The Head Scratcher's 25 Favourite Albums of 2020
The Head Scratcher's 25 Favourite Albums of 2020
Grant and Snedds from The Scratch Cast podcast put forward some of their favourite albums of 2020
January 2021
Despite everything else, 2020 was a fantastic year for recorded music. It feels like there were more releases than ever and as the year went on it became increasingly difficult to keep track of all the great music being released every week. As a result, throughout the first full year of The Scratch Cast Podcast, we covered an incredibly varied selection of music from hardcore punk to indie rock to folk and country and even ambient spoken word! In no particular order here are some of our favourite albums we’ve covered on the podcast in 2020 including a couple from “The Itch” and a few others we missed along the way! (UPDATE: you can now listen along with the playlist at the bottom of the page).
The Big Moon - “Walking Like We Do”
Released on the 10th of January 2020 on Fiction Records.
The London based four-piece released their sophomore album at the beginning of 2020; however far from embodying the cold and bitter harshness and “Blue Monday” vibes that typically characterise this time of year “Walking Like We Do” feels more at home in those long carefree summer nights.
This album is a great example of perfectly executed bright and breezy indie pop-rock, full of lush and infectious vocal harmonies, slick instrumentation and some really groovy guitar licks. Singles such as “Take A Piece”, “It's Easy Then” and in particular “Your Light” are sun-soaked masterpieces and an absolute must listen that will have you dreaming of sipping cider in the beer gardens that never were.
If you haven't checked out this album already, then we strongly recommend that you do, it'll serve as a perfect soundtrack for summer 2021. /Grant.
Code Orange - “Underneath”
https://www.codeorangetoth.com/
Released on the 13th March 2020 on Roadrunner Records.
If you’ve followed heavy music in 2020, you’ve heard of Code Orange. Even if you haven’t, you’ve probably still heard of Code Orange such is the indelible mark the Pittsburgh outfit have left on such an unusual year.
Following up 2017’s critically acclaimed “Forever” was always going to be a challenge but with “Underneath”, the industrial hardcore trailblazers have risen to that challenge with devastating aplomb. “Underneath” is a complex sonic web of crushing heaviness, intense riffing, terrifying bursts of electronics and horrifying screams all held together by a brazen, audacious swagger. “Swallowing the Rabbit Whole” the first proper track on the album, encapsulates all of these attributes perfectly - just you wait for THAT insane breakdown at the 2 min 50 mark. Whilst it’s an album bursting with pounding brutality and startling chaos it’s still very catchy and full of melody with some genuinely huge choruses - see “Sulphur Surrounding”, “Underneath” and “The Easy Way”.
“Underneath” is a major triumph for Code Orange but it’s perhaps the way the band embraced the difficulties of 2020 that’s even more impressive. The pandemic hit just before the band could tour, so they quickly pulled together the impressive livestream “Last Ones Left: In Fear Of The End” later followed by the stripped back “Under The Skin” in July before topping off the year with headline Halloween show “Back Inside The Glass”.
Underneath is a remarkable album and Code Orange are a truly remarkable band. /Snedds.
Porridge Radio - “Every Bad”
Released on the 13th of March 2020 on Secretly Canadian.
Admittedly we were a bit late to the party on this one, however after being bowled over by how immediate and engaging their single “7 Seconds” (released on the 14th of September) was we decided to go on a reconnaissance mission back into the past to re-discover the band's fifth studio album to see what they are all about. As it happens we were pleasantly surprised!
Previously described by the Guardian as “...slacker indie”, this album feels more desperate than that description might have you think. The band feel as if they are striving towards something and really digging deep; one of the album's opening numbers, “Sweet” for example feels reminiscent of something the likes of “The Libertines” might have done in their prime and it sees the band harnessing the time favoured loud, quiet, loud dynamic to punishing effect. By the same token, however, there are numbers on this album, that are far more sombre and ethereal.
