monday, december 21st
Listeners' Favorites of 2020
At long last
You’ll have to forgive me friends, I got lazy. But I am so excited to finally share the results of 2020 Monday Morning Mixtape Listeners’ poll!
To those of you who participated, thank you :) This, the process of listening, writing, and putting together the mixtapes throughout the fall, is made all the more worthwhile when it becomes a conversation. And as with every time I ask any of you for recommendations or opinions or a simple check in on your habits, I’m always so pleased with the diversity of expertises on display. Your listening makes me want to listen more, and listen better.
The below answers are funny, thoughtful, deranged, and honest. As a whole, they capture something about this year of trouble, though what that something is likely has a long way before being determined. I certainly won’t try to figure it out now, but there’s a little world of realness in the answers that may illuminate these dark times for us when we look back.
Bucking my own habits, I’ve provided the mixtape right upfront for ease of listening. In it, I’ve included some of the most loved songs of 2020 as offered by you, the listeners. (Additionally, there were two of you who actually ranked your favorite songs, and for that you were rewarded.) This will be just a small taste of the answers below, so I highly recommend digging through the details and exploring what others loved. If you’re a certain type of person, there’s sort of nothing better than watching someone geek out on the things that genuinely excite them; I think you’ll find that here.
(P.S. You can find my extra stupid commentary throughout in bolded and bracketed.)
2020 was the year of...
Ano: adapting
trailerparkhero: Ass Eating
Steve: Covid
JZ: crashing waves and holding our breathes
K-Jam: learning to sit still with yourself! Music hugely helped ease into that.
Bug: pain and misery
Nanner: Paradoxes
The Mama: Patience and Perseverance
The ski: ROCK N ROLL LADIES (check them [defunct but still cool] Grammy nominees for best rock performance)
Bubsy: the Greatest Conard Basketball Team (in 24 years), did you know I was a captain?
Al: The Rat
x: WAP is the obviously correct answer [obviously] but I think it could extend to just the year of the *ben shapiro voice* P-Word (s/o City Girls & Doja Cat & Jhene Aiko)
Overrated?
The ski: Fetch the Bolt Cutters and all things Adrianne Lenker [serious Ganzcore opinion]
The Mama: Fiona Apple
K-Jam: Fiona Apple, [sensing a trend…] HAIM (I'm sorry...) [as you should be, this is wrong], Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated Side B (I usually love her), Waxahatchee's album, Laura Marling's new album, The 1975
Big Hate trailerparkhero: Getting your dick sucked
x: I don't vibe with HAIM no matter how much I try [do or do not, there is no try]
JZ: Kevin Gates (he blahh) [strange timing to come after Kevin Gates, but I don’t disagree] The Weekend (:O)
Bubsy: LaMelo Ball
Bug: Me
Ano: Megan thee Stallion
Nanner: Taylor swift folklore literally put me to sleep
Steve: That song lonely idk why I just hate it
Al: The Slow Rush - Tame Impala [yes Al! Listen here for why this is the correct opinion] and My Morning Jacket's "Waterfall II"
Underrated?
K-Jam: Christine and the Queens, Arlo Parks, Sasha Sloan, Jessie Reyez, RINA SAWAYAMA(!!!!!)(cannot emphasize enough!!) [so interesting, I want more info], Noah Cyrus, ppcocaine (if u like trap music)
trailerparkhero: Eating ass [this feels like the same joke twice…]
x: Gunna's consistency
Ano: Iann Dior
Bug: Me
Bubsy: My love for you [duly noted]
Steve: Olivia O’Brien
Nanner: Probably the fletcher album (this was me)
The ski: Saint Cloud (for all the hype around FTBC, this album deserved WAY more)
JZ: Saint Paul and the Broken Bones (of course)
Al: “Zeitgeist” by Babe Rainbow
The Mama: ? [<— nice]
OLDIES: What were pre-2020 songs/albums you discovered and fell in love with this year?
trailerparkhero: All things Talking Heads. [hard to spend a moment with this man in 2020 and not hear the heads] But also AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE.
The ski: Any artist mentioned in "Meet Me in the Bathroom," namely the Rapture, any DFA remixes, rediscovery of "Angles"; Twin Peaks, Anderson .Paak, Cautious Clay, Parquet Courts (4 real this time)
JZ: BIG TIME NINA SIMONE AND BILL WITHERS - they got me through the year.
Steve: MOTION SICKNESS, ALL things Harry styles (even 1D). Hamilton.
Nanner: Mumford and sons broad shouldered beast, as well as the two discussed below
Bug: Now we talkin. [go off girl] This was the year of R.E.M., Morrissey (cliche I know but I never really got into the smiths until I heard girlfriend in a coma for the first time this year and I was like WOAH), Devo and the B-52s. I have a bajillion songs that I discovered this year but I will share my faves from these bands.
