- Top Tens
1. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit- Reunions
In a year when the lack of anything much else to do saw me listening to more, and more varied music than I have in decades, it was still to the records with something to say lyrically I found myself returning to: Cornershop’s brilliant rampage over Brexit Britain, Drive-By Truckers’ American ‘State of the Nation’, Ben Watt’s bleary eyed takes on middle age; but most of all, I found myself listening to Reunions by Jason Isbell.
- Top Tens
1. Beths - Jump Rope Glazers
I absolutely loved the first Beth's album so it's no surprise I would spend alot of time with their second album "Jump Rope Glazers". The second album deals with much darker subject matter then the first...crappy relationships, being away from those you love, hardship/isolation but it's done in a splendidly fun and upbeat way.
- Top Tens
1. Blue Note Reimagined
In a difficult year where there were less tours and fewer new releases, it was good to see the further emergence of many excellent UK jazz artists that contributed to a celebration of the 80th anniversary of Blue Note Records. This album sounds modern in every way which is down to the artistes’ approaches. It’s a mixed bag but a brilliant representation of the diversity of Blue Note and of the modern scene.
- Top Tens
1. Sault – Untitled (Black Is)
The first of two albums released by the mysterious Sault this year initially draws you in through its brilliant production. It's hard to tell whether the music is mostly sample based, freshly recorded, or a mixture of the two, but it somehow has a timeless and non-geographic quality that means you could believe it was recorded in Bristol in the early 90s, or New York this year, or at any point in between.
- Top Tens
1. Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways
Spring 2020 for me meant so many fears, including wondering if we would ever see festivals or live music again. Perhaps not the greatest fear, but such a big part of my life that was suddenly missing.
- Top Tens
Infra Violet is a collaboration between producer Toby Campen & guitarist singer-songwriter Bethany Munroe they were formed in early 2020. The duo's debut release 'Polaroid' with b-side 'Naïve' was released in the summer and followed by the single ‘Water’ on 27th November 2020. Here are their Top Ten albums of 2020
- Top Tens
1. Fleet Foxes - Shore
This album dropped on the world on the autumn equinox and on first listen brought an immediate smile to my face and an uplift in spirits. Somehow this album with its return to nature theme seems to have captured the emotions and mood swings of lockdown in a year where so many releases were delayed.
- Top Tens
1. Jens Kuross – The Man Nobody Can Touch
I have the Radcliffe and Maconie BBC6 Music show to thank for discovering Jens’ work. They have a slot called ‘Early Riser’ on their weekend show – it’s mainly ambient, some instrumental stuff but always intriguing and they really hit the motherlode with “Done With Dancing” – their chosen Jens Kuross track, and as it turns out, one of the strongest songs on the album.
- Top Tens
1. Tiña - Positive Mental Health Music
This album was an accidental discovery for me - ordered purely on the strength of it being the first full LP release on the Speedy Wunderground label. It grabbed me from the first play and continues to deliver intriguing angles on each listen.
- Top Tens
1. Good Souls Better Angels - Lucinda Williams
Whilst it took a lot of listening and deliberation to put albums 2 to 10 in order, I knew all along what my number one was going to be. For me 2020 was Lucinda's year. She was everywhere - Tiny Desk, on 'A Song For Joe' (Joe Strummer tribute), guesting on podcasts, guesting with Margo Price and finally starring in her own unprecedented livestream series 'Lu's Jukebox'. No dwelling on changed circumstances: Lucinda got on with a covers project she had long wanted to do, but could never find the time for (living in Nashville helps, of course).
- Top Tens
1. Christian Lee Hutson- Beginners
I’d been waiting for this album for a while, after discovering Christian Lee Hutson on a weekly Brooklyn Vegan playlist. It didn’t take me long to really appreciate the story telling within. Produced by Phoebe Bridges and featuring guest musicians such as Nathaniel Walcott of Bright Eyes, this album is not only very poetic, it’s also full of character. It’s a record that’s got it all, from Huston’s warm vocals to his graceful guitar work.
- Top Tens
1. Emily Barker - A Dark Murmuration of Words
I discovered the Strawberry fair in Cambridge around 2003. An annual free festival of the arts held on midsummer common on the first weekend of June each year. During those early years I discovered a band playing at the festival called The Low Country who were fronted by Emily Barker.