Top Albums of 2020 ~ AJ's Picks
“This album grooves like David Bowie.”
AJ reflects on Re-Animator by Everything Everything and his obsession with comedy podcasts.
I’m going to come clean with you. I did not listen to a lot of new music in 2020. I didn’t have a particular reason not to look into new tunes and there were plenty of new releases to dig into. But amid the panic of lockdown I found myself dusting off old familiar records that reminded me of the “before times.” As a result my Spotify 2020 review includes the sound track from “How to Train Your Dragon”, several Tragically Hip albums, “All Star” by Smash Mouth and unabashedly a lot of tracks from Frozen 2. Does this mean I need to hand in my cool jackets and slick moves gained from years of seeming “with it?” Most definitely yes. So as I traded my cool jackets for comfy sweats I listened to 11,791 minutes of comedy podcasts. (That’s over 8 days of non-stop jokes).
Top Podcast
My Brother, My Brother & Me
The McElroys
According to Spotify I listened to 4,006 minutes (nearly 3 days) of this good, good podcast, and for good, good reasons. Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy have been handing out advice alongside their own brand of goofy, inappropriate yet innocent jokes and segments for over 10 years. The “advice” podcast takes wild turns as the brothers inevitably gang up on each other or attempt to make each crack. DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN PUBLIC. You will either boom with laughter or giggle like a child which will only make others jealous. SO. DAMN. FUNNY. At this point I just want to be their fourth brother. Thankfully these good boys have a plethora of other podcasts to help induct you into their family.
Top Album
Re-Animator
Everything Everything
This is the one and only new album I truly listened to this year. If you’re familiar with Everything Everything’s catalogue you already know this British group slaps. Slap in the sense that the energy contained in each song continues to grow beyond your expectations and strikes you right in the core. The “slap factor” of their 2017 release Fever Dream was like a raging wild fire with the wind at it’s back, contrasting 2020’s Re-Animator is like a10 hour campfire burning slow and steady, leaving glowing red coals by night fall.
Re-Animator perfectly showcases the bands unique electronic energy. The driving bass and drums, heavy synths and guitars, brooding grooves allows Jonathan Higgs vocals to cut above. This album grooves like David Bowie.
AJ’s Top 3 Albums of 2020 (Not 5 because podcasts have consumed me*)
Re-Animator - Everything Everything
Away Is Mine - Gord Downie
No Earthly Sound - Bruce Peninsula
Top 5 Songs of 2020
Big Climb - Everything Everything
Useless Nights (Acoustic) - Gord Downie
Perfect Mess - Mear
Waking Up - Hillsburn
Shame, Shame - Foo Fighters
Favourite Podcasts of 2020
The McErloy Family: Literally any and all media this family produces
Dungeons and Daddies: A D&D real play podcast about four dads from our world transported into the Forgotten Realms and their quest to rescue their sons. Not a BDSM podcast!
~aj