The following compendium is the result of a music obsessive finally fulfilling a lifelong fantasy of scrutinizing sound every waking hour for months on end. While the circumstances are tragic, the relentless consumption of my music of choice acts as a balm. Performances by Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Post Malone, Roddy Ricch and Luciana Souza were the most memorable concerts I attended in the opening weeks of 2020. I’ve since filled the void created by the absence of live music with a crash course in opera. I’ve watched a complete production each of the last 257 days. In the time not dedicated to composers like Philip Glass, Giacomo Puccini and Richard Wagner, I’ve obsessed over the recordings listed below. Reviews of many of the selections are published at this site and at my jazz blog Plastic Sax.

The Top 50 Albums of 2020

1. Clarice Jensen- The Experience of Repetition as Death

2. Jyoti- Mama, You Can Bet!

3. Bad Bunny- YHLQMDLG

4. Peter CottonTale- Catch

5. Jay Electronica- A Written Testimony

6. Mac Miller- Circles

7. Beatrice Dillon- Workaround

8. Jennifer Curtis and Tyshawn Sorey- Invisible Ritual

9. Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist- Alfredo

10. Gorillaz- Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez

11. Westside Gunn- Flygod Is an Awesome God 2

12. William Basinski- Lamentations

13. Shirley Collins- Heart's Ease

14. Ambrose Akinmusire- On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment

15. Bob Dylan- Rough and Rowdy Ways

16. Bill Frisell- Valentine

17. Anja Lechner and François Couturier- Lontano

18. José James- No Beginning No End 2

19. Childish Gambino- 3.15.20

20. Kaja Draksler Octet- Out for Stars

21. Armand Hammer- Shrines

22. Nine Inch Nails- Ghosts VI: Locusts

23. Jeremy Pelt- The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1

24. Run the Jewels- RTJ4

25. Moor Mother and Nicole Mitchell- Offering

26. Bill Fay- Countless Branches

27. Hailu Mergia- Yene Mircha

28. Angelica Sanchez and Marilyn Crispell- How to Turn the Moon

29. Nick Cave- Idiot Prayer: Alone at Alexandra Palace, 2020

30. Sara Serpa- Recognition

31. Nicolás Jaar- Cenizas

32. Teyana Taylor- The Album

33. Steve Arrington- Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions

34. Yaeji- What We Drew

35. Norah Jones- Pick Me Up Off the Floor

36. Rudresh Mahanthappa- Hero Trio

37. Mozzy- Beyond Bulletproof

38. Sturgill Simpson- Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1, The Butcher Shoppe Sessions

39. Mary Halvorson’s Code Girl- Artlessly Falling

40. Brad Mehldau- Suite: April 2020

41. Zara McFarlane- Songs of an Unknown Tongue

42. Kvelertak- Splid

43. Conway the Machine- From King to a God

44. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah- Axiom

45. Lianne La Havas- Lianne La Havas

46. Ellen Fullman & Theresa Wong- Harbors

47. Reverend John Wilkins- Trouble

48. Susan Alcorn Quintet- Pedernal

49. Raheem DeVaughn- What a Time to Be In Love

50. Tame Impala- The Slow Rush

The Top 25 EPs of 2020

1. Pongo- Uwa

2. Atmosphere- The Day Before Halloween

3. Obongjayar- Which Way Is Forward?

4. Rafiq Bhatia- Standards, Vol. 1

5. Blackstarkids- Surf

6. Roomful of Teeth and Michael Harrison- Just Constellations

7. Eddie Chacon- Pleasure, Joy and Happiness

8. Medhane- Full Circle

9. Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats- Unlocked

10. Philip Glass Ensemble- Music In Eight Parts

11. Christine and the Queens- La Vita Nuova

12. Marcos Valle- Jazz Is Dead 003

13. Flee Lord and Pete Rock- The People's Champ

14. Pasquale Grasso- Solo Bird

15. Black Noi$e- Oblivion

16. Omar Apollo- Apolonio

17. Lyric Jones- Closer Than They Appear

18. E-40- The Curb Commentator Channel 1

19. Tricky- Fall to Pieces

20. Aoife O’Donovan- Bull Frogs Croon (and Other Songs)

21. Joseph- Trio Sessions, Vol. 1

22. 10k.Caash- Planet Swajjur

23. We the People- Misunderstood

24. A$AP Ferg- Floor Seats II

25. Blackpink- The Album

The Top 25 Reissues, Compilations and Reimaginings of 2020

1. Flying Lotus- Flamagra (Instrumentals)

2. Prince- Sign o’ the Times (Super Deluxe)

3. Gil Scott-Heron- We’re New Again: A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven

4. Sleaford Mods- All That Glue

5. Jóhann Jóhannsson and Yair Elazar Glotman- Last and First Men

6. The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection

7. Gillian Welch- Boots No 2: The Lost Songs, Vol. 1

8. Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela- Rejoice

9. Mike and the Moonpies- Touch of You: The Lost Songs of Gary Stewart

10. Iva Bittová and Dorothea Kellerova- Bartók: 44 Duets for Two Violins

11. Ennio Morricone- Morricone Segreto

12. Kassa Overall- Shades of Flu: Healthy Remixes for an Ill Moment

13. The Stooges- Live at Goose Lake: August 8, 1970

14. Charlie Parker- The Savoy 10-Inch LP Collection

15. Soul Love Now: The Black Fire Records Story: 1975-1993

16. Jon Gibson- Songs & Melodies, 1973-77

17. Neil Young- Homegrown

18. Ambiance- Into a New Journey

19. Edward Simon- 25 Years

20. Stone Crush: Modern Memphis Soul 1977-1987

21. Soul Jazz Records Presents Kaleidoscope: New Spirits Known and Unknown

22. Dave Alvin- From an Old Guitar: Rare and Unreleased Recordings

23. Thelonious Monk- Palo Alto

24. Yusuf- Tea for the Tillerman 2

25. Ipa-Boogie- Ipa-Boogie

The Top 50 Songs of 2020 (Spotify playlist)

1. Juice Wrld- “Wishing Well”

2. Zsela- "Drinking"

3. Caroline Shaw and David Lang- “When I Am Alone”

4. 070 Shake- “Guilty Conscience”

5. Drake featuring Lil Durk- “Laugh Now Cry Later”

6. Thundercat- "Black Qualls"

7. Little Simz- "Might Bang, Might Not"

8. Alicia Keys featuring Khalid- "So Done"

9. Sam Hunt- "Hard to Forget"

10. John Prine- “I Remember Everything”

11. Streets and Idles- “None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive”

12. 6ix9ine- "Gooba"

13. Sa-Roc- "Hand of God"

14. Frank Ocean- "Cayendo"

15. Meredith Monk and the Bang on a Can All-Stars- “The Games: Downfall”

16. Stephen Malkmus- “The Greatest Own in Legal History”

17. Elle King- "The Let Go"

18. Chris Stapleton- “You Should Probably Leave”

19. J Balvin- "Amarillo"

20. Genevieve Artadi- “Godzillaaaa”

21. City Girls- "Jobs"

22. Eminem, Royce Da 5’9”, Black Thought, Q-Tip and Denaun- "Yah Yah"

23. Future and Lil Uzi Vert- "Marni On Me"

24. Duck Sauce- "Captain Duck"

25. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion- "WAP"

26. Groupe RTD- "Buuraha U Dheer"

27. Destroyer- “Cue Synthesizer”

28. Jessie Ware- “Remember Where You Are”

29. Illuminati Hotties- “Freequent Letdown”

30. Chloe x Halle- “Don’t Make It Harder On Me”

31. Ledisi- "Anything For You"

32. Rapsody and Bilal- “Pray Momma Don’t Cry”

33. Flo Milli- "May I"

34. BTS- "Ugh!"

35. Hinds- “Just Like Kids (Miau)”

36. Bruce Springsteen- “Janey Needs a Shooter”

37. Norah Jane Struthers- “I Feel Like My Old Self”

38. 2 Chainz- “Wait For You to Die”

39. Deftones- "Genesis"

40. Ty Dolla $ign featuring Kanye West, FKA Twigs and Skrillex- "Ego Death"

41. Miley Cyrus- “Midnight Sky”

42. Willie Nelson- "Our Song"

43. Ray Wylie Hubbard featuring Elizabeth Cook and Paula Nelson- “Drink Til I See Double”

44. The Magnetic Fields- “Favorite Bar”

45. Tyler Childers- "Long Violent History"

46. James Blake- "I Keep Calling"

47. Playboi Carti- “@meh”

48. Poppy- "Don't Go Outside"

49. Conway the Machine featuring Flee Lord, Havoc and Lloyd Banks- "Juvenile Hell"

50. Metz- "Pulse"

William Brownlee

September 26, 2020

September 2020 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

William Brownlee

September 26, 2020

Screenshot of the English National Opera’s production of Benjamin Britten’s “Death in Venice” by There Stands the Glass.

Top Five Albums

1. Prince- Sign O’ The Times (Super Deluxe)

Eight hours of electrifying brilliance.

2. Steve Arrington- Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions

The glorious comeback of the famed funkateer.

3. The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection

My review.

4. Ainon- Drought

My review.

5. Deftones- Ohms

Veterans in fighting form.

Top Five Songs

1. Alicia Keys featuring Khalid- "So Done"

Me too.

2. Elizabeth Cook- “Stanley by God Terry”

Dim lights, thick smoke and loud, loud music.

3. Tyler Childers- "Long Violent History"

Southern man.

4. Conway the Machine featuring Flee Lord, Havoc and Lloyd Banks- "Juvenile Hell"

Ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.

5. Gillian Welch- "Picasso"

Both recently released sets of “lost” material are astonishingly excellent.

Top Five Livestreams

1. Bad Bunny- atop a bus in New York City

2. Midwest Chamber Ensemble- at BRC Audio Productions

3. Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle- Verzuz battle

4. Melissa Aldana Quartet- at Smalls

5. Hyde Park Jazz Festival (Alexis Lombre Quartet, Greg Ward’s Rogue Parade, etc.)

I conducted the same exercise in August, July, June, May, April, March, February and January.

William Brownlee

August 25, 2020

Million Dollar Bash

William Brownlee

August 25, 2020

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

I’ve reluctantly recommitted to the onerous task of organizing The Museum of Dead People and Obsolete Technology, the cluttered realm also known as my unfinished basement. Consolidating old ticket stubs into a single box is one of the more enjoyable components of my job as chief curator. As I sifted through thousands of bits of paper, it occurred to me that I’ve spent more money on Bob Dylan than any other musician. Between concert tickets, physical recordings and books, I’ve almost certainly laid out more than a grand on the man.

Blood on the Tracks is one of several Dylan albums I’ve owned on cassette, vinyl and compact disc. The relentless flood of must-have sets of rarities and live recordings plays a further role in emptying my wallet, as does mandatory attendance at area appearances of Dylan’s enigmatic Never Ending Tour. I’ve even dragged my full brood to a couple shows. And while I own six or seven Dylan-related books, I’m relieved I’ve never been tempted to buy a t-shirt.

Dylan isn’t my only substantial investment. Here are nine additional artists who’ve separated me from inordinate amounts of money:

Mary J. Blige- Old-school R&B concert tickets are crazy expensive.
Bill Frisell- I accumulate dozens of Frisell albums the way other people collect baseball cards.
Thelonious Monk- I bought a Monk album at cost every Friday for nine months when I worked in a music distribution warehouse.
Charlie Parker- So many books! So many bootlegs!
Prince- He was omnipresent in the pre-streaming era.
Bruce Springsteen- Dylan redux.
George Strait- All hail King George.
Tech N9ne- I’ve seen more performances by the Kansas City rapper than all but a few dozen Technicians.
Bobby Watson- Two or three $20 door charges every year for more than 25 years add up.