Larson's End of 2020 List

I spent a good portion of 2020 building what I call ‘the barn’. This project was part “since we’re home all the time I should probably fix that structure that is falling down in my backyard”, part “wouldn’t it be neat to have a somewhere different to hang out” and part “maybe if I keep building this the world will go back to kind of making sense.”

When compiling my list it occurred to me that I spent a lot of time listening to these albums while either working on or while drinking beer within said barn. This led me to a bonus rating system that serves no purpose. The “Barn Day” rating is how likely I was to listen to an album while building and the “Barn Night” is how likely I was to listen to an album during the barn in ‘bar mode.’

Also I feel like it should be known that the “Barn Day” albums required you to be able to hear things over the drone of an air compressor.

Here is my list of albums that helped me through 2020.

Albums

Bartees Strange - Live Forever

Barn Day 6/10

Barn Night 8/10

This album ping pongs all over the place with genre and vibe and yet is so cohesive. An incredible feat and a fascinating ride.

Dehd - Flower Of Devotion

Barn Day 8/10

Barn Night 9/10

Quite possibly my album of the year if I was capable of thinking on those terms. The song “Loner” is perfection.

Future Islands - As Long As You Are

Barn Day 4/10

Barn Night 8/10

I was really excited when I heard the single for “For Sure”, however, it was the song “Born In A War” that completely won me over. Future Islands were also the first ‘live stream’ concert that we did this year and it was awesome and complete with an 10 minute pause before their encore which really made you wonder if they were coming back. Geez I miss live music.

Destroyer - Have We Met

Barn Day 4/10

Barn Night 7/10

I had totally forgotten about this album and then I made a playlist of all my 2020 music and I ended up re-listening to the whole album like 4 more times. I’m guessing ‘Destroyer Fan’ is set as a cookie in my browsing history for life.

Girlhood - Girlhood

Barn Day 6/10

Barn Night 10/10

Jesse mentioned the song “The Love I Need” in a group text one day and I haven’t stopped listening to this album since.

Haim - Women In Music Pt. III

Barn Day 7/10

Barn Night 7/10

I enjoy this whole album a lot. I enjoy the song “Gasoline” a shit ton. Also, Lindsey Buckingham wishes he wrote “Leaning On You”.

Hinds - The Prettiest Curse

Barn Day 9/10

Barn Night 7/10

These women are amazing. Shredding, longing, heartache and shittalk. Everything you could want in an album.

Idles - Ultra Mono

Barn Day 10/10

Barn Night 7/10

The only reason the Barn Night score is lower that I would like is that this album is so fun when it’s really loud. A lot of people like to have a lot of opinions on this band. I listened to a PodCast (that I enjoy) sneak diss Idles in like 3 different episodes and then wax poetic about the Deftones. I mean everyone’s entitled to an opinion but Deftones?! Yikes!

Kalis Uchis - Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)

Barn Day 4/10

Barn Night 10/10

I learned about Kalis Uchis this year and listened to her 2018 Album incessantly in late summer/early fall of this year. I loved that album a lot and then she released this album. At first I had the standard “but this album isn’t that album” reaction. Then I listened to “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)” like a bajillion times...

Moaning - Uneasy Laughter

Barn Day 8/10

Barn Night 8/10

I think I learned about this band from an Instagram ad which means that I totally got target marketed which I’m ok with when it results in me finding an incredible album. I suggest you try the song “Stranger” if you haven’t.

Muzz - Muzz

Barn Day 7/10

Barn Night 7/10

I knew nothing about this album one day and then for the next 2 months I was listening to it constantly.

Run The Jewels - RTJ4

Barn Day 8/10

Barn Night 8/10

There is nothing I can say to re-stress how much the world needed this album this year.

The Streets - None Of Us Are Getting Out Of This Life Alive

Barn Day 7/10

Barn Night 7/10

I REALLY WANTED SLOWTHAI TO BE ON THIS ALBUM BUT HE WASN’T. THAT BEING SAID IT IS AMAZING!

