2020 was a weird year in so many ways. But one definite outcome was that I bought fewer albums than I’ve done in previous years, albeit my spend on EPs (and live albums) probably went up significantly.
Partly that was down to a lack of visits to record shops. Whilst my pre-order shopping would be split between the artists and record shops, those spec purchases I make when I’m actually in a shop, just didn’t happen.
Whether or not that had an influence on the type of records that made it into the upper echelons of my selections I can’t be sure. But this feels like one of the more conservative lists I’ve produced in the lifetime of the blog, certainly if you consider that a good proportion of the top albums are by long-standing artists such as Thurston Moore, Bob Mould and Wire. Having said that I’d argue that these are all examples of fine late period works, even if there’s little in the way of innovation.
I’ve also taken a different approach to listing my favourite albums. Previously I’ve always managed to rank the records individually such that, at least on the day, I’m reasonably satisfied. But this year, I find the idea of ranking my favourite records well-nigh impossible. So, I’ve banded the records broadly and within these bands, the records are listed alphabetically.
I hummed and hawed about picking a favourite, principally because I found it difficult to choose one, but in the end I think my song-for-song favourite is the first Wire album of the Year ‘Mind Hive’. So I can live with it as this year’s choice.
1. Wire – Mind Hive
A+
Stephen Fellows – Slow Glass
Man of Moon – Dark Sea
Thurston Moore – By The Fire
Bob Mould – Blue Hearts
Nap Eyes – Snapshot of a Beginner
The Pictish Trail – Thumb World
Savage Mansion – Weird Country
Sophia – Holding On / Letting Go
Vulture Party – Vulture Party
The Wants – Container
Warm Digits – Flight of Ideas
Working Men’s Club – Working Men’s Club
A
The Dream Syndicate – The Universe Inside
Echo Machine – Instant Transmissions
Fontaines DC – A Hero’s Death
Chris Forsyth and Garcia Peoples – The People’s Motel
Clementine March – Le Continent
Lee Ranaldo & Raul Refree – Tales of North End Women
Randolph’s Leap – (You Can’t Put The) Brakes on Love
Rolling Blackouts CF – Sideways to New Italy
Throwing Muses – Sun Racket
Wire – 10/20
B+
The Beths – Jump Rope Gazers
Julian Cope – Self Civil War
Tanya Donelly and the Parkington Sisters
Callum Easter – The Green Door Sessions
Martha Ffion – Nights to Forget
Chris Forsyth / Dave Harrington / Ryan Jewell / Spencer Zahn – First Flight
The Friends of David McComb – Truckload of Sky
Good Dog – Creature
Lovely Eggs – I Am Moron
Mitchell Museum – Skinny Tricks
No Age – Goons Be Good
AR Pinewood – No Life
Protomartyr – Ultimate Success Today
Randolph’s Leap – Howling at The Sun
Nadine Shah – Kitchen Sink
Adam Stafford – Diamonds of a Horse Famine
Steve Wynn – Solo Acoustic Vol 1
Pocket Knife and Moonsoup – Archipelago Vols 3 and 4
Circle Meets Dot and Henry & Fleetwood – Archipelago Vols 5 and 6
Compilations
Last Night From Glasgow Isolation Sessions
Citizen Bravo, Raymond MacDonald and Friends – Return to Y’Hup – The World of Ivor Cutler
Reissues
Steve Wynn – Decade
An 11 disc bonanza which collects 6 albums, the e-Music Singles collection and a whole range of bonus tracks
Scars – Author! Author!
Robert Forester– Danger In The Past / Calling From A Country Phone
Live albums (all downloads)
Arab Strap – Primavera Sound: Live In Barcelona
Savage Mansion – Live at the Hug & Pint
Thula Borah – You Only Die Twice
The Twilight Sad – Live
Withered Hand – Could Ya Do The Woo Woos?
