Tag Archives: 2020

Xiu Xiu: Oh No

On March 26, 2021, “Polyvinyl” label released “Oh No”, the twelfth Xiu Xiu album. It was recorded 2020 – 2021, at Jamie Stewart’s home studio in Los Angeles “Nurse”, and was produced by Lawrence English, Greg Saunier and Angela Seo.

Personnel:

  • Jamie Stewart – vocals, autoharp, guitar, bajo quinto, banjo, bass guitar, drums, mandolin, organ, stylophone, synthesizer, viola, xylophone, drums, percussion, sampling. engineer, design
  • Angela Seo – vocals, harmonium, piano, synthesizer bass, gong, percussion, design
  • John Congleton – Optigan, synthesizer
  • Jonathan Meiburg – vocals, animal sounds
  • Greg Saunier – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, cymbals, sampling, synthesizer, engineer
  • Charlie Looker – bass guitar, guitar
  • Jherek Bischoff – double bass
  • Zachary Dawes – double bass, bass guitar
  • David Kendrick – drums, bongos, percussion
  • Alice Bag – vocals
  • Deb Demure – vocals
  • Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo – vocals
  • Gwendolyn Sanford – vocals
  • Liz Harris – vocals
  • Sharon Van Etten – vocals
  • Susanne Sachsse – vocals
  • Valerie Diaz – vocals
  • Twin Shadow – vocals, saxophone, engineer
  • Haley Fohr – vocals, engineer
  • Angus Andrew – vocals, engineer
  • Ben Chisholm – engineer
  • Brandon Jay – engineer
  • Dan Duszynski – engineer
  • Dirk Dresselhaus – engineer
  • Justin Higgins – engineer
  • Owen Pallett – engineer
  • Paul Beauchamp – engineer
  • Alan Douches – mastering
  • Danelle Abad – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Angela Seo and Jamie Stewart, except where noted.

  1. Sad Mezcalita
  2. I Can Not Resist
  3. The Grifters
  4. Goodbye for Good
  5. Oh No
  6. Rumps Room
  7. Fuzz Gong Fight
  8. I Dream of Someone Else Entirely
  9. One Hundred Years
  10. A Classic Screw
  11. It Bothers Me All the Time
  12. Saint Dymphna
  13. Knock Out
  14. A Bottle of Rum
  15. Ants

Ben Howard: Collections from the Whiteout

On March 26, 2021, “Island” label released “Collections from the Whiteout”, the fourth Ben Howard studio album. It was recorded 2020 – 2021, at “Long Pond” in New York City, “La Frette” in Paris, and was produced by Aaron Dessner and Ben Howard.

Personnel:

  • Ben Howard – vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Aaron Dessner – guitar, piano
  • Mickey Smith – acoustic guitar, dulcimer
  • Nat Wason – electric guitar
  • Richard Thomas – keyboard, synthesizer
  • Kate Stables – vocals
  • Thomas Bartlett – synthesizer
  • Rob Moose – violin, viola
  • India Bourne – cello
  • Ryan Olson – sound effects
  • James Krivchenia – drums, percussion
  • Yussef Dayes – drums
  • Jason Treuting – drums, percussion
  • Kyle Keegan – drums
    Jonathan Low – engineer, mixing
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Roddy Bow – artwork

Track listing:

  1. Follies Fixture – Ben Howard
  2. What a Day – Ben Howard, Aaron Dessner
  3. Crowhurst’s Meme – Ben Howard, Yussef Dayes
  4. Finders Keepers – Ben Howard, Aaron Dessner
  5. Far Out – Ben Howard, Aaron Dessner
  6. Rookery – Ben Howard
  7. You Have Your Way – Ben Howard
  8. Sage That She Was Burning – Ben Howard, Aaron Dessner
  9. Sorry Kid – Ben Howard, Aaron Dessner
  10. Unfurling – Ben Howard, Aaron Dessner
  11. Metaphysical Cantations – Ben Howard, Aaron Dessner
  12. Make Arrangements – Ben Howard, Aaron Dessner
  13. The Strange Last Flight of Richard Russell – Ben Howard, Aaron Dessner, Yessef Dayes
  14. Buzzard – Ben Howard

Tomahawk: Tonic Immobility

On March 26, 2021, “Ipecac Recordings” label released “Tonic Immobility”, the fifth Tomahawk studio album. It was recorded in 2020, and was produced by Collin Dupuis, Mike Patton, Duane Denison, Trevor Dunn and John Stainer.

Personnel:

  • Mike Patton – vocals
  • Duane Denison – guitars, keyboards
  • Trevor Dunn – bass guitar
  • John Stanier – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Mike Patton, Duane Denison, Trevor Dunn and John Stainer.

  1. SHHH!
  2. Valentine Shine
  3. Predators and Scavengers
  4. Doomsday Fatique
  5. Business Casual
  6. Tattoo Zero
  7. Fatback
  8. Howlie
  9. Eureka
  10. Sidewinder
  11. Recoil
  12. Dog Eat Dog

Gordon Lightfoot: Solo

On March 20, 2020, “Warner Music Canada” label released “Solo”, the 22nd Gordon Lightfoot album. It was recorded 2019 – 2020, at “Grant Avenue Studio” in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and was produced by Gordon Lightfoot.

