Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Celebrating 2020 New Albums


Al Krow

Recommended Posts

2020 was very possibly the worst of years many of us have lived through. But it didn't stop some great creativity by musicians around the globe.

What new release in 2020 particularly blew you away? 

I've been very very impressed with Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa - so many great tracks on one album.

Future Nostalgia - Wikipedia

Here she is with her band, performing 4 of the tracks from the album in a stripped down set. Lovely version of 'Love Again' - third track. The bass line on the album version is a lot of fun - I'm gonna see if I can persuade my band to add it to our set this year.

 

Edited by Al Krow
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Al Krow said:

...Here she is with her band, performing 4 of the tracks from the album in a stripped down set...

Good gracious, but that was painful..! Stripped down..? Shame the drummer was stripped out..! Maybe it's better (that's to say : radically different...) with a 'live' drummer, but that awful, awful beat..! Yes, the third track passes muster, but by then I wasn't really interested, I'm afraid. Dreadful..! ¬¬

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Given that I review for R2 Magazine I listen to a lot of new CDseach year. However, the two that stood out were rather backward looking in a lot of ways...

The Absence Of Presence,  by  Kansas showed that even with minimal remaining original members they can rock with the best of them.

America Live At The London Palladium showed that great songs are always great songs. 
 

Other notable mentions...

Rachel Sage - Character

Kathleen Edward’s - Total Freedom, some cracking indie country

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

Good gracious, but that was painful..! Stripped down..? Shame the drummer was stripped out..! Maybe it's better (that's to say : radically different...) with a 'live' drummer, but that awful, awful beat..! Yes, the third track passes muster, but by then I wasn't really interested, I'm afraid. Dreadful..! ¬¬

It's not entirely clear, but I don't think you're a fan 😁

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Dad3353 said:

I'll reply when I've heard it. Is the drumming better..? Not just a 'Big Beat' 'One-One-One-One'..?

Well, Douglas, I'm biased: I think the album is a superb piece of creative song writing and I'm full of admiration for anyone who can craft something with such catchy melodies, some excellent bass lines and will get people up and dancing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Well, Douglas, I'm biased: I think the album is a superb piece of creative song writing and I'm full of admiration for anyone who can craft something with such catchy melodies, some excellent bass lines and will get people up and dancing.

Well, when they want some decent drumming done, I'm available. B|

Edit : I just looked up an 'official video' of Future Nostalgia'. I'll look no further. Carry on, men... -_-

Edited by Dad3353
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My favourite album release of 2020 was In Search Of The Lost City Of The Monkey God by The Sorcerers:
https://sorcerers.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of-the-lost-city-of-the-monkey-god
https://open.spotify.com/album/2kGJhogMhGMyRiubKx0rlt?si=ZuD4ppoyThWpFwPjRVKbUw

It's like a retro jazzy library music soundtrack for a forgotten b-movie, with some lovely tight bass-and-drum grooves.

Honourable mentions: stoner/doom

Mellified Man by Warrior Pope (Mr Foxen of this parish)
https://warriorpope.bandcamp.com/album/mellified-man
https://open.spotify.com/album/0dYnZqVsDRLD9PlrLY9og6?si=VbZn4Zk2SGiCoLzE55YBmw

Crushingly heavy, tuneful and concise.

Viscerals by Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
https://pigspigspigspigspigspigspigs.bandcamp.com/album/viscerals
https://open.spotify.com/album/15CVkItclaGrn0xLr16Qw0?si=dOHw9DDjSzKFS6n_CjnQOg

Big Sabbathy riffs. Disappointed to have missed them live a couple of times - they're apparently really good.

Honourable mentions: surf/instro

The Celestial Sounds Of The Space Agency by The Space Agency
https://thespaceagency.bandcamp.com/album/the-celestial-sounds-of-the-space-agency

Long-awaited collection of vintagey twang and fuzzy psych. And they're also lovely people! 😄

Sunworshipper by The Spiratones
https://thespiratones.bandcamp.com/album/sunworshipper

Melodic, catchy surf, garage and spy stuff. Hoping to make it up to Ulverston to gig with these lads once things get a bit closer to normal 🤞

Honourable mentions: indie

Every Bad by Porridge Radio
https://porridgeradio.bandcamp.com/album/every-bad
https://open.spotify.com/album/4DN3XbB33kHTJA7HhI0RFI?si=ah4hqgk_SK-mvNW_Fr7Uvg

Marmite! I can't decide whether they're interestingly raw and honest, or insufferably arty and bigheaded 🤔

All Or Nothing by Shopping
https://shoppingfc.bandcamp.com/album/all-or-nothing
https://open.spotify.com/album/3jgAzjCrL8Xf9gXmIyMeQq?si=XiSJFTMxSYiZlj-W6pvULQ

I can't resist a bit of wiry post-punk, and this lot do it really well.

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had to list my top ten albums for PopMatters- an online music magazine I write for. I don't think it was a vintage year for music -no surprise there- but there were some fantastic records released.

 1.      Jayhawks XOXO

2.       Kevin Godley: Muscle Memory

3.       Captain Wilberforce: When the Dust Just Won’t Settle

4.       Dream Syndicate: The Universe Inside

5.       Ben Watt: Storm Damage

6.       Anton Barbeau: Manbird

7.       Bob Mould: Blue Hearts

8.       Erik Hall: Music for 18 Musicians

9.       Squirrel Flower: I was Born Swimming

10.   Spygenius: Man on the Sea
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really like the new Pigsx7 album and was planning to see their London shows before everything went sideways. Hopefully we'll get a chance some time this year! 

I really like the Coriky album that came out this year too. With Ian MacKaye and Joe Lally on board it's a good listen for any fans of Fugazi or if you fancy giving your ears a post punk/indie treat. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5tq1YTBXOODRZERatJ7f1U?si=nxn1_Ve8QjSVlK2GyS_wnA

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, rushbo said:

I had to list my top ten albums for PopMatters- an online music magazine I write for. I don't think it was a vintage year for music -no surprise there- but there were some fantastic records released.

 1.      Jayhawks XOXO

2.       Kevin Godley: Muscle Memory

3.       Captain Wilberforce: When the Dust Just Won’t Settle

4.       Dream Syndicate: The Universe Inside

5.       Ben Watt: Storm Damage

6.       Anton Barbeau: Manbird

7.       Bob Mould: Blue Hearts

8.       Erik Hall: Music for 18 Musicians

9.       Squirrel Flower: I was Born Swimming

10.   Spygenius: Man on the Sea

Well that's going to be plenty of treadmill time sorted isn't it! 😊

Do you have a link to the article for your magazine?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...