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Ninja writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2020: Ninja
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2020. Our next list is from DJ and Production Director Ninja.
DJ Confession: Ever since Discmen were outmoded by MP3 players, I rarely have the attention span for full albums (hence the lengthy Top Songs list at the bottom of this post). So for an LP to make my annual list is a feat of audio engineering and creative brilliance. These are the albums that kept me riveted in 2020. [Playlist]
#1 A Hero's Death by Fontaines D.C. (Partisan / Rough Trade)
Highlights include the title track and “Televised Mind” – the type of album you’d expect from a group of classically trained musicians who decided to make rock albums.
#2 RTJ4 by Run the Jewels (Jewel Runners / BMG)
Highlights include the now well-known “Ooh La La,” “Holy Calamaf***,” and “JU$T” – energetic album with the pointed energy we’ve come to expect from EL-P and Killah Mike.
#3 WOMB by Purity Ring (4AD)
solid album experience throughout, but highlights include “peacefall,” and “I like the devil.” Float along with this whole album like you’re in a luxurious bath.
#4 We Will Always Love You by The Avalanches (Modular)
So happy to see The Avalanches back making music seemingly regularly again. Always a solid album experience throughout, with lots of little hidden gems and samples.
#5 Women In Music, Pt. III by Haim (Columbia)
Upbeat LA rock, top to bottom – with highlights including ”All That Ever Mattered,” “Don’t Wanna,” and “Another Try.”
#6 Saving for a Custom Van by Various Artists (Father/Daughter Records)
An eclectic compilation of artists performing covers in remembrance of Adam Schlesinger – lots of Ivy, Fountains of Wayne covers, plus some of the TV film songs he contributed to, including a fun Charly Bliss cover of “Pretend to be Nice” from Josie and the Pussycats.
#7 NO VISA by Captain Planet (Bastard Jazz Recordings)
Just a fun record with a little bit of everything on it – collaborations like “BIG MAN,” “Mi Poni,” and “Fly Where You Want” are my highlights, but the whole thing is a party that takes you around the world with its influences.
#8 Fall to Pieces by Tricky (Liberator Music)
Writing the album after the death of his daughter, it’s a raw, thoughtful Tricky, but carries a listener along track-to-track on an incredibly emotional but sonically beautiful journey – a solid album listen.
#9 The Power of the One by Bootsy Collins (Bootzilla)
This is the album that would’ve been the soundtrack to Mardi Gras 2021, if there was going to be a Mardi Gras. Chock full of funk veterans (Branford Marsalis) and fun guest appearances (Snoop Dogg) this is up there on the when-we-can-party list.
#10 Magic Oneohtrix Point Never by Oneohtrix Point Never (Warp)
I love a good electronic experimentation record. This one makes you pay attention. It doesn’t always “flow” but it’s a tapestry of noise that will keep any electronica fan entertained.
Honorable Mentions
Disclosure – Energy and Aluna – Renaissance: Two dance records that helped cleanse the musical palette and put me in a good mood in 2020, which, for this year, was admittedly difficult.
Top 40 Songs (not including songs on the albums above) [Playlist]. * = local artist.
1. IDLES – Grounds
2. Beyonce – Black Parade
3. Whitney (ft. Waxahatchee) – Take Me Home, Country Roads
4. *Jamila Woods – Sula (Paperback)
5. Resistance Revival Chorus (ft. Rhiannon Giddens) – All You Fascists Bound to Lose
6. Open Mike Eagle – the black mirror episode
7. *100 gecs – came to my show
8. Bully – Where to Start
9. Soccer Mommy – circle the drain
10.Swamp Dogg (ft. John Prine) – Please Let Me Go ‘Round Again
11.The Beths – Dying to Believe
12.Young RJ & Mega Ran (ft. MC Frontalot & Abstract Orchestra) - Algorithm
13.*DJ Hank – Traffic Control
14.Wajatta – Marmite
15.RJD2 (ft. Aceyalone) – Genuine Gentleman
16.Empress Of – Love is a Drug
17.Genevieve Artadi (feat. Real Bad Man) - Godzillaaa
18.X - Alphabetland
19.Little Simz – one life, might live
20.Ana Tijoux – Antifa Dance
21.Ian Isiah – Princess Pouty
22.Kosha Dillz - Schmoozin
23.Arca (ft. Rosalia) - KLK
24.*Ohmme – Ghost
25.Jade Hairpins – J Terrapin
26.Dinosaur Jr. – Black Betty
27.Sufjan Stevens – America
28.*Ric Wilson (ft. Stahx) – Fall in Chicago
29.Lydia Loveless – Love is Not Enough
30.Travis – Waving at the Window
31.Sylvan Esso - Runaway
32.Moodymann (ft. Amp Fiddler) – Taken Away
33.Khruangbin & Leon Bridges – Texas Sun
34.Cut Copy – Like Breaking Glass
35.Actress (ft. Aura T-09) – Loveless
36.Fantastic Negrito – Chocolate Samurai
37.Yelle – Je t’aime encore
38.Pet Shop Boys – I Don’t Wanna
39.*Don’t Break My House – Gabrielle
40.*Half Gringa – 1990
Honorable Mention Songs:
Phoebe Bridgers - Kyoto
Rose City Band – Reno Shuffle
The Mountain Goats – Get Famous
*The Cell Phones - Kelly
Sneaks - Faith
Tkay Maidza - Shook
Shygirl – LENG
The Streets (ft. IDLES) – None of Us Are Getting out of This Life Alive
Katy J. Pearson – Take Back the Radio
*Twin Peaks – Any More Than You Want
Dua Saleh - umbrellar
Thundercat (ft. Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington & Childish Gambino) – Black Qualls
Josephine – Me and My Boys
Catholic Action – Another Kind of Loneliness
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