NightraiN's End of 2020 List

Wow, what a year 2020 was! Was it even a year or a concentrated decade? What a year 2021 has been already...

Like my QCM colleagues, I was all over the map this year in terms of my music consumption and never really focused enough to organize and consolidte a true "best of" list. I revisited some old, comforting favorites, went down some seriously obscure rabbit holes, and did intentionally and accidentally find a few amazing 2020 releases. I listened to A LOT of metal, especially during socially distance running therapy sessions. Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, according to my Spotify year-end recap, my most played albums of the year were the Moana, Frozen, and Evita Soundtracks -- I was stuck inside with a 3-year-old for a substantial portion of the year. When I wasn't being bombarded by Disney's finest, I did find time to enjoy, and would highly recommend, the following 2020 releases:

Algiers - There Is No Year (2020) Like most Algiers albums, this album jumps out of the speakers and kicks you in the face... or the balls... really whatever gets your attention the most. Even on the mellow-ish tracks, they bring it. The lyrics were especially timely and powerful given this past year. I get that not everyone is going to appreciate the forceful so-called "gospel-puck" sound of Algiers, but everyone should absolutely listen to it!

"I don't care if the whole world is burning, oh Lord (all men obey)
There's certain things I forgot I should fear, hey (all men obey)
Keep on screaming till your kingdom crumbles (all men obey)
It won't stop until I'm sure you hear, hey (all men obey)
I'm moaning on floor for your forgiveness (all men obey)
But here they coming, the four winds blowing
And four horses, I hear 'em coming
Sh, we're gonna start over there"

Ásgeir - Bury The Moon (2020) If There Is No Year was my kick in the face/balls album, Bury The Moon along with Blanco White's On The Other Side (2020) were my calming, mental reset albums. Ásgeir Einarsson's voice is soothing, the music can be almost trance-inducing, and although the songs sound sad-ish, the lyrics are generally uplifting. In most years, I think I would have enjoyed this album and White's On The Other Side, but not necessarily put them on a year-end list, but in this particular year their calming nature of these albums fit perfectly... plus, I did listen to a lot of metal to balance it out.

"Do you recall the things / That used to give us joy? / When our imagination / Could take us anywhere / Appearing in my mind now / Pictures from the past"

Delta Spirit - What Is There (2020) The night before the Mayor of San Francisco announced that a group gathering moratorium was going to go into effect stopping nearly all concerts and live events in the city for what now has been 10+ months, I attended the first night of what was supposed to be Delta Spirit's triumphant reunion tour. The show was supposedly sold out, but it was clear that many people elected to stay home because of the virus. It was my last true "night out" before the pandemic swept across the nation (Grubstake Diner included), so when this album finally dropped in September, I was eager to give it many, many deep listens. It does not disappoint. I love Delta Spirit, and this would have made my list in any year, but the connection to my last live show before the pandemic made it particularly special. Plus, I watched many Matthew Logan Vasquez livestreams during the summer.

"Alone, I've been on a bender for a year / Piss fit and perfectly happy to be here / Pass me the bottle, I've got nothing to defend / How good it feels to be home again"

William Elliott Whitmore - I'm With You (2020) In dark times, I often find that William Elliott Whitmore is an artist that I regularly turn to. His soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics meet the moment. He writes music about and for dark times. Great folk, Americana, bluegrass sounds on this one, but I listen to WEW because he puts your thoughts about life, death, politics, our great big social and psychological questions and thoughts into thoughtful, absorbable lyrics. With the album title, "I'm With You", WEW extending his worn hand out across the abyss and resting it on your shoulder letting you know that whatever you are dealing with, he's there with you. I believe it,

"The night is filled with wild creatures in this unfamiliar place / I take solice in the stillness / I take shelter in the empty space / I think we'll be OK ... And we're going to have to save ourselves / the cavelry ain't coming / and I know its just as well / we're going to have to save ourselves"

Alberta Cross - What Are We Frightened Of? (2020) An old flame. I watched + followed Petter Ericson Stakee's live streams and posts regularly over the last 10 months, and in many ways his commentary and songs served as a sort of soundtrack to the lockdowns. I don't know if any of the tracks like "What Are We Frightened Of?", "Find A Home Out There", and "Real Life and Disasters" were written with something like the lockdown and pandemic in mind, hard to believe they were since the album was released in June, but they fucking resonate, man.

