2020 – An Overview of a Decade This Year
By Darin Brock
Before I get into my top picks for 2020, I think it’s important to know where some of these choices came from, mentally. Make no doubt, 2020 was a complete fuck of clusters. In a time where I had the free time to be scouring the interwebs for new music, I mostly sought the refuge of known entities. I spent a great deal of time revisiting my own large catalog of music. There was so much uncertainty outside the front door, I sought the friendly embrace of the timeless greatness of The Jazz Butcher, The Wedding Present, Walmartians, and even (cue the snickers) The Presidents of the United States of America. I turned toward the tunes I knew would make me happy/express my anger. However, there were many great moments to be heard in 2020; new music from new bands, new music from old favorites and many fantastic reissues of classics. I can say that my purchase dollars have not been wasted on anything new to me this year. No albums that illicit the tacit, “meh,” only good to great. And for that I am thankful, but 2020 can still fuck off.
Bob Mould – Blue Hearts
If ever an album matched the inner thoughts in my head during the COVID/Trump shitshow of 2020, it’s this album. 2020 notwithstanding, Blue Hearts is Mould’s most impactful work since Workbook. His “heart-on-sleeve,” thoughtful lyrics backed with a deadly punch of short, sharp, shock are that perfect blend of his Husker Du days and previous solo efforts. Not only is this my favorite album of 2020, it’s my favorite Mould offering to date.
Standout cuts: “Siberian Butterfly,” “Racing to the End,” & “Little Pieces.”
Waxahatchee – St. Cloud
For every bit of angst Bob Mould represents, Waxahatchee’s fifth full length is the smooth and mellow comedown we all need. Sweet melodies and Katie Crutchfield’s wispy, yet soulfully smooth voice keeps the material from becoming too melancholy. “Can’t Do Much,” is my favorite song of 2020 and it’s got a bullet on the all-time list. She’s a great songwriter, plain and simple. I can put this album on and let it loop for hours. A sign of a great album is it provides a gateway to other material from the artist. I now own all five Waxahatchee albums. Enough said.
Standout cuts: “Can’t Do Much,” “Lilacs,” and “War.”
The Replacements – Pleased To Meet Me
2020 Reissue
I submit there are few opening tracks of any album that pack the awesome of “I.O.U.” I thought that in 1988 when I bought the cassette. I thought it again when I picked up the CD a year later. I still think it with the 2020 reissue “Pleased To Meet Me.” I’ve always been kind of “whatever” on the idea of reissues. Not really interested in the 15 demo versions of what’s already on the album and a couple of lesser tunes that didn’t make the final cut. This collection is the exception. The original album is The Replacements at their ramshackle best – a top 20 album for me. There’s a lot to listen to here. And while, yes, it does have a ton of demos, there are a nice collection of unreleased material that could have been a great album on their own. The Replacements are a band I got into late, but I’m glad I did.
Original album standout cuts: “I.O.U.,” ”Skyway,” “Nevermind,” and the should have been a huge hit, “Can’t Hardly Wait.”
Unreleased Standouts: “Kick It In,” & “Beer for Breakfast.”
Check out “Pleased To Meet Me (Deluxe) Edition” on the Rhino Records site.
The Beths – Jump Rope Gazers
The New Zealand quartet’s debut “Future Me Hates Me,” was my #1 album for 2018, by far. And, the “sophomore slump” has always been a thing in music, but not in this case. Jump Rope Gazers picks up where The Beths left off in 2018. Though it lacks the consistent highs of the debut, there are some great moments on Gazers. More great power pop and Elizabeth Stokes’ great lyrics. The Beths go to the ballad well a couple of times more on this selection, but they are good at pulling that off without it being a slog. So much fun with this band. Feeling shitty? Play The Beths.
Standout cuts: “I’m Not Getting Excited,” “Dying to Believe,” & “Just Shy of Sure.”
Post Neo Anti: Arte Povera in the Forest of Symbols
The big jangle returns. Got into these guys thanks to some algorithm magic and their connection to The Wedding Present. The group’s first full length in decades picks up where they left off – but without sounding dated. Clever lyrics overcome the limited singing. And the jangle. So much jangle. Great lead riffs and up tempo throughout. Listened to this one on a loop for days. There’s not a weak song in this collection and the closer, “Wander Pts I & II” is epic.
