Robyn's Top Ten Albums of 2020

There is no doubt that this has been a difficult year, filled with uncertainty, frustration, trauma, and a strange sense of unreality. But what it has also shown is the vitally important role that art plays in our lives. It was the film and television producers, the writers, the content creators, and the musicians who kept us company, provided escape, gave us something to share in, and buoyed our spirits when we couldn’t see friends or family and felt increasingly frustrated by everything happening on the news. So it feels even more fitting to take the time to pay tribute to the albums that I really enjoyed this year.

10. Folklore by Taylor Swift

I’m sure that this is going to be a controversial choice for my top ten, but I truly love this album and it simply had to make my list. While I don’t regularly listen to a lot of music that falls outside of punk or its subgenres, I follow a lot of popular artists and I’m generally interested in keeping up with what’s happening in other genres. So when Taylor Swift dropped a surprise new album that sees her collaborating with The National’s Aaron Dessner, I was immediately interested. What I found is a beautifully-crafted storybook of an album, brimming with wistful imagery and outstanding lyricism. As a literary student who essentially reads for a living, it’s perhaps unsurprising that I am drawn to the exceptional storytelling on Folklore; but I also love its indie sound. The album is stripped-down, giving a sense of intimacy and increased emotion, but also layered and well-produced. My favourite track is “Epiphany”, which compares Taylor’s grandfather’s act of service in WWII to the frontline healthcare workers serving during the pandemic. It compares the sense of loss and daily trauma encompassed by these events, simultaneously honouring those who place themselves at risk (both physically and mentally) in helping others and mourning an international tragedy. This album captures so much of the mood of this year, and it’s certainly deserving of being named one of 2020’s best releases.

9. Sad In The City by Broadway Calls

I’ve never met a Broadway Calls album I didn’t like, so it’s unsurprising that I’ve really enjoyed the band’s latest offering. The opening line asking “if my country collapses, can I crash on your couch?” captures the dystopian energy of the last year (or four in America), and sets the scene for some joyful catharsis. So even while you sing along, chanting “everyone’s sad in the city”, you can’t help but have a huge smile on your face. These are high-quality pop-punk bangers, and would seriously have scored higher on my list if it weren’t for the other exceptional albums released this year.

8. Death In Venice Beach by The Bombpops

The Bombpops are a band I’ve always liked but never fully committed to. But after just one listen to the new album, I was totally hooked. Death In Venice Beach delivers a stream of ultra-catchy pop punk jams with clever lyrics and great production. There is also a hidden seriousness to this album, since it details Poli van Dam’s battle with addiction. A song like “13 Stories Down” is really fun and upbeat, even as it describes the lowest points of alcoholism. This personal side of the album and the light it shines on the problem of addiction give the songs a little more heft, and the quality of the songwriting shines through the entire album. This is some of the best music The Bombpops have put out and certainly some the best music produced this year.

7. Wonderful Hell by War On Women

War On Women’s call to “raise some wonderful, beautiful hell” is the perfect rallying cry for a year that saw a major resurgence in the Black Lives Matter movement and where the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing social inequities. I enjoyed War On Women’s previous release, Capture the Flag, but this album just hit differently in the current moment and I think the band’s songwriting is just getting better with each release. The album is full of heavy guitar riffs, big melodies, and Shawna’s unmistakable vocals. A triumphant combination of righteous anger and defiant positivity.

6. 20/20 Vision by Anti-Flag

Back in March, South Africa went into a hard 3-week lockdown (which of course ended up being extended). We weren’t allowed to leave our property, not even for short walk around the block, and just one family member could make the weekly trip to the grocery store to stock up on essentials. I had a large stack of marking to get through and many student concerns to deal with, and the new Anti-Flag album became my refuge. This is the band’s answer to Trump’s America: the hate it fostered and the deep divisions it widened. It’s full of the anthemic choruses you would expect from Anti-Flag, providing high-energy social commentary and calling for sustained resistance. The quality does not lag across the 11 tracks, which are full of great hooks and catchy lyrics. It’s an excellent addition to an already impressive music catalogue of a band who have been playing together for almost thirty years.