R.E.M. - Harborcoat, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Sitting Still, Gardening at Night, Man on the Moon, I Believe, Superman, etc. So many good songs.
The Smith's/Morrissey - Girlfriend in a Coma, The Boy with a Thorn in His Side, I Don't Owe You Anything, Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before, Everyday is Like Sunday, Bengali in Platforms, etc
Devo - Out of Sync, Gut Feeling, The Day my Baby Gave Me a Surprise, Jerkin Back N Forth, etc.
B-52s - Give Me Back My Man, Private Idaho, Legal Tender, Song for a Future Generation, etc
Of course, there were a lot of other artists I grew to love. Harry Nillson, Donny & Joe Emerson, Donald Byrd, William Onyeabor, [fantastic man] Townes Van Zandt, Talking Heads, Vashti Bunyan, etc.
Ano: Poetic Justice, The Wolf, [what is happening?? was there some big Wilder Mind rediscovery that happened this year] Godspeed Frank Ocean
K-Jam: Resentment by Kesha, orange by CLAY, ROS by Mac Miller, Pink Skies by Wiley from Atlanta, Grimes' entire discography, Money Trees by Kendrick, September by Ayoni, Wait a Minute! by WILLOW, Be Alright by Dean Lewis, She by dodie, Late Night Therapy by flowerkid, I know I'm forgetting things but I'm going to stop now!
The Mama: Speak Now [was this really a discovery or have you been listening to this album for the past ten years?]
x: Steal My Girl & Perfect by One Direction lol
Bubsy: SZA-CTRL- fuck that shit I love it so much, Ignition (Remix)
What were your favorite albums of 2020?
The ski: WIMPIII, Punisher, Saint Cloud, Shore, Future Nostalgia, A Hero's Death, [good shit across the board] Fetch the Bolt Cutters (jk get that shit outta here)
Al: 1. “Live” by Angel Bat Dawid/The Brothahood 2. “Eastern Saga: Live at Tusk” by Konstrukt/Yoshide Otomo 3. “Wachaga” by Kutiman 4. “Symphonie Pacifique” by Greg Foat 5. “We Are Sent Here By History” by Shabaka and the Ancestors 6. “Alo” by Ajate [really enjoyed this after you sent the list] 7. “Mordechai” by Khruangbin
x: (no order) Fine Line - Harry Styles, Bubba - Kaytranada, Future Nostalgia - Dua Lipa, Fetch the Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple, Wunna - Gunna, Eternal Atake - Lil Uzi Vert, Notes on a Conditional Form - The 1975, Alfredo - Freddie Gibbs, RTJ4 - Run The Jewels [knew I could depend on you for this], How I'm Feeling Now - Charli XCX
Honorable mentions: Ho why is you here - Flo Milli, Megan - Good News, Thundercat - It is what it is, Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher, Khraungbin - Mordechai, Burna boy - Twice As Tall
Bubsy: 1. Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon 2a. The Goat 2b. Modus Vivendi [what??? we need to talk] 3. My Turn 4. Future Nostalgia 5. Savage Mode II Last and the reason for COVID-19. Music to Be Murdered By
Steve: 1) folklore 2) suga 3) probably evermore do any other albums exist? [yes]
JZ: Dua Lipa's - Future Nostalgia
I'm embarrased to say that I didn't discover another album with the same depth of this one. [no shame here! this was worth many depthy listens]
The Mama: Taylor Swift :)
K-Jam: Dreaming of David -Ryan Beatty, Future Nostalgia -Dua Lipa, SAWAYAMA -Rina Sawayama, how i'm feeling now -Charli XCX, Punisher -Phoebe Bridgers, Gaslighter -The Chicks, folklore -Taylor Swift, BREACH -Fenne Lily, Shore -Fleet Foxes, songs -Adrianne Lenker, (plz keep in mind im a few weeks behind on music and haven't heard Miley's new album but am sure it would be here) [this was later confirmed, so big shoutout for self awareness]
trailerparkhero: FEAR OF DEATH - TIM HEIDECKER.
Bug: I also cannot think of one. Maybe the Sufjan album idk
Nanner: Kelly wanted me to put the fletcher album, I honestly don’t know. [lol Kelly]
How WAP are you?
What were your favorite songs of 2020?
trailerparkhero: "AINT NICE" - VIAGRA BOYS. "FEAR OF DEATH" - TIM HEIDECKER. "FIRE" - WAXAHATCHEE.
