2020 end of year lists

Was you into any of that scene back in the day Titch? It was really before my time & it doesn't seem to get talked about anymore. Something I might venture into at some point as I feel there might be some acts I'd enjoy. 

I have a 3b position ready tbh, I hate December releases

10. Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind
The first seconds of this record set a high never achieved again, but of course it can’t. “Gospel for a New Century” sounds so cool and maybe could be tagged apocalyptic rock: soul, lust and dread all in one. The rest is good if not as fulfilling, the sleaziness of Prince and 70s Stones combined with groovy instrumentals , lots of noise and a pinch of oily psych.

9. Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud
It seems she never leaned this much towards country pop before, but she sounds very comfortable in this guise and applies a welcome modern production touch. Strong singles and a pleasant collection of (never rushed) accompanying songs, at places it gives porch strumming AMerican vibes with crisp guitars and a nice enveloping voice.

8. Gorillaz - Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
Their best since Plastic Beach easily, the guest election is totally spot on and they all contribute to the different pieces (R.Smith!, Elton! St Vincent! Beck! and so on) plus Damon’s solid production is much better than the fake plastic beats he’s been using recently. As the project is totally song oriented it sounds really easy going and probably as fun to make as to listen to. Momentary Bliss I’ve been loving since it was firstly exhibited as the first chapter of something that wasn’t really defined at that moment, here it serves as a fantastic last hooray (of the standard version). Gorillaz are a cartoon band where both dreamed and unexpected collaborations can take place and the world’s a better place for it.

7. Tennis - Swimmer
Their first full release after my big Tennis phase that started around 2017, this brings exactly what they do best: immaculate melodies and spotless production in a misleadingly bright and atemporal package. There can’t be enough of a good thing like this and it seems they’re finally getting the recognition they’ve always deserved.

6. Holy Fuck - Deleter
I’m not aware of their previous works (all I know is they’re Canadian and srk hates them), but this is a great “live” electronic record with psych undertones and where all the tracks are in the good-to-great range. This year has been a long one and it looks like this was released 100 lives ago, but a new listen confirmed it hasn’t really deflated for me. They were meant to come to my city to play by the sea, hopefully 2021 will compensate for that.

5. Caroline Rose - Superstar
First listen to this album feels like 1000 years ago, back when we were free and careless. And what better to remind us of better times and get out of the shit than the shoulda-been-a-hit Feel The Way I Want? She decided to imagine a world where a funny freak like her could be a superstar (and the inevitable downfall), embraced the character and assembled bubblegum anthems dressed in homemade but shiny pop funk production. It’s surely a nightmare not being able to tour this kind of statement, but hopefully Caroline will get the recognition she deserves sooner than later.

4. Hinds - The Prettiest Curse
I didn’t think they had this album in them, so fair do’s. Whereas I felt their previous efforts were alright, it was a well-trodden path and I imagined they could struggle on their future releases. Instead this is the Hinds-est record ever, they feel really liberated and every risky move they’ve taken has totally paid off: the bigger pop production, the Spanglish, the exuberant communal choruses. The first half of the record is mindblowing, banger after banger. They’re a gang and they’re not afraid to show as they really are.

3. Mujeres - Siento Muerte
The fountain of catchy melodies and anthemic choruses never seems to get dry for this trio from Barcelona, with every song filled to the brim with memorable moments and frantic speed. Not sure if it’s my favourite but this will probably be the record they might be remembered for. The success relies in not quite ditching the garage-rock Americanisms of their beginning (as I’ve read) but seamlessly absorbing them while unremorsefully embracing the mannerisms of the Spanish yeyé movement from the 60s and taking one or two tricks from Los Saicos.