5. Revolution Spring by The Suicide Machines

It’s been a very long time since we’ve had a new Suicide Machines album, but hot damn it was worth the wait. The incredible bass tone on this album alone would be enough to make it a contender for my top ten, but it also delivers a delicious mix of punk and ska, with a few hardcore elements thrown in for some added flavour. Actual conversations Brett and I have had about this album include simply saying “it’s so good”, “yeah, right?!” to each other over and over again. A bop from start to finish.

4. Seamless by Pardon Us

Less than a year after their first album, Pardon Us dropped a new release absolutely packed with fun melodic-punk tunes. There are so many things I love about this album: the gruff lead vocals, the background harmonies, the incredibly catchy melodies, the thoughtful lyrics, and the sheer danceability of these songs. The band have really built upon their previous success and delivered a tight and polished sophomore album.

3. Life, Death And Everything In Between by Stöj Snak

The latest album from Danish folk punks Stöj Snak opens with an intense and haunting call to life that hit me like a physical force the first time I put this album on. Niels Højgaard Sørensen’s vocals are unlike any other singer out there: powerful, textured, and highly emotive; and the music brings together a brash punk energy with more soulful and folksy elements. The album really has ‘everything’: want to dance even while the world’s burning? Put on “Trees”; want the most perfect singalong about sticking it out even when life gets hard? “Bliss Point” has got you covered. It closes with a ballad about identity, change, and the journey of life that is beautifully expressed and incredibly moving. Just perfection.

2. You or Someone You Know by Worriers

Worriers’ previous album, Survival Pop, made my top ten list in 2017; but for some reason the first couple of times I listened to You Or Someone You Know I just didn’t connect with it. Then one afternoon, it finally all made sense and I marvelled once again at Lauren Denitzio’s fantastic songwriting and vocal skills. Despite the first track dealing with living through what often appears to be the “End Of The World” and many of the songs tackling difficult personal issues, the mood of the album is self-assertive and uplifting. And between the big melodies, deep grooves, and gorgeous guitar flourishes, the lyrics are direct and honest. A fantastic new release from Worriers that I’ve come to love more and more.

1. Brave Faces Everyone by Spanish Love Songs

Little did we know back in February when this came out that “Brave Faces Everyone” would become the perfect slogan for this year. I already knew then that this would take the number one spot on my list, and no matter how much I have listened to the other albums on this list, I have still listened to this one more. This is an album about facing up to daily fears and struggles, and choosing to try. This is something that I think everyone can relate to, whether that’s dealing with the drudgery of your job, mental health issues, or major life changes. Although the previous releases from Spanish Love Songs have been excellent, I think this is their best album to date. With its soaring choruses, flawless vocals, and a sound so big that it feels wrapped around me, it may possibly be one of my favourite albums of all time.

* Entries 3 and 4 on this list came to me via endorsements from Emma. This is not the first time I owe Emma thanks for an excellent recommendation, and I’m sure it won’t be the last (but thanks once again!)

This top ten was written by Robyn Pierce.

Chris' Top Ten Albums of 2020

Like everyone, I've found it extremely hard to come up with my 10 favourite albums this year. Seriously good releases not to make my list came from Custody, The Sewer Rats, Giant Eagles and American Television; and some old favourites also put out some really great new music as well including Broadway Calls, Lawrence Arms and Get Dead. So, 2020… the worst ever year for live music, but a pretty damn great one for recorded releases.

10. Diaz Brothers by Diaz Brothers

I find it increasingly impossible to write anything for CPRW without somehow crowbarring a mention of Leatherface in there somewhere, so here's my reference in this article. The debut from Sunderland's Diaz Brothers featuring ex members from the region's punk scene, in particular Leatherface's forerunner's HDQ, but they are most certainly not a poorman's imitation – just fantastic, fast, melodic hardcore.

9. Ways Away by Ways Away

This is probably the album I was looking forward to the most this year. A semi-supergroup featuring members of Racquet Club, Stick To Your Guns and Samiam amongst others, drawing influences from all. This is Ways Away’s debut and it didn't let me down. A must see band once things get back to normal.

