The first week of 2021 has ended, and many of us have tried the 7-day trial and would like to exchange it for a different version. In the grimness of this week, take comfort in music. As Mad Richard once said, "Music Saves." This week I have a bunch of 2020 albums that I wanted to share before the albums from this year start to be released. Two of these were actually on my best of list, but never got proper reviews...now they have. Hopefully there's something on here that you'll want to check out. Enjoy.

Liar, Flower - Geiger Counter:
The new album from KatieJane Garside and Chris Whittingham is their
first release under this name, though the duo has released many albums
under the Ruby Throat moniker. I'm never quite sure what to say
when I review her work because there's always this instant connection
that is made between her music and myself, and has been ever since I
heard "Love Your Money" back in '91. A lot has changed since Daisy Chainsaw,
but I feel that I've changed in similar ways. KatieJane is one of those
artists who has helped shaped my creative life and continues to. This
was on my Best of 2020, even though I only got it on Christmas.

Kadavar - The Isolation Tapes:
The seventh studio album from the Berlin psych rock band came out in
the Fall. I've enjoyed every single one of their previous albums, some
slightly more than others. On this new record, there's a Floyd space
rock vibe that sounds real nice. They've always had a bit of that in
their sound, but this album really brings it out. I'm not sure if this
is a great album, or just an album that feels really right for me at
this particular time. I honestly believe that our connection to an album
is strongly decided by the time and place we encountered it. The vibes
have to mingle with yours. Any space rock fan is pretty sure to dig this
album.

Patricia Lalor - Covers EP:
The new EP from the 14 year Irish artist is an indie dream pop gem.
Though she has a few EPs out, this is my first introduction to her and
her voice is mature beyond her years. This has a
Ruby Throat
vibe, an acoustic-y eeriness that is just stellar. "Present Tense"
(Radiohead) and "My Kind of Woman" (Mac Demarco) are both unbelievably
good. I'm really looking forward to checking out some of her other work,
very impressive.

Three Queens in Mourning / Bonnie Prince Billy - Hello Sorrow-Hello Joy:
Released in July, this is the debut project of three iconic Glasgow
indie folk artists. Alasdair Roberts, who I've followed since Appendix Out's debut in '97. Jill O'Sullivan, from Sparrow and the Workshop whose 2008 debut was fantastic. Alex Neilson who was in Trembling Bells,
which was another band the Prince teamed up with in the past. Together
these guys cover the hell out of Will Oldman songs. There was this
movement back in the late 90s and early 00s of Scottish and English folk
artists who made albums in the same vein as I See a Darkness,
and there were albums from right before that clearly influenced that
classic record. These guys were all part of that movement and this feels
pretty epic.

Mad Hatter - Pieces of Reality:
This is the second album from the Swedish metal band. Anyone who knows
me is aware that I'm a sucker for anything Alice related, so when I saw
this pop up, I had to give it a shot. This is pretty by-the-numbers
power metal with blistering guitar and screeching falsetto. The real
draw-back for me was the drums which sound completely mechanical. There
are moments on this record that caught me, but they were few and far
between. At it's best, it reminds me of Avenged Sevenfold.
Dead Quiet - Truth and Ruin:
The third album from the Vancouver stoner metal band is a collection of
fast tempo riffs and growly vocals that are melodic, not screaming. I
enjoyed their first album about five years back and I enjoy this one
too. It's nothing earth shattering, just good heavy rock. "Of Sound and
Fury," and "Forever Unsung" were personal favorites.