The Top 50 of 2020

This has been quite the year. That is a gross understatement, to say the least, but through the challenges this year, music is always a confidant and a supporter. I have simply been too busy to post one album at a time as per normal, but there is a playlist below in which you can sample each album. We have seen the absence of concerts and the closing of music venues around the country. The music industry radically changed when SXSW chose to shutter in mid-March. Many musicians thought they would reschedule their tour for later in the year, thinking this was only temporary only to rebook for the next year and at current, does not look plausible. Give a bunch of musicians time off the road and stuck at home for months on end during massive political unrest and the only result can be some really great music this year and on into the next. Several artists on this list put out more than one album this year, including M.Ward, STRFKR, Dan Deacon and Sturgill Simpson. We saw several artists release albums this year that we haven't heard from in awhile, such as, Fiona Apple, Badly Drawn Boy and Clem Snide. I hope you find some new listens out of here this year and I look forward to the artistry from 2021. Be safe out there and hopefully see you at a concert some day.



1. Josiah Johnson – Every Feeling On A Loop
2. Clem Snide – Forever Just Beyond
3. Noah Cyrus – THE END OF EVERYTHING
4. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
5. Dan Deacon – Mystic Familiar
6. Khurangbin – Mordechai
7. Nathaniel Rateliff – And It’s Still Alright
8. Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter
9. The Head And The Heart – Living Mirage
10. Perfume Genius – Set My Heart On Fire Immediately
11. The Orielles – Disco Volador
12. Star Parks – The New Sounds Of Late Capitalism
13. Modern Studies – The Weight Of The Sun
14. TV Girl – The Night In Question: French Exit Outtakes
15. Car Seat Headrest – Making A Door Less Open
16. David Ramirez – My Love Is A Hurricane
17. SAULT – Untitled (Rise)
18. Sturgill Simpson – Cuttin’ Grass
19. Shopping – All Or Nothing
20. Sylvan Esso – Free Love
21. Sam Amidon – Sam Amidon
22. Other Lives – For Their Love
23. The Avett Brothers – The Third Gleam
24. Mt. Joy – Rearrange Us
25. EOB – Earth
26. Fantastic Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?
27. M. Ward – Migration Stories
28. Yorkston/Thorne/Khan – Navarasa: Nine Emotions
29. Beach Bunny – Honeymoon
30. Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters
31. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
32. The Asteroid No. 4 – Northern Songs
33. Porridge Radio – Every Bad
34. Katie Pruitt – Expectations
35. Melenus – Dias Raros
36. Tennis – Swimmer
37. Destroyer – Have We Met
38. Steve Arrington – Down To The Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions
39. AJJ – Good Luck Everybody
40. Badly Drawn Boy – Banana Skin Shoes
41. STRF
KR – Future Past Tense
42. Fruit Bats – The Glory Of Fruit Bats
43. Kevin Morby – Sundowner
44. Momma – Two Of Me
45. Shabaka And The Ancestors – We Are Sent Here By History
46. Wolf Parade – Thin Mind
47. Happyness – Floatr
48. Running Blackouts Coastal Fever – Sideways To New Italy
49. Thundercat – It Is What It Is
50. The Cleaners From Venus – Dolly Birds & Spies

1. Better Oblivion Community Center

1. Better Oblivion Community Center - Better Oblivion Community Center

The collaboration of Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst is the highlight of my year in music. Bridgers soft lyrical abilities that portray darkness and honesty coupled with Oberst's signature melancholy create a prolific soundscape that leads us into existential despair.





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2. Andrew Bird

2. Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet

It is no secret of my abject love of all things Andrew Bird. This aptly titled new release from the master whistler and fiddler has been on constant play throughout the year.





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3. The Regrettes

3. The Regrettes - How Do You Love?

Found this punk band from LA through a fantastic cover of Queen's, Don't Stop Me Now. On their Sophomore album, members;
Lydia Night, Genessa Gariano, Brooke Dickson and Drew Thomsen, craft a story of the process of a relationship.



