Best of 2020: Top Five Albums

This week kicks off my best of 2020. Again, I am not going cliché and claiming nothing good came out of 2020. A lot of good stuff has come out as far as entertainment, but I will say, this may have been the hardest for me because I didn't search out a lot of new stuff. I revisited, and was shown things that came out years ago that I now love.

For example, today I am going to do my top five albums of the year. If I just did what I listened to, this list would be pretty much all Talking Heads. I have fallen deeply, deeply in love with that band. I have also gone back and listened to more Bowie, I have revisited Bob Marley a lot more recently, The Beatles and Rolling Stones have been in heavy rotation as well. I could have done that, but I didn't. I was able to find five records that came out this year that I enjoyed for various reasons. So, while I may want to put "Stop Making Sense" as my personal top album of 2020, that isn't going to happen.

Coming in at number five I have Childish Gambino's new record, "3.15.20". Now, this record is not anywhere near as good as "Awaken. My Love". But not many records are. And when he dropped "This is America", he went to a whole other level. I have said it a lot, and I'll say it again, Donald Glover is immune to criticism. When he does something, it works, and "3.15.20" falls in line. This album is so good because it was unexpected. The rumors were that he was done with music after "Awaken, My Love". And even with "This is America", that could have just been a one off because of how amazing it was. But "3.15.20" came out when a lot of people were looking for something new and different. Here in Saint Louis we locked down on March 16th, and this album came out about a week later. And it is good. It reminds me of "Because the Internet". It is different and has some cool beats and lyrics and Glover does some interesting things on the record. It felt like an experience for him. It is a project, but a good project. It was needed and it helped me, and I assume many others, get through the early part of quarantine. I listened a ton to it when riding my bike early on, and revisited it the other day, and it holds up. It didn't get the press it deserved, but it is definitely worth a listen.

Number four I have Man Man's "Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In Between". This record feels like it was made for dancing. I have to credit Har Mar, Sean Tillman, for bringing this album to my attention after seeing him tweet about it. I have always liked Man Man, but this album made me fall in love. It is fun, my kids love it, we have dance parties and it is great for a drive, which we do a lot now. The songs all flow really well, the band sounds amazing and this record has been on repeat for a good long time since I first listened in the late summer. I adore this album.

At number three I have Bright Eyes new album, "Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was". I did not know that Bright Eyes had been working on a new album until my buddy told me about it. When we were able to run together, wearing masks of course, he let me know all about it, he is a fan, and I was getting stoked. Then I kind of forgot about it until he texted me the day it came out. I listened immediately and loved it right away. It took me back 15 years ago when I first listened to Bright Eyes, but both myself and the band have grown up. The album is a bit more upbeat. It is still filled with sad lyrics, deals with heartbreak and addiction like their other stuff, but with an eye of optimism. Conor Oberst has grown up, been through some shit, dealt with it and has come to a place where he has accepted it all. That comes through full force on the album. The songs are good, the band is good and it is nice to have this band that I listened to at my personal lowest sound grown up and upbeat, just like I have since I got married and had kids. This record is a breath of fresh air.

At number two I have Heart Bones record "Hot Dish". Heart Bones is a two piece pop band made up of Har Mar Superstar and Sabrina Ellis. But, they are so much more than straight up pop music. They both sound excellent on the record. They sing great songs about interesting topics. They just both happen to have voices that sound poppy. But they are not your typical pop band. When my wife listens with me she deems them to be more alternative rock, and I can definitely hear that in them. I was supposed to see them on tour, but COVID happened. That was a bummer, but at least we all got this record. This is a good dancing record, a la the Man Man album, only better. I really dig this record, I listen to it a lot, and their version of "Hungry Eyes" is one of the raddest things I have ever heard.

Finally, at number one, I think it comes as no surprise that "RTJ4", by Run the Jewels, is the record of the year. This album is the best for so many different reasons. They released it early and for free. It is the soundtrack to the younger generation, and the people sick and tired of being pushed around. It is the soundtrack to the revolution I feel like is brewing. The songs are some of the hardest, yet moving tracks I have ever heard. Killer Mike and El-P are at the absolute top of their game, and the whole music game for that matter. This record is on constant repeat. I listen to it when I run almost all the time. I have let my kids listen because I feel they need to hear it. I have broken down lyrics from songs for my dad to think about because this record is this important. I have sung the praises on the podcast and the website. This album is a no brainer for album of the year. They capped it off by doing the "Holy Calamavote" concert on Adult Swim. That was one of the coolest, and much needed, things I have watched and listened to all year. Run the Jewels is the best. They have gotten better with each album and "RTJ4" is an absolute, 500 foot homerun. This album rules and it is, far and away, the best album of the year.