Al: 1. "Alhuza" by The Sugar Busch [respect the self-promotion/confidence…everyone go listen to Al’s band!] 2. "Back to the Womb" by The Sugar Busch 3. "Masai" by Kutiman
K-Jam: Could not possibly rank, here we go: I HATE EVERYBODY by Halsey, Sometimes by H.E.R., The Steps by HAIM [wut…I thought they were ~overrated~], Eugene by Arlo Parks, On the Floor by Perfume Genius, Anyone But Me by Joy Crookes, Malibu by Kim Petras, Serial Lover by Kehlani, July by Noah Cyrus, Bitter by FLETCHER, SUGAR by Brockhampton ft Dua Lipa, Dear Mr. President by Kiana Lede, Moon Song [yes] by Phoebe Bridgers but also all of Punisher [and yes], Lockdown by Anderson .Paak, Heat Waves by Glass Animals, Are You Even Real? by James Blake.
The ski: - “Gasoline,” HAIM - " ICU," Phoeve Bridgers - “Thirteen,” Bedouine, Waxahatchee, Hurray for the Riff Raff - “Can I Believe You,” Fleet Foxes - "Levitating," Dua Lipa - "I Know the End," Phoebe Bridgers - “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)," 1975 - “Rooftop Dancing,” Sylvan Esso - “Malibu,” Kim Petras - "Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus," The Strokes
Bug: I can't even think of one I am sorry
Bubsy: In no order, Chicago Freestyle, For the Night, Mood Swings, Blinding Lights, Toosie Slide, WAP, Life is Good, Savage (Remix)
Your Honor, imma freak bitch Steve: 1) invisible string 2) garden song 3)peace 4) mood 5) Captain Hook 6) wap 7) josslyn 8)savage remix 10)much too much 11) holy (smd) [yes you should be defensive about this last one]
JZ: Lancaster Nights (of course) [of course] Charlie Burg, Levitating - Dua Lipa, Toosie Slide - Drake (while I didn't love it - it will very much be a song of this year as well as WAP by Cardie B and Meg the Stallion), Another song I didn't even like that much was Inside Friend by John Mayer and Leon Bridges. I loved the song for the anticipation of it's release. A true Quarantine tune. Fiona Apple - I want you to love me, Dua Lipa - Lets get physical, Holy - Justin Beiber and Chance the Rapper
I'm sure there are some others from this year. I recently watched a duet between Brandi Carlile and Alicia Keys. I wonder what year that was from. [2020 boii]
Ano: Martin & Gina [the number of times I heard this song…], WRONG by the Kid Laroi, Hello by Pop Smoke
Nanner: Miley Cyrus midnight sky, 1975 if you’re too shy let me know, levitating, savage love, wap, savage remix, super bloom
x: (no order & I respectfully didn't include the two harry singles that came out earlier than dec) The Box - Roddy Rich, I Want You to Love Me - Fiona apple, Baguetti - Smino/JID, Can I Call you tonight - Dayglow, If You're Too Shy LMK - The 1975, Hold Up - Young Bans, Golden - Harry Styles [I know that you’re scared because I’m so open lol…but actually love this song], Far Away - Jessie Reyez, Pov - Ariana grande, Halloween - Phoebe Bridgers, Whole Lotta Choppas - Sada Baby, We Paid - Lil Baby, Stay Down - Lil Durk/6lack/Thug, Scottie Beam - Freddie Gibbs/Rick Ross, Easy - Troye Sivan/Kacey Musgraves, WAP - Cardi/Megan, Savage Remix - Megan/Bey, Argentina - Gunna, Said Sum - Moneybagg Yo/City Girls/DaBaby, All That - Emotional Oranges, So We Won't Forget - Khraungbin, B.S. - Jhene Aiko/HER, Can I - Kehlani, Over Now - Calvin Harris/The Weeknd, T.D - Lil Yachty/ASAP Rocky/Tyler/Tierra Whack, 10% - Kaytranada/Kali Uchis, Rockstar - DaBaby/Roddy, Woo - Remi Wolf, Pretty Savage - Blackpink, Break My Heart - Dua Lipa, The 1 - Taylor swift, Hardest to Love - The Weeknd, Guilty Conscience - 070 Shake, Eugene - Arlo Parks, Lo Mein - Lil Uzi Vert
The Mama: Watermelon Sugar, Savage, Cardigan
2020 was the year of...
Steve: HAMILTON. I wish people would give it more of a chance, it transcends all genres. [hard to be in the Gerity household in the second half of 2020 and not hear Hamilton]
Bug: I definitely had a lot of love for R.E.M this year and I would probably say my favorite song of theirs is The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite. I heard it while listening to Automatic for the People and I was like "holy shit." I don't think I would've liked it very much if I hadn't slowly made my way through R.E.M.'s discography in April and began to really appreciate Michael Stipe [appreciating Michael Stipe has always been the challenge for me]. But once I really started to see what the band was going for and get a feel for their music it really hit a sweet spot for me. The noise his voice makes in some parts of the song makes me feel tingly (lol) and I fucking love the lyrics. And I feel like they just have such an iconic early 90s sound - something about the sound of the instrumentals, especially when they bring the violins in is so perfect. I fucking love that song and R.E.M.
