First Half Favorites 2020

Six months into the year 2020, we reflect on the records that stand out as exceptional works in a most challenging, frustrating, and revolutionary period of history. Please continue to support musicians and artists as directly as possible. Bandcamp links are provided for each record below.

Alabaster DePlume- To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1
[International Anthems]

Andras- Joyful
[Beats In Space]

Anytime Cowboy- Anytime Cowboy
[Third Coming Records]

Arbor Labor Union- New Petal Instants
[Arrowhawk Records]

Art Feynman- Half Price at 3:30
[Western Vinyl]

Bananagun- The True Story of Bananagun
[Full Time Hobby]

Becca Mancari- The Greatest Part
[Captured Tracks]

Black Lips- Sing In A World That’s Falling Apart
[Fire Records/Vice]

Boon- Morning’s
[Self-released]

Bozmo- Bozmo's Dream: Secret Singles 2014-2018
[Self-released]

Brendan Eder Ensemble- To Mix With Time
[Self-released]

Brother Theotis Taylor- Brother Theotis Taylor
[Mississippi Records]

Cactus Lee- Tarantula
[709 Recording Co]

Charlotte Dos Santos- Harvest Time
[Because Music]

Charlotte Dos Santos · Charlotte Dos Santos - Josef

Chicago Underground Quartet- Good Days
[Astral Spirits]

Chris Forsyth with Garcia Peoples- Peoples Motel Band
[Self-released]

Chris Frisina- Carolina (Out Of My Mind)
[Sleepy Cat Records]

Cindy Lee- What’s Tonight To Eternity
[W.25TH/Superior Viaduct]

CMON- Confusing Mix of Nations
[Mexican Summer]

Cory Becker- ONE
[Self-released]

Daniel Romano- Content To Point The Way
[You’ve Changed Records]

Daniel Romano’s Outfit- Okay Wow
[You’ve Changed Records]

Dark Arts- Reflections In A Rear View Mirror
[STROOM.tv]

Duwan Muhammad- Deep Stream
[High Jazz Records]

Deeper- Auto-Pain
[Fire Talk Records]

Dirty Art Club- Gardens
[Self-released]

Discovery Zone- Remote Control
[Mansions and Millions]

D.K.- The Goddess Is Dancing
[Good Morning Tapes]

Dougie Poole- The Freelancer’s Blues
[Wharf Cat Records]

Elliot Bergman- Peace Bells
[Leaving Records]

Eric Osbourne- Eric Osbourne
[Self-released]

Ezrat- Carousel
[Self-released]

Faux Real- Faux Real
[Self-released]

Fiver- You Wanted Country? Vol. 1
[You’ve Changed Records]

Floating Action- Outsider Art
[People In A Position To Know]

Fools- Fools’ Harp Vol. 1
[Music From Memory]

France- Far-Out Far-West
[Mental Groove Records]

Fred A.- De Angst Voorbij
[STROOM.tv]

Fullbloods- Soft and Virtual Touch
[High Dive Records]

Green-House- Six Songs for Invisible Gardens
[Leaving Records]

Greg Fox- Contact
[RVNG Intl.]

Habibi- Anywhere But Here
[muddguts]

Hallelujah!- Wanna Dance
[Maple Death Records]

Hiss Golden Messenger- Forward, Children
[Merge Records]

Honey Harper- Starmaker
[ATO Records]

Ian Kim Judd- Leave No Trace
[Good Morning Tapes]

GOOD MORNING TAPES · GMT29 Ian Kim Judd - Leave No Trace (Snippets)

Iceblink- Carpet Cocoon
[Moon Glyph]

Ivan Ave- Double Goodbyes
[Mutual Intentions]

Jackie Lynn- Jacqueline
[Drag City]

Jake Schrock- Omnibus
[Medical Records]

James Krivchenia- A New Found Relaxation
[Self-released]

Jeff Parker- Suite For Max Brown
[International Anthem]

Jeffrey Silverstein- You Become The Mountain
[Arrowhawk Records]

Jess Williamson- Sorceress
[Mexican Summer]

John Carrol Kirby- My Garden
[Stones Throw]

Jon Mckiel- Bobby Joe Hope
[You’ve Changed Records]

Josh Kimbrough- Slither, Soar & Disappear
[Tompkins Square]

Julian Neel- Call the Mountain
[Self-released]

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith- The Mosaic Of Transformation
[Ghostly International]

Kate NV- Room for the Moon
[RVNG Intl]

Kevin Krauter- Full Hand
[Bayonet Records]

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard- Chunky Shrapnel
[Flightless Records]

Koney- Koney
[High Dive Records]

Leah Senior- The Passing Scene
[Flightless Records]

Leo Takami- Felis Catus and Silence
[Unseen Worlds]

Libby Rodenough- Spectacle of Love
[Sleepy Cat Records]

Loving- If I Am Only My Thoughts
[Last Gang Records]

Luka Kuplowski- Judee Justin Arthur Mary
[Mama Bird Recording Co.]

