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Obviously, 2020 was a different/tragic/weird/outlier of a year. Sadly, this means that most of the music I would hear, along with millions of people, will be filtered through the word(s) of "pandemic" or "Covid." Touring was cancelled, which means how artists would release music and then promote it drastically changed. Knowing this means that the music needed to either "speak" to me and others differently, or it had to be just as abnormal as our quarantine methods. For me, this meant that the music I consumed was filtered into: "speaks of quarantine emotions" (like anger or deep sadness) OR "plain fun" (so I'm not thinking of the bland day). So, instead of 10 albums that spoke to me this year, there were many solid albums, but only 3 that truly stand out--and I continue to listen to as 2021 unfolds.
Best Album with all the emotions of Covid: "The Microphones in 2020." This isn't really a "record" so much as one man--Phil Elverum--literally processing the year via "talk singing." It is both autobiographical as well as deeply personal, connecting with millions that are sitting at home looking out their windows. In essence, Phil is strumming and playing background music for 46 minutes while he talks about his life, both current and past. It is breathtaking. The first time I heard the album all the way through, I was not sure what I heard, so I kept it on repeat and it continued to reveal knew emotions, phrases or strumming patterns that encapsulated exactly what I was feeling for nearly all of 2020. Anger, check. Regret, check. Optimism, check. Serenity, double check. The album was so good I ordered it on vinyl and was stunned to see how the concept of his album played out in the vinyl format. Before you start digesting new music for 2021, give this one a listen and let peaceful longing fill your soul....BEWARE: The Microphones don't start singing until 7 minutes in...and yes, that was a pun.
Favorite Album of 2020: Nothing "The Great Dismal." It is possible to have a Best album, but actually enjoy listening to a different one. Personally, I like this band and album simply because you can see all the ways in which they are also digesting 2020. Unlike The Microphones somber tone, these guys mix up a lot of different sounds, from loud to quiet and back again, into one cohesive whole, each track hitting me at just the right time, no matter the mood I am in. This album pushed me to re-listen to their other albums that I possess, but hadn't gone back to in several years. Again, it was so good front to back that I had to purchase the vinyl.
Most Fun Album of 2020: Slick Shoes "Rotation & Frequency." I admit this freely: Slick Shoes announced they were working on material and I rolled my eyes, thinking "Another band trying to copy MxPx and their longevity...and late 90's nostalgia." What do we get here? A band that is truly better, more focused and fun than they ever were when they started. Just my opinion, of course, as their early stuff is great, just not refined like this album. Whenever anyone asked me what I was listening to, this is the album I was more than happy to boast about, as the guys struck gold due to one simple reason: FUN to listen to. If you want a good pick me up as we fly into 2021, give this one a listen and a BUY...the vinyl colors are legit!
Best Movie: Tenet. It's Nolan with a convoluted script about time and actors literally going backwards while we watch a movie going forward. I'm truly not sure what I watched, but I know I enjoyed every moment and am still talking about it. You will see all the typical Nolan set pieces and action moments, but what you won't expect is the stunning ending that will force you to go on Reddit and ask "explain the ending to Tenet." Enjoy this one. They don't make them like this!
