Welcome back to my year end 2020 lists. This is pretty late, but as long as I get them done by February, right? This is a list of albums that I either discovered or rediscovered in 2020, but were not released in that year. For my top 10 albums of 2020, stay tuned.
blashy101- Animal Forest どうぶつの森
I got turned on to the DMT Tapes FL label pretty early on into the year, and it's wide selection of vapor releases kept me coming back all year. The label is closed now, but you can still get their full and vast discography on Bandcamp, among other places. blashy101 was one of my favorite artists on the roster, especially with the releases flipping Animal Crossing samples. It was one of my favorite games when I was a teenager, and it brought me back. Ironically, I'm probably one of the few people that wasn't playing the new Animal Crossing in the early days of quarantine, but I was bumping this.
Earth- The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull
Earth is a pretty pioneering drone metal band, started in the late '80s and really reaching their noisy peak in the mid '90s. After that, they got a little weirder, mixing in dark folk elements and Americana. This album falls into their later period. Imagine the soundtrack to a heavily medicated spaghetti western, and you might get an idea of the sounds this album has in store. I found myself listening to a lot more instrumental and ambient stuff last year. Last year was incredibly trying for a lot of people, and I found myself avoiding a lot of heavy, aggressive music for something a little more contemplative.
The Grateful Dead- Workingman's Dead
I listened to a lot of the Dead last year, thanks in part to the Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast, which you should definitely listen to if you're a fan. It's coverage of some of the songs, in particular 'Black Peter', gave me a new appreciation for this album. I always thought the track was a bit of a weak link in the track list, but after hearing of the experience Robert Hunter used as inspiration for the track, in which he was dosed with waaaaay too much LSD and experienced a thousand deaths in his mind, I understand it a little more.
Griselda- WWCD
I got fully immersed into the Griselda world this year, and their version of grimy coke raps is probably the most aggressive thing I listened to this year. While their wordplay can be impressive, it's really their delivery and incredible production that sealed the deal. Of the three members, I'd probably have to say that Conway is my favorite. Plus, they're from Buffalo, which I grew up near, so you've got to support some homegrown talent. If you're driving around town up to no good, this should be the soundtrack to your mayhem.
Desert Sand Feels Warm at Night- 濃霧
I listened to a lot of podcasts last year, and I was lucky enough to listen to the Private Suite Podcast while it was active (RIP Private Suite). They introduced me to a lot of vapor and vapor adjacent music, of which Desert Sand Feels Warm at Night is one of my favorites. The long, slushy ambient pieces filled the hole that t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者 left behind, in my humble opinion.
Nine Inch Nails- Ghosts I-IV
With the release of Ghosts V and Ghosts VI last year, I did a little bit of backtracking and re-listened to Trent Reznor's first soundscape albums. They definitely still hold up and are a little bit more engaging than the new ones. I found myself listening to these a decent amount last year when I was reading or writing. A lot of people can't concentrate with music playing, but I can't really concentrate without music playing. As long as there aren't a lot of lyrics to pull me out of my zone, it helps me concentrate and block out distractions. This could be a decent study playlist, if you're into that sort of thing.
James Taylor- Greatest Hits
In addition to a lot of ambient stuff, I listened to a whole lot of '70s singer songwriter records last year. This compilation has been with me for a very long time, and it got a lot of spins from me in 2020. It's got such a mellow, hopeful mood that's a bit infectious, and for a brief moment, it helped me forget about other infectious things ravaging the country. I've got most of the songs on this record memorized, and my favorite is probably 'Sweet Baby James'. Like most of Taylor's songs, it's pretty simple, but that's what gives it its irresistible charm.
Neil Young- After the Gold Rush
I listened to a lot of Neil Young last year, in particular this record. I probably got obsessed with 'Don't Let It Bring You Down' for a straight up week. The period right after Deja Vu was a peak artistic spot for all of CSNY, and this probably my favorite of the solo releases to follow that record, possibly being rivaled by the next album on this list, though it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges. This album takes a more direct folk and rock approach, while the other....
David Crosby- If I Could Only Remember My Name
I never really listened to this record until last year, when I heard about its conception on the Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast (it's really good I promise). I did not expect this album to be so free form and jam based, though had I known most of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane played on the record, I may have seen that coming. I got an album completely different from the by the numbers folk rock record I was thinking it was (not that there's anything wrong with a record like that). It's definitely the most left field and experimental release of the CSNY post Deja Vu solo records.
Liz Phair- Exile In Guyville
I got into a lot of women singer songwriters in 2020: Sharon Van Etten, Weyes Blood, Angel Olson, Soccer Mommy, Snail Mail, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers (more on her in a later post) just to name a handful. Not all of them owe a little bit to Liz Phair, but I can see little glimpses in some of their writing. She and Alanis really put that edgy female singer songwriter thing on the map in the '90s, and it's a shame that publications like Pitchfork eviscerated her for making some poppy records in the 2000s that don't sound too dissimilar from records they're giving Best New Music now. Looking forward to Soberish, Liz."Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
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