SPB's Top 10 of 2020
We're full of ourselves, just talking our own greatest hits this year.
Nah, just kidding. Really it's because we didn't leave the house. This is what we know, haha.
Anyway, we're proud of our work and we pulled the data to find out what some of our most read reviews, features, and blogs were this year. We also thought it might give a good snapshot of what passed in 2020.
Here's what we found.
1
Zao
"Conflict"
It's not often you get to share an unheard gem from nearly 25 years previous. We had the privilege to debut a deep, deep cut from Zao in August.
2
Caterpillars
"Tangents" video
Caterpillars released Where Shadows Go To Speak this year on Friend Club Records. We teamed up with them to debut a new video, "Tangents".
3
Pearl Jam
Gigaton
So much happened in 2020 that's easy to forget Pearl Jam led off the year with their first album in several years. Read our Gigaton review here. Spoiler alert: 7.8/10.
But what did we write?
4
Ulver
Flowers Of Evil
House of Mythology released the latest Ulver record and long-time fan Cheryl had a lot to say about Flowers Of Evil.
5
Stiff Little Fingers
Live @ Metro Theatre
In February live concerts were still a thing. Including seeing the legendary Stiff Little Fingers in Sydney, Australia.
6
Mr. Bungle
The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny
Did we just say it had been a long time since Pearl Jam released a record? Pfft. Mr. Bungle hadn't even released a record this millenium.
On The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny the band recruits Soctt Ian and Dave Lombardo, transforming into a thrash band while maintaining their own warped personality at the same time.
7
The Violet Mindfield
Hello Darling
January was so long ago. One of our earliest reviews of the year -- of a 2019 record -- was Hello Darling by The Violent Mindfield. Spoiler alert: 8.0/10.
It's more than numbers. Read the words.
8
Hey Colossus
What's That Noise?
Hey Colossus released the brand new Dances/Curses in late 2020. But before that we talked to them about The Pirate Ship, their backline that delivers their powerful sound.
Our 1QI series gets answers short and long. This one is a novel. And a picture book.
And amazing.
9
Laibach
interview
It stands to reason that our January pieces have had more traffic throughout the year than those published in November.
In this early year interview, we chatted with performance artists, industrial rockers and far more than that: Laibach.
10
Cro-Mags
In The Beginning
2020 may have been the year of COVID.
But it was also the year of The Cro-Mags, who returned to action under Harley Flanagan's watch in a big way, with two EPs and the full-length In The Beginning.
And it was good.
- Loren