"In desolation, we're empty and apart / We keep searching for a haven in our restless hearts."

Other Lives - For Their Love (2020) If Interpol, Arcade Fire, and Federale had a baby, that would be Other Lives. Maybe not fair to call them the "baby" since they've been around for a while, but that's the resultant sound at least. I probably have spent too much time reading into lyrics and interpreting them as a comment or critique on our current existence, but it's hard not to under the circumstances:

"Somewhere, we're laughing in faraway places instead / You'll say what you will when you know we're just hanging by a thread (Oh) / Take your time, take your time, don't lose your head"

Beach Music: Photo Ops - Pure At Heart (2020) & Cayucas - Blue Summer (2020) As we've been shut down, and outdoor time has become all that more precious, we've spent a lot more time at the beach. Cold days, rainy days, foggy days... it don't matter. Beach day, every day. But not every album plays well in that setting, especially if you're mostly soaking up the scenery in the relatively early morning or kicking the Size 1 soccer ball around. Pure At Heart and Blue Summer have been the perfect albums for all of these chill beach days. They both regularly pay mas tribute to The Beach Boys, naturally, but also have their own unique blends of dream and indie pop. From the two, "Live With Yourself" by Photo Ops stands out as a particularly poinent track during the pandemic.

Take a listen and support these dudes at the Bandcamp links above.

Hamilton Leithauser - The Loves Of Your Life (2020) I like (liked, maybe? if they are done done) The Walkmen, but I hadn't followed much of HL's solo projects over the years. But I was drawn in by the album art and track "Here They Come" when it was released in early April. I find the writing sometimes fun and funny, sometimes bittersweet and reflective, but appearly all of the songs are about specific people in his life, so, assuming that's true, the spectrum is understandable. Very listenable in all around the house settings, this one stood out during the many hours listening to music at home.

"I was a fool, I was blind / I kept my eyes shut half the time / All the lights, one by one, here they come"

Israel Nash - Topaz (2020) Among Other Earlier Releases This is not so much on the list for this particular 2020 release, but more for the fact that I listened to a very heavy dose of Israel Nash's entire catalog over the last 1o months or so.  I was WAY behind on this guitar-shredding psychedelic cowboy that blends Neil Young, The Beach Boys, Jim James, The Flaming Lips, and a number of others. But it was the song "Rolling On" from the 2018 release Lifted that really spoke to me during this moment in time... 

"I looked into the distance and in case you missed it / A thousand lights just faded out at once / Shouting from the rooftops to a ghost town all riled up / I knew I'd better keep the peace"

Very Honorable Mentions:

Sturgill Simpson - Cuttin' Grass Vol 1 & 2 (2020)

Nathaniel Rateliff - And It's Still Alright (2020)

Wolf Parade - Thin Mind (2020)

Matt Berninger - Serpentine Prison (2020)

Future Islands - As Long As You Are (2020)

The Dead Tongues - Transmigration Blues (2020)
Orville Peck - Show Pony EP (2020)

Spotify Playlists!

The Quarantine Playlist

The Apocalypse Playlist

And then this...

QCM's "Best of 2016" Playlists (Playlist 5: Summer Jammy Jams)

QCM's "Best of 2016" Playlists (Playlist 4: Dancing the Pain Away)

QCM's "Best of 2016" Playlists (Playlist 3: Double Martinis & Vanquished Dreams)

QCM's "Best of 2016" Playlists (Playlist 2: Power to the People)

QCM's "Best of 2016" Playlists (Playlist 1: Best of the Best)

As before, we asked QuickCrit's illustrious annual survey takers to list their favorite songs from their favorite albums. The result is a quirky, eclectic "Best of the Best" playlist clocking in at just over seven hours. This mind-numbingly awesome playlist can be accessed via Spotify below:

Also consistent with past years, to spice things up, we asked survey takers to submit a song or two that falls under some colorfully entitled category. Those playlists will be posted in the following days.

