Asheville 103.3 FM’s Year-End Best of 2020 list
As we approach 2021 with optimism, we wave goodbye to harrowing 2020 with lists of music and developments we enjoyed and appreciated here at Asheville FM.
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JD, Closer to the Edge, Sunday, 2-5am
Studio albums of the year:
Fish _ Weltschmerz
Pain of Salvation _ Panther
Lunatic Soul _ Through Shaded Woods
Pure Reason _ Revolution Eupnea
Our Oceans _ While Time Disappears
Katatonia _ City Burials
Wobbler _ Dwellers of the Deep
Mariana Semkina _ Sleepwalker
Solstafir _ Endless Twilight of Codependent Love
Alex Henry Foster _ Windows in the Sky
Ring Van Mobius _ The 3rd Majesty
The Tangent _ Auto Reconnaissance
Kansas _ The Absence of Presence
Stealing The Fire _ King of Shadows
Louise Patricia Crane _ Deep Blue
The Flower _ Kings Islands
Oceans of Slumber _ Oceans of Slumber
Dyble Longdon _ Between a Breath and a Breath
Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble _ The Red Planet
Sigur Ros _ Odin’s Raven Magic
SEIL LIEN _ Shatter
Haken _ Virus
Panzerballett _ Planet Z
Realisea _ Mantelpeace
Fatal Fusion _ Dissonant Minds
Pineapple Thief _ Dissolution
Motorpsycho _ The All Is One
Anoushbard _ Mithra
Lonely Robot _ Feelings Are Good
Hedvig Mollestad _ Ekhidna
Enslaved _ Utgard
Godsticks _ Inescapable
The Bardic Depths _ The Bardic Depths
WorldService Project _ Hiding in Plain Sight
The Ocean Phanerozoic ll: Mesozoic / Cenozoic
Rikard Sjoblom’s Gungfly _ Alone Together
Caligula’s Horse _ Rise Radiant
KOJ _ Home
Jack Hues _ Primitif
Pattern-Seeking Animals _ Prehensile Tales
Richard Wileman _ Arcana
Sanguine Hum _ A Trace of Memory
Ulver _ Flowers of Evil
Church of the Cosmic Skull _ Everybody’s Going to Die
Jakko M. Jakszyk _ Secrets and Lies
Tiger Moth Tales _ The Whispering of the World
Ozric Tentacles _ Space for the Earth
The Flaming Lips _ American Head
Schizo Fun Addict _ The Last Wave
Mint Field _ Sentimiento Mundial
Elder _ Omens
Tim Bowness _ Late Night Laments
Anna von Hausswolff _ All Thoughts Fly
Odessey & Oracle _ Crocorama
Ms Amy Birks _ All That I Am & All That I Was
Ubi Maior _ Bestie, uomini e dei
Deep Purple _ Whoosh!
Kyros _ Celexa Dreams
Hexvessel _ Kindred
The Opium Cartel _ Valor
David Minasian _ The Sound of Dreams
Professor Tip Top _ Tomorrow is Delayed
Telergy _ Black Swallow
Rustin Man _ Clockdust
Swappers Eleven _ From a Distance
Them Moose Rush _ Dancing Maze
Fates Warning _ Long Day Good Night
Crippled Black _ Phoenix Ellengaest
Sons of Apollo _ MMXX
Galahad Electric Company _ When The Battle Is Over
McStine & Minnemann _ ll
Ayreon _ Transitus
Nightwish _ HUMAN. :ll: NATURE.
Votum _ Duhkha
Debut album of the year: Alex Henry Foster _ Windows in the Sky
Best box sets: Porcupine Tree _The Delerium Years 1991-1997; King Crimson _ The Complete 1969 Recordings
Best reissues: Porcupine Tree _ In Absentia; Rush _ Permanent Waves
Best compilation: John Lennon _ GIMME SOME TRUTH: The Ultimate Mixes
Best truly solo release: Paul McCartney _ McCartney lll
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DJ Mouse, Come On In My Kitchen, Sunday, 7-9am
My Top 10 Best Things Asheville FM Did in 2020 / Top 10 Ways Asheville FM helped keep Me Alive in 2020:
1. In November of 2020, I celebrated my second year anniversary of “Come On IN My Kitchen”! I began hosting the Kitchen on November 11, 2018
2. Even though my show-time changed to God Awful early in the morning, it was increased to 2 hours!
3. Though I did not get to celebrate my anniversary Veterans Day show, playing live music with friends in the studio, like I did with Phil Bowditch and Jim Myers, of The Horse’s Mouth, in 2019, I did discover some new songs honoring veterans, but condemning war, which I fell in love with; “Hero Of War”, by Rise Against, and “Wong Side Of Heaven and Righteous Side of Hell”, by Five Finger Death Punch!
4. I was fortunate enough to get to remain one of the skeleton crew of DJs going into the studio to do live shows! Though I deeply missed seeing my peeps, I found it comforting and centering to be continue to go to a familiar, beloved place, on a regular schedule, and taking on extra duties to assist KP with sanitation and building maintainence, involving simple, real, needed, hands-on tasks, like cleaning all station rooms and bathroom, vacuuming floors, and taking out trash and recycling, provided me with much needed routine, and sense of purpose!
5. I was born a deep, dark, compassionate, over-aware, white-liberal-guilt-ridden lunatic of a soul, with High Anxiety, Low self esteem, cassandra syndrome martyr complex, and occasional suicidal ideation. Though aware that I do possess a variety of skills and talents, I have never felt quite good enough, and often see myself as a failure, especially in recent years.
I have always found the world to be, though full of grace and beauty, and Extremely Painful place in which to exist.
I have been in a downward spiral ever since my mother died 10 years ago. The past few years have been particularly challenging for me. I suffer from numerous, progressively worsening, physical and mental disabilities from past injuries and conditions, and from past and on-going trauma ( been working this past year on getting approved for disability benefits). Even before the pandemic, I was at the lowest point ever in my life; physically, mentally, financially, emotionally, spiritually.
IN ADDITION TO MY BEAUTIFUL SON, (19 YEARS OLD AS OF NOVEMBER 17, 2020), WHAT HAS FILLED ME WITH ENOUGH HOPE, STRENGTH, AND SENSE OF SELF-WORTH TO KEEP WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF DEATH, REFRAINING FROM JUMPING OUT OF ANY OPEN WINDOWS I MAY PASS; IS THIS:
THE REGULAR CREATIVE OUTLET, AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN CREATING MY SHOW EACH WEEK, PRAISE AND COMPLIMENTS ON MY SHOW FROM FANS BOTH WITHIN THE STATION AND FROM FRIENDS AND STRANGERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BECOME FANS, THE PRIDE OF BELONGING TO SUCH AN AWESOME ORGANIZATION OF THE KINDEST, SMARTEST, MOST TALENTED, AND COMMITTED PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET, AND THE UNDYING, EVEN WHILE REMOTE, SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND LOVE OF MY ASHEVILLE FM FAMILY!!!!!!!
6. I created a new personae, as Brave Mouse, found out I’m real entertaining to little kids, wrote my first children’s book, released my first children’s CD, even though touring to schools fell through, for a while, and selling online is harder than I thought, I have been learning new computer skills, received many accolades, and our our beautiful Sagan, featured my CD on his fabulous show, “Radio-Active Kids”!