Luke Schneider- Altar of Harmony
[Third Man Records]

Mapache- From Liberty Street
[Yep Roc Records]

Markus Floats- Third Album
[Constellation Records]

Michael C. Sharp- Psychic Fugitive
[Somatic]

Modern Nature- Annual
[Bella Union]

Mong Tong- Mystery 秘神
[Guruguru Brain]

Moses Boyd- Dark Matter
[Exodus Records]

Moses Sumney- græ
[Jagjaguwar]

Naeem- Startisha
[37d03d]

Nailah Hunter- Spells
[Leaving Records]

Nap Eyes- Snapshot of a Beginner
[Jagjaguwar]

Nazar- Guerilla
[Hypderdub Ltd]

Nídia- Não Fales Nela Que A Mentes
[Príncipe]

NNAMDÏ- BRAT
[Sooper Records]

ohslo- Honeymoon
[Babyrace Records]

Ojerime- B4 I Breakdown
[Self-released]

Okay Kaya- Watch This Liquid Pour Itself
[Jagjaguwar]

Onyx Collective- Manhattan
[tmwrk records]

Oogbogo- Oogbogo
[Drag City]

Pantayo- Pantayo
[Telephone Explosion]

Patricia Kokett- Bizarr
[Knekelhuis]

Pharoah Sanders- Live in Paris (1975)
[Transversales Disques]

Photay- Waking Hours
[Mexican Summer]

Priscilla Ermel- Origens Da Luz
[Music From Memory]

Powers/Rolin Duo- Powers/Rolin Duo
[Feeding Tube Records]

Pure X- Pure X
[Fire Talk Records]

Purr- Like New
[ANTI- Records]

Real Estate- The Main Thing
[Domino Recording Co.]

Riki- Riki
[Dais Records]

Rose City Band- Summerlong
[Thrill Jockey]

Sam Gendel- Satin Doll
[Nonesuch]

Sepehr- Shaytoon
[Dark Entries]

Shamir- Cataclysm
[Self-released]

Speedway- Deathblow OST
[Self-released]

Surprise Chef- All News Is Good News
[Mr Bongo]

Sweet Whirl- How Much Works
[Chapter Music]

Tan Cologne- Cave Vaults on the Moon in New Mexico
[Labrador Records]

Tenci- My Heart Is An Open Field
[Keeled Scales]

The Dead Tongues- Transmigration Blues
[Psychic Hotline]

The Lemon Twigs- LIVE
[Self-released]

The Serfs- Sounds of Serfdom
[Wasted Tapes]

The Stroppies- Look Alive!
[Tough Love Records]

Tommy McGee- I’m A Stranger
[Numero Group]

Toner- Silk Road
[Smoking Room]

TOPS- I Feel Alive
[Self-released]

Traffik Island- Sweat Kollecta’s Peanut Butter Traffik Jam
[Flightless]

Tre Burt- Caught It From The Rye
[Oh Boy Records]

V/A- For The Love Of You
[Athens of the North]

V/A- INTENTA Experimental & Electronic Music from Switzerland 1981-93
[Bongo Joe]

First Half Favorites 2020

Alabaster DePlume- To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1 [International Anthems]

Andras- Joyful[Beats In Space]

Anytime Cowboy- Anytime Cowboy[Third Coming Records]

Arbor Labor Union- New Petal Instants[Arrowhawk Records]

Art Feynman- Half Price at 3:30[Western Vinyl]

Bananagun- The True Story of Bananagun[Full Time Hobby]

Becca Mancari- The Greatest Part[Captured Tracks]

Black Lips- Sing In A World That’s Falling Apart[Fire Records/Vice]

Boon- Morning’s[Self-released]

Bozmo- Bozmo's Dream: Secret Singles 2014​-​2018[Self-released]

