The problem with traditions is that you have to keep doing them! And so I find myself facing my ninth songs of the year list. I love looking back at the old lists, so that's my incentive to keep going - though a big part of me would love to shout "screw 2020!". The list below isn't as adventurous as I would like, Zoom prevented me from exploring music as I first hoped with lockdown. Regardless, music remains vital for my relaxation and I've made some good friends in these songs and albums. Pretty sad that the virtual house arrest of home working means that my friends are now records. Anyway, enjoy!
Khruangbin - One To Remember - For all of their amazing musical skills and complex arrangements, this relatively simple ditty (about post-it notes left around the house) never fails to make me smile. Chief earworm of the year.
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard - John Lennon Is My Jesus Christ - A seemingly simple couple of minutes of lovely guitar pop, succinctly summarise my religion. I challenge you to not sing along!
JARV IS - House Music All Night Long - I love Jarvis' Cocker's various and projects. This one feels his most ambitious and complete. This song has some great house sensibilities together a classic Jarvis line: "Goddam this claustrophobia, 'Cause I should be dis-robing ya".
Laura Marling - Held Down - Songs for Our Daughter is my favourite album of the year. This song buried itself in my head and I obsessively played it on the piano. I think LM appears on most of my songs of the year reviews. Listened to this whilst reading Abir Mukherjee's Death in the East, no particular connection but both are outstanding and will be inextricably linked in my memory.
Floodlights - Thanks for Understanding - My favourite "new" find of the year. Effortlessly cool Melbourne rock. Love the slacker vibe to it. Fantastic album too.
(apologies this is the full album, this is track 6)
Christine & The Queens - La Vita Nuova - A true artist. Pulls in 80s influences (Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Madonna) and turns it into something truly authentic and powerful. Still need to check out the Thriller style short movie to accompany it.
Eyelids - The Accidental Falls - title track from the album that I have listened to the most this year. Bought on a whim on a trip to Manchester, inspired by the label from Piccadilly Records. Knowingly REM influenced. Love it.
Arlo Parks - Hurt - I'm excited for the album release in 2021. This is a great song, with powerful story and lyrics, the whole thing comes to life in your mind when listening to it.
Jerskin Fendrix - I'll Wait For It - A strange song in the most fantastic way. The emotion pushes through supported by the mix of synths and various mood changes.
Anna Burch - Tell Me What's True - Gentle, relaxed and warming. A little bit country. My sweet spot.
EoB - Brasil - solo project from Radiohead's Ed O'Brien. I really enjoyed it. This track builds and keeps going. Worth taking the time to listen.
