Steve McLean’s favourite music of 2020

This year was typical in that I listened to hundreds of new albums. I don’t have to tell you why it was atypical, as COVID-19 impacted all of our lives to some extent.

I don’t know if the coronavirus changed how I listened to music or affected my enjoyment of it, or if it played a role in the creation of the music itself, but there was less of it that stuck in a positive way with me. I don’t want to take anything away from any of the artists who released music this year, but there wasn’t as much of it that I enjoyed. Even a lot of what you’ll find on my favourite albums lists probably wouldn’t have ranked as high in past years.

Like many others, I insulated myself and very rarely saw friends over the past 10 months. And though it wasn’t conscious, when compiling these lists of my favourite music of 2020 it became apparent that a theme of familiarity ran through them. If I couldn’t see people in person, I seem to have gravitated to music that often provided a bit of that bond.

So while I always want to expose myself to new music by new artists, my favourite album was from a rock and roll band that I started buying music from in 1985 — maybe earlier if I check the dates of my What Wave compilation cassettes that UIC contributed to. I’ve seen UIC (and its spinoff band The Chickens) dozens of times over the years, and its members have become friends. And while I’ve always enjoyed the band more live than on record, its first newly recorded album in 27 years struck an immediate chord and I enjoyed it more than any LP that came out this year.

Two of the albums in my top 10 are completely comprised of covers, so again I was already familiar with and liked the songs — even if they were different interpretations. I’ve seen four of the top 10 artists live, five of the next 14, and four of the six on the EP list.

I keep live albums and compilations separate from newly recorded works but, had I amalgamated them, eight would have cracked the top 10 and knocked others down accordingly. All of the live albums were from groups I’ve seen before, five of them (or variations thereof, as The Minus 5 and The Baseball Project share members that perform together in different incarnations) late last year. I’ve had friendly conversations with all of them after shows, which enhances the concert experience and establishes a stronger connection.

And though live streams on my computer replaced live shows in clubs for me in March and through the rest of the year, again I seem to have been drawn to watching artists who I’ve seen several times, and many of whom I consider friends.

Going through my favourite online concerts, the only artist I watched more than once and haven’t yet seen in person is Ike Reilly. I hope to remedy that situation as soon as possible.

So while 2020 caused largely forced separations from people, music, as always, provided a comfortable fallback during isolation.

While I expect my group activities to remain curtailed through much of 2021, I look forward to a better year of personal music appreciation and being able to show my appreciation to musicians in person. Fingers are crossed.

My favourite 10 albums

1. UIC - FM Hill
2. The Nude Party - Midnight Manor
3. Chairmen of the Boards - Surfin’ The Apocalypse
4. The Pretenders - Hate For Sale
5. The Exbats - Kicks, Hits and Fits
6. The Yum Yums - For Those About To Pop
7. Billie Joe Armstrong - No Fun Mondays
8. Wank - White Knuckle Ride
9. Dangereens - Tough Luck
10. NOFX and Frank Turner - West Coast vs. Wessex 

The next 14 albums

11. RVG - Feral
12. Cornershop - England Is A Garden
13. Dehd - Flower of Devotion
14. The Speedways - Radio Sounds
15. John Borra - Blue Wine
16. The Homeless Gospel Choir - This Land Is Your Landfill
17. Cocktails - Catastrophic Entertainment
18. MAX - Turn It Up
19. Mark Malibu and The Wasagas - Dance Party a’ Go Go
20. Kurt Baker - After Party
21. Scott The Hoople - Rock & Roll Party 66
22. Ramblin’ Deano and His Enablers - Pills, Puppies and Bacon
23. Tami Neilson - Chickaboom!
24. Green Day - Father of All Motherfuckers

 

My favourite EPs

1. Muck and the Mires - Take Me Back To Planet Earth
2. The JetScreams - Escape!
3. Nick Lowe - Lay It On Me
4. Bike Club - Find Romance
5. The Swingin’ Blackjacks - Four Hot Tracks!!
6. Jack Sledge - Notes of a Drifter

 

My favourite compilations and live albums

1. The Minus 5 - Live at Yep Roc 15
2. Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets - Live at Haw River Ballroom
3. Southern Culture On The Skids - Live at Yep Roc 15
4. Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets - Walkabout
5. The Baseball Project - Live in Space
6. The Dollyrots - Girl Groups & Punk Beats: The Covers
7. Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls - Live in Newcastle
8. Los Straitjackets - Live at Yep Roc 15
9. Stray Cats - Rocked This Town: From LA to London
10. Krayolas - Savage Young Krayolas
11. Various artists - Mark Malibu presents: Surfin’ Kitty X-mas

My favourite concerts (chronological order)

I generally try to stick to attending live performances I know I’m going to like. While some don’t live up to expectations, I came home satisfied from those listed below that I attended in January and February below.

And since I’ve included online shows this year for the first time because of tour cancellations and venue closings due to COVID-19, I had little choice but to already be at home before, during and after shows from mid-March on.

Here are those I enjoyed the most:

The Beaudelaires, The Classy Wrecks, Skaface - Jan. 10, Lee’s Palace, Toronto
Pkew Pkew Pkew - Jan. 10, Horseshoe, Toronto
Dodge Fiasco - Jan. 22, Cameron House, Toronto
Ichi-Bons, Olivia Jean - Jan. 22, Horseshoe, Toronto

Ichi-Bons

 
Ten Feet Tall, Mr. Pharmacist, The ARC Sound - Jan. 23, Dakota Tavern, Toronto
Frankie Foo and the Yo-Yo Smugglers - Jan. 31, Grossman’s Tavern, Toronto
Lucky Ron - Feb. 15, Chateau Lafayette, Ottawa
Dropkick Murphys - March 17, online concert
Waco Brothers - March 20, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - March 21, online concert
Corb Lund - March 21, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - March 23, online concert
Frank Turner - March 26, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - March 26, online concert
Jesse Malin - March 28, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - March 28, online concert
Ramblin’ Deano - March 29, online concert
Dan Bern - March 29, online concert
Frank Turner - April 2, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - April 2, online concert
Joel Plaskett - April 2, online concert
JD McPherson - April 2, online concert
Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies) - April 3, online concert
Frank Turner - April 3, online concert
Dan Bern - April 3, online concert
Jesse Malin - April 4, online concert
Jon Langford - April 4, online concert
The Rizdales - April 4, online concert
Dan Bern - April 4, online concert
The Jimbos (Reverend Horton Heat) - April 6, online concert
Frank Turner - April 8, online concert
Frank Turner - April 9, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - April 9, online concert
Jesse Malin - April 11, online concert
Ike Reilly & The Holy Family House Band - April 11, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - April 11, online concert
Beans On Toast - April 12, online concert
Corb Lund - April 13, online concert
Ron Hawkins - April 14, online concert
Frank Turner - April 16, online concert
Joel Plaskett - April 16, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - April 16, online concert
The Sounds - April 17, online concert
Monte Warden - April 17, online concert
Johnny Hickman (Cracker) - April 17, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - April 17, online concert
Jesse Malin - April 18, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - April 18, online concert
Pete Donnelly (The Figgs) - April 18, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - April 18, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - April 22, online concert
David Gedge (The Wedding Present) - April 23, online concert
The Discarded - April 23, online concert
Frank Turner - April 23, online concert
Rhett Miller - April 23, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - April 23, online concert
Monte Warden - April 24, online concert
Jon Langford - April 24, online concert
Dan Heptinsall and Lorna Thomas (Skinny Lister) - April 25, online concert
catl - April 25, online concert
Jesse Malin - April 25, online concert
Ike Reilly & The Holy Family House Band - April 25, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - April 25, online concert
Steve Nieve, Chris Difford, Elvis Costello and Ajuq - April 26, online concert
Carolyn Mark, Jon Langford, Kelly Hogan and Washboard Hank - April 26, online concert
Stephen Stanley - April 29, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - April 30, online concert
Jon Langford - May 1, online concert
Jesse Malin - May 2, online concert
Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom) - May 2, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - May 2, online concert
John Szymanski - May 3, online concert
Frank Turner - May 5, online concert
Jon Langford - May 5, online concert
Ron Hawkins - May 5, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - May 5, online concert
Bruce Smith - May 6, online concert
Frank Turner - May 7, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - May 7, online concert
John Doe - May 7, online concert
Robbie Fulks - May 7, online concert
Ali Barter - May 8, online concert
Kobo Town - May 8, online concert
Monte Warden - May 8, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - May 8, online concert
Jesse Malin - May 9, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - May 9, online concert
Ike Reilly & The Holy Family House Band - May 9, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - May 9, online concert
John Szymanski - May 10, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - May 11, online concert
Rhett Miller - May 12, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - May 12, online concert
Frank Turner - May 14, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - May 14, online concert
Frank Turner - May 15, online concert