2. The Killers - Imploding The Mirage
The title track could be (according to the NME review) “the most Vegas euphemism for premature ejaculation ever conceived”. And I confess I jerked all over My Own Soul’s Warning the first time I listened to it as the record opener. The high lasted so long it carried the vibe for the whole album, I had to message my cousin to share the high with anyone. This is the Killerest of the Killers, so big and so honest, an electric rush of empty hugeness and never ending choruses. As I said, never been the biggest fan of them, but I believe Brandon is the real deal, genuinely a nice guy and he gives his everything here. Of course, having Lindsey Buckingham and Jonathan Rado (who are two of my favourite people in music EVER) was going to help, but all the other collaborators were so spot on too. Drums exploding like fireworks, sampling both Can and NEU!, embracing cohorts of the pop/heartland revival (Alex Cameron, The War on Drugs). My God, just look who’s back in business indeed

1. Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters
The rawest her music is, the most I like Fiona. This homemade jazz pop feminist record is easily the culmination of her career, following a visceral homemade approach both to the lyrics and the recording, with memorable mantras being repeated over and over while irregular song structures are developed and unexpected percussion artifacts (for the lack of a better word) come in from every angle. She infuses humour into the crudity of the stories, which always come as true and relatable. This year saw the release of many pre-pandemic music that was seen in a different light after shit got real, but the blossoming of a well-documented self-confined muse bellowing and hitting the walls to transmit her feelings (Fetch the bolt cutters, I've been in here too long) was a marvel that surpassed even the most optimistic hopes for her comeback record.
EXTRA: There have been lots of great pieces about her and interviews this year, but loved the bit in the recent one with Pitchfork about working with Dylan. Plus what a way to end it with “If nobody sees me for the next few years, just know I will be with dogs.”

I was! It was a mixed bag really. Well, the Acid Jazz side of things was. All revivalist stuff that stole heavily from jazz/funk fusion from the 70s. Galliano being a good example. Jamiroquai being another. Although, even though it rips of Marvin and Stevie shamelessly, i still think his first album is really enjoyable. Brand New Heavies has their moments too. And then they linked in to the Hip Hop scene (with the Heavy Rhyme Experience album) and it all kind of mixed together a little.

The upside of that whole scene though was the people making the music and running the scene (Eddie Pillar for example) had great taste and a load of brilliant Rare Groove tunes got unearthed as a result and brought to the fore.

Club nights back then were ace. It all got mixed together in one night- Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz, Funk, Acid Jazz, Fusion, Reggae. Norman Jay's club nights (Shake n Finger Pop) were brilliant.

In fact that whole early Kiss FM radio scene was so influential, back when it was a pirate station. When you look at their DJ roster from back then (i've just c&p'd the list below), you can see how important that station was. I remember the day it got it's licence. Some say it was the day it died

Norman Jay, Coldcut (Matt Black & Jonathan More), Paul Trouble Anderson, Colin Dale, Colin Faver, Judge Jules, Tim Westwood, Lindsay Wesker, Max LX & Dave VJ, Jazzie B, Steve Jackson, Trevor Nelson, Lisa l'Anson, Danny Rampling and Richie Rich.

Nice one. Yeah it has been hearing some of those DJ's talk about those days that got me interested. I know Paul Weller was into it a bit in the early days of his solo career too. Also, the records from that era often seem to sell dirt cheap so it's probably a good time to get into them, with UK Jazz being on the up again I can see there being more of an interest in that somewhat forgotten era of British music.

Nice read Barny. I'll have to revisit that Yves Tumor record. I heard a clip of a song and was convinced I was going to love it & then the record didn't really grab me.

some great write-ups, thanks a lot for that.....as for now I've been checking some albums from Mahoney's and Barny's lists.

Cheers Bruce. I'm sure you'll repay the favour and present your list for the forum to feast on shortly.

Will you have yours up before the end of 2020?

Love you Bruce

'mon guys, things are too quiet over here!

JP would rather get brownie points with the supernonce Tim Burgess on instagram than share his list on here.

Top 20 Albums discovered 2020

Mostly funk and soul stuff this year.

