Album of the year for 2020 & the winner is......

Released on Valentine's Day (how romantic) Tame Impala's fourth studio record, The Slow Rush is my album of 2020. It follows the 2015 album Currents, along with 2019 singles It Might Be Time and Borderline.

All tracks on The Slow Rush are written by the main man Kevin Parker. The album features six sensational singles. Early (very early) in 2020 my favourite cut from the album was released as a single, Lost in Yesterday. Early August the wonderful Is it True was released as the sixth single from the album.

The album has received critical acclaim, topped the charts in Australia, Scotland, Portugal and US alternative and rock album charts.

This album has meant so much to me as I leaned into music in a big way in 2020. I flogged Lost in Yesterday early in the year. Then again in August Is it True was a top played song on my Apple Music.

I lost my pet in 2020 and this album helped me remember Maverick whilst also continuing to push through 2020. I never thought Tame Impala would give us tunes we could dance to, reminisce to all in one album.

The Slow Rush really is the album of 2020. Well done Tame Impala, its been a long time coming to this very blog.

Album of the Year Announce - Tomorrow...

 Around 10am. Which album will take it out???

Album of the Week - Offical Music Videos

 

Album of the Week - THE AVALANCHES {We Will Always Love You}

Summer Music Lists Specials Return early 2021

The start of my biggest tunes of 2020 kicks off next week as well as the Album of the Year for 2020 announcement.

Happy Holidays. Here are some truly ace gems floating around at present...

Boxing Day 2020 MixTape

Here are some of the most impressive hits from recent Fresh Friday Countdowns. Happy Holidays y'all!

The Fresh Friday Countdown will be Back...

Friday 8 January, 2021. Yes 2020 is almost over. Praise Be! The Fresh Friday Countdown continued throughout 2020, so many number ones, so much great new music. However I feel like history is repeating this time last year, Tones and I was number one with Dance Monkey.

This year sees Tones and I sitting pretty at number one with Fly Away.

Will Tones and I still be number one when the countdown returns in early January (again)?

Here is the number one track right now!

BENEE, hey u x Guest List

hey u x by BENEE had a pile of fab guests on board. Some new, some very familiar. Lily fricken Allen is also on this release! WTF.

Take a look, listen to the guest list below. One week till the Album of the Year for 2020, goes LIVE right here!

New Tame Impala Video Drops

The Album of The Year race is on. With the winner to be announced on New Years Eve. Originally I was meant to be in Canberra, however the borders aren't playing nice. So maybe it's a no frills home affair investing in a full listen to this years album of the year.

What will it be? BENEE, this weeks feature star. The Weekend, Disclosure, Tame Impala or Halsey?

Tame Impala decided to drop an end of year gift with their new Breathe Deeper clip. Check it out below and get thinking? Who had the biggest album of 2020?

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: December 2020

The late (Mini) Monday Spotlight update for 2020. Going all the way up until this Monday, the (Mini) Monday Spotlight has unearthed another serious amount of talent. Kicking off December with WA's finest Death by Denim.

Next up was one of my favourite stars, George Maple. Yes we got George's debut album all the way back 2017, however along with her new MYTH project, 2020 saw George Maple return after a couple of quieter years.

And keeping December local we went to Melbourne for debut album kids, Cry Club.

Yep 2020 has been random, but the new, talented acts have been outstanding. Some seriously top notch debut albums landed in 2020. What will 2021 bring musically?

Album of the Year Nomination - Benee {HEY U X} Feature

Male Artists of 2020 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part Three

20 - Saint JHN 
19 - Khalid 
18 - Duckwrth
17 - Ty Dolla $ign
16 - Dominic Fike
15 - Flume
14 - Calvin Harris
13 - Channel Tres
12 - Jack Harlow
11 - Drake
10 - Ruel 
9 - Travis Scott
8 - Joji 
7 - Headie One
6 - Post Malone
5 - Alfie Templeton
4 - Machine Gun Kelly
3 - Juice WRLD
2 - The Kid Laroi
1 - The Weeknd

Streaming... NOW! | Key Friday 18 December, 2020

It's heading into the summer slack period so releases are a little slower than normal. However 2021 already has some top notch releases on the calendar. So exciting! So here are the new singles that caught my eye this week.

