Top Songs Of 2020

Earlier this month, I revealed my top favorite albums of 2020. Luckily, in an otherwise tumultuous year, we were able to turn to music for relief. To hone in on these impressive releases in more detail, I will now be ranking my favorite songs of the year. These tracks all offer something different and unique, and there is a good variety of genres included here. Let’s jump right into it.

10. “Soul Control” - Jessie Ware

Jessie Ware’s infectious, ‘80s inspired dance anthems are what made What’s Your Pleasure? so special. “Soul Control” synthesizes all of the fantastic elements from this album into one track with Ware’s excellent vocal performance, an upbeat instrumental backing, and synth-pop inspiration, making this track instantly-lovable. How could you not dance along?

9. “WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)” - Cardi B

Both an instant meme and an empowering statement for women around the world, the release of WAP took the internet by storm. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion let it all hang out on this track, bringing some of their strongest and most confidence verses to the table. Wonderfully vulgar and hilariously explicit, I had to recognize WAP’s significance on this list.

8. “Only The Strong” - Laura Marling

Laura Marling’s beautiful singer-songwriter album Song For Our Daughter is made up of one compelling track after another. Though I could choose many from this project, “Only The Strong” meant the most of them all to me this year. Marling’s delivery is more blunt and to-the-point than usual here, and the ambient acoustic and piano-backed folk instrumental is a feather in the wind. Fantastic song that reflects on a variety of topics.

7. “The Adults Are Talking” - The Strokes

The opening track to The Strokes’ most recent album The New Abnormal is exactly what I wanted from this band. Sonically similar to the fan favorite “Reptilia”, “The Adults Are Talking” utilizes Julian Casablancas’ recognizable vocals perfectly. The backing instrumentation is impressive, and the post-chorus call-and-response guitar riffs are simply addictive.

6. “Blinding Lights” - The Weeknd

This smash hit will define The Weeknd’s current era for years to come. Sparkling synth progressions, a bouncy and playful beat, and echoing vocals make for a return to popular ‘80s sounds. It’s no wonder why this track is as popular as it is. Abel’s vocal performance is up to his high standard, making this one of my favorite tracks off of After Hours.

5. “Aries (feat. Peter Hook and Georgia)” - Gorillaz

Gorillaz’ album release this year left me satisfied that they had finally returned to the sound that I fell in love with when I was younger. While a track like “Pac-Man (feat. ScHoolboy Q” follows the band’s formula more closely, I selected “Aries” because of its relaxing aura and genius feature implementation. Peter Hook, of New Order fame, brings his signature sound to this spectacular track, and Damon Albarn’s vocals are distorted perfectly. Great stuff.

4. “I Know The End” - Phoebe Bridgers

I said in my review for Punisher that “I Know The End” is one of the best closing tracks on any album in recent memory. Bridgers’ gentle vocal delivery haunts the first third of the track as the stage is set for the coming narrative: an apocalyptic reality. The second third of the song picks up tempo, and the narrative continues as Bridgers’ drives straight into the end of the world. The track crescendos into a loud and unsettling climax with multilayered instrumentation, as Bridgers screams quietly into the mic. Fantastic track.

3. “Shameika” - Fiona Apple

I recently upgraded Fiona Apple’s Fetch The Bolt Cutters from a 9 to a 10 as I’ve come to better understand the closing tracks, which were the only thing stopping me from calling this album perfect. Its raw and chaotic energy are still enticing and fascinating, and no track embodies that more successfully than “Shameika.” Spastic piano backing, an overwhelming drum presence, and unsteady but controlled vocals help portray childhood uncertainty and insecurity. I love the story being told here.

2. “Good News” - Mac Miller

The first posthumous single after Mac Miller’s unexpected death hit me, and many others, like a ton of bricks. The tasteful music video accompaniment chillingly complements the almost prophetic lyrics in which Miller reflects on life more clearly than ever before. “Why does everybody need me to stay?”, “Maybe I’ll lay down for a little”, and “I wish that I could just get out my god damn way” eerily haunt the listener who knows Mac is now gone. The plucky and flowy instrumental is gentle, and the chorus tugs at the heartstrings. Miss him.

