Popular With Me 2020: The editor’s album picks

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“I know you’re the ‘local music’ guy,” I am asked, the questioner often adding air quotes, “but what do you listen to when you’re not listening to ‘L.A. Buzz Bands?’”

In recent years, not a lot, to tell you the truth. There’s only so much time in the day.

But here’s my “Editor’s Picks,” a short list of albums (OK, a couple are by former residents of the L.A. area) that moved my dial in 2020. Included are three that I strongly feel are underrepresented (or just plain absent) from the year-end lists compiled by many publications I read: Deep Sea Diver, Other Lives and Clem Snide. Plus, some old faves still doing great things.

Here it is:

1. Deep Sea Diver, “Impossible Weight” — With apologies to all the other fine rock records made this year (Fontaines D.C. and IDLES, to name a couple), where is this in every major publication’s top albums list? Somebody whiffed.

2. Moses Sumney, “grae” — Stunning.

3. Other Lives, “For Their Love” — Have they ever made an album that’s less than great? No.

4. Clem Snide, “Forever Just Beyond” — Where was this album on all the best-Americana year-end lists? Made with Scott Avett, this album has zero misfires. Confessions of a Clem Snide/Eff Barzely completist: This is the best in his record catalog.

5. Hum, “Inlet” — Now this is how you do a “comeback” album.

6. Nothing, “The Great Dismal” — Best way to feed my shoegaze jones.

7. Doves, “The Universal Want.”

8. The Cribs, “Night Network.”

9. Bob Mould, “Blue Hearts” — Just relentlessly fantastic, isn’t he?

10. Nation of Language, “Introduction, Presence” — Brooklyn synth trio doing smart, early 2000s-style synth pop.

11. Sea Girls, “Open Up Your Head” — Servicing my need to hear fresh-faced U.K. kids making pop.

12. Nathaniel Rateliff, “And It’s Still Alright” — Once upon a time, in 2009, some obscure Denver folk singer held a small crowd absolutely rapt for 40 minutes at the Silverlake Lounge. It was this guy, sounding kinda like this.

Oh, and some people named Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney released albums this year, too, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Those records by that woman Taylor, too.

||| Also see: Popular With Us 2020: Buzz Bannds LA’s Favorite Albums of 2020