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.

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!          

Top 5 Post-Waylon Jennings Country Songs

Seven years ago today, Waylon Jennings passed away after a long bout with outlaw diabetes. In tribute to his legacy and impact on music, here is Nightrain's Top 5 post-Waylon Jennings Country Songs, in no particular order...

Hank Williams III - “Country Heroes” from Straight To Hell (2006)
The pedigree is incontestable. Hank III was born to write and sing country music, and very good country music is what he writes (in addition to his psycho-billy / punk that is... not as good as his country). This is just a great song that pays homage to all the greats: "I'm drinkin' some George Jones and a little bit of Coe / Haggard's easin' my misery and Waylon's keepin' me from home / Hank's givin' me those high times / Cash is gonna sing it low / I'm here gettin' wasted here with my country heroes." 'nuf said.

Shooter Jennings - “Lonesome Blues” from Put The O Back In Country (2005)
C'mon now, he had to make the list. This song could be pulled directly from his father's catalog, although their vocals do not sound exactly the same. "Lonesome Blues" is the most country of the tracks off of Put The O Back In Country, and personally, I think that it is the best song. Additionally, you can't go wrong with a country song with both "Lonesome" and "Blues" in the title.

John Prine - “Glory of True Love” from Fair & Square (2005)
There is something really honest and "been-there-done-that" about Prine's music. He can go slow, he can go fast, and he can tell a damn good story in a song. "Glory" is not a story song, but it is one of those songs where the lyrics all fit together, perfectly placed and sang in just the right way, like an old man sharing his wisdom with his grandkids. Listen and you might lean something.

Old Crow Medicine Show - “Wagon Wheel” from O.C.M.S. (2004)
With a chorus borrowed from from Dylan, and an old-timey sound, OCMS create a classic with "Wagon Wheel." Excellent country vocals, violin, banjo... to the point where everything has a feel of a slightly broken, perfectly imperfect, back-porch bbq jam session.


Hayward Williams - "Redwoods" from Another Sailor's Dream (2007)
With a warm, full, heartfelt voice leading the way (a little like Waylon), Williams pieces together a very pleasant and catchy track that features harmonica, acoustic and electric guitar over a steady trot of drums. Sounds like a solid country music formula to me.

Note: I intentionally limited my selection to songs with male vocalists that were, in my view, relatively traditional country songs (non-southern rock, non-pop country, non-alternative country) in sound and style. Also, in no way am I claiming to be an authority on this subject, so I would enjoy hearing additional song suggestions and comments.

R.I.P. Watasha