Nearly the end of the month, so time for the month-just-gone best bits and gazing forward at the month ahead, thread.

ALBUMS
Been an odd month with a lot of good releases at the start of the month and then a fairly quiet past few weeks. Really loved the SBTRKT album (sort of like Joy Orbison with xx-ish vocals - bit easier to leave on when working than the Zomby record) and the lush throb of the John Maus lp. Spent a lot of time listening to the Emmy the Great and When Saints Go Machine albums, as well as the Metronomy record, which I didn't get into at first. Listened to a lot of individual songs, and some forthcoming records (obsessed with the new St Vincent record - album of the year contender methinx!), so not much time to listen to other things enough to make an impact.

GIGS
In terms of gigs, highlight was probably my trip to a festival in the Faroe Islands called G! festival which was quite fun. I watched Travis in the rain, a freakshow, some old guys who I think did the music to The Wire or True Blood, and discovered a junk-shop Sigur Ros-meets-NiN band called ORKA.

August, I'm looking forward to seeing Deftones (possibly at Reading) and Antlers at Screen on the Green. Release-wise, it's all about Beirut, innit? Strangely curious to hear the Chilli Peppers record too. What else is out?

New and related: Song of the Month thread: http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4299323