Random Notes from a Crank

Here are some enlightening factoids from "Harper's Index" and Harper's Findings from the January issue:

• Number of children the Trump Administration separated from their parents at the border whose parents have yet to be located: 666
• Estimated portion of those parents who have been deported without their children: 2/3
• Factor by which the word "hate" is said more often on Fox News than on MSNBC: 5.5
• Number of climate-related disasters worldwide between 1980 and 1999: 3,656
• Between 2000 and 2019: 6,681
• Percentage by which sales on Minibar, an alcohol e-commerce site, exceeded the average on the day Biden was declared president: 76
• By which sales of champagne exceeded the average: 386
• "Five of the six early Homo species were driven to extinction by climate change." 
• "Hot days worsen test scores for black and Hispanic children."

I featured this article in the previous post about albums of the year, but do yourself a favor and read "The Words To Describe 2020," which is a recount of the words that Washington Post readers used to describe the year. The top three were "exhausting," "lost," and "chaotic." But my favorite submission was this one: "Like looking both ways before crossing the street and then getting hit by a submarine." 

Top Ten/Twenty Albums of 2020

 It's that time of the year again. And 2020 has been a shitshow of a year. 

Like I did in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, I'm providing my top choices of albums that came out this year. 

I didn't acquire as much new music as I have in past because I only purchased twenty new albums.   

I'm providing my top twenty albums with a few albums that came out in 2020 that I'm thinking about getting. If there are other albums you would recommend that came out in 2020, please let me know in the comments section. 

Regardless, in dishonor of what a crappy year it has been, you should also check out these articles in The Washington Post:

• "The Words To Describe 2020"
• "Dave Barry's Year in Review"

1. Drive-By Truckers - The New OK

This was the second album by DBT this year since The Unraveling came out, if I remember right, in January. I am sure there are some old DBT fans who are pushing back on the band's overtly political lyrics. There's all kinds of commentary about this on the InterWebs. I doubt Hood and Cooley give a damn. If there's an album that sums up this year, this one is it. 

Favorite songs: "Watching the Orange Clouds," "The New OK," "The Perilous Night," and "The Distance"

2. Nathaniel Rateliff - And It's Still Alright

I reckon it was a tough conversation that was had with The Night Sweats when the lead singer told them he wanted to record a solo album. But it makes sense. This album doesn't have the vibe of a Nathaniel Ratliff and the Night Sweats album. It's very much an introspective, intimate album about loss and learning. 

Favorite songs: "Rush On," "Expecting to Lose," "You Need Me," and "Mavis"

3. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

Getting this album made me want to get her previous album. I got introduced to this artist via a couple of late night shows and a fraternity brother via FB. I find her lyrics interesting--talk about fighting with undesirable people and how people's mindsets are nonsense. She does interesting work. 

Favorite songs: "Garden Song," "Chinese Satellite," "Savior Complex," and "Kyoto"

4. American Aquarium - Lamentations

This is another album of its time. The lead singer targets some obvious problems from a Southern point of view, especially his take on the 45th president in "Me + Mine (Lamentations)." This is another fine album from the band. 

Favorite songs: "Me + Mine (Lamentations)," "A Better South," "The Luckier You Get," and "Starts With You"

5. Drive-By Truckers - The Unraveling

This album started the year. Interestingly enough, it's one fo the few albums by DBT that doesn't use the signature artwork their albums are known for. "Thoughts and Prayers" is one of my favorite songs of the year. 

Favorite songs: "Thoughts and Prayers," "Armageddon's Back in Town Again," "Grievance Merchants," and "Slow Ride Argument"

6. Pearl Jam - Gigaton

This is an album that I like initially on the first listen besides one song ("Buckle Up," which is one of my least favorite Pearl Jam songs), but it's an album I need to listen to more often. I just keep forgetting about it. When Lightning Bolt came out, I wore out that album. I find this one comparable. 

Favorite songs: "Quick Escape," "Never Destination," "Retrograde," and "Who Ever Said"

7. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Reunions

 

I'll freely admit that Reunions is probably my least favorite Isbell album. I wanted to like it a lot, but it just doesn't grab me like the other albums. Regardless of my misgivings in regard to how this one fits into his catalog, It's a good album. Here's one of my favorite snippets of lyrics of 2020: "We're all struggling with the world on fire." 

Favorite songs: "Dreamsicle," "River," "St. Peter's Autograph," and "What've I've Done to Help"

8. Bruce Springsteen - Letter to You

The old rocker goes all introspective. It works. 

Favorite songs: "Last Man Standing," "Ghosts," "House of a Thousand Guitars," and "Burnin' Train" 

9. Run the Jewels - RTJ4

As you would surmise if you're following my Music Friday posts, I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop. But I like Run the Jewels. And the group provided this album for free this year. I also like free. "Look at these slave masters posing on your dollar." 

Favorite songs: "Ju$t," "Never Look Back," "A Few Words for the Firing Squad (Radiation)," and "Walking In The Snow"

10. Ray LaMontagne - MONOVISION

LaMontagne is one of those artists I like, but I seem to be hit and miss with his releases. I have a few, but I don't have anywhere close to all of them. Heck, I only have three of his albums. So 2020 was a hit year. It's a solid album that features his folky, soulful music. 