1. Merry Clayton – Gimme Shelter (1970)
2. Ruby Andrews – Everybody Saw You (1970)
3. Jacqueline Taieb – Jacqueline Taieb (1967)
4. Fred Wesley and the JBs – Damn Right I Am Somebody (1974)
5. Lyn Collins – Think (About It) (1972)
6. John Patton – Understanding (1969)
7. Godstar – Sleeper (1993)
8. James Brown – Sho is Funky Down Here (1971)
9. Jackson Sisters – Jackson Sisters (1976)
10. The Whitefield Brothers – In The Raw (2002)
11. Terry Callier – What Colour is Love (1972)
12. Idris Muhammad – Turn This Mutha Out (1977)
13. Mary Jane Hooper – Psychedelphia: Rare and Unreleased New Orleans Funk 1968-1969 (2005)
14. Ed O.G and Da Bulldogz – Life of a Kid in the Ghetto (1991)
15. Trinity – Three Piece Suite (1977)
16. Kool Moe Dee – Knowledge is King (1989)
17. Six Organs of Admittance – The Sun Awakens (2006)
18. Black Devil – Disco Club (1978)
19. Shirley Scott – One for Me (1975)
20. Timeless Legend – Synchronized (1976)

Top 3 Gigs of 2020

Absolutely heartbreaking to have only attended 3 gigs this year. My lowest tally by a long way in 19 years of gig going. Here is the 3 in order though!

1. Ryley Walker @ Café Oto
2. Black Midi @ Norwich Arts Centre
3. Mark Morriss, Nigel Clarke and Chris Helme @ Norfolk Showground

Top 5 EPs of 2020

1. Pozi – 176
2. Hotel Lux – Barstool Preaching
3. Sinead O’Brien – Drowning in Blessings
4. Death Crash – People Thought My Windows Were Stars
5. Little Simz – Drop 6

Top 40 Albums of 2020



40; Spinning Coin – Hyacinth

Sophomore from the Scottish indie poppers. I loved the debut, this is more of the same but not quite as good.

39; Drive by Truckers – The Unraveling

One of the first albums of the year I heard and then tbh I kind of forgot about it for most of the year until revisiting recently. I reckon this is up there with their best work. I haven’t listened to this kind of music so much the last couple of years after having a few years prior to that obsessed with it. Great Americana anthems here though.

38; Shabaka and the Ancestors – We are Sent Here by History

Whatever Shabaka releases is normally worth checking out and this is no different. I’ve had a quieter year this year in terms of jazz but this is one of my favourites.

37; Lonker See – Hamza

Polish pysch rock with some jazzy elements. Really enjoyed this and was due to see them live supporting Squid which I was excited for but COVID changed that. Hoping they are still supporting for the rearranged date next June.

36; Chris Forysth and Garcia Peoples – Peoples Motel Band

Been a fan of Garcia Peoples for a while but hadn’t heard much of Chris Forsyth until this year so it has been fun checking out some of his earlier stuff. For me this is better than any of Garcia People’s own albums. Great proggy/psych vibes here.

35; Melt Yourself Down – 100% Yes

Another solid release from a really underappreciated band. Yeah, it’s maybe not quite as good as the first couple but they’re proving to be a pretty consistent act.

34; Bob Mould – Blue Hearts

You know what you’re going to get from a Bob Mould solo lp and there are no surprises here. He sounds angrier than ever though and there are some great tunes here.

33; Bridget Dawson and the Mothers Network – Ballet of Apes

I hadn’t heard of her beforehand but apparently she was a one time member of Thee Oh Sees. This is really nice folky/jazzy stuff.


32; Sei Still – Sei Still

Krautrock from Mexico that in places reminds me of Can/Neu! Etc. A real driving sound that captivates me every time I listen. Looking forward to finding out more about these.

31; BC Camplight – Shortly After Takeoff

I’d seen his name around for a few years but never listened before. For some reason I had always written him off as being a middle of the road singer songwriter but that isn’t the case at all. I discovered this back when I was at the peak of my #timstwitterlisteningparty obsession and went into it completely blind. It really caught my attention and has a lot going on. He seems like a decent character too from his Twitter game.

30; Josh Kimbrough – Slither, Soar and Disappear

It wouldn’t be an end of year list from me without at least one folky, instrumental, American primitivism influenced guitarist. Here is this year’s album!


29; Tenci – My Heart is an Open Field

It wouldn’t be an end of year list from me without at least one folky, overly earnest, female singer songwriter. Here is this year’s album!

28; Guided by Voices – Mirrored Aztec

I loved this when it first came out and gave it quite a few spins. Revisited more recently and it didn’t sound quite as good as I remember but still my favourite of their 3 releases this year.

