2020 sucked. Here some of the bright spots...

Everyone and their mother knows what a hellish year 2020 has been. Me stating that adds nothing to the conversation, and honestly I am not trying to add to the negativity and overall shittyness of this year. What I do want to discuss is what I actually enjoyed about this year; music. This was my first year using a Music Streaming Service. I began my subscription to Apple Music in the last week of 2019 and used it very heavily throughout 2020. I widened my listening tastes as I no longer needed to purchase every piece of music I wanted to listen to.

So I am going to make a list of my favorite releases from the year of our lord Satan, 2020, in no particular order. I don't think anyone cares what I think was the best album of 2020, but I do see value in sharing the music that brought me joy and happiness in a year that was lacking in just about everything.

This Land is Your Landfill - The Homeless Gospel Choir

I was lucky enough to catch these guys on tour in November of 2019 at the Whiskey Junction in Minneapolis on the first Full Band Tour. Previous albums from the Homeless Gospel Choir were largely solo projects and I was extremely curious to see what they could accomplish now that they were a fun blown punk rock band. And boy oh boy was I impressed. The songs retain the message and feel of the previous albums all the while adding in things that only come with a full band. And since this album released right on the cusp of the initial lockdown of the United States due to the Pandemic, they still managed to celebrate the release of the album and tour a bit (kind of). Honestly the Instagram live stream shows that they hosted every Friday were things I looked forward to every week. They simply asked for donations as they passed the virtual hat and I was more than happy to oblige. The true level of care and love given back from the band is evident in the setlist that would be mailed to you if you make a donation. It is little things like that, that show you the true community that is punk rock.

Brave Faces Everyone - Spanish Love Songs

A potential running theme to this list is that I also was able to see Spanish Love Songs live in 2019. They were opening up for Iron Chic at the Entry in Minneapolis and I was there purely to see them. Their album Schmaltz from 2018 was one of the few albums that can invigorate you one moment and make you cry the next. So suffice to say this album kind of had a large hurdle to jump in my mind (and my heart). I am happy to report that yes this album does both of these really well. The songs are aggressive and fast paced yet the lyrics are extremely painful and relatable. There is something to be said that can light a fire inside of your gut all the while making you cry in the process.

20/20 Vision - Anti-Flag

What can I say that has not already been said about this legendary punk rock band? Probably nothing. But goddamnit this album is something special! Anti-Flag has always been an overtly political band since their debut album "Die For Your Government" but very rarely have they taken specific aim at one person in their songs. But those motherfuckers put their target squarely on the cover of their album, they incorporated his voice into the lead song too! Very few artists have the courage to be this outspoken in their work and even fewer can do it from a place of empathy; and that is what sets them apart from all of their peers.

I also want to note that the livestreams done by Chris #2 and Justin Sane were things that they did not need to do but I appreciate the hell out of and tried to tune in and donate when I could. And I want to thank them for it.

Run the Jewels 4 - Run the Jewels

This album came out at the exact time it needed to come out. George Floyd was just murdered violently in the streets of Minneapolis by the police and the world seemed to be on fire. This album spoke to those events as if it was written for them specifically (when it was not). The combo of Killer Mike an El-P has produced some fantastic music over the years but the album felt the most cohesive to me, a punk rock kid, wading into rap. The messages of racism, killer cops, the Trump administration, cages, and so many more was exactly what I needed. The features on this album are not wasted opportunities and really enhance the album, with my favorites coming from Mavis Staples and Zach de la Rocha.

Punisher - Phoebe Bridgers

This might be one that is a bit of an outlier on this list, it is not a fast paced album, it is not a very loud album and honestly that is what I love about it. Phoebe Bridgers manages to make slower emotionally raw songs sound so beautiful and haunting while being very catchy and relatable. I also love the different aesthetics that she is using i this album cycle, from the skeleton onesie to doing a Tiny Desk Concert from the (virtual) Oval Office, proving that she deserves to be there while entertaining us with her songs. Her lyrics are what sets this album up high on a shelf for me. I love to listen for lyrics that I like and this album is full of great lines.

Fetch the Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple

The album that feels most like listening to her playing in her living room, in a good way. The intimate feel of the vocals and the combination of her voice with the incredible piano playing create the bulk of the music, but the album also features Fiona Apple's dogs barking and it does not detract from the music. It emphasizes the way the album was created and helps create the intimate feel. Honestly one of the best albums I have every heard. I loved it from the moment I heard it for the first time.

Sign O the Times (Super Deluxe) - Prince

Yes, this is a reissue, sue me. It came out in 202o and is amazing. The remastered album sounds fantastic; but the true draw to a project like this is the tracks that have never been released before. Prince is famous for his vault. The literal vault in his home where he would store unused songs and shelved projects, This release features 60 tracks from the vault. Being able to hear early versions of songs or different takes gives tremendous insight into the working process of Prince at the absolute height of his powers. There is enough material in this release to sink your teeth into for a week straight.