DZ Deathrays – FU

Glades – Get In The Way

Imanbek & Goodboys – Goodbye

Alicia Keys feat. Diamond Platnumz & Kaash Paige – Wasted Energy

King Princess & Avalon Emerson – Pain (remixes)

The Paper Kites feat. Aoife O’Donovan – Climb On Your Tears

WAAX – Fired Up

Final (for 2020) Fresh Friday Countdown #241 - Friday 18 December, 2020

20 - Amy Shark - C'MON {Feat. Travis Barker} 
19 - Amy Shark - All the Lies About Me
18 - SAINt JHN - Roses (Imanbek Remix)
17 - The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
16 - PNAU & Ladyhawke - River
15 - Megan Thee Stallion - Body
14 - Kita Alexander - Can't Help Myself
13 - The Kid LAROI - SO DONE
12 - Sia - Together
11 - Alison Wonderland & Valentino Khan - Anything
10 - Amy Shark - Everybody Rise
9 - Paul Woodford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me
8 - Jax Jones & Au/Ra - i miss u
7 - Hooligan Hefs - SEND IT!
6 - The Kid LAROI - WITHOUT YOU
5 - The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
4 - David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love
3 - Joel Corry - Head & Heart {Feat. MNEK} 
2 - Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am
1 - Tones And I - Fly Away

Disclosure Vs The Weeknd

The two nominees did work together a while back on Nocturnal. However now they go head to head for the 2020 Album of the Year. Let's take a look at some of their respective hits.

Album of the Year Nomination - Disclosure {ENERGY} Feature

 

Album of the Year Nomination - The Weeknd {AFTER HOURS} Feature

 

Female Artists of 2020 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part Two

20 - Sampha The Great
19 - Doja Cat
18 - Wafia
17 - Rina Sawayama

16 - Grimes

15 - Hayley Williams
14 - Eves Karydas

13 - Megan Thee Stallion/Cardi B

12 - KLP
11 - Fiona Apple
10 - Charli XCX
9 - beebadoobee
8 - Sia 
7 - Miiesha
6 - Tones And I
5 - Tkay Maidza
4 - Halsey
3 - Billie Eilish
2 - BENEE
1 - Amy Shark 

Streaming... NOW! | Key Friday 11 December, 2020

Maybe the last big update for 2020 for new releases. So let's kick it off with a big new release, the third record from The Avalanches, We Will Always Love You.

It's been 20 years since the Deftones released White Pony. So along with the 20th Anniversary Edition version there are some new remixes to boot.

Tasman Keith has given us the, To Whom It May Concern Mixtape. Check out a cut from it now.

George Maple has returned with a new release, MYTH. Live shows are also on the way. Yay for the return of live music.

OK Beyonce, y'all got some catching up to do in 2020. Taylor Swift has given us her second surprise album for 2020, evermore.

New singles this week include PNAU teaming up with an old friend, Troye Sivan re-releasing Easy with a few friends on board this time and Channel Tres is back with even more impressive new music.

박혜진 Park Hye Jin – Clouds

Bakar feat. Lancey Foux – Play

Channel Tres – i can’t go outside

Manu Crooks – Top

H.E.R. – Hold Us Together

Illy – I Myself & Me

SG Lewis feat. Rhye – Time

Otosan – Nowhere

Peking Duk x Tommy Trash – Lil Bit

Pnau feat. Ladyhawke – River

Troye Sivan & Kasey Musgraves feat. Mark Ronson – Easy

Skegss – Wake Up

Slowly Slowly – Comets & Zombies

Emily Wurramarra – Cruisin’

Fresh Friday Countdown #240 - Friday 11 December, 2020

20 - Gwen Stefani - Let Me Reintroduce Myself
19 - Sia - Together
18 - Amy Shark - C'MON {Feat. Travis Barker}
17 - The Kid LAROI - SO DONE
16 - SAINt JHN - Roses (Imanbek Remix)
15 - Amy Shark - Everybody Rise
14 - Kita Alexander - Can't Help Myself
13 - Amy Shark - All the Lies About Me
12 - Megan Thee Stallion - Body
11 - Alison Wonderland & Valentino Khan - Anything
10 - The Kid LAROI - WITHOUT YOU
9 - Hooligan Hefs - SEND IT!
8 - Troye Sivan & Kacey Musgraves - Easy {Feat. Mark Ronson}
7 - Jax Jones & Au/Ra - i miss u
6 - Paul Woodford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me
5 - The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
4 - David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love
3 - Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am
2 - Joel Corry - Head & Heart {Feat. MNEK} 
1 - Tones And I - Fly Away

Halsey x Tame Impala Album of the Year Nomination Xtra's

 

My Hottest 100 VOTES - 2020

Another year, another chance to vote in the Hottest 100. Here is my ten picks!

Vote Now!