7. I got to listen to a lot more Asheville FM! Became more familiar with shows I already liked, discovered new favorite shows, learned much new information and music that helped with topic development of shows, and developed deeper relationships, oddly enough, through remote communications, with some DJs
8. We added new shows which I am loving! (But, unfortunately am really, really missing me some Mothership, some Unquiet Meadow, and some Riffin’!)
9. Asheville FM not only really provided in-depth coverage of the critical, historic 2020 Elections, from Federal and state races, to local city council debates, but also actively promoted the importance of voting, in an inclusive and non-partisan way, linking community to important information on voting regulations, processes, polling places and assistance resources! We promoted the 2020 Census too! (I worked for the 2020 Census in Buncombe and Madison counties, worked Early Voting polls, and currently phone banking for Warnock in Georgia, so this meant alot to me)
10. As soon as the Covid 19 pandemic was made known, Asheville FM immediately became, and remained, a strong, prominent community leader in promoting personal and public health, and disease transmission reduction, through best practice action, setting good example, providing listeners with accurate information, encouragement, specialized programming teaching self-care and coping skills and stories for kids, increased Latin/Spanish language programming, linkage to crisis resources, and community connnection! And, as far as I am aware, None of us at Asheville FM has gotten Covid!!!
This Is DJ Mouse,
LOVE YA’LL LOVE YA’LL LOVE YA’LL!!!!!!!
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Nathan D Duvall, Lucid, Sunday, noon-2pm:
2020 Albums
Besh o droM 20 Besh o droM
Here We Move – Here We Groove (OST) BalkanBeats Soundsystem
Lianne La Havas Lianne La Havas
Balkan Beats (Versions) BalkanBeats Soundsystem
Black Pumas Black Pumas
Phoebe Bridgers Punisher
La Passione: Nono, Haydn & Grisey Barbara Hannigan & Ludwig Orchestra
Tenet (OST) Ludwig Goransson
Heliocentrics Infinity of Now
Party’s Over Good Trauma
2020 Singles (Official & Unofficial)
Woman Nao (featuring Lianne La Havas)
Himmelfahrten Die Wilde Jagd
Hilti Turbo Besh o droM
100 år av Längtan BB Club Edit BalkanBeats Soundsystem
Due To You And Me Good Trauma
Why’d Ya Do It Sierra Ferrell
LIttle Boy Sault
Punisher Phoebe Bridgers
Hoodoo Man Blues Shirley King
Loss Laura Boswell
Biutiful Mon Laferte
Violent carolesdaughter
Flood Your Gut Ohmme
Plague of the Planet Harriers of Discord
Papagei – Up & Down BalkanBeats Soundsystem
Imaginary World Stephen Britt
Gasoline Dreaming of Ghosts
Numb Tongues of Fire
Sweet Conversations Black Pumas
Love Will Keep Us Here Heather Taylor
Que Se Sepa Nuestro Amor Mon Laferte & Alejandro Fernández
Strange Isabella Gillian Welch
March On Eleanor Underhill
Far East For The Trees Desert Sessions
99% Revolution Heliocentrics
Long Violent History Tyler Childers
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Don Howland, OM, Sunday, 6-8pm
Tied for #1:
1. Heritage (works for cello by 20th C. Hungarian composers) – Ildiko Szabo (Hungaroton)
1. Anna Clyne: Mythologies; BBC Orchestra (Avie)
And the rest in no particular order:
Paweł Łukaszewski – The Very Best of… Various (Dux)
Walter Kaufmann – Chamber Music – ARC Ensemble (Chandos)
Aralkum – Galya Bisengalieva (One Little Independent)
Roxanna Panufnik – Heartfelt – Sacconi Quartet (Youtube)
Krzysztof Penderecki String Quartets 1-3 – Quatuor Molinari (ATMA)
Ed Bennett – Psychedelia (NMC)
Emil Tabakov – Complete Symphonies, v. 4 – Bulgarian Natl. Radio SO (Toccata)
Peteris Vasks – Viola Concerto/Symphony for Strings – Sinfonietta Riga (BIS)
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Fast Eddy, House of Kicks, Sunday, 8-10pm
I Don’t Fit In (Paul Collins book)
Reigning Sound / Alarm Clocks @ Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland 3/6/20
Waterloo Underground, luxuriamusic.com podcast w/ Miriam Linna
Nine Pound Hammer / New Bomb Turks @ Grey Eagle 2/16/20
Baytovens _ My House 45
Fleetwoods
Lazy Diamond
Harvest Records
Grey Eagle tacos
Keith Richards still alive
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Roy R, Rebellious Jukebox, Sunday, 10pm-midnight
no particular order:
* Fried EM “Modern World” LP (Lumpy)
* the Cowboy “Feel the Chi releasing from You” flexi 7″ (Feel it Records)
* Hank Wood & the Hammerheads “Use Me” 7″ (Toxic State)
* True Sons of Thunder “Age Old Effrontery” 7″ EP (Goodbye Boozy)
* Disco Junk / Collective Hardcore split 7″ (Goodbye Boozy)
* Cement Shoes ” A Love Story of Drugs & Rock & Roll & Drugs” 7″ (Drunken Sailor)
* the Cowboy “Wi-fi on the Prairie” LP (Feel It)
* Optic Sink s/t LP (Goner)
* Cold Meat “Hot & Flustered” LP (SSR/ HSR)
* Raspberry Bulbs “Before the Age of Mirrors” LP (Relapse)
* V/A Nomie Noma Quebec Post Punk & New Wave 1979-1987 (Les Disques Du Tresor National)
* Primal Business “Street Gurgler” LP (It’s A Jynx) came out Dec. 2019 but whose keeping track?
* Don Howland “Endgame” LP (In the Red) & A Burning Bus LP (In the Red)
* L-Seven s/t LP (Third Man)
* Cheater Slicks & Bill as yet unreleased LP — will be on the In the Red Records
* True Sons of Thunder _ It was Then that I was Carrying You” LP (Total Punk)
****re-issues****
* The EX “Disturbing Domestic Peace” & “History Is What’s Happening” LP’s
* Sepultura “Beneath the Remains” 2020 special edition 2xLP (Roadrunner)
* Ricochet “Double B Side” 45 (Splattered)
* The Wuffy Dogs s/t 7″ (Meathouse) & Opus “Atrocity” 7″ (Meathouse)
* best Local **** — Wolf Laurel _ Animal Intent CD
* other Radio **** — Backwoods on WMBR, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Leif, The Fusion Forest, Monday, 11am-noon
Top Ten Albums of 2020:
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – Axiom
Prism – Memorial Live Tracks
Soft Works – Abracadabra in Osaka
Nubya Garcia – Source
Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Azymuth – Jazz is Dead 4
Max Zuckerman – The Corner Office
Butcher Brown – #KingButch
Trilok Gurtu – God is a Drummer
Dylan Hayes Electric Band – Songs for Rooms and People
Chip Wickham – Blue to Red
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(Digital Librarian) Joey Books, Life Out of Tunes, Monday, 2-4pm
in lieu of a “best of” list, here’s my digital music library “annual report” for 2020 …
Rather than bore you with a “best of 2020 music” scrawling of an old guy, I’ve chosen instead to bore you even more with a very brief 2020 statistical report on the digital music library expansion and its graphical user interface, Subsonic. During the past year, 672 albums, EPs, and singles were processed and uploaded to the music server, representing approximately 6,700 individual tracks.
