Best of 2020 – KALX 90.7FM Berkeley

((echoplex))

Favorite Albums of 2020, Listed Alphabetically

Andrea - Ritorno (Ilian Tape)

Daniel Avery & Alessandro Cortini - Illusion Of Time (Mute)

Julianna Barwick - Healing Is A Miracle (Ninja Tune)

Chouk Bwa & The Ångstromers - Vodou Alé (Bongo Joe)

Cindy Lee - What's Tonight To Eternity (W.25th)

Coldbeat - Mother (DFA)

Cyril Cyril - Yallah Mickey Mouse (Born Bad)

Das Das - S/T (Detriti)

DNGDNGDNG - Continentes Perdidos (On The Corner)

En Attendant Ana - Juillet (Trouble In Mind)

Freak Heat Waves - Zap The Planet (Telephone Explosion)

Lucy Gooch - Rushing (Past Inside The Present)

The Green Child - Shimmering Basset (Upset The Rhythm)

Group Rhoda - Passing Shades (Dark Entries)

HHY & The Kampala Unit - Lithium Blast (Nyege Nyege Tapes)

Kate Nv - Room For The Moon (Rvng Intl.)

Loving - If I Am Only My Thoughts (Last Gang)

Minae Minae - Flossensäume (Marionette)

Mr. Elevator - Goodbye, Blue Sky (Castle Face)

Naked Roomate - Do the Duvet (Trouble In Mind)

Omni Gardens - Moss King (Moon Glyph)

Peel Dream Magazine - Agitprop Alterna (Slumberland)

Rejoicer - Spiritual Sleaze (Stones Throw)

Repeated Measures - S/T (grn+gld)

Sepehr - Shaytoon (Dark Entries)

The Serfs - Sounds Of Serfdom (Detriti)

Tornische - Interiorismo (Cititrax)

Ulla - Tumbling Towards A Wall (Experiences Ltd.)

Vague Imaginaires - L'île D'or (Not Not Fun)

Katya Yonder - Multiply Intentions (Métron)

Various Artists - Cherrystones Presents Critical Mass Vol. 2 'Hearts Of Champions'(Touch Sensitive)

Various Artists - La Locura de Machuca 1975-1980 (Analog Africa)

Various Artists - Tchic Tchic - French Bossa Nova - 1963/1974 (Born Bad)

A Pancake

A Pancake's Top 16 Albums of 2020 (Loosely Ordered):

The Microphones - Microphones in 2020 (P.W. Elverum & Sun)

Charli XCX - how i'm feeling now (Warner)

Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately (Matador)

Dorian Electra - My Agenda (S/R)

Oneohtrix Point Never - Magic Oneohtrix Point Never (Warp)

Monolake - Archaeopteryx (imbalance computer music)

Poppy - Music to Scream To (Sumerian)

Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind

Grimes - Miss Anthropocene (4AD)

Jeff Rosenstock - No Dream (Polyvinyl)

Moses Sumney - grae (Jagjaguwar)

Autechre - Sign (Warp)

100 gecs - 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues (Dog Show)

Frances Quinlan - Likewise (Saddle Creek)

Blu & Exile - Miles

Arovane - Gestalt (Puremagnetik)

Honourable Mentions:

Against All Logic - 2017 - 2019 (Other People)
Poppy - I Disagree (Sumerian)
Rian Treanor - File Under UK Metaplasm (Planet Mu)
Rina Sawayama - Sawayama (Dirty Hit)
Dan Deacon - Mystic Familiar (Domino)
Food House - Food House (Dog Show)
HMLTD - West of Eden (Lucky Number)
Thundercat - It Is What It Is (Brainfeeder)
Deerhoof - Future Teenage Cave Artists (Joyful Noise)
Conway the Machine - From King to a GOD (Griselda/Drumwork/Empire)
Ash Koosha - Bluud (Realms)
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - Alfredo (ESGN/ALC/Empire)
Boldy James - The Price of Tea in China (Deluxe Edition) (ALC / Boldy James)
Deerhoof - Love-Lore (Joyful Noise & Deerhoof)
Carl Stone - Stolen Car (Electro-Acoustic Music (ASCAP))
The Soft Pink truth - Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? (Thrill Jockey)
R.A.P. Ferreira - Purple Moonlight Pages (Ruby Yacht)
Machine Girl - U-Void Synthesizer (S/R)

Favorite EPs:

Jockstrap - Wicked City (Warp)
Burial - Chemz (Hyperdub)
Slauson Malone - Vergangenheitsbewaltigung (Crater Speak) (Grand Closing)
JPEGMAFIA - EP! (EQT / Republic)
Shygirl - Alias (Because Music)
Fraxiom - Feeling Cool and Normal (SONG)
Papaya & Friends - Szn 1 (AAAHH)
Penelope Scott - Public Void (S/R)
Machine Girl - Reporpoised Phantasies (S/R)
OCD - Alignment (Aurawire)
Folie - cortisol (Dog Show)

Berkestir

Berkestir 2020

New Stuff

The Beths-Jump Rope Gazers (Carpark)
Boris-No (S/R)
Chromatics-Closer To Grey (Italians Do It Better)
Elizabeth Cook-Aftermath (Agent Love)
Death Valley Girls-Under The Spell Of Joy (Suicide Queeze)
Dave Douglas-Marching Music/Dizzy Atmosphere (Greenleaf Music)
Bob Dylan-Rough And Rowdy Ways (Columbia)
Roger Eno And Brian Eno-Mixing Colours/Luminous (Opal Music)
The Flaming Lips-American Head (Warner)
Eliza Gilkyson-2020 (Red House)
Gnod & Joan Pais Filipe-Faca De Fogo (Rocket)
Hawkwind Light Orchestra-Carnivorous (Cherry Red)
Robyn Hitchcock-The Man Downstairs Demos & Rarities (Tiny Ghost)
Hum-Inlet (Earth Analog)
Metz-Atlas Vending (Sub Pop)
The Pretty Things-Bare As Bone,Bright As Blood (Madfish)
Rose City Band-Summerlong (Thrill Jockey)
Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou-May Our Chambers Be Full/The Helm Of Sorrow (Sacred Bones)
Emma Swift-Blonde On The Tracks (Tiny Ghost)
VA-Habibi Funk Solidarity With Beirut (Habibi Funk)
VA-Tonal Unity Volume 1 & 2 (Tonal Unity)
VA- What is This That Stands Before Me (Sacred Bones)
White Hills-Splintered Metal Sky (Heads On Fire)
Sarah Willis-Mozart Mambo (Outthere)
Wire-10:20 (Pinkflag)
Yvonne And The No Regrets-World Of Women (S/R)

Ep's And Singles

Carrie Elkin-Embroidery Star (S/R)
Chester Hawkins-K516156/91044 (Intangible Arts)
Robyn Hichcock-The Presdent (Tiny Ghost)
Juana Molina-Forfun EP (Crammed Dics)
The Notwist-Ship Ep (Morr Music)
Ophelias-For Luck EP (S/R)
Danny Schmidt-2020 EP (Live Once)
Richard Thompson-Bloodly Noses EP (S/R)
White Hills-Time Ep's 1-9 (S/R)

Old Stuff

Arica Rhythm And Movement Band- Arica Heaven (Tidalwaves Music)
B.C.Gilbert G.Lewis-3R4 (Superior Viaduct)
Boris-Amplifier Worship (Third Man)
Eastern Flower-S/T (Piano Piano)
The EX-Disturbing Domestic Peace/History Is What's Happening (Superior Viaduct)
Fredom Power-S/T (Sonor Music Editions)
Mort Garson-Ataraxia The Unexplained Electronic Musical Impressions Of The Occult (Sacred Bones)
Mort Garson-Didn't You Hear Soundtrack (Sacred Bones)
Mort Garson- Lucifer Black Mass (Sacred Bones)
Mort Garson-Music From Patch Cord Production (Sacred Bones)
Groudhogs-Split (Fire)
Jazz Sabbath-S/T (Black Lake)
July-The Complete Recording (Grapefruit)
King Crimson-The Complete 1969 Recordings (DGM)
Joni Mitchell-Archives-Volume 1 The Early Years (1963-1967) (Rhino)
Thelonious Monk-Palo Alto (Impulse!)
Tangerine Dream-Thief Soundtrack (Mond)
VA-Brown Acid:The Tenth/Eleventh Trip (Ridingeasy)
VA-Funky Coup Korean Soul,Funk & Rare Groove Nuggets 1973-1980 Vol. 1 (Beatball)
VA-Wamono A To Z Vol. 1 Japanese jazz Funk & Rare Groove 1968-1980 (180G)
Neil Young-Archives Vol. 2 (Reprise)

