Anna Farha, host of Wiretap, shares her 20 favorite songs of 2020. They're listed in the order they appeared on the show.
Purity Ring - stardew
Purity Ring is special to me because my sister and I became huge fans of theirs when they debuted back in 2012 with the album Shrines. stardew was the first single released off their third album WOMB, and it definitely holds up to their earlier work.
Pearl Jam - Dance of the Clairvoyants
It's hard not to like Pearl Jam, right? Eddie Vedder's voice is just that good. When this single came out, I was reminded how bands that have been around for decades can still make themselves relevant today. This track gives me Queens of the Stone Age vibes.
Swim Fan - Lipstick
OKC psych pop band Swim Fan blew me away (with a kiss) with Lipstick, see what I did there? Their sound is as good as major national bands, so I was super proud to know they were from here.
Braids - Young Buck
This is a song that has stuck with me long after I first played it back in March when I discovered the band. It's been really fun becoming more familiar with all of the new music on The Spy putting together this show each week. There are so many bands and songs that The Spy has introduced me to greatly expanding my repertoire of music.
Tame Impala - Breathe Deeper
I've been a big Tame Impala fan since they debuted InnerSpeaker back in 2010. Needless to say their fourth album The Slow Rush, which dropped back in February, was much anticipated coming out 5 years after their third album. Kevin Parker of Tame Impala has ensured that it will not be another five years before the next album. Thankfully!
-o
The Dream Syndicate - The Regulator
This is another band that The Spy introduced me to, which I then found out has been around since the 80s. This song reminds me so much of Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim, and that's why I love it. I just picture Christoper Walken dancing around from the music video, and it gives me joy. This is the single edit, btw; the full length version of The Regulator is 20 minutes long.
Christine and the Queens - La Vita Nuova
So I actually did know this band from the song Tilted and didn't realize it until I started playing Christine and the Queens EP La Vita Nuova earlier this year. I love how they meld both French and English in their music. Their fun pop sound makes me want to move and has major 80's vibes.
Hannah Georgas - That Emotion
The soft melodic voice of Hannah Georgas is so soothing to me. (Basically) the title track off her fourth album All That Emotion, it will give you all the feels.
LCG and the X - Lil Peaches
Come through, OKC bands! LCG and the X has a kick ass sound that I liken to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Another band that I'm so proud is from here. This is from their self-titled debut released back in March.
Day Wave - Potions
Day Wave's third EP Crush dropped back in April and all four songs on it are great. Maybe one day they will release a full length album, but until then I'm good with their slew of singles and EPs.
Little Dragon - Hold On
This is one of my favorite bands, so I was really looking forward to their sixth studio album New Me, Same Us released back in March. This song and Water (FKJ Remix) are both excellent, but I had to pick one and that remix technically isn’t on the album. You should definitely still listen to it though!
Glass Animals - Your Love (Deja Vu)
I really enjoy Glass Animals sound in general, so when they released this Middle Eastern sounding tune, I was all in. Many of you know I’m half Lebanese, so that style of music is significant to me. Their third album Dreamland came out in August.
Waxahatchee - Lilacs
Waxahatchee’s fifth album Saint Cloud came out in March, and this song along with Fire are both well, fire. I dig the rustic country-esque sound of Katie Crutchfield’s voice. Reminds me of Ali Harter.
Washed Out - Too Late
Man, a lot of my fav bands came out with new albums this year! Another highly anticipated release, I dig a lot of songs on Purple Noon released in August. This is one I had to pick up on vinyl as well.
-s5HmdNHs
Other Lives - All Eyes - For Their Love
I first became acquainted with Other Lives in 2012, and it ended up being the first concert my husband and I went to together. Kind of a big deal. That concert also happens to have been on the day he asked me to be his girlfriend, so again, more emotional significance. Regardless of all that, Other Lives is awesome, and I was so happy they came out with this new album For Their Love in April.
Muzz - Red Western Sky
Being the Interpol fan that I am, I was immediately drawn to the new project by its lead singer Paul Banks along with two other music industry veterans. Their self-titled debut came out in June.
Doves - Carousels
Doves came back from a nearly decade hiatus with their fifth studio album The Universal Want in September. I hadn’t heard them in nearly that long since their song There Goes the Fear was in the 2009 movie 500 Days of Summer, so Carousels was a nice reintroduction to them for me.
clipping. - Say the Name
This band is heavy, yall, like real heavy. They’re shedding a much needed light on race and violence in America and doing it in an entertaining way musically. This song can be identified as the only explicit one on this list as well. Also Daveed Diggs’ voice is great; Hamilton fans, amirite?
Sylvan Esso - Frequency
Big Sylvan Esso fan here. I love their self-titled debut from 2014. Their third studio album Free Love came out in September. It’s a quick listen at just 29 minutes and has a lot of catchy tracks.
Matt Berninger - One More Second
I nearly let this release slip past me, but luckily I did not. It’s the debut solo album by The National’s lead singer Matt Berninger. Serpentine Prison just dropped in October, and it’s an end of year album we all need.
Listen to Wiretap, every Friday night at 10 p.m. on The Spy on KOSU.
