I share my listening space with my juniper bonsai and often my wife and dogfriend Curry. Tonight we sit and listened to the new Tunng album, throwback to the first album review I ever posted. I ponder the merits and discoveries of music in 2020.
Tunng album “Tunng Presents... Death Club” despite pushing the threshold of my favored 38-45m running time, is quite interesting, full of very timbreous (is that a word?) moments and very thoughtful provoking monologues. “Death Club” is quite British. Mike Lindsay being 1/2 of the duo Lump, and the leader of Tunng. Favorite of the year? No. Worth a listen? Yes.
I think it’s important to reflect on the year, my reflection usually are things that happened in my life corresponding with the music I was listening to at the time. My favorite list usually spans from top 10-20. So before I dive into my top albums of this garbage year, I wanted to mention a few albums that I have discovered from the past that I find to be significant.
10CC- How Dare You
This 1976 masterpiece fails to disappoint, filled with both pop, and deep prog rock. My best friend sent this album to me without words or context, like a surprise. It was recorded on analog tapes, so it sounds better than most modern music.
Ray Lynch - Deep Breakfast
This is a weird new age instrumental album from 1984, very well mixed and mastered, quite trippy. Thanks to chef Amy for the suggestion. This is an interesting blend of classical and electronica, full of popular interpolations. Sounds great on a system.
Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Not a new album, nor a new album to me. The second solo Tom Petty album released in 1994, and produced by Rick Rubin. If you have not jumped down this rabbit hole in the 26 years this album has been out in the world, it is full of beauty and soul. It is stripped down compared to his previous work at the time. There is something about Tom that shines the light into the heart of American Rock-n-roll. Spin It.
Sun Ra - Hartford College Jan 25 1980
Pretty deep into Sun Ra career, this is a live recording from Christmas Day 1980. This album is way out there. He bangs away on a Rhodes piano with what sounds like a soundtrack on Saturn. Some might call this Jazz or Experimental Jazz, I would say it’s simply Experimental. I love it
One thing I feel I must mention: When it comes to Radiohead covers in 2020, the ladies are doing it right. There is, on one end of the spectrum, Lianne La
Havas (organic) on the other is Kelly Lee Owens (synthetic) and for some reason both of them decided on Weird Fishes/Arpeggi as an accompaniment for their original albums. Both songs even play well back to back.
Lianne La Havas -
Lianne La Havas
Kelly Lee Owens -
Inner Song
These are the 2020 albums that tickled my fancy:
Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters
070 shake - modus vivendi
Glass animals - Dreamland
Childish Gambino - 3.15.20
Fleet Foxes - Shore
Car seat Headrest - Making a Door Less Open
Moses Sumney - Grae
Everything Everything- Re-Animator
Arca - Kick I
OPN - Magic Oneohtrix Point Never
Loma- Don’t Shy Away
Aminé - Limbo
Jónsi - Shiver
Honorable mention:
Bombay Bicycle Club - Everything Else Has Gone Wrong
Poliça - When We Stay Alive
Squirrel Flower - I was Born Swimming
Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony
Shabaka & The Ancestors - We Are Sent Here By History
Laura Marling - Songs For Our Daughters
Run The Jewels - RTJ4
Modern Nature - Annual
Chloe X Halle - Ungodly Hour
Tina - Positive Mental Health Music
Khruangbin - Mordechai
Nas - Kings Disease
Sylvan Esso - Free Love
Clipping - Visions Of Bodies Being Burned
Fatboy Slim - Back To Mine
Tunng - Tunng Presents...DEAD CLUB
Adrianne Lenker - Songs
Aesop Rock - Spirt World Field Guide