Eighteen albums might not seem like a lot to review in four months, but that running tally for 2020 does fill me with a little pride; even with a global pandemic and some time off work allowing me to spend much more time with music, averaging about one review per week is more than I thought possible considering how much procrastination (and, at times, outright ignorance) has played into my work ethic around here in recent years.
That said, there has been so much more released already this year that's worth talking about. So, I decided to go ahead and reinstate the gimmicky but fun haiku reviews I used as a cop out when catching up last year leading up to Year in Rock. This doesn't mean these albums don't warrant more thought out reviews, I just didn't get to them in a timely enough fashion. It also doesn't mean these albums aren't good enough to devote more time to; in fact, in a year where Fiona doesn't just decide to release a generational masterpiece, at least a couple of these would be strong nominees for Album of the Year.
Anyway, spending all this time on a preamble kind of undermines the point of doing haiku reviews, doesn't it? Let's get into it!
SPANISH LOVE SONGS Brave Faces Everyone
February 7, 2020 • Pure Noise
Highlights Generation Loss • Losers • Dolores
Sad and harrowing
Like modern America
As real as it gets.
BEACH BUNNY Honeymoon
February 14, 2020 • Mom+Pop
Highlights Promises • Cuffing Season • Cloud 9
Power pop heartache
A youthful rite of passage
That never gets old.
KVELERTAK Splid
February 14, 2020 • Kvelertak/Rise
Highlights Rogaland • Crack of Doom • Fanden ta dette hull!
If you ever doubt
Music is more than language
Then here is the proof.
WAXAHATCHEE Saint Cloud
March 27, 2020 • Merge
Highlights Can't Do Much • The Eye • Hell
Americana
What does it mean anyway?
Start with this record.
PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS Viscerals
April 3, 2020 • Rocket Recordings
Highlights Reducer • Rubbernecker • World Crust
This shit fucking slaps
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
What else can I say?
THE PACK a.d. it was fun while it lasted
April 17, 2020 • The Pack a.d.
Highlights Give Up • Soul Warden • No Good
Fourteen year career
Concluding on a high note
Come back any time.
JOEL PLASKETT 44
April 17, 2020 • Songs for the Gang/Pheromone
Highlights Memory Complete Me • Just Passing Through • Just Because
Just because you can
It doesn't mean that you should
One album's enough.
BRENDAN BENSON Dear Life
April 24, 2020 • Third Man
Highlights Good To Be Alive • Half a Boy (Half a Man) • Dear Life
Not fantastic, but
Not embarrassing either
Could have used less synth.
That said, there has been so much more released already this year that's worth talking about. So, I decided to go ahead and reinstate the gimmicky but fun haiku reviews I used as a cop out when catching up last year leading up to Year in Rock. This doesn't mean these albums don't warrant more thought out reviews, I just didn't get to them in a timely enough fashion. It also doesn't mean these albums aren't good enough to devote more time to; in fact, in a year where Fiona doesn't just decide to release a generational masterpiece, at least a couple of these would be strong nominees for Album of the Year.
Anyway, spending all this time on a preamble kind of undermines the point of doing haiku reviews, doesn't it? Let's get into it!
SPANISH LOVE SONGS Brave Faces Everyone
February 7, 2020 • Pure Noise
Highlights Generation Loss • Losers • Dolores
Sad and harrowing
Like modern America
As real as it gets.
BEACH BUNNY Honeymoon
February 14, 2020 • Mom+Pop
Highlights Promises • Cuffing Season • Cloud 9
Power pop heartache
A youthful rite of passage
That never gets old.
KVELERTAK Splid
February 14, 2020 • Kvelertak/Rise
Highlights Rogaland • Crack of Doom • Fanden ta dette hull!
If you ever doubt
Music is more than language
Then here is the proof.
WAXAHATCHEE Saint Cloud
March 27, 2020 • Merge
Highlights Can't Do Much • The Eye • Hell
Americana
What does it mean anyway?
Start with this record.
PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS Viscerals
April 3, 2020 • Rocket Recordings
Highlights Reducer • Rubbernecker • World Crust
This shit fucking slaps
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
What else can I say?
THE PACK a.d. it was fun while it lasted
April 17, 2020 • The Pack a.d.
Highlights Give Up • Soul Warden • No Good
Fourteen year career
Concluding on a high note
Come back any time.
JOEL PLASKETT 44
April 17, 2020 • Songs for the Gang/Pheromone
Highlights Memory Complete Me • Just Passing Through • Just Because
Just because you can
It doesn't mean that you should
One album's enough.
April 24, 2020 • Third Man
Highlights Good To Be Alive • Half a Boy (Half a Man) • Dear Life
Not fantastic, but
Not embarrassing either
Could have used less synth.
...and that covers some of the records I missed in the first four months of the year. Now, we'll get back to the usual style of reviews, although I'm sure by September there will be another backlog of records awaiting me, so maybe we'll do another run of haiku reviews then. Also, even after this, did I miss any 2020 releases that you feel I should rectify? Go ahead and make a request, and I'll see about it; I always like experiencing new music, so don't be shy!
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