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Tony Breed writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2020: Tony Breed
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2020. Our next list is from DJ and Board Member Emeritus Tony Breed.
2020 was a year like nothing I’ve ever experienced—a total upending of our way of life. Fortunately there has been some amazing music to keep me company while I stay home every day.
It’s also been the year of the single—more and more artists are releasing singles that are not tied to any albums, in a return to the early days of rock n roll. So for the first time, my Top Track of 2020 is a single, by Chicago’s own SuperKnova: SuperKnova / “LSD Heartbreak” / single / self-released
Some runner-up tracks of the year that I also loved:
Serengeti / “Field of Fire” / Discoken / Fake Hour Inc.
U.S. Girls / “$ American Dollars” / Heavy Light / 4AD
Emily Edrosa / “Drinking During the Day” / Another Wave Is Coming / Park the Van
#1 Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple (Epic)
Fiona Apple came hit us in 2020 with an album that is raw and personal and powerful. She remains the smart, prickly, determined person she always has been, and this time we have an album that feels like you're plugged directly into her brain, unfiltered. This is my favorite things she's done since When the Pawn….
#2 And It’s Still Alright by Nathaniel Rateliff (Stax)
Rateliff previously gave us shit-stomping tunes like "S.O.B.", but on this solo release he gives us sad music to ache to, and it feels so good. Put it on repeat and go for a long drive alone among the trees.
#3 UNTITLED (Rise) by Sault (Forever Living Originals)
The great mystery band Sault has given us a lot of great booty-shaking bangers in their short tenure, but with UNTITLED (Rise) they get deeper into politics, in a really smart way. Shake you butt and open your eyes.
#4 Intérimes by Adeline (self-released)
The former lead singer of Escort steps our on her own with this pitch-perfect soul/R&B album.
#5 Shore by Fleet Foxes (ANTI-)
14 years into their career as a band, Fleet Foxes gives us more of what we love, but also better than they've given us for a long time—maybe due to the sorely-needed optimism that undergirds the whole album.
#6 Make a Door Less Open by Car Seat Headrest (Matador)
I feel that every Car Seat Headrest album is better than the last. "There Must Be More Than Blood" is a real standout track that I know I will return to again and again.
#7 Can’t Have It All by Neptune’s Core (self-released)
Neptune's Core is a pair of pairs of high-school age sisters from Chicago who echo the sound of great women's rock, from Liz Phair to Fiona Apple to The Bangles to Courtney Barnett. This one was such a pleasant surprise, and it gives me hope that the kids really are alright.
#8 Force to Reckon by Half Gringa (self-released)
When local singer-songwriter Izzy Olive, aka Half Gringa, sings "the lake is your guardian" on the track "1990", it feels like the quintessential Chicago lyric. The lake is my guardian. This album feels so comforting.
#9 June Holiday by Charles Rumback (Astral Spirits)
Lovely instrumental jazz from Chicago that hearkens back to the days of Dave Brubeck and Vince Guaraldi.
#10 Officiel//Artificiel by Sweet Crude (Verve Forecast)
An album of bangers, start to finish, which prompted me to fall down an internet rabbit hole reading up on Louisiana French, the endangered variety of French that features heavily in their lyrics.
Some other truly great albums that almost made it to my top 10:
- Laura Marling / Songs for Our Daughter / Partisan
- Don’t Break My House / Don’t Break My House / self-released
- Sufjan Stevens / The Ascension / Asthmatic Kitty
- Sunshine Boys / Work and Love / Pravda
- Cafe Racer / Shadow Talk / Born Yesterday
- Mike Maimone / isolation:001 / 8eat8
- Rufus Wainwright / Unfollow the Rules / BMG
Next entry: CHIRP Radio Best of 2020: Andy Weber
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