Sunday, January 17, 2021

Best of 2020

 

The Un-Herd Music Top 50 of 2020

1. Low Cut Connie Private Lives

Adam Weiner's hook-heavy mix of soul, R&B, rock & roll, & basically everything else under the sun is exactly the empathetic, good vibin' music the world needs right now - just hope we're not all too far gone to hear.



2. Dangereens Tough Luck

Montreal band with reckless disregard for speed limits, a pronounced fondness for old 'Mats reckids, and a batch of hook-ridden tunes w/ pounding piano + sax riding shotgun.  




3. Cornershop England Is A Garden

One of the most original bands from the 90s indie boom returns with their inimitable mix of 60s pop, garage rock, sitars, flutes, electronics and, I can only imagine, something borrowed from a far better future.

 

 

 

4. The Yum Yums For Those About To Pop!

If the Ramones had the harmonies of the Beach Boys or the Beach Boys had the drive of the Ramones... Such perfect summer music that it'll make you forget it isn't summer.

 

 

 

 

5. Mondo Cozmo New Medicine

Backed by members of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Josh Ostrander hooks into snatches of Lou Reed, hip hop, Jesus and Mary Chain, and singer/songwriter pop and still manages to knit it all into a cohesive whole.
 

 

 

 

6. Rookie Rookie

While so much modern power pop rests in the hands of those who view "The Long and Winding Road" as the epitome of rock & roll, Rookie allows a stomping beat and a few power chords to turbocharge the expected Beatles-esque hooks.
 

 

 

 

7. Nicole Atkins Italian Ice

Recorded at Muscle Shoals and backed by members of that same hallowed session band, this album sprawls comfortably into a relaxed soul groove. Also boasts help from Britt Daniel, My Morning Jacket, and some Bad Seeds... none of whom come close to eclipsing Atkins' powerful voice.


 

 

8. Foxy Shazam Burn

The return of Foxy Shazam was one of the few "good news" stories of this disastrous year, and even if it might not match the heights of The Church of Rock & Roll, it definitely gets them back on track to world domination. Give 'em time.
 

 

 

 

 

9. Daniel Romano How Ill Thy World Is Ordered

Romano released 10 albums in the year 2020, ranging in sound from his more typical country to indie rock to hardcore punk to a welcome re-imagining of an entire Dylan album, and what makes his feat of ambition somewhat miraculous is the sheer quality of songwriting. This one (and Dandelion) are perhaps the most eclectic of the bunch.



10. Bette Smith The Good, The Bad, and the Bette

With some help from Luther Dickinson and the Drive-by Truckers, Bette Smith dives into southern soul and traditional R&B while embracing the distortion and power of punk.



 

 

11. Wyldlife Year of the Snake
12. Algiers There Is No Year
13. Bad Moves Untenable
14. Faz Waltz Rebel Kicks
15. The Struts Strange Days
16. Thelonious Monster Oh That Monster
17. Dramarama Color TV
18. Richard Davies & the Dissidents Human Traffic
19. Suitesixteen Mine Would Be The Sun
20. Ice Cream Hands No Weapon But Love

21. Ryan Hamilton Nowhere To Go But Everywhere
22. Hinds The Prettiest Curse
23. Kurt Baker Combo After Party
24. Chuck Prophet The Land That Time Forgot
25. Billie Joe Armstrong No Fun Mondays
26. Lucinda Williams Good Souls Better Angels
27. The Devonns The Devonns
28. Jaded Hearts Club You've Always Been Here
29. Fantastic Negrito Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?
30. Lydia Loveless Daughter

31. Candy Opera The Patron Saint of Heartache
32. Mom Pleasure Island
33. Anti-Flag 20/20 Division
34. Exbats Kicks, Hits and Fits
35. Steve Kilbey Eleven Women
36. Ginger Wildheart Headzapoppin'
37. Brad Marino False Alarm
38. Green Day The Father of All Motherfuckers
39. Mike Viola Godmuffin
40. The Speedways Radio Sounds
 
41. Close Lobsters Post Neo Anti: Arte Povera in the Forest of Symbols
42. Ryan Allen Song Snacks Vol. 1
43. Advertisement American Advertisement
44. The Vapors Together
45. Supercrush SODO Pop
46. X Alphabetland
47. Sino Hearts Mandarin a Go-Go
48. Cocktails Catastrophic Entertainment
49. Psychotic Youth Forever and Never
50. Silver Sun Switzerland


1. Dangereens Microwave Boogie
2. Low Cut Connie Help Me
3. Rookie Hold On Tight
4. The Yum Yums Let's Worry About Tomorrow
5. Bad Moves Party With the Kids Who Wanna Party With You
6. Wyldlife Keeping Up With C.T.
7. Thelonious Monster Teenage Wasteland
8. Algiers Dispossession
9. Mondo Cozmo Black Cadillac
10. Bette Smith Song For a Friend
11. Foxy Shazam In My Mind
12. Anti-Flag 20/20 Vision
13. Suitesixteen The List
14. Mom I Want You To Feel What I Feel
15. Faz Waltz Got Me Goin'
16. Advertisement Pretty Money
17. Daniel Romano First Yoke
18. Ryan Hamilton & the Harlequin Ghosts Oh No
19. Nicole Atkins St. Dymphna
20. Dramarama Everyday
21. The Speedways Number 7
22. Candy Opera Crash
23. Hinds Riding Solo
24. Chuck Prophet Get Off The Stage

9 comments:

Strummer62 said...

even more great stuff ! thank you as always

Roy Pearl said...

You're welcome! It was certainly a weird year in a number of ways. I noticed there were way less year-end lists than usual. I barely made it to 50 myself - but ultimately the good stuff shines through.

I imagine the 2020 Orphans mix is either going to be fully loaded or non-existent.

heartsofstone said...

Thanks so much. I appreciate your insights more than ever this year.

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