Tei Shi - Die 4 Ur Love EP

Barn Day 5/10

Barn Night 9/10

I used to think I didn’t like the first song on this EP then I realized that I was mistaken and in fact I like every song on this EP.

Tennis - Swimmer

Barn Day 5/10

Barn Night 9/10

I have yet to be sad that Tennis released a new album.

Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud

Barn Day 6/10

Barn Night 9/10

I almost didn’t add this because I think I only started listening to it in 2021 but guess what who cares! It wasn’t Katie Crutchfield’s fault that I started listening to this glorious 2020 album in 2021 right?! It is entirely my fault that I didn’t listen to this glorious album that was released in March of 2020 until January of 2021. I own this. I love the song “Fire” so much. Like maybe too much.

Singles

Not to be outclassed by albums.... Here are four individual singles that I loved this year.

Rich Brian - Don’t Care 

Nas - Car 85

Petite League - Joyrider

Chong The Nomad ft. Hollis - Take Two

Perhaps my song of the year.

2019 Survey Results - Top Albums 27 to 43

27. Alex Lahey - The Best of Luck Club (2 votes)

“Important message to remember. Best live show of the year!”

Favorite song: "Don't Be So Hard on Yourself"

 28. Better Oblivion Community Center - Better Oblivion Community Center (2 votes)

“Phoebe Bridgers singing the phone book would be on this list.”

29. Beyoncé - Homecoming (2 votes)

“This album is worth the price of admission just for the cover of "Before I Let Go".

30. Boy Harsher - Careful (2 votes)

31. Gatecreeper - Deserted (2 votes)

32. Injury Reserve - Injury Reserve (2 votes)

33. Matthew Logan Vasquez - Light'n Up (2 votes)

“Caught an amazing and intimate record store set with my son. Love the mix of gut wrenching and party songs.”

34. Pronoun - I'll Show You Stronger (2 votes)
“I discovered this album from an email that said "it's like if kate bush was influenced by jimmy eat world". I'm not entirely sure if that fully resonates with me but it certainly caught my attention.”

35. Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains (2 votes)

“Was just getting into this album when I heard of Berman's death - haven't been able to revisit yet but I know I'll be coming back.”

“RIP”

36. Rich Brian - The Sailor (2 votes)

“‘Slow Down Turbo’ on repeat! Also his Colors video for ‘Drive Safe’ is incredible.”

37. Sinkane - Depayse (2 votes)

“I've turned to the Sly Stone lovin' ‘Everybody’ to pick me up a lot lately. Love the mix of soul, funk, reggae, and politics.”

38. Slowthai - Nothing Great About Britain (2 votes)

“Discovered Slowthai from an interview with Liam Gallagher of all places. Haven't stopped listening since. Love it all but have definitely have spun ‘Gorgeous’ the most.”

39. Tei Shi - La Linda (2 votes)

“I hadn't been following her career all that closely but I'd been listening to her singles all year and then was pleasantly surprised to find they were all put on an album. Crazy how things work out! ‘Even If It Hurts’ w/ Blood Orange is sooooo goooooood!”

40. The Black Doors - Deviants (2 votes)

“Spooky and sexy. Is this psyh, shoegaze, alt. country? Don't care. My perfect late night music.”

41. The Shivas - Dark Thoughts (2 votes)

“A rip roaring party album.”

“Found this band thanks to the new format!”

“Worth a second, third, and fourth listen. Its got that sound I consistently come back to year-after-year.”

42. Tyler, the Creator - IGOR (2 votes)

“His fingerprints are on everything these days.”

“I'm not sure I understand the entire appeal here, but I'm intrigued and will give it more listens.”

43. Vukari - Aevum (2 votes)

“Harsh and frosty black metal, Vacating Existence is a killer closing track.”