8. Seamless by Pardon Us

I wasn't expecting a new album from Pardon Us as their debut only came out last year. I'm guessing because it took a while for that debut they always had plenty of songs in the bank, which means the next album is a perfect follow up to Wait – nothing has been rushed out here, the standard is tremendously high.

7. Eruptions by The Special Bombs

There's loads of great German punk, and European punk in general, around at the moment and a whole load of them made my long, short list. Eruptions is the debut from The Special Bombs from Wittibreut and it is singalong, shout it out loud bangers from start to finish.

6. Thanks, I Hate It by Kid You Not

It's hard to believe this is already Kid You Not's third album and they just get better and better. Floridian, Fest stalwarts these songs were written to be played at full volume in a packed, sweaty venue, but I'll make do with blasting this at home for now.

5. 20/20 Vision by Anti-Flag

This album was out before COVID really hit and the band were here in the UK promoting it at the start of the year. Not only was it one of the few shows any of us have managed to see this year, but it was great to be one of a select few to see them play some of these new songs live. The album is their best for some time, which is saying something as Anti-Flag don't put out duffs. It's stacked with singalong anthems we love and expect, but with the twist that it's a full on assault on the Trump administration rather than the usual broader political and social commentary.

4. Still Golden by Wolf Face

2020 was the year I actually took notice of Wolf Face. I'd always been aware of them, but had never properly taken the time to listen. It turns out, 2020 was the perfect time to discover them as Still Golden is brilliant from start to finish. Don't be put off by gimmicky masks or pseudonyms because Wolf Face Still Golden is straight up, catchy, anthemic punk.

3. Oppositional Defiance by The Raging Nathans

The Raging Nathans get better and better. I've always been a fan, but the latest album is the best yet. Midwestern melodic punk at its core with elements of skate, street, pop and even hardcore in there. Rad Girlfriend put out a tonne of great records this year and this is the very best of the lot.

2. The Spaces In Between by Arterials

The second band from Germany on my list and this is also an absolute banger from the Hamburg band. Proper fist in the air, gritty, urgent punk complete with raspy vocals, their second album quite simply offers up everything I want from a record. Arterials are at the very top of my must see list at Booze Cruise Festival in their hometown next year.

1. Under Tension by The Drowns

This came out at the very start of the year, but even back then I knew it would be one of my favourites. Gruff street punk with a bit of gravelly oi thrown in. I love it. Every track is a banger. The Drowns were due in the UK for Rebellion this year. I'm not sure if they've confirmed for next year, but I have everything crossed they'll be back and will be putting together a wider tour.

This top ten was written by Chris Bishton.

Gig Review: Anti-Flag at Islington Academy, London 4/2/20 (by Chris Bishton)

Sometimes when bands announce gigs, much as I want to see them, I pause and think "when this comes around, am I really going to fancy it?". On paper, a Tuesday night, in the first week of February, at a venue that's north of the river was one of these gigs that might make me think twice. But when that band is Anti-Flag, no way was that ever going to cross my mind with this gig.

I get to the venue when Maid of Ace are already on stage. A four piece from Hastings and my first thought is that they're very tight, as you might expect from a band that's made up of four siblings, but by the time I've properly got into the venue, got to the bar and then got my spot in the audience sorted, their set is pretty much over. However, they've made enough of an impression for me to make a mental note to check them out online in the next few days.

Next are Canada's The Creepshow. I'll be honest, even though they've been a band for around 15 years, I'm not familiar with them. They're a charismatic blend of psychobilly and horror punk. Not normally my thing, but I love their set. Anyone with that amount on energy that's able to play a double bass above their head is a winner for me. The crowd seem to think so as well – in the end the perfect warm up for Anti-Flag.

Staring down as the backdrop to the stage is the banner of Trump and the cover of the recently released new Anti-Flag album. It's pretty well documented the band have never called out specific politicians in the past, despite their fabulous political, economic and social commentary they've never wanted to define their music in that way. But now they've made an exception. Identifying Trump as such a odious individual and dangerous threat to both the US and the rest of the world that his image forms the artwork on the new album and he's sampled on its opening track. And with the gig falling on the same day as his State of the Union address and his impeachment trial on the verge of collapse, it suddenly seems so much more important and appropriate for Anti-Flag to take this new approach.