Each album of digital files required varying degrees of conversion, tagging, and renaming to a consistent cataloging standard prior to uploading. At present count, Subsonic reports a library of “612 artists, 696 albums, and 6,943 songs” comprising 82.33 GB, or 476 hours of digital music in all genres. Thanks to the music director, assistant directors, DJs, and reviewers who contributed to building the digital collection.
And speaking of digital music, several Asheville FM DJs were able to giveaway 20-plus download codes for the 120-track Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1 The Early Years (1963-1967) collection to listeners during their December programs. Thanks to Rhino Records for generously providing the code numbers and to Steven Howard who made that arrangement with them.
That’s all folks. Happy New Year!
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Sarah B, Songs For Friends, Monday, 4-6pm
(No particular order aside from Fiona definite #1)
1. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters
2. Merce Lemon – Moonth
3. Half Gringa – Force to Reckon
4. Jaye Bartell – KOKOMO
5. Kevin Morby – Sundowner
6. Bill Callahan – Gold Record
7. Jenny O. – New Truth
8. Angel Olsen – Whole New Mess
9. Nick Cave – Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace
10. Adrianne Lenker – songs
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Shad Marsh, 2000 Years of Radio, Monday 10pm-midnight
Here’s ten albums from 2020 in no particular order. All good. Give ’em a listen:
Horse Lords _ The Common Task (Northern Spy)
Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra _ Dimensional Stardust (International Anthem/Nonesuch)
Sunn Trio _ Electric Esoterica (Twenty One Eight Two)
Alternative Particle Choir _ Black Hole Diaries (Twenty One Eight Two)
Prana Crafter _ MorphoMystic (Cardinal Fuzz/Feeding Tube)
Negativland _ The World Will Decide (Seeland)
Moor Mother & Olof Melander _ ANTHOLOGIA 01 (Self Released)
Livingdog _ The Four Times (Cold Moon)
Simon Nabatov _ Time Labyrinth (Leo)
Mako Sica & Hamid Drake _ Balancing Tear (Feeding Tube)
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DJ Smittymon, Positive Vibes, Tuesday, 8-10am
The following list is my Top 10 Favorite New Songs played on my radio show this year. So glad to include several local bands. Hope you get the chance to check them out. Enjoy PV Smitty.
Top Ten New Songs of 2020:
1. DROP OFF HEAD _ by Toots & The Maytals
2. FEEL GOOD THE PINCH _ by Jah 9
3. EASY LIFE _ by Leisureville (Asheville)
4. VERY BEST _ by Fwuit (Asheville)
5. FLIPSIDE _ by Cheeksters (Asheville)
6. UNFORTUNATE SITUATION _ by Artikal Sound System
7. NAH DROP OUT _ by Omari Banks
8. CUCUMBA TO THE WORLD _ by Macka B
9. NEW WORLD _ by Of Good Nature
10. TRANQUILA _ by Papa Rosko
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Music Department, Asheville FM Music Sessions, Tuedays, 4-6pm
Praise and respect to Asheville area bands and musical artists of 2020: Abhorrent Deformity * Ahleuchatistas (changed their name to Lighted Stairs) * Adi the Monk * Adventure Adventure * Alarm Clock Conspiracy * Alec Sturgis * Alex Brown * Alex Travers * Alexa Rose * Allii Wayy * All Hell * All Night Mike * Aloonaluna * Amanda Anne Plat & The Honeycutters * Ambiguous Roots * American Maid Band * Ameriglow * Amnesis * Anastasia Valentine and The Dolls * Ancient Ethel (and Missy Lawrence solo) * Angel Olsen * Angry Lovers * Anders Manga * Andre Cholmondeley * Andrew J. Fletcher * Andrew Scotchie & The River Rats * Andrew Thelston Band * Andy Loebs * Anywhere From Here * April B. & The Cool * Aquamule * Armadilla * Art Wavey * Artificial Oceans * Arwen & Dustin * As Sick As Us * Ash Devine * Ashby Gale * The Asound * Astronauta de le Fumar * A World of Lies * Augur * Aunt Ant * Aunt Vicki * Autarch * Axxa/Abraxas * 13AGH3AD (Baghead) * Bad Banker * Bad Molly * Bad Ties * Bald Mountain Boys * Balkan Beat Box * Balkan Death Grip * Balloon Man * Bana Haffar * The Band Moves * Banjo Mitch * Bank of Christ * Battery Powered Hooker Boots * BASK * Bedazzlor * Ben Phan * Ben Shirley * Benito Rose Plaza * BEX * Big Blue * Big Nasty Jazz Band * Bill Coonan * The Bill Maltba Xperience (BMX) * Binding Isaac * Black Mountain Hunger * Black Sea Beat Society * Bleedseason * Bless Your Heart * Blitch * Bob the Singing Bass Player * Bobbie Snakes * Bombay Gasoline * Bonny Dagger * BoogiTherapi * Brief Awakening * Broad River Nightmare * Brody Hunt & The Handfuls * Brucemont * Brynn Estelle * Bryan Marshall and His Payday Knights * Buddy Davis * Clair Brockway * Clifton Hicks and Jake Book * Built By Slaves * Built On The Ruins * Bulter & Thompson * Buskits * Busted Chops * Cadavernous * Call The Next Witness * The Callers * Cannonball Jars * Carbon Bandit * Cardboard Box Colony * Carly Taich * Carpal Tullar * Case Dakota * Cassandra Complex * Castor * Cave Grave * Celia Verbeek * Chalwa * Chaos Among Cattle * The Cheeksters * Chelsea LaBate * Chilltonic * Chris Head & Broken Family * Chris Rodrigues and Abby the Spoon * Cinnamon Kennedy and the Lewd Dancers * Circle Verse * Clair Brockway * Clarence Gallagher * Clifton Hicks and Jake Book * Cloud City Caskets * Cloudgayzer * Coconut Cake * Coffin Moth * Cold Choir * Colin Miller * Convalescent * Cora Hill * Covenater * Cowbaby * Cowboy Judy * Crooked Ghost (and Ray Larkin solo) * C.Shreve the Professor * Curt Castle * C.W. Stoneking * Cyndi Lou & the Want To * Dangerous Goods * Daniel Rassum * Dave Desmelik * David Washington * Dawn Carol * Day and Dream * Daybreaker * Daydream Creatures * The Dead Tongues * The Deathbots * Death Nebula * Death Tapes * Deep Chatham * Delta Quadrant * Derek Frye * Derek Poteat * The DiMarcos * Dirty Badgers * DirtyBoys * The Discs * Dissent * Dixie Dave Allen * Doc Aquatic * DOSE * Double Helix * Drayton & The Dreamboats * Dreads For Brains * Drew Burgess * Drunk In A Dumpster * Drunken Prayer * Dr Aqueous and the Fantastik Apparatus * Drury Peek * Dub Cartel * Dude Babe * Dulci Ellenberger * Dynamo * EarthCry * Earth Collider * East Coast Dirt * Eaze Dogg * Eat The Label * Egg Eaters * Eggshell Emily * 8 Vacant Graves * Electric Karma * Electric Phantom * Elijah / Eli Raymer / Good Trauma * Elisa Faires * Elvis Depressedly * Emily Easterly * Emmalee Hunnicutt * Emotion in General * Empire Strikes Brass * Empty Ritual * Evil Black * Falcon Mitts * Fantømex * Fashion Bath * Father Son Picnic * Feminazgûl * Fifty Year Flood * Firecracker Jazz Band * Fleur Geurl * Floating Action * Flugel * Folder * Footgun * Forest Bailey * 4 Front * Fractured Frames * Frances Eliza * Fwuit * FTO: C.Shreve the Professor, DJ Jet, Mike L!VE, Good Shepard, Ill Will, Phil Dangerous, She Carretta, Mind Ninjas * Fuck Jamz * GÄK * George Trouble * The Get Right Band * Glass Bricks * The Glory Committee * Gnarl Scar * Goddess of Misery * Gold Light & Snakemusk * Goldie & The Screamers * Good Flavor * Good Grief * Grace Joyner * Gracie Lane * Greg Cartwright / The Reigning Sound * Gutterhound * Half Blind Eyes * The Half That Matters * Hank Bones * Hard Rocket * Harsh Mike * Harriers of Discord * Harsh Realm * Hear//Say * Heather Taylor * Herb Da Wizard * Hieronymus Bots * High Strung String Band * Hit Dogs * Hokum High Rollers * Holiday Childress * Holy Moly * Honeycutters * Hoo:Lumes * Hope Griffin * The House Hoppers * House & Land * Hug * Human Energy Field * Human Ladder * Hunter Griggs * Hustle Souls * I the Supplier * Ian Moore * Indigo De Souza * Insook Bang * Inspected by 13 * io trio * Issabel Gernandt * Jack Victor w/Maddie Shuler * Jackson Harem * Jacqueline Terry * Jail * Jane n Tonic * Jangling Sparrows * Jason Decristofaro * JD Pinkus * Jeremiah Greer * Jeremy Isaac Eubanks * Jericho * Jerry Jones * Jerry Read Smith and Tom Fellenbaum * Jesse Barry & the Jam * Jessie & The Jinx * Jigsaw Zay * Jody Carroll * Joe Medwick * Joe Sundell * Joel Ragan * Johan Smogwafer * John Kirby and the New Seniors * John Wolf * Johnny and the Dark City Kings * Jon Charles Dwyer * Jon Reid * Jonathan Scales Fourchestra * Jordan Okrend * Josh Phillips and The Feel Good * Joshua Carpenter * Joybang * Julia Sanders * Junt * Just Die! * Kangarot * Kare Strong & Josh Goforth * Kate Rhudy * Kathryn O’Shea * Katie Don’t * Katie Sachs * Kevin Fuller * Kima Moore * Kimathi Moore * King Garbage * King Jo * Kismet * Kitty Tsunami * K.M. Fuller * Knives & Daggers * Koresma * Kortriba * Kovacs and the Polar Bear * Kreamy ‘Lectric Santa * Krektones * Kri Samadhi * Landon George & Andy Loebs * Laura Reed * Larkin * Last Frost * Laurel Lee and the Escapees * Lavender Blue * Leather Britches *Leeda Lyric Jones * The Lefties * Leigh Glass * Leisureville * Lil Connie * Lil Meow Meow * Living Dog (& Mike Johnson) * Lommol * The Long Distance Relationship * Lords of Chicken Hill * Loretta Davis * Loved Ones * Lo Wolf * Lull * Lunar Creature * Lush Agave * Luxury Club * Lythronaxas * Lyric * Madelyn Ilana * Magenta Sunshine * Makato * Man Man * Mandolin Orange * MANAS * Manmade Devil * Many A Ship * Marley Carroll * Marley P * Mark Hosler / negativland * Mary Sparks * Matt Heckler * Matt Rivers * Meg Mulhearn * Melissa Meyers * Melodic AF * Mendocino * Midnight Snack * Mike Andersen * Mike L!ve * Mike Kane * Mild Windigo * Mindshapefist * The Minnies * Minorcan * MJ Lenderman * Modern Strangers * Mombi Yuleman * Mondays * Moonbeam Jim * The Moon and You * Moonlight Street Folk * Morbids * Mordaga * Mother Marrow * Motherhood * Mountain Bitters * Mouthbreathers * Movies * Mr. Mange * Mr. 1NE 5IVE * M.T. Sullivan * Musashi Xero * Nash to Stoudemire * Nate Hall * Nathanael Jordan * Nathanael Roney * Natural Born Leaders * NeoElph* Nervous Dupre * Nest Egg * Never Understand * Nihilist Davis * Night Beers * Night’s Bright Colors * Nikki Talley * Nomadic War Machine * Normal State * Nostalgianoid * Oariana * OBSiDEONEYE * The Ointment Appointment * Okapi * Onawa * One Leg Up * onj. * Ouroboros Boys * Papadosio * PC Loadletter * Penny * Pet Collective * Peter the Poet * Phoenix Noel * Pianos From Peru * Pictures of Vernon * Planefolk * Pleasure Chest * Pleasures of the Ultraviolent * Pockets Ov * Poet Radio * Po’folk * Polly Panic * Polyphonic Shooting Spree * Poor Excuse * Preach Jacobs * Pressed * Pretty Boy Floyd * Pretty Pretty * Pronounced Heroes * P.T.P * Queen Bee and the Honeylovers * Rahm Squad * Random Animals * Rapsody * Ray Gun * RBTS WIN * Rebecca and the Reckoning * Red Bait * Red Dwarf * Red June * Red Clay Revival * Reddenhollow * Resonant Rogues * Reversels * Rhinestone Pickup Truck * Rhoda Weaver * Rich Nelson Band * Rising Appalachia * River Whyless * Road Gang * Roaring Lions * Robin Lewis * Rocky Mountain Roller * Rond * Rosie and the Rats * Ross Osteen Band * The Rouge Duo * Saché * Sacred Daisy * Sami Pait * Sane Voids * Santos Soul * Sarah Louise * The Scatterlings * Schoolboy Cubemaster * Scott Damage / GENEraL ChrYsT * Scotty Stalebread * Screaming Js * Secret B-Sides * Secret Diary * Secret Shame * Seven and a Half Giraffe * Shadow of the Destroyer * Shadow Show * Shake It Like a Caveman * Shaken Nature * Shane Conerty * Shane Parish * SHIKI XO * Shutterings * Thee Sidewalk Surfers * Sin Kitty * Sinker * Sinnersoid * Siren XO * SIYAH * SK the Novelist * Ska City * Skunk Ruckus * Sleepy Dog * Sleepy Poetry * Slow Poison * Slugly * Small Country * The Smoky Mountain Srens * Snake Prophecy * Snozzberries * Soft Talk * Southern Pine * Space Heater * Space Grandma * Spaceman Jones & The Motherships * Sparrow and Her Wingmen * Spearfinger * The Spiral * Stalebred Scottie * Starcrushed * State Park Ranger * Stephen Britt * Stephen Evans * The Stillwater Hobos * Strange Cousin * Stray Owls * Styrofoam Turtles * Sun Sing Star * Swamp Ape * Swamp Hag * Systematic Devastation * Tan Universe * Tar & Rosin * Tashi Dorji * TEEM * Telic * Temptations Wings * Teso McDonald * Then Came Dragons * Thieves Like Us * Thin Pigeon * Third Nature * T-Hood * Thresher * Tides * Tidy * Tin Foil Hat * Tin Roof Echo * Tina and Her Pony * Tomato Calculator * Tombstone Highway * Tongues of Fire * Trees Eating Humans * Truth Club * Tucker Riggleman and The Cheap Dates * TV Set * Twin Star * Tyler Ladd * Ugly Runner * Uncle Kurtis * Unikorn * Utah Green * Vaden Landers * Velvet Reaper * The Velvet Wolves * VIA * Vic Crown * Vince Junior Band * Vive Le Vox * Voice of the Sidhe * Waxing Gibbous * Wyatt Yurth and the Gold Standard * VVitchboy and VVITCHGANG COVEN * Wizards In Training * Walkhome * Wednesday * Wes Tirey * Wham Bam Bowie Band * White Oak Splits * Witch Party * Wolf Laurel * Wyla * Xero God * Yo Mama’s Big Phat Booty Band * Young Fly Mafia * Young Mister * Young Pine * The Zealots * Zoe * Zisi * and Zin Vetro … plus any forgotten, unknown, or thought ya broke up over a year ago … email to lettuce know: [email protected]