Okay, those are my personal top five albums of 2020. Come back tomorrow for my top five movies.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Listen's to Har Mar Superstar's "Hot Dish"

I come to you today with another album review of another record I have been looking forward to for awhile now.

About a year ago I guy I am a big time fan of, Har Mar Superstar, announced that he was working with a singer named Sabrina Ellis, and they would be touring and releasing a record within a year. I was stoked. As I said, I love Har Mar, and anytime he works with someone else, it usually works out. He even made Macauly Caulkin sound decent when I saw him live, and Caulikn's Velvet Underground cover band opened for him. Needless to say, Har Mar is a pro, and he makes good choices. They call themselves Heartbones, and they released a few singles during summer. I loved those. I even thought of putting it on my best of music that year. I also heard that, on tour, Heartbones was doing the entirety of "Dirty Dancing" live on stage. I even had a shot to see them in Kansas City, but too much stuff came up and I had to miss the show. But still, I was following Heartbones on all social media. I listened to the released singles, I watched videos and I followed their announcements. So, when I saw Har Mar posting about the album coming out today, I was waiting with super anticipation. I took my daughter to the doctor this morning, and on the way we listened. I then went to my buddy's diner afterward and listened to it again. We then drove home and I listened for a third time. And as I type this, I am listening to it again.

Needless to say, I love this record. There is no bad song on the whole eleven song long record. Every song is an absolute homerun. The record opens with one of the singles I had already heard, "This Time It's Different", but they juiced it up a bit. They made it sound a little cleaner, and I am here for it. The rest of the record is so cool and poppy, in a great way, and a throwback to the "Dirty Dancing" era music and, I am now happy to admit this, I love a good, synthy piano, which is all over this album. The second track, "I Like Your Way" has that excellent 80's style sound that I have found myself digging a ton lately. "Open Relations" is groovy, funky tune that just makes me want to dance. Every song makes me want to dance on this album for that matter. "Control" has a great distorted sound to it, and I love the drums on the song. The vocals are pretty great as well. Both Har Mar and Sabrina Ellis can really, really sing, especially this genre of music. "Don't Read the Comments" is a perfect song for the current world we live in where anyone anywhere can tell people how they feel about their art. "Unforgivable" starts off with a really cool acoustic guitar and some soft piano and Ellis singing softly in, I believe, French. The song then builds and builds with some cool flange throughout the 3 minute run time. "Little Dancer" is the other single that made its way onto the record, and just like with "This Time It's Different", they added some studio magic, some more instruments, and it sounds wonderful. My daughter and I were both singing along this afternoon. The last four songs send this record out so perfectly. "Dashboard" sounds like it is straight out of an 80's movie montage, and I love every single second of it. This might be the most dance worthy track on the whole record. "Claws 87" is just a cool ass song. It has a cool feel to it, the lyrics are cool and the way they sing it is cool. This is the coolest track by far. They follow that up with their cover of "Hungry Eyes". Look, I enjoy the original, so to hear a couple singers I really like do an updated version of the song, it makes it that much better for me. I also love the distorted vocals that sound echo-ey throughout. And the closer, "Beg For It" rules. It is almost all synth piano and the singing is so cool. It sounds like the song that was at the end of the "Black Mirror" movie "Bandersnatch", except it is a tiny bit less robotic, and I am all in for it.

I love, love, love "Hot Dish". I cannot wait to listen to it a bunch of more times. I hope, they are touring again, that they come close to Saint Louis so I can go see them. This is the type of music I am really digging right now, and this record is simply wonderful. I cannot recommend it enough. Har Mar rules on this, and I am so glad that I now know who Sabrina Ellis is because she is a great, great singer. Go check out this record ASAP.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Best Music of 2018

As promised last Friday I am going to come to you all this week with my top 5 things in sports, movies, music, tv and podcasts. These lists were a bit more difficult than usual because I am very set in my ways now. I also don't get out to the movies as much, but I have seen enough to make a list. I like doing this every year though, and that has not changed at all. I'm also ready to hear why I am wrong for the top 5 things that I have picked.

Today I am going to start with my top 5 albums/music that happened in 2018. I will count down from 5 to one. It also needs to be said that my list is different from others. You will see what I am talking about as I get into my top 5 music of the year. Lets get started.