And so, we're now ready. Blitzkrieg Bop by The Ramones kicks in and the crowd know the band are about to take the stage. They enter one at at time, all of them dressed as usual in black. All looking so cool.

Whenever a band tour on the back of a new record, I'm always slightly nervous that the new stuff will take too much prominence when really everyone is there to hear them play the classics. But, I've got no such fears following the release of 20/20 Vision a couple of weeks earlier. It's a brilliant album that's been on constant rotation. If they played it from start to finish I wouldn't be unhappy. So perhaps the band know this, as they kick off their set with Christian Nationalist and the crowd love it. It's the latest socio-politically charged anthem and another defining Anti-Flag song. It's only been out a couple of weeks, but the crowd already know it inside as they scream "you're no better than the rest, white neo-christian nationalist!".

What follows is a blistering set. They've released so many albums it must be hard to decide on what to include and what to leave out, but we get loads of classics including The Press Corpse, Turncoat, Trouble Follows Me, 1 Trillion Dollar$ and Fuck Police Brutality as well as the new ones Hate Conquers All and 20/20 Vision.

Justin and Chris#2 swap lead vocal duties throughout and, as you'd expect, the band frequently deliver their politically inspired messages in between songs raging against hatred, bigotry, corporate greed and police brutality. At various points we're asked to raise our middle fingers in the air, shake hands with strangers next to us and create a circle pit in what is actually a relatively small venue.

The whole set and performance is obviously well rehearsed. Chris#2 is up on, and then leaping off, speakers before throwing the microphone stand complete with loudhailer still attached over his shoulder without looking, safe in the knowledge he's done it so many times someone will be behind him to catch it.

With the band off stage, the crowd start calling for the encore, not with the traditional "more, more, more" but with a chant of "you've gotta die, gotta die, gotta die, for your government, die for your government, that's shit!" whilst stamping on the floor and banging the bar to the beat of one of the band's classics.

As expected, they reappear and dutifully give us what we want, blasting out four more songs complete with a mini stage invasion with The Homeless Gospel Choir (why weren't they publicised as playing beforehand?) and the familiar finish of Pat's drum kit being dragged into the audience before Chris#2 also ends up on the floor with us.

The end of the night is signalled by the band urging us and the world to generally fight for all that is good before Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You blasts out over the PA and we step out into the cold night. Well worth a trip north of the river!

This gig review was written Chris Bishton.

Album Review: 2020 Vision by Anti-Flag (by Dan#2)

The last few records Anti-Flag have released have, for the most part, been packed with political songs that seek to surpass the time in which they were written. Rather than detailing the specifics of current atrocities, which could risk dating a particular album, AF prefer to go after the ideas and challenges the Left faces over longer periods. So when it was announced they were going all in on a record attacking the awful Trump administration, I was super excited to see what they had in store – and I wasn't disappointed by "2020 Vision".

"2020 Vision" opens with a Trump quote: "In the good old days, this doesn't happen because they used to treat them very, very rough and when they protested once, they would not do it again so easily." It's so awful and abhorrent that it takes a while to really pick apart everything about this quote that makes my blood boil: it's suggesting hurting and suppressing protesters exercising their free speech is a good thing; and it manages to dismiss civil rights, women's rights and gay rights movements in the same few hateful words. I had no idea Trump had even said this – I guess it had just got lost in the rest of the mountain of garbage that constantly pours out of this man's face-hole. The effect of these first 10 seconds is incredible: basically, if you weren't angry enough to enjoy this song before, you are now.

The first song sets the tone for the record: it's about living through the Trump administration, having to impotently watch climate change legislation being torn to shreds and racist immigration laws be proudly implemented in their place. It sets out exactly what this record is against in black and white, so the rest of the songs have their starting mark. A line which stood out to me was: "The same masters who made us their fucking slaves, Are now our saviours, I'm so sick of needing to be saved". And it's a perfect hit – Trump preaching that he can fix the problems he and his ilk caused in the first place. It's not just the lyrics that hit hard here either – the guitars do as well, and the effect of everything added together makes me super pumped up to listen to the rest of the album.