“Every Bad” is a real smorgasbord of shrill guitar jabs and grunts, ambient floaty numbers, orchestral strings and electronic sounds and sampling and it makes for a really interesting listen. /Grant.
Give Up To Failure - “Burden”
https://giveuptofailure.bandcamp.com/album/burden
Released on 14th September 2020 on Requiem Records.
“Burden” is the powerful debut from gloomy Polish metal band Give Up To Failure.
This is an album that drips with atmosphere. It’s dark and cold and moody, it echoes, it creaks, it groans and there’s a real sense of impending doom throughout. The songs on offer here are long and brooding and require a measure of patience from the listener, but as a result, it’s a really rewarding experience best enjoyed from start to finish in one sitting.
For a debut, it sounds fantastic too. The production is spot on, with powerful fuzzed-up guitars, spooky ethereal vocals and echoing drums and overall it sounds like it was recorded in a cold, dark, dungeon labyrinth.
Gothic, moody and brilliant. /Snedds.
Empty Country - “Empty Country”
Released on the 20th of March 2020 on Get Better Records.
“Empty Country” is the eponymous debut album from former “Cymbals Eat Guitars” frontman, Joseph D'Agostino.
Recorded with a patchwork of close friends and family, D'Agostino has managed to weave an album that feels equal parts melancholic and uplifting. Similarly, D'Agostino has created a beautiful synergy between elements of traditional country and Americana with the occasional grunt and jab of indie rock which helps to provide a great deal of depth and texture to the songs. It’s a combination that results in some truly affecting and tender moments alongside elements you can really bang your head to.
“Empty Country” is an ambitious and impressive piece of work, and we’re eager to see what comes next. /Grant.
Kestrels - “Dream Or Don’t Dream”
https://kestrels.bandcamp.com/
Released on 10th July 2020 on Darla Records.
We first stumbled upon Kestrels with the impressive singles “Vanishing Point” and “Grey and Blue”, the former opening with a crushing alt. rock guitar riff, the latter featuring a slick and memorable guitar hero solo from J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr fame. We were immediately hooked. The riffs and solos are two of the things that make “Dream Or Don’t Dream” a memorable album but there are many other elements that combine to make it something really special indeed.
Chad Peck’s vocals are dreamy and ethereal yet bursting with catchy melodies and pop hooks (further elevated by harmonies from alt-Country singer Norma MacDonald). Despite the “floaty” element to the vocals, there’s a real punch to the low end, the bass rumble in particular, and there’s a real crunch to the heavily distorted guitars. The thump of the drums, especially on tracks like “It’s A Secret” and “Everything Is New”, is also very satisfying.
By channelling the sounds of 90s alternative rock and shoegaze “Dream Or Don’t Dream” manages to sound wonderfully nostalgic yet bang up to date at the same time, making for an engaging and enjoyable listen. /Snedds.
The Scratch - “Couldn’t Give A Rats”
Released on the 27th of March 2020 on Right Up Ye.
You know you're on to a good thing when you happen upon an album whose opening line is “...Take a bow you're a top-class c***t, you add to the kitty of craic...” This is just one of the many humorous and quotable lyrics that feature on this debut offering from Dublin's very own, “The Scratch”.
“Couldn't Give a Rats” breathes new life into the Celtic rock genre with a renewed vigour and intensity that has more in common with heavy metal bands than it does with acts like “The Dropkick Murphys” or “Flogging Molly” for example. The quartet are able to harness elements of acoustic guitar and traditional Irish music to a punishing degree creating a truly epic and thunderous sound which rarely lets up!
This album is “GO!” from track number one whilst at the same time doesn’t take itself too seriously and has a great laugh along the way. /Grant.
Phoxjaw - “Royal Swan”
Released on 3rd July 2020 on Hassle Records.
After the release of the excellent EPs “Goodbye Dinosaur…” (2018) and “A Playground for Sad Adults” (2019) we were eagerly anticipating Phoxjaw’s debut album and when it finally arrived in July 2020, it did not disappoint.