Standout cuts: “All Compasses Go Wild,” “Johnnie” and “Now Time.”
Checkout “Post Neo Anti: Arte Povera in the Forest of Symbols” on Bandcamp.
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Sideways to New Italy
What’s not to like about vocal harmonies and ringing/chiming guitars? Harkens back the heyday of Britpop in the early 90’s. Some jangle, some bouncy chord progressions, bass lines and almost country lead riffs equal 39 minutes of pop bliss. Think Teenage Fanclub on speed. The album closer “The Cool Change” clocks in as an easy top 10 song for the year.
Standout cuts: “She’s There,” “Cameo,” & “The Cool Change.”
The Frank Popp Ensemble – Receiver
Yes, an album fronted by a DJ. Joined by singer Sam Leigh-Brown, Popp’s assembled group of musicians recreate the sample-laiden tunes created by the DJ. Instead of samples, the loops are played live – a concept that works surprisingly well. The blend of 60’s soul and Stax horns with Kinks distorted guitars is more infectious than COVID in a closet full of heavy breathers. This collection takes on the more traditional approach to songs, meaning there are no DJ/dance cuts that frequented earlier releases. It’s a shame because Popp is pretty damn good at it. However, the tunes remain bouncy and Leigh-Brown’s voice is perfect against the electro-soul. Another collection that you can’t hear and not be happy, or at least nod your head and tap your foot.
Standout cuts: “Nothing to Gain,” “Live Wire,” “Hey Mr. Innocent,” & “Magic Birds.”
The Hold Steady – Thrashing Thru The Passion
This album was released late in 2019, but I didn’t pick it up until Jan. 2020, so it counts. I have always liked The Hold Steady, but never enough to purchase a whole album. After going through my song list, I owned enough material to have two albums.So I decided to make the jump and go all in with Thrashing Thru The Passion. Singer Craig Finn is a singer in the way Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, or Gerard Langley are singers. More storyteller than anything, but there is a certain quality in his voice that is missing from those others. Combined with a top notch musician on every instrument, every song comes across as an epic, but never overwrought. Some critics called this collection “a return to form from a band that is winding down.” This is my first full length taste of the Hold Steady and I want seconds. A great listen from start to finish.
Standout cuts: “Denver Haircut,” “Traditional Village,” & “The Stove and The Toaster.”
Country Westerns – Country Westerns
Uncle Tupelo and Reigning Sound had a one night stand and made this baby of a band. Not quite country, not quite punk, not quite pop,not quite going completely off the rails. The sloppy masterpiece of this debut album is hard to turn off once you start. Joey Plunkett’s gravel road voice demands to be heard. “Depressing songs with fun drums,” is what the band calls their music. I would agree, being depressed never kicked ass this much. No time for ballads on this collection. About as perfect a debut as you can have.
Standout cuts: “Anytime,” “Times To Tunnels,” & “Two Characters in Search of a Country Song.”
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott – Manchester Calling
One of the best pop songwriters of the last 40 years and one of the sexiest female voices on the planet. If you listen to the fourth collection from Heaton and Abbott and do not have a smile on your face, you may in fact, be dead already. Infectious melodies, 70’s-style horns, and Heaton’s wry and slightly twisted lyrical take on relationships is hard not to love. Another collection of tunes destined to pick you up after a long day of waiting for testing. Another collection of tunes that will rip your guts out too. Never have a male/female vocal duo complimented each other so well.
Standout cuts: “A Good Day Is Hard To Find,” “All of My Friends,” & “You and Me.”
Honorable Mentions
- Menzingers – Hello Exile
- Haim – Women in Music, Pt. III
- X – Alphabetland
- Walmartians – Cheers
- Viagra Boys – Common Sense EP
- The Chicks – Gaslighter
- Sonic Boom – All Things Being Equal
Top 10 of 2020
By Steve May
Blue October – This Is What I Live For
I am an unapologetic fan of Blue October, so I readily admit extreme bias here. I fully realize that they are not for everyone. They definitely seem to be one of those bands that one either fully loves or really, really dislikes. The songs on this their 10th studio album reflect to me the final chapter of band leader Justin Furstenfeld’s redemption story. After hitting rock bottom several years ago with drug abuse and depression, Justin seems to have reclaimed his life with a new wife and children. Original fans of the band complain now that new Blue October songs are no longer dark or emo enough and that’s certainly true. As any good band should do, Blue October has evolved to a point where I feel their songwriting and musicianship is as strong as ever.
