Well, stuck here in self-imposed isolated quarantinization as many of us have experienced throughout most of 2020, there's been plenty of time to listen to music. Here are a few songs I picked for my 2020 list--I hesitate to say "favorite songs" because my taste is pretty fluid, and sometimes I pick songs just cuz they sound interesting, rather than exceptional. I also try to stay away from big-time hits that everybody else will have on their lists. That way, my list can be more of an exploratory memoranda on the musical possibilities of 2020, rather than another "best of" list (I think we have enough of those. Anyhow--or as my father prefers to say, at any rate--here are a dozen or so picks from this past year. I stuck to songs that have videos, which eliminated some tunes I had on repeat and really wanted to include, like "I Just Want to Dance" by SAULT, "Weed in LA" by the Koreatown Oddity, and many others. But don't twist your knickers--my whole 2020 list is up on the FBtA homepage!
NNAMDÏ - Flowers To My Demons (Live)
I just listened to the rest of NNAMDÏ's album and didn't love it, but this is a pretty and unusual song that isn't easy to pigeonhole, which is a quality I have a weakness for. Off-beat, you know?
Les Amazones d'Afrique - Love
I love the album this is from, the somewhat-lamely titled Amazones Power. Les Amazones are a collective, and (sort of like another more famous collective, Animal Collective), not every member is on each album. Featured vocalists on Amazones Power are pretty numerous and represent a breadth of talent: Amadou Démbéle, Boy-Fall, Tiguidanké Di(allo a.k.a Niariu) Jon Grace, Kandy Guira, Mamani Keïta, Rokia Koné, Nacera Ouali Mesbah, Fafa Ruffino and Ami Yerewolo.
Marlowe (L'Orange & Solemn Brigham) - Future Power Sources
Alt-rap collaboration on this song that would sound nice coming out of a good car audio system. As your narrator told you on Midnight Marauders: "Keep bouncing!"
Eric Copeland - Motor
Eric Copeland is described in his Wikipedia entry as "an American experimental musician based in New York City" who is "a core member of Black Dice and forms half of the duo Terrestrial Tones with Animal Collective's Avey Tare." This minimalist song is a little repetitive but sneakily catchy. The cool animated video is directed by Aaron Anderson.
The Mavericks - La Sitiera
I love hearing the golden voice of Raul Malo nailing this song En Español (that's the name of the album). The build in this one is pretty epic.
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist feat. Tyler, The Creator - Something to Rap About
Freddie throws down a great rap, and Tyler helps out with his usual unusual. The beat conjures up a mid-90s west coast number (Today Was a Good Day perhaps?).
Clem Snide - Roger Ebert (live w/ Scott Avett)
I remember reading somewhere about Roger Ebert having said "This is all an elaborate hoax!" as he was dying, and now that I think about it, it seems like a perfect framing of a song by one of those artists who's perhaps a bit too sincere. But although the lead singer's voice isn't for everyone, I think this song is great. And Roger Ebert was pretty okay too. And Scott Avett is hunky-dory as well.
Ocean Bridges was possibly my favorite album of 2020. So many artists have tried to hit that sweet spot between jazz and hip-hop and haven't quite been able to do it, but free jazz vet Archie Shepp, the amusingly-monickered Damu the Fudgemunk, and Raw Poetic (Shepp's nephew) do as good a job as anyone I can think of since The Low End Theory came out.
Pottery - Texas Drums Pt I & II (reprazent ATX)
I should have at least one Austin representative, so Pottery gets the nod with this instant party classic that would make even The Bright Light Social Hour jealous. Dance!
Aiofe Nessa Frances - Here in the Dark
Not sure what this sounds like. Maybe early Shins? Catchy though, and I've been a sucker for mellow, chill stuff since COVID-19 forced us into solitary (or small group) confinement, at least when the isolation and anxiety isn't making me want to dance, dance, dance, which seems to be my list's other main theme this year.
Basic Plumbing - As You Disappear
Jangly guitars + simple bass and drums, minimalist production, and a mod rock/stoner punk feel make me think '90s. No, not an instant classic, but catchy.
Low Cut Connie - Help Me
Can I see some hands? Because LCC is schvitzing for you. There was no way I was leaving Low Cut off my 2020 list, as I have become a devoted Tough Cookie and attendee of their weekly Saturday night free live stream where Will strums his hollow body and stomps out the beat while Adam bangs his piano and croons, slowly disrobes until he's in tight briefs, a torn tank top and a fluffy bathrobe, and occasionally interviews music icons and interesting figures. I could have picked any song from the album, Private Lives--many are pretty good--but this heartfelt piano-based soul-rock number got stuck in my head while I was making this list.
