Welp, this year was a terrible in most ways that don't need to be rehashed here, but the one thing that kept me going was releasing music with Dummy and new music. This year felt particularly strong for some reason, maybe cuz I had more time look, listen and pay attention to things coming out weekly but I just think stuff that connected with me, was just in more abundance. Anyway, I like odd numbers, so here's my top 17 of 2020 in no particular order, and it is a mix of LPs Nd EPs. All available on bandcamp minus Jonnine, smh.
SiP - Leos Naturals
This year I've been lucky to have friends sending me a ton of suggestions, and one of the best came from a bud in Smoke Bellow, by way of a bud in Wume who showed us Chicago's SiP album out on Not Not Fun. Over the last year I have gotten more into Moebius and Roedelius, after loving Cluster for years, so this hit at a perfect time. Modern kraurock often leans way more on the ROCK, and bullshitty jam stuff, and less of the meditative, improv, experimental and forward thinking stuff. Tends to be corny larp shit. SiP on the other hand, is taking all the great parts of previously mentioned artists, and expands with hints of new age, free jazz, raga and subtle rhythmic pulses. This has been an album thats been with me on walks, drives, while reading and cooking, I'm not ranking the list but this is definitely in my top 3 of the year, its soothing and challenging. Cant wait to hear that SiP does next.
Jonnine - Blue Hills
HTRK's most recent album was a favorite from last year (?), but here we find singer Jonnine on her solo debut full length . Another album I listened to alot on solo walks, around sunset trying to release some tension from being/feeling trapped in house most of the day. The music itself has hints of Lychian jazz, ambient dissonant pop, and post punk all swirled into this almost bad trip nightmare. Its quite beautiful but its always subverted by some shrieking horn or haunting bassline that plodes a dark path untaken. Its really special album, very weird, uses alot of found sounds. She killed it.
Mo Dotti - Blurring
I've made it very well known how much I love this EP, Mo Dotti was the first LA band I really connected with when I saw them open for my friend Halles band Automatic. I've also been lucky enough to become friends with Gina, who has been a huge presence of encouragement during early Dummy shows and EP2 stuff. So yea, I'm alil biased but this is a perfect collection of pop tunes. Taking elements of The Sundays, MBV, some of the guitar heroics of Johnny Marr but first and foremost strong, winding slightly off kilter songwriting that isn't typical of dream pop/gazey stuff. They take a dump of 99% of this sorta bands, and can't wait to hear what's next and hang with my buds.
Lojii - lo&behold
Most definitely my favorite hiphop release of the year is from Philadelphias Lojii, coming in with amazing production that's low key but not boring, and very dynamic. I've been singing the praises of this album all year. Great lyrics about(imo) late stage capitalism and perfecting your art. A lot of the stuff in my list is stuff I personally feel is underrated but for life of me I don't know why this record didn't blow up more. Its catchy as hell, I get these song stuck in my head all the time, lyrical content is great and his delivery is smart/charming and effortless. So, if you dig looped, jazzy, and more chill hiphop this is for you.
Peel Dream Magazine - Agitprop Alterna/Moral Panic EP
Its funny, too me this record has been out a lot longer, I keep forgetting its a 2020 release cuz I book for PDM, Joe and I are friends so I've been hearing these songs for way longer than basically everyone BUT doesn't change the fact this record rules. Joe takes a step up with, unlike his first LP, this is a full band affair, heavier but still warm and inviting, excellant pop song craft, with more a focus on twee and gazey aesthetics. Highlight for me being "Its My Body" and high octane "Eyeballs". Not to slow down Joes prolific output, he quickly followed up AA with with "Moral Panic" which is more experimental and has one of my fav PDM jams to date "Verfremdungseffekt" which is a bouncy pop jam that retains Joes sense of songwriting but with a more playful edge. Its 2 great releases in one year, its a real shame PDM couldn't capitalize on all the good press and tour due to our countries stupidity.
Green-House - 6 songs of Invisible Gardens
This year has been a treasure trove of great new age music, and Green-House comes in with easily one of the best. If yr familiar with Japanese ambient, you'll find alot to love here because they are clearly a student of it. Its warm tape sound, soft synths and welcoming arms of sound. Very similar Haruomi Hosonos "Watering A Flower" without sounding pastiche, or a YouTube ambient algorithm album. Its a deeply beautiful album and can't wait to hear what they do next.
No Joy - Motherhood
I'm so happy people are praising this LP, its by far one of the most adventurous and unselfconscious of the year. Released from the shackles of worrying about how to play live and the dreaded shoegaze tag, No Joy explores 90s dance hits production, triphop, new age, sampling, numetal and pop into a hypnotic swirl of pure.....joy. This is the sound of someone having a blast and not giving a single fuck, which I love and respect. Been a fan of No Joy since the beginning and super proud of her for this one
Small Bills - Don't Play It Straight
Elucid is a name I've seen around for years in relation to MIKE, Earl, Milo and his duo Armand Hammer, which released an album this year that I checked out and wasn't into at the time(gonna give it another listen) this is a collaboration with The Lasso and it rules. Its left field experimental hiphop record for sure, it plays with your expectations around evey corner. The opening few tracks I was like "oh cool, kinda trippy funky/jazzy rap" but 4 track hits, and its very much influenced by techno, and Elucid sounds like a man losing his mind. The rest of the record plays out as a spiraling, exciting tripped out musical adventure.
