belwood music awards

Top Ten Videos of 2024

/ James Fenney

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then imagine the kind of story you can tell with thousands of them in motion. With that philosophy in mind, a truly great music video can elevate a song to new heights, and sometimes even transcend beyond the song itself to become an iconic work of art in its own right. Whether echoing big budget cinema, or built from the ground up with nothing but ingenuity and elbow grease, there’s been no shortage of memorable visuals this year. So, before we delve into our favourite music of 2024, let’s take a moment to celebrate the best videos of the past twelve months. Continue reading →

Top Ten Album Covers of 2024

/ James Fenney

Here’s wishing you all a belated Merry Christmas and a very warm welcome to this year’s Listmas celebrations! That’s right, it is time once again for us to look back at all the highest highs that the music world has brought us in the past twelve months. This latest edition of our end of year extravaganza begins as ever with a look at our favourite album artwork. It’s my favourite list to compile, and in an age of soulless AI abominations it feels more important that ever to celebrate the boundless creativity of hard working artists. Here are the covers that most caught our eyes, lingered in our minds, and ignited our imaginations in 2024. Continue reading →

Belwood Music Awards 2023

/ James Fenney

We’re mere hours away now from 2024 – which, as it happens, is the year that Belwood will be celebrating its 10th anniversary! But before we set our sights on celebrations to come, it’s time to bid one last fond farewell to 2023. It has been a truly outstanding twelve months for new music, and it’s been a joy and a privilege to share it with you. Here’s one last look back at some of our highlights of 2023! Continue reading →

Top Ten Albums of 2023

/ James Fenney

It’s almost time for our Listmas season, and indeed the year as a whole, to draw to a close. While the past twelve months have had their share of ups and downs, as all years are wont to do, I think in all seriousness 2023 has been the strongest year as a whole for new releases since the blog was founded. Reflecting and reminiscing on all the fabulous music we’ve enjoyed, it feels a little baffling that it was all crammed into such a short span of time. Narrowing down our favourite albums from such a bumper offering has been no mean feat, but getting an excuse to revisit them all again has been an absolute dream. So, without further ado, here’s our top ten albums of the past year. Continue reading →

Top Ten EPs of 2023

/ James Fenney

As fun as it is looking back on the past twelve months, reminiscing about all the music that captivated us, our EP list only has one foot in the past, while the other is firmly pointed towards the future. For while this part of out Listmas festivities always finds room to celebrate work from old favourites, EPs are the vehicle through which so much up and coming talent makes its presence known, and so this list is one of our favourite ways of shining a light on promising new acts poised to make waves in the year ahead. Join us then as we delve into the EPs that left the biggest impression on us in 2023. Continue reading →

Top Ten Songs of 2023

/ James Fenney

We’re halfway through this year’s Listmas, which means it’s time to give our eyes a rest from all the visual splendour and instead provide a feast for the ears as we finally dive into the best music of the past twelve months. The melodies that played on repeat in our heads, the words we kept absentmindedly singing along to each day, the tracks that most engaged, excited and enraptured us. From old favourites to sensational new discoveries, here our our favourite songs of 2023. Continue reading →

Top Ten Videos of 2023

/ James Fenney

From detailed and imaginative works of genius, to simple yet spirited vignettes, to memorable viral hits that transcend far beyond the songs they are attached to. It has been a strong year for music videos all across the spectrum. So before we dive into the music proper, join us first for one last visual extravaganza as we shine a light on some of our favourite videos of the past twelve months. Continue reading →

Top Ten Album Covers of 2023

/ James Fenney

Another year draws to a close, and what a jam-packed twelve months it’s been. 2023 may well be the most exciting year of new releases since Belwood began. Delights, surprises and new discoveries at every turn. I’ve never been more thrilled to celebrate and share some of the best new music around with you all. This year’s edition of Listmas has been a delight to assemble, and as tradition dictates we begin as ever with my favourite end of year collection; a deep delve into the year’s most memorable and arresting artwork. Continue reading →

Top Ten Albums of 2022

/ James Fenney

Time for the big one; the best albums of the year. Reflecting honestly on the biggest releases of the past twelve months, I can’t help but feel that 2022 was an off year for albums. More so than any year in the blog’s history, it felt like there was an abundance of albums that either missed the mark or just flat out failed to spark excitement. They’re not what we’re for however, and if anything they merely helped make the most brilliant records of the year seem to shine all the brighter. Here are the albums that broke the mould, that met and exceeded expectations, and provided the standout musical delights of the past year. Continue reading →