Standout cuts: “Oh My, My”, “The Weatherman” and “Completely.”
Checkout “This Is What I Live For” on the Blue October site.
AC/DC – Power Up
Nothing really new here except a very strong AC/DC album. Is it predictable? Yes, definitely, but to me that is one of the appeals of AC/DC. Sentimentally, I love the fact that this is pretty much the classic AC/DC lineup minus Bon Scott. I’m not the biggest fan of Brian Johnson’s singing voice, but it did make me happy when Angus brought him back into the AC/DC family to record this album. Many of the songs were initially ideas from late rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, so this record is, in a way, a tribute to him.
Standout cuts: “Shot In The Dark”, “Realize” and “Wild Reputation.”
Pearl Jam – Gigaton
Probably Pearl Jam’s best album since the late 90s. I’m not the biggest PJ fan, but I found this album to be very solid and listenable.
Standout cuts: “Quick Escape”, “Alright” and “Take The Long Way.”
The Killers – Imploding the Mirage
The Killers are another band that can be very divisive in terms of loving or hating them. They’ve certainly had their moments of douchebaggery, but their latest release is just a really solid power pop album that I enjoyed all the way through. The songwriting of Brandon Flowers has certainly matured, so I guess that was something I tapped into while listening to this the first time.
Standout cuts: “Caution”, “My Own Soul’s Warning” and “Running Towards a Place.”
Those Damn Crows – Point of No Return
Welsh band TDC avoid the sophomore slump with their second studio album. I find very few new hard rock bands to be original these days, so I appreciate the fact that this band seems to have found a good combo of a modern rock sound with a nod to classic rock. Frontman Shane Greenhall is a strong lyricist and manages to tell a good story through song.
Standout cuts: “Sin On Skin”, “Never Win” and “Set In Stone.”
Bruce Springsteen – Letter To You
I’ve only recently come to truly appreciate Springsteen’s discography and his place in music history. A deep dive into his catalog over the past couple of years had me eagerly anticipating this new release and it did not disappoint. I appreciate the fact that he is very loyal to his band and tries to bring them all back for the recording sessions when he’s ready to start on a new project.
Standout cuts: “Letter To You”, “Power of Prayer” and “Ghosts.”
Brian Fallon – Local Honey
I’ve been a fan of Fallon since his days in Gaslight Anthem. While I do miss that band, I have enjoyed Fallon’s solo efforts. His lyrics have always resonated with me, but now that he’s a father and husband, I find that to be even more the case. This third solo album is very raw and honest. Songs by a man who has matured and survived some shit.
Standout cuts: “21 Days”, “I Don’t Mind (If I’m With You)”, and “Hard Feelings.”
Gordon Lightfoot – Solo
This a sentimental pick mainly for the fact that I’m just happy Gordon is still around and managed to put out a new album at age 81. His voice is obviously not as strong as it used to be, but still sounds pretty damn good for an octogenarian. These are songs that he had written back in 2002, but then he got really sick and didn’t put them out. The songs were rediscovered by Lightfoot, so he decided to freshen them up a bit and put out the album.
Standout cuts: “Oh So Sweet”, “Just A Little Bit” and “Do You Walk, Do You Talk.”
Broken Witt Rebels – OK Hotel
A lesser known band, but seem to be finding a larger fan base with this release. Think Kings of Leon but with better songs and musicianship. To me, they have a good combination of electric blues and soul. Very radio friendly tracks, but just enough out of the mainstream for me to still be appealing.
Standout cuts: “Running With the Wolves”, “Birmingham”, and “Take You Home.”
Buffalo Summer – Desolation Blue
Another Welsh band on my list. Good hard rock. Very riff friendly and ready made for the “arena rock” scene. They’ve been a band for about 10 years and this is their third studio album. For those that say “hard rock is dead”, I would readily offer up Buffalo Summer as proof that is not the case.
Standout cuts: “The Mirror”, “Hit The Ground Running” and “Last To Know.”