27; Neil Young – Homegrown

I wasn’t overly fussed by this on first listen but revisited recently and enjoyed it so much more. I think maybe initially my expectations were just way too high and I was expecting a lost gem the same quality as On the Beach or something. As it stands it isn’t of that quality but it is another mighty fine addition to a wonderful canon of work.

26; Armand Hammer – Shrines

Hip hop duo featuring Billy Woods and Elucid. I don’t think I’d heard anything by either of them beforehand but that will change now. This is really good. Only a recent discovery so I look forward to spending even more time with this.

25; Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher

I was initially a bit disappointed on first listen but this has really grown on me over the year. There's something so addictive about her voice and the songs, while not quite as captivating as the debut, eventually really hooked me in. Getting her norks out for Rolling Stone helped too.


24; Bill Callahan – Gold Record

Such a consistent songwriter, you always know what you're going to get with Bill. This is his best since Dream River for me. Great collection of songs.

23; R.A.P Ferreira – Purple Moonlight Pages

I'd never listened to any of his stuff previously under the Milo or Scallops Hotel names but this hooked me in instantly. Jazz/hip hop hybrids always appeal to me and I'm also a sucker for spoken word type rapping/singing. Great stuff.

22; Tina – Positive Mental Health Music

The Ronseal Wood Stain of album titles and a lyrically funny but inspiring take on mental health battles. At different times this album reminded me of Pavement, Car Seat Headrest, Brian Jonestown Massacre and Neutral Milk Hotel, all of which are good things. Another great release from Speedy Wunderground. Nearly didn’t make my list though when Karl ruined the album for me for a few weeks when accidentally playing one of the slower moodier numbers on one of his infamous Instagram dj sets.

21; Daniel Avery – Love and Light

My favourite thing he has released so far. I love the contrast between the bangers and the more ambient moments. Shout out to the Illusion of Time record he also released this year.

20; Paul Weller – On Sunset

Luckily the music was a whole lot better than the artwork. Weller seems to be in a real good place at the moment and has had a very creative and prolific last few years. This album is probably the most musically interesting thing he has put out since 22 Dreams, influenced as much by the likes of Terry Callier as it is the typical mod references he gets associated with.

19; Baxter Dury – The Night Chancers

I loved Prince of Tears but for some reason this just didn't click as much when I first heard it. Due to that I didn't spend as much time with it as I should have done but a recent revisit has seen it totally click and rightfully take a place high up in my end of year ranking.

18; Cut Beetlez – What Beetlez?

No way was I expecting one of the standout hip hop albums of the year to come from Finland but there you go. This is proper old school sounding which is how I like it and features a host of guest mcs including the brilliant The Good People whose Good for Nuthin album was a favourite of mine from 2019. Finland’s best export since Glasi.


17; The Allergies – Say the Word

Possibly their best album yet, loads of party vibes for the year we weren't allowed to party. Some brilliant guest spots including Andy Cooper and Marietta Smith. I can't wait for all this crap to be over and see them live again at Norwich Arts Centre doing these tunes.

16; Melenas – Dias Raros

Spanish indie pop that sounds like lots of the girl bands I was really into in the mid 00s like Vivian Girls and Best Coast. This is better than anything those two have released in recent years though. Barny’s mates.

15; Laura Marling – Song for our Daughter

For me Semper Femina was a career high so initially this album felt like a disappointment compared to that. It has grown on me massively over the year though and picking up the vinyl definitely helped (it sounds great!). Another great addition to a ridiculously strong and consistent body of work.


14; The Strokes – The New Abnormal

I loved the first two albums but have been completely indifferent to everything that has come since so didn't have particularly high expectations for this. I didn't think much on first listen but there was something addictive about this album that kept me coming back and I eventually grew to love this. It ended up being a bit of a soundtrack to the summer. A shit summer obviously but the soundtrack to the summer nonetheless.

13; Four Tet – Sixteen Oceans

Easily my favourite electronica artist and I tend to love everything he releases. If someone had told me at the beginning of the year that Ellie Goulding would feature on one of my albums of the year then there is no way I would have believed it. Here though it works perfectly and Baby is a definite standout.