1. “walking in the snow” - Run The Jewels

I knew this was my song of the year on its first listen. Released right around the Civil Rights protests that helped define 2020, this track, recorded in 2019, reflects on many of these themes preemptively and accurately. This is less of a prediction and more of an indication that these topics, such as police brutality, are perpetual and are just now getting public attention in the U.S. El-P’s verse about the nature of oppression is strong, especially with the hard-hitting instrumental backing, but Killer Mike’s verse is one of the best rap verses in the past decade for me. Every bar is meaningful, impactful, and layered. It covers intergenerational wealth mobility, the education system, news programming, police brutality, performative activism, and systemic violence among other topics. “Until my voice goes from a shriek to whisper “I can’t breathe”” is the standout bone-chilling line, but Killer Mike’s entire verse is spectacular. This timely and grimy track is so potent that it is my favorite song of 2020.

I’m excited to see what kinds of releases we get, both songs and albums, in 2021. Hopefully artists who are overdue to release projects come through with strong offerings. Until then, these songs and tracks from my favorite albums of the year are on repeat. Thanks for reading.

The Importance Of The Georgia Senate Runoff

After months of anticipation, campaigning, and voting, the 2020 Presidential election was finally decided in favor of Joe Biden. Despite countless and baseless disputes from the Trump administration questioning the validity of the results, the Electoral College officially selected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President-elect and Vice President-elect, respectively, last week. Although this victory was a massive win for Democracy in the face of an authoritarian candidate, the future of the United States’ government is still in the balance. Due to the nature of the Senate elections, it’s still undetermined which party will control this vital role in the system, as the Georgia Senate Election in November has led to two separate runoffs. These runoffs will end on January 5th, and Joe Biden’s ability to pass meaningful legislation will be determined. These are two incredibly important elections.

The standard election is between Jon Ossoff and incumbent David Perdue, and the special election is between Reverend Raphael Warnock and Trump-appointee Kelly Loeffler. Ossoff gained national notoriety for his campaign against Karen Handel, and Warnock picked up some popularity from the viral nature of his sermons. While neither of these candidates are legislatively progressive by any means, they are significantly more in-line with progressive sentiment than their Republican counterparts.

To put it simply: David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler both knowingly profited off of the coronavirus pandemic. Insider trading and intentional misinformation allowed these two to make money off of stocks related to COVID-19 related companies, all while downplaying the pandemic’s severity to encourage a premature reopening of businesses in Georgia, where the pandemic has run rampant. As coronavirus numbers continue to rise uncontrollably prior to the wide release of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, this election could allow a Democratic majority in the Senate, which would provide much-needed relief to families and businesses before the pandemic ends. The next stimulus package has left many bewildered and disappointed, as it will send only $600 after months of no government assistance - not nearly enough to call meaningful relief.

A Republican-controlled Senate would create gridlock for the first two years of the Biden administration. A Democratically-controlled Senate would protect Civil Rights, work toward solving the coronavirus pandemic, and help Americans move toward progress and equality. Any Georgians who have not yet voted should do so, as high voter turnout has historically helped the Democratic Party. Polls are indicating a slight Democratic lead, but I'll believe it when I see it. We must win this thing. Thanks for reading.

Top Albums Of 2020

This agonizingly difficult year is finally coming to an end. Twelve months of worldwide struggle, strife, and angst does have a silver lining, however, which was the great music that resulted from the tumultuous chaos we’ve been navigating. Today, one of my most highly anticipated days of the year, is when I’ll be listing my top albums of 2020.

I need to first list the honorable mentions that didn’t quite crack my top ten. These were all great records that stood out for one reason or another but were just slightly outshined by some of their competitors. SAWAYAMA - Rina Sawayama (8/10) is able to add her own twist to a somewhat oversaturated pop genre, offering sometimes aggressive instrumentation that fits her confident attitude. Future Nostalgia - Dua Lipa (8/10) is one of this year’s most innovative pop albums with back-to-back futuristic hits. Shore - Fleet Foxes (8/10) is a wonderfully complex and textured album that reflects on the times we’re living through beautifully. Starting Over - Chris Stapleton (8/10) proves why this famed country singer has established himself as the king of country music. Alfredo - Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist (8/10) is a stellar and smooth rap record that drips confidence, but remains self-reflective. Reunions - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (7/10) provides hit after hit of country blues tracks that highlight Isbell’s lyrical abilities. Folklore - Taylor Swift (7/10) takes this pop megastar into completely uncharted territories, which she navigates swimmingly. Positions - Ariana Grande (7/10) shows a matured yet playful side of Grande that I can’t wait to see grow even more. Saint Cloud - Waxahatchee (7/10) is a Dylan-esque country meditation with hypnotic melodies. Finally, The Slow Rush - Tame Impala (7/10) demonstrates yet again the kind of musical genius Kevin Parker proves himself to be. All of these albums are a part of my permanent library, but the next ten are the albums that defined this year for me. With that being said, let’s get into it.