“Royal Swan” is a joyous amalgamation of crushing heaviness, poppy radio rock choruses and general weirdness that is just as accessible as it is bizarre. Opener “Trophies in the Attic” is a great example of what that means, jumping from a soothing, warbling, opening passage straight into a spiky colossus of a main riff. The band also do straight-up bangers though, see “Half House”, spooky creepshow numbers like “Bats for Bleeding” and monstrous sprawling epics like closer and title track “Royal Swan”.
Phoxjaw are definitely a band to keep an eye on and one we’re desperate to see live at the earliest opportunity. /Snedds.
Coriky - “Coriky”
https://coriky.bandcamp.com/album/coriky
Released on the 12th of June 2020 on Dischord Records.
Trailblazer Ian MacKaye and his Wife Amy Farina (of “The Evens” fame) reunite with “Fugazi” bassist, Joe Lally to create this post-punk gem.
A true diamond in the rough, this album melds elements of alternative rock and post-punk aesthetics with a low-fi and demo-like quality which feels as if the band could be playing in your front room. MacKaye's trademark vocal delivery is undeniable however this piece is far from simply being a rehash or pastiche of his earlier work. There’s great vocal chemistry between MacKaye and Farina which results in some genuinely memorable moments that are guaranteed to get into your head and have you humming away to yourself for days. Similarly, Farina and Lally create a truly unique and dynamic rhythm section which creates a great deal of depth and texture to the tracks, such as the unwieldy jazz-like feel of the likes of “Say Yes” to the ominous and foreboding vibes of “Cup Of Tea”.
This album is definitely one to have on your list of new music to check out. /Grant.
Creeper - “Sex, Death And The Infinite Void”
Released on 31st July 2020 on Roadrunner Records.
What do you do after you release one of the best horror punk albums in recent years? Well if you’re Creeper you completely reinvent yourselves and release “Sex, Death & The Infinite Void” a genre-spanning classic covering everything from spooky doo-wop to Gothic tinged Americana.
Over its relatively short runtime you’ll find odes to My Chemical Romance on “Born Cold”, David Bowie on “Cyanide”, Johnny Cash on “Poisoned Heart” and much more besides. There are choruses to die for all over this album - see “Annabelle” - and the little guitar and keyboard flourishes throughout add depth and colour to an already vibrant musical canvas.
The only question left to ask is “what will Creeper do next”? /Snedds.
LYR - “Call In The Crash Team”
Released on the 26th of June 2020 on Mercury KX.
The brainchild of Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, musician Richard Walters and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Pearson, “Call in The Crash Team” combines spoken word poetry with beautifully textured and ambient soundscapes to explore themes of heartache and regret on the album's opening number, “The First Time” to the subjects of grief and reverence for lost loves ones on “Grey Coat”.
The album's lyrical content can at times be pretty bleak yet it succeeds in not becoming overly morose or macabre by serving up a healthy dollop of humour as well as some truly spellbinding instrumentation. Similarly, the words with which Armitage uses to conjure up situations and emotions in these songs, or rather vignettes, is nothing short of incredible. For instance, his flair for elevating elements of the everyday and mundane to almost transcendental levels of importance will have you utterly transfixed, making “Call in The Crash Team” a ceaselessly engaging and evocative listen.
A 10/10 experience and an absolute must-listen. /Grant.
Rotting Out - “Ronin”
Released on the 10th of April 2020 on Pure Noise Records.
“Ronin” the 3rd studio from Californian hardcore punks Rotting Out is 25 mins of pure adrenaline and aggression. It’s an album that just makes you want to get fucked up and destroy anything and everything in your path - in the best possible way of course.
