My Favourite Albums of 2020 So Far - Part Two
So 2020 continues to be a very strange year with still no resumption of live music but at least we have the release of new music to keep us sane.
Part Two of my favourite albums of the year will focus on releases between May 1 and August 31 and there have been some drops from big names, we have had Lady Gaga, DMA’s and of course Bob Dylan as well as many others but who is in my top ten.
So in no particular order here are my top ten albums for the second third of 2020.
IST IST - Architecture
The debut album from Mancunians IST IST has been a long time in the making with the band having formed in 2015.
Architecture gives us a very melancholic set of tracks, it is not an album to raise the spirits.
There are echoes of other bands throughout the album most notably on tracks such as You’re Mine or Silence that could easily sit on a Joy Division album.
This is a very accomplished debut album from IST IST and brings us a new name to look out for in the Indie rock space.
My favourite tracks are Wolves, You’re Mine and Drowning in the Shallowed End.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/7hq3n5gOHbMzj4ouByz5QG?si=okL_rA6YS9eap9zCNFzGdA
Nadine Shah - Kitchen Sink
North East of England singer/songwriter Nadine Shah brings us her fourth album Kitchen Sink.
The album takes a reflective view on life, taking into account her age and personal circumstances. It’s full of razor sharp observations and lyrics with some punky undertones.
It’s a well written album, which pricks your conscience and gets into your head and grows the more you listen.
My favourite tracks are Club Cougar, Dillydally and Wasp’s Nest.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0Your9tq4Z8voUjLG9pubz?si=D2sVXAJ4SpirOSJAZgQDuw
Medicine Men - A Different Port
Glasgow’s Medicine Men bring us the notoriously difficult second album, but with A Different Port they have nothing to worry about this is a fantastic album.
It is an album that gives us some great rock tracks underpinned with some fabulous dance beats and shows a lot of progression, both in terms of their playing but also in production.
My favourite tracks are We First Met, Getaway Driver and Necropolis.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/52Q5vm174RYiRiTxu57fQS?si=yNgT4xy1SISz0wR3uSvr8A
Hayley Williams - Petals for Armor
Paramore’s Hayley Williams brings us her debut album as a solo performer and shows a different side to her freed from the shackles of her band.
Petals for Armor sees Williams a bit rawer and deals with some of her personal experiences such as her divorce or her fear of losing loved ones.
The album sees it more experimental than her bands work and also a bit looser in terms of production, the song content presents a personal journey and this ensures that there is an intrigue that allows the album to penetrate the brain and stick.
My favourite tracks are Simmer, Sudden Desire and Why We Ever.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4HXpQ5KQBVWN25ltjnX7xa?si=rpZRnp3tS1m3dT4a6kFOEg
Dream Wife - So When You Gonna
So When You Gonna is the follow up to Dream Wife’s self titled debut album.
It’s not as in your face as the debut album, but it shows a band that has matured and not afraid to challenge conventional views, particularly in songs like Sports!.
The album itself is still steeped in punk attitude but has a much more poppy feel to it, giving it a more New Wave nuance at times.
My favourite tracks are Homesick, Temporary and So When You Gonna.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1c2r6ZCRDMO4izQNrS9WeX?si=OY0HNvabSKGbcO8ettey3w
Fontaines D.C. - Hero’s Death
Just over a year after the release of their highly acclaimed debut album Dogrel, Fontaines D.C. give us their second album A Hero’s Death.
Dogrel introduced us to the band and to Ireland, Dublin in particular and showcased them as one of the UK’s fastest rising bands. A Hero’s Death sees them bring a more moody attitude and a widening of the subject matter of their songs.
There is a realisation that the toll of touring Dogrel had an impact on themselves and this is acknowledged with their new tracks.
A Hero’s Death won’t capture you straight away like Dogrel but after a couple of listens it will certainly be in your head and you will realise the brilliance of this album.
My favourite tracks are Televised Mind, A Lucid Dream and I Don’t Belong.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5uvoX0fFiT1QFpZXntsI3j?si=4qm-2YmRT-SX6HmcRiG_6Q
Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher
With Punisher Phoebe Bridgers showcases her growth and maturity as a singer/songwriter.
The production of the album Is much larger without losing the essence of the emotional delivery of Bridgers earlier releases.
This is a fantastic album from Bridgers, it is full of razor sharp lyrics with a huge indie rock sound, it’s an album that need to be played loud, it will then be played over and over.
My favourite tracks are Kyoto, Punisher and I Know The End.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2xECuqnvvmVktV7UO8Dd3s?si=exEFBChXTqy6nBvgxNIUZA
Tim Burgess - I Love The New Sky
We all know by now that Tim Burgess has been trending for most of 2020 as a result of his Twitter Listening Parties allowing people to forget the reality of Covid-19 by escaping into insights of hundreds of albums.
But in amongst this he also managed to release his fifth solo album the brilliant I Love The New Sky, it’s an autobiography of his life, cataloguing his personal struggles and upheavals.
I Love The New Sky is a beautifully crafted indie pop album from one of the saviours of lockdown and you should immerse yourself in the tracks which despite dealing with struggles are delivered with upbeat and optimistic melodies.
My favourite tracks are Empathy for the Devil, Only Took A Year and Laurie.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1LyICUcYBnCHlAJePa8IMC?si=ApIliNNLTcGqHXPzHgTXeA
Vistas - Everything Changes in the End
Edinburgh trio Vistas bring us an absolutely outstanding debut album following their trademark sound.
Everything Changes in the End is an album for the Summer it brings us one indie banger after another and certainly puts a much needed smile on your face in this current Covid 19 climate !!
The album has clearly been written with gigs in mind, they all possess catchy lyrics that will see crowds singalong at every opportunity.
My favourite tracks are Sucker, Tigerblood and Retrospect.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5ENziEEwfQaUvK6WbLkCzk?si=jANZWee1T5uJNleRlTNPLg
Carla J. Easton - Weirdo
Weirdo is Carla’s third solo album if you count Homemade Lemonade which was released under her pseudonym Ette.
It’s a fantastic album which will help us see out the last embers of summer with its synth laden hooks and glorious bass beats courtesy of the production from SAW gives us a poptastic collection of tracks.
As usual Carla’s often eccentric and mesmerising vocals mean that it is not a straightforward pop collection but something slightly off centre keeping it interesting and unique.
It’s a great album and may very well see her nominated for SAY award next year, it really is that good.
My favourite tracks are Get Lost, Waves That Fall and Weirdo.
Stream the album here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1DfYLHNWpT9b5Alfg1u6AH?si=8wlJyPmsSXuadbHj6maV7w