10. The New Abnormal - The Strokes (8/10)

Manhattan’s own beloved indie rock band The Strokes return to form with their most exciting release in years. The New Abnormal aggregates the band’s best qualities into a compact track list that doesn’t disappoint. Julian Casablanca’s signature vocal delivery returns me to the band’s classics like “Reptilia”, and tracks like “The Adults Are Talking”, “Selfless”, and “At The Door” are some of the group’s best ever. A great album that just cracks the top ten for the year.

9. What’s Your Pleasure? - Jessie Ware (8/10)

Riding the disco synthpop wave that has ingratiated itself into the genre, coming full circle from the 1980s, Jessie Ware jampacked this album with excellent tracks. I’m not much of a dancer — who am I kidding? I never dance — but songs like “Ooh La La” and “Soul Control” do just what their titles suggest. The production, lyrical performance, and instrumentation are impressive, but more importantly consistent, all throughout this spectacular and glamorous record.

8. how i’m feeling now - Charli XCX (8/10)

I knew it would be an uphill battle for Charlie XCX to top last year’s magnum opus Charli, which was my second favorite album of 2019. When I found out that she was not only releasing another album so soon but doing so in quarantine made me apprehensive. how i’m feeling now, while not as squeaky clean as its predecessor, does exactly what it set out to do by creating a playlist for partying in isolation. This optimistic album reinforces that Charli is continuing her reign as one of my favorite artists right now. Great stuff.

7. Punisher - Phoebe Bridgers (8/10)

Punisher is an emotionally complex album for me. Bridgers’ dry sarcasm and heartbreakingly relatable insights glide over largely ambient instrumentals. This pent up emotion culminates in the album’s closing track “I Know The End”, though, one of my favorite closers in the past few years. This is often the album I have turned to for times of quiet contemplation, and because of that, it’s one of my favorite albums of the year.

6. After Hours - The Weeknd (8/10)

I’ll address this once: It’s complete and utter bullshit that The Weeknd received zero Grammy nominations for or related to this album. After Hours is inarguably, to me, Abel’s best work by far. Instead of trying something completely new, he was able to refine his sound down to its essence, utilizing the best aspects of each of his eras to create a matured, nostalgic, and just plain catchy album. Every song has something unique to offer, and tracks like “Blinding Lights” and “In Your Eyes” are smash-hits. Looking forward to his Super Bowl performance - he earned it with this record.

5. Visions of Bodies Being Burned - clipping. (9/10)

A perfect sequel to the psychological thriller that was last year’s There Existed an Addition to Blood, Visions of Bodies Being Burned is another stellar offering from Daveed Diggs and company. Incorporating horror movie elements is magnetizing to a Halloween-head like me, and they do it so well on this album. In some ways, this record is better than the first installation. The continually developing instrumental backing is thoroughly impressive, and Daveed Diggs continues to become one of my favorite Jack of all trades rappers. Fantastic project.

4. Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez - Gorillaz (9/10)

At long last — a damn near perfect Gorillaz album. Damon Albarn has finally recaptured the essence of the Gorillaz who I grew to love and appreciate with albums like Demon Days and Plastic Beach. Features are implemented amazingly, pairing dissimilar artists together seamlessly. Some of the songs here, like “Pac-Man (feat. ScHoolboy Q)” and “Aries (feat. Peter Hook and Georgia)” are some of my favorites in Gorillaz’ entire discography. I hope there’s more where this project came from because it is dynamic and reawakens the spirit that makes this band who they are.