Rotting Out play their own style of thrash tinged hardcore to devastating effect, busting out serrated riffs and bludgeoning bass licks amid punishing drum patterns and rowdy gang vocals. Vocalist Walter Delgado sounds like he’s spitting and gurgling through shredded, bleeding vocal cords but still manages to deliver hook after hook on explosive songs like “Last Man Standing”, “Unforgiven” & “Still Her” before ending on the emotionally devastating “Boy”.
A wild ride from start to finish. /Snedds.
The Lemon Twigs - “Songs For The General Public”
Released on the 21st of August 2020 on 4AD.
“Songs for the General Public” is Long Island, New York based brothers, Brian and Michael D'Addario's third studio album to date. Released on alt-rock and all-round-good music record label giants “4-AD” this album, is a perfect example of something that is both familiar, yet refreshing.
Putting their background of musical theatre to good use, the brothers channel pretty much every major musical icon that you can shake a stick at; from the bold and brash swagger of the Grandfather of punk, Iggy Pop to the swooning nasal sliding pitches of the likes of Bob Dylan. This album feels as if it’s very much steeped in the musical style and sensibilities of that classic rock and roll era of the seventies and eighties whilst at the same time remaining bang up to date.
A really fun listen! /Grant.
Spanish Love Songs - “Brave Faces Everyone”
http://www.spanishlovesongs.com/
Released on the 7th of February 2020 on Pure Noise Records.
Over the last decade or so, pop-punk has become a soulless pastiche of its once glorious self and nowadays, if the mainstream media is to be believed, acts like Machine Gun Kelly and YUNGBLUD are amongst the best the genre has to offer.
But whilst the very life of pop-punk has been wrung from its neck by the mainstream hit factory, bands like The Wonder Years, The Menzingers, and now Spanish Love Songs, have developed the genre for a more mature and discerning audience.
With “Brave Faces Everyone”, Spanish Love Songs have perfected their own style of misery charged, punk rock, immediately hitting an emotional chord with the opening line of “Routine Pain” - “on any given day I’m a 6 of 10” - and with instant classics like “Kick” and “Losers 2” and some huge sing-along choruses the album feels almost like a vital group therapy session for struggling thirty-somethings. /Snedds.
Toots And The Maytals - “Got To Be Tough”
http://www.tootsandthemaytals.org/
Released on the 28th of August 2020 on Trojan Jamaica Ltd Records/BMG.
“Got To Be Tough” was released two weeks before the tragic and untimely passing of lead singer, Frederick Nathaniel “Toots” Hibbert at the age of 77 on the 11th of September. A pioneer of the ska and rock-steady genre, and someone who has largely been accredited with the invention of the term “reggae” with the 1968 record, “Do The Reggay”, this album showcases the band in full flow as true masters of their craft.
Ever an icon of positivity and optimism the band's boisterous and self-assured horns section, funky guitar slicks and rock-steady grooves strut over and defiantly extinguish the flames of negativity on issues such as racial discrimination and economic decline on numbers such as “Just Brutal” and “Freedom Train”. These tracks are also complemented really well with other more laid back and refrained numbers that could quite have easily come from the classic Mo-Town era.
Toots may have gone to the big dance hall in the sky but this album, along with the rest of the band's work will undoubtedly be discovered and appreciated for years to come. /Grant.
Waco - “Hope Rituals”
Released on the 28th of August 2020 on Venn Records.
“Hope Rituals”, the second studio album from cosmic punk rockers Waco, is a refreshingly diverse record full of positivity and hope for the future and for fans of punk and classic rock, there’s a lot of fun to be had.
Songs like “Good Days” and “Watch The Skies” channel The Wildhearts while you’ll hear elements of Blondie on “Learn To Live Again”, sparks of Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath on “Barracuda” and even Monster Magnet on “Great White Wall of Voodoo”.
“Hope Rituals” is an album full of outright bangers and huge individual moments, not least the soaring chorus of “Busy Livin’” which is so good it fully deserves to be a dance floor staple alongside the likes of Starship’s “We Built This City”. /Snedds.