Favorite songs: "Misty Morning Rain," "Highway to the Sun," "We'll Make It Through," and "Strong Enough"

11. High on Stress - Hold Me In

As much as I like a good concept album, what I appreciate more is a straightforward rock and roll band. High on Stress is a band I discovered via Twitter (@Quintilan376) in 2020. They remind me of late era Replacements in some regard. 

Favorite songs: "Work Release," "Progress Is A Busted Line," "Wish This Moment Gone," and "Relax"

12. Jack Garrett - Love, Death, & Dancing

I absolutely enjoyed this bloke's previous album, and this one is solid too. He's such a talented dude. 

Favorite songs: "Time," "Circles," "Better," and "Old Enough"

13. Green Day - Father of All...

This is a decent collection of short post-punk rock and roll songs from a band that is already in the Hall of Fame, which I find a little strange. 

Favorite songs: "Fire, Ready, Aim," "I Was a Teenage Teenager," "Sugar Youth," and "Father of All..."

14. Sarah Jarosz - World on the Ground

The über-talented Jarosz produced another fine albums this year. I got to it late in the year, so I haven't given it as many spins as I should have because there is some fine work on this album, which has gotten some acclaim and awards.

Favorite songs: "What Do I Do," "I'll Be Gone," "Pay It No Mind," and "Johnny"

15. Sturgill Simpson - Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1

While what the album provides is not new material from Simpson, it provides his "hits" of sorts in the form of bluegrass. He assembled a host of talented musicians to translate parts of his fine catalog to bluegrass. I haven't gotten volume 2 yet. 

Favorite songs: "Turtles All the Wall Down," "Living the Dream," "Just Let It Go," and "Breakers Roar"

16. Margo Price - That's How Rumors Get Started

Price is not afraid to call out people on their bullshit. This album has more of a rock vibe to it, which has garnered her some criticism. I don't think she gives a damn. 

Favorite songs: "I'd Die For You," "Gone To Stay," "Letting Me Down," and "Prisoner of the Highway"

17. The Third Mind - self-titled

I can't recall how I happened upon this album, but I found out about it somehow. I especially like the instrumental "East West." 

Favorite songs: "East West" and "Morning Dew"

18. Jayhawks - Xoxo

Here's another album I got to late from a band I first got introduced to in the 90s. It's what you would expect from the Jayhawks - straightforward alt-country. 

Favorite songs: "Society Pages," "Dogtown Days," "Bitter Pill," and "Homecoming"

19. G Love & Special Sauce - The Juice

I was at a friend's house a while back, and they were playing some G Love & Special Sauce. I took the plunge and got a couple of his albums. He's been around a while. I remember visiting Baton Rouge back in 1997, and he was playing there. He's still doing his schtick. 

Favorite songs: "Birmingham (featuring Robert Randolph and Keb Mo)," "Go Crazy," "Diggin' Roots," and "Fix Your Face" 

20. Bruce Hornsby - Non-Secure Connection

This ain't your radio-friendly Bruce Hornsby from the 90s. He's pushing boundaries, and I don't think some of his traditional fans are liking it. 

Favorite songs: "Non-Secure Connection," "Bright Star Cast," "Porn Hour," "Time, the Thief" 

Some albums that came out this year that I'm thinking about purchasing

Dawes - Good Luck with Whatever

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Fleet Foxes - Shore

Music Friday: "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town"

 It's Xmas, so what the hell. Let's feature this classic.

Sunday Hangover: Florida

 SEC Champs. 

The defensive performance form the Crimson Tide was not what I would have hoped for. They just gave up so many explosive plays, especially in the second half. The pass defense was lacking. But the Tide did well against the run though Florida has not traditionally been a running-oriented offense. 

Harris put on an absolute show - 5 TDs: 3 receiving, 2 running. 

Smitty had another great performance - 15 receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns. 

Next up is a match against the Fighting Irish. Let's hope the Tide is ready for a running QB. I suspect they'll learn from what Clemson did to them in the ACC Championship. 

But Notre Dame has the advantage in that few, if any, people will pick the Irish to defeat Alabama. They'll be motivated by how they are the underdogs. 

Music Friday: "What's Your Favorite Color?"

 Yesterday this song came across my iPod shuffle as I was walking the dog. 

Living Colour is a vastly under appreciated band. They're still putting out solid albums.  

Stay Positive: Five Sad Songs

 I mentioned this in a recent Music Friday post, but after reading Ander Monson's "The Sadnesses of March" in his collection I Will Take the Answer, I thought about the two-person committee's selection of "Here Comes a Regular" from The Replacements. 

I noted another sad song from The Replacements that is an opus of sadness: "Answering Machine." 

I also like sad songs. They make us empathize with the precarious, pathos-laden nature of the human condition.  