Brendan Eder Ensemble- To Mix With Time[Self-released]

Brother Theotis Taylor- Brother Theotis Taylor[Mississippi Records]

Cactus Lee- Tarantula[709 Recording Co]

Charlotte Dos Santos- Harvest Time[Because Music]

Chicago Underground Quartet- Good Days[Astral Spirits]

Chris Forsyth with Garcia Peoples- Peoples Motel Band[Self-released]

Chris Frisina- Carolina (Out Of My Mind)[Sleepy Cat Records]

Cindy Lee- What’s Tonight To Eternity[W.25TH/Superior Viaduct]

CMON- Confusing Mix of Nations[Mexican Summer]

Cory Becker- ONE[Self-released]

Daniel Romano- Content To Point The Way[You’ve Changed Records]

Daniel Romano’s Outfit- Okay Wow[You’ve Changed Records]

Dark Arts- Reflections In A Rear View Mirror[STROOM.tv]

Duwan Muhammad- Deep Stream[High Jazz Records]

Deeper- Auto-Pain[Fire Talk Records]

Dirty Art Club- Gardens[Self-released]

Discovery Zone- Remote Control[Mansions and Millions]

D.K.- The Goddess Is Dancing[Good Morning Tapes]

Dougie Poole- The Freelancer’s Blues[Wharf Cat Records]

Elliot Bergman- Peace Bells[Leaving Records]

Eric Osbourne- Eric Osbourne[Self-released]

Ezrat- Carousel[Self-released]

Faux Real- Faux Real[Self-released]

Fiver- You Wanted Country? Vol. 1[You’ve Changed Records]

Floating Action- Outsider Art[People In A Position To Know]

Fools- Fools’ Harp Vol. 1[Music From Memory]

France- Far-Out Far-West[Mental Groove Records]

Fred A.- De Angst Voorbij[STROOM.tv]

Fullbloods- Soft and Virtual Touch[High Dive Records]

Green-House- Six Songs for Invisible Gardens[Leaving Records]

Greg Fox- Contact[RVNG Intl.]

Habibi- Anywhere But Here[muddguts]

Hallelujah!- Wanna Dance[Maple Death Records]

Hiss Golden Messenger- Forward, Children[Merge Records]

Honey Harper- Starmaker[ATO Records]

Ian Kim Judd- Leave No Trace[Good Morning Tapes]

Iceblink- Carpet Cocoon[Moon Glyph]

Ivan Ave- Double Goodbyes[Mutual Intentions]

Jackie Lynn- Jacqueline[Drag City]

Jake Schrock- Omnibus[Medical Records]

James Krivchenia- A New Found Relaxation[Self-released]

Jeff Parker- Suite For Max Brown[International Anthem]

Jeffrey Silverstein- You Become The Mountain[Arrowhawk Records]

Jess Williamson- Sorceress[Mexican Summer]

John Carrol Kirby- My Garden[Stones Throw]

Jon Mckiel- Bobby Joe Hope[You’ve Changed Records]

Josh Kimbrough- Slither, Soar & Disappear[Tompkins Square]

Julian Neel- Call the Mountain[Self-released]

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith- The Mosaic Of Transformation[Ghostly International]

Kate NV- Room for the Moon[RVNG Intl]

Kevin Krauter- Full Hand[Bayonet Records]

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard- Chunky Shrapnel[Flightless Records]

Koney- Koney[High Dive Records]

Leah Senior- The Passing Scene[Flightless Records]

Leo Takami- Felis Catus and Silence[Unseen Worlds]

Libby Rodenough- Spectacle of Love[Sleepy Cat Records]

Loving- If I Am Only My Thoughts[Last Gang Records]

Luka Kuplowski- Judee Justin Arthur Mary[Mama Bird Recording Co.]

Luke Schneider- Altar of Harmony[Third Man Records]

Mapache- From Liberty Street[Yep Roc Records]

Markus Floats- Third Album[Constellation Records]

Michael C. Sharp- Psychic Fugitive[Somatic]

Modern Nature- Annual[Bella Union]

Mong Tong- Mystery 秘神[Guruguru Brain]

Moses Boyd- Dark Matter[Exodus Records]

Moses Sumney- græ[Jagjaguwar]

Naeem- Startisha[37d03d]

Nailah Hunter- Spells[Leaving Records]

Nap Eyes- Snapshot of a Beginner[Jagjaguwar]