front line and other tales. Full review at: www.toppermost.co.uk

NEW post. The most recent release - 2025’s ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’ - is arguably the Beths best yet, new spins on traditional hook-filled power pop. @marcfagel.bsky.social picks his top 10 #thebeths tracks … @thebeths.bsky.social www.toppermost.co.uk/beths-the/

The 'Expert In A Dying Field' title track is downright remarkable - the Beths slow things down a bit - gentler mid-tempo pop that gives Stokes’ thoughtful lyrics more room to shine… @marcfagel.bsky.social picks his top 10 #thebeths tracks … www.toppermost.co.uk/beths-the/

The ‘Future Me Hates Me’ title track immediately illustrates the Beths strengths, an unexpectedly infectious guitar hook coupled with wonderfully clever lyrics … @marcfagel.bsky.social picks his top 10 #thebeths tracks … www.toppermost.co.uk/beths-the/

NEW post: The Beths - one of the more exciting indie bands of the past decade … @marcfagel.bsky.social picks his top 10 @thebeths.bsky.social tracks … #thebeths photo: Frances Carter www.toppermost.co.uk/beths-the/

NEW post/ chosen track: Cosmic Surfer (on 1972's 'Self') - the first album recorded away from Island Records, this remains the one Quintessence track a casual listener is most likely to already half-know. (Love this song ... Ed.) www.toppermost.co.uk/quintessence/

NEW post ... all these incredible 70s gigs - and no they didn't all happen in the same week! Quintessence also played the first 2 Glastonbury fests. Don't think that's in this composite pic. Oh and the Royal Albert Hall supporting Creedence. What! www.toppermost.co.uk/quintessence/

NEW post/chosen track: Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Gauranga (from the eponymous 'Quintessence' LP - this is Quintessence at their most directly liturgical - chant as rock song, rock song as chant. www.toppermost.co.uk/quintessence/

NEW post/chosen track: Notting Hill Gate (on 'In Blissful Company' 1969) - a useful Quintessence entry point for anyone whose idea of Indian-influenced British rock begins and ends with a sitar solo bolted onto an otherwise conventional pop song. www.toppermost.co.uk/quintessence/

NEW post - on Quintessence - from Philip F. Marks, author of a new book on Phil ‘Shiva’ Jones, lead singer and songwriter of this legendary psychedelic band and “one of the great voices of the 1960s counterculture". www.toppermost.co.uk/quintessence/

Coming up on Toppermost in an hour or so, one of these bands from 1970...

NEW post: Beirut … “The song I always catch myself singing by the printer at work is Nantes from ‘The Flying Club Cup’ album.” Johanna Breen picks 10 of the best from #beirutband www.toppermost.co.uk/beirut/

NEW post: Beirut - “a refreshing new take on folk music from Eastern Europe and the Balkans, featuring pianos, strings, accordions and brass - lots of brass” Johanna Breen picks 10 of the best from #beirutband www.toppermost.co.uk/beirut/

Toppermost Recommends: @andymack.bsky.social: "the aural equivalent of sinking into a sun dappled deckchair and drifting away" @daveamitri.bsky.social: "an incredible lovers rock/ reggae vibe. Damn, these boys are good" #TheCoral @jamesskelly.bsky.social Full review at: www.toppermost.co.uk

NEW post: "Finishing this Marvin, Welch & Farrar top 10 on a high. Marmaduke is an anti-war, anti-conscription song with John Farrar on lead vocals and Bruce and Hank providing the harmonies" @daveamitri.bsky.social selects 10 songs from #MarvinWelchFarrar www.toppermost.co.uk/marvin-welch...

NEW post: "Hank and Bruce take John’s song, Simplify Your Head, and turn into the prototype for a dozen different 90s bands sound from the Happy Mondays to Kula Shaker, such a brilliant song" @daveamitri.bsky.social selects 10 songs from #MarvinWelchFarrar www.toppermost.co.uk/marvin-welch...

NEW post: "Genuinely transportive, Faithful (on debut LP) takes you out of yourself through exquisite harmonies & the lightest of guitar. A full band effort on songwriting & vocals, so beautiful" @daveamitri.bsky.social selects 10 songs by #MarvinWelchFarrar www.toppermost.co.uk/marvin-welch...

NEW post: Marvin, Welch & Farrar "recorded 2 albums of such quality in the 70s, a testament to their extraordinary talent" @daveamitri.bsky.social picks 10 songs from these transcendental records … #MarvinWelchFarrar #HankMarvin #BruceWelch #JohnFarrar  www.toppermost.co.uk/marvin-welch...

Toppermost Recommends @damienjoyce.bsky.social writes: “Blown away by Madra Salach live at this year’s Momentum Festival - unbelievable rendition of the fabulous The Man Who Seeks Pleasure - from their debut EP It's A Hell Of An Age. What a band!" www.toppermost.co.uk

NEW post: "Leave It Alone - from 'Stain' (1993) - opens with a gritty riff that evolves into a full-throttle assault on conformity ... a deep funk groove, a standout for its balance of melody and menace." @dlew919.bsky.social picks 10 top #LivingColour tracks www.toppermost.co.uk/living-colour/

NEW post: “Type - from 'Time's Up' (1990) - ramps up the aggression with its driving rhythm and Vernon Reid’s scorching leads ... experimental rock at its finest.” @dlew919.bsky.social picks 10 top #LivingColour tracks www.toppermost.co.uk/living-colour/

NEW post:  Living Colour “pushed boundaries - fusing hard rock, funk, jazz and punk with a social conscience that hit like a thunderbolt." @dlew919.bsky.social picks 10 top @livingcolour.com tracks ... #LivingColour www.toppermost.co.uk/living-colour/

"End of the set & I’m wandering out of the festival tent, jaw slack. I am in love. From now, every second not spent listening to, reading about or talking about These New Puritans seems pointless and futile" Johanna Breen picks 10 of the best #TheseNewPuritans www.toppermost.co.uk/these-new-pu...

NEW post: "If you've never heard TNP try Wild Fields (on 2025's ‘Crooked Wing’) as a good opening - a fragile haunting ballad that's immediately loveable and catchy” Johanna Breen picks 10 of the best #TheseNewPuritans www.toppermost.co.uk/these-new-pu...

This week's Book Choice: @durutti74.bsky.social reviews “Atypical Girl” by @pennykiley.bsky.social "A beautifully written memoir - heartily recommend to anyone who has an interest in the Liverpool scene through the turbulent 80s and 90s" Full review at: www.toppermost.co.uk

NEW post: These New Puritans - "the brooding swell of sound that simultaneously unnerves and enlivens the listener ... a refreshing addition to anyone’s record collection" Johanna Breen picks 10 of the best #TheseNewPuritans www.toppermost.co.uk/these-new-pu...

NEW post: The Five Bridges Suite ... "5-part composition originally commissioned for the Newcastle Arts Festival, a blend of classical and rock with jazz leanings, the whole thing is the Nice in microcosm really" @handronicus.bsky.social picks his #TheNice top 10 www.toppermost.co.uk/nice-the/