So I'm featuring some other sad songs that the committee might want to check out if they ever revive the tournament with songs from different eras. I will note that most of them are about death in some way, so I'm thinking about doing another post of this ilk to focus on sad songs not necessarily related to death. 

"Elephant" by Jason Isbell 

Nothing like a song about cancer to make people cry when he performs this in concert. As is typical of Isbell's fine work, he's a master storyteller. The song's persona is the husband of a woman who has cancer. 

 

Lyrics of Note: "We burn these joints in effigy and cry about what we used to be/ and try to ignore the elephant somehow."

"Puttin' People on the Moon" by the Drive-By Truckers

I thought about a number of songs by DBT to put here, especially from their last few albums that are strongly political, but this is a classic DBT sad song that features healthy smidges of anger and despair. And I like this live version better than the one on The Dirty South.

. 

Lyrics of Note: "Another joker in the White House said a change is coming 'round./ But I'm still working at the Wal-Mart and Mary Alice in the ground." 

"Ballad of the Dying Man" by Father John Misty

Mr. Tillman is adept at social commentary. I wouldn't call this a traditional sad song, but it's one that makes us think about one's addiction to technology, which harnesses a certain kind of Black Mirror kind of sadness.

 

Lyrics of Note: "What he'd give for one more day to rate and analyze/ the world in his image as of yet/ to realize what a mess to leave behind." 

"Holiday" by James McMurtry

This song is so fitting for the holiday season. McMurtry is one of the finest lyricists alive right now. For me, this tune explicates a regret for people like me who no longer have their parents in this world. Some of my fondest memories are when my large family would get together for Xmas eve. Aside from my personal reaction, the lyrics expose the dread some people have for the holidays and presents images of loneliness.

 

Lyrics of Note: "Silent and shattered and numb to the core,/ they count themselves lucky/ they got through one more holiday." 

 

"Speed Trap Town" by Jason Isbell

Here we go with Isbell again. Like "Elephant," it's a tightly constructed narrative about visiting a father for the last time in an ICU and the persona's decision to leave.

Lyrics of Note: "Drank a cup of coffee by an Indian mound/ a thousand miles away from that speed trap town" 

The reference to the Indian mound reminds of the University of Alabama's Moundville Archeological Park. 

Random Notes from a Crank

 Saturday Night Live did a good skit on the stupidity of the holiday ads that have some significant other giving the other a car for Xmas. I've never gotten those commercials, especially that GM one that has a dude giving his wife and himself two new vehicles. 

Only rich white people would think that buying a car for Xmas is an attainable goal. 

If Coach Monken (Army) or Coach Niumatalolo (Navy) don't get one of these coaching jobs out there, ADs have no guts. Think of how excellent athletes at big time D1 program could do the triple option (think Nebraska of old) and update it with some passing wrinkles.

In the era of more dual-threat QBs, it just makes sense. They could take those offenses, adopt a more balanced approach of running and passing with really good athletes, and give some teams some serious problems.

Maybe the Vanderbilt AD has the guts and brains to hire either Niumatalolo or Monken.

I was surprised Gus Malzahn got canned by Auburn. However, his 21 million dollar buyout will be him comfortable.

Illinois finally got around to firing Lovie Smith. It's kind of hard to retain a coach who has never had a winning season.

The U of Illinois is a shambles of a Big 10 program. I read in The Athletic today that in their last signing class only three of their commits were in-state recruits.

Sunday Hangover: Arkansas

After the Razorbacks scored their lone field goal, it was like a switch was flipped for the Crimson Tide offense and defense. 

After Smith had that punt return for a TD, it was over. 

Mac was the usual Mac Jones, and the line played well. 

The concern going into the SEC Championship Game is whether one of the leading tacklers on the team and a Butkus Award finalist, Christian Harris, will play. He banged up his shoulder on the first play of the game, but Moody filled in admirably for him during the game. 

I worry about Florida having such a poor game versus LSU. They moved the ball on the bayou bengals, but turnovers killed them. I suspect the Gators will tighten up in all matters when they go to Atlanta. 

Music Friday: "Ready Or Not"

 I picked up this tune a while ago after watching the final episode of Lovecraft Country. 

I'm thinking it will serve as a good song played before my JFL football team's games. 

Sunday Hangover: LSU

Beatdown in Baton Rouge

Let's just immerse ourselves in numbers:

• Alabama 55 - LSU 17
• 32 first downs for Alabama
• 265 net rushing yards
• 385 passing yards
• 650 yards of total offense
• 1 punt
• Mac Jones: 20 completions of 28 passes
• Harris: 21 rushes for 145 yards and 3 TDs
• Robinson: 11 rushes for 64 yards 
• Smith: 8 receptions for 231 yards and 3 TDs
• 4 sacks
• 7 tackles for loss

LSU had two big plays, which I'm sure Coach Saban and the rest of the coaching staff will address during film study. 

However, LSU couldn't do much of anything against the Crimson Tide offense. 

Next up is an vastly improved Arkansas team and then the SEC Championship versus Florida. 

Music Friday: "Monk's Dream"

 Here's a late post of a classic jazz tune by one of the best that ever tickled the keys.