Honorable Mentions
The Dirty Knobs – Wreckless Abandon
Mike Campbell is better known as a member of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. This is his first solo project and it should be welcomed and enjoyed by fans of Mr. Petty. Campbell co-wrote a couple of songs on just about every Petty release, so the song style is remarkably familiar. Even Campbell’s singing voice sounds a bit like Petty himself.
Standout cuts: the whole album is solid, but stand out tracks for me are “Sugar”, “Southern Boy” and “Fuck That Guy.”
Rush – Permanent Waves
40th Anniversary Release
In a year where we lost Neil Peart thus ending any hopes of Rush putting out new music, any release is welcome even if it’s a repackaging of an older album. This remastered version sounds great and presents Rush classics such as “The Spirit of Radio” and “Freewill” in a much fuller form. Also included are some previously unreleased live tracks from the Permanent Waves tour. My guess is that every previous Rush release will receive the “40th Anniversary” treatment from here on out and that’s perfectly fine with me.
Top 10 of 2020
By Rob Cox
I did not feel the need to write an intro paragraph as some of my fellow members of 4 Cylinder Fury did. That would take away from the sanctity of the list.
Moaning – Uneasy Laughter
The second record from this band released on Sub Pop. I feel like it was largely looked over and/or forgotten due to the virus. Lots of things weren’t recognized. Try this one on if you like post punk.
Standout cuts: “Running,” “Make It Stop,” and “Connect the Dots”
Protomartyr – Ultimate Success Today
I first became aware of Protomartyr in 2015 after the release of their excellent record, “The Agent Intellect”. After a switch to Domino, I felt like the subsequent releases were not as good. However, they turned it around with this one. Great noise music in the spirit of The Fall.
Standout cuts: “Processed by the Boys,” “June 21,” “Michigan Hammers,” and “Modern Business Hymns”
Special Interest – The Passion Of Punk
No wave, industrial rock out of New Orleans. It’s loud,fast, noisy and fun.
Standout cuts: “Homogenized Milk,” “Street Pulse Beat,” and “Tina”
Beach Bunny – Honeymoon
I first became aware of Beach Bunny through my kids. Apparently the song, “Prom Queen” was a Tik Tok sensation with the kids. I listened to the whole song and thought it was pretty good. When the new record was announced, I of course listened and told my kids. We listened to the new songs together and for one of the first times, we had a common love for the same music. It’s fun. Poppy. Nothing groundbreaking. But maybe the reason I like it so much is that I bonded with the kids. But then they went back to listening to Lizzo.
Standout cuts: “Cuffing Season,” “Ms. California,” and “Dream Boy”
The Beths – Jump Rope Gazers
Didn’t really think I would like this as much as “Future Me Hates Me”. The hooks are abundant on this record. In fact, as a whole, I think I like this one better. All the good bands lately are coming from the other side of the world.
Standout cuts: “Mars, the God of War,” “Out of Sight,” “Acrid,” and “I’m Not Getting Excited”
Wicketkeeper – Shonk
All credit goes to Wes at Control Records in Little Rock form making me aware of this record. I don’t know much about them. They’re an English trio. This album has been released on a small label in Spain. That’s about all I know but it is good fun indie rock with a hook.
Standout cuts: “The Side,” “I Can’t Believe,” and “Spin”
Water Liars – Roll On
I’ll never understand record companies and the decision making into what to release and not to release. This band was on Fat Possum but when they were presented with it, chose not to release it. It was passed around to various other labels but to no avail. So it was shelved. 5 years later it was released by a small label out of Fayetteville, AR. The band is no more. I’m not sure what, if anything different would have become of the band had it put out 5 years ago. I guess we’ll never know but do yourself a favor and give it a listen.
Standout cuts: “Roll On,” “Cheap Rent,” “Ain’t it Hard,” and “Darkest Road”
Destroyer – Have We Met
I’ve never really been a big fan of Dan Bejar. I don’t really like any of his contributions to the New Pornographers. I met him once. Besides smelling of patchouli and onions, I found him to be quite pompous. So needless to say, I wasn’t expecting much when the new Destroyer album was announced. By chance, I heard it played on our local station. Imagine my surprise when I heard who it was and that I actually liked it. I was prompted to go back and visit the Destroyer record, Kaputt. I still didn’t like it. But I am a fan of this release. So good job stinky Dan.
