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  

Alex's End of 2020 List

1. Live streams - While enjoyable, a rather poor substitute.  But then again, back in the day, I thought EDM was a poor substitute, so what do I know. One upside, the free Dead & Co. livestreams back when the pandemic started gave me a chance to experience them. I guess Mayer really is that good...I fought the good fight to keep disliking him, but eventually he won me over. Like I said, he’s really good.

2. Loss of a guitar god- ah, Eddie Van Halen - ’Jump’ was one of my first 3 45’s...back when you could get 3 for $.99 at Sam Goody (My mom wasn’t crazy about the kid angel with the cigarette on the cover but still let me get it).  His death gave me a chance to go back through some of VH’s back catalog...been a very long time since I’d listened to some of that stuff.  Also reminded me of some of my other favorite ‘Eddie’s: 1. Eddie Hazel (I still remember the first time I heard Maggot Brain...chills.  And much like Hendrix took Watchtower and made it his own, Hazel owns California Dreamin 2. Eddie Hinton- he should have a patent on the term ‘blue eyed soul’ 3. There’s also Eddie Murray, but that’s for another thread (Go Orioles).

 

3. Loss of ‘the every man’s Dylan’- John Prine was so much more bad-ass than most...even if he looked like a guy that worked at your local hardware store. Was good to reconnect with his music in a more profound way this year

   

4. Dolly Parton saves the world - what has she not done in her life?  Steals her man back from that hussie Jolene and then helps fund a pandemic vaccine.  Mix in some Linda Martell next time you’re in a Dolly mood, you won’t be disappointed.

5. Grammys once again doing their best to slide into irrelevance - Fiona Apple puts out maybe the album of the year and Dylan puts out a classic...Grammys shrug.  The Weekend, who should prob be nominated multiple times in the same category is completely snubbed.  Sounds like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays.  All three are great listens.

6. Playing for Change - I can’t believe I didn’t find this series sooner.  Best find of 2020. Watching the kids dance to Ripple played by musicians from all over the world, a definite highlight of the year.       

7. Favorite album of 2020 - Caught it from the Rye.  I literally want to be friends with Tre Burt (why won’t he respond to my Facebook messages??).  Also add in Under the Devil’s Knee...a protest song written in response to racial injustice that sounds like it could be a Woody Guthrie cover.

8. Most recent discovery - The Shave Experiment by Q.  Surprised how much I like this.  Expect big things from him in the future.

 

9. The reboot of High Fidelity on Hulu - Amazing job they did here...the fact it didn’t get picked up for a second season is either a blessing promising the series won’t outlast it’s charm or yet another of 2020’s curses. I’m leaning towards the latter. 

Ok, so there you have it...my stream-of-conscienceness musings on 2020.  A ton of stuff I left out, but the best is always what you don’t have to think too hard about.  So with that, I’ll raise my glass (Dewar’s) and...cheers.

QuickCrit's Top 40 from 2012: 11 - 20

11. First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar

Loved this album, and played it just about every day at work. I would like to think this is what my sister and I would sound like if we were an indie pop due. And Swedish. Oh, and able to actually sing. - LVD

Lovely ladies making some sweet pop music! The soundtrack of my life for the first three months of the year. - ve1cro

Tift Merrit didn’t make my top 10 this year, so I had to find another group to hit my folksy/country music spot. Lovely voices and harmonies accompanied by the trusty ‘ol slide guitar. - Brasilliant

I really like what these ladies do. - Ancient Indian Wizard 

12. Tame Impala - Lonerism

Everything here works. Great vocals (perhaps eerily) similar to John Lennon. Pop hooks straight out of the 60's. Fantastic drumming and fuzzed out guitars. This is psychedelic pop music that plays as homage to the past, while still moving things forward. - Ben 

Buried underneath a thick blanket of sonic swirl, lies a treasure trove chalk full of unforgettable melodies. - Max D 

These dudes rock. - Joey P 

Given my love of Aussies and melodious psychedelic rock, I purposely waited to make my list until I heard this one.  Turns out, that was a good move.  I absolutely love this album and will likely be taking it with me for additional listens well into the new year. - Mona 

13. The Mynabirds - Generals

This is my top pick this year. There can only be one reason that it’s not yours, you haven’t yet heard it. Not for the weak -- hard headed broads need only apply. - Brasilliant 

