Albums of 2020

[Higgs]

Alright, I continue my run of the more groovy 2020 albums with Howl released by John Foxx and The Maths. John Fox - 71 year old synth pop dude. This is an interesting and enjoyable listen all the way through. There's lot's of synth of course, but the feel ranges from disco fun to dystopian dread - good stuff. And his voice is pretty great for the songs here too, but I'm partial to left of centre voices I guess.

Here's the title track with the Bowie vibe happening:

[psychobain]

My favs of 2020, not ranked:

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Fleet Foxes - Shore
Destroyer - Have We Met
Ryan Adams - Wednesdays
Matt Berninger - Serpentine Prison
Doves - The Universal Want
Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension
Fontaines D.C. - A Hero's Death
Vennart - In The Dead, Dead Wood
Other Lives - For Their Love
Hamilton Leithauser - The Loves of Your Life
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush
Taylor Swift - Folklorevermore

[Higgs]

I have followed none of her stuff but defo enjoying this one. Adult disco ftw!

It's overlong and too samey for me. But it's fun in spurts. I think there's an EP version in there that I'd really enjoy.

Her 2005 album, Ruby Blue, is my personal favorite. If you're wanting to dive into more of her stuff.

For sure - will do. Thanks dct.

So I checked out Ruby Blue and I have to say that I find this year's Roisin Machine to be way more interesting and enjoyable. I felt Ruby Blue was filled with musical ideas that didn't really excite me and felt a little bland to me.

Having said that, I am one who enjoys "sameness" in an album, so long as I'm into the sound/style that is being repeated. The fact that I love Endless Boogie is testament to that!

So for me the disco vibes of the 2020 album are way more enjoyable a listen than the 2005 album, but that's what makes music great - it's each to their own.

Not dissing anything dct - just wanted to report back that I had indeed checked it out. I do love a recommend!

[epilogue]

I figured this would be your response, more or less, given how much you liked her new record. Glad you're digging some of her music. I think she's talented and a lot of fun.

[washing machine]

This morning I followed Belle & Sebastian's The Life Pursuit with the Real Estate album that came out last spring. I gotta say, those two albums go together like coffee and pastries.

[tragabigzanda]

[epilogue]

I really want to get in the Nels Cline record, the Phisph record, and the new Stergill Simpson record before the end of the year. Fingers crossed.

[Ello Sailor]

Grimes' Miss Anthropocene is my album of the year, with Glass Animals' Dreamland a close second.

[Ello Sailor]

I need to listen to that Thundercat record.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Grimes' Miss Anthropocene is my album of the year, with Glass Animals' Dreamland a close second.

Jesus. It is like we are the same person. I can't stop listening to the Glass Animal's album right now.

[Chris_H_2]

My best albums of 2020:

1. Fetch the Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple
2. Saint Cloud - Waxahatchee
3. RTJ4 - Run the Jewels
4. Folklore/Evermore - Taylor Swift
5. Set My Heart On Fire - Perfume Genius
6. Have We Met - Destroyer
7. Future Nostalgia - Dua Lipa
8. Shore - Fleet Foxes
9. Miss Anthropocene - Grimes
10. Punisher - Phoebe Bridgers

[surfndestroy]

Best New Album: Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters
A perfect mix of artistic statement and accessibility. The vocal stylings are all over the place but she holds it all together in beautiful, unorthodox ways. Most effective use of percussion on an album in 2020 as well.

Runner Up: Sam The Astronaut - Midnight Carlight
You knew it was making a show here. As much as this album did not have the impact they wanted, I still stand by it. Pop music with an Oasis like mix.

Best Song: Tame Impala - One More Year
This song grew on me with each listen. This was the absolute perfect late night album on the deck, drink in hand, stars above and fire at my feet.
Special mention to Last Video Store.

Best Archival Discovery: Cheap Trick - Live at Budokan
Really, Cheap Trick's first five albums.

Best Surprise: Brian Fallon - Local Honey
After two lackluster solo albums, he gets it right with this beautiful, tender and intimate album.

Biggest Disappointment: No live music and bands who didn't step up to the plate during the pandemic. Some bands went above and beyond (Brian Fallon), some released amazing archival shows (Radiohead, Metallica), most did nothing. That was a big disappointment. That no artist was able to release something during the pandemic that captured the moment was surprising.

***
Outside of these specific albums, the two biggest musical events for me this year were:

1. Seeing Marcus King Band live. First note to the last note, it was sheer perfection. A complete reminder of the power of music.

2. Midnight Carlight drops. Seeing your kid's dream album finally come out was amazing. Seeing it come with their two promotional tours cancelled was disheartening but seeing how my kid came to terms with that and accepting the situation left me very hopeful for him to be able to successfully navigate life long after I am gone. Album bombed, kid stepped up to the plate and grew as a person. I can accept that with a smile.

***
Albums of the year in no particular order other than Fiona Apple number one.

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Sam The Astronaut - Midnight Carlight
My Morning Jacket - Waterfall II
Margo Price - That's How Rumors Get Started
Margo Price - Live at the Ryman
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush
Brian Fallon - Local Honey
Sass Jordan - Rebel Moon Blues
Hemming - Airport Security (single)
Marcus King - El Dorado

***
An odd year for music. Like most people this year, I relied on my comfort food albums. I feel it was a little harder to get into new music. My Spotify top songs of 2020 is littered with Elton John, INXS, Kate Bush, UB40, Marcus King Band, Bastille, Genesis, Blue Rodeo, The Cult and Pink Floyd. Hoping for a better 2021.

[tragabigzanda]

[Chris_H_2]

Best Song: Tame Impala - One More Year
This song grew on me with each listen. This was the absolute perfect late night album on the deck, drink in hand, stars above and fire at my feet.

I’m still not sold on the album, but this song is fantastic. Definitely one of my favs from Tame Impala.

[i got bugs]

The most underrated album of the year is def the new strokes.. im not sure how its not rated way higher on these lists

That or dogleg

[Ello Sailor]

Grimes' Miss Anthropocene is my album of the year, with Glass Animals' Dreamland a close second.

Jesus. It is like we are the same person. I can't stop listening to the Glass Animal's album right now.

Glass Animals hits like Justin Timberlake used to, around FutureSexLoveSounds era. If that makes sense.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Grimes' Miss Anthropocene is my album of the year, with Glass Animals' Dreamland a close second.

Jesus. It is like we are the same person. I can't stop listening to the Glass Animal's album right now.

Glass Animals hits like Justin Timberlake used to, around FutureSexLoveSounds era. If that makes sense.

Yeah that makes perfect sense. I've been on the Glass Animals for a few years, and their stuff before this one is great as well. Agnes is one of my all time favorite songs

[Ello Sailor]

I think I discovered Glass Animals when they auto-played following a day of listening to Alt-J and Ratatat on youtube. Sometimes the algorithm gets it right.

[Norah]

Finally getting around to giving the Perfume Genius album a proper listen and so far it's fantastic.

[epilogue]

Two albums that I discovered later in the year are really slaying me this week. I might have a new #1 album on the year after Fiona pretty much owning it since Bolt Cutters dropped...