Every year, at least two of my five followers demand to know when I'm going to publish the latest "year-end" listing of top-ten rock albums. Wait no more! 2020 was a weird year in every respect. Touring stopped well before Easter. Outlets for new music shriveled. Creative artists, however, persevered, resulting in one of the best years in rock music in recent memory. Please read all the way through for 2020 bonus coverage: the best rock books of all time! Cheers!
10. England is a Garden by Cornershop--A pleasant, eclectic mix of T. Rex and David Bowie, Cornershop combines psychedelic pop with guitar-driven glam. What other band so usefully employs the dholki, flute, and tambourines?
9. Deep Down Happy by Sports Team--Messy pub rock from Britain. Probably better live than in the studio, but this is fun background noise.
8. A Hero's Death by Fontaines D.C.--Riveting guitar rock from Dublin. FDC brings a self-deprecating, world-weary edge. "Life ain't always empty (bop-bop-bop-bop-bop)." You only get one line, you'd better make it stick.
7. Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple--This is unlike anything you will listen to the rest of the year. Brilliant, disturbing, funny, melodic, and altogether trippy.
6. Mordechai by Khruangbin. Drums, guitar, bass. This is eclectic instrumental rock that borrows from R&B, psychedelia, dub, and east Asian dancehall. Oh yeah, and they are from Texas and met playing in church. Go figure.
5. Speed, Sound, Lonely KV (EP) by Kurt Vile--The long-haired guitarist reinterprets John Prine classics and some original work on this lovely little EP. Kurt Vile can do everything, including Kentucky country.
4. Shore by Fleet Foxes--An uplifting album from Robin Pecknold in the midst of Covid was just what we needed in 2020. From paying homage to Richard Swift (producer of wegodomini favorite Damian Jurado) and David Berman (Silver Jews) on "Sunblind" to the Biblical imagery of "Jara," this is an outstanding album from beginning to end.
3. The Slow Rush by Tame Impala--Kevin Parker is a one-man juggernaut, producing some of the best indie rock of the early 2010's (InnerSpeaker, Lonerism), and now some of the best soul pop of the late-decade. This is polished 21st century pop-rock at its very best.
2. Live Drugs by The War on Drugs--Seldom do live albums make year-end best-of lists, which speaks only to the spectacular production of these live tracks from Drugs. I challenge you to find a cleaner, tighter album of studio music. Adam Granduciel and his band are the best band of the last decade, hands down.
1. The Universal Want by Doves--I hadn't paid attention to Doves since their brilliant 2005 LP Some Cities. With the Williams brother (Jez and Andy) on drums and guitars, and the steady bass and smoky voice of Jimi Goodwin, these middle-aged Manchester dudes do Dad Rock better.
Honorable mention: Beyond the Pale by Jarv Is..., Karma & Desire by Actress, Dropsonde by Biosphere, Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan, The Ascension by Sufjan Stevens, Untitled (Black Is...)/Untitled (Rise) by Sault, We Will Always Love You by The Avalanches, Color Theory by Soccer Mommy, Sixteen Oceans by Four Tet, The New Abnormal by The Strokes.
Dishonorable mention: Everything released by Megan Thee Stallion, Miley Cyrus, and (with apologies to friends) Taylor Swift. Blech.
BONUS COVERAGE! To get you through a long, cold Covid winter, these are my favorite rock and roll books of all-time. Enjoy!
10. Shakey: Neil Young's Biography by Jimmy McDonough (2002).
9. Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman (1993).
8. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (2016).
7. Autobiography by Morrissey (2013).
6. Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley and Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick (1993/1998).
5. Girl In a Band: A Memoir by Kim Gordon (2015).
4. Let's Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy (2019).
3. Just Kids by Patti Smith (2010).
2. Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina by Chris Frantz (2020).
1. Coal Black Mornings by Brett Anderson (2018).
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