Albums of 2020

[bodysnatcher]

American Primitive is a well established genre/term. John Fahey is sort of the standard point of entry.

I hate that genre name though. How is something considered primitive when the genre is taking guitar stylings from already established genres?! How is something more primitive than something that came before?!

Also, it assumes that it’s primitive American music, disregarding the roots music of America, including Native American songs — the true American primitive!

[epilogue]

110 Albums released in 2020... that's stupid. I'll never do this again.

Anyway...

Fetch The Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple
Gigaton - Pearl Jam
On My Own - Lera Lynn
RTJ4 - Run The Jewels
Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas
Kitchen Sink - Nadine Shah
Such Pretty Forks in the Road - Alanis Morissette
Hey Clockface - Elvis Costello
That's How Rumors Get Started - Margo Price
It Is What It Is - Thundercat

Gaslighter - The Chicks
LP2 - Lo Tom
Americana - Grégoire Maret / Romain Collin / Bill Frisell
Saint Cloud - Waxahatchee
Bad Vacation - Liza Anne
Dias Raros - Melenas
Far From Home - Aubrie Sellers
Asterist the Universe - John Craigie
My Love is a Hurricane - David Ramirez
The Waterfall II - My Morning Jacket

Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was - Bright Eyes
Set My Heart on Fire Immediately - Perfume Genuis
Reunions - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment - Ambrose Akinmusire
Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Sessions) - Sturgill Simpson
Moral Panic - Nothing But Thieves
Suite For Max Brown - Jeff Parker
Old Flowers - Courtney Marie Anderews
grae - Moses Sumney
Impossible Weight - Deep Sea Diver

Women in Music Pt. III - HAIM
songs - Adrianne Lenker
Angular Blues - Wolfgang Muthspiel, Scott Colley, Brian Blade
AUGUST - Lewis Del Mar
World On the Ground - Sarah Jarosz
Source - Nubya Garcia
Ascension - Sufjan Stevens
Wake UP! - Hazel English
Punisher - Phoebe Bridgers
Homegrown - Neil Young

For Their Love - Other Lives
Summerlong -Rose City Band
SAWAYAMA - Rina Sawayama
What's Your Pleasure? - Jessie Ware
El Dorado - Marcus King
Old Wow - Sam Lee
folklore - Taylor Swift
After Hours - The Weeknd
The Universal Want - Doves
Transmigration Blues - The Dead Tongues

Rough and Rowdy Ways - Bob Dylan
Plastic Hearts - Miley Cyrus
Amazones Power - Les Amazones d'Afrique
Modern Dead - Denai Moore
Old Time Feeling - S.G. Goodman
Valentine - Bill Frisell
The Loves of Your Life - Hamilton Leithauser
Letter To You - Bruce Springsteen
Song For Our Daughter - Laura Marling
UR FUN - Of Montreal

Strange Fascination - Chatham County Line
Sideways to New Italy - Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
La vita nuova - Christine and the Queens
Earth - EOB
Logan Ledger - Logan Ledger
What's New Tomboy? - Damien Jurado
Petals For Armor - Hayley Williams
evermore - Taylor Swift
Getting Into Knives - The Mountain Goats
A Hero's Death - Fontaines D.C.

Rose In The Dark - Cleo Sol
how i'm feeling now - Charli XCX
Bonny Light Horseman - Bonny Light Horseman
Saturn Return - The Secret Sisters
Whole New Mess - Angel Olsen
TO LOVE IS TO LIVE - Jehnny Beth
Muzz - Muzz
Thank You Ancestor Finger - Harper's Jar
Painted Shield - Painted Shield
Total Freedom - Kathleen Edwards

Are You Gone - Sarah Harmer
Sugaegg - Bully
Expectations - Katie Pruitt
Folk N' Roll, Vol 1: Tales of Isolation - J.S. Ondara
The New Abnormal - The Strokes
American Death Squad (EP) - Jeff Ament
Straight Songs of Sorrow - Mark Lanegan
Notes On a Conditional Form - The 1975
The Unraveling - Drive-By Truckers
Likewise - Frances Quinlan