Another song I think of often is Harry Nilsson's "Don't Leave Me." I don't necessarily love all of Harry N's music, in fact, a lot of it sounds circusy to me, but when he does it right, he does it sooooo right. This song is a perfect example of that. The "woOoAaH woOoAaH" always gets me and the "beep beep yeah" are just so perfect. He's so good at conveying a mood and a feeling with so few lyrics. Fucking genius. If you haven't listened to his album "The Point" I highly recommend sitting down and listening to it start to finish in one sitting [I shall be doing this]. Different album than this one but still... that shit is insane.
Alright I'm gonna keep going. A classic, Roy Orbison's "In Dreams", was a staple of my year. My dad has been trying to get me to watch David Lynch's "Blue Velvet" for so long and we finally watched it in April together [crazy movie, such good repurposing of pop music…go watch, people]. "In Dreams" is an iconic song in the movie and I've been singing it ever since. Roy Orbison's voice and the emotion he conveys in that song is fucking nuts. It's such a beautiful performance. Every time I see my dad we sing it.
Okay one last one for now. "Ride the Tide" by Donnie & Joe Emerson. Oh lord, if you want to listen to a raw vocal performance you gotta hear that song. Their voices sound so fresh, especially in the first notes they hit. They harmonize so effortlessly and something about their voices is so pure and their music is so fun. Something about their sound is so unique to me. They've got some great songs and I'm glad I found them. [we know I love Light in the Attic, which is reissue label that the brothers are on!]
The Emerson Bros PS- In terms of stuff I hate, Colby played a lot of this guy "Alex Cameron" this year, and that shit SUCKED. I really hated his music and I hope I never have to hear it again. [lol]
Regardless, I could talk about this shit forever and there are a million things I didn't include or talk about, so if you ever want a playlist of my faves let me know. Also disregard if anything is misspelled or if nothing makes sense - I just typed without stopping or reading over everything lol
JZ: Leonard Cohen's you want it darker. I don't know about this one. I just found it at the right time for myself. I don't think I would have ususally had the patience for it. But this year - I did. [ughhh it’s so good]
Nanner: Maggie Rogers was that little spark of joy I needed multiple times this year! A friend introduced her music to me this summer and since then she been my go to artist to clear my head and dance around my apartment. [amen to that] Can I do another? [you may] Young the giants Titus was born was introduced by a new friend and the lyrics stood out to me as personally relevant to the pain and unknowing that was 2020 as well as the growth and hope that also came out of this year.
Ano: Not particularly [appreciate the honesty]
trailerparkhero: Not to drive you crazy with the talking heads shit, but I discovered Stop Making Sense this year and it changed my god damn life. Nothing gets me more pumped, more excited. Watching Byrne run around on stage, the whole band coming out, it's so energetic and feel good. I can put it on and get totally lost in it. [and I say I love rock ‘n’ roll…need to watch]
K-Jam: Okay this is tied for me: I HATE EVERYBODY by Halsey and Serial Lover by Kehlani both really resonated with me and made me think extra hard about how I approach/handle romantic relationships in terms of my self -worth. I've actually read the lyrics to I HATE EVERYBODY to my therapist and aloud to multiple friends because I felt like the lyrics could've been written by me [whoa, I wonder what songs I feel like could be written by me]. Neither of them are songs that I think would particularly be special to others if they didn't relate but they really live in my brain.
The ski: Started re-listening to "Down in Heaven" on the way to safely hang out with pals again all over north BK, just makes me think of the lovely walks en route to see said pals; also shoutout to "Shore" being released just in time for me to feel a million things all at once [to a lesser degree, but feel this], many great days at Domino Park reading and listening to that over and over again
The Mama: Was very excited that The Dixie Chicks put out a new album!! Didn't love it as much as I wanted to. Gaslighter.....mmmmeeeehhh [lol I never listened so that probably says it all]
Bubsy: Yeah just to clarify about Eminem causing a global pandemic. Pretty sure God is trying to kill everyone who was associated/heard that piece of shit, holy Lord my ears are still bleeding. [hahahaha]
2021 will be the year of...
K-Jam: a little bit more serotonin, hopefully. Maybe they'll put some in the covid vaccine.
The Mama: CONCERTS.........I HOPE!!!!!!!!!
Ano: darties, parties, and my second xfinity concert hopefully. [ya those concerts are always good]
trailerparkhero: Eating diapers.
x: live music ????? & lil durk
Bug: pain and misery
The ski: Please god no more "cabin in a woods in quarantine" records
Nanner: Recovery
JZ: Summer Festivals and Concerts
Bubsy: the first year doing actual work smh
Al: the Ox
Steve: VACCINATION 💉💉💉💉