Personnel:

  • Gordon Lightfoot – vocals, guitar
  • Bob Doidge – recording, mixing
  • Amy King – mastering
  • Patrick Duffy – design
  • Carl Dunn – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gordon Lightfoot.

  1. Oh So Sweet
  2. E-Motion
  3. Better Off
  4. Return Into Dust
  5. Do You Walk, Do You Talk
  6. Just A Little Bit
  7. Easy Flo
  8. Dreamdrift
  9. The Laughter We Seek
  10. Why Not Give It a Try

Tower of Power: Step Up

On March 20, 2020, “Mack Avenue Records” label released “Step Up”, the 22nd Tower of Power album. It was recorded over the course of the 2010s, at “Blue Moon” in Los Angeles, “Track Shack” in Sacramento, and was produced by Joe Vannelli and Emilio Castillo.

Personnel:

  • Emilio Castillo – lead and backing vocals, tenor saxophone
  • Roger Smith – lead vocals, keyboards, Hammond B3 organ
  • Jerry Cortez – guitars, electric sitar, backing vocals
  • Marcus Scott – lead and backing vocals
  • Ray Greene – lead and backing vocals, trombone
  • Joe Vannelli – keyboards, auxiliary percussion, vibes, marimba
  • Tom E. Politzer – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Stephen “Doc” Kupka – baritone saxophone
  • Chuck Hansen – bass saxophone
  • Adolfo Acosta – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Sal Cracchiolo – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
  • David Garibaldi – drums
  • Leah Meux – backing vocals
  • Tiwana Porter – backing vocals
  • Melanie Jackson – backing vocals
  • Dave Eskridge – horn and string arrangements

Track listing:

  1. East Bay, All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  2. Step Up – Emilio Castillo, Roger Smith
  3. The Story of You and I – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  4. Who Would Have Thought – Stephen Kupka, Nick Lane, Lamont Van Hook
  5. Addicted to You – Emilio Castillo, Sydney Justin
  6. Look in My Eyes – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Kevin Henry Whalum
  7. You da One – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Sennie Rudolph Martin
  8. Sleeping with You Baby – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  9. If It’s Tea Give Me Coffee – Stephen Kupka, William Ross
  10. Beyond My Wildest Dreams – Bruce Conte
  11. Any Excuse Will Do – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Lenny Pickett
  12. If You Wanna Be a Winner – Emilio Castillo, David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  13. Let’s Celebrate Our Love – Emilio Castillo, Mark Dolin
  14. East Bay! Oaktown All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez

Daniel Lanois: Heavy Sun

On March 19, 2021, “Maker Series” label released “Heavy Sun”, the 20th Daniel Lanois album. It was recorded in 2020, and was produced by Daniel Lanois and Wayne Lorenz.

Personnel:

  • Daniel Lanois – vocal, guitar, bass, keyboards, cover art
  • Mary Shepherd – vocals
  • Rocco DeLuca – vocals
  • Jim Wilson – guitar, bass
  • Chris Thomas – keyboards, bass
  • Kyle Crane – drums
  • Brian Blade – drums
  • Noah Mintz – mastering
  • Adam CK Vollick – art processing
  • Marthe A. Vannebo – design

Track listing:

  1. Dance On
  2. Power
  3. Every Nation
  4. Way Down
  5. Please Don’t Try
  6. Tree of Tule
  7. Tumbling Stone
  8. Angels Watching
  9. (Under the) Heavy Sun
  10. Mother’s Eye
  11. Out of Sight

Lana Del Rey: Chemtrails Over the Country Club

On March 19, 2021, “Interscope” and “Polydor” labels released “Chemtrails Over the Country Club”, the seventh Lana Del Rey studio album. It was produced 2015 – 2016, 2019 – 2020, at “Conway” in Los Angeles, “Electric Lady” in New York City, and was produced by Lana Del Rey, Rick Nowels and Jack Antonoff.

Personnel:

  • Lana Del Rey – vocals
  • Jack Antonoff – piano, guitar, bass, Mellotron, keyboards, twelve-string acoustic guitar, acoustic and electric guitar, slide guitar, synthesizers, Model B synth-bass, Hammond B3, organ, Rhodes, drums, percussion, programming
  • Rick Nowels – acoustic guitar, keyboards, Mellotron, bass
  • Mikey Freedom Hart – pedal steel, piano, guitar, Mellotron
  • Aaron Sterling – drums, percussion
  • Evan Smith – horns, accordion 
  • Daniel Heath – strings
  • Trevor Yasuda – sound effects
  • Nikki Lane – additional vocals
  • Weyes Blood – additional vocals
  • Zella Day – additional vocals 
  • Laura Sisk – engineer, mixing 
  • Kieron Menzies – engineer, mixing
  • Dean Reid – engineer, mixing 
  • Trevor Yasuda – engineer
  • John Fee – engineer
  • John Rooney – engineer assistant 
  • Jon Sher – engineer assistant
  • Jack Antonoff – mixing 
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
  • Will Quinnell – mastering assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Lana Del Rey and Jack Antonoff, except where noted.

