Al Krow Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 (edited) 2020 was very possibly the worst of years many of us have lived through. But it didn't stop some great creativity by musicians around the globe. What new release in 2020 particularly blew you away? I've been very very impressed with Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa - so many great tracks on one album. Here she is with her band, performing 4 of the tracks from the album in a stripped down set. Lovely version of 'Love Again' - third track. The bass line on the album version is a lot of fun - I'm gonna see if I can persuade my band to add it to our set this year. Edited January 2, 2021 by Al Krow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Power Up by AC/DC, great to see them back and a great album. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Riva Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Ghost Funk Orchestra - An Ode to Escapism https://open.spotify.com/album/6AX1AtiHx6eDnD9srRxEIR?si=jwicOAiuSxOhunMsC8XVqQ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 2 minutes ago, Old Man Riva said: Ghost Funk Orchestra - An Ode to Escapism https://open.spotify.com/album/6AX1AtiHx6eDnD9srRxEIR?si=jwicOAiuSxOhunMsC8XVqQ Liking this already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Doves - The Universal Want AC/DC - Power Up Only 2020 albums I've listened to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Sepultura - Quadra Still pushing the boundaries, a really creative and aggressive effort. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 24 minutes ago, Doctor J said: Sepultura - Quadra Still pushing the boundaries, a really creative and aggressive effort. This was a stonkingly good album. Napalm Death's Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism was magnificent also. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Riva Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 41 minutes ago, Al Krow said: Liking this already! Excellent! If you like that then definitely give their 2019 album, A Song For Paul, a listen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Al Krow said: ...Here she is with her band, performing 4 of the tracks from the album in a stripped down set... Good gracious, but that was painful..! Stripped down..? Shame the drummer was stripped out..! Maybe it's better (that's to say : radically different...) with a 'live' drummer, but that awful, awful beat..! Yes, the third track passes muster, but by then I wasn't really interested, I'm afraid. Dreadful..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Fantastic Negrito - Have you lost your mind yet? Bob Dylan - Rough & rowdy ways. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 There were new albums in 2020? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Given that I review for R2 Magazine I listen to a lot of new CDseach year. However, the two that stood out were rather backward looking in a lot of ways... The Absence Of Presence, by Kansas showed that even with minimal remaining original members they can rock with the best of them. America Live At The London Palladium showed that great songs are always great songs. Other notable mentions... Rachel Sage - Character Kathleen Edward’s - Total Freedom, some cracking indie country 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 18 minutes ago, Dad3353 said: Good gracious, but that was painful..! Stripped down..? Shame the drummer was stripped out..! Maybe it's better (that's to say : radically different...) with a 'live' drummer, but that awful, awful beat..! Yes, the third track passes muster, but by then I wasn't really interested, I'm afraid. Dreadful..! It's not entirely clear, but I don't think you're a fan 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 31 minutes ago, Al Krow said: It's not entirely clear, but I don't think you're a fan 😁 A shame, too, as they're darned good..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 3 minutes ago, Dad3353 said: A shame, too, as they're darned good..! Do you prefer / really like the actual album then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 3 minutes ago, Al Krow said: Do you prefer / really like the actual album then? I'll reply when I've heard it. Is the drumming better..? Not just a 'Big Beat' 'One-One-One-One'..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Well, here’s some drumming. Rejoice by Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela. Afro beat Jazz. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 1 minute ago, Dad3353 said: I'll reply when I've heard it. Is the drumming better..? Not just a 'Big Beat' 'One-One-One-One'..? Well, Douglas, I'm biased: I think the album is a superb piece of creative song writing and I'm full of admiration for anyone who can craft something with such catchy melodies, some excellent bass lines and will get people up and dancing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Al Krow said: Well, Douglas, I'm biased: I think the album is a superb piece of creative song writing and I'm full of admiration for anyone who can craft something with such catchy melodies, some excellent bass lines and will get people up and dancing. Well, when they want some decent drumming done, I'm available. Edit : I just looked up an 'official video' of Future Nostalgia'. I'll look no further. Carry on, men... Edited January 2, 2021 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 15 minutes ago, Len_derby said: Well, here’s some drumming. Rejoice by Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela. Afro beat Jazz. Cracking album and sonically brilliant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Versions of the Truth by The Pineapple Thief is terrific. Gavin Harrison on drums..........enough said 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinB Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 My favourite album release of 2020 was In Search Of The Lost City Of The Monkey God by The Sorcerers: https://sorcerers.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of-the-lost-city-of-the-monkey-god https://open.spotify.com/album/2kGJhogMhGMyRiubKx0rlt?si=ZuD4ppoyThWpFwPjRVKbUw It's like a retro jazzy library music soundtrack for a forgotten b-movie, with some lovely tight bass-and-drum grooves. Honourable mentions: stoner/doom Mellified Man by Warrior Pope (Mr Foxen of this parish) https://warriorpope.bandcamp.com/album/mellified-man https://open.spotify.com/album/0dYnZqVsDRLD9PlrLY9og6?si=VbZn4Zk2SGiCoLzE55YBmw Crushingly heavy, tuneful and concise. Viscerals by Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs https://pigspigspigspigspigspigspigs.bandcamp.com/album/viscerals https://open.spotify.com/album/15CVkItclaGrn0xLr16Qw0?si=dOHw9DDjSzKFS6n_CjnQOg Big Sabbathy riffs. Disappointed to have missed them live a couple of times - they're apparently really good. Honourable mentions: surf/instro The Celestial Sounds Of The Space Agency by The Space Agency https://thespaceagency.bandcamp.com/album/the-celestial-sounds-of-the-space-agency Long-awaited collection of vintagey twang and fuzzy psych. And they're also lovely people! 😄 Sunworshipper by The Spiratones https://thespiratones.bandcamp.com/album/sunworshipper Melodic, catchy surf, garage and spy stuff. Hoping to make it up to Ulverston to gig with these lads once things get a bit closer to normal 🤞 Honourable mentions: indie Every Bad by Porridge Radio https://porridgeradio.bandcamp.com/album/every-bad https://open.spotify.com/album/4DN3XbB33kHTJA7HhI0RFI?si=ah4hqgk_SK-mvNW_Fr7Uvg Marmite! I can't decide whether they're interestingly raw and honest, or insufferably arty and bigheaded 🤔 All Or Nothing by Shopping https://shoppingfc.bandcamp.com/album/all-or-nothing https://open.spotify.com/album/3jgAzjCrL8Xf9gXmIyMeQq?si=XiSJFTMxSYiZlj-W6pvULQ I can't resist a bit of wiry post-punk, and this lot do it really well. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushbo Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 I had to list my top ten albums for PopMatters- an online music magazine I write for. I don't think it was a vintage year for music -no surprise there- but there were some fantastic records released. 1. Jayhawks XOXO 2. Kevin Godley: Muscle Memory 3. Captain Wilberforce: When the Dust Just Won’t Settle 4. Dream Syndicate: The Universe Inside 5. Ben Watt: Storm Damage 6. Anton Barbeau: Manbird 7. Bob Mould: Blue Hearts 8. Erik Hall: Music for 18 Musicians 9. Squirrel Flower: I was Born Swimming 10. Spygenius: Man on the Sea 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Really like the new Pigsx7 album and was planning to see their London shows before everything went sideways. Hopefully we'll get a chance some time this year! I really like the Coriky album that came out this year too. With Ian MacKaye and Joe Lally on board it's a good listen for any fans of Fugazi or if you fancy giving your ears a post punk/indie treat. https://open.spotify.com/album/5tq1YTBXOODRZERatJ7f1U?si=nxn1_Ve8QjSVlK2GyS_wnA 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 13 minutes ago, rushbo said: I had to list my top ten albums for PopMatters- an online music magazine I write for. I don't think it was a vintage year for music -no surprise there- but there were some fantastic records released. 1. Jayhawks XOXO 2. Kevin Godley: Muscle Memory 3. Captain Wilberforce: When the Dust Just Won’t Settle 4. Dream Syndicate: The Universe Inside 5. Ben Watt: Storm Damage 6. Anton Barbeau: Manbird 7. Bob Mould: Blue Hearts 8. Erik Hall: Music for 18 Musicians 9. Squirrel Flower: I was Born Swimming 10. Spygenius: Man on the Sea Well that's going to be plenty of treadmill time sorted isn't it! 😊 Do you have a link to the article for your magazine? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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