Standout cuts: “It Just Doesn’t Happen,” “Cue Synthesizer,” and “Crimson Tide”
RVG – Feral
It’s a close race between #1 and #2 for my top picks. This is another band out of Australia and parts of the songs remind me of the Go Betweens. I listened to this record a lot when the world was shut down this year. I’d put it on and just walk and begin to feel better about everything.
Standout cuts: “Alexandra, Little Sharkie and the White Pointer Sisters,” “Christian Neurosurgeon,” “Perfect Day,” and “Photograph”
Country Westerns – Country Westerns
This great alt country rock band is made up of members of the Weight and Silver Jews and based in Nashville. I’m not sure where I first heard them. I know the second time I heard them, Bruce was playing them on his radio show. To pick specific songs to highlight would be unfair to the album because the album is that good.
Standout cuts: NO BAD SONGS. NO FILLER. GREAT ROCK.
Collections/Reissues
- Strum and Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 83-87
- The Replacements – Pleased to Meet Me Deluxe Reissue
- Pylon – Box
- Mr. Bungle – The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny
Music In A Year Of Diminishing Expectations
By Bruce D. Cummings
I bought a ridiculous amount of music this year. Music has always been a big part of my life, but in this time of pandemic it became even more so. With so many other outlets (shows, bars, restaurants, etc…) being off limits and the seemingly never ending downward spiral of reassessing things and thinking about what’s to come, music truly became a lifeline. Both personally and socially.
Narrowing things down to just 10 was something of a challenge. Not all of these are new albums released in 2020. There’s some reissues in here and a compilation as well. These were the ones that stuck with me through the year or made enough of an impact to be included here. I could probably list 90 more if I had the time. Anyway, here’s my top 10 for 2020 presented in no particular order. Cheers.
Dave Kusworth & The Bounty Hunters – Wives, Weddings & Roses
2017 Reissue
Dave Kusworth passed away in September of this year at the age of 60. This album was originally released in 1988 in the UK. In 2017 Kusworth reissued it on his own Jack Of Hearts Records. Kusworth was in quite a few bands over the years, including the Jacobites along with the late Nikki Sudden. So there’s a lot to explore with him. Probably one of the best songwriters and performers when it came to doomed romance and heartache, Kusworth’s heart-on-his-sleeve approach seems timeless to me. Like nearly everything by him these songs feel like something that has always been around. The perfect soundtrack for a night of cigarettes, whiskey, and regret.
Standout cuts: Paint & Sugar, I Don’t Know Why I Still Love You, Dollar Kiss, and Streets of Gold.
John Foxx and The Maths – Howl
John Foxx turned 72 this year. He also released his seventh album with the Maths. “Howl” sees the return of mainstay Benge (credited with pandemic percussion, psychomatic synthesizer, and supersaturated bass) along with frequent collaborator Hannah Peel (credited with violent violins, San Andreas electrostatic aftermath). The real treat here though is the return of Foxx’s former Ultravox bandmate (and sorely underrated post-punk guitarist) Robin Simon (credited with skyscraper guitar, shapeshifting riffing, and demolition intercision). Foxx himself is credited with unlicensed vocals, Blackpool neon fuzzbox, chaos keyboards.
The credits are funny and clever, but they also accurately represent the sounds and mood across these eight tracks. Foxx and the Maths have created something both familiar and surprising with calls back to what came before and a look to what lies ahead. Just a stellar effort.
Standout cuts: “Everything Is Happening At The Same Time,” “New York Times,” and “Strange Beauty
Country Westerns – Country Westerns
It has been a few years since I’ve dropped a needle on a record and thought “yes!” from start to finish. This debut album by Country Westerns just works straight through. There’s an energy born of live shows in dives that drives these songs forward. That combined with a world weary tone and wry lyrics make it all gel. If this band never released another album I’d be OK with that, but I hope they do.
Standout cuts: Pretty much everything, but I’ll call out the Magnetic Fields cover “Two Characters In Search Of A Country Song” as a brilliant capper to this record.
