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They’re everywhere. Top album lists, each declaring its take on the best of what 2020 had to offer in long-form listening, are absolutely unavoidable right now.
For the most part, these unending lists are relatively similar, save for a few variations in top 10s depending on what magazine, blog or Reddit sub you go to for that sort of critique.
This list is not that list. It’s not even a best-of list, really. There are more than enough of those circulating this month.
Instead, this is a gathering of projects both short and long released by Hampton Roads artists worth streaming a time or 70 if you haven’t already done so.
Bennett Wales & the Relief, “Album II”
After two years and some change, Wales (guitar and lead vocals) and his bandmates — Mike Fischetti (bass), Caleb Little (keys), Brock Bittner (guitar), Drew Orton (drums) — unleashed their sophomore album this fall. The collection of 10 tracks runs the gamut of human emotion, from the guttural rhythm-driven “Hey Otto” — a tribute to the University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier who was imprisoned in North Korea in 2016 and later died after being released in a vegetative state — to “The War,” a jangly piano tune about unity versus division but more importantly, hope, evident in Wales’ buttery warm vocals.
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Bree New Moon, “Young & Reckless”
This one’s still fresh out of the oven, and it’s the perfect blend of R&B and pop. Bree New Moon’s debut single is not only self-produced but a signal that the budding young artist is one to watch closely. As the title suggests, “Young and Reckless” is a nostalgic trip into simpler times, an apt message that’s for ripe for 2020. New Moon released two other songs this year, “Rain on Me” and a cover of Billie Eilish’s “Everything I Wanted.” Her debut EP, “A Flower Blooms,” releases Tuesday.
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Court Street Company, “Modern Age”
This Portsmouth-based band unknowingly set the tone for this beyond bizarre year with this single. Back in April, Allen Hudson (guitar and vocals) and Jonah Grinkewitz (guitar and vocals) spoke to The Pilot about the track. Hudson said the idea behind the song is simple: “We are living in the most technologically advanced and connected time in human history by a long shot, yet we have never been more disconnected.” Hey, at least their brand of upbeat power pop can (hopefully) help you see at least one silver lining — an abundance of time to catch up on how to use all of that technology.
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DEMONS, “Slow Burn”
In an interview with Revolver magazine, Zach Gehring (guitar) of indie rock band Mae fame, said his punk rock outfit released this song because “we’re stir crazy and frustrated, just like everyone else.” This song makes pure aggravation audible with dueling guitars and driving, aggressive drums and turns the notion up to 11. Get ready to get dissonant, 2020 style.
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Khi Infinite, “Lucy” and “Deep End”
Chesapeake native Khi Infinite has an addiction to love and he uses his musical abilities to share those struggles with the world. Releasing these two genre-blending records from his bedroom, Khi Inifinite’s straightforward storytelling and bedroom pop production prowess are addictive listens for fans of acts like Rex Orange County and Tame Impala. Think Steve Lacy with a pinch of Mac DeMarco. His debut album, “Take What You Need,” is forthcoming.
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Masego, “Studying Abroad”
Born in Jamaica but raised in Newport News, Masego returns this year with an EP that showcases his growth as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter as he deconstructs past relationships and the excitement that comes with getting your first passport and taking off on a plane to anywhere. “Silver Tongue Devil” dips into Masego’s heritage by employing the island’s cadence and patois.
Other highlights are “Mystery Lady,” which features rapper/singer Don Toliver, and “Bye Felicia,” a record founded on a D’mile beat that flirts with 112′s “Anywhere,” proving a well-written saxophone line can make old melodies feel brand new.
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Max Fullard, “Love, Max Fullard”
In an Instagram (@maxfullard) post, the Beach native said that of all his work, this album is most representative of himself. Stacked up against his previous releases, the sonics of Fullard’s 2020 offering is a bit more playful at first blush. Stylistically, “Love, Max Fullard” strays a bit from the standard hip-hop/rap production present on 2018′s “MMM II” and instead mixes in tracks with softer beats, loads of warm, buzzing synths and a bit more singing than previous projects allowed for. The opener, “Love Song,” is just a taste of what’s to come in the ensuing 45-ish minutes, which is teeming with saccharine expressions right up to the album’s closer, “Aaliyah.” If you ever played any of the Donkey Kong games on Super Nintendo, “Mama Dance” will undoubtedly make you nostalgic for the franchise’s underwater levels.
