It has been a sad and financially devastating year for the music industry. It is basically the first time since I was a kid that I am not holding tickets for a concert.
Looking forward, it is likely that seeing bands in crowded bars and clubs is something we will not get to experience for some time. Personally, this is one of the things I miss the most about our pre-pandemic world. Not only do I like to see a lot of live music, I like looking forward to shows I know I will be attending.
Thankfully, bands are continuing to release new music. Much of it recorded before we shut things down. This is my list of the new music I enjoyed the most in the first six months of 2020. Maybe you will find something to like.
Enemy Radio (Public Enemy) - Loud Is Not Enough
RIYL: "The truth!" #truthtopower
LINK: Bandcamp
Rolling Blackouts CF - Sideways to New Italy
RIYL: Contemporary Australian surf-rock.
LINK: Bandcamp
Sunwatchers - Oh Yeah?
RIYL: Punk jazz.
LINK: Bandcamp
Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters
RIYL: Joni Mitchel circa Don Juan's Reckless Daughter.
LINK: Spotify
Ghostpoet - I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep
RIYL: Poetic-atmospheric-guitar-rock with strings and electronics.
LINK: Bandcamp
Floating Action - Outsider Art
RIYL: Western North Carolina multi-instrumentalist mountain music.
LINK: Bandcamp
Little Simz - Drop 6
RIYL: Dope rhymes.
LINK: Soundcloud
Greg Dulli - Random Desire
RIYL: Afghan Whigs. Twilight Singers. Sub-Pop.
LINK: Youtube
Eyelids - Accidental Falls
RIYL: Teenage Fanclub, Beatles, Feelies
LINK: Bandcamp
Viagra Boys - Common Sense (EP)
RIYL: Swedish post-punk.
LINK: Spotify
The Howling Hex - The Knuckleball Express
RIYL: Scuzzy punk blues.
LINK: Bandcamp
X - Alphabetland
RIYL: Exene & John. West Coast Punk!
LINK: Bandcamp
El Ten Eleven - Tautology 1
RIYL: Instrumental punk jams.
LINK: Bandcamp
Caroline - Dark Blue (EP)
RIYL: Beautiful textural soundscapes. 90's band Rex.
LINK: Youtube
Bob Dylan - Rough & Rowdy Ways
RIYL: Gifts from the heavens above.
LINK: Pitchfork
Flat Worms - Antartica
RIYL: West Coast garage rock. Steve Albini.
LINK: Bandcamp
Charles Lloyd - 8: Kindred Spirits
RIYL: Live jazz at it's finest.
LINK: Spotify
Rose City Band - Summerlong
RIYL: Rose City Band = (Wooden Shiips x Moon Duo) / Grateful Dead.
LINK: Bandcamp
Las Kellies - Suck This Tangerine
RIYL: Propulsive, groove oriented, retro-girl-group-pop-punk.
LINK: Bandcamp
The Men - Mercy
RIYL: Blue-collar-rock.
LINK: Bandcamp
Hemlock Ernst & Kenny Segal - Back At The House
RIYL: Beat oriented throwback jazz rap.
LINK: Bandcamp
Los Compleaños - Aqua Ep
RIYL: Tropical dance music soundscapes. Electronic Cumbia. Coconut.
LINK: Youtube
Sepalot Quartet - Now Next
RIYL: Electronic jazz
LINK: Bandcamp
Willie Nelson - First Rose of Spring
RIYL: Classic Country.
LINK: Youtube
Mac Miller - Circles
RIYL: Soulful and reflective hip-hop stories. Low-fi rap folk.
LINK: Spotify