Best 15 CD/EP Releases of 2020
Hey, wasn’t 2020 just the best year of your life?
What with the plague returning and an American President trying to overthrow the government- I’m sure we can all attest that it was just a swell old time.
And the worst for me and I’m guessing for you, too- No shows!
But I still had a lot of great material to review and I still had to struggle to only pick fifteen releases, after long giving up, years ago on making it a Top Ten.
So life goes on! Music goes on! And I hate to be a spoiler but good times will return, I took a peek into the future.
And now here’s a peak at my favorite releases of 2020.
I’m gonna start with my favorite, followed by a Top Five in chronological order. Then the remaining nine in chronological fashion, too.
Baabes “Ratchet Ass Dance Party” (extended version)
This won the prize as favorite release because they took a very good recording from the year before and added several new songs that were all even better than the previous ones.
“Their music is a dagger that strikes you straight in your heart causing ecstatic convulsions and pleasure. That hits you hard enough to hurt but leaves you wanting, begging for more.”
“‘Cause the passion, the fun, the wild joy of their songs should whip you into a frenzy, where you slip into hedonistic oblivion, at least, that’s what their music does to me.”
Marko Bruiser- “Black And Blue Volume One and Two”, “The Bringer Of Rad”
All three of his releases deserve to be in my Top 15 though, I would pick Volume One as my favorite. And be aware that a recording of his won the whole enchilada in 2019.
“Because I know that the passion and guts on this recording, as great as this one. That even if I can grasp just a bit of it, relate just a bit of its wonderfulness- Then I know I’ve done my best.”
Degenerate Jim- “Viral Tracks”
This recording…is a great amalgam of punk, schockabilly, ska, Oi and classic rock and whatever else the cat done drung in. This…will probably be one of the best recordings I will hear all year.”
The Jacklights- “The Jacklights”
My favorite new band of last year. “This is wonderful stuff. This is why I so enjoy what I do. When something, unexpectedly, just blows me away…And I also know that this is one of the best releases I’ve heard this year.
Lenny Lashley’s Gang Of One Live
“But what I do envy is when a writer writes lines I really like. I really want those words. I wish they were mine!…Maybe envy is the wrong term. I think when you connect with a writers’ words it’s them expressing something that you so much feel or relate to, that is so close to your heart, that causes you to like their work so much.”
Coffin Salesman- “The Birth Of Flies”
“This release knocked me for a loop, took my breath away, like I was doubled over by an unexpected blow to my gut…One of the best releases I’ve heard this year, it’s like I’ve died and gone…Well, I just can’t say where.”
The remaining nine-
The Lost Riots- “The Kids You Love To Hate”
“The Lost Riots contain the passion, the energy, the wild recklessness of the early punk scene..when it seemed we were just moments away from oblivion… And I love this band and I love this release and I love everything that they represent, that they aspire to.”
Loretta- “Bleach My Brain”
“Because it’s punk in all its overflow of passion, it’s punk in its knowing, snarling, sarcastic bite- jaded and innocent at the same time…This band is pure, perfect punk because, to my ears…they sound and write like an early punk band.”
The Ratz- “After The Blackout” and “508 EP”
Two great releases, I guess I’ll pick “After The Blackout” if I must. “It makes me think garage begat punk begat hardcore. And begat means- to bring to life, to bring about. And I think this band is influenced and takes the best parts of these influences to create something new.”
Killer Kin- “Bad, Bad Minds”
“Killer Kin harks back to the bad old days in their style. I hear early rock’n’roll and rockabilly, sixties garage, seventies punk…One of the best new bands around. This is pure rock’n’roll, pure excitement, pure passion and fun.”
The Knock Ups- “Splitting Hairs”
“These are great songs played by wonderful musicians that one can categorize as they like, but doesn’t detract from the fact that they make wonderful music.”
Ditch Boys- “Sabotage”
“This EP is fun and sexy and kicks ass, which is my definition of rock’n’roll. The first song on this recording is called “I’m Bad”…But I don’t want to call this release either good or bad. I’ll stick with great.”
Sewer Buddies- “Butt Brains”
“The Sewer Buddies take the melodic, catchiness, humor, buoyant energy of early punk like The Ramones and Buzzcocks…and makes music that is fun, frantic, frivolous and free while also being potent and of substance.”
Funeral Cone- “Live At The News Cafe”
“Funeral Cone have created some of my favorite, wildest music that I’ve reviewed…on thrashnbang…every song on this release is great.”
Dead Low- “Listen Up”
“I think of Dead Low as a rock’n’roll band and I think of that as high praise from me…The music they play is neither dead nor low but lively and elevating. It makes me feel alive and good to hear the music they play.”
I hope 2020 will be a better year for everyone but if the level of music I receive this year stays at the high level of what I just reiterated, not counting the many worthy releases not picked, I’ll be very happy.
(Slimedog)