At number 5 I have the three song EP released on Spotify this year by the band Heartbones. I heard about Heartbones since I am a fan of Har Mar Superstar. I follow pretty much all the music stuff he does, and when I heard he was going to team up with Sabrina Ellis, and do the songs of "Dirty Dancing" live, I was intrigued. Unfortunately for me I did not get to see them live, but I was blessed with the three songs they put out. The songs are also originals, they are not covers from "Dirty Dancing". I love these songs. They have that 80's synth sound, but made to sound more modern. Har Mar is perfect for this type music. He is a pop singer. His voice is perfect for that style music. And he shines on these 3 tracks. I had never heard of Sabrina Ellis until now, but she rules. Her voice is also great for this style pop music. These 3 songs I can listen to in the car with the kids, and they sing and dance along with them. I love these 3 tracks. I cannot wait to see what they come up with when they do eventually put out a full album. If the rest of the tracks are 1/3 as good as "Little Dancer", "Disappearer" and "This Time it's Different", it will most likely end up on my top 5 albums of 2019. If you are a fan of either Har Mar or Sabrina Ellis, or well made pop music in general, check out this 3 song EP. It rules.

At number 4 I do have a full album, and it is a soundtrack. That album is "Sorry to Bother You" by the Coup. First things first, this is not the same record with the same name that came out in 2012. I like that record to, but this is the soundtrack to a movie that you will definitely hear more about on Wednesday. But, the soundtrack to the movie is all new material from one of our greatest hip hop groups. Boots Riley and the Coup come just as hard on this record as they do on every other one they have released. The opener, "OYAHYTT" comes at you hard. It gets you ready for the rest of the record. Boots Riley crushes the vocals, and the guitar in the song is perfect. LaKeith Stanfield also crushes his verse on the song. It is a great table setter. From there on out we get great songs featuring people like tUnE yArDs, Janelle Monae, Killer Mike and E-40. It's a relative who's who of hip hop and R&B. This soundtrack comes hard, it makes me want to watch the movie and is a good, 9 song rap record. The Coup always do good stuff, and this record is no different. It's awesome.

At number 3 I have Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats "Tearing at the Seams". This record is amazing. I loved his first record, but I was hesitant on the second. I am always hesitant on second records from people who's first record I cherish. But a friend of mine, who's musical taste I very much trust, texted me and told me it was one of the best records he had listened to in quite some time. That night I downloaded the record and listened to it three times. It was, and still is, amazing. Rateliff and his band totally crush this record. It is so good. It is a shift in the alt rock genre of music. Rateliff has that gruff voice that I love in rock music. His band is amazing. The addition of the horn section was phenomenal. The way the record is sequenced is perfect. The fact that he has a song called "Intro" that comes in the middle of the record is one of my favorite things about it. This is a record I go back to every month or so and remember why I like it so much. It is such a good modern rock record. Rateliff and his band are on a big time upward trajectory. Now I cannot wait to see what they do next. I will have no trepidations when they put out their third record. I will listen to it the day it comes out. For the time being though, I have "Tearing at the Seams", and that makes me very, very happy.

At number 2 I have more of moment than an entire record or EP. But, "This is America" is a seminal moment in music, and out current culture, and it fully deserves to be on my top 5 music list for 2018. When Donald Glover, AKA Childish Gambino, released this song and video, you could feel a shift in political hip hop music. It is such an important song, but the video puts it over the top. That video is astonishing. It is haunting. It is terrifying and it is all true. Glover and director Hiro Murai knew exactly what they were doing this when they released it. I still, many months later, go back and watch this video from time to time. I listen to the song almost daily, especially when I exercise. It is such an important piece of music and art. It will be remembered for years to come. I would bet a good amount of money that my kids will study this song and video when they are in high school and college. Everything about "This is America" will be historically acclaimed and remembered. It is the most important piece of pop culture to come out in 2018.

And my number one record, and it is only ahead of "This is America" is because it is a full record, I have Pusha T's "Daytona". This record is the perfect hip hop record. Pusha T, from the start, crushes all the songs. He puts himself at, or near, the top of current emcee's. The opener, "If You Know You Know" has one of the best beats I have ever heard on a rap song. And Pusha crushes with his rhyming. And in a short 25-30 minutes he touches on so many important things and he nails it all. What stands out most is his "diss" track of the highly overrated Drake, and he doesn't even have to mention his name. We all know exactly who he is talking about, and like only he can do, he pulls it off without even mentioning him. I grew up listening to Clipse, they were one of the first real hip hop groups I devoured, and to see where Pusha T is now makes me so happy. "Daytona" is wonderful. I listen to this record all the way through once a week. Usually when I run. It is a perfect hip hop record. It has anything and everything a hip hop fan could want, and it is short and to the point. I love this record. I have not heard anything nearly as good as "Daytona". It is number one, and it is number one with a bullet. This record rules. It is, by far, the best record of 2018.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my top 5 TV shows of the year.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He was going to wait on his best music list to see if Run the Jewels did another surprise album drop just before the new year. Only a few hours left guys.

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