Various Artists – Louis Wayne Moody High: 1967
Chicago’s Numero Group made its name on discovering and reissuing overlooked or underappreciated regional soul, R&B, and funk scenes across the country. In recent years they’ve branched out into other genres, including hardcore punk and power pop.
Their Cabinet of Curiosities series though is something quite different. The “Louis Wayne Moody High” collection is one of 2020’s entries in the series. Much like 2019’s “You’re Not From Around Here,” the soundtrack to an apparently completely fictional film, this is a collection of obscure tracks sequenced to create a certain experience. In this case it is the soundtrack to the saddest high school dance ever. It comes packaged in a faux-leather yearbook complete with period appropriate photos, signatures, and graffiti for this fictional school.
Standout cuts: “$1,000,000 War Babies Hey, Little Boy,” “Female Species Tale Of My Lost Love,” and “The Weejuns Ready C’mon Now”
Algiers – There Is No Year
I’ve seen Atlanta’s Algiers described variously as experimental, post-punk, gospel-punk, and indie rock. I suppose all of those are applicable in some way, but I just think them as a great American band. Listening back to “There Is No Year, ” which was released in January of this year, it is amazing how much of it is the appropriate soundtrack for 2020. There’s an energy and darkness in these songs that seems to presage what was to come in this year.
Standout cuts: “There Is No Year,” “Dispossessed,” and “Losing Is Ours”
The Chamber Strings – Gospel Morning
2020 Reissue
Kevin Junior, the founder of The Chamber Strings, passed away in 2016. Junior was originally from Akron, Ohio. He moved to Chicago when he was 16 and played with a few bands before hooking up with Epic Soundtracks and Nikki Sudden in the UK. Once he was back in Chicago in the 90s he put together the Chamber Strings and recorded their debut album “Gospel Morning.”
Originally released in 1997, Chicago’s own Pravda Records reissued it this year. It is an amazing record that reflects the influences of the Faces and early Stones without ever sounding retro or derivative. It is pop, it is rock, it is glam, and just an all around a great listen.
Standout cuts: “Everyday Is Christmas,” “The Race Is On,” and “No More Songs”
Jolie Holland – Escondida
2020 Reissue
Jolie Holland is originally from Houston, Texas. She lives in California these days. “Escondida,” her third album, was first released in 2004. She reissued it on Cinquefoil this year as a double LP cut at 45 rpm. Holland has a unique style that blends folk, rock, and 1940s pop touches. I’d not heard of her until this year, but she’s definitely on my radar now.
Standout cuts: “Old Fashioned Morphine,” “Amen,” and “Damn Shame”
Keleketla! – Keleketla!
Keleketla! started as a collaboration between Coldcut and a roster of South African musicians, including rapper Yugen Blakrok (who contributed to the Black Panther soundtrack). The project eventually grew to include musicians from Johannesburg to London, Lagos, L.A. and West Papua. This debut is a sprawling and fascinating excursion through different sounds and styles – from South African-influenced jazz, spoken word bits, dancehall epics, and more.
Standout cuts: “International Love Affair,” “Freedom Groove,” and “Papua Merduka”
The Speedways – Radio Sounds
A couple of years ago I was in London over the weekend. I noticed that the Fleshtones (one of my all-time favorite bands) were playing a show. I’d seen them live in Austin, Dallas, St. Louis, and Chicago over the years. So why not London too? The Speedways opened for them. They were amazing from start to finish in their all too brief set. Not surprisingly they were sold out of their first album “Just Another Regular Summer” at the show. I managed to pick up a copy later on Bandcamp.
“Radio Sounds” is their second full-length record. If you are a fan of sharp, well-crafted power pop with a bit of an edge this is the record for you. If you aren’t then we probably aren’t friends.
Standout cuts: “This Ain’t A Radio Sound,” “Kisses Are History,” “Telephone Lies”
Metz – Atlas Vending
Metz is a band I loved from the first moments of their debut album in 2012. That record, along with the first disc of Pansonic’s sprawling Kesto collection, was one of by go to options in times of stress. The brutal, barely controlled noise assault was perfect to let go. Metz don’t change their sound up much with “Atlas Vending,” but there are a few nuances here and there that hint at some evolution.
Standout cuts: “Blind Youth Industrial Park,” “Parasite,” and “A Boat To Drown In”