Awesome voice and bad-ass. - ve1cro 

An album that is not only political but also deeply feminist but eschewing the tripe that comes from both of those adjectives. Reality, this album reminds us, is socially constructed. - JC Hackett

Generals still has the touches of 60’s pop I loved on her debut, just with more pounding beats and attitude. - awmercy 

14. Passion Pit - Gossamer

Its catchy and sad. Passion Pit lyrics is like Taylor Swift for suicidal indie rockers with drinking problems, also less famous boyfriends. - Julia

Peel back 'Gossamer's' initial layer of electro pop sunshine and you will find some pretty dark subject matter in the lyrics. Some topical, most personal lyrical growth is evident- so are his demons. This is what top 40 sounds like in an alternate universe. - Lucas

They did a good job of branching out a bit while also sticking to their original formula in places.  Makes for a maybe a more disjointed album but I sure kept going back to it. - Ancient Indian Wizard

Manners was like, whoa!, this is new and interesting. Gossamer, not to the same extent, but still really good. "Take A Walk" is killer... and I like killer songs, so its all good in my book. - NightraiN

Another solid album by one of my favorite bands. - Graham 

Great live, fun running music. - Ashley 

15. Father John Misty - Fear Fun

Really well realized album, with catchy melodies, great song concepts, and colorful lyrics. - Tex

Everything about the lyrics on this album is tongue-in-cheek, but everything about the music is all business. Fear fun is damn fun, ironic, and humorous, but also has about 4 singles that will stand the test of time. - NightraiN

With every spin I love Fear Fun even more. A perfect mix of laid-back irreverence, cynicism, and humor. - awmercy

J. Tillman solo project that's better than Fleet Foxes. - Lucas 

16. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

I played the hell outta this album all spring, mostly to/ from work. I still pick up up & It moves me. - Chris

OMG. Her voice. Amazing. - Ann

Worst irony of my year -- I misread the calendar and bought a plane ticket that forced me to miss the Shakes' show (which I had tickets for already) to go visit my folks… in Alabama. Sad. - JT 

17. Grimes - Visions

Pop music by a space pixie.  This surprised me with it's staying power, I thought I'd burn out quickly.  Nope, still enjoying it, almost a year and countless listens later. - Tex

It has all the makings of dream pop that somehow ended up on the wrong side of the tracks.  And then, someone went and put a hex on it.  Call it witch house, call it experimental electronica, call it just really weird shit. - Mona

The first 3 songs on this album are so amazing that I never make it to the rest. That's gotta count for something! - thebrownshaun

Truthfullly, this album was #1 for a long, long time. Unfortunately, I think in the end it does get beat out. But, Oblivion is definifely my favorite song of the year. - MikeIsTall

Genre bending and blending... a meticulously crafted GarageBand album that doesn't skirt emotionality in all its talk aobut physicality. - JC Hackett

A great debut that requires more spins. - Lucas

18. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of 

      the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than 
      Ropes Will Ever Do

Sometimes I just need to listen to someone smarter and more messed up than me. Also, anyone who cancels a tour because her dog is sick deserves some recognition in my book. - CloningMishap

Most interesting mainstream "pop" artist. - thebrownshaun

This was a surprise for me!  Great comeback from Fiona! - Tex

I must admit, I was never a Fiona fan but this album was so engaging, I worked my way back through her discography. - MikeIsTall 

19. Titus Andronicus - Local Business

Politics aside, an even better album than "The Monitor". A musical defibrillator. - Nesto

Patrick talked to me at their show! Well if you count on stage to audience banter as talking.  Either way, swoon. - Julia

Pared down and less epic but still ambitious, Jersey's own (from the tiny northern burb of Glen Rock, no less) still rock it hard articulating the dualism of the suburbs--nihilism about the future and assurance that everything will be alright. - Dr. Shithead 

20. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

I've been listening to this so much I should probably be pregnant. - Julia

Incredible production and lyricism. The lyrics seem a little silly and playful at first but then deeper meaning and focus becomes very clear. This dude is incredibly clever, it's no wonder he's been ghostwriting for star performers for years. - Joey P

I don't fully get it, but I cannot ignore it. - JC Hackett