I spent a good portion of 2020 building what I call ‘the barn’. This project was part “since we’re home all the time I should probably fix that structure that is falling down in my backyard”, part “wouldn’t it be neat to have a somewhere different to hang out” and part “maybe if I keep building this the world will go back to kind of making sense.”
When compiling my list it occurred to me that I spent a lot of time listening to these albums while either working on or while drinking beer within said barn. This led me to a bonus rating system that serves no purpose. The “Barn Day” rating is how likely I was to listen to an album while building and the “Barn Night” is how likely I was to listen to an album during the barn in ‘bar mode.’
Also I feel like it should be known that the “Barn Day” albums required you to be able to hear things over the drone of an air compressor.
Here is my list of albums that helped me through 2020.
Albums
Bartees Strange - Live Forever
Barn Day 6/10
Barn Night 8/10
This album ping pongs all over the place with genre and vibe and yet is so cohesive. An incredible feat and a fascinating ride.
Dehd - Flower Of Devotion
Barn Day 8/10
Barn Night 9/10
Quite possibly my album of the year if I was capable of thinking on those terms. The song “Loner” is perfection.
Future Islands - As Long As You Are
Barn Day 4/10
Barn Night 8/10
I was really excited when I heard the single for “For Sure”, however, it was the song “Born In A War” that completely won me over. Future Islands were also the first ‘live stream’ concert that we did this year and it was awesome and complete with an 10 minute pause before their encore which really made you wonder if they were coming back. Geez I miss live music.
Destroyer - Have We Met
Barn Day 4/10
Barn Night 7/10
I had totally forgotten about this album and then I made a playlist of all my 2020 music and I ended up re-listening to the whole album like 4 more times. I’m guessing ‘Destroyer Fan’ is set as a cookie in my browsing history for life.
Girlhood - Girlhood
Barn Day 6/10
Barn Night 10/10
Jesse mentioned the song “The Love I Need” in a group text one day and I haven’t stopped listening to this album since.
Haim - Women In Music Pt. III
Barn Day 7/10
Barn Night 7/10
I enjoy this whole album a lot. I enjoy the song “Gasoline” a shit ton. Also, Lindsey Buckingham wishes he wrote “Leaning On You”.
Hinds - The Prettiest Curse
Barn Day 9/10
Barn Night 7/10
These women are amazing. Shredding, longing, heartache and shittalk. Everything you could want in an album.
Idles - Ultra Mono
Barn Day 10/10
Barn Night 7/10
The only reason the Barn Night score is lower that I would like is that this album is so fun when it’s really loud. A lot of people like to have a lot of opinions on this band. I listened to a PodCast (that I enjoy) sneak diss Idles in like 3 different episodes and then wax poetic about the Deftones. I mean everyone’s entitled to an opinion but Deftones?! Yikes!
Kalis Uchis - Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)
Barn Day 4/10
Barn Night 10/10
I learned about Kalis Uchis this year and listened to her 2018 Album incessantly in late summer/early fall of this year. I loved that album a lot and then she released this album. At first I had the standard “but this album isn’t that album” reaction. Then I listened to “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)” like a bajillion times...
Barn Day 8/10
Barn Night 8/10
I think I learned about this band from an Instagram ad which means that I totally got target marketed which I’m ok with when it results in me finding an incredible album. I suggest you try the song “Stranger” if you haven’t.
Muzz - Muzz
Barn Day 7/10
Barn Night 7/10
I knew nothing about this album one day and then for the next 2 months I was listening to it constantly.
Run The Jewels - RTJ4
Barn Day 8/10
Barn Night 8/10
There is nothing I can say to re-stress how much the world needed this album this year.
The Streets - None Of Us Are Getting Out Of This Life Alive
Barn Day 7/10
Barn Night 7/10
I REALLY WANTED SLOWTHAI TO BE ON THIS ALBUM BUT HE WASN’T. THAT BEING SAID IT IS AMAZING!
Barn Day 5/10
Barn Night 9/10
I used to think I didn’t like the first song on this EP then I realized that I was mistaken and in fact I like every song on this EP.
Tennis - Swimmer
Barn Day 5/10
Barn Night 9/10
I have yet to be sad that Tennis released a new album.
Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud
Barn Day 6/10
Barn Night 9/10
I almost didn’t add this because I think I only started listening to it in 2021 but guess what who cares! It wasn’t Katie Crutchfield’s fault that I started listening to this glorious 2020 album in 2021 right?! It is entirely my fault that I didn’t listen to this glorious album that was released in March of 2020 until January of 2021. I own this. I love the song “Fire” so much. Like maybe too much.
Singles
Not to be outclassed by albums.... Here are four individual singles that I loved this year.
Rich Brian - Don’t Care
Nas - Car 85
Petite League - Joyrider
Chong The Nomad ft. Hollis - Take Two
Perhaps my song of the year.
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