An Ode to the 10-Song Playlist Challenge/Panel and My Favorite 2020 Music

Unprecedented 2020 viewing didn't deter me from more listening than ever before.

Back in April (when attending summer/fall music festivals still felt like a possibility), I aimlessly challenged all of Twitter to share personalized 10-song Beatles playlists commemorating their milestone 50th Breakupversary. Several friends mercifully obliged, and this simple effort to "take a sad song and make it better" unintentionally launched the 10-Song Playlist Challenge/Panel pandemic music club. Every Sunday night (formerly on Wednesdays as well), approximately 8-12 friends and rotating parents/uncles/siblings/special guests have joined artist-centric deep dive discussions via Zoom. Our loosely-structured conversations require each participant to share and analyze a 10-song playlist reflecting what they love most about the week's randomly-selected band/musician. This collaborative endeavor has helped inject community, routine, and discovery into a year that has often felt lonesome, rudderless, and mundane. It's also sparked and/or deepened my appreciation of countless records, songs, and connections.

Some new obsessions include The Band's Richard Manuel, Elton John's EMPTY SKY, Fleetwood Mac's Bob Welch era, Rihanna's "Love on the Brain", and Linkin Park's intensely bittersweet foreign concert footage. Many of us fell for Hall & Oates' "When the Morning Comes" days before PALM SPRINGS made it cool again. One of us inadvertently sparked heated, 90-minute discourse regarding Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift (four months before she released a "Before He Cheats"-esque HAIM collaboration), and layered feminism in 21st century pop. Some Zooms are more enlightening/hot-blooded than others, but they've all been healthy distractions from COVID confinement and more conventional forms of modern musical exploration (Spotify's "Discover Weekly" playlists come with clear algorithmic baggage and limitations). So far, we've held nearly 70 total sessions exploring work by the following artists:

Arctic Monkeys, Aretha Franklin, Bad Boy Records, The Band, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Beastie Boys, Beck, Beyoncé (+ Destiny's Child), Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Bon Iver, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, The Clash, Creedence Clearwater Revival (+ solo Fogerty), Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (+ side projects/solo works), D'Angelo, Daft Punk, Dave Matthews Band, David Bowie, Hall and Oates, Elton John, Electric Light Orchestra (+ Jeff Lynne/Traveling Wilburys), Fleetwood Mac, Foo Fighters, Grateful Dead, Jack White (solo, The Raconteurs, The White Stripes), Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, Kanye West, The Killers, The King Khan & BBQ Show, LCD Soundsystem, Led Zeppelin, Linkin Park, P-Funk, Michael Jackson (+ The Jackson 5), Miley Cyrus, Nirvana, Oasis, OutKast, Pearl Jam, Phish (studio LPs), The Police (+ Sting solo), Radiohead, The Ramones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, Simon & Garfunkel (+ solo works), The Smiths (+ Morrissey solo), Solo Beatles, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, St. Vincent, The Strokes, Talking Heads, Taylor Swift, Tom Petty, U2, The Who, Vampire Weekend, Young Money / Cash Money

Although it's far too early to comprehensively reflect on a such a heavy and volatile year, "The Panel" has evolved from a joyous accident into an enduring achievement. I trust that it'll remain part of whatever new normal comes our way in 2021.

While devouring the complete discographies of (nearly) all of the aforementioned acts, I simultaneously enjoyed many recent releases! Without further ado, here are my top ten 2020 albums and songs:

FAVORITE 2020 ALBUMS:

10. LOCAL HONEY - Brian Fallon

New Jersey's Gaslight Anthem frontman provided the quaint, contemplative, wintry soundtrack for my early, empty walks in COVID-era Manhattan.

9. SONGS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC - The Lemon Twigs

Not as thematically ambitious as GO TO SCHOOL (my #1 2018 LP), but just as fun.

8. LIVE AT ELECTRIC LADY - The Raconteurs

Back in September 2019, I dressed like a roadie and saw The Raconteurs intimately celebrate Electric Lady's 50th anniversary. It was easily one of my most surreal New York/rock and roll memories. Thrilled Jim Jarmusch was there to capture many of my spirited front row reactions.

7. SIGMA OASIS - Phish

As a shameless Phish studio LP apologist, this surprise release's beauty didn't catch me off guard. Its uniquely cathartic nature did. During such unstable times, the same four friends making music together for nearly forty years is both comforting and inspiring (Trey Anastasio's subsequent, philanthropic Beacon Jams were legitimate acts of public service). With respect to continuity and idealistic community, Phish has weirdly become America's U2.

6. PLASTIC HEARTS - Miley Cyrus

Five years ago, I drank the perfect amount of Jim Beam and saw Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz play Terminal 5. I knew that surprisingly unforgettable tour/era would eventually lead to a rewarding "rock" record like this. It feels like Ashley O's hungover layover in San Junipero.

