The WMUH staff was asked the come up with their five favorite things they heard from this past year.
Click on a name to see a list and comments.
Alegra – Afternoons with Alegra
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Ariana Grande – Positions
Darlingside – Fish Pond
Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas
H. E. R.– Hold On (Single)
Chris – Mid Day Melodies
The Bats – Foothills
Bob Nanna – Celebration States
Bob Mould – Blue Hearts
Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter
Fontaines D.C. – A Hero’s Death
Ian – The Dude Ranch
Free Radicals – White Power Outage, Vol. 1
Clever and apt sociocultural commentary. And sick beats.
Fleet Foxes – Shore
Well-rounded and explorative
Thunder and Rain – Passing in the Night
Yeehaw!
Lake Street Dive – Making Do (single)
Relatable, fun and connecting.
The Buttertones – Jazzhound
A progressive and upbeat “smooth”alternative.
James Mills – The Mosh Pit
Chubby and the Gang – Speed Kills
The Damned – Manipulator
Cat Like Thief – Noise
Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine –
Tea Party Revenge Porn
Dr. Feelgood – You Can’t judge a Book by Looking at the Cover
Josh the Radio Pirate – Pirate Radio After Dark
Loathe – I Let It In & It Took Everything
Everything but the kitchen sink ended up in beautiful chaos.
Boston Manor – Glue
A heavy pop representation of the mess that 2020 was.
Lo Tom – LP2
David Bazan and company at their most frustrated. In a very good way.
Touché Amore– Lament
A thinking mans hardcore band at its very best.
Bring Me The Horizon– Post Human: Survival Horror
A creepy all too real pop record from mainstream heavy.
Syd – The Other Soundtrack
Ludwig Göransson – Tenet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Theo Katzman – Modern Johnny Songs: Songs in the Age of Vibe
Ludwig Göransson – The Mandalorian Season 2 Vols. 1 & 2
Hayley Williams – Petals For Armor
Various Artists – Soul (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Troy – Monday Mornings with Marlena & Hardcore Hootenanny
Bob Dylan – Rough And Rowdy Ways
The artist with nothing to prove is still proving it. A 16:55 minute single? Sure why not. Brilliant.
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
The best pop/dance record of 2020 with fantastic production. Put on some headphones and start dancing.
Run the Jewels – RTJ4
Killer Mike and EL-P bring the noise. Listen. Repeat.
Paul Weller – On Sunset
The Modfather looks back in a Village Green Preservation Society style with the hindsight of an older man.
Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters
The record everyone was talking about this year lived up to all the talk. At times uncomfortable, melodic and biting. Fiona brought it all. Treacherous beauty.
Zach Matthews – Organized Noise
Robert Hood – Mirror Man (Rekids)
I love it when Rob puts out a release on record labels other than his own, because he always tries to make something with a vibe that fits the imprint. 2020 was a year of introspective head-twisting techno, of which Mirror Man was no exception. The lack of vocals was a real change from the recent sound Hood have been championing, and I personally found it refreshing and expertly executed.
DVS1 – Beta Sensory Motor Rhythm (Axis)
When Jeff Mills opened his Axis Records imprint up to outside producers I was excited to see who he would deem worthy of a release. DVS1 is amongst my favorite Dj/producers, so I was beyond happy to see his name included in the list. Beta Sensory Motor Rhythm is his first ever full length artist album, and it couldn’t have found a better home. This release is comprised of eight hypnotic rollers that focus more on introspection than on hands reaching for the strobes. I expect it to be a staple of my show for a long long time.
Skudge – Time Tracks (Skudge)
Skudge has been a staple of Organized Noise since its inception. Time Tracks is the (now solo act’s) third studio album. This one is stripped back, and really leaves room for the hi hats, chords, and reverb to float around. All of these tunes could go off early doors or at 4am when only the real techno heads are left. Skudge never misses, and this is yet another example of why I always find time for his releases on my show.
Autechre – SIGN (WARP)
You never really know what you are going to get with Autechre. Their most recent releases were a dump of past recordings, made up of IDM grinders that focused more on rhythmic erraticism than actual melody or structure. SIGN manages to keep much or the same erratic nature but forgoes all percussion in favor of strange melodies and unsettling atmospherics. Autechre managed to be as unpredictable as ever by continuing to challenge their listeners but in an entirely new way. This release continues to grow on me with each passing listen.
OVERMONO – Everything U Need (XL)
The Russell Bros never disappoint. Everything U Need offers four post rave tracks that could all have stood on their own, if released as singles. If it were not for COVID, and I am sure night clubs would have been ringing with the strange vocals of “Clipper (Another 5 Years)” across the globe. Copies of this EP sold out in minutes, which is just further evidence of why artists like Aphex Twin and Thom Yorke are clamoring to work with these guys.
Zeke – To Be Determined & The Download
Gorillaz – Song Machine
Despite much chaos, hope and connection.
Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes – What Kinda Music
Soul-jazz-dance-pop: IMMACULATE vibes
Mise en Scene – Winnipeg, California
Step 1: Listen to “High School Feeling”
Step 2: Try not to cry
Step 3: Cry a lot
Mac Miller – Circles
One last goodbye from a dear friend.
Lianne La Havas – Lianne La Havas
Reflections on love and the self.
Paul – Sine Qua Non
A Certain Ratio – ACR: Loco
A jazzy post-punk funk pop bop.
Fontaines D.C. – A Hero’s Death
Dark. Brooding. Thoughtful. Powerful. Purposeful.
John Foxx and The Maths – Howl
Early Ultravox. Early Foxx. Currently brilliant.
OHMME – Fantasize Your Ghost
Proggy pop with harmonies for days.
Kelly Lee Owens – Inner Song
Blissful beats and Cale to boot!
