Ben's End of 2020 List

It has been a year. Here is my list of ten albums I listened to through this mess.

1. Laura Marling - Song for our Daughter - There is a brief moment of Sheryl Crow. But, this is the best folk album in a world overflowing with folk albums. Her ELO rating is just through the roof.

2. Sault - Untitled - This counts for both albums ("Black Is" & "Rise"). Every song feels like I've heard it before. Its comforting and jarring at the same time. 

   

3. Lupe Fiasco - House - Listened to this for months. An EP that covers dinosaurs and shoes, impossible to go wrong. I really love SHOES (feat. Virgil Abloh).

4. Gil Scott-Heron & Makaya McCraven - We're New Again - A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven - A rabbit hole of a story. 

5. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher -  Could easily be No. 1 

6. Jaguar Sun - This Empty Town - Somehow captured a feeling that lasted for the second half of 2020. Its that space of time from the end of Summer through the middle of Fall. Like the beautiful orange mid-day photos when the sun was blocked out by smoke.

  

7. John Prine - Tree of Forgiveness - Listened to a ton of John Prine this year. Not just his most recent album, but pretty much everything. My daughter recognizes his songs at this point. One of my favorite 2020 songs was "How Lucky", a duet off Kurt Vile's new EP, Speed, Sound, Loneliness. Brings tears every time.

     

8. Run the Jewels - RTJ4 - Big name drops album just in time to play at the protests.

9. Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters - This belongs in a museum.

 

10. Dominic Fike - What Could Possibly Go Wrong - Ear candy  

Ben's Top 14 Albums from 2018

1. Young Fathers - Coca Sugar   

2. NoName - Room 25  

Maybe the most complete album of the year. Every song brings value with no drop-off. The album touches on every aspect of life. From that close relationship, to you existential self, NoName contemplates everything. Features Saba and  Smino on "Ace". Between Room 25 and Telephone, she is 2 for 2 on genius. Goes well with: Life

3. Tierra Whack - Whack World

15 songs.. 1 minute each.. She is blistering. Goes Well With: LSD

4. John Prine - The Tree of Forgiveness  

The older I get, the nicer it feels to have the perspective of an older artist. His comeback from cancer gives Prine a perspective that I need. He just does not have fear in his songs. Sadness, yes.. but, no fear in looking into the void. As for Prine, the raw simplicity of his voice adds a feeling that wasnt there in the past.

5. Saba - Care for Me    

From the start of 2018. Saba searches through relationships on every track. LOGOUT ft: Chance.

6. Pusha-T - Daytona     

MFing Kayne West

7. Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer  

      

8. Jon Hopkins - Singularity        

Goes Well With: 1,000 mile stares

9. Low - Double Negative            

10. Superorganism - Superorganism       

After the top nine, something needs to be fun.

11. Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs   
          

12. Joey Purp - QUARTERTHING     
   

13. Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream      

        

14. Vince Staples - FM!          

Ben’s Top 15 Albums from 2017

Kendrick Lamar - DAMN  

In a world dominated by liars, Kung-Fu Kenny is honest.

Vince Staples - Big Fish Theroy  

Its hard not to feel like a crab when death and destruction is all I see. Our nation is divided, unwilling to consider others. Simply recognizing our problems and working together would put our nation / world on track. Hope does exist, we just have to find it.

Father John Misty - Pure Comedy           

Valerie June - Order of Time       

Perfume Genius - No Shape          

And to think "I kissed a girl" was a big deal.

Tyler the Creator, Flower Boy    

Trying to find that person who completely values you is harder than it sounds.

Rapsody - Laila Is Wisdom          

Lyrics are like a "Steph Curry projectile". This is the album Kendrick Lamar would make if he were a woman from South Carolina.

SZA - CTRL   

"Fearin' not growin' up/Keepin' me up at night/Am I doin' enough?/Feel like I'm wastin' time"

Brockhampton - Saturation 2      

One of the most played albums for me this year. Jaden Smith says this boy band is "FIRE". Its hard to disagree.

The National - Sleep Well Beast 

 

Chicano Batman - Freedom is Free    

Nothing groundbreaking.. just had this on repeat.

Kamasi Washington - Harmony of Difference 

Perfect for driving on the freeway, watching the sun come up.

Samphra - Process 

"Like the Piano" is an amazing song.

Stormyz - Gang Signs & Prayer   

Just didnt get a chance to wear out the album. But, some of the songs are my favorite of the year.

Thundercat - Drunk           

Featuring, on back-to-back tracks, Kenny Loggins and Kendrick Lamar. Nuff said.