Related: Miley's been an incredible tribute artist for years, but September's "Take It To The Limit" cover has really made my latent Eagles affection soar.

5. MCCARTNEY III - Paul McCartney

Equally loose, reflective, infectious, and miraculous. I think about McCartney's legacy almost every day, but the GOAT refreshingly confronts his own singularity (like never before) on “Deep Deep Feeling."

?4. folklore - Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift album cycles can be quite exhausting, but her folklore and evermore "reinvention" feels meticulously natural. The former is slightly better and far more memorable.

3. LETTER TO YOU - Bruce Springsteen

A rousing WESTERN STARS follow-up/pivot that completes Springsteen's finest back-to-back since BORN IN THE U.S.A./TUNNEL OF LOVE. Apple's companion documentary is its own poetic love letter to E Street's rich, tequila-soaked bandhood.

2. THE NEW ABNORMAL - The Strokes

Same, Dad! After headlining 2020's most (only?) iconic rock show in February, The Strokes essentially released a more cohesive and accessible Voidz record with arguably Julian's finest singing ever. 2019's forgotten gem "Did My Best" would've felt right at home here. Play this through a car stereo.

1. IMPLODING THE MIRAGE - The Killers

A 10-song respite that routinely makes me want to flee studio apartment solitude, rent a Subaru Zipcar, and roll down the windows while burning down the highway skyline on the back of a hurricane. HOT FUSS will always be the best Killers' record. SAM'S TOWN will always be my favorite. IMPLODING THE MIRAGE is perfectly situated somewhere in between.

Honorable Mentions:

ACOUSTIC SESSIONS - Liam Gallagher, THE ARCHER - Alexandra Savior, BEWEEN THE KITCHEN AND THE LIVING ROOM - Alex Lahey, BLUSH - Maya Hawke, BURN - Foxy Shazam, DEAR LIFE - Brendan Benson, GOOD LUCK WITH WHATEVER - Dawes, GOODMAN VS. THE NOSTALGIA MACHINE - Goodman, HIT TO HIT - 2nd Grade, LET IT GROW and RAISED IN A PLACE - Mountain Brews, LIVE IN NEWCASTLE - Frank Turner, JUMP ROPE GAZERS - The Beths, WOMEN IN MUSIC PT. III - HAIM, SILVER LANDINGS - Mandy Moore

FAVORITE 2020 SONGS (1 song per artist max)

10. "Night Crawling" - Miley Cyrus (feat. Billy Idol)

"Prisoner" and "Hate Me" are true standouts, but Idol's patiently-dispatched vocals are a real treat. Unfortunately, I may never stop thinking about what he and Bill de Blasio were doing on February 27th (!!!) of this stupid year.

9. "I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You" - Bob Dylan

My favorite 21st century Dylan track since he started thinking about Alicia Keys.

8. "It's My Masterpiece" - Mountain Brews

Before acclaimed American painter, musician, TikToker, and internet radio personality Jake Longstreth became "The Renaissance Dude America Needs" and a casual Twitter acquaintance, his Grateful Dead cover band's "Sweet Chili Heat"-fueled side project released a heady sophomore EP that's been in my rotation since late January. I could listen to the penultimate track's effervescent guitar outro for hours.

7. "No Time to Die" - Billie Eilish

While I've spent years pining for Alex Turner's elusive Bond song, Billie and FINNEAS O'Connell were born to hold us over 'til whenever 007's 25th cinematic installment is finally released.

6. "Buzzin'" - Dan Miraldi

I met this prolific NYC songwriter in a Greenwich Village record store basement (at another surprise Raconteurs show) and instantly knew we'd vibe. Miraldi's '60s-inspired melodic prowess packs a subtle, lingering sting.

5. "betty" - Taylor Swift

While I firmly believe 2019's "Lover" is Taylor's strongest song yet, "betty" best captures a rhythmic lyricist at the peak of her slyly subversive, genre-blending powers. It's bubblegum folk-pop with its toes dipped in "The River."

4. "Moon" - The Lemon Twigs

A Meat Loafian, Springsteenian Michael D'Addario showcase. Killer bridge.

3. "Dying Breed" - The Killers

Whenever/however live music returns, I'm pretty sure The Killers are the first band I want to see in a packed arena. Fairly confident they'll open with their "most romantic" (and self-referential!) anthem to date.

2. "Bad Decisions" - The Strokes

If Billy Idol and Modern English snorted some early 2000s nostalgia. Far from original, but it's nice to know The Strokes aren't too cool to have more fun than ever.

1."If I Was the Priest" - Bruce Springsteen

Vintage Springsteen embraces the "New Dylan" label he consciously abandoned on that dusty beach road. An early demo that's become a late-period high-water mark. Well worth the five-decade wait.

Spotify playlist (featuring some eclectic honorable mentions) below:

So what did I miss? Let's discuss @andrewbank or in the comments.

Wishing y'all a happier, healthier, and more rockin' 2021.