Big Lunch

Big 20 + 20 of 2020

Albums

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters (Epic)
The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You (Modular) [“album of the year”]
Bullion - We Had a Good Time (Deek)
Destroyer - Have We Met (Merge)
Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways (Columbia)
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - Alfredo (ESGN)
Hum - Inlet (Earth Analog)
Kate NV - Room For the Moon (RVNG Intl.)
KeiyaA - Forever, Ya Girl (Forever)
Jessy Lanza - All the Time (Hyperdub)
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia (Warner UK)
Material Girl - Tangram (No Agreements)
Oneohtrix Point Never - Magic Oneohtrix Point Never (Warp)
Pa Salieu - Send Them to Coventry (Warner UK)
Shabason, Krgovich & Harris - Philadelphia (Idée Fixe)
The Soft Pink Truth - Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? (Thrill Jockey)
Thaumiel Sonozaki - Amber Ethereal (Grimalkin)
Steve Spacek - Houses (Black Focus)
Thundercat - It Is What It Is (Brainfeeder)
Westerman - Your Hero Is Not Dead (Partisan)

& some stray tracks

Andrea - “Isabelle’s String” - Ritorno (Ilian Tape)
Arca - “Time” - KiCk i (XL)
Caribou - “You and I” - Suddenly (Merge)
Disclosure - “Douha (Mali Mali)” - ENERGY (Island)
Neil Frances - “Games (Sam Wilkes Remix)” - Remixed (Nettwerk)
Georgia - “About Work the Dancefloor” - Seeking Thrills (Domino)
HAIM - “Gasoline” - Women in Music Pt. III (Columbia)
Hanna - “Spaceland” - Patchwork: Compiled by Sassy J (Rush Hour)
Jon Hassell - “Fearless” - Seeing Through Sound: Pentimento Vol. 2 (Ndeya)
James Holden & Waclaw Zimpel - “Saturday” - Long Weekend (Border Community)
Jaga Jazzist - “Spiral Era” - Pyramid (Brainfeeder)
Loraine James ft. Joannine - “Don’t You See It?” - Nothing (Hyperdub)
Mildlife - “Memory Palace” - Automatic (Heavenly)
Victoria Monét - “Dive” - Jaguar (Tribe)
Nihiloxica - “Busoga” - Kaloli (Crammed Discs)
Frank Ocean - “Dear April” - Dear April 7” (Blonded)
Moses Sumney - “Gagarin” - græ (Jagjaguwar)
Tame Impala - “Tomorrow’s Dust” - The Slow Rush (Modular)
Yves Tumor - “Kerosene!” - Heaven To a Tortured Mind (Warp)
U.S. Girls - “4 American Dollars” - Heavy Light (4AD)

Carnacki

Carnacki's Best of 2020

Some Favourite Physical Releases, in alphabetical order

Kristine Barrett - Unvisited Tombs: Mödrar (S/R)
Blabbermouth vs. Lachlan Young - The Edge of Reason (S/R)
Black Glass Ensemble - Arise from the Twilight (Omnempathy)
Cinder Well - No Summer (Free Dirt)
Shirley Collins - Heart’s Ease (Domino)
Common Eider, King Eider and Cober Ord - Palimpsest (Cyclic Law)
Thomas Dimuzio - Balance (Gench)
Clara Engel - Hatching Under The Stars (S/R)
Euphotic - Isopleths (Public Eyesore)
Insect Ark - The Vanishing (Profound Lore)
Susan Matthews - Fisher Of Men (Sirenwire)
Matmos - The Consuming Flame: Open Exercises in Group Form (Thrill Jockey)
Lau Nau and Matti Bye - Signals (Time Released Sound)
Maud the Moth - Orphne (Música Máxica)
Mika Akim - Till Kroppen (Krumelur)
My Heart, An Inverted Flame - Plague Notes, Unnames, Unknown, A Finger Dragged Through
Dust (tUMULt / Zum)
Old Million Eye - Now Land (S/R)
The Prison Music Project - Long Time Gone (Righteous Babe)
Paul Roland - Lair of the White Worm (Unifaun Productions)
Colin Stetson - Color Out Of Space soundtrack (Milan)
Sangre de Muérdago - Xuntas (Música Máxica)
Skyminds - Shapes & Traces (Internal Rhythm)
Soft Pink Truth - Shall We Go On Sinning So That Gracfe May Increase? (Thrill Jockey)
David Tibet - Ferelith / Fontelautus (Cashen’s Gap)
Emily Wells - In The Dark Moving (Thesis + Instinct)

Some Favourite Digital Releases, in alphabetical order

Aho Ssan - Simulacrum (Subtext)
Angel Archer - C4NM (Live - 2020) (S/R)
Anoice - Invisible Wall (Ricco)
Little Annie Anxiety & Hiro Kone - Repossessed (S/R)
The Bim Prongs / Furchick - EC Split 15 (Hal McGee)
Cedar Deamer - Solastalgia (S/R)
W.A. Davison - RE/CYCLING series (S/R)
Dust Bowl Faeries - The Plague Garden (S/R)
Simon Finn - Be Here Then (EP) (10 to 1)
Diamanda Galás - De-formation: Piano Variations (S/R)
Paris Hurley - Monthly Moon Package series (S/R)
irr. app. (ext.) - Vesicular Distributor series (errate in excelsis)
irr. app. (ext.) - HCA (errata in excelsis)
Chuck Johnson - Somewhere South (original soundtrack) (S/R)
Julia Kent - Forsythia / Waverly / Drops / Clouds Light The Night (S/R)
Storm Large - Crazy Weather (S/R)
Mekons - EXQUISITE (S/R)
Jessica Moss - Opened Ending (Constellation)
Marissa Nadler - Moons (S/R)
Old Lake Million Eyes - Old Lake Million Eyes (S/R)
Josh Pollock - Music for Film and Theatre III (S/R)
Tiger Lilles - COVID-19 vol. 1-2 / Lemonaki (Misery Guts)
Transient and Darren Johnston - It Was Always Here (S/R)
Norman Westberg - Short Songs for the Long Winter (S/R)
Olga Wojciechowska - Unseen Places (A Strangely Isolated Place)

Some Favourite Benefit Compilations, in alphabetical order

CosmoPraesidium (Eiderdown)
Let It Come To You (Clatsop Animal Assistance)
A Musical Benefit for the Yanomami (Orb Weaver Collective)
Particle Count (Room40)
Pattern Recognition (A Benefit for Collage Artist Bradley Kokay) (No Part Of It)
Plague Song (for Médicins Sans Frontières) (Nick Gill)
Remembrance Species 2020 (Remembrance Species)
To NRDC With Love From Qvästlafve (Qvästlafve)

Some Favourite Reissues, in alphabetical order:

Current 93 - Horsey / Sleep Has His House (HomAleph)
Jo Quail - Five Incantations (Adderstone)
Olga Wojciechowska - Maps and Mazes (Time Released Sound)

Carolyn

Carolyn's Favorites of 2020

Good riddance to 2020. Here’s to 2021!

My Favorite Songs of 2020

Brandy – “(Wish You Was) Madball Baby” - The Gift Of Repetition (Total Punk Records)
ISS – “Too Punk For Heavy Metal” - 7” (Total Punk Records)
Dicklord – “Boring” - It’s Soooo Boring (Valve Records)
Moviestar – “Evel Knievel” - The Curse and The Currency of The Twenty-First Century (Bored Airline Music)
Illegal Visions – “Antifa” - South Bay Curse - The Lo-Fi Pandemic Sessions (S/R)
Cable Ties – “Tell Them Where To Go” - Far Enough (Merge Records)
Girl Friday - “Earthquake” - Androgynous Mary (Hardly Art)
MC16 – “Anti” (S/R)
Chemtrails – “Paranoiacs” - The Peculiar Smell Of The Inevitable (PNKSLM Recordings)
Powerslut - “Nostalgia” - Fun With Junk (S/R)

My Favorite Albums of 2020

Brandy – The Gift Of Repetition (Total Punk Records)
Kim Salmon and The Surrealists - Rantings From The Book Of Swamp (Kim Salmon)
Quintron and Miss Pussycat - Goblin Alert (Goner Records)
Flat Worms – Antartica (God?)
Mr. Wrong – Create A Place (Water Wing Records)
Gino and The Goons – Off The Rails (Big Neck Records)
Cool Greenhouse – Cool Greenhouse (Melodic Records)
Jackson Reid Briggs and The Heaters – Hammered (Grubby Publications)
All My Friends and Me - First Time (S/R)
Rubber Blanket - Our Album (Spacecase Records)

My favorite EPs of 2020

Dr. Sure’s Unusual Practice - While Aus Burns (S/R)
Noxeema – Noxeema EP (dotx3)
Kool and The Gang Bangers – Year Of The Kool Pt. 3 (S/R)
CB Radio Gorgeous - EP (Thrilling Living)
Buck Biloxi and The Fucks - Put You In The Gulag (Goodbye Boozy Records)
Gee Tee – Atomic (Goodbye Boozy Records)
Collective Hardcore/ Disco Junk - split (Goodbye Boozy Records)
Names – Et Tu & The Warning (Misanthropic Agenda)
Ray Gun - Lunkhead (It’s Trash!)
Civic - “Radiant Eye b/w Making Time” (Flightless Records)

My Favorite Cover Songs of 2020

Mattiel – “Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun” - Double Cover (ATO Records)
Munlet - “El Ser Que Quiero” - Ghost Highway Recordings (Music For Gloves)
Itchy Kitty - “Psycho Killer” - Under The Covers (Corporat Records)
G.T.R.R.C. - “Food Fight” - G.T.R.R.C. II (G.T.R.R.C.)
Tropical Fuck Storm featuring Amy Taylor - “This Perfect Day” - Suburbiopia 7” (Joyful Noise Recordings)
Billiam - “Agitated” (Billiams Fan Club)
Superchunk - “Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing” - Good Music To Avert The Collapse Of American Democracy (Good Music)
Big Clown - “DDDDC” - Big Clown Big Mad (S/R)
UK Gold - “Punk Rock Ist Nicht Tot” - Be Gay, Do Crime! (Girlsville Records)
Kiss Boom Bah - “Out Of Our Tree” - 7” (Sweet Time)

My Favorite Reissues of 2020

El Pifco - “Meltdown b/w Bananas” - 7” (Metallic Rainforest)
14 th Wish - “I Gotta Get Rid Of You b/w 14th Wish” - 7” (Hozac Records)
Ted Cassidy - “The Lurch/ Wesley” - 7” (Jackpot Records)
The Generics - Cost Cutter EP (Feel It Records)
The Prissteens – The Hound (Girlsville Rceords)
Os Tartaros - The First Portuguese Surf-Garage Group 1964-1967 (Groovie Records)
Whirlywirld - The Complete Studio Works 1978-80 (Hozac Records)
The Zits - Back In Blackhead EP (Feel It Records)
The Protagonists – 1983-1985 (Alona’s Dream Records)

My favorite Archival Realeases of 2020

The Pathetx – 1981 LP (Third Man Records)
Rebel Truce – The Lost Tapes EP (Green Recordings)
Snot Puppies - TV Tantrum EP (No Matrix Records)
Skinned Teen - Nancy Drew EP (Vague Absolutes)
The Only Ones – Live In Chicago 1979 (Alona’s Dream Records)
An Uneasy Peace - Speaking In Tongues EP (Dirt Cult Records)
Red Lights - Red Lights 12” (In The Red Records)
V/A - Brazilian Nuggets: Back From The Jungle Vol 4 (Groovie Records)
V/A - Days Of A Quiet Sun (Feel It Records)

My Favorite Compilation Albums of 2020

V/A - There’s Gotta Be Hope, Right? (Billiam)
V/A - G.T.T.R.C. II (G.T.T.R.C.)
V/A - Be Gay, Do Crime! (Girlsville Records)
V/A – Typical Girls Volume 5 (Emotional Response Records)
V/A - Black Lives Matter (Yeah Right!)
V/A – Killed By Boredom - 27 Songs By Lock-Down Survivors (One Chord Wonder)
V/A - Quarantine Age Wasteland: A Benefit for Boston's Small Venues (Quarantine Age Wasteland)
V/A - No Gigs Does Not Have To Mean No Music (Desert Highways)
V/A - Protest & Survive (Protest & Survive)

My Favorite Live and Virtually Live Shows of 2020

Kim Salmon and The Surrealists – live at Rolling Stock, June 13 & 14, 2020
Gonerfest 17 - Memphis, TN and beyond, September 24-27, 2020
Shimane Jett Fest - Japan, September 26, 2020
Los Dug Dugs - Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA, January 30, 2020
Steve Nieve and friends – live from his house in France, March through present, 2020
Chemtrails record release - June 21, 2020
The Archaeas – record release live from Goner Records, Memphis, TN, August 14, 2020
Memorial Day Meltdown - various locations, May 24, 2020
Doug and Jamin – live from The Rite Spot, San Francisco, multiple days 2020
Lydia Lunch’s Retrovirus - The Knockout, San Francisco, CA, February 21, 2020

MY FAVORITE SONGS TO CELEBRATE TRUMP’S LAST YEAR

The Owen Guns – “The Ballad of Cheeto Hitler” - Violating Community Standards (Riot Records)
Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric – “Vote That Fucker Out” (S/R)
Hobocop – “I’m A Troll” - Hungry Freaks In The Data Mine (S/R)
Xylitol – “(There’s Something In Your) Void” - I’m Pretty Sure I Would Know If Reality Were Fundamentally Different Than I Perceived It To Be EP (Thrilling Living Records)
Paris – “Baby Man Hands” - Safe Space Invader (Guerrilla Funk Recordings)
Idles – “Grounds” - Ultra Mono (Partisan Records)
Public Enemy – “State Of The Union (STFU)” - What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down? (Enemy Records)
Research Reactor Corp – “Big Baby” - The Collected Findings Of The Research Reactor Corporation (Erste Theke Tontraeger)
Dick Move – “Ladies Night” - Chop! (Holiday Records)
Psychedelic Furs – “Tiny Hands” - Made Of Rain (Cooking Vinyl)

Control Issues

Control Issues - Best Songs of 2020

Brittney Howard - “13th Century Metal” - Jaime (ACO)

Bad Moves - “Party With The Kids Who Wanna Party With You” - Untenable (Don Giovanni)

Weye Oak - “AEIOU” - No Horizon (Merge)

Alien Nosejob - “Pointed Shears” - Once Again The Present Becomes The Past (Iron Lung)

Sakuran Zensen - “Taximan” - I Am Sakuran Zensen (たわしレコーズ)

The Beths - “Dying To Believe” - Jump Rope Gazers (Carpark)

Eri Yamamoto Trio - “Echo of Echo” - Gasho Ondo Suite (AUM)

Pictish Trail - “Turning Back” - Thumb World (Fire Records)

Ben Wendel - “Drawn Away” - High Heart (Edition Records)

Dark Forest - “Relics” - Oak, Ash and Thorn (Cruz Del Sur)

This Is The Kit - “Coming To Get You Nowhere” - Off Off On (Rough Trade)

Snakefinger - “Man In The Dark Sedan” - Live in Melbourne, 1981 (Secret)

Stick In The Wheel - “Villon Song” - HOLD FAST (From Here)

Alice Clark - “I Keep It Hid” - Alice Clark (Mainstream Records)

Dry Cleaning - “Traditional Fish” - Sweet Princess (It’s OK)

The Smarts - “Smart Phone” - Who Needs Smarts, Anyway (Feel It)

Chrome - “Fudge Bunny” - Tidal Forces/No Humans Allowed Pt. II (Secret)

Mourn - “This Feeling Is Disgusting” - Self Worth (Captured Tracks)

Cyril Cyril - “Les Gens” - Yallah Mickey Mouse (Born Bad)

The Oh Hellos - “Lapis Lazuli” - Borealis (S/R)

No Joy - “Nothing Will Hurt” - Motherhood (Joyful Noise)

Christian Singles - “A Dream Ends Without Starting” - Maybe Another Time (Mt.St.Mtn)

Naked Roommate - “Repeat” - Do The Duvet (Trouble In Mind)

Deerhoof - “Damaged Eyes Squinting Into The Beautiful Overhot Sun” - Future Teenage Cave Artists (Joyful Noise)

Bitch Falcon - “How Did I Know?” - Staring at Clocks (Small Pond)

DangerVenture

DangerVenture’s Best of 2020

Top 10 Debut Albums

Bartees Strange - Live Forever (Memory Music)
Cubby and the Gang - Speed Kills (Partisan)
Gum Country - Somewhere (S/R)
Park Hye Jin - How Can I (Ninja Tune)
Ela Minus - Acts of Rebellion (Domino)
Mamalarky - Mamalarky (Fire Talk)
Pillow Queens - In Waiting (S/R)
Alaska Reid - Big Bunny (Terrible Records)
Rina Sawayama - SAWAYAMA (Dirty Hit)
Samia - The Baby (Grand Jury)

Top 10 Local Releases

Cocktails - Catastrophic Entertainment (Wizards & Potions)
Quinn DeVeaux - Book of Soul (S/R)
Elder Brother - I Won’t Fade on You (Pure Noise)
Fantastic Negrito - Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? (S/R)
Ismay - Songs of Sonoma Mountain (S/R)
Madeline Kenney - Suckers Lunch (Carpark)
Monophonics - It’s Only Us (Colemine)
Low Praise - Tanning Beds (S/R)
The Seshen - CYAN (Tru Thoughts)
Unconditional Arms - Formation (Sell The Heart)

2020’s Top 10 Local Shows has been converted into the last live show I’m glad I witnessed
before the world paused: Unconditional Arms, Commissure, Reptoid at Elbo Room on 2/27/20

Deep Mission

Deep Mission’s Best of 2020

As in A Tale of Two Cities, it was the best of years, it was the worst of years

Best Singles

Cormac Russell - “Lotus Train” (s/r)
Dream Aria - “Fairy Dust” (s/r)
Enzo Monk - “Ballad of George Floyd” (s/r)
Lizki - “Press Rewind” (Seayou)
Preach - “Likor” (Seayou)
Rosa Rendl- “Opportunity Lover” (Seayou)
Samantha Margret - “Emotional” (s/r)

Best Covers

Juliana Hatfield - Sings The Police (American Laundromat)
Khalia - “Hallelujah” (K-Licious)
Robbie Quine - “Sugar Sugar” (s/r)

Best New Releases

Klo Pelgag - Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs (Secret City)
Jed’s A Millionaire - The Beautiful Ones - (Kona)
Dylan Sherry - Western Sky - (s/r)
Clown of God - Clown Times ep - (s/r)
Various Artists - Tokyo Dreaming (WeWantSounds)

Best Re-releases

Ammar el Sherei - Oriental Sounds (WeWantSounds)
Omar Khorshid - With Love (WeWantSounds)

DJ Aahh

DJ Aahh's Shortwave Top 10 Z-to-A

Yppah - Sunset in the Deep End (Future Archive)

Wajatta - Don't Let Get You Down (Brainfeeder)

Thundercat - It Is What It Is (Brainfeeder)

Sneaks - Happy Birthday (Merge)

Romare - Home (Ninja Tune)

Potatohead People - Mellow Fantasy (Bastard Jazz)

Omar-S - You Want (FXHE)

Moon Boots - Bimini Road (Remixed) (Anjunadeep)

Jayda G - Both of Us / Are You Down (Ninja Tune)

Emancipator - Mountain of Memory (Loci)

DJ Massari

Massari’s 2020 Faves

Novelist - “Stay With Me” (S/R)

Coby Sey - River (Curl)

Krust - The Edge of Everything (Crosstown Rebels)

Katya Yonder - Multiply Intentions (Métron Records)

V/A - HOA010 & HOA011 (HAUS of ALTR)

Parris - Polychrome Swim (The Trilogy Tapes)

Parris - Terrapin (Wisdom Teeth)

Josey Rebelle - Josey In Space (Beats In Space)

EquiknoxxMusic - Equiknoxx Music in 2020(EquiknoxxMusic)

Upsammy - Zoom (Delmantel)

Nailah Hunter - Spells (Leaving Records)

Good Bad Happy Sad - Shades (Textile Records)

Beatrice Dillon - Workaround (Pan)

Call Super - Every Mouth Teeth Missing (Incienso)

Autechre - Sign (Warp Records)

Nidia - Não Fales Nela Que A Mentes (Príncipe)

Magnetizer - Soulseeker (S/R)

Duval Timothy - Help (Carrying Colour)

Laura Groves - A Private Road (Bella Union)

Speaker Music - Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry (Planet Mu)

Vague Imaginaires - L'Île Sous l'Eau (12th Isle)

Actress - 88 (S/R)

Actress - Karma & Desire (Ninja Tune)

Actress - Unseen_Werk No.1 (Braindead)

Lafawndah - The Fifth Season (Latency)

LOG - LOG ET3RNAL (Experiences Ltd.)

Klein - Frozen (S/R)

Overmono - Everything U Need (XL Recordings)

Molero - Ficciones Del Trópico (Holuzam)

Space Afrika - hybtwibt? (S/R)

Niagara - Pais & Filhos (Príncipe)

U - Lowlands (Where To Now?)

Ulla - Tumbling Towards A Wall (Experiences Ltd.)

CS + Kreme - Snoopy (The Trilogy Tapes)

dBridge - Inhibited (Exit Records)

KeiyaA - Forever, Ya Girl (Keiya)

Jonnine - Blue Hills (Boomkat Editions)

John Carroll Kirby - My Garden (Stones Throw Records)

Minor Science - Second Language (Whities)

Bullion - We Had A Good Time (Deek Recordings)

Loraine James - Nothing (Hyperdub)

Karl D’Silva - Disapear (S/R)

Novelist - Quantum Leap (S/R)

E. Lit

Some Albums That Helped E. Lit Survive 2020, In Alphabetical Order:

The staggering volume of amazing music released in 2020 was the silver lining of one of the most challenging years of my adult life. Here are some of the highlights:

Aesop Rock - Spirit World Field Guide (Rhymesayers)

AJ Suede - Knowhatimean? (self-released)

Al.Divino & Futurewave - Kataklizm (self-released)

Archie Shepp, Raw Poetic & Damu the Fudgemunk - Ocean Bridges (Redefinition)

Armand Hammer - Shrines (Backwoodz Studioz)

Arms and Sleepers - Corpus Dei (Future Archive)

Awol One - Tony the Walrus (Speakerface)

Batsauce - Shelter Skelter (Full Plate)

Blockhead - Quar and Peace (self-released)

Blu & Exile - Miles: From An Interlude Called Life (Dirty Science)

BlUu Edwards - All We Need Is Kill (Wrecking Crew)

Boldy James - The Price of Tea In China (ALC)

Buckwild - Music Is My Religion (Kurrup Money)

Brzowski & C Money Burns - The Subjugation of Bread (Milled Pavement)

Cargo Cults - Nihilist Millennial (Wrecking Crew)

Chester Watson - A Japanese Horror Film (POW)

Controller 7 - Exhale01 (self-released)

Controller 7 & Buck 65 - Billy (self-released)

Count Bass D - CBD (self-released)

Day Tripper - Langford Landscapes (Full Plate)

Dillon & Batsauce - Self Medicated EP (Full Plate)

DJ Muggs & Al.Divino - Kilogram (Soul Assassins)

DJ Scientist - The Artless Cuckoo Vol. II (self-released)

Doseone - G Is For Job (self-released)

Dr. Oop & Nada Clue - Essential Business Vol. 1 & 2 (self-released)

Ear Dr.Umz - Mental Picture Show (self-released)

Ecid - Post Euphoria Vol. 3 (Fill In the Breaks)

80's Babies - unLEARN (self-released)

Escape Artists - Evergreen (Cathexis)

Factor Chandelier - First Storm (Fake Four Inc)

Factor Chandelier - Eastlake (Fake Four Inc)

Fielded - Demisexual Lovelace (Backwoodz Studioz)

4-IZE - Look Into My IZE (Ultra Beast United)

Gel Roc - Grandeur (Abolano)

Googie & Henry Canyons - Hijinx (Backwoodz Studioz)

Griff/Scorcese - Midnight Express (Insubordinate)

Haphduzn - Visceral (self-released)

Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (Madlib Invazion)

Henny L.O. & Ohbliv - Sages (Mutant Academy)

Him Lo - Slapyagoddamnfaceoff (Grilchy Party)

ialive - I'll Wait Forever (Cold Rhyme)

Ill Scholars - Ill Scholars (self-released)

Illogic - Autopilot (self-released)

Junclassic - The Hope Business (self-released)

Ka - Descendents of Cain (Iron Works)

Kay the Aquanaut & Maki - The Nautical Blue (self-released)

Kid Abstrakt & Emapea - Jazzy Vibes (self-released)

LAPIS - Third Person You (Fresh Selects)

lojii - lo&behold (self-released)

Lt Headtrip - Dreamery (We Are the Karma Kids)

Lydia Liza & Big Cats - Oh Boy (self-released)

Mestizo & Controller 7 - Couch (self-released)

MidaZ the Beast - Where the Sidewalk Ends (self-released)

Moodie Black - F U Z Z (Fake Four Inc)

Napoleon Da Legend & Ro Data - The Stuff of Legend (Chong Wizard)

Nation GVNG - Nation GVNG (Insubordinate)

Nolan the Ninja - Talk Soon (Sport Cast)

Observe Since '98 - Royaume Du Sauvage (Loretta)

Open Mike Eagle - Anime, Trauma & Divorce (Auto Reverse

Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin - FlySiifu's (Lex)

Proe & MF Shalem B - Belove Below (Childproof)

Pro Zay - Alley Muzik (self-released)

Pseudo Intellectuals - A Late Stage Malaise (Lo Do)

Ransom & Nicholas Craven - Director's Cut: Scene 2 & 3 (Chong Wizard)

R.A.P. Ferreira - Purple Moonlight Pages (Ruby Yacht)

Rasheed Chappell & Buckwild - Sinners and Saints (Get On Down)

Rigz & Futurewave - Substance Abuse (self-released)

Roughneck Jihad - The Red Sentence (Expanded-Art)

Salami Rose Joe Louis - Chapters of Zdenka (Brainfeeder)

Señor Kaos & Illastrate - Kings of Vice (Ultra Beast United)

Serengeti - AJAI (Fake Four Inc)

ShrapKnel - ShrapKnel (Backwoodz Studioz)

Sons of the James - Everlasting (Fresh Selects)

Thundercat - It Is What It Is (Brainfeeder)

Ultra Beast - Rush the Court (Ultra Beast United)

Verbal Kent & The Other Guys - Blade of the Short Cut (HiPNOTT)

Vic Spencer - Psychological Cheat Sheet (Old Fart Luggage)

Vitamin D - Flips Vol. 1 & 2 (self-released)

WateRR - Workshop of the Mind (self-released)

White Horse - White Horse (Uncommon)

Wrecking Crew - Raheem's Lament (Wrecking Crew)

Yppah - Sunset In the Deep End (Future Archive)

Zilla Rocca & Chong Wizard - Midnight Sons (Chong Wizard)

Picking the very best of that bunch is difficult, but if I had to narrow it down to only 10 of those titles they most likely would be:

Armand Hammer - Shrines (Backwoodz Studioz)
BlUu Edwards - All We Need Is Kill (Wrecking Crew)
Serengeti - AJAI (Fake Four Inc)
Controller 7 & Buck 65 - Billy (self-released)
Blu & Exile - Miles: From an Interlude Called Life (Dirty Science)
4-IZE - Look Into My IZE (Ultra Beast United)
Ill Scholars - Ill Scholars (self-released)
Open Mike Eagle - Anime, Trauma & Divorce (Auto Reverse)
Chester Watson - A Japanese Horror Film (POW)
WateRR - Workshop of the Mind (self-released)

Entry Level Garbage

My Favorite 2020 Albums and EPs

Pinegrove - Marigold (Rough Trade)

Fleet Foxes - Shore (ANTI-)

Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension (Asthmatic Kitty)

Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher (Dead Oceans)

Purity Ring - WOMB (4AD)

Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated Side B (Schoolboy and Interscope)

beabadoobee - Fake It Flowers (Dirty Hit)

Frances Quinlan - Likewise (Saddle Creek)

Into It Over It - Figures (Triple Crown)

Standards - Fruit Island (Topshelf)

Baths - Pop Music/False B Sides II (Basement's Basement)

Liza Anne - Bad Vacation (Arts and Crafts)

Field Medic - Floral Prince (Run For Cover)

Starchild and the New Romantic - Forever (New Romantic World)

Yumi Zouma - Truth or Consequences (Polyvinyl)

The Japanese House - Chewing Cotton Wool (Dirty Hit)

Braids - Shadow Offering (Secret City)

The Beths - Jump Rope Gazers (Carpark)

PUP - This Place Sucks Ass (Rise)

Rina Sawayama - Sawayama (Dirty Hit)

Hayley Williams - Petals For Armor (Atlantic)

HAIM - Women in Music Part III (Columbia)

Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud (Merge)

The Mountain Goats - Getting Into Knives (Merge)

Dryjacket - Going Out Of Business (Lesser Matters)

Feel Good Weird

Feel Good Weird’s Favorite Releases of 2020

FGW ♥ Reissues of 2020

Hiroshi Yoshimura - GREEN (Light In The Attic)
Admas - Sons of Ethiopia (Frederiksberg)
Patrick Cowley - Some Funkettes (Dark Entries)
Ranil - Ranil y Su Conjunto Tropical (Analog Africa)
Sharhabil Ahmed - The King of Sudanese Jazz (Habibi Funk)
Thelonious Monk - Palo Alto (Impulse!)
Elliott Smith - Live at Umbra Penumbra - September 17th, 1994 (KRS)
The Heshoo Beshoo Group - Armitage Road (We Are Busy Bodies)

FGW ♥ Albums/EPs of 2020

Moaning - Uneasy Laughter (Sub Pop)
Against All Logic - 2017-2019 (Other People)
Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately (Matador)
SAULT - Untitled (Black Is) / Untitled (Rise) (Forever Living Originals)
Widowspeak - Plum (Captured Tracks)
King Krule - Man Alive! (True Panther Sounds / Matador)
Frankie Reyes - Originalitos (Stones Throw)
Adrianne Lenker - songs / instrumentals (4AD)
Fontaines D.C. - A Hero’s Death (Partisan)
Angel Olsen - Whole New Mess (Jagjaguwar)
JPEGMAFIA - EP! (EQT)
Hama - Music From Saharan Whatsapp 08 (Sahel Sounds)
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross / Jon Batiste - Soul (OST) (Disney)
Charli XCX - how i’m feeling now (Asylum)
Candace - Ideal Corners (S/R)
Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher (Dead Oceans)
Bosca Banks - Winner (S/R)
Deeper - Auto-Pain (Fire Talk)
Nicolás Jaar - Cenizas (Other People)
Peel Dream Magazine - Agitprop Alterna (Slumberland)
Duma - Duma (Nyege Nyege Tapes)
Emily Montes - Emily Montes (S/R)
Various - Care Not Cops (In This Together LA)
Various - The Song is Coming from Inside the House (S/R)

FGW ♥ Singles of 2020

Connan Mockasin - “I Want Troll With You (Gentle Dom Remix)” (Mexican Summer)
Car Seat Headrest - “Can’t Cool Me Down” (Matador)
Jamie xx - “Idontknow” (Young Turks)
Burial, Four Tet & Thom Yorke - “Her Revolution” (XL)
Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper & 9th Wonder - “Freeze Tag (feat. Phoelix)” (Sounds of Crenshaw / EMPIRE)
Porridge Radio & Lala Lala - “Good For You” (Secretly Canadian / Hardly Art)
RMR - “RASCAL” (CMNTY CULTURE)
Dummy - “Pool Dizzy” (Born Yesterday)
Aoife Nessa Frances - “Geranium” (Ba Da Bing!)
Anderson .Paak - “Lockdown” (12Tones)
Frank Ocean - “Cayendo (Side A - Acoustic)” (Blonded)
Justin Bieber & benny blanco - “Lonely”
Kurt Vile & John Prine - “How Lucky” (Matador)
Whateverglades - “Don't Call Me Baby / I Watch Over Me” (No Egrets)
Fenn Rosenthal - “Dinosaurs in Love (feat. Tom Rosenthal)” (Dinosaur)

Fernando

Fernando's Favorite Songs of 2020

En Attendant Ana - "Down The Hill" - Juillet (Trouble In Mind)

Jeanines - "Everyone Should Be Warned" - Things Change (wiaiwya)

Galore - "Silence" - S/T (Rocks In Your Head)

Melenas - "En Madrid" Dias Raros (Elsa)

Seablite - "High-Rise Mannequin" - High-Rise Mannequin (Emotional Response)

Potpourri - "Postcards" - First Dance (Bingo)

Nightshift - "Make Kin" - "Make Kin" (Trouble In Mind)

Gustaf - "Design" - S/T (Royal Mountain)

Lithics - "Hands" - Tower of Age (Trouble In Mind)

Shopping - "Follow Me" - All Or Nothing (FatCat)

Flowers - "Erik" - Erik (Slumberland)

Candace - "DM-100" - Ideal Corners (S/R)

Torrey - "Recording 119" - Recording 119 (S/R)

Radiator Hospital - "Summer Movie" - New Depression (S/R)

The Reds, Pinks and Purples - "I Should Have Helped You" - I Should Have Helped You (Burundi Cloud)

SOAR - "Corner of a Room" - Soft Dial Tone (Lost Sound Tapes)

Latitude - "I Love the Radio" - Mystic Hotline (Emotional Response)

Axolotes Mexicanos - "Te Quiero (...)" - Uwu (Elefant)

Habibi - "Angel Eyes" - Anywhere But Here (Muddguts)

Soft Palms - "Not Love" - S/T (Everloving)

Boyracer - "Girl in a Soul Band" - On a Promise (Emotional Response)

Parsnip - "Treacle Toffee World" - Adding Up (Anti Fade)

No se a quien matar - "Bacilococo" - Bacilococo (Casa Maracas)

Baby Shakes - "Really Really" - Sweet 'n' Sour (Dimple)

Ribbon Stage - "Favorite Girl" - My Favorite Shrine (S/R)

The Stroppies - "Burning Bright" - Look Alive (Tough Love)

Terry - "Take the Cellphone" - Take the Cellphone (Sub Pop)

Lisasinson - "Volverte A Enamorar" - Volverte A Enamorar (Elefant)

Brontez Purnell - "In Between" - White Boy Music (Post Present)

Neutrals - "Personal Computing" - Personal Computing (Slumberland)

Sweeping Promises - "Cross Me Out" - Hunger for a Way Out (Feel It)

Lewsberg - "Through the Garden" - In This House (S/R)

Cindy - "Falcon Heavy" - Free Advice (Mt.St.Mtn.)

Peel Dream Magazine - "Too Dumb" - Agitprop Alterna (Slumberland)

Virginia Wing - "I'm Holding Out For Something" - I'm Holding Out For Something (Fire)

Cold Beat - "Flat Earth" - Mother (DFA)

Primo! - "Love Days" - Sogni (Upset The Rhythm)

Suzie True - "Bailey" - Saddest Girl at the Party (Get Better)

Porridge Radio - "Circling" - Every Bad (Secretly Canadian)

Mitimitis - "Todas las Fiestas del Manana" - Terror en el Autocine (S/R)

Leftfield Lance

Leftfield Lance's 2020 Favorites:

7"

Aladean Kheroufi - Sorry If I Hurt You (Kimberlite)
CB Radio Gorgeous - EP (Thrilling Living)
Lewsberg - Through the Garden (S/R)
Neutrals - Personal Computing (Slumberland)
Neutrals - Rent/Your House (Domestic Departure)
Ribbon Stage - My Favorite Shrine (K)
Romero - Honey (Cool Death)
Shark Toys - Out of Time (Chunklet)
Violent Change - S/T (Sloth Mate)

12"

Astute Palate - S/T (Petty Bunco)
Chronophage - Th' Pig Kiss'd Album ‎(Cleta Patra)
The Cool Greenhouse - S/T (Melodic)
Galore - S/T (Rocks in Your Head)
Lithics - Tower of Age (Toruble in Mind)
Sweeping Promises - Hunger For A Way Out (Feel It)

Cassettes, Demos, etc.

Dummy - EP2 (Born Yesterday)
Hits - Sediment Seen (Paisley Shirt)
Modern Needs - Survey of the Animal Kingdom (S/R)
Nape Neck - S/T (S/R)
Permits - Time Permits (Tenth Court)
Privay Issues - S/T (S/R)
The Snogs - Boyfriend's Dead (Paisley Shirt)

Madame X

Madame X's Best of 2020

IDLES - Ultra Mono (Partisan)

Klo Pelgag - Notre-Dame-Des-Sept-Douleurs (Secret City)

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Boltcutters (Epic)

Yelle - L’Ere du Berseau

Alex the Astronaut - The Theory of Absolutely Nothing (Network)

Buen Aurelio Malazar - pre.pro.post (Unknown Tone)

U.S. Girls - Heavy Light (4AD)

DakhaBrakha - Alambari (S/R)

Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn - Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn (Smithsonian Folkways)

The Architect - Une Plage Sur La Lune (Face B)

Majority Whip

Majority Whip’s Favorite Albums of 2020, Listed Alphabetically

Actress - Karma & Desire (Ninja Tune)

Ammar 808 - Global Control / Invisible Invasion (Glitterbeat)

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters (Epic)

William Basinski - Lamentations (Temporary Residence)

Andrew Bird - Panthology Songs (S/R)

Bo Ningen - Sudden Fiction (Alcopop!)

Louise Bock - Abyss for Cello (Geographic North)

Rose Bonica - Tears for The Tea Maker (Roses are Red)

Café Ale - Third Age (Simballrec)

Sonia Calico - Simulation of An Overloaded World (More Time)

Clap Clap - Liquid Portraits (Black Acre)

Cocina Povera - Tyyni (Night School)

Cold Beat - Mother (DFA)

Cornershop - England Is A Garden (Ample Play)

Cults - Host (Sinderlyn)

Philippe Doray & Les Asociaux Associes - Nouveaux Modes Industriels (Souffle Continu)

Steve Earle - Ghosts Of West Virginia (New West)

Matt Evans - New Topographics (Whatever's Clever)

Fatwires - The Wicked Path (Depth of Field)

Four Tet - Sixteen Oceans (Text)

M. Geddes Gengras - Time Makes Nothing Happen (Hausu Mountin)

Guedra Guedra - Sun of Son (On the Corner)

Lilly Hiatt - Walking Proof (New West)

Anna Homler - D? Ya Sa´ Di D? (A Sonic Geography) (Berlston)

Boldy James/Sterling Toles - Manger on Mcnichols (Sector 7-G)

Jiony - Sí Y No (Drosssel)

Kaleema - Nómada (Tropical Twista)

Faten Kanaan - A Mythology of Circles (Fire)

Kassa Overall - I Think I’m Good (Brownswood)

Madeline Kenney - Sucker's Lunch (Carpark)

Mikado Koko - The Japanese Rimbaud (S/R)

Various Artists - Komposisi Kompos (Divis162)

Kraus - A Golden Brain (S/R)

Sophia Loizou - Untold (Houndstooth)

Loma - Don't Shy Away (Sub Pop)

Mapache - From Liberty Street (Yep Roc)

Ela Minus - Acts of Rebellions (Domino)

Moodymann - Taken Away (KDJ)

Moon Wiring Club - Tabitha Reverb (S/R)

Mukdad Rothenberg Lankow - In the Wake Of Memories (Clermont Music)

Sascha Muhr - Fuive Part 2 (S/R)

Naked Roommate - Do the Duvet (Trouble in Mind)

Nape Neck - Nape Neck (Gringo)

Thiago Nassif - Mente (Gearbox)

Nazar - End of Guerilla (S/R)

North Americans - Roped In (Third Man)

Novellor - Arrow (Ba Da Bing!)

Agnes Obel - Myopia (Blue Note)

Lawrence Pike - Prophecy (Leaf)

Public Practice - Gentle Grip (Wharf Cat)

Red Brut - Cloaked Travels (Ikuisuus)

Lina Raül Refree - Lina Raül Refree (Glitterbeat)

Romperayo - Uyuyuis (S/R)

RVG - Feral (Fire)

Sault - Untitled (Black Is) (Forever Living Originals)

Seabuckthorn - Through A Vulnerable Occur (Iikki)

Sevdaliza - Shabrang (Twisted Elegance)

Shabaka And the Ancestors - We Are Sent Here By History (Impulse!)

Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension (Asthmatic Kitty)

Sweeping Promises - (Feel It)

Sylvan Esso - Free Love (Loma Vista)

Tl0741 - Refractory (HC3)

Terror/Cactus - Confluencia (S/R)

Azu Tiwaline - Magnetic Service (Livity Sound)

Yosuke Tokunaga - 13 Monotonousness (Audio Visual Atmosphere)

David Toop - Apparition Paintings (Room40)

Tvii Son - Tvii Son (Music Inspired)

Melanie Velarde - Bez (Commend There)

Winter - Endless Space (Between You & I) (Bar None)

Women of The Pore - Folk Music (Orb Tapes)

Woods - Strange to Explain (Woodsist)

X - Alphabetland (Gat Possum)

Y-Bayani & Baby Naa And the Band Of Enlightenment - Nsie Nsie (Philopon)

Zenobia - Halek Halek (Crammed Discs)

Megasoup

Megasoup's Favorite Music from 2020, In Three Lists:

~ Megasoup's 50 Favorite Albums (plus one fantastic compilation) from 2020 ~

Ak'Chamel The Giver Of Illness - The Totemist (Akuphone)
Alabaster DePlume - To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol.1 (International Anthem)
Alicia Keys - Alicia (RCA / AKW)
Andrea - Ritorno (Ilian Tape)
Aril Brikha - Dance of a Trillion Stars (Mule Musiq)
Aukai - Game Trails (aukaimusic)
Awkward Corners - Dislocation Songs (Shapes of Rhythm)
Azu Tiwaline - Draw Me A Silence (IOT)
Babani Koné - Babani Koné (Discograph)
Channelers - Isles Beyond (Inner Islands)
Clap Clap - Liquid Portraits (Black Acre)
Cleo Soul - Rose In The Dark (Forever Living Originals)
CS + Kreme - Snoopy (The Trilogy Tapes)
D.K. - Live At The Edge (12th Isle)
Emily A Sprague - Hill, Flower, Fog (RVNG)
Ezra Feinberg - Recumbent Speech (Related States)
Flying Vipers - Cuttings (Jump Up!)
Fools - Fools Harp Vol. 1 (Music From Memory)
Golden Retriever and Chuck Johnson ‎– Rain Shadow (Thrill Jockey)
Greg Foat - Symphonie Pacifique (Strut)
Halftribe - Cloud Dreaming And Shadows (Shimmering Moods)
Heliocentrics - Telemetric Sounds (Madlib Invazion)
Huerta - Junipero (Voyage Recordings)
Julianna Barwick - Healing Is A Miracle (Ninja Tune)
Kenji Kihara - Slow Slope Sleeps (Inner Islands)
Kiln - Astral Welder (Ghostly International)
K-Lone - Cape Cira (Wisdom Teeth)
Koyil - Healing Cycles (DIG)
Kutiman - Wachaga (Siyal Music)
Let It Come Down - Songs We Sang In Our Dreams (Joyful Noise)
Luke Jenner - 1 (Manono)
Martina Bertoni - All The Ghosts Are Gone (Karlrecords)
Mary Lattimore - Silver Ladders (Ghostly International)
Matthew Halsall - Salute To The Sun (Gondwanna)
Mourning [A] BLKstar - The Cycle (Don Giovanni)
Nat Birchall Meets Al Breadwinner - Tradition Disc In Dub (Tradition Disc)
Nihiloxica - Kaloli (Crammed Discs)
Numün - Voyage Au Soleil (Musique Impossible)
Ocoeur - Everything (n5MD)
Plant Lab - Plant Lab (Crash Symbols)
Run The Jewels - RTJ4 (BMG)
Sault - Untitled (Rise) (Forever Living Originals)
Sarah Davachi - Cantus Descant (Late Music)
Siti Muharam - Siti of Unguja: Romance Revolution on Zanzibar (On The Corner)
Sven Wunder - Wabi Sabi (Piano Piano)
The Sorcerers - In Search Of The Lost City Of The Monkey God (ATA)
Vagues Imaginaires - L'île D'or (Not Not Fun)
Vestals - Holy Origin (Dust Editions)
Wanderwelle - A State of Decrepitude (A Strangely Isolated Place)
X.Y.R. - Pilgrimage (Not Not Fun)
V/A - A Little Night Music: Aural Apparitions from the Geographic North (Geographic North)

~ Megasoup's 10 Favorite EPs & 12" singles from 2020 ~

Azu Tiwaline - Magnetic Service (Livity Sound)
Dengue Dengue Dengue - Continentes Perdidos (On The Corner)
Deradoorian - Cosmic Garden EP (Self Released)
D.K. - The Ancient Kingdom (Good Morning Tapes)
Green House - Six Songs For Invisible Gardens (Leaving)
Nicola Cruz - Hybridism (Multi Culti)
Penya Na Msafiri Zawose - Penya Safari E.P. (On The Corner)
Planets Don't Last - Planets Don't Last (Aural Canyon)
Sugarloaf Gangsters - Temarasa / Chor Gway (G.A.M.M.)
V/A - Espectrum 2, Ep1 (AvantRoots)

~ Megasoup's 20 Favorite Reissues / Archival Releases from 2020 ~

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Just Coolin' (Blue Note)
Brian Eno - Film Music 1976-2020 (UMe)
Global Communication - Transmissions (Evolution)
Hiroshi Yoshimura - Green (Light In The Attic)
Intergalactic Federation - 1 / 2 (Fantasy Enhancing)
Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry with Seskain Molenga & Kalo Kawongolo - Roots From The Congo (Planet Ilunga)
OK Jazz - Pas Un Pas Sans (Planet Ilunga)
Orchestra Baobab - Mouhamadou Bamba (Syllart)
Orchestra Baobab - Viva Bawobab S1/Si Bou Odja (Syllart)
Prince - Sign O' The Times: Super Deluxe Edition (Warner)
Priscilla Ermel - Origens Da Luz (Music From Memory)
Ranil - Ranil y su Conjunto Tropical (Analog Africa)
V/A - 12 Bombazos Bailables (Vampi Soul)
V/A - Cadence Revolution: Disques Debs International Vol. 2 (Strut)
V/A - Color De Tropico: Compiled by El Dragon Criollo & El Palmas (El Palmas)
V/A - Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History Of The World's Music (Dust To Digital)
V/A - Oriental Rare Groove: Rare Funky Songs From The Arabic World (Wagram)
V/A - Guasa, Cununo y Marimba - Afro-Colombian Music From The Pacific Coast (Vampi Soul)
V/A - The World Is A Cafeteria: American Soul Music (and one song from Ghana) 1955-1998 (Cairo)
V/A - Time, Tone, & Texture (Invisible, Inc.)

Microtone

Microtone's Best of 2020

I didn’t get to everything in 2020 but these 15 albums got to me:

Martina Bertoni - All the Ghosts Are Gone (FALK)
Aril Brikha - Dance of a Trillion Stars (Mule Musiq)
Mettaverse - Light Forms (S/R)
Ak’chamel, The Giver of Illness – The Totemist (Akuphone)
Wanderwelle – A State of Decrepitude (A Strangely Isolated Place)
Spirit Fest – Mirage Mirage (Morr Music)
Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers – Vodou Alé (Bongo Joe)
Raymond Richards – The Lost Art of Wandering (ESP Institute)
Azu Tiwaline – Draw Me a Silence (IOT)
Flock of Dimes – Like So Much Desire (Sub Pop)
Greg Foat – Symphonie Pacifique (Strut)
Skyminds – Shapes & Traces (Internal Rhythm)
Let It Come Down – Songs We Sang in Our Dreams (Joyful Noise)
Various Artists – Door to the Cosmos + Dancefloor Sampler (On the Corner)
Kiln – Astral Welder (Ghostly International)

Plus Five Songs:

Luke Jenner – “All My Love” – 1 (Manono)
Wye Oak – “Sky Witness” – No Horizon (Merge)
Torgeir Waldemar – “Black Ocean” – Love (Jansen)
Julianna Barwick (ft. Mary Lattimore) – “Oh, Memory” – Healing is a Miracle (Ninja Tune)
New London Drone Orchestra – “Antisocial Closeness” – Isolation/Collaboration (Enter the Circle)

Poindexter

Ten Albums I Liked in 2020, Alphabetically

Cold Beat - Mother (DFA)

En Attendant Ana - Juillet (Trouble in Mind)

Galore - Galore (Rocks in Your Head)

Jeanines - Things Change (Where It’s At Is Where You Are)

Lithics - Tower of Age (Trouble in Mind)

Melenas - Dias Raros (Trouble in Mind)

Mr. Wrong - Create a Place (Water Wing)

Naked Roommate - Do the Duvet (Trouble in Mind)

Peel Dream Magazine - Agitprop Alterna (Slumberland)

R. Aggs - Tape 1 (S/R)

Sweeping Promises - Hunger For a Way Out (Feel It)

Pop Goes The Weasel

Favorite Songs of 2020

Bye Bye Blackbirds - “Baby It’s Still You” - Boxer at Rest (Double Potions)

Ela Minus - “Pocket Piano” - Acts of Rebellion (Domino)

Julie Jacklin - “To Perth: Before the Border Closes” - To Perth: Before the Border Closes (SubPop)

Latitude - “Tick Tock” - Mystic Hotline (Emotional Response)

Leave Me Alones - “Stop You” - Race to the Bottom EP (S/R)

Moodyman - “Do Wrong” - Taken Away (KDJ)

Moore Brothers - “Just Cover Me in Leaves” - Autobiography (Unavailable)

Sault - “Monsters” - Untitled(Black Is) (Forever Living Originals)

Sleaford Mods - “Mork N Mindy” - Mork N Mindy (Rough Trade)

Sneaks - “Scorpio on the Side” - Happy Birthday (Merge)

qb(X)

qb(X)'s Best of 2020

Smash Albums

Lucrecia Dalt - No era sólida (RVING Intl.)
Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood - Live (International Anthem)
Faten Kanaan - A Mythology of Circles (Fire)
Killah Priest - Rocket to Nebula (Proverbs)
Liturgy - Origin of the Alimonies (YLYLCYN)
Mamaleek - Come and See (The Flenser)
Mary Lattimore - Silver Ladders (Ghostly International)
Meitei - Kofū (KITCHEN. LABEL)
Neptunian Maximalism - Éons (I, Voidhanger)
Quintron and Miss Pussycat - Goblin Alert (Goner)