3. Song For Our Daughter - Laura Marling (9/10)

Laura Marling’s gentle but potent delivery makes Song For Our Daughter one of the most emotionally resonant listens of the year for me. Fun at times, sad at others, and impressive from beginning to end, this singer-songwriter record is magnificent in its composition and execution. Marling’s vocal performance here is one of my favorites of the year. Heartfelt and touching, this is a fantastic project that I imagine will age very well in the coming years.

2. RTJ4 - Run The Jewels (9/10)

Killer Mike and El-P are the epitome of a dynamic duo. They’re certainly no strangers to hard-hitting and timely bars, and RTJ4 is no exception. A lot of the subject matter written here, particularly relating to racial tensions and relations, is unsettlingly relevant, especially since it was written before this year’s racial protests. This proves that these issues have been long-lasting and systemic, not simply a new trend. A track like “walking in the snow”, my favorite song of the year, is so effective because it speaks to the moment. As soon as Killer Mike’s verse started for the first time, I knew I was in for something bone-chilling and masterfully crafted. Most of this album is just that. Any other year, RTJ4 would likely take home the top prize and number one spot. This year, however, there was one record that outshined this stellar project…

1. Fetch The Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple (10/10)

Truly incredible music meets the moment and brings something new to the table. On Fetch The Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple is able to reach a place in my mind that had gone untouched up until that point. On this record, we are reminded to put one foot in front of the other no matter how challenging and insurmountable the circumstances may seem. The unabashed vulnerability of Apple’s vocal performance on this album, both aggressive and submissive at different times, are examples of pure artistic expression. The curtain is pulled back, and I am able to witness Apple’s reality as if it were my own for this album’s 51-minute runtime. Released at the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the sentiment of cutting one’s self out of their imposed box was perfect for the moment. That time allowed for vast introspection, too, which this project doesn’t shy away from indulging in. There simply is no music that sounds like Fetch The Bolt Cutters, and there may never be again. Nearly perfect from beginning to end, this is my favorite album of the year.

I grappled with this year’s rankings almost every day until recently coming to a final list I am satisfied with. Music was one of the best things to come out of an otherwise very challenging year. This is just my opinion and preference, but I highly suggest that you check out the albums I discussed here, including the honorable mentions. Thanks for reading! Also, here’s a Spotify playlist of my favorite songs from the albums featured in this post.

Joe Biden Wins The 2020 Presidential Election

It’s done. Over the past four days, the United States has waited patiently as legally-cast ballots were counted in key swing states across the country. On Saturday morning, Pennsylvania was called by most mainstream media news networks, putting Joe Biden above the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency. Kamala Harris is now the first woman to be Vice President-Elect, which shows how far we’ve come as a nation.

This election has served as a decisive referendum against Donald Trump’s failed leadership. After dealing with vast racial tensions, an uncontrolled pandemic, and constant attacks against democracy, the American people chose Joe Biden with more votes than any other presidential candidate in the country’s history.

Honor, humility, empathy, and respect will return to the White House. Competence and dedication will return to the White House. We now have a President and Vice President-Elect who will govern for all Americans, not just for their supporters. Today is historic, and I’m so relieved to know definitively that we’ve made the right decision.

Final 2020 Presidential Election Prediction

Tomorrow marks a very important day for the United States. In less than twenty-four hours from now, voters will be lining up all across the country to cast their ballots for the 2020 presidential election. Although tomorrow is the last day to cast a ballot in this election cycle, early voter turnout has been record-breaking. This is in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but polls show that voter enthusiasm may also be at an all-time high. So far, the race has been steady. Joe Biden has maintained a roughly 8% national lead over Donald Trump and has maintained slightly tighter leads in battleground states for the entire cycle. Barring something unprecedented happening, such as polls with an unpredictably high error or Trump making an effort to steal the election, Joe Biden is clearly favored to become the 46th president of the United States. I’ve predicted the outcome of the election multiple times on my blog, and in this post, I will do so for the last time until we find out the result, whenever that may be. Let’s get into it.

When determining who I believe will win each state and district, I looked at historical precedent, polling data, and local issues to make my predictions. Some states, whose polls are overwhelming partisan and consistent, can easily be categorized as “safe” for their respective candidate. Due to many previously safe Republican states shifting to the left, Joe Biden’s advantage becomes significant early on in tabulating electoral vote shares. There is no doubt that California, New York, and Illinois will go to Biden, or that Wyoming, North Dakota, and West Virginia will go to Trump.

