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Eric Wiersema writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2020: Eric Wiersema
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2020. Our next list is from Sub DJ Eric Wiersema.
2020 was, without a doubt, a complete dumpster fire of a year. For the past 9 months a global pandemic has run rampant taking far too many innocent lives and destroying far too many livelihoods in the process.
It is definitely a challenging time to be a music lover as well. The days of summer music festivals and taking in shows at small, intimate, independent venues feel like a distant memory. An alarming percentage of these venues are also in danger of closing, further dampening independent musicians’ career prospects.
Despite these insurmountable odds, the artists that we hold near and dear to our hearts came through. 2020 offered a plethora of great music from all genres and made getting through this shitshow of a year just a little bit easier. I listened to well over 100 new releases this year and here are the albums that I thought were a cut above the rest.
#1 Ultra Mono by IDLES (Partisan)
The Bristol post-hardocre/post punk quintet came through and delivered a blistering third album that addresses many of the challenges that our society is currently facing including racial and economic injustice, toxic masculinity, and mental illness. This album rocks hard and still manages to sound fresh in an increasingly saturated scene. Favorite Tracks: War, Model Village, Ne Touche Pas Moi
#2 Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple (Epic)
There seems to be an unwritten rule that Fetch the Bolt Cutters must have a high-ranking spot on every year-end list and mine is no exception. What else can I say about this album that hasn’t already been said? Over the course of her nearly 25-year career, Fiona Apple has continued to innovate and perfect her sound and songwriting prowess. Favorite Tracks: Shameika, Under the Table, Ladies, Cosmonauts
#3 BT/She/Her by Bethany Thomas (Self-Released)
One of the few things I enjoyed about 2020 was exploring more local music. Bethany Thomas is a Chicago-based actress and songwriter who self-released her debut album this year that was recorded late last year between theater gigs. This album is an intoxicating combination of blues, R&B, hard rock, punk, and soul. Thomas’ voice is electrifying and her confidence is contagious. Favorite Tracks: I’m Not Sorry And I’m Not Scared, DE-ESCALATOR, 70th Love Song, I’ll Keep Walkin’
#4 Underneath by Code Orange (Roadrunner)
Code Orange continues their evolution away from traditional hardcore sounds and experiments with industrial and nu-metal influences. As an angsty suburban white kid who attended high school in the early ‘00s, I’m all for it! This album was the musical comfort food I needed to not only help me get through these uncertain times, but to also come to terms with the fact that I am now in my mid-30s. Favorite Tracks: Sulfur Surrounding, The Easy Way, Autumn and Carbine, Underneath
#5 Inlet by Hum (Polyvinyl)
This album just came out of nowhere! Hum follows the shoegaze precedent established by My Bloody Valentine and randomly decided to drop their first album in 22 years with little to no promotion. Similar to MBV for My Bloody Valentine, Inlets finds Hum picking up right where they left off eluding the passage of time. Hum, in my humble opinion, is both one of the most underrated and influential bands of the ‘90s. If you are only familiar with the song “Stars” or the album You’d Prefer An Astronaut, I implore you to dig deeper and give this hunk of space rock awesomeness a spin! Favorite Tracks: Waves, Desert Rambler, Folding
#6 Honeymoon by Beach Bunny (Mom + Pop)
Speaking of musical comfort food, there are few things that feel more soothing than upbeat, emo-tinged power pop with a slight surf influence. If you’re a fan of Guppy-era Charly Bliss or Best Coast, this will be right up your alley! Favorite Tracks: Promises, Cuffing Season, Ms. California
#7 VS Me by So Pretty (Self-Released)
While I’m not sure if these 7 tracks qualify as a full album or an EP, Chicago’s own So Pretty put out one of the freshest sounding punk albums I have heard this year. No two tracks sound alike and the band takes influence from a wide variety of genres including new wave, hardcore, reagge, grunge, and spoken word. They also sing about Underwater Taco Party Nights, you can’t get more fun than that! Favorite Tracks: Underwater Taco Party Night, Cool Dude, You’re Projecting, Proxy
#8 Heaven to a Tortured Mind by Yves Tumor (Warp)
Experimental electronic artist Sean Bowie experiments with rock and psychedelic soul on their fourth album. Heaven to a Tortured Mind takes influence from a wide variety of artists including Prince and TV On The Radio. “Kerosene!” features guest vocals from Diana Gordon and is easily one of my favorite songs of the year! Favorite Tracks: Gospel For A New Century, Kerosene!, Dream Palette
#9 Motherhood by No Joy (Joyful Noise)
Motherhood is one of the more interesting dream pop/shoegaze releases that I have heard over the past few years. Jasmine White-Gluz is not afraid to experiment outside of traditional genre conventions and draws from a wide sonic palette including electronica, new wave, trip hop, nu metal, and chamber pop. This album is pure ear candy! Favorite Tracks: Birthmark, Dream Rats, Four, Why Mothers Die
#10 Untitled (Black Is) by SAULT (Forever Living Originals)
2020 was a huge year for the mysterious British R&B collective who released not one, but two fantastic albums! Untitled (Black Is) was released on Juneteenth and shortly after the murder of George Floyd and provides unvarnished insight on the Black experience today addressing police brutality amongst many other issues stemming from systemic racism. The music itself is a potent combo of funk, soul, dub, and spoken word that rewards multiple listens. Favorite Tracks: Stop Dem, Hard Life, Monsters, Pray Up Stay Up
Here are the next 20
11) Bully SUGAREGG (Sub Pop)
12) Ratboys Printer’s Devil (Topshelf)
13) Phoebe Bridgers Punisher (Dead Oceans)
14) Touche Amore Lament (Epitaph)
15) The Front Bottoms In Sickness and In Flames (Fueled By Ramen)
16) Jeff Rosenstock No Dream (Polyvinyl)
17) Impulsive Hearts Cry All The Time (Midwest Action)
18) Bob Mould American Crisis (Merge)
19) Lydia Loveless Daughter (Honey, You’re Gonna Be Late)
20) Anna Burch If You’re Dreaming (Polyvinyl)
21) Deftones Ohms (Warner)
22) Ohmme Fantasize Your Ghost (Freakout)
23) Cults Host (Sinderlyn)
24) Perfume Genius Set My Heart on Fire Immediately (Matador)
25) Soccer Mommy Color Theory (Lorna Vista/Concord)
26) Pallbearer Forgotten Days (Nuclear Blast)
27) Anti Flag 20/20 Vision (Spinefarm)
28) Ganser Just Look At That Sky (Felte)
29) Algiers There is No Year (Matador)
30) Grimes Miss Anthropocene (4AD)
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