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Paper Aliens, “Unidentified Audio Phenomena”
This EP has been a steady friend through the thousand seasons of life we’ve endured this year. From warm, melodic rock to pure funk-forward jazz, Paper Aliens finds a vibe in myriad genres and figures out how to move listeners along with them. Aside from lead singer Jarvis Griffin’s serious pipes, the Aliens are equally as skilled at creating groovable jams. Just try not to dance your way through “Thirsty.”
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Rob Oliver, “Highs & Lows & Blues”
Whether he meant to or not, Oliver is another artist whose new music was almost prophetic of the inner struggles that were thrown upon us this year. The album title even cuts right to the chase: highs, lows and blues. Oliver’s debut album combines what you’d expect from a gritty blues album — growling guitars, tinny fingerpicking, screeching hot riffs and a whole lot of harmonica — with his twist on the standard progressions and rhythms to forge a sound all his own.
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Skye Zentz, “GrimBright”
Typically right at home behind her ukelele, Zentz got creative during quarantine after asking herself a simple question: What do we do when we can’t do what we’re used to doing? For Zentz, it was learning how to produce pop music. So, she vowed to finish up a synthpop project seven years in the making. “GrimBright” is the result, and it awaits on BandCamp for those not afraid to make 2020 a tiny bit weirder. There, folk artist Danielle Ate the Sandwich describes it perfectly, so we’ll let her critique do the talking: “I love these songs and concept! The work is spooky, sexy, empowering and poppy. It makes me feel alive (and dead for centuries at the same time).”
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Shaolinn, “Organized Mixed Emotions”
She’s the latest area artist to fly under Pusha T’s wing via his record label, Heir Wave Music Group, and if first impressions are correct, Shaolinn will soar. Look no further than “Overthrown” – a stunning example of what the future of R&B sounds like – for proof of that, in which Shoalinn’s hauntingly honeyed vocals float over enveloping synths and snappy percussion.
Can you feel me break / Like the sound of your mistakes
Like the doubt you can’t replace / Like the love you can’t repay
Ouch.
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Sunny and Gabe, “Can’t Relate”
The first official release from the Norfolk duo in a couple of years, the record was appropriately featured on Something In the Water’s VA for the People voting campaign. The track’s first half, anchored by Sunny’s otherworldly singing, is a spiraling mesh of brain-melting sounds that quickly picks up when Gabe enters the mix, backed by an array of energetic instruments racing toward an end. The accompanying visuals are equally bizarre but just as enjoyable, though we’re not really even sure what we just watched.
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Sunny Moonshine, “Tonic (feat. Mizzle & Mickey McDagger)”
Weekend Scoop
Though this track was released under Sunny, it doesn’t leave Gabe behind. And like “Can’t Relate,” it’s an exploration into, well, oddity. Like the first line uttered on the track (”Can’t get you out of my head), this song will get stuck in your head. And after watching the video (which is packed with ’80s and ’90s nostalgia, including clips of both the original Super Mario Bros and cult classic Mario Kart) a dozen or so times, we’re still finding things we missed the first 11 times. Dig in and get weird. One thing is certain, Sunny Moonshines is a rarity and we ought to be thankful she calls Hampton Roads home.
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Tyler Donavan, “Inhale”
“Go be the hero you needed the most,” Tyler Donavan spits at the onset during the first track, “Assembly.” Solid advice; they’re words he’s clearly trying to follow himself. Throughout his EP, Donavan details overcoming his battles, from love to dealing with a life that didn’t quite turn out the way he’d envisioned. He’s making it work, though, and he’s giving listeners a front-row seat to his journey.
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USERx, “Above”
Released Wednesday, this is the follow-up to USERx’s debut single, “Waterman.” With their latest offering, Matt Maeson and Roswell solidify that they’re not only an incredible pairing, but they understand Virginia’s current vibe by looping in two other locally-raised artists, Masego and West Banks (Hampton).
If you’re enjoying USERx’s sonic contributions thus far, prepare yourselves for what’s still to come. We wish we could say more, but you’ll just have to wait.
Amy Poulter, 757-446-2705, amy.poulter@pilotonline.com