Omni Gardens - Moss King
Another blessing from the kosmische gods this year, we have Omni Gardens "Moss King" that teems with new age warm and krautrock textures. This record has been there for me all times of the day, be it making coffee in the morning or laying in bed reading before sleep sleep time. Similar to SiP, there are hints of Moebius, Roedelius and even Eno. Its just a lovely, calming and healing record to take with you anywhere at anytime.
Dehd - Flowers of Devotion
This one deserves the hype, all killer, no filler, bare bones minimalist indie rock/pop n roll. Its hard to pull off using so little, and in an age of so much extra bs in production, Dehd keep its all about the songs. Both singers are charming, the songs bop and stay lodged in yr mind for weeks. Big props to Emily for being extremely adventurous with her vocals, and not being afraid of putting it all out there. Good ass record.
Daisies - Daisies In The Studio With DJ Rap Class
Daisies seem like phreaks in the best possible way, and this record is their best yet. Similar to No Joys "Motherhood", it borrows heavily from 90s dance, triphop and using layered sampling to create a whirlwind of fun, unselfconscious and catchy hits. Been a fan for awhile but this one just nails it, its smooth, vocals are at their catchiest and the production is interesting, thoughtful, its dreamy without being washed out. One of the songs I'm pretty sure is referencing a Suger Ray song, and that's funny as hell. Fans of Dee-Lite, Saint Etienne and dance remixes of pop rock songs will love this.
Blue Ocean - Fade
Actually good shoegaze from San Francisco/Oakland thats lo-fi, up beat and weird. They take what MBV was doing with sound manipulation and do it with their own diy spin. I love all the tape, feedback, far out loops JUST below the surface of these tunes. Its like if fans of 14 Iced Bears and The United States Of America had a DIY baby...which maybe thats what this is. Self recorded, and hell ya.
Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters
So, look I've been on the Fiona Apple train loooooong before it was "cool" to do. The hyperbolicness surroundings the GREATNESS of the record is imo, and over course correction for eveyone sleeping in the past. This isn't her best record, that remains to be "When The Pawn...." but this LP is very much the most FIONA, Fiona Apple record that she's ever released. Its chaotic, messy and feels what I assume its like to be in her head. The whole record feels like an exorcism of the past. I'm a dood, so a lot of the themes aren't for me, which no one should use as a knock on the record and I still relate to alot of them anyway. The main thing I personally miss is the beautiful melodies and hooks, It makes me happy more people are giving her the respect she has long deserved.
Coral Club - Nowhere Island
This is the second release from Not Not Fun records that i fuck with,first being after mentioned excellent SiP cassette . This release is much more humid and percussive. Feels like your sitting in the middle of a rain forest, meditating and transcending to astral plane after the shrooms kick in and yr one with the water, earth and air. Its all very tribal but tropical without feeling at all corny. Its rough around the edges and its like someone trying to fight off the darkness. I often listen to this while taking solo walks at dusk.
Soul Glo - Songs To Yeet At The Sun
Soul Glo are an punishingly chaotic hardcore band with dynamic vocals that harken back to the golden days of bands like Pg99 and Reversal Of Man. This is their new EP, its a bruiser. I love how unhinged the vocal delivery is, esp compared to most hardcore vocalists who just feel like they go through the motions of "anger" or "anxiety". For me, even back when i was involved with hardcore, touring in a "hardcore" band, I often just didn't believe the vocals or the musicians anger or tension, it felt fake. Thats why bands like Soul Glo pull me back into enjoyong hardcore again, cuz I fucking BELIEVE it. Anyway, shit rules.
(Liv).e - Couldn't Wait To Tell You...
Lojii, who put out one of my favorite releases of the year posted about this record on IG, so I immediately checked it out. This is a kaleidoscopic swirl of RnB, Soul, Hiphop and Lo-fi production. Its feel like Ann Peebles and Quasimoto got together, dropped acid, and recorded an LP w a 4 track tape machine. It's just...so so good, damn.
Sea Oleena - Weaving a Basket
This album is jaw dropping beautiful, i can't describe how this album makes me feel, sorta like I'm not alone in my dispair, but it also feels holy. I listen to this in dark moments, driving alone in morning, feeling alien to reality. The music is vast, and pastoral, but never grand or corny, she pulls back right before those moments. It comes from same kindred spirits of Roy Montgomery, Grouper, Tiny Vipers, Clear Horizon and a more gentle Flying Saucer Attack. Its stunning and grounded, but also in the stars. Fuck, just listen to it.