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Erik Mattox, The Uncola, Tuesday, 8-10pm
The UnCola’s 20 From ’20:
A Girl Called Eddy – Been Around
Chromeo – Quarantine Casanova
Cory Wong – Elevator Music for an Elevated Mood
Dent May – Late Checkout
Donny Benet – Mr. Experience
The Explorers Club – The Explorers Club
Izo FitzRoy – How the Mighty Fall
Joel Sarakula – Companionship
Paul Weller – On Sunset
Pet Shop Boys – Hotspot
Pomplamoose – Invisible People
Poolside – Low Season
Roy Ayers, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad – Jazz Is Dead 002
Rumer – Nashville Tears
Soulpersona & Princess Freesia – Extended Pleasure
Stone Foundation – Is Love Enough
Thundercat – It Is What It Is
Trembles Of Fortune – Sucker in the Promised Land
Yacht Rock Revue – Hot Dads In Tight Jeans
Young Gun Silver Fox – Canyons
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Gypsy Flores, Musical Migrations, Wednesday, 11am-2pm
My Top 40 favorite releases from 2020 (no particular order)
1 Various Artists — Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World’s Music (Dust to Digital) Various Countries
2 Milagro Acustico – Casbah (Cultural Bridge) Italy/Sicily
3 A Cumpania featuring Trio Sospirata — Mare Nostrum (Casa) Corsica
4 Mara Aranda —Trobairitz (Self-released) Spain
5 Svång — In Trad We Trust.(Galileo Music Communication) Finland
6 Afel Bocoum —LIndé (World Circuit) Mali
7 Ghalia Benali, Romina LIschka, Vincent Noiret — Call to Prayer (Fuga LIbera) Various Countres
8 Xabier Diaz & Adufeiras de Salitre —As catedrais silenciadas (Músicas de salitre) Spain
9 Kajsa Balto – Buot Eallá (Dat) Norway/Samiland
10 Mzaza – The birth and death of stars (Self-released) Various Countries
11 Merema – Kezeren Koiht (CPL-Music) Mordova, Russia
12 Aragaki Mutsumi – Another world of Okinawan Music (NIINUHAI Recordings) Okinawa
13 David Krakauer & Kathleen Tagg – Breath & Hammer (Table Pounding Records) U.S.A.
14 Mahsa Vahdat – Enlighten the Night (Kirkelig Kulterverksted AS) Iran
15 A.G.A. Trio – Meeting (Naxos World Music) Georgia, Turkey, Armenia
16 Khusugtun— Jangar (Buda Musique) Mongolia
17 DakhaBrakha – Alambari (Self-released) Ukraine
18 Dzambo Agusevi Orchestra – Brasses for the masses (Asphalt Tango Records) Macedonia
19 Maria Dilar – Fado Negro, Negro Fado (World Music Records) Portugal
20 Erodoto Project — Mythos-Metamorphosis (Cultural Bridge) Italy/Sicily
21 Gonçalo Salgueiro – No Tempo das Cerejas (World Music Records) Portugal
22 Elli Michelaki & Nikos Tzanetopoulos — Ke Ime Edo (Mikros Heros) Greece
23 Lina_Raül Renfree—Lina_Raül Renfree (Glitterbeat Records) Portugal
24 Leyla McCalla — Vari-Colored Songs (Smithsonian Folkways) U.S.A
25 Sunny Jain — Wild Wild East (Smithsonian Folkways) U.S.A.
26 La Banda Morisca – Gitana Mora (Producciones Monfies) Spain
27. Warsaw Village Band — Waterduction (Karrot Kommando) Poland
28 Maria Kalaniemi, Eero Grundström – Mielo (Åkerö Records) Finland
29 Emmi Kujanpää – Nani (Nordic Notes) Finland
30 Danyèl Waro – Tinn Tout (Buda Musique) La Réunion
31 Manhu — Voices of the Sani (Riverboat Records) China
32 Kate Rusby – Hand Me Down (Pure Records) England
33 Various Artists – Datgan (Fflach Tradd) Brittany
34. Various Artists – The Rough Guide to Spiritual Blues (World Music Network) U.S.A
35 Klezmer-ish— Dusty Road (World Music Network/Riverboat) England
36 Dazkarieh – Finisterra (Repasseado) Portugal
37 El Wali – Tiris – (Sahel Sounds) Western Sahara
38 Quintet Bumbac – Miroirs (Cok Malko) France
39 Kronos Quartet — Long Time Passing: Kronos Quartet and Friends Celebrate Pete Seeger (Smithsonian Folkways) U.S.A.
40 Zedashe Ensemble – Silver Sanctuary (Electric Cowbell). Repubic of Georgia
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Scott Bunn & Tom Chalmers, Steve Sax Syndrome indie sports talk radio, Wednesday, 7-8pm
Below are the top 10 sports-related songs as played on Steve Sax Syndrome in 2020. (Most songs come out in 2020, some in 2019 and 2018.)
1. The Strokes _ “Ode To The Mets”
2. Dyamond Doll x Trina x Ball Greezy ft. DJ Irie _” Miami Heat” (DWade remix)
3. Viagra Boys _ “Sports:
4. Provinz _ “Diego Maradona”
5. Hockey Dad _ “Good Eye”
6. CG5 _” Murder Hornet”
7. Hexer _ “Play Safe”
8. Eladio Carrion ft. Bad Bunny _ “Kemba Walker” (clean)
9. Beach Bunny _ “Sports”
10. Dayglow _ “Junior Varsity”
Bonus “In Memorium” track – The Fleshtones _ ”Alex Trebek”
(We tend to finish our show by playing a song in honor of an athlete or artist who has died recently.)
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Carol Anders, Dreamers and Doers, Thursday, 9-10am
Asheville FM innovates in times of caution and change:
This year has been exceedingly hard. We’ve lost deejays and shows to Covid-related issues both personal and in our attempt to meet the challenges of doing remote or pre-recorded shows.
To make sure we do things right _ such as show productions using different technology, scheduling, fundraising, abiding by FCC and Covid requirements _ someone needs to manage all of this – in addition to doing what they had been doing in “normal times”.