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4. Black Belt Eagle Scout

4. Black Belt Eagle Scout - At The Party With My Brown Friends

This is Katherine Paul's sophomore album. She grew up on a reservation in Washington state and currently resides in Portland. This life has contributed greatly to her sound, and the multi-instrumentalist puts out a laid back, fuzzed out album.



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5. Vampire Weekend

5. Vampire Weekend - Father Of The Bride

Vampire Weekend have been my favorite for their uniqueness, but then, sometimes their shiny gleam sort of wears on you. They evolved in 2013 and put out Modern Vampires. On Father of the Bride, their fourth album, the band returns with a new sensibility. The true talent of this band shines through and with Ezra as the defining character, you see a band stretching its wings. Danielle Haim from Haim is featured on the opening track.



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6. Beirut

6. Beirut - Gallipoli

Zach Condon is back with his fifth album. The Santa Fe native had an old Farfisa organ and tracked it down and bought it back and created this album from the reunion. Wide open airy pop, I'm always down with whatever Condon does.



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7. Bonnie "Prince" Billy

7. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - When We Are Inhuman

This album brings Will Oldham back with Bryce Dessner, of The National, as the producer. It's a collection of reworked Oldham songs, Bryce Dessner murder ballads and some reworked Appalachian tunes. Eighth Blackbird provides the instrumentation and is a six piece ensemble based out of Chicago.



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8. The New Pornographers

8. The New Pornographers - In The Morse Code Of Brake Lights

It seems A.C. Newman has taken up most of the writing for the Pornographers and it shows. With the band getting older and attending to familial duties, it's a mantel he wears well. After listening to one of his older solo albums, the similarities are definitely there, punchier and vibrant. Neko Case always lends her stark vocals which is what makes this band the band that it is. They will be playing Tower Theatre, February 11th.



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9. The Highwomen

9. The Highwomen - The Highwomen

The Highwomen are comprised of Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires. The all female super group was formed this year and pays homage to the Highwaymen who consisted of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings. Much good has come out of this collaborative effort and deserves a solid listen.



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10. Big Thief

10. Big Thief - U.F.O.F.

Big Thief actually produced two albums this year. This apparently a thing, as this is the third band in this list to do so. While both albums are amazing, this particular album definitely has more oomph. Big Thief hit number one in last year's list and rightfully so, you can check that out here. Adrianne Lenker has been very busy, also releasing a solo album in the midst of all this.



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11. Girlpool

11. Girlpool - What Chaos Is Imaginary

Definitely one of my favorite bands. Cleo Tucker recently started taking testosterone pills after coming out trans and the dynamic between their voices is incredible. Switching off lead vocals, he and Harmony have crafted some beautiful songs this go around.



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12. Deerhunter

12. Deerhunter - Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?

This is Bradford Cox's eighth album. Deerhunter has definitely moved from experimental to more pop sounds and, while all eight have been beautiful, I find this album to not only be approachable and listenable, I find it to have immense depth and originality. Co-produced by Cate Le Bon, this album deals with the demise of capitalism.



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13. Karen O / Danger Mouse

13. Karen O / Danger Mouse - Lux Prima

Danger Mouse is back polishing up another favorite artist of mine, Karen O. This blog has been a huge fanboy of Danger Mouse's work from Broken Bells to The Black Keys to Daniele Luppi. His magic touch and collaboration skills not only showcase the talent he's working with, but his own as well.



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14. Shy Girls

14. Shy Girls - Bird On The Wing

Shy Girls is Dan Vidmar and this is his sophomore album. He is an R&B singer from Portland, Oregon. While there is definitely some amazing R&B vibes throughout, I find similarities with Vampire Weekend and Django Django in his music. This is such a great album to just set on repeat and relax all day. This album is self-produced and features the bass of Jaco Pastorius on some tracks.



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