Will Toledo writes great songs. Fact. His grasp of melody, his knowledge of building momentum and drama in a song is impressive and impeccable. His ability to write songs so personal and yet deeply universal are unmatched. This year his new Car Seat Headrest album was flawed but yet incredible. Full of songs that hit the right spot. One was my favourite song of 2020. One which had three different versions. (Hostiles) was my favourite version of Deadlines. It was uplifting, soaring, down right emotional. I still loved the (Thoughtful) version though with its impeccable groove. Either way Deadlines was the song I played the most in 2020. But there were many other great songs. Waxahatchee had a slew of them on her fantastic new album. Could have chosen many from that wonderful album. Kyoto by Phoebe Bridgers was a near perfect melody of joy. And Fox by Dogleg tore my head off just in the right way. And then we had the Run the Jewels album that provided many fiery and anthemic moments. I was just grateful in a pretty shitty year music still gave us plenty to smile about.
Jan 26, 2021
Will Toledo writes great songs. Fact. His grasp of melody, his knowledge of building momentum and drama in a song is impressive and impeccable. His ability to write songs so personal and yet deeply universal are unmatched. This year his new Car Seat Headrest album was flawed but yet incredible. Full of songs that hit the right spot. One was my favourite song of 2020. One which had three different versions. (Hostiles) was my favourite version of Deadlines. It was uplifting, soaring, down right emotional. I still loved the (Thoughtful) version though with its impeccable groove. Either way Deadlines was the song I played the most in 2020. But there were many other great songs. Waxahatchee had a slew of them on her fantastic new album. Could have chosen many from that wonderful album. Kyoto by Phoebe Bridgers was a near perfect melody of joy. And Fox by Dogleg tore my head off just in the right way. And then we had the Run the Jewels album that provided many fiery and anthemic moments. I was just grateful in a pretty shitty year music still gave us plenty to smile about.
Jan 23, 2021
Today I will have a look back at my favourites in Music in 2020. If any element of the arts was hardest hit by the pandemic it was surely music. Live music ground to a halt and even though locally it's slowly getting back on its feet it will still be a while before international artists can tour again. Sadly with music today that's where many artists make their living so I implore anyone who loves music to please BUY music rather than just stream. It really supports these remarkable artists.
My favourite album of 2020 was one that divided critics. Car Seat Headrest's previous album was iconic and perfect and hard to follow. Making a Door Less Open had its flaws and could be messy at times but Will Toledo really went for it and the highs were very high. Anyway it was my favourite and I had to place it at number one. You could make a great case for Waxahatchee for number one though. I can not fault her album and there is not one song even remotely weak. Her partner Kevin Morby also gave us another beautiful album yet again. Some veteran artists showed that they are aging extremly well too. Destroyer and Wolf Parade did Canada proud and The Flaming Lips produced their best work in years. And Stephen Malkmus showed why he is an icon of music yet again. Younger artists that showed that music is in good hands were Dogleg, Lomelda, Tina, Told Slant and Bartees Strange. I loved all of their albums. And if I could just give one album to everyone it would be the one by Young Jesus. An album of breathtaking power of beauty I would love to reach a larger audience.
1. Making A Door Less Open-Car Seat Headrest
2. Saint Cloud-Waxahatchee
3. Have We Met-Destroyer
4. Thin Mind-Wolf Parade
5. Shore-Fleet Foxes
6. Sundowner-Kevin Morby
7. The Loves of Your Life-Hamilton Leithauser
8. Welcome to Conceptual Beach-Young Jesus
9. American Head-The Flaming Lips
10. Muzz-Muzz
11. Traditional Techniques-Stephen Malkmus
12. Melee-Dogleg
13. III-Fuzz
14. Hannah-Lomelda
15. RTJ4-Run the Jewels
16. The Microphones in 2020-The Microphones
17. Strange to Explain-Woods
18. Punisher-Phoebe Bridgers
19. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately-Perfume Genius
20. Mystic Familiar-Dan Deacon
21. We Will Always Love You-The Avalanches
22. Silver Ladders-Mary Lattimore
23. That's Why We're Running Away-Roadside Graves
24. Love is the King-Jeff Tweedy
25. Positive Mental Health Music-Tina
26. Protean Threat-Osees
27. The Ascension-Sufjan Stevens
28. Whole New Mess-Angel Olsen
29. Serpentine Prison-Matt Berninger
30. Likewise-Frances Quinlan
31. Songs-Adrianne Lenker
32. Point the Flashlight and Walk-Told Slant
33. Continuous Portrait-Inventions
34. Eight Gates-Jason Molina
35. Song For Our Daughter-Laura Marling
36. Island-Owen Pallett
37. Live Forever-Bartees Strange
38. 5 Dreams-Soft Plastics
39. Fetch the Bolt Cutters-Fiona Apple
40. Snapshot of a Beginner-Nap Eyes
41. Gold Record-Bill Callahan
42. Silver Tongue-Torres
43. Don't Waste Your Anger-The Smith Street Band
44. I Was Born Swimming-Squirrel Flower
45. What's New, Tomboy?-Damien Jurado
46. Candid-Whitney
47. Every Bad-Porride Radio
48. You Can Never Have a Long Enough Head Start-Floral Tattoo
49. Marigold-Pinegrove
50. Holy Smokes Future Jokes-Blitzen Trapper
Jan 17, 2021
Jan 16, 2021
Well this will will be a short post. Sadly live music ground to a halt in 2020 due to the global pandemic. The year started off brilliantly with the great Vampire Weekend finally returning to Australia and putting on a wonderful show. Sadly there weren't a lot more to go to in 2020. Bill Callahan at the State Theatre was the last one. The following week we were due to see Rhiannon Giddens but she had to cancel and fly home. The National was cancelled soon after too. We had bought tickets to see Patti Smith, Big Thief, The Hold Steady, Angel Olsen, Alex G and Bon Iver. All postponed and eventauuly cancelled. Hopefully 2021 will see some sort of return to normality.
1. Vampire Weekend @ Enmore Theatre
2. The New Pornographers @ Metro Theatre
3. Allah Las @ Paddington RSL
4. William Tyler @ Seidler Penthouse
5. Bill Callahan @ State Theatre
6. Jay Som @ Oxford Art Factory
Mar 7, 2020
Mr Callahan released another excellent album last year in the shape of 'Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest'. So naturally we received a very good slice of that album. My favourites being 'The Ballad of the Hulk', '747' and 'Angela'. He tried to give a good portion of his back catalogue too including such great songs as 'Drover' and an epic version of 'America!' But the best part was when he even reached back to his days recording as 'Smog' to play us the all time classic in 'Say Valley Maker'. What a superb song that is. And I must say his band of three were superb. A subtle drummer, a double bass player that was truly in sync and best of all a lead electric guitarist that played to the strength of all the songs in the best way possible. Thanks for coming again Mr Callahan.
Set List
Writing
Son of the Sea
America!
Circles
747
Too Many Birds
Camels
Watch Me Get Married
Let's Move to the Country
Say Valley Maker (Smog cover)
The Ballad of the Hulk
One Fine Morning
Angela
So Long, Marianne
Drover
Riding for the Feeling
Feb 28, 2020
Last year saw the band released their eighth album in the shape of 'In The Morse Code of Brake Lights' and I believed it was their best in a while. Happily they played quite a few off that album and the new songs sounded great live. Especially 'The Surprise Knock' and the plaintive 'Higher Beams'. Also happily we heard a great selection from their astounding catalogue with many classics being played. 'Use It' was the first of many to get an enthusiastic crowd going. But I also loved 'The Laws Have Changed'. 'Testament to Youth in Verse' and 'The Bleeding Heart Show'. Finishing the set with 'Mass Romantic' was just the cherry on top. The band still numbers seven but this was the first time I had seen Simi Stone play with them. Of course Neko Case is a stellar singer who sets every song alight. Then there is the main man Carl Newman holding everything togther. What a band.
Set List
Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile
Use It
You'll Need a Backseat Driver
Dancehall Domine
Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
The Surprise Knock
The Bones of an Idol
Whiteout Conditions
Colossus of Rhodes
The Laws Have Changed
Higher Beams
Testament to Youth in Verse
Dreamlike and on the Rush
Crash Years
All The Old Showstoppers
Adventures in Solitude
Champions of Red Wine
Play Money
The Bleeding Heart Show
Mass Romantic
Challengers
Brill Bruisers
The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism
Feb 23, 2020
Jay Som's music is dreamy pop but with a solid base. And last year's album I think was her most substantial yet and happily she played quite a bit off that excellent record. Highlights included the title track as well the super popluar 'Superbike'. The band was really solid and some beautiful guitar jams emanted from the stage. It was great to hear the delightful 'The Bus Song' too as well as the just released new single in 'A Thousand Words'. It was a short set, about an hour, with no encore. But it was a great pleasure to see Jay Som for the very first time.
Set List
If You Want It
Turn Into
Baybee
Nighttime Drive
Anak Ko
Peace Out
Superbike
Get Well
Crown
The Bus Song
A Thousand Words
Lipstick Stains