Larson's Top 15 Albums from 2017

Tei Shi - Crawl Space         

I saw Tei Shi open for Grimes in 2016. I’m not really one to pay close attention to openers and often attempt to time my entrance to shows around potentially missing openers (I’m an old man). I half watched her set while spending more time surveying what a crowd looks like at a Grimes show (again, I’m an old man). At some point in her set she played what I now know to be “Keep Running” and all of the sudden 100% of my attention was focused on the song. When the album came out I didn’t know what to expect. I hoped to hear “that song that I liked at the show” and maybe other similar stuff. What I heard was an incredibly cohesive album that hopped around genres and emotions while constantly maintaining an incredible level of vulnerability and confidence. Perhaps this album isn’t for everyone, but I do feel that there is something for everyone on this album. And that is one hell of a feat to pull off.

Run The Jewels - RTJ3      

(I do recognize that this album technically came out on Christmas Eve of 2016 but c'mon it’s a 2017 album.) I used to have a Sonic Youth poster in my room that had the band standing around a phone pole with a sign that said “Angry. Very Angry.”. That was me for a lot of 2017. It’s disheartening to see so many mean people allowed airtime. Thank you EL P and Killer Mike for reminding us to be angry, stay gold and make change.

Future Islands - The Far Field    

At my core I’m still a scared little boy in a grown man’s body. I’m not sure how I’ve made it this far and I am bewildered when people are either interested in what I say or god-forbid seek my advice. I’m not going to claim to know what Sam Herring is trying to say lyrically on The Far Field. However, I can say that his lyrics have helped me examine my own feelings and emotions. Also the band just seem like the nicest group of guys ever. I have a very short list of people who are allowed to spend the night at our house. Future Islands are on that list.

Kendrick Lamar - DAMN  

Theres a popular book these days about not giving a fuck. I’ve not read that book (I’m sure it’s great). The concept of reading a book in order to not give a fuck seems a bit odd to me though. I mean you give enough of a fuck to read the book right?     Whatever… that’s neither here nor there. Whenever I need a refresher on wether or not to give a fuck I listen to “Element” and then “Feel". Then I listen to the whole album from the beginning.

Phoenix - Ti Amo   

These guys are so good at writing insane pop songs with incredible precision and depth. I’m not sure that entirely sounds like a compliment but I swear I mean it as one.

Jay Z - 4:44   

Those that know me, know that I am a huge Jay Z fan. Huge! If you don’t know me, you now know this fact.     Super-fan status aside I’m not (always) one to automatically champion whatever my heroes put out. Ryan Adams put and album out this year and while I love it, it is not in my top 10. To those that know me you probably recognize that this was a difficult decision for me. I was a bit skeptical of Jay Z’s 4:44… I believe I put his wife’s album in the number 1 slot on my list last year. A decision that I still 100% back. What does this have to do with Jay? I think I was worried that perhaps I was no longer interested in what Jay Z had to say or perhaps I was concerned about a clunky response to Lemonade. Both thoughts gave me anxiety… am I a fake? A snob? I dunno probably a little column A and B.     I’m not going to be able to expand upon what I love about this album without aping another far more sophisticated music critic. What I can say, 4:44 is the Jay-Z album I wanted in 2017.

Heat - Overnight     

Oddly familiar while 100% original. There’s a deep pool of influence on this album but it’s never heavy handed. These guys shred.

The Drums - Abysmall Thoughts           

"Blood Under My Belt" can incite an indie dance party (think David Byrne) in my house in 3 seconds flat. My sons are intrigued/confused by the visuals. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Dent May - Across The Multiverse         

Pet Sounds, Soft Rock, Synths, Introspection… this is a very layered album while remaining very airy. Thank you Bandcamp for randomly inviting me to listen to this album. It’s on rotation constantly.

Sheer Mag - Need To Feel Your Love

This was an eagerly awaited album for me. While I loved the really gritty sound on their early 7”s, it was nice to hear the production a bit cleaner on this full length. 70’s rock but with punk influence and an actual conscience. Or in other words, 70s rock but better… way better.

Ryan Adams - Prisioner   

Love this dude. Amazing live show!!

Alvvays - Antisocialites    

Watch their Overrated / Underrated Pitchfork thing. It rules.

Gingerlys - Gingerlys        

Another random Bandcamp find... so good!

Shout Out Louds - Ease My Mind 

These Swedes still got it!