Of course, if you have any suggested additions to the playlists, please leave recs in the comments section below. 

Happy listening!

QCM's "Best of 2015" Playlists

The past few years we have asked QuickCrit's annual survey takers to list their favorite songs from their favorite albums which has resulted in a "Best of the Best" playlist for the corresponding year. To spice things up, we have also been asking survey takers to submit a song or two that falls under some colorfully entitled category.

At long last, for your listening pleasure, below are the resultant Spotify playlists built from survey results and some editorial selections. The playlists should only cover music from albums released in 2015 and all are at least an hour long.

If you have any suggested additions to the playlists, please leave your recs in the comments section below. Happy listening!

"The Best of the Best from 2015" Playlist

"Damn Good Song" Playlist

"Love Letters & Late Nite Texts" Playlist

"Rainy Days & Earle Grey" Playlist

"Summer Jammy Jam" Playlist

"Dancefloor Smash" Playlist

QuickCrit's Top 34 Albums of 2014

1.    Future Islands – Singles

I’ve always had a thing for singers who seem to get possessed by their own music. Future Islands do that trick of expanding on what seems conventional while completely deviating away from anything familiar. It’s really fucking good. - Larson 

Why are you reading this comment? Because you haven't listened to this album? That's silly, go listen to it and dance around like goof ball.  - Serena 

Samuel Herring is my human spirit animal. - Julia 

Odd, but good. - Joshua

2.    Ages And Ages – Divisionary

Clever, catchy pop-folk. Happy-clappy times. I love these guys. - Erin 

Played this for more friends than any other album because I knew they'd like their personal and cathartic chorales. And they always did. - Jesse 

Ages and Ages pack the stage and produce an overwhelmingly large sound that carries over to a thoughtful and well-written album, full of catchy tunes and verses. - Paul D.  

Is it possible to make a list without a sing along album? - Nesto 

3.    Augustines – Augustines

Such an amazing album. Tons of emotion and energy that makes every track really, really good. - Nightrain 

Their passion is visceral. Don't fight the anthem. They'll do the work for you. - Jesse 

Full of fist-pumping anthems and heart-on-your sleeve lyrics and vocals. - Jeremy

I listened to this album a lot and made me like their previous album even more. - Nesto

4.    Kishi Bashi – Lighght

Holy hell what is this thing all about? I have no clue but I love it. The word ‘light’ misspelled and a violin? Catchy enough to be accessible yet weird enough to be captivating. - Larson 

Immense talent shines through on these finely crafted tunes. - Nightrain 

I am so much in this guy's corner.  I hope Kishi continues his ascent and that his next album is where he figures himself out. - Tex 

I enjoy this album. It's how I know I'm old now. - Joshua

5.   Spoon – They Want My Soul

Each track flows beautifully one into the next, channeling the same tone and energy, but each song is distinct. There's a great deal of frustrated rage against the banality of the everyday here, which was a big theme for me personally this year. - Sara 

Spoon keeps killing it, just refining and adding new textures to their unique and wonderful sound. - Jesse 

The songs sound a bit familiar, but if you are already a Spoon fan that's probably a good thing. - Nightrain 

My first foray into spoon. I can’t say I was disappointed. - Chris

6.    TV On The Radio – Seeds

I wouldn't say this beats out Return to Cookie Mountain, but it still is quite enjoyable. - Nightrain 

Feels a little less forcefully eclectic, more poppy, but still definitely TV on the Radio. - Paul R. 

