Tag: 2020sPage 2 of 7

Lilli Lewis, Americana, 2021 Self-Released

Feels oddly appropriate to post this one the week of Thanksgiving – Lilli Lewis’ Americana, which is as much an assertion as title – claiming the right to…

American Aquarium, Lamentations, 2020 on New West

How could you not love a band that takes its name from “I am trying to break your heart”? BJ Barham’s writing here is based on the book…

Los Lobos, Native Sons, 2021 on New West

This is a three sided LP, with an etching on the fourth side. Los Lobos, proud Angelenos, covering songs by other Los Angeles bands, including folks like Stephen…

Sara Watkins, Under the Pepper Tree, 2021 on New West

I’ve been a big fan of Sara Watkins going back to Nickel Creek, I’m With Her, and her solo work. Great versions of “Pure Imagination” and “Tumbling Tumbleweeds.”…

Erika Lewis, A Walk Around The Sun, 2022 self-released

I knew Erika Lewis from Tuba Skinny, of which I’m a huge fan, so I picked up this solo album when I heard it had been released. It…

Stella Donnelly, Flood, 2022 on Secretly Canadian

Nothing to do, so far as I can tell, with the They Might Be Giants album of the same name. Donnelly is Australian in the vein of Courtney…

Various Artists, Magnolia Record Club Presents NPR Tiny Desk Concerts, 2022 on Dualtone

Sadly, heard last week Bob Boilen is retiring from NPR Music. This record collects some strong performances from the Tiny Desk concert series – but really there are…

Rachel Kiel, Dream Logic, 2020, Self-Released

Kiel is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from North Carolina. This is her fourth full-length album, and features a bunch of guests, including Mitch Easter and Robert Sledge (Ben…

Jenny Don’t and The Spurs, Fire on the Ridge, 2021 on Fluff and Gravy Records

One of the great finds curated for me by VNYL, to which I used to subscribe. Something of a cowpunk / outlaw country outfit from Portland OR (not…

Billy F Gibbons, Hardware, 2021 on Concord Records

Billy Gibbons is best known as one third of ZZ Top, but has released a lot of music under other side brands as well. This LP, his third…

Laura Veirs, My Echo, 2020 on Raven Marching Band Records

Portland Oregon singer-songwriter who’s been putting out consistently strong records since 1999’s self-titled debut. Produced by Tucker Martine, with a set of musicians including Karl Blau, Justin Chase,…

Various Artists, AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex, 2020 on BMG.

Hal Wilner produced tribute to Marc Bolan & T. Rex, featuring a wide variety of artists and styles. Wilner was also said to be working on a documentary…

Chrissie Hynde, Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan, 2021 on BMG

I’m a sucker for a cover album, especially one dedicated to a specific artist. I’m also a huge fan of both Bob Dylan and Chrissie Hynde, so it…

Angel Olsen, Big Time, 2022 on Jagjaguwar.

I’ve long been a fan of Angel Olsen, going back to Burn Your Fire For No Witness in 2014. This release was a Secretly Society selection in June…

Various Artists, Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine vol. 2, 2021 on Oh Boy Records (OBR-063).

Second volume of tributes to John Prince via Oh Boy. Great collection of songs and versions, but standouts for me include Brandi Carlile’s “I Remember Everything,” Valerie June’s…

Thelonious Monk, Paris 1969, 2023 on Blue Note.

This was first released as In Paris on Laserdisc in 1991 (Japan) / 1992 (US), then as Paris 1969 on Blue Note in 2013 (with a CD/DVD as…

Tears for Fears, The Tipping Point, 2022 on Concord

I was such a huge fan of The Hurting, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith’s 1983 debut album – I think it was the first CD I ever had…

Courtney Marie Andrews, Loose Future, 2022 on Fat Possum.

Andrews’ latest, produced by and recorded with Sam Griffin Owens, joined by Chris Bear, Jared Samuels and others. My copy is a Vinyl Me Please edition on orange…

Neil Young, Live at Massey Hall 1971, 2020 on Reprise

Dating this one is a bit tricky – recorded in 1971, released on CD unofficially in 2005 and officially in 2007, but on vinyl for the first time…

Toro y Moi, Mahal, 2022 on Dead Oceans

Via Secretly Society, a red and white marble smoke edition of Toro y Moi’s first release on Dead Oceans. The Mattson 2 get co-billing on “Millenium.” Mahal is…