12; Jarv Is… - Beyond the Pale

Jarvis Cocker is one of my all time favourite people so I'm always interested in what he's up to. I reckon this is the best album he has put out since This is Hardcore.

11; Tim Burgess – I Love the New Sky

If I were in charge of the TIME person of the year for 2020 it would easily be Tim Burgess. The #timstwitterlisteningparty completely kept me sane during the first few months of lockdown and just the work he has done in general for the music industry and keeping venues open has been incredible. In amongst all of that he dropped this album which for me is his best solo record yet. A great pop record with positive and inspiring lyrics that were really needed in this rubbish year. Norfolk’s finest son since Alan Partridge.

10; Aoife Nessa Frances – Land of No Junction

In at 10 is this brilliant debut lp from Aoife Nessa Frances. I love the vibe of this album and it mixes older psych folk acts like Judee Sill and Vashti Bunyan with more modern acts like Cate Le Bon while still maintaining it's own unique sound. Can't wait to hear what she does next.

9; Jorun Bombay and Phill Most Chill – Jorun PMC

My favourite hip hop album of the year. This is huge. AE Productions in Bristol have smashed the hip hop releases this year.

8; The Cool Greenhouse – The Cool Greenhouse

After #stingingnettlegate they deserve to be nowhere near this list but I'm willing to forgive them as the album is so damn good. Musically it's very hypnotic repetitive post punky rhythms but for me it is the lyrics that really make this album. So many great lines, dry humour and even though I've listened to it loads there is something new to make me smile each time.

7; Peel Dream Magazine – Agitprop Alterna

I liked their debut but loved this even more. It’s a mix of Stereolab and Ride and ticks loads of 90s indie nostalgia boxes for me.

6; Nadia Reid – Out of My Province

I hadn’t been too bothered by her previous work but this captivated me immediately. It’s very Laura Marling but I prefer it to Laura’s release this year and that is saying something.

5; Doves – The Universal Want

I didn’t have that big expectations of this really despite them being a great band. They’ve completely smashed it with this though and it rates highly in their back catalogue for me. What a band.

4; Nadine Shah – Kitchen Sink

One of my favourite people in the world. Such a geezer as well as making top tunes. This isn’t quite as good as Holiday Destination for me but still a quality album.

3; Fontaines D.C – A Hero’s Death

This was a huge surprise as I wasn’t fussed by the debut at all. In fact I’m not even sure why I bothered listening to this but I’m so glad I did. It blew me away instantly and is a massive step up from the debut. A much more mature sound and reminiscent of The National in places (that’s a compliment just to clarify).

2; Thurston Moore – By the Fire

I disagree with Karl a bit here in that for me it is the mish mash of styles that really work here. I love how it goes from Sonic Youth esque rocker to a noodly Mogwai esque number and then a load of noise. Probably my favourite guitarist of all time and this is high up on my list of anything he has ever been involved with.

1; Working Men’s Club – Working Men’s Club

I’m shocked to by putting this as my number 1 but I fucking love this album. I saw them live at Latitude a couple of years ago and thought they were ok but ultimately seemed another run of the mill post punk guitar band. The singer had something about him though and a bit of danger so when the album was finally released this year I thought I would check it out. Turns out they have changed most of their band members and completely changed their sound and gone down the synth route. Normally this would put me off but they have done it brilliantly. It sounds like a cross between New Order, Joy Division and The Fall but every tune is an absolute banger. Can’t wait to see them play these tunes live at some point. I’m really happy to finally have a new band get my number 1 album of the year with a great debut. There’s tonnes of great new bands around again at the moment and Working Men’s Club are right up there for me now.

I will try to do one, yes

Cheers.

Bruce, just one little thing if you want to participate:

HOW DARE YOU.

I just got a major case of deja vu reading JP’s list! At least he finally delivered it - even if did feel like that Christmas as a kid that I got a bunch of mega drive games but had been playing them whilst my mother was at work for months prior.

I did that with Rugby World Cup 95 on the Mega Drive. I was terrible at it, would always just vs Latvia cos they were shit.