The Top Albums of 2020
Each year I have historically made a list of my Top 10
albums and shared with others. As bad as
2020 has been for so much of everything – for music it has been
spectacular. Or maybe I just have had so
much more free time to find and listen to new music. But it has been such a great year of new
music that I will write about my Top 12 albums of the year and then list 13
more for a daunting Top 25. Overall,
I’ve added 94 albums to my collection this year and 56 are 2020 releases. It has been a great year for vinyl at our
house! One of the requirements for this
list is I have to physically own the album which in 2020 means vinyl. I’ve had a hard time obtaining a couple of
albums that might have made the list but we have to follow the rules.
1. #1- American
Aquarium – Lamentations This album came
out in the late Spring and quickly went to the top of my list. It had some great challengers (who would
think a great Bruce album would not be #1 on my list every time) but at the end
of the day it is just a great quality record from the opener to the tenth
song. AA has been a favorite of mine for
the last few years but this work is easily their best to date. Lead singer and songwriter BJ Barham writes
great sad songs – to quote from “Starts with You” “I just laughed and said,
“Baby, them sad songs is the only thing that makes me happy.” That pretty much sums it up to me – love
those sad songs. The opener “Me + Mine
(Lamentations) tells the plight of the North Carolina tobacco farmer “And then
a politician shows up promisin’ that he’ll return the jobs that God himself
could not bring back”. Sound familiar
West Virginia Coal Miners? “Six Years
Come September” is a great song about getting sober because you had to. “The Luckier You Get” will be a great crowd
singalong song when we are back at shows.
And “A Better South” was put out before all the Confederate symbol
protests and was definitely ahead of the controversy. “Old men still defend these monuments to
treason, to the right side of history we’re always late.” And then the album closes with “The Long
Haul” and the hope that we all stick with it.
AA is one of the hardest working bands in the business and it is great
to see that effort rewarded with a great album from beginning to end. And follow BJ on social media – he has no
problem speaking his mind.
2.
#2 - Bruce
Springsteen – Letter to You Just a great rock and roll album. When we all heard that a new album was coming
I think we all thought it was going to be a protest album as Bruce has been
very clear on his feelings toward the current occupant of the White House. Instead we got an album that feels like the
beginning of the last chapter of the E Street Band story. Heartfelt songs that are just as likely to
bring a tear as a fist pump. The first
single was the title track “Letter to You” which is a song about his nearly
50-year conversation he has had with us.
Then “Ghosts” and the feeling that all those before have led to this
point. “Last Man Standing” is easily my
favorite song on the album. The first
time I heard it I started out with the goosebumps and ended up with a tear in
my eye. It is the story that Bruce is
the last living member of the Castiles – his first band. The tear was a reaction to the thought of how
much joy he has brought to all our lives.
The great music, the great shows and trips and most importantly all the
friends we have made due to the love of his music. We truly have been blessed. There are a few songs that don’t excite me
and I usually hit skip when they come on and that’s the real difference between
#1 and #2. There are three old songs –
from the early 70’s with “If I was the Priest” being the highlight to me. Just the concept of “Now if Jesus was a
sheriff and I were a priest” is enough to make this a classic Bruce song in the
vain of the great story songs – Jungleland, Incident on 57th Street,
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight). And it
sounds as fresh today as when it was written in the 1970’s. On top of the great album there is a film of
the making of the album that is on Apple+ TV.
The album was recorded in 4 days in NJ in 2019 and the joy on the bands
faces is what we have all been missing seeing in 2020. Hopefully in late 2021 or early 2022 we can
all get back on the road. None of us is
getting any younger!
3.
#3 - Chuck
Prophet – The Land that Time Forgot I
first became aware of Chuck Prophet when he co-wrote Alejandro Escovedo’s 2008
album Real Animal. After that I listened
to and liked several of his albums but nothing hit me like this newest
release. I pre-ordered the album after
hearing the first single “Marathon”.
Just a great rock and roll song featuring Chuck’s wife Stephanie Finch
and tells the story of a dance marathon.
Other great songs are “Best Shirt On”, “High as Johnny Thunders” and
“Willie and Nilli”. And low and behold a
song on Side 2 about Richard Nixon – “Nixonland”. Who would ever guess that could turn into a
great song on a rock and roll album. The
album closes with another great protest song – “Get off the Stage”. “You got no heart at all, except for your
Russian pal”. Chuck really is one of the
most interesting people in music and you can listen to him play great and
obscure country music on the “Gimme Country” app. This is a great album with a terrific mix of
rock and pop songs and is easily Chuck’s most accessible recording to date.