KP, our general manager, has passed the stress tests of various Covid roadblocks with creative solutions, setting up standards and procedures, and empowering volunteers to do vital ongoing production tasks in particular. Kudos to our volunteers, especially those who’ve put extra time and effort to upload pre-recorded shows. I think we’ve all stepped up to task to make sure we would continue to serve our listeners, especially our local audience.
We continue to strive daily, hourly to keep local folks informed of relevant information about Covid and other issues. We offer talk shows about local issues and feature local guests while also continuing to provide an amazing selection of music from Appalachian to Zydeco and EVERYTHING in between. Our DJ’s take pride in their shows, often spending hours curating their shows and sharing their knowledge about their selections.
We also take pride in maintaining the acclaimed show Democracy Now, and each day a different local volunteer acts as “MC” and promotes local organizations and businesses.
We do KEEPING IT LOCAL REAL WELL! Unlike other LP stations, we offer almost 100% local programming, not 30-60% syndicated programming mixed in with local productions.
We have demonstrated creative solutions to problems, innovative programming in the new reality of social-distancing, mask-wearing and handwashing, for example, we aired a daily meditation to help relieve the stressors of life, and we even broadcasted a local college graduation!
We are grateful that we have been able to keep the majority of our pre-Covid programming and volunteers. Our listeners know they can count on us to be ON-AIR twenty four seven. Our underwriters know they can trust us to promote their message to our local listeners, with consistency, day or night.
Numerous local non-profits know we will help them get the word out to the community about their needs, events and causes. We have even added new programming like Radio Active Kids, for example. We will continue to continue doing what we have always done and when we meet with external resistance we will innovate, pivot, or adapt to keep our listeners listening!
We do all this because we have leadership that cares, sets up boundaries and makes us accountable to doing what we do best, with zest and integrity. And we might add, inspires us to do better and to be best!
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l*-*l Marissa l*-*l, Not Your Mother’s Tongue, Thursday, 2-4pm
Top 50 albums of 2020
Numa Gama – Me Redesenho
Dumama + Kechou – Buffering Juju
Irreversible Entanglements – Who Sent You?
Hprizm – Loops Are a Form of Meditation
Sault – (Untitled) Rise
Mourning [A] BLKstar – The Cycle
SPAZA – Uprize!
Marlowe – Marlowe 2
Dua Saleh – Rosetta
Nihiloxica – Kaloli
Keleketla! – Keleketla!
Tidiane Thiam – Siftorde
Siti Muharam – Siti of Unguja
Antibalas – Fu Chronicles
Islandman – Kabola
V/A – Desire Lines Vol. 1
Klaus Schonning – Lydglimt
V/A – A Guide to Birdsong of Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean
Mabe Fratti – Se Parece A
Moor Mother & Olof Melander – Anthologia 01
Etuk Ubong – Africa Today
Tricky – Fall to Pieces
MHYSA – NEVAEH
V/A – Door to the Cosmos
Kutiman – Wachaga
V/A – Tokyo Dreaming: The Sound of 80s Tokyo
Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia
Buscabulla – Regresa
Run the Jewels – RTJ4
The Heliocentrics – Infinity of Now
Asher Gamedze – Dialectic Soul
Backxwash – God Has Nothing to Do With It, Leave Him Out of It
Admas – Sons of Ethiopia
Pedroso & Pedrosa – Procuram Quati
Sotomayor – Origines
V/A – African Electronic Diaspora
Zonke Family – At the Studio
HHY & the Kampala Unit – Lithium Blast
Masma Dream World – Play at Night
Hama – Music for Saharan WhatsApp 08
Zebra Katz – Less is Moor
Savan DePaul aka Ishtar Sr – Post Descent Inanna
Sault – (Untitled) Black Is
V/A – La Locura de Machuca
Phelimuncasi – Phelimuncasi
Sa Roc – Sharecropper’s Daughter
Oui ennui – democide
Muamin Collective – Tailor Made
Shabazz Palaces – The Don of Diamond Dreams
Angel Bat Dawid & the Brotherhood – Transition East
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Dave, Shimmer and Glow, Thursday, 8-10pm
Shimmer and Glow’s Best 20 tunes/bands of 2020 (to me):
#) Song – Band, Album
1) The Golden Throne – Temples, Sun Structures
2) Grandmother – Ohmme, Parts
3) Alternate Route To Vulcan Street – Super Furry Animals, Rings Around The World (Disc 1)
4) The Palm Acres Parade – Pinetop Seven, Bringing Home The Last Great Strike
5) Mount Hopeless – Melody’s Echo Chamber, Melody’s Echo Chamber
6) Love & Communication – Cat Power, The Greatest
7) Visiting The Ruins – Macha, Macha
8) Joe Buck – Robert Vicknair, Robert Vicknair
9) So Much Love – Home, Xiv
10) She Let Me Run – Impossible Shapes, We Like It Wild
11) The Hale-Bopp – Turn Me On Dead Man, God Bless The Electric Freak
12) Humid Heart – Melkbelly, PITH
13) Land Man – PAINT, Spiritual Vegas
14) Witness – The Delgados, The Great Eastern
15) Diving Woman – Japanese Breakfast, Soft Sounds From Another Planet
16) Metal Fingers In My Body – Add N to (X), Avant Hard
17) V1NC3NT COM3 ON DOWN – Brainiac, Hissing Prigs in Static Couture
18) Dreary Nonsense – Osees, Protean Threat
19) Seedless Grapes – Being 747, Health & Safety
20) Dressing Up The Old Dakota – The High Llamas, Hawaii
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Matt the Free Range DJ, Let There Be Rock, Thursday, 10pm-midnight
AC/DC – Power Up
Guided By Voices – Styles We Paid For
Guided By Voices – Mirrored Aztec
Guided By Voices – Surrender Your Poppyfield
IDLES – Ultra Mono
Bob Mould – Blue hearts
L.A. Witch – Play With Fire
X – Alphabetland
Oh Sees – Protean Threat
Coriky – Coriky
Death Valley Girls – Under the Spell of Joy
Secret Shame – Dissolve/Pure
Nest Egg – Dislocation
Frankie and the Witch Fingers – Monsters Eating People Eating Monsters…
METZ – Atlas Vending
Psychedelic Furs – Made of Rain
illuminati Hotties – FREE I.H: This Is Not the One You’ve Been Waiting For
Alice Bag – Sister Dynamite
Run the Jewels – RTJ4
Flat Worms – Antartica
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Minx, Cesspool of Sin, Friday, 1-3 pm
Alan Watts, Akira the Don -Wattswave II: How to be a better person
Marc Rebillet- Loop Daddy III
Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
Q – The Shave Experiment
Mac Miller – Circles
Ohmme – Fantasize Your Ghost
Thundercats- it is what it is
Future Islands – As Long As You Are
Sylvan Esso – Free Love
Elton John – The Jewel Box
X – Alphabetland
soccer mommy – color theory
illuminati hotties – Free I.H: This is not the one you’ve been waiting for
The Mountain Goats – Getting Into Knives
Singles:
Keats- Talk You Through It
Spoon – Rainy Taxi (Big Beat)
Confidence Man – Does it make you feel good?