Hit Singles

Gaye Su Akyol - "İsyan Manifestosu" - Yort Savul: İSYAN MANİFESTOSU(Glitterbeat)
Body Double – "Head Axe" - Milk Fed (ZUM)
Damu the Fudgemunk, Archie Shepp & Raw Poetic - "Moving Maps" - Ocean Bridges (Redefinition)
IDLES - "War" - Ultra Mono (Partisan)
L.E.S. Douze - "Gone Daddy Gone" - Le String Noise (Nouveau Electric)
Man Man - "Future Peg" - Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between (Sub Pop)
79rs Gang - "79rs Bout to Blow" - Expect the Unexpected (Sinking City)
SPAZA – "The Black Consciousness Movement" – UPRIZE! (Mushroom Hour Half Hour)
Special Interest - "Street Pulse Beat" - Passion Of (Thrilling Living)
Tobacco - "Hungry Eyes" (Ghostly International)

Sex 14s

Sex 14's 50 Favorite Albums of 2020

Ghostpoet - I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep (Play It Again Sam)

Michael Gordon; The Crossing - Anonymous Man (Cantaloupe)

Tristan Perich - Drift Multiply (Nonesuch)

ORA - Thomas Tallis: Spem in Alium; James Macmillan: Vidi Aquam (Harmonia Mundi)

Jimmy Heath - Love Letter (Verve)

Julianna Barwick - Healing Is a Miracle (Ninja Tune)

Run the Jewels - RTJ4 (BMG)

Irreversible Entanglements - Who Sent You? (International Anthem)

Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind (Warp)

Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways (Columbia)

Bob Mould - Blue Hearts (Merge)

Avishai Cohen - Big Vicious (ECM)

Tame Impala - The Slow Rush (Interscope)

Damu The Fudgemunk - Ocean Bridges (Redefinition)

Soccer Mommy - color theory (Loma Vista)

Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure? (EMI)

Angel Olsen - Whole New Mess (Jagjaguwar)

Kandace Springs - The Women Who Raised Me (Universal)

Yelle - L’ere du Verseau (Recreation Center)

Sunny Jain - Wild Wild East (Smithsonian Folkways)

I Break Horses - Warnings (Bella Union)

Wire - Mind Hive (Pink Flag)

Katie Gately - Loom (Houndstooth)

Epiphoni Consort / Tim Reader - When Love Speaks: Choral Music by Owain Park (Delphian)

Kurt Elling - Secrets Are the Best Stories (Edition)

Róisín Murphy - Róisín Machine (Skint)

Sault - Untitled (Rise) (Forever Living Originals)

Makaya Mccraven - Universal Beings E&F Sides (International Anthem)

Prince Royce - Alter Ego (Sony)

Christian McBride - The Movement Revisited: A Musical Portrait of Four Icons (Mack Avenue)

Rina Sawayama - Sawayama (Dirty Hit)

Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas (Warner Brothers)

Maria Schneider Orchestra - Data Lords (Artistshare)

Joel Harrison - America At War (Sunnyside)

Shabaka & the Ancestors - We Are Sent Here by History (Impulse!)

AC/DC - Power Up (Columbia)

Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony (Roc Nation)

Ambrose Akinmusire - On The Tender Spot Of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)

Gregg August - Dialogues On Race, Vol. 1 (Gregg August)

BC Camplight - Shortly After Takeoff (Bella Union)

Deftones - Ohms (Reprise)

Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia (Warner Brothers)

Kylie Minogue - DISCO (BMG)

Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately (Matador)

Gregory Porter - All Rise (Blue Note)

Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio - Angels Around (Heartcore)

Joel Ross - Who Are You? (Blue Note)

Christian Sands - Be Water (Mack Avenue)

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Reunions (Southeastern)

Hayey Williams - Petals for Armor (Atlantic)

Sparkle Motion

Sparkle Motion favorites 2020 (alphabetical by category)

CLASSICAL

Bertrand Chamayou - Good Night! (Erato)
Vox Clamantis & Jaan-Eik Tulve - Cyrillius Kreek: The Suspended Harp of Babel (ECM)
Eric Whitacre - The Sacred Veil (Signum)
JACK Quartet - Lines Made by Walking (Cold Blue)
Maria Schneider - Data Lords: The Digital World/Our Natural World (ArtistShare)
Patrick Yim - Memory: Works for Solo Violin (Navona)
Sarah Davachi - Cantus, Descant (LATE)
Tristan Perich & Douglas Perkins - Drift Multiply (New Amsterdam)
Vikingur Olafsson - Debussy – Rameau (Deutsche Grammophon)

SOUNDTRACK

William Tyler - Music from film First Cow (Merge)

COMPS

Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T-Rex (BMG)
Strum & Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987 (Captured Tracks)

RE-ISSUES & RETROSPECTIVES

Maggi Payne - Ahh-Ahh (Root Strata)
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Hidari Ude No Yume [Left Handed Dream 1981] (WeWantSounds)
Ella Fitzgerald - Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (Live) 1962 (Verve)
Beverly Glenn-Copeland - Transmissions: The Music of Beverly Glenn-Copeland (Transgressive)

JAZZ/CREATIVE MUSIC

Alabaster Deplume - To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals, Vol. 1 (International Anthem)
Anna Hogberg Attack - Lena (Omlott)
Bill Frisell - Valentine (Blue Note)
Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard & Steve Swallow - Life Goes On (ECM)
Eric Revis - Slipknot Through a Looking Glass (Pyroclastic)
Fred Hersch - Songs from Home (Palmetto)
Jeff Parker - Suite for Max Brown (International Anthem)
Junk Magic - Compass Confusion (Pyroclastic)
Lafayette Gilchrest - Now (Lafayette Music)
Mary Halvorson’s Code Girl - Artlessly Falling (Firehouse 12)
Moses Boyd - Dark Matter (Exodus)
Nels Cline Singers - Share the Wealth (Blue Note)
Quin Kirchner - The Shadows and The Light (Astral Spirits)
Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra - Dimensional Stardust (Nonesuch)
Susan Alcorn Quintet - Pedernal (Relative Pitch)
The Ed Palermo Big Band - The Great Un-American Songbook, Vol. III: Run For Your Life (Sky Cat)
Hugh Masekela & Tony Allen - Rejoice (World Circuit)

OTHER MUSIC WITH NO WORDS

Ana Roxanne - Because of a Flower (Kranky)
Kim Myhr - You Me (Hubro)
Grand Veymont - Persistance & Changement (Objet Disque)
Rival Consoles - Articulation (Erased Tapes)
Hoshina Anniversary - Odoriko (Alien Jams)
Nihiloxica - Kaloli (Crammed Discs)
Sam Prekop - Comma (Thrill Jockey)

THE REST

Adrienne Lenker - Songs & Instrumentals (4AD)
Aoife Nessa Frances - Land of No Junction (Basin Rock)
Deftones - Ohms (Reprise)
Einsturzende Neubauten - Alles in Allem (Potomak)
Fleet Foxes - Shore (Anti-)
Fontaines DC - A Hero’s Death (Partisan)
Frank Bey - All My Dues Are Paid (Nola Blue)
Frank Ene - No Longer (Empty Cellar)
Haley Williams - Petals for Armor I and II Eps (Atlantic)
Jackie Lynn - Jacqueline (Drag City)
Jeff Tweedy - Love Is The King (dBpm)
Jennifer Castle - Monarch Season (Paradise of Bachelors)
Kacy & Clayton & Marlon Williams - Plastic Bouquet (New West)
Kate NV - Room for the Moon (RVNG INTL.)
Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song (Smalltown Supersound)
Leyla McCalla - Vari-colored songs: Tribute to Langston Hughes (Smithsonian Folkways)
Mary Chapin Carpenter - The Dirt and the Stars (Lambent Light)
Mountain Goats - Getting Into Knives (Merge)
Nicole Atkins - Italian Ice (Single Lock)
Ohmme - Fantasize Your Ghost (Joyful Noise)
Owen Pallett - Island (Domino)
Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately (Matador)
Protomartyr - Ultimate Success Today (Domino)
Sam Amidon - Sam Amidon (Nonesuch)
The Mountain Goats - Getting Into Knives (Merge)
This is the Kit - Off Off ON (Rough Trade)
U.S. Girls - Heavy Light (4AD)
Wire - Mind Hive (Pink Flag)
Woods - Strange to Explain (Woodsist)
Wye Oak - No Horizon (Merge)

Suhnharini Vasahn Suundelehguntah

Suhnharini Vashan Suundelehguntah - Ten Terrific Releases or Reissues of 2020

Sam Burton - I Can Go With You (Tompkins Square)

Frank Ene - No Longer (Empty Cellar)

Green-House - Six Songs For Invisible Gardens (Leaving)

Kacey Johansing - No Better Time (Night Bloom)

The Moore Brothers - Autobiography (Unavailable)

Numün - Voyage Au Soleil (Musique Impossible)

Klaus Schønning - Lydglimt (Frederiksberg)

Wasnt Wisnt- In Stasis (self-released)

Chip Wickham - Blue To Red (Lovemonk)

Hiroshi Yoshimura - Green (Light In The Attic)