After that absolute juggernaut of a song, they follow up with "It Went Off Like A Bomb", which has a more classic Anti-Flag sound: mad bass line straight out of the gate, catchy counter melody in the guitar, Justin's vocal giving a sweet main melody and the drums driving the energy in the song. It sounds like it has been ripped straight from "For Blood And Empire" and polished up for a 2020 release. I think this one would fit perfectly in a live set amongst the old classics. The lyrics call out the dog-whistling for which right-wing politicians are famous, disguising their calls to arms for white supremacists and other extremists to vote for them… or to do something more reckless. The title track "2020 Vision" preaches a message of hope going forward to the next US election, carrying a reminder to me to keep fighting and to change people's perspectives one by one. Sound-wise it leans more heavily into pop punk, focusing more on being an anthem with a big chorus, keeping it simple with not many chords.

The next track follows the last in terms of sound, but lyrically is an attack on the white Christian nationalists, calling them out for exactly what they are: terrorists, fascists and white supremacists. "We All Know Who You Are" goes along perfectly with the video, showing (if it weren't already obvious) the people at whom the lyrics are taking aim. This song was the first single off the record and, to me, it absolutely was the right choice: it sets up exactly what Anti-Flag are against. It was a clear message that if you are any of these things described by this song, you are not welcome at an Anti-Flag show. It's also easy enough to listen to as a first Anti-Flag song, as it has a nice organ to tease you in before the big punk rock chords, and like the previous song there's a big chorus and great hooks.

This is followed up by "Don't Let The Bastards Get You Down". While at first it seems to go for the same anthem-y sound as the previous two songs, it's more like a chant or protest song about not letting the terrible state of the world dishearten you from going out and being the change you want to see. This one couples up with "Unbreakable", which was the third single. I really didn't like this song as single, but it really fits in now. The record adds a lot of context to this song's message of hope and resistance, and its lyrics really connected with my personal experiences with mental health – it reminds me of being picked up by my friends and like minded people when I feel terrible about the world. Like so many of "2020 Vision's" choruses, it will get stuck in your head – the lead guitar in this song is especially guilty of this!

Track 7, "The Disease", has the best chorus on the record, it absolutely got my blood pumping. I felt so cool listening to this waiting for my trains, whispering to myself "We are the disease". Chris #2 shouting "We reject you!" is the best line here, and is the perfect lead into the solo. I really like how this song blends the more Pop Anti-Flag sound with the more Punk Rock old sound for a great balance between the two.

I really love track 7 but, oh man, track 8 "A Nation Sleeps" is my favourite song on the album. It begins with calming violins, followed by loud, aggressive guitar and vocals. This aggressions is reflected in the first lyric perfectly – "One nation sleeps, Another stays hungry and doesn't dare to dream..." – which sends chills up my spine. The song is attacking ignorance of and inaction on what is going on in foreign territories, it makes me want to take action, to do more than just commute-work-commute-sleep! Sound-wise it's close to a hardcore punk song, you can hear the anger dripping from every line, but I think it still really fits the record.

"You Make Me Sick" is the most simple song lyrically. It's a hate song about Trump and the people behind him and how they make us all feel when they do the awful shit they do. Being from the UK myself, a lot of our politicians came to mind when I was listening to this. Each syllable of this one spits venom and I love this perfect fuck you sing-along song.

"Un-American" is a slower more acoustic song – it reminds me a lot of "One Trillion Dollars", but it's in a minor key, which gives it a massive Billy Bragg vibe while still having a catchy chorus. This is really present in the lyrics, it confronts the harsh realities of the contradictions inherent in the American Dream in 2020. The first verse is about a woman experiencing the glass ceiling in the workplace, while the second focuses on a man left behind in his town when the factory that he is working at shuts – after he was promised otherwise by a politician on a campaign trail. I felt the tears welling up in my eye during this verse as the parallels to Brexit and what people were promised in the UK during 2016 fit this song perfectly. I can see this happening to a lot of people in my country in the next few years, when they finally start to see the lies they have been sold.

The final song is "Resistance Frequencies" which kind of feels showtune-esque with the use of trumpets in the melody, