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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Oct 1

Which of the albums on the Mercury Prize shortlist did we agree was the worthy winner? (Spoiler: We didn’t agree)

pickybs.com/2025/09/28/p...

Picky Bastards Episode 91: Mercury Prize 2025

On Episode 91 of Picky Bastards we are back talking about our favourite music award the Mercury Music Prize. This month the regular bastards are joined by Tom Burrows to discuss all 12 of this year…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Sep 30

NEW PODCAST: Mercury Prize 2025 Special

Our annual argument about the 12 albums shortlisted for the Mercury Prize is here. We discuss which albums deserve to win, who we think is the winner, as well as which album is the worst on the shortlist.

pickybs.com/2025/09/28/p...

Picky Bastards Episode 91: Mercury Prize 2025

On Episode 91 of Picky Bastards we are back talking about our favourite music award the Mercury Music Prize. This month the regular bastards are joined by Tom Burrows to discuss all 12 of this year…

pickybs.com

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Sep 5

Ahead of the Mercury Prize announcement next week, we've put together our own shortlist of albums we feel deserve a nomination.

Read our picks here 👇🏻
pickybs.com/2025/09/05/t...

And listen to the playlist here 👇🏻
open.spotify.com/playlist/3dw...

The Picky Bastards Mercury Prize shortlist 2025

Another year and another Mercury Prize shortlist for us to dive into. Before we argue with each other about the actual Shortlist (podcast event of the year incoming), let’s shout about the albums w…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Aug 10

The best things we listened to in July. What were you listening to last month?

pickybs.com/2025/08/08/t...

The best things we heard in July 2025

Rick Larson – Did you see the Osees at Glastonbury? I didn’t because I live in California, but I did see them this month at the Mosswood Meltdown, the annual Oakland celebration of punk…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Aug 8

Hello! We've been on a bit of a break, but there's a brand new review on the website.

The new For Those I Love album, Carving The Stone, is out today.

Tom Burrows has shared his verdict. He loved the last, but does the new one deliver?

pickybs.com/2025/08/08/r...

REVIEW: For Those I Love – Carving The Stone

I loved the first For Those I Love album, released back in 2021. I was a few months late to it, but was instantly taken on first listen. It is a record absolutely brimming with love and pain in equ…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Jul 12

Or listen to episode 89 on Apple Podcasts:

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Picky Bastards Episode 89

Podcast Episode · Picky Bastards · 11/07/2025 · 1h 1m

podcasts.apple.com

Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Jul 12

Listen to Episode 89 over on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/episode/6S64...

Picky Bastards Episode 89

Picky Bastards · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Jul 12

NEW PODCAST:

It's Episode 89 of Picky Bs and this month's playlist was:

Little Simz – Lotus
Shura – I Got Too Sad For My Friends
McKinley Dixon – Magic, Alive!
Lifeguard – Ripped and Torn
Big L – Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Why I Love – Bob Dylan

pickybs.com/2025/07/11/p...

Picky Bastards Episode 89

On Episode 89 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. We have new releases by Little Simz, Shura, Mckinley Dixon and Lifeguard. This month’s classic album is Lifestylez o…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Jul 4

ALBUM REVIEW: Kae Tempest - Self Titled

One of our most anticipated albums of 2025 is out today. Read why @atkinssam.bsky.social was ‘overwhelmed’ by this album over on Picky Bs.

pickybs.com/2025/07/04/r...

REVIEW: Kae Tempest – Self Titled

‘Their most personal album’ is a phrase that gets mentioned in more album reviews than you can count. It’s an often lazy attempt to make an artist’s album sound slightly more interesting, or that t…

pickybs.com

Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Jun 14

And link for episode 88 on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Picky Bastards Episode 88

Podcast Episode · Picky Bastards · 13/06/2025 · 1h 1m

podcasts.apple.com

Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Jun 14

Direct links to listen to episode 88 on

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1DJt...

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Jun 14

NEW PODCAST:

Episode 88 of Picky Bs includes us arguing about album from SENTRIES, Jenny Hval, Blondshell and Model/Actriz.

The classic album is from Selena and Sam tells us why he loves Robbie Williams & Take That.

Listen here: pickybs.com/2025/06/13/p...

Picky Bastards Episode 88

On Episode 88 of Picky Bastards we are back with hosts Fran, Matt and Sam. We have new releases by SENTRIES, Blondshell, Jenny Hval and Model/Actriz. This month’s classic album is Amor Prohib…

pickybs.com

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Jun 6

'I felt like I’d got rid of my insecurities about making music and adjusted my philosophies about that kind of thing.'

pickybs.com/2025/06/06/i...

INTERVIEW: Big Special

Hello, hello. It’s a while since we’ve had an interview to share over here at Picky Bastards, so it’s particularly exciting to be returning to the format by chatting to the band w…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Jun 6

Yep. We only went and interviewed Big Special, winners of our podcast Album of the Year in 2024:

pickybs.com/2025/06/06/i...

INTERVIEW: Big Special

Hello, hello. It’s a while since we’ve had an interview to share over here at Picky Bastards, so it’s particularly exciting to be returning to the format by chatting to the band w…

pickybs.com

Picky Bs @pickybs.com · May 10

NEW PODCAST:

This month's playlist includes:

Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunetts (& sad women)
Greentea Peng – TELL DEM IT’S SUNNY
Backxwash – Only Dust Remains
YHWH Nailgun – 45 Pounds
Talk Talk – Laughing Stock
Minutemen – Double Nickels on the Dime

pickybs.com/2025/05/09/p...

Picky Bastards Episode 87

On Episode 87 of Picky Bastards we are joined by special guest Rick Larson. We have new releases by Japanese Breakfast, Greentea Peng, Backxwash and YHWH Nailgun. This month’s classic album i…

pickybs.com

Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Apr 28

'Make sure you give them a listen before they go big.'

@franslater.bsky.social reviews the debut album from Prima Queen:

pickybs.com/2025/04/25/r...

REVIEW: Prima Queen – The Prize

Having randomly caught Prima Queen at a festival last year, I have been excited to see what they would bring when their debut album finally hit the shelves. Their set caught my attention because of…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Apr 25

It's debut release day for Prima Queen. Here's @franslater.bsky.social with his thoughts on the album: pickybs.com/2025/04/25/r...

REVIEW: Prima Queen – The Prize

Having randomly caught Prima Queen at a festival last year, I have been excited to see what they would bring when their debut album finally hit the shelves. Their set caught my attention because of…

pickybs.com

Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Apr 21

ALBUM REVIEW: A Complicated Woman - Self Esteem

‘The most obvious praise I can level on A Complicated Woman is that it has purpose.’

@atkinssam.bsky.social reviews the long awaited 3rd album from Picky B’s favourite Self Esteem.

pickybs.com/2025/04/21/r...

REVIEW: Self Esteem – A Complicated Woman

Having a vision for an album, for a moment of your career as an artist, or even just for a single performance is something so many musicians strive for. I know many could argue that Rebecca Lucy Ta…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Apr 8

LIVE REVIEW: Dean Wareham at @bandonthewall.bsky.social

pickybs.com/2025/04/08/l...

LIVE: Dean Wareham – Band on the Wall, Manchester, 02/04/25

Some gigs you go hoping for your favourite songs; some gigs you go knowing you’ll just be spending time in the company of a consummate professional who’ll just entertain you with whatever songs the…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Apr 4

The Picky Bs got Divorced last night at Gorilla. Read what we made of the gig on the site today

@divorcehq.bsky.social

pickybs.com/2025/04/04/l...

LIVE: Divorce at Gorilla, Manchester

When an email with the subject line ‘Confirming Divorce’ arrived in the Picky Bastards inbox yesterday we joked among ourselves about this being bad news. This joke isn’t lost on the band who…

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Apr 3

As well as our latest podcast, we've also got our best of the month for March on the site today. Check out our latest picks including:
Lady Gaga
DJ Koze
Great Grandpa
Julien Baker & TORRES
and Kae Tempest

pickybs.com/2025/04/03/t...

The best things we heard in March

Sam Atkins: I’m sure there will be some other people who pick out fantastic recent albums by Benefits, or Sharon Van Etten as their best of the month. And deservedly so. But I won’t be able to summ…

pickybs.com

Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Apr 2

This month's full playlist:

Sharon Van Etten - Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
Antony Szmierek - Service Station At The End of the Universe
LISA - Alter Ego
Everything Is Recorded - Richard Russell Is Temporary
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Why I Love - Interpol

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Apr 2

NEW PODCAST: Episode 86 of the music podcast full of disagreements and hopefully great music. The usual four new releases, classic album and Why I Love sections appear for the 86th time.

pickybs.com/2025/04/02/p...

Picky Bastards Episode 86

On Episode 86 of Picky Bastards we have new releases by Sharon Van Etten, Antony Szmierek, LISA and Everything Is Recorded. This month’s classic album is from Willie Nelson with Red Headed St…

pickybs.com

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Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Mar 31

'It only took me a few seconds over Clara Mann’s debut album to know I was on to a winner.'

Read today's album review from @franslater.bsky.social

pickybs.com/2025/03/31/r...

Picky Bs @pickybs.com · Mar 26

LIVE REVIEW: David Gray at O2 Apollo Manchester.

‘The most striking thing about David Gray’s presence on stage is how much he loses himself in these songs.’

pickybs.com/2025/03/26/l...

LIVE: David Gray – O2 Apollo, Manchester

There’s usually some specific people in my life that say they are jealous when I mention I’m off to a gig. My brother, my gig buddies or fellow Bastards from this very website, it’s usually the sam…

pickybs.com