Arlo Parks – Green Eyes
Djo – Keep Your Head Up
CHIKA – INDUSTRY GAMES
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Devyn, Too Dark For Disney, Friday, 5-7pm
My Top 5 Album Releases of 2020:
1. Lithics – Tower of Age
2. Fontaines D.C. – A Hero’s Death
3. Julianna Barwick – Healing Is a Miracle
4. X – Alphabetland
5. L.A. Witch – Play With Fire
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Steven Howard, Mental Notes, Friday, 7-9pm
In alphabetical order, Top 33.3 records I needed to give more time to at home and on the air in 2020:
Best Christmas Single: Christmas Steve by Advance Base – Bandcamp
Ana Roxanne – Because of a Flower – Kranky
Asher Gamedze – Dialectic Soul – On The Corner Records
Bettye LaVette – Blackbirds – Verve
Big Blood – Do You Wanna Have A Skeleton Dream – Feeding Tube
Bounaly – Music from Saharan WhatsApp 10 – Sahel
Dana Gavanski – Wind Songs – Ba Da Bing
Diane Cluck – Common Wealth
Doc Watson & Gaither Carlton – Smithsonian Folkways
Eleanor Underhill – Land Of The Living
Elvis Costello – Hey Clockface – Concord
Enemy Radio – Loud Is Not Enough – The SpitSLAM Record Label Group
Greg Paquette – Retro Active – S/R bandcamp
Gwenifer Raymond – Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain – Tompkins Sq
Happy Dead Man – Vines Grow Between My Eyes – Unrock
Helen Money – Atomic – Thrill Jockey
Jim O’Rourke – Shutting Down Here – Portraits GRM
Jim White and Marisa Anderson – The Quickening – Thrill Jockey
John Butcher, Thomas Lehn and Matthew Shipp – The Clawed Stone – Rogueart
Joni Mitchell – Archives Volume 1 The Early Years 1963-1967 – Rhino
Josephine Foster – No Harm Done – Fire
Moor Mother and Olof Melander – Anthologia 01 – Don Giovanni
Negativland – The World Will Decide – Seeland
Neil Young Archives Vol. II (1972 – 1976) Warner-Reprise
Obnox – Savage Raygun – Ever-Never
Sir Richard Bishop – Oneiric Formulary – Drag City
Spoon Benders – Dura Mater – Bandcamp
Sunn Trio – Electric Esoterica – 2182 Recording Company
The Cool Greenhouse – The Cool Greenhouse – Melodic
Thor & Friends – 3 – Joyful Noise
Thor & Friends – 4 Joyful Noise
VA – 1978 The Year The UK Turned Day-Glo – Cherry Red
VA – Excavated Shellac – Dust To Digital
VA – International Anthem Vol X – Masters – Tompkins Square
VA- That’ll Flat Git It – vol. 33 – Renown and Hornet Records – Bear Family
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Randy Booher, …And the Address, Friday, 9-11pm
Cindy Lee “What’s Tonight To Eternity” W.25th
Slift “Ummon” Vicious Circle/Stolen Body
Mosses ‘T.V. Sun” Anyway Records
Helen Money “Atomic” Thrill Jockey
ADULT “Perception Is/As/Of/Deception” Dais
Love-Songs “Nicht Nicht” Bureau B
Nine Inch Nails “Ghosts V: Together” The Null Corporation
Nine Inch Nails “Ghosts VI: Locusts” The Null Corporation
Ohmme “Fantasize Your Ghost” Joyful Noise Recordings
Moor Mother & Olof Melander “Anthologia 01” Self Released
Moor Mother & Yatta “Dial Up” Self Released
Tineidae “Exo” Cryo Chamber
The Grizzled Mighty “Confetti Teeth” Freakout Records
Night Glitter “Night Glitter” Nine Mile Records
Applesauce Tears “Wonders” Black Cottage
Wax Fruit “Drowned By The World We Live In” NO PART OF IT
Locate S, 1 “Persoalia” Captured Tracks
Secret Machines “Awake In The Brain Chamber” TSM Recordings
Noveller “Arrows” Ba Da Bing!
Fenne Lily “Breach” Dead Oceans
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Dogeye, Melody In Mayhem, Friday, 11pm-2am
No specific order:
Masma Dream World _ Play at Night (NORTHERN SPY) [EP]
White Boy Scream _ Bakunawa (DEATHBOMB ARC)
Exclusicor/AWOL/International Contemporary Ensemble _ Modules (CARRIER)
Jennifer Walshe _ A Late Anthology of Early Music Vol. 1, Ancient to Renaissance (TETBINID) {cassette}
Sir Richard Bishop _ Oneric Formulary (DRAG CITY)
Duma _ s/t (NYGE NYGE TAPES)
Roomful of Teeth _ Just Constellations (NEW AMSTERDAM) [EP]
Carl Stone _ Car Stolen (UNSEEN WORLDS)
Matt Evans _ New Topographics (WHATEVER’S CLEVER)
Sarah Davachi _ Cantus Descant (LATE MUSIC)
Mabe Fratti _ Se Parece (UNHEARD OF HOPE)
ONO _ Red Summer (AMERICAN DREAMS)
Land of Kush _ Sand Enigma (CONSTELLATION)
Clipping _ Visions of Bodies Being Burned (SUB POP)
Julie Reidy _ Vanish (EDITIONS MEGO)
Anna von Hausswolf _ All Thoughts Fly (SOUTHERN LORD)
Jessica Ekomane _ Multivocal (IMPORTANT)
Sylvia Hallett _ Free Time (BANDCAMP)
David Behrman/Paul DeMarinis/Fern Friedman/Terri Hanlon/Anne Klingsmith _ She’s More Wild (BLACK TRUFFLE)
Sarah Hennies _ Spectral Malsconcities (NEW WORLD)
Ale Hop _ The Life with Insects (BUH) [EP]
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Sagan, Radioactive Kids, Saturday, 8-10am
Albums:
1. Pierce Freelon – D.a.D (BLACKSPACE)
2. Elena Moon Park – Unhurried Journey (S/R)
3. Claudia Robin Gunn – Little Wild Universe (LITTLE WILD MUSIC)
4. Joanie Leeds – All the Ladies (LIMBOSTAR)
5. SaulPaul – Be the Change (REROUTE RECORDS)
6. The Relative Minors – Play Music (S/R)
7. Various Artists – Trans and Nonbinary Kids Mix (ANTS ON A LOG)
8. 123 Andrés – Hola Amigo (SALSANA RECORDS)
9. The Nields – November (MERCY HOUSE RECORDS)
10. Pears 4 Bears – Fruit (SQUIRREL MECHANIC RECORDS)
Singles:
1. The Oot n’ Oots – “Thank You Universe” (S/R)
2. Kindiana Jones – “Virtual Hug” (HEY! BACON!! RECORDS)
3. Stuart Stotts – “Put a Mask On, Honey” (S/R)
4. Katie Ha Ha Ha – “Lilou and Cody” (S/R)
5. Tú Rockcito & Los Patita de Perro – “La Sangre (Sesión en Vivo)” (S/R)
EPs:
1. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – The Figments of Polyglot Mixtape 6 (UNDERGROUND PLAYGROUND RECORDS)
2. Poco Drom – Furry Grunge Electro (S/R)
3. Quarantaine – l’Album de la Maturité (S/R)
4. Bash the Trash – Rubbish Rhythms (S/R)
5. Aro – He Manu Anō (S/R)
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Jon Wain, Static Disaster, Saturday, 10-11am
My Top releases this year in no order:
Lavender Flu – Barbarian Dust LP, In The Red Records
Lars Finberg – Tinnitus Tonight LP, Vapid Moonlighting and Mtn. St. Mtn.
Don Howland – End Game LP , In The Red Records
The Archaeas – The Archaeas LP, Goner Records
Song Birds – Twenty Twenty EP, Self-Released
Walter Daniels and The Hungry Hearts – Out at Dusk/Where’s the Pain Point 7″, Spacecase Records
The Cinks – Covid Classics EP, kennel jitters recordings
Rubber Blanket – Our Album LP, Spacecase Records
Erik Nervous – Bugs!! LP, Self-Released
Greg Ashley – The Mirrors Lost 3rd Album, Self-Released
CCR Headcleaner- Street Riffs, In The Red Records
Goner Records Cook Book, Goner Records
Early Works – Photography by Mari Tamura (Book), Static Distribution
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Andy Miller, Brown Mountain Lights, Saturday, 11am-1pm
These 2020 releases were on my radar this year …
Jeff Parker _ Suite for Max Brown
William Tyler _ Music from First Cow
Rose City Band _ Floating Out
Man Man _ Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between
Irreversible Entanglements _ No Mas
Woods _ Strange to Explain
Horse Lords _ The Common Task
Pretenders _ Hate for Sale
Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids _ Shaman
Damaged Bug _ Bug on Yonkers
Matthew Halsall _ Salute to the Sun
American Aquarium _ Lamentations
Steve Earle _ Ghosts of West Virginia
Christian Scott _ Axiom
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DJ Airon, My So-Called Radio Show, Saturday 3-5pm
Enjoyed 2020 releases by 2nd Grade * After * Alien Nose Job * Alice Bag * The Allergies * Arbor Labor Union * The Archaeas * Baby Bulldog * Bacchae * Bad Moves * Baseball Gregg * Belle & Sebastian * Best Coast * The Beths * Black Crown Initiate * Black Marble * Bloodshot Bill * Bob Mould * Boby Double * Bombardement * The Bookends * Built to Spill Plays the Music of Daniel Johnston * Bully * Calexico * Cigarettes For Breakfast * Cloud Nothings * Crack Cloud * Dead Neighbors * The Dead Tongues * Death Bells * Death Hags * Death Valley Girls * Deeper * Deerhoof * Dehd * Del Paxton * Deseos Primitivo * Desert Sessions * Diet Cig * Dream Nails * Eldridge Rodriguez * El Ten Eleven * En Attendant Ana * Es * Evil Sword * Fenne Lily * Flat Worms * Floodlights * FOC * Frances Quinlan * Fried E/M * Fuzz * Gag * Galore * Ganser * Gen Pop * The Gonks * Greg Dulli * The Green Child * Green/Blue * Guided By Voices * Helvetia * HMLTD * The Homesick * Illuminati Hotties * Isobel Campbell * I.S.S. * Johnny Thunders * Kaina * Kaleidoscope * Kestrels * Lemon Twigs * Lepers * Lithics * Lisa Prank * Loudness War * Maneka * Marinara * Mayflower Madame * Melkbelly * Metz * Mi’en * Moaning * Momma * Murder By Death * Muro * Nada Surf * Nag * Naked Roommate * Nana Grizol * Narrow Head * Necro Heads * The Nude Party * Office Romance * Of Montreal * Orden Mundial * The Orielles * OSEES * Paddlefish * The Paranoyds * Parsnip * Peach Kelli Pop * Permission * Pig Destroyer * PINS * Pom Pom Squad * Primo! * Pronoun * Protomartyr * The Psychedelic Furs * Public Practice * Quintron and Miss Pussycat * Rash * Romero * Routine * RVG * Sad13 * Sam Huber * Samia * Sarah Mary Chadwick * Set-Top Box * Shopping * Slander Tongue * Sleeper & Snake * Sneaks * Sniper Culture * Soakie * Soccer Mommy & Friends * Sonic Boom * Special Moves * Squirrel Flower * Staring Problem * Stephen Malkmus * Straw Man Army * Strul * SVARTSYN * Tanya Donelly and the Parkington Sisters * Telemarket * Throwing Muses * Thurston Moore * Torres * Tortür * Tough Age * Tricky * Uniform * Unwed Sailor * The Vacant Lot * Venomous Concept * Versari * Vicio * Vintage Crop * Vundabar * Wolf Parade * Young Jesus * The Yummy Fur * X
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Donovan Quixote, By All Means Necessary, Saturday, 10pm-midnight
BAMN 2020 roundup
Artist of the Year: Moor Mother
Album of the Year: “Gentrifried Chicken” – The Muslims
Record Label(s) of the Year: Nyege Nyege Tapes / Hakuna Kulala
Best New Releases:
Moor Jewelry – “True Opera”
Moor Mother & Olof Melander – ANTHOLOGIA 01
Duma – s/t
Cindy Lee – “What’s Tonight to Eternity?”
Pink Siifu – “NEGRO”
Irreversible Entanglements – “Who Sent You?”
Stas THEE Boss – “on the quarner”
Christina Vantzou – “Multi Natural”
Okkyung Lee – “Yeo-Neun”
DJ Diaki – “Balani Fou”
Menzi – “Impazamo”
Metal Preyers – s/t
everything from Oui Ennui on bandcamp
Sightless Pit – “Grave of a Dog”
Y La Bamba – Los Gritos
Jim O’Rourke – Shutting Down Here
Freddie Gibbs – Alfredo
Best Reissues:
Frank & His Sisters – s/t
RZA – Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (OST)
PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love
John Parish & PJ Harvey – Dance Hall at Louse Point
24 Carat Black – III
Dolphins Into The Future – Insular Monographs
Diamanda Galas – The Litanies of Satan
The Uniques – Absolutely The Uniques
Yellow Swans – Going Places
Sepultura – Beneath the Remains
Best events in lieu of live music:
Bandcamp Fridays
Aaron Dilloway – Quarantine Concert
Arto Lindsay – Quarantine Concert
?uestlove DJing on IG damn near every night
Best of TV:
(HBO)
Lovecraft Country
I May Destroy You
The Outsider
The Watchmen (technically 2019)
Insecure
(Netflix)
Ratched
Queen’s Gambit
Best of Film:
The Lodge
Where Does a Body End? (Swans documentary)
(not 2020 – The VVitch, The Lighthouse, Hereditary)
I read no books which were published in 2020,
but the best books i read this year were:
Rakim – Sweat the Technique
Langston Hughes – The Big Sea
David Zucchino – Wilmington’s Lie
various (anthology) – The New Fuck You: Adventures in Lesbian Reading
HUGE thanks and respect to AshevilleFM for staying essential, and vital, during the pandemic (before, and beyond)
as always, MUCH LOVE to everyone who …
tuned in
donated money to non-profits
brought food and supplies to neighbors
checked in
protested
WEARS A MASK
IMMENSE GRATITUDE
to first responders
to health-care and mutual-aid workers
to grocery store attendants, managers, stock staff
to pharmacists
to postal carriers
you were our lifelines
this year more than any other
in our lifetimes
BY ALL MEANS NECESSARY
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Asheville FM would like to thank our listeners, donors, underwriters, supporting local Asheville businesses, all of our volunteers, and you for reading this.
Best wishes for a better 2021. 🙂
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