  1. White Dress
  2. Chemtrails Over the Country Club
  3. Tulsa Jesus Freak
  4. Let Me Love You Like a Woman
  5. Wild at Heart
  6. Dark but Just a Game
  7. Not All Who Wander Are Lost
  8. Yosemite – Lana Del Rey, Rick Nowels
  9. Breaking Up Slowly – Lana Del Rey, Nikki Lane
  10. Dance Till We Die
  11. For Free – Joni Mitchell

Jon Batiste: We Are

On March 19, 2021, “Verve” label released “We Are”, the eighth Jon Batiste album. It was recorded 2019 – 2020, and was produced by Kizzo, Jon Batiste and David Pimentel.

Personnel:

  • Jon Batiste – vocals, Fender jazz bass, keyboards, mellotron, Moog bass, piano, strings, theremin
  • David Gauthier – vocals
  • Braedon Gautier – vocals
  • Gospel Soul Children – vocals
  • Tori Kelly – vocals
  • Zadie Smith – vocals
  • PJ Morton – vocals
  • Emily King – vocals
  • Autumn Rowe – vocals
  • Mavis Staples – spoken word
  • Robert Randolph – pedal steel guitar
  • Steve McEwan – acoustic guitar
  • Louis Cato – guitar
  • Joe Saylor – tambourine
  • Cory Wong – guitar
  • Sam Yahel – organ
  • Craig Adams – organ, conductor
  • Endea Owens – double bass
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • David Pimentel – drums, recording
  • Nate Smith – drums
  • St. Augustine High School Marching 100 – brass band
  • Hot 8 Brass Band – brass band
  • Trombone Shorty – trombone
  • Michelle Ross – violin
  • Russell Elevado – recording
  • Misha Kachkachishvili – recording
  • Kizzo – recording
  • Alex Williams – recording
  • Marc Whitmore – recording, mixing
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Ricky Reed – mixing
  • Michelle Mancini – mastering
  • Karla Cordova – album art
  • Suleika Jaouad – photography
  • Quincy Jones – liner notes
  • Ryan Lynn – co executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Jon Batiste, except where noted.

  1. We Are – Jon Batiste, Kizzo, Autumn Rowe
  2. Tell the Truth
  3. Cry – Jon Batiste, Steve McEwan
  4. I Need You – Jon Batiste, Autumn Rowe
  5. Whatchutatalkinbout
  6. Boy Hood – Troy Andrews, Jon Batiste, Sunny Levine, PJ Morton, Jahaan Sweet
  7. Maovement 11
  8. Adulthood
  9. Mavis – Mavis Staple
  10. Freedom – Jon Batiste, Autumn Rowe, Andrae A;expander
  11. Show Me the Way
  12. Sing – Jon Batiste, Zach Cooper, Vic Dimotsis, Eric Frederic, Autumn Rowe
  13. Until

Joywave: Possession

On March 13, 2020, “Cultco Music” label released “Possession”, the third Joywave studio album. It was recorded 2018 – 2019, at Joywave’s studio in Rochester, New York, and was produced by Daniel Armbruster.

Personnel:

  • Daniel Armbruster – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, keyboards, flute, shaker
  • Benjamin Bailey – piano, acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards, organ, theremin, recorder
  • Joseph Morinelli – bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitar
  • Paul Brenner – drums
  • Jesse Blum – trumpet
  • Sameer Gadhia – backing vocals 

Track listing:

All lyrics by Daniel Armbruster, all music by Daniel Armbruster, Benjamin Bailey, Paul Brenner and Joseph Morinelli.

  1. Like a Kennedy
  2. Coming Apart
  3. Half Your Age
  4. Obsession
  5. Blank Slate
  6. F.E.A.R.
  7. Funny Things About Opinions
  8. Who Owns Who
  9. Blastoffff
  10. Possession
  11. No Shoulder
  12. Mr. Eastman

The Garden: Kiss My Super Bowl Ring

On March 13, 2020, “Epitaph” label released “Kiss My Super Bowl Ring”, the fourth Garden (The) studio album. It was recorded 2019 – 2020, at “Senhorse Studios”, and was produced by Dylan Brady, Jamie Bulled, Fletcher Shears and Wyatt Shears.

Personnel:

  • Wyatt Shears – vocals, bass, electronics, guitars
  • Fletcher Shears – vocals, drums, electronics
  • Khalif Jones – additional vocals
  • Ariel Pink – additional vocals
  • Carrot Top – vocal samples
  • Wharfwhit – vocal samples
  • Samur Khouja – engineer, mixing
  • Jim Kissling – mastering
  • Alex Petty – artwork
  • Ashley Clue – assistant art director, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Wyatt Shears and Fletcher Shears.

  1. Clench to Stay Awake
  2. A Struggle
  3. Sneaky Devil
  4. Kiss My Super Bowl Ring
  5. A Fool’s Expedition
  6. AMPM Truck
  7. Hit Eject
  8. The King of Cutting Corners
  9. Lurkin
  10. Lowrider Slug
  11. Please, Fuck Off