I cannot live a lie, my name is Nesto and I like this TV on the Radio album. - Nesto

7.    First Aid Kit – Stay Gold

Their voices are so beautiful and I like to pretend that we are a trio in the car. - Sharon

You had me at "Swedish folk duo." - Nightrain 

Like their last album, great harmonies, catchy tunes, and requires toe tapping. - Erin 

Polished and gorgeous, this sister act continues to grow, refine and delight.  I hope this trend continues. - Tex

8.    War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream

Listening to the album feels like a weird sodium dream. Like you had too much spaghetti and red wine before bed and then Tom Petty and Dire Straits played this weird flannel filled party. - Julia 

Perfect. - Joshua 

Pretty sure I was the oldest person in at their concert apart from the staff. I refuse to read into that very much. - Nesto

9.    Caribou – Our Love

A surprisingly off kilter fluttering album, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to dance to it or sit alone in the dark with it, but it's unexpectedly beautiful throughout. - Julia 

Caribou is another band that I've marginally enjoyed for a number of years, but this album really got to me.  In a desk dancing way. - Tex 

Dan Snaith strikes again. - Thaddeus

10.   New Pornographers – Brill Bruisers

A delicious Newman-Case-Bejar sandwich. SO good! - Sharon 

Another delicious, lush pop treat from the Pornographers. - Sara 

Not vintage NP, but a junkie needs his fix. - Nesto

11.   Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence

One beautiful Saturday afternoon I was two whiskeys deep and a haunting song came on the speakers and I was enamored. She’s got that Stevie Nicks “I’m singing but I’m bored sound” combined with an undercurrent of urgency that is just mesmerizing. - Larson 

Lana Del Rey is so much awesomer than her (very catchy) song from The Great Gatsby. All of her characters are delightfully fucked up. - Serena 

Deeper into her old Hollywood slash David Lynch film thing she's got going on. I like it. - Joshua

12.   Beck – Morning Phase

This, like many of my top 10, is an album that fits with a time, a place and a mood of 2014. Spring, Half Moon Bay, reflection. - Chris 

I want chicken I want liver Meow Mix Meow Mix Please Deliver. I want chicken I want liver Meow Mix Meow Mix Please Deliver. - Rain

13.   Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds In Country Music

A true country bad ass adding his own cynical and philosophic spin to that classic outlaw sound. - Jesse 

I was hooked immediately, and I couldn't get over how much he sounded like Waylon. The more I listened to it, the more I picked up on some Merle Haggard, too. - Jason

Simpson nails the classic country sound. - Nightrain 






14.   Delta Spirit – Into the Wide

I've always been a casual fan of Delta Spirit, but this stands out with the rockers really rocking and balanced well with the solid slower jams. - Nightrain 

A solid album. - Nesto

15.   Alvvays – Alvvays

One of those artists that seem to create a whole world in their soundscape. Everything is contained, it's all there, in these Belle & Sebastian-esque pop ditties. - Joshua

 Always happy and fun. Also the perfect album length. - Sharon

16.   Benjamin Booker – Benjamin Booker

Although not written about this year’s civil rights struggles, they could be. I hear the same anger, frustration, and confusion resonate in his soulful garage rock. - Jesse 

A classic. Prepare for the rock to get all over your face. - Nesto

17.   Taylor Swift – 1989

Can we please stop calling Taylor Swift a guilty pleasure? She is at the top of her pop-game and is producing mature and introspective songs that are, like it or not, shaping an entire generation of pop-music-listeners. - Paul D. 

I'm not embarrassed.  I don't think there is a better three song sequence on an album in 2014 than “Blank Space” followed by “Style” followed by “Out of the Woods.” - Julia

18.   Budos Band – Burnt Offering

I randomly caught an in studio session and didn’t understand what I was listening to. Their sound and themes are in such a weird competition for attention that it all just works out and starts to make sense. Right? I dunno… just listen to “Into The Fog” and “Aphasia” and you’ll get it. - Larson 

This just makes me want to get all of my bros together and have a sweaty, tequila driven, tighty whitey dance party until the sun comes up. Then, in the light of a new day, we go to the sea and kill a turtle and roast its flesh black over a pallet fire. What happens next must never be spoken of... - Rain

19.   St. Vincent – St. Vincent

No comment on the hair weirdness, but the best songs on this album are as good or better than any she's written. - Joshua

She continues to develop her sound and it just gets better. - Paul R.

