Hello, partygoers, and welcome back to the Listening Party rumpus room where the door is always open and the music is always playing.
Dave re-e-e-e-ally enjoyed putting together the music for this bi-week’s show. It was lots of fun making a brand new mixtape, and it was lots of fun choosing twenty of his favourite songs from 2020.
We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!
As discussed on the show, this compilation had to be spread across two CDs because modern music is so ding-dang long, so we have pretended it’s an actual two record set and divided it up accordingly. Of course, on the actual records it’s divided into sides 1 and 3 on one record and sides 2 and 4 on the other so you can put them on your record stacker!
Here’s what we listened to this week:
Side One:
- White Denim – “I Don’t Understand Rock and Roll” – World as a Waiting Room, 2020 (May) – 9:48
- Arbouretum – “How Deep It Goes” – Let It All In, 2020 (March) – 26:34
- Songhoy Blues – “Barre” – Optimisme, 2020 (October) – 44:30
- Nap Eyes – “Though I Wish I Could” – Snapshot of a Beginner, 2020 (March) – 54:07
- Damien Jurado – “Oachoa” – What’s New, Tomboy, 2020 (April) – 1:03:39
Side Two
- Nada Surf – “Looking for You” – Never Not Together, 2020 (November) – 1:10:33
- Bonny Light Horseman – “The Rover” – Bonny Light Horseman, 2020 (January) – 1:23:33
- Brigid Dawson and the Mothers Network – “The Fool” – Ballet of Apes, 2020 (May) – 1:29:06
- Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – “The Second of the First” – Sideways to New Italy, 2020 (June) – 1:37:07
- OOIOO – “Kawasemi Ah” – nijimusi, 2020 (January) – 1:49:39
Side Three
- The Jayhawks – “Living in a Bubble” – XOXO, 2020 (July) – 2:04:27
- Cabane (ft. “Bonnie” Prince Billy and Kate Stables) – “Sangokaku” – Grande Est la Maison, 2020 (March) – 2:10:38
- Waxahatchee – “Can’t Do Much” – Saint Cloud, 2020 (March) – 2:18:09
- Jackie Lynn – “Odessa” – Jacqueline, 2020 (April) – 2:23:50
- Blitzen Trapper – “Bardo’s Light (Ouija Ouija)” – Holy Smokes Future Jokes, 2020 (September) – 2:36:41
Side Four
- Stephen Malkmus – “Xian Man” – Traditional Techniques, 2020 (March) – 2:42:19
- Sufjan Stevens and Lowell Brams – “The Runaround” – Aporia, 2020 (March) – 2:52:20
- This Is the Kit – “Off Off On” – Off Off On, 2020 (October) – 3:04:06
- Samantha Crain – “Little Bits” – A Small Death, 2020 (July) – 3:09:44
- Protomartyr – “Bridge and Crown” – Ultimate Success Today, 2020 (July) – 3:16:52
Thanks for listening.
Dept. of Corections:
We think Dave misspoke and stated that the White Denim album was recorded in three months. The actual challenge was to write, play, record, and mix it in 30 days.
Dept. of CLARIFICATIONS:
So older forms of Japanese music – specifically folk songs and early popular music – used a pentatonic scale called the yo scale. This is a scale that contains no minor notes – best demonstrated on a piano by playing only the black keys.
Dept. of Cool Sounds:
Would you like to listen to Dave’s Top 20 for ’20 whilst you walk around or do dishes or whatever it is that you get up to? Well, follow this link right now!
That Damien Jurado album cover David and Mary were going ga-ga over:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I think you meant sides 1 and 4 on one LP, and sides 2 and 3 on the other LP, just like my original pressing of “Electric Ladyland”.
Something about the sad emoting of Damien Jurado sucks me in as well, kind of reminded me of Jim Croce. Beautiful song, I wonder if it’s actually harder too sing with that much emotion on purpose, I could be wrong because I can’t sing anything but few singers seem to pull it off. The house on the cover does have an inviting and warm feeling to it, the photo reminded me of this 1976 photo of a diner in a bitter New York City. I love this photo.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/striking-portraits-of-lonely-cars-in-1970s-new-york
Posting late but wanted to impart how much I enjoyed this episode. Found most of the songs to be pretty swell.
The interesting thing is that no songs from my favorite albums of 2020 made the cut. But that’s good, gives me new music to discover.
My favorite albums from last year by the way are:
1. On Sunset- Paul Weller
2. Alphabetland – X
3. McCartney III
4. Universe Inside – Dream Syndicate
5. The Second Album – Empty Hearts
6. Earth To Dora – The Eels
7. Daughter – Lydia Loveless
8. Made of Rain – Psychedelic Furs
9. What To Look For In Summer – Belle & Sebastian
10. The Unraveling – Drive By Truckers
11. The New OK – Drive By Truckers
Really enjoyed this episode! I was surprised to see some of my favorites of the year on this list. Cabane, Jackie Lynn and OOIOO are great. In my head after previous episodes I wondered what your opinion of Nap Eyes would be. I’m glad you like them. I was mistaken in thinking the album of theirs I had, “I’m Bad Now”, was their most recent. I’ve since ordered it after enjoying that song so much. I’m also going to get that Protomartyr album ASAP. Probably my other favorite song on this mix. Such good stuff.
My song of 2020 was probably “You Could If You Can” by Astrel K. I really think you guys would like it. It was put out on Stereolab’s Duophonic label early in the year and I can’t wait until they put out a full album. Highly recommended.
Many thanks for putting this list together, Dave. Some wonderful songs on there, and it was great to have the playlist as a download.
You made me realise I’m not getting to hear anything like as much new music or as many new artists as I’d like to. I counted up all the tracks I’d heard already and came to the grand total of, um… (frowns, checks fingers on both hands) yeah, that’s it – none! Need to re-assess my priorities…
I’m using “Living in a Bubble” by the Jayhawks as the opener to my own personal 2021 MIX. We’re still living in the “Bubble” for now and I thought the song captured that, at least for the first part of 2021. Years from now when we’re all free to roam the Earth again, I’ll look back on this song as I play my 2021 MIX.