Pillow Queens - “In Waiting”
Released on 25th of September 2020 on Pillow Queens Records / Specialist Subject Records.
“In Waiting” is the debut album from Dublin based quartet, “Pillow Queens”. The album's lyrical content tackles a wide variety of different issues ranging from Religion and Spirituality to body positivity and equal rights for women without appearing didactic or high-handed; in fact, quite the opposite!
The band have previously been cited as having both pop and punk rock sensibilities, however, they themselves have been hesitant to define their work; what they do however, they do well! “In Waiting” is so immediate and uplifting that the fact that their work also deals with some pretty heavy-hitting issues is just an added bonus. The band's brand of guitar rock makes for an easy listen however by the same token Pillow Queens can deliver some pretty harsh guitar jabs and flourishes when needed, served up with a healthy dose of fuzz and reverb which makes for a really interesting and enjoyable listen. /Grant.
Anaal Nathrakh - “Endarkenment”
https://www.metalblade.com/anaalnathrakh/
Released on the 2nd of October 2020 on Metal Blade Records.
Much like oil and water, the terms “extreme metal” and “accessible” shouldn’t mix, but with Endarkenment, veteran noise merchants Anaal Nathrakh have achieved the impossible by crafting an extreme metal record fit for the masses. The fact that they’ve done this with a decapitated pigs head with giant cocks protruding from its eyes as the album cover art is just the icing on the evil birthday cake.
That said, Endarkenment doesn’t sound watered down, it’s still a terrifying album, it just mixes the relentless riffing, drumming, screaming and generally horrifying soundscapes of extreme metal with impeccable production values and huge, soaring, heavy metal inspired choruses, solos and galloping guitars that have far more in common with Iron Maiden, Sabaton and Kind Diamond than they do with Napalm Death or Cannibal Corpse. /Snedds.
Tunng - “Tunng Presents… Dead Club”
Released on the 6th of November 2020 on Full Time Hobby Records.
The London based folktronica outfit’s eighth studio album is an evocative, thoughtful and introspective exploration into the concept of death, dying and all the thoughts and sentiments therein.
The product of extensive research including interviews with writers, musicians, physicians and philosophers this album is a truly inventive and innovative piece, guaranteed to stimulate the old grey matter, as well as tug on your heartstrings from time to time. The band effortlessly combine elements of traditional trad and folk, with electronic sounds and sampling to create some truly unique, affecting and ethereal soundscapes which is a real joy to listen to, and experience.
If you haven't guessed already, we gave this album a well deserved 10/10, earning a place in the “Scratch Cast's Hall of Fame”. /Grant.
Violent Soho - “Everything Is A-OK”
Released on 3rd of April 2020 on Pure Noise Records.
“Everything is A-OK”, Violent Soho’s fifth studio album, is a thing of nostalgic beauty for lovers of 90s alternative rock.
Lead singer Luke Boerdam’s slacker vocals bring to mind the early energy of Billy Corgan, Frank Black and even Billy Joe Armstrong while the songs themselves conjure up memories of Seattle’s legendary grunge scene.
Violent Soho do a lot of things you’ve heard before but they do it in such a fresh and exciting way that they can never be criticised as stale or out-of-date. After the first three tracks of “Everything is A-OK” you’ll be hooked. /Snedds.
Eels - Earth To Dora
Released on the 30th of October 2020 on Vagrant Records.
If you’re a casual Eels fan and haven’t checked in to see what “E” (Mark Oliver Everett) has been up to for a while then “Earth To Dora” is the perfect place to start.
It’s an album about relationships that covers everything from hook-ups to break-ups and unwavering devotion to paranoid delusion via betrayal and heartbreak. But what makes this album stand out amongst all the other music out there about relationships is the surrealism, the sparkling wit, the jet black humour and the heartbreaking tenderness that have remained the hallmarks of Eels for decades now. You’ll cringe at “Anything For Boo”, you’ll laugh at “Are You Fucking Your Ex” and you might even shed a tear at “Waking Up”.
