Mike's Best of 2020
Just as every person is saying these days, 2020 has been a weird one. In a year that saw any prospect of touring and playing live thrown out the window, music became all that more important. At the start of the pandemic, I moved back home after an awesome year of living with AJ in Hamilton. Combining that with employment uncertainty from the first lockdown, it was a strange anxiety inducing time. So it felt only fitting that a week before my birthday, Dance Gavin Dance released Afterburner, an early birthday present if you will. I spent most of my time in my dad’s woodshop those days, and I listened to this record on repeat for months. My spotify wrapped was effectively a celebration of my love for DGD.
Dance Gavin Dance is a tough band to try and explain. Their songs are full of intricate math-rock guitar lines. They can go from a top 40 pop sound, to aggressive post-hardcore, to Latin inspired sounds all within one song. Afterburner (DGD’s 9th full-length release) only accentuates and improves on all of these aspects. The ability of each musician is highlighted in such incredible ways throughout the 13 song album. One of my personal favourite things on this record is how their two vocalists have started to blend into each other's normal roles. Tillian has an absolutely insane set of pipes, powerfully and cleanly hitting highs that I can only dream of. John Mess is also one of my favourite screamers in music right now. He has a very unique tonal sound, and the clarity of his words cannot be understated. I also always get a kick out of trying to decode his cryptic lyrics. Reminds me of The Mars Volta in that sense.
If you’re new to DGD, this is a great record to start off on. It touches on all the areas that the band is known for, while doing it in arguably their most polished version. Lyrics Lie, and Strawberry’s Wake are my two favourites from the record. Both hitting that sweet middle spot of melodic, dancey, aggressive, and chaotic. The great news is that if you dig this record, you’ve got 8 more DGD records to explore and enjoy!
I would be remiss if I didn’t at least give a couple honorable mentions. This Place Sucks Ass by PUP was the quarantine punk injection I needed this year. The Joy of Music, the Job of Real Estate by Vulfpeck challenged my bass playing abilities as I attempted to keep up with Joe Dart, and provided some incredibly happy & groovy jams.
Top 5 Albums of 2020
Afterburner - Dance Gavin Dance
This Place Sucks Ass - PUP
Nothing is True & Everything is Possible - Enter Shikari
The Joy of Music, the Job of Real Estate - Vulfpeck
Palimpsest - Protest the Hero
Top 5 Songs of 2020
Lyrics Lie - Dance Gavin Dance
Doom Boy - The Dirty Nil
Reckless Paradise - Billy Talent
{ The Dreamer’s Hotel } - Enter Shikari
Anaphylaxis - PUP
Favourite New Podcast(s) of 2020
Darknet Diaries
The Besties