20.   Tennis – Ritual In Repeat

Icy cold, but still enticing. Their best album so far. - Paul R. 

They do an excellent job of creating music that feels familiar while simultaneously pushing their boundaries. Some people might say that the progression on this album is more production, I say it sounds amazing and bring it on. - Larson

21.   Phantogram – Voices

Much of my music taste these days is shaped by what I can comfortably listen to at my desk - not terribly distracting, not terribly esoteric, nice to desk dance to.  This was my heaviest work rotation this year. - Tex

22.   Tycho – Awake

This is another favorite focus-and-get-it-done album.  Keeps me calm and attentive.  If I were in a movie and needed a "putting it all together" montage soundtrack, this album would be it. - Tex

23.   Iggy Azalea – The New Classic

It’d be cooler to say that I listened to an unknown bearded duo that recorded on a gameboy or some Czechoslovakian drone band but no…  I listened to this album, and I listened to it a lot.  So many hooks, so much production, and so much ridiculousness. - Larson

24.   Lykke Li – I Never Learn

For those times when you just feel like bawling, but then get all fired up about how you're going to overcome every damn thing, Lykke Li has got you covered. - Sara 

An album where every song is a power ballad, brilliant. - Julia

25.   Ex Hex – Rips

Poppy punk from a local D.C. band? Yes, please. - Sara 

Joan Jet vocal reverb and fuzzy guitar and bass.  Nice and simple and a bit of a sugar rush.  If that makes any sense. - Tex

26.   Rural Alberta Advantage – Mended With Gold

This album snuck up on me. I don't remember these guys being so tight, or their songs this awesome. - Jesse 

The band is an acquired taste, but this album really clicks in an addicting kind of way. - Nightrain

27.   Odesza – In Return

Should anyone put on “All We Need” and give me even the slightest come hither look they’d better brace themselves for a hearty make out sesh… This album is super sexy. “Say My Name” is a banger and the rest of the album is a fun hook laden dance fest. - Larson 

I love this kind of stuff lately.  Super loopy, dancy, electronic.  Perks up any tedious task. - Tex

28.   Cibo Matto – Hotel Valentine

I've been in love with Cibo Matto since I first saw them at 9:30 Club waaaaay back in the 90s. Who was expecting a new Cibo Matto album, like, ever? Certainly not me—but this puppy delivered. Its got all the weird narratives and hip-hop inspired beats that you expect from Yuka and Miho, but doesn't sound like a re-hash of past offerings. - Sara 

A couple of decent tracks from an album I was crazy hyped out. - Chris

29.   Sun Kil Moon – Benji

Mark Kozelek can write songs about literally anything—cat names, cousins, dude friends—he is weird and incredible. - Serena 

I tried to not like this dude, but I really want to listen to his songs. - Chris

30.   Jungle – Jungle

Bring the dancy FUNK. - Nightrain

31.   Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams

My boyfriend continues to nail it! - Sharon 

For those that know me they're probably shocked to only see this as an honorable mention. - Larson

32.   Flying Lotus – You're Dead

Comes closest to delivering on the promise of mash-ups, true acid jazz and the match Miles lit more than 40 years ago with Bitches Brew. - Paul R.

33.   Sallie Ford – Slap Back

Love that while she pushes sonically beyond her rockabilly roots, her frank lyrics are still delivered with a charismatic grin. - Jesse 

It's no Untamed Beast, but Sallie Ford sure knows how to put together one hell of a record. Her all-girl band rocks a room like no other, and that fun and energy show up in full force on Slap Back. - Paul D.

34.   Horse Feathers – So It Is With Us

Still lovely and soft, but more upbeat than their first. Nice lazy Sunday tunes. - Erin 

Won over at just the prospect of a joyful Horse Feathers album, especially after hearing the terrific lead single, Violently Wild. - Jesse