But none of that would matter if the music wasn’t catchy and “Earth To Dora” doesn't disappoint with tonnes of memorable guitar lines, bass licks, keyboard melodies and vocal hooks that’ll leave you humming away to yourself for days. /Snedds.
Run The Jewels - RTJ4
Released on the 3rd of June 2020 on Jewel Runners.
One of the most anticipated releases of 2020, RTJ4 sees Run The Jewels continuing their world-beating form as they deliver yet another hard-hitting, politically and socially-minded record that despite being heavy as fuck still remains fun, catchy and wryly humorous.
The jaunty piano on “ooh la la” is one of the most danceable loops you’ll hear but it’s the contrasting bass drop and in your face attitude of the vocals that really make it one of the best tracks of the year. “walking in the snow” is a darkly brooding diatribe on the inequalities of modern society and “JU$T” sees a powerful guest spot from Zach de la Rocha as the group rage against racial hatred.
With an album full of absolute bangers and a poignant message that desperately needs to be heard, now more than ever, it’s no wonder that RTJ4 has reached far beyond the constraints of its genre, even turning the heads of people with no previous interest in hip-hop. /Snedds
BC Camplight - Shortly After Takeoff
Released on the 24th of April 2020 on Bella Union records.
Shortly After Takeoff is a difficult album to pin down right from the start. Opening track “I Only Drink When I’m Drunk” dances between apocalyptic western beats, indie acoustic ballad sections and Super Furry Animals / Flaming Lips weirdness, all the while somehow remaining cohesive, entertaining and deeply humorous.
BC Camplight manages to continue this precarious genre-straddling tight walk over an, albeit quite short, 30 minute run-time without the rails ever coming off. That’s despite complicating an already dense mix with robotic Kraftwerk grooves on “Back To Work”, 80s pop-rock guitars on “Cemetary Lifestyle” and much more besides.
In fact, it’s this surprising diversity that results in a consistently compelling listen. /Snedds.
Armand Hammer - Shrines
https://backwoodzstudioz.com/artists/armand-hammer/
Released on the 5th of June 2020 by Backwoodz Studios.
Armand Hammer are an art rap duo from New York City who produce dark and harrowing hip-hop that reflects the times we live in.
Much like Paraffin, Armand Hammer’s previous release, Shrines is not an easy listen. It’s full of awkward, complex beats, claustrophobic soundscapes and challenging lyrics. Billy Woods and ELUCID are joined by several guests from the art rap scene and beyond (including Quelle Chris, R.A.P. Ferreira and Earl Sweatshirt) as they deliver a set of bewildering, engrossing songs over a challenging 45 minutes.
Armand Hammer’s music is definitely not for everyone, even those who consider themselves fans of hip-hop and heavy music, but if you allow Shrines to get under your skin, you’ll never look back. /Snedds.
Higher Power - 27 Miles Underwater
https://higherpowerleeds.bandcamp.com/
Released on the 24th of January 2020 on Roadrunner Records.
Hardcore has consistently been one of the most exciting scenes for heavy music over the last few years with loads of great new bands putting their own twist on the genre. Higher Power are one such band, combining razor-edged hardcore riffs and screams with the dirgey guitar tones of grunge and the catchy melodies of alternative rock.
27 Miles Underwater is the second studio album from the Leeds outfit and it’s a real gem. Each song is full of massive headbanging riffs, destructive, aggressive beatdowns and earworm guitar licks. At times the vocals are reminiscent of Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell especially in the cleaner more melodic moments; it’s a strong attribute that lends a real classic feel to these songs.
Released right at the beginning of the year “27 Miles Underwater” has perhaps been forgotten about after such a whirlwind year but it truly deserves to be dusted off and given a spin. An excellent record. /Snedds.
Let us know YOUR favourite albums of 2020 in the comments.
Peace.
