From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #2919 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Thursday, December 31 2020 Volume 16 : Number 2919 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Best Albums of 2020 [Jeffrey Hanson ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:34:57 -0700 From: Jeffrey Hanson Subject: Best Albums of 2020 Another slow year for me in terms of album purchases. But there were definitely a few standouts, and I have to admit this is the year I fully embraced streaming. Mostly through Amazon Music, and mostly streaming only the music Ibve collected - either purchasing or adding to my collection (and the first year Ibve actually paid for subscription to a music service). I know this hurts the artists, and I still try to support artists by paying for albums whenever I can. But itbs given me a chance to listen and get to know albums that I probably wouldnbt have purchased before (like Taylor Swiftbs folklore). Anyway, here are my top albums: 1. Maria McKee - La Vita Nuovo - Maria sounds as good as ever, and this album follows her as she follows her passions and her pursuit of a new queer life. She still has a way with words that is stunning, and this album really is stunning. 2. Rhian Sheehan, Recollections Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 - I became intrigued with New Zealander Rhian Sheehanbs music a few years ago when I discovered his album Stories from Elsewhere. Since then Ibve followed his career and some of his soundtrack work (check out Belief: The Possession of Janet Morris!), And these collection are a great summary of a varied career of instrumental music, leaning toward the ambient, but more heartfelt and emotive than a lot of music in that genre. The first volume is definitely more melodic - if youbre looking for ambient Ibd go more with the second. 3. Minute Taker - Secret Songs Volume 7 - Ben McGarvey, also known as Minute Taker, has been a bit of a marketing genius, reaching out to fans of those artists he loves (Kate Bush, Depeche MOde, Alison Moyet, etc.) and encouraging them to check out his music. In that way, I discovered him, and then supported him, and then become a staunch supporter. I really look forward to his album Wolf Hours - a project of which he was supposed to launch and tour this year, but due to COVID has been pushed back (though a few singles were released). But he also has released this beautiful collection of piano songs of some of his songs, as well as a few covers (including Eurythmics Here Comes the Rain Again). Definitely an artistbs artist - as he is much of a fan as the rest of us. His remix of Yazoobs Winter Kills (on their 3 Pieces collection) is stunning. 4. Eivor - Segl - While not her best work, this album is beautiful and creates a unique sound all of its own. Her album debut concert was also one of the highlights of my streaming events this year. She also offered weekly videos from her home for free on facebook / youtube, proving she is just as good in a small intimate informal sitting as she is in a full-band concert performance. 5. Veda Hille - Little Volcano b this piece was designed as a performance piece, but highlights music from across Vedabs career - each piece reworked just enough to be revelatory. Carnage Instructions is worth the price of the CD itself. She also was an artist I got to see this year (twice!) due to streaming events, that I probably wouldnbt have if it werenbt for covid. 6. Lynn Miles - Webll Look for Stars - Lynn is a consistently solid artist and this latest album (her 15th!) is just as good as the rest. Solid, hopeful, melancholy, just what we needed to get us through this year. 7. Tanya Donnelly and the Parkington Sisters - An amazing covers album - both in its diversity and its ability to rework and honor the originals. 8. McCartney III - Long before Ecto, even before my appreciation of female artists like Blondie, Pat Benetar, and Siouxsie, I was a Paul McCartney fan. (I even had a Wings belt buckle - back in the day when everyone else had Kiss!) This quirky collection is both memorable, nostalgic, and creative. Glad to see he is still as creative and melodic as ever. 9. Jewel - Pieces of You - 25th Anniversary Edition - The video streaming concert was one of the best Jewel perforrmances Ibve seen (and Ibve seen a lot!) It captured all the excitement of the early shows, the camaraderie between her and Steve Poltz. The CDs also help capture a few versions of songs that I lacked, but itbs defintely for completists. 10. Taylor Swift - folklore/evermore - yeah Ibm surprised too, but they are pretty dang good albums! I still donbt think shebs a great singer, but there are some great lyrics, and arrangements on these albums. Plus they seem to capture the weird melancholic tone of 2020. ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #2919 ****************************