Album of the Year Nomination - Tame Impala {THE SLOW RUSH} Feature

Album of the Year Nomination - Halsey {MANIC} Feature

Hits of Spring 2020 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part One

20 - Sgt Slick -  Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

19 - Kita Alexander - Can' Help Myself

18 - Juice WRLD & Marshmello - Come & Go

17 - Bring Me The Horizon - Obey {Feat. YUNGBLUD}

16 - Tones And I - Fly Away

15 - Powderfinger - Day by Day

14 - DJ Khaled - POPSTAR {Feat. Drake}

13 - Birdz - Bagi-la-m Bargan {Feat. Fred Leone}

12 - Amy Shark - C'MON {Feat. Travis Barker}

11 - Jax Jones & Au/Ra - i miss u

10 - Paul Woodford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me

9 - Headie One - Ain't it Different {Feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy}

8 - Sia - Courage to Change

7 - Machine Gun Kelly & Halsey - forget me too

6 - David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love

5 - The Weeknd - Blinding Lights

4 - SAINt JHN - Roses (Imanbek Remix)

3 - Sia - Together

2 - Amy Shark - Everybody Rise

1 - Joel Corry - Head & Heart {Feat. MNEK}  

Streaming... NOW! | Key Friday 4 December, 2020

It's virtually the last week of new releases. First up we get the delayed, YUNGBLUD album Weird! Following a physical CD pressing issue last month, the album has finally arrived in time for Christmas.

Arctic Monkeys have released a Live At Royal Albert Hall album. This is perfect timing for Arctic Monkeys fans and Christmas gifts.

Featuring Justin Bieber as well as Netflix special landing, Shawn Mendes gives us Wonder.

Can you believe it's time for another So Fresh : The Hits Of Summer 2021 + Best Of 2020!

A couple of new EP's as well this week. One Christmas themed, another a revisited, repackaged just time for Christmas release.

Tori Amos – Christmastide 

Mia Dyson – Parking Lots Revisited 

Some interesting new singles this week. From Billie Eilish's brother Finneas to Holy Holy and a real banger from Anna Lunoe. This week we even jump into some a Bluey favourite. ACCTA award winning Bluey for that matter. Look out as well for some new Logic1000 just in time for the dance floors to open again on Monday!

Au/Ra – Moon River

Bakar feat. Lancey Foux – Play

Bluey – Keepy Uppy

Finneas – Another Year

Goldlink feat. Lukeyworld – Dunya

San Holo – BB U OK?

Holy Holy feat. Queen P – Port Road

Hoodzy – Jumpy

LANKS feat. Yorke – KING

Logic1000 – I Won’t Forget

Anna Lunoe feat. Nakamura Minami – Ice Cream

San Mei – Dakota

Nothing But Thieves – Phobia

Gretta Ray – Passion

Romy – Lifetime (remixes)

Britney Spears – Swimming In The Stars

B Wise & ONEFOUR – Won’t Stop

Fresh Friday Countdown #239 - Friday 4 December, 2020

20 - Sia - Hey Boy
19 - Meduza - Paradise {Feat. Dermot Kennedy}
18 - The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
17 - SAINt JHN - Roses (Imanbek Remix)
16 - Alison Wonderland & Valentino Khan - Anything
15 - Architechs - Black Lungs
14 - Sia - Together
13 - YUNGBLUD - acting like that {Feat. Machine Gun Kelly}
12 - Birds of Tokyo - Weekend
11 - Amy Shark - Everybody Rise
10 - Megan Thee Stallion - Body
9 - Paul Woodford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me
8 - Amy Shark - C'MON {Feat. Travis Barker}
7 - Jax Jones & Au/Ra - i miss u
6 - Hooligan Hefs - SEND IT!
5 - David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love
4 - The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
3 - Joel Corry - Head & Heart {Feat. MNEK} 
2 - Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am
1 - Tones And I - Fly Away

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: (late) September - November 2020

Morning all, my last (Mini) Monday Spotlight was around the end of late September, however one more (Mini) Monday Spotlight snuck in September, Mr Dro Carey. Then came a stacked October, following Dro Carey's dance themed instalment, Elderbrook was next.

The tempo completed changed then for local Stevan from Wollongong, then we travelled across the ditch to NZ for JessB. The borders were still shut but we snuck into Perth for some indie rock with Great Gable.

Somehow in 2020 we made it to November. The four weeks flew by, kicking off with a fan of 90's grunge, beabadoobee. Next up it was a slide of local electronica, with KLLO. Summer was definitely on the way with Whetan and Lastlings firing up the dance floor hits.

And lastly (not Lastlings, LOL) was fun indie pop crew Haiku Hands. 

2020 has served up and interesting year, while also giving us some great new music. Not to mention great and exciting new artists. I hope to continue the (Mini) Monday Spotlight at some stage in 2021. There are a few more weeks of December acts to come. However for now on my other blog, there is loads of TV and cinema pieces.

Now it's time to take a listen to some cuts from all the (Mini) Monday Spotlight stars below. Or click the artists above and discover some brand new sounds.

Album of the Week - Offical Music Video/Q&A