The “likely” states for each candidate are states I believe will be decided by a >10% but <15% popular vote margin. Very few would doubt Colorado going to Biden or Indiana going to Trump, although these states will be slightly too close to call them “safe” for their candidate. Perhaps if these states allocated their electoral vote share proportionally, candidates would make more of an attempt to reach out to voters here. But due to their partisan composition, it just remains that no surprises will come out of these states on election night.

I categorize “lean” states with a popular vote margin of >5% but <10%. This is where things get interesting and challenging to predict. Recent A+ rated rustbelt polls show Biden is probably going to recover the “blue wall” of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania that Hillary Clinton lost in 2016. It should be noted that, against popular opinion, the last election’s national and state-level polls were fairly accurate, and all mostly within a margin of error that happened to favor Trump. This can be explained by Clinton’s failure to properly campaign in these states in the final stretch, James Comey’s influential letter just weeks before election day, and pollster bias which didn’t account for the education factor heavily enough. Since adjustments have been made in polling methodology since then (see 2018’s mid-terms) and there have been very few scandals in this cycle that have stuck against Biden, there’s no reason to assume polls will be as off as they were in 2016. As we begin to look at the “tilt” states of this election cycle, it becomes clear that Trump is the definitive underdog yet again, even more so than in 2016, and that he would need to sweep every battleground state in this year’s election to have a chance at winning. The problem for him: he’s down in almost all of them.

The two non-circumstantial factors that differentiate Biden’s campaign from Clinton’s are 1) stability, and 2) enthusiasm. Clinton’s leads in 2016 fluctuated greatly, which hasn’t been the case for Biden yet. On election day in the last cycle, Hillary Clinton was on both a national and statewide downswing that eventually favored Trump. Additionally, Clinton’s leads weren’t nearly as high as Biden’s have been so far, with Biden polling 50+% in multiple battlegrounds ahead of Trump according to A+ pollsters. We can’t count Trump out just yet, though, because this election is also one of the most unprecedented in the country’s history, as it is taking place in the middle of a pandemic. Turnout and mail-in ballots are variables that need to be considered, although it is difficult to predict how Trump’s likely premature declaration of victory will affect the race on election night, if at all. We’ve already talked about the red mirage theory on this blog, but even that may prove null if any of the swing sunbelt states show a sizable victory for Biden tomorrow night.

My tilt state predictions are even slightly conservative as I give Trump Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, and Texas, all of which very well could go to Biden. I’ve made the joke before that if Florida voters were to choose between world peace and a sexually transmitted disease, the vote would be 51%-49% and the choice wouldn’t be clear, so it’s difficult for me to expect Biden to win here, but polling has consistently shown a steady shot for the Biden campaign to end the election on November 3rd by winning the Sunshine State. Arizona, which has been shifting left consistently over the past few election cycles, is in the same boat, and will greatly increase Biden’s chances of winning if he secures its electoral votes. North Carolina polling has shown preferential for Biden, although I wouldn’t be shocked if it (or any of the other states mentioned here) went in Trump’s direction. However, I believe the keystone and most likely tipping point state of this election, Pennsylvania, will be closer than many expect.

I want to first address that Donald Trump’s rhetoric surrounding the potential discarding of hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots that aren’t processed by election night is authoritarian, fascistic, and anti-American. I’m glad that the Attorney General of Pennsylvania is confident in his ability to sustain these ballots if they are to be challenged by Trump’s lawyers. Trump has basically lived in Pennsylvania these last few days, though, and it bordering ultra-conservative West Virginia makes me think the popular vote margin in PA will be around 2 or 3%. By now, though, according to my predictions, Biden will have secured a popular vote victory of 335-203, becoming the President-Elect of the United States.

We all just want this election to be over. The constant headlines, divisiveness, and lies from the Trump administration have proven even more exhausting than I ever thought possible. In Biden, there will be a return to at least a level of decorum and respect for the White House that will allow us to address challenges such as racial disparity, COVID-19, and climate change, among others. If you haven’t voted yet, safely go to an in-person polling location tomorrow and do so. It’s your responsibility as a citizen to stay informed and engaged. Also, stay safe - I don’t want things to get ugly out there, but the way things have happened so far this year, nothing surprises me anymore at this point. Thanks for reading.