While the title is in jest, I am assuming I have listened to more music this year than 95% of the population that creates these types of lists. In 2020, I listened to at least part of every single record that showed up in “Suggested New Albums” section of Tidal. Each Friday release day that section gets updated with new releases and there’s usually between 80-120 titles weekly, so let’s cut that down the middle and say 100 a week. I have listened to at least the first couple tracks of every one of these releases no matter the genre. If neither of the first two tracks were good, I moved on. If either one was even remotely worth listening to, I listened to the whole album. My logic being of course is that most artists at least put one of the best songs on the album right up front to grab the listener, so logically if I’m not interested in either of the first two, then the rest of the album won’t be much better. So let’s say over the course of the last 51 weeks, I have listened to at least part of 5100 albums and while I don’t have a count of all the records I listened to in full, I’m sure it has to be in the 60-70% range. As a guy who’s always gravitated towards lists and rankings but realizing that the person writing them probably listened to virtually nothing, I feel damn good that these are at least solid lists, if not great ones. Of course, they still must be in my wheelhouse, but my tastes are as wide open as anyone I know. So yeah, these are perfect lists. Just go with it.
Ranking: #10
Artist: The Used
Song: Wow, I Hate This Song
Album: Heartwork
Release Date: 4/24/2020
Label: Big Noise
Ranking: #9
Artist: Sløtface
Song: Tap the Pack
Album: Sorry for the Late Reply
Release Date: 1/31/2020
Label: Nettwerk
Ranking: #8
Artist: Rita Sawayama
Song: STFU
Album: Sawayama
Release Date: 4/17/2020
Label: Dirty Hit
Ranking: #7
Artist: Viagra Boys
Song: Ain’t Nice
Album: N/A
Release Date: 10/14/2020
Label: Year0001
Ranking: #6
Artist: Blues Pills
Song: Low Road
Album: Holy Moly
Release Date: 8/21/2020
Label: Nuclear Blast
Ranking: #5
Artist: Prince
Song: Witness 4 the Prosecution
Album: Sign o’ the Times (Deluxe Edition)
Release Date: 9/25/2020
Label: Paisley Park
Notes: Yes, I’m pushing the definition of rock here, I know. But so did Prince.
Getting back to new music in 2019 was really fun for me. During the first quarter I listened to five albums each week at random and then after that, I started listening to every new release of the week that was in the new release section on Tidal. I would listen to the first two tracks of every record and if I liked them, would listen to the whole album and if not, simply move to the next. That of course, leads to a shit ton of new music. And since my listening tastes are pretty eclectic, I feel like I can put together a pretty solid best of this year. Below is every album that I ranked 10/10 this year. Unlike my weekly reviews, this one’s in order starting with my favorite. Clink on the links to go back to my original reviews.
(#1) Bedouin Soundclash – MASS
There are only four albums in this list ranked 10/10 that I didn’t review and it of course figures that one of them is my favorite of the year. I originally said that I didn’t think anything would beat the Lizzo record for me but here we are! I’ve listened to this record a lot over the last few months and it’s so quirky and unique that I felt I needed to really give this some love. I didn’t write about it because I really didn’t know what to say at the time. But I have to try now – I’m not sure if I should call these guys alternative something or other, ska, reggae, rock, pop – could be any or all of them really. But whatever you call it, it’s been 9 years since their last album and it was well worth the long wait. There’s jazz horns, African music, strings, choirs and well, tons of exciting surprises around every corner. It’s one of those albums that I could talk about for days but you’d really have to listen to it to understand it. So do that and spare me wracking my brain for more words on this unique record.
If you have told me that a Celine Dion record would be one of my favorites of the year, I would have went all Myles Garrett on your ass. But here we are. And there’s only two explanations. The first is that I’m getting old. I’m all-of-a-sudden in Celine’s wheelhouse. The other is that when Celine Dion comes calling for songs, you bring your fucking A-game. One of, if not the greatest voice of my era, commands only the best songs. And so, there’s really no reason this shouldn’t be fantastic. In fact, I have never listened to a full Celine Dion record before but frankly, every one of them is probably fucking fantastic. Because, Celine Dion. Because, Celine Dion.
(#5) The Claypool Lennon Delirium – South of Reality
This is the third of the four records I didn’t actually review but this one was because I discovered it far after the release date. On the surface, this seems like an odd pairing – Les Claypool from Primus and Sean Lennon – but it works so damn well. This is the second album from the duo and it’s got three elements to it; funky bass-driven material like you would expect from Claypool, Beatleseque songs like you would expect from Lennon and a psychedelic progressive vibe through the disc. The riffs are spectacular, the songwriting top notch and the pairing simply perfect.
The Claypool Lennon Delirium, “Easily Charmed by Fools”
The final of the four in the list here that I didn’t review, this new Gang Starr record is the best pure hip-hop release of the year and it comes from a dude that died nine years ago. Guru was one of the greatest of all time and well, the album title is right on point – this record is one of the best yet. I don’t rank albums higher on nostalgia and I don’t need to here. DJ Premier created the beats and formed songs using never before heard lyrics from Guru. The result is an album that would have been one of the best yet no matter what year it was released in. And in an era where rappers mumble their way through records, it’s nice to have the articulate Guru in my ears even if it’s only for one last album.
And there they are. A pretty solid year of music (not counting trap) if you ask me. In 2020, I’ll still be listening to the new releases each week but posting more on a track-by-track basis. And I’ll be expanding more Tidal catalogs out and taking some trips down the musical rabbit hole. Thanks for reading in 2019!
The Trusty Steed 