Monte Warden - May 15, online concert
Billy Bragg - May 16, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - May 16, online concert
Steve Poltz - May 16, online concert
Beans On Toast - May 17, online concert
John Szymanski - May 17, online concert
Josh Kantor - May 19, online concert
Bruce Smith - May 20, online concert
Frank Turner - May 21, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - May 21, online concert
Jesse Malin - May 23, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - May 23, online concert
Jon Langford and John Szymanski - May 25, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - May 26, online concert
Jesse Dayton - May 27, online concert
Josh Kantor - May 28, online concert
Frank Turner - May 28, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - May 28, online concert
Stephen Stanley - May 28, online concert
Dropkick Murphys with Bruce Springsteen and Josh Kantor - May 29, online concert
Monte Warden - May 29, online concert
Josh Kantor - May 30, online concert
Jesse Malin - May 30, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - May 30, online concert
Ike Reilly & The Holy Family House Band - May 30, online concert
Sally Timms - May 31, online concert
The Rizdales - May 31, online concert
Stephen Stanley - June 3, online concert
Ron Hawkins - June 3, online concert
Frank Turner and Jess Guise - June 4, online concert
Monte Warden - June 5, online concert
The Weeks - June 5, online concert
Dean Schlabowske and Jo Walston - June 7, online concert
Bruce Smith - June 10, online concert
Paul Simon with Edie Brickell, Alejandro Escovedo, Augie Myers and Flaco Jimenez with Los Texmaniacs, Bonnie Raitt with Boz Scaggs, Britt Daniel (Spoon), Charlie Sexton with Doyle Bramhall II, Gary Clark Jr., James Taylor, Lukas Nelson, Jerry Douglas, Jimmie Vaughan & The Tiltawhirl Band, Black Pumas, John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, Norah Jones, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Shawn Colvin and Ryan Bingham - June 10, online concert
Frank Turner - June 11, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - June 11, online concert
Jesse Malin - June 13, online concert
Barenaked Ladies - June 13, online concert
Ike Reilly & The Holy Family House Band - June 13, online concert
The Beths - June 15, online concert
Dean Schlabowske - June 16, online concert
Bruce Smith - June 17, online concert
Dean Schlabowske - June 17, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - June 18, online concert
Dean Schlabowske - June 18, online concert
Dean Schlabowske - June 19, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - June 20, online concert
Dean Schlabowske - June 20, online concert
Dean Schlabowske - June 21, online concert
Hayes Carll - June 23, online concert
Whitehorse - June 24, online concert
Alfie Jackson (The Holloways), Gerry del-Guercio (SixNationState), Billy Bragg, Beans On Toast and Frank Turner - June 25, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - June 27, online concert
Ike Reilly & The Holy Family House Band - June 27, online concert
Frank Turner and Jess Guise - June 29, online concert
Junior and Tanya Rae Brown - June 29, online concert
Jeff Tweedy and his family - June 29, online concert
Hayes Carll - July 7, online concert
Bruce Smith - July 8, online concert
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard - July 10, online concert
Wussy - July 10, online concert
Monte Warden - July 10, online concert
The Weeks - July 10, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - July 11, online concert
Ike Reilly & The Holy Family House Band - July 11, online concert
John Szymanski - July 12, online concert
Bruce Smith - July 15, online concert
Monte Warden - July 17, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - July 18, online concert
John Szymanski - July 19, online concert
Monte Warden - July 19, online concert
The Sadies - Sept. 12, online concert
Monte Warden - Sept. 18, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - Oct. 3, online concert
Ike Reilly - Oct. 3, online concert
Beans On Toast with Frank Turner, Jess Guise and other guests - Oct. 4, online concert
Junior and Tanya Rae Brown - Oct. 19, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - Oct. 24, online concert
Amanda Palmer - Nov. 14, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - Nov. 14, online concert
Frank Turner - Nov. 19, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - Nov. 21, online concert
Bruce Smith - Nov. 25, online concert
Ike Reilly Assassination - Nov. 25, online concert
Monte Warden - Nov. 27, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - Nov. 28, online concert
The Lowest of the Low - Nov. 28, online concert
Hayes Carll and Allison Moorer - Dec. 1, online concert
Monte Warden - Dec. 4, online concert
Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie) - Dec. 5, online concert
Jon Langford with John Szymanski - Dec. 6, online concert
Bruce Smith - Dec. 16, online concert
Ike Reilly & The Holy Family House Band - Dec. 19, online concert