In the past, I've often taken time at the end of the year to run down what I considered to be the best music of the year. In a former life (college, really) I was a music reviewer. While I won't be crafting the sort of thing a music journalist would in this space, I will review what I considered to be the best music of 2020. There is one caveat, however. I don't have the resources or time to keep up with everything. So, this post is me telling you what is the best among the music I picked up/downloaded/streamed/etc. in 2020. Links will be for Apple Music, as I've transitioned to that being my streaming platform of choice this past year.
FULL-LENGTH ALBUMS
In no particular order ...
STURGILL SIMPSON: Cuttin' Grass Vols. 1 & 2
Country/Americana/Rock & Roll/Whatever-The-Heck-He-Wants-To-Be artist Sturgill Simpson has defied labels/genres from the start. Initially labeled as a Waylong Jennings clone, he has, with each project, taken on a new identity. This year, during quarantine, he assembled some of the best bluegrass players he knew and revisited his catalog, giving us Cuttin' Grass (Volumes 1 and 2). I prefer Volume 2, as it contains more of my favorite Sturgill songs, however, both projects reveal that, no matter the genre, Simpson can write a great song. Great songs can withstand various genre interpretations. While these albums should be listed among the "not exactly new material" releases from 2020 (see below), it's so good, I had to include on this initial list. Recommended cut: Brace For Impact (Live A Little) from Vol. 2.
STREAM: Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1 and Cuttin Grass: Vol. 2.
STARTING OVER: Chris Stapleton
Country singer Chris Stapleton is really a blues artist. Sure, there are more than enough country elements to make this a "country" record, but, at its core, Starting Over, is a blues album. Nothing better exemplifies this than the track Cold. While the album isn't perfect and probably three to four songs too long, it's as good as anything Stapleton has released since his Traveller debut five years ago. Other standouts on this album include the southern-rock-rave-up Arkansas and the personal and fairly heart-wrenchingly honest When I'm With You, a song about aging and mature love with a spouse. The album ends with a kiss-off to the industry part of Music City USA, Nashville, TN. You've got to respect an artist who does things his own way and still succeeds.
STREAM: Starting Over
IVAN & ALYOSHA: Ivan & Alyosha (Self-Titled)
Seattle-based indie rock band Ivan & Alyosha combine Beatle-esque harmonies with fantastic songwriting and a great sense of melody to create one of my favorite albums this year. While it's really a compilation of several EPs released in the past year-plus (with some new songs added to the mix), this self-titled album is a great representation of who this much-overlooked band truly is. With so much music to listen to, somehow, these guys became a favorite of mine. It's not rock & roll, but it is. It's not singer-songwriter, but it is. It's not pop, but it is. Simply, this is great music. Standout tracks include the Brandi Carlile-assisted Whiskey & Wine and You That Carries Me.
STREAM: Ivan & Alyosha
SONGS FOR DYING: Songs For Dying (Self-Titled)
Joel Brown once held a job at the now-defunct Mars Hill Church and was among the leaders, along with Dustin Kensrue and Citizens, who wrote church music that didn't sound like church music. His previous band Red Letter released one full-length album (it was my favorite Mars Hill project). While he's been off the social media radar for awhile, he's still in ministry at Resurrection Church in Washington state (I think). This year saw the surprise release of his latest project Songs For Dying, written during and in the aftermath of his father's death. While a depressing subject matter, Brown deals with it in a reflective way that's both hopeful and deals honestly with the sorrow of losing a loved one. This may not be everyone's idea of enjoyable listening, but I loved it, especially the song Rest — which may be my theme song for 2020.
STREAM: Songs For Dying
Isbell is the premier songwriter of a generation. Blurring the country/rock/Americana line, he and his band, The 400 Unit, released the album Reunions in the thick of a pandemic and all of the songs seemed to fit, even though none of them were written about the current circumstance. Of special note on this album is the guitar work, which has often taken a backseat to Isabell's outstanding lyricism. Here, they are on equal footing. A track like Overseas is the best exapmple I can think of to illustrate this marriage. Lyrically, a song like Only Children paints so specific and vivid a portrait of a time and place, while still remaining universally understood. Do not sleep on this album, it's up there among the best.
STREAM: Reunions
SINGLES & EPs
SEVEN O'CLOCK: Pearl Jam
From the album Gigaton — which I really enjoyed but don't think it's the best they've done or one of my favorite full albums of the year. Quite possibly my favorite song of the year as it sums up our present state. Much to be done. STREAM >>
DON'T LOSE HOPE: Cochren & Co.
My friend Michael Cochren is releasing an album Don't Lose Hope in early 2021. The singles have been released over the course of the past two years. I'm excited he's getting his first full-length album on Gotee Records. While firmly planed in the CCM genre, Michael brings a soul and a groove too often missing in this very vanilla (only my opinion) genre of music. This track is a great example of what we need more of in Christian music (again, in my opinion). STREAM >>
AGE OF MACHINE: Greta Van Fleet
Are they moving beyond being Led Zeppelin soundalikes? If they keep doing stuff like this, they can do whatever they want. I dig this! STREAM >>
EVEN THE RIVER RUNS OUT OF THIS TOWN: Will Hoge
One of my most-listened to songs of the year. Fantastic lyrics, fantastic songwriting. STREAM >>
ALTOGETHER GOOD: Citizens (feat. Sandra McCracken)
This one is easily my favorite worship song of the year. Perfect for the time. STREAM >>
BLACK SUNSET - EP: The Cold Stares
These guys can do little wrong and they just keep putting out song after song that is a balm for those who need more blues-based rock and/or roll. My favorite track from this is The Wicked And The Cursed. STREAM >>
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH IVAN & ALYOSHA: Ivan & Alyosha
See my previous descriptions of these guys and add Christmas music. It's fantastic holiday music. STREAM >>
RE-RELEASES, LIVE ALBUMS, ETC.
WILDFLOWERS AND ALL THE REST: Tom Petty
Amazing. The whole thing. Just fantastic! STREAM >>
MTV UNPLUGGED: Pearl Jam
This got an official release this year, nearly 30 years later. It captures and band ready to explode ... even on acoustic guitars. STREAM >>
REVISITING THIS PLANET: Kevin Max
While this is a full-length project, it's also a covers album, paying tribute to the late songwriter Larry Norman. It's a bit niche, but Kevin Max's voice can transport any song into another dimension and give it extra weight. STREAM >>
S&M2: Metallica
These symphony+rock band albums can be very hit or miss. This one expands on the first attempt 20 years prior and adds some of the more recent songs. A song like Halo On Fire becomes a better song with the symphony. It bogs down in the middle of the album and I really don't need to hear Enter Sandman with a symphony again, but the spirit of this record makes it a fun listen. STREAM >>
STUFF I MADE
GATHERED/SCATTERED: Redemption Christian Church
Compiled from songs we did during our digital stay-at-home gatherings, this includes off-the-floor versions of songs we've written over the years as well as our spin on some classic hymns of the church. STREAM >>
WE ARE NOT LOST: Daniel Ross
I recorded this in my garage with one acoustic guitar, one voice and a USB microphone directly into my MacBook on a Saturday during the first month of staying at home. A new song Remember Mercy is my favorite. STREAM >>
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