4. #4 - The Airborne Toxic Event – Hollywood Park It was
early in the lockdown that I got a text from a business associate who has
become a music friend asking if I had listened to this album. I know that there is a part of the Bruce
community that likes TATE and I saw them play a few songs at ACL Festival the
one time I went /melted at that event. But
nothing ever caught my ear. Well that
certainly changed on my first listen. I
came to find out that this is an accompanying album to lead singer Mikel
Jollet’s book of the same name. It
chronicles his life story – from a cult to a strange childhood to say the least
to leader of a rock and roll band. I’ve
listened to a lot of interviews, seen some quarantine shows and can’t wait to
actually see them and hear these songs live.
Highlights are the title track, “Come on Out”, “I don’t want to be here
anymore” and “All these Engagements”.
Reading the book makes the album even better – just not your appetite
for rabbit. Thanks Pat Clark for
recommending this album. It’s a great
one.
5. #5 - Lori McKenna – The Balladeer I had heard Lori’s
name from a songwriting point of view for a few years – Little Big Town’s “Girl
Crush” and the Highwomen’s “Crowded Table” but had not really listened to a lot
of her music. That is not the case any
longer. This has become one of my go to
albums to relax at night. Favorite songs
include the title track, “This town is a woman” featuring Little Big Town’s
female members and “Good Fight”. But the
best song is “Marie” – Lori’s older sister and she shares a life history in a
song. “Marie turned 13 two weeks after
daddy sat us down and said your mama’s died”.
I am always amazed writers can write something so bare and then perform
the actual song without breaking down. I
guess that is just a talent you have or you don't. This is another great production from Dave
Cobb and as usual everything he touches is excellent. Also, by seeing a couple of Lori’s videos I
learned of Mark Erelli who plays guitar in her Boston based band and that led
me to his album this year which I enjoyed as well.
6. #6 - Elizabeth Cook – Aftermath I have been listening
to Elizabeth on Outlaw Country on Sirius for several years and have heard a few
songs that were good. And once again
this album is her best to date. It’s
also nice that our Nashville friend Andrew Leahy plays all the electric guitar
on the album. This may be a “country” or
“Americana” album but it’s pretty darned close to a rock and roll album if you
ask me. My favorite songs include the
opener “Bones”, “Perfect Girls of Pop”, “Daddy I got Love for you” and “Thick
Georgia Woman”. And then the album
closes with the highly entertaining “Mary, the submissing years” in much the
same style as the great John Prine’s “Jesus the Missing Years” but from Mary’s
perspective.
7. #7 - Amy Macdonald – The Human Demands I’ve been
listening to this Scottish singer ever since I found “This is the life” on one
of our European trips. It’s from 2007
and is on my “Deserted Island” list of 10 albums I have to have. I was able to see her in Hyde Park in London
in 2012 when I saw Bruce play that day in the mud. For some reason she has little to no
following in America but this new album continues the great music making she
has been a part of for 13 years. As
usual I like the opener “Fire” and then “Statues” and then Side A closes with
the two strongest cuts “The Hudson” and “The Human demands”. From the Hudson, “True love is only something
you hear in the songs, it doesn’t really last that long”. Some more sad songs!
8. #8 - Taylor Swift – folklore I would never ever have
guessed that a Taylor album would ever end up on any of my lists but to be
honest I can’t say I have ever really listened to one. I just wrote her off as the Nashville
“country” sound that is not really country – just sells albums and
tickets. But this album in none of those
things. With the support of Aaron Dessner from the National and Jack Antonoff
from Bleachers (or fun) this is an indie record if I have ever heard one. “the 1”, “cardigan” and “betty” are all songs
I liked the first time through. But “the
last great American dynasty” is the best song on the album to me. “The wedding was charming, if a little
gauche” – I always love when somebody gets a word in a lyric that just
surprises you as I never expected to hear Taylor Swift sing “gauche”! We all know Taylor is a powerhouse but give
this album and it’s little sister “evermore” a listen. It’s not the bro country crowd any more
that’s for sure.
9. # 9 - The White Buffalo – On the Widow’s Walk I had
seen the White Buffalo open for Chuck Ragan a few years ago here in Houston but
have to admit that was my knowledge.
Until this spring when I heard something off this album and it made me
listen to it and buy it. Another Shooter
Jennings produced album (also did “Lamentations”) and it’s a really good
sounding album. A lot of interesting
stories and lyrics with the whole first side getting a lot of play on my
turntable. “Problem Solution”,
“Sycamore”, “Come on Shorty” and “The Rapture” are all great songs but the
whole album really flows and is one you should listen to.
10. #10 - Kathleen Edwards – Total Freedom Kathleen put
out an album in 2008 named “Asking for Flowers” that I wore out. It was my late night listen album for years
in the way that “The Balladeer” was this year.
But a few years after that she shut down her music career and opened a
coffee shop called “Quitters Coffee” back home in Canada. I was extremely
excited to hear earlier this year that a new album was on the way. There may have been an eight year break but
the sharp wit and great songs are still there.
The opener “Glenfern” is one of my top songs of the year from anyone.
“Well, we toured the world, and we played on TV, we met some of our heroes, it
almost killed me” are such telling lyrics.
I guess making coffee sounds much better than feeling like you are dying
playing music. “Hard on Everyone” and
“Options Open” are the other songs that really stick with me and get played
often.
11. # 11 - Ray Wylie Hubbard – Co-Starring Such an
appropriate name for an album that features Ray singing alongside some big
names. Ringo, Joe Walsh, Pam Tillis,
Elizabeth Cook, Ashley McBride and Ronnie Dunn – that’s a pretty impressive
list of musicians for any project. I
have enjoyed the last few releases from Ray, the stories he tells in his songs
and even better yet the stories he tells on stage. This album takes the sound to another level
which is impressive for a guy who would categorize himself as an old cat. “Rock Gods” is my favorite with this lyric
“Then I was in a studio and once again I broke down and cried, a voice came on
my headphones told me Tom Petty died”. I
can tell you exactly where I was when I got the news as well – the 14th
fairway at East Lake Country Club during a charity golf event. Ray just keeps touring the country and as he
says “playing these old songs for people”.
I’ll be glad when we can get back to that.
12. #12 - Otis Gibbs – Hoosier National Another Spotify
new release find that I had never heard of.
One Monday this song “Panhead” came on the Spotify Indigo playlist. I had never heard of Otis but I liked the
sound. I ordered the album that day and when it came Otis won me over with the
attention to detail. Inside the box was a handwritten note thanking me for my
order and then on the album cover this note was handwritten “Hey Dale – Thanks
for Giving a Damn! – Otis Gibbs”. That
interaction is enough to get a lot of votes from me. But listen to “Nine Foot Problem” and
“Panhead” – great songs. “Panhead” tells
the true story of his dad building a chopper from scratch and then it gets
stolen but he recovers it from a biker bar.
It’s a great Americana story.
Otis also does a great podcast under the name “Thanks for giving a damn”
and has all kinds of musical guests and great stories.
Numbers 13 through 25 are in today’s order but it changes
from day to day:
13.
13 Aubrie Sellers – Far from Home – includes a
great duet with Steve Earle on “My Love will not change”
14.
14 Brian Fallon – Local Honey – former Gaslight
Anthem frontman – “21 days” is a great song
15. 15 Jamie Wyatt – Neon Cross – title song and
“Rattlesnake Girl” are the best songs
16.
16 Drive-By Truckers – The Unraveling – “Thoughts
and Prayers” might be my favorite song of 2020
17.
17 Brian Dunne – Selling Things – first time I
listened I swore I heard Roger McGuinn singing – not a bad sound to be compared
to – thanks Magnolia Record club for the intro
18.
18 Allison Moorer – Blood – another biographical
record- “The Rock and the Hill” rocks
19.
19 Arlo McKinley – Die Midwestern – title song is a
good place to start
20.
20 Charley Crockett – Welcome to Hard Times –
sounds like this album could have been from 1957
21.
21 Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud – “Can’t do Much” is
one of my most played songs of 2020
22.
22 Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Reunions –
Jason’s last 3 have been Top 5 – this one just didn’t really hit home with me
although I played “Dreamsicle” a lot
23.
23 Brent Cobb – Keep ‘Em on they Toes – featuring
former Apache Relay guitarist Mike Harris
24.
24 The Secret Sisters – Saturn Return – Brandi
Carlile produced and her fingerprints are all over this one along with great
harmonies
25.
25 The War and Treaty – ridiculously great
harmonies on their second full length release
