February 20, 2020
As Yudess and I rode Bart to the New Parrish to see Gallant—and what would end up being our final live show for the year—Covid 19 had just started taking root in the bay area. A lot was still unclear about the virus, but one thing that wasn’t—if Wuhan was any indication—the West Coast was about to face something like we’ve never experienced in our life times.
Gallant Live!
Oh, how surreal those early days feel now in relation to all that’s transpired in this country and globally since. And as you’ve no doubt gleaned from my two previous posts, I’ve felt some sort of way these past 365 days (using the parlance of our time) so no need to rehash it here. Besides, the music I was vibing on can tell a far more impactful and succinct story than I could.
Of course, what would a fasterbarnacle list be without at least one entry explanation, right? For 2020 the top album spot is occupied by two LP’s by the same artist released within a couple of months of each other. Each is treatise on Global racial injustice and brilliant in its own right, but taken together they’re an experience. I really couldn’t separate them.
And so on that note… the list
The best albums of 2020:
20. Y-Bayani and Baby Naa & their Band of Enlightenment Reason and Love Nsie Nsie
19. Destroyer Have We Met
18. Kahil El’Zabar Kahil El’Zabar’s Spirit Groove (feat. David Murray)
17. Lido Pimienta Miss Colombia
16. Amaarae THE ANGEL YOU DON’T KNOW
15. Peter CottonTale CATCH
14. Reuben Vaun Smith Warm Nights
13. Soft Power Brink Of Extinction
12. Quin Kirchner The Shadows and the Light
11. Cleo Sol Rose in the Dark
10. Blaq Diamond Umuthi
9. The Avalanches We Will Always Love You
8. Pa Salieu Send Them To Coventry
7. Matthew Halsall Salute to the Sun
6. Jessie Ware What’s Your Pleasure?
5. Keleketla! & Coldcut Keleketla!
4. Run The Jewels RTJ4
3. Mildlife Automatic
2. R.A.P. Ferreira Purple Moonlight Pages
1. Sault Untitled (Black Is)/ Untitled (Rise)
Favorite Tracks:
Apple Music Playlist:
YouTube Playlist (the big one!):
