This year has been an adventure, to say the least. I’m going out on a limb here, but the pandemic has shaped the tsunami of challenges we’ve all overcome. Personally, I have grieved the loss of live music. I’ve recognized the depths to which music heals my soul. I’ve evolved in my musical tastes; rather, my appreciation for great songwriting has deepened. Our shared experiences during 2020 helped us make sense of unprecedented events together, like the killing of George Floyd, the pandemic, and a sitting American president of the United States waging war on democracy. In no particular order, this playlist represents the past year, mixtape-style. As Stephen says, without further adieu:
- This Land is Your Land – Kris Orlowski
- American Crazy – Brothers Osborne
- Blessed – Charles Ellsworth
- Cry Over Nothing – The Wood Brothers
- Breathe Forever – The Suitcase Junket
- Venice Canals – Passenger
- It Goes On – Sun Tailor
- Get By – Evan Wardell
- Listening to the Music – Zephaniah OHora
- Saturday Night Sage – Noah Lekas with Howlin Rain
- Age of Roaches – Kid Dakota
- The Dark Isn’t Right – Jacob Faurholt
- Coliseum (Live) – Howlin Rain
- Blurred Out – Thunder Dreamer
- Soul of This Town – Oliver Wood
- A Little Slander, A Little Lace – Clara Engel
- Lay it All On Me – Leslie Mendelson
- Silver Moon (For Neal) – Kenny Roby
- Bury My Bones – Whiskey Myers
- The Way of All Meat – Patrick Phelan
- Evil is but a Shadow – Miley Cyrus
- Fire – Black Pumas
- More – The Suitcase Junket
- Die Alone – FNEAS
- Grab Ahold – Seth Walker
- Patience – The Lumineers —Lisa Whealy