2020 Best of Music
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Spotify year in review suggests that I listened to 727 artists, 249 of which were new this year, but it doesn’t feel like it. I did very little exploration this year and mostly stuck to old favorites and new releases from old favorites.
In no particular order…
Bright Eyes
Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was
After almost a decade Bright Eyes returned with one of their safest, but most solid records. There’s nothing game changing here, but nostalgia alone is enough for me to look past this safe play on familiar Conor Oberst themes.
Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was - Spotify
Built to Spill
Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston
I’m admittedly very new to the story of Daniel Johnston, but it’s all parts fascinating, sad, and poetic the more I look into him. Built to Spill is one of my top bands of all time, and I did not realize that one of my favorite songs from them (Some Things Last A Long Time) was a Daniel Johnston cover from over 20 years ago.
There have been other Johnston tribute albums put out well before he passed away last year, most notably one from Kathy McCarty in 1994. You may remember her version of Rocketship from an episode of Futurama. Here is Johnston’s original version of that.
Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston - Spotify
Car Seat Headrest
Making a Door Less Open
I got into Car Seat Headrest a few years ago because their Bandcamp grind -> Matador success story, and lo-fi catchy tunes affinity for anything like Guided by Voices. This year’s release is an electronic album. It’s nothing like anything previous, which just made me listen to more of their back catalogue.
This random Razer computer unboxing video on their YouTube is telling of how all over the place I expect Will Toledo to go, especially for the fact that the description now reads “Update: I no longer own this computer and would not recommend it to anyone.”
Making a Door Less Open - Spotify
Bully
SUGAREGG
Spotify keeps confusing Bully with another artist that caused me to miss this album on the Release Radar when it came out earlier this year, but luckily I stumbled across it this week. It’s not hooking me like 2017’s “Losing” but I hope this one grows on me.
Guided By Voices
Styles We Paid For / Mirrored Aztec / Surrender Your Poppy Field
Guided By Voices is the greatest band of all time. Formed the year before I was born, I did not even learn about them until halfway through their lifespan and multiple breakups, they are back together and somehow putting out 3 albums a year (for over 8 years now). The video above is one of many live clips from over a decade ago and the link below is thier discography. Robert Pollard has over 2500 songs registered to his name and is one of the most prolific songwriters of all time. Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, I hope I don’t have to travel too far to see them when shows start back again.
Waxahatchee
Saint Cloud
I was super thrilled that Katie Crutchfield was going to be playing at the local Brew Dog General Mayhem festival in Columbus last year, but was super disappointed that nobody quite got into the set. It did not have quite the same reception when seeing her back in Brooklyn. Regardless, she released arguably the best record of 2020, which even Pitchfork thinks was only surpassed by by Fiona Apple.
Frances Quinlan
Likewise
Frances Quinlan makes a solo outing after an amazing hat trick with Hop Along. The best part about this album is how it reminds of the pre-fame solo tracks you can still find on bandcamp, which she recorded in high school.
The Microphones
Microphones in 2020
17 years since the last release, the Microphones released a 45 minute song and called it an album. The album/song is above, described as a powerpoint karaoke slideshow, lyric demonstration, music display, photo flip, audio book.
Girl Band
Live at Vicar Street
It’s been a while since hearing a live album. I was only passively into Girl Band, but after hearing this live album it made me really really really eager to get back to live shows.
Live at Vicar Street - Spotify
Jeff Rosenstock
NO DREAM
There’s nothing wrong with political-ish, emo-ish, pop-punk-ish, DIY rock and roll catchy tunes in 2020.
Surfer Blood
Carefree Theatre
I’ll be honest, I haven’t listened to Carefree Theatre. I put Surfer Blood here because they did a zoom live concert of Astro Coast, one of my favorite albums from 10 years ago. One of the videos from that show is above.
Astro Coast (10 Year Anniversary) - Spotify
No Joy
Motherhood
I could have used more shoegaze No Joy but Motherhood is a fun mashup of different genres and fresh enough to warrant putting the album on repeat. It still inevitably will provoke a jump off to Wait to Pleasure, where you can never go wrong.
Soccer Mommy
color theory
Soccer Mommy is cool. She also streamed video games a couple times.
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