Future Nostalgia - Dua Lipa
I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep - Ghostpoet
It Was Good Until It Wasn't - Kehlani
Aporia - Sufjan Stevens
Hannah - Lomelda
Eclipse - Addy
I'm Your Empress Of - Empress Of
There Is No Other... - Isobel Campbell
Neon Cross - Jaime Wyatt
Beginners - Christian Lee Hutson

color theory - Soccer Mommy
Heavy Light - U.S. Girls
Cold Water - Medhane
From Liberty Street - Mapache
Invisible People - Chicano Batman
3.15.20 - Childish Gambino
Music To Be Murdered By - Eminem
Roisin Machine - Roisin Murphy
Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs - Colter Wall
Marigold - Stu Larsen

[bodysnatcher]

no Ryan Adams?

[verb_to_trust]

no Ryan Adams?

That's a long list. There has to be a few acts on there need to be disqualified for their moral failings.

[tragabigzanda]

[tragabigzanda]

[epilogue]

no Ryan Adams?

[tragabigzanda]

[psychobain]

New Ryan Adams LP is so good.

[kreng]

Jusell, Prymek, Sage, Shiroishi: Fuubutsushi (風物詩)

Pitchfork turned me on to this one a few days ago, and I've got to say that I'm absolutely loving it. Four musicians in different states collaborated virtually to create this stunning jazz record that delves confidently into minimalism, EDM, and (vaguely Japanese) folk(?). It's the closest thing I've found to my beloved The Visitor by Jim O'Rourke.

checking this out. i forgot a few jazz albums in my top list of the year that i put in a different playlist.

[verb_to_trust]

The Pale Moonlight is the standout track for me on the new Cudi

[Higgs]

Lots of people talking about Phoebe Bridgers and Fiona Apple's albums this year. Of a similar style, but for mine far more interesting, is the 5th album by This Is the Kit, Off Off On.

I really enjoyed her last album but this is better again and quite gorgeous. Here's 'This is What You Did':

[Higgs]

OK, fully changing pace here. Roisin Murphy (sorry - missed the umlauts here - couldn't figure out how to add them in) is/was part of Moloko (remember them - they had that song 'Sing It Back' that was pretty cool) and with her solo album Roisin Machine she brings more of that sweet adult disco funk to the table. Gotta say, this album has been getting a hell of a lot of play from me this year. Its really great. Here's 'Murphy's Law' for y'all to get your collective boogie on to:



Lot's of Grace Jones vibes in here, and that can't be a bad thing.

[Higgs]

OK, so whilst I'm deep in funkyland, Steve Arrington is an "oft sampled G-funk pioneer" who's released a good'un this year - Down The Lowest Terms: The Souls Sessions. Multiple producers at work here for what is a fun and funky album indeed.

Here's ' Keep Dreamin'' - smooth:

[Higgs]

PS Higgs -- If you're not familiar with Fahey and want to check him out, note that it's easy to wind up in the unlistenable territory. His earlier stuff tended to be more palatable. Maybe try:

Blind Joe Death
Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes
Days Have Gone By
The Voice of the Turtle

These are all widely celebrated, as is most anything from the 59-75ish era, as helping to establish a new movement in instrumental acoustic guitar. I think he even started his own label just to introduce the world to Leo Kottke!

Thanks for this too Trag. Haven't heard too much Fahey, will check out.

[epilogue]

OK, fully changing pace here. Roisin Murphy (sorry - missed the umlauts here - couldn't figure out how to add them in) is/was part of Moloko (remember them - they had that song 'Sing It Back' that was pretty cool) and with her solo album Roisin Machine she brings more of that sweet adult disco funk to the table. Gotta say, this album has been getting a hell of a lot of play from me this year. Its really great. Here's 'Murphy's Law' for y'all to get your collective boogie on to:



Lot's of Grace Jones vibes in here, and that can't be a bad thing.

I've been a big fan of her work for a long time. This album is not for me, however.

[Higgs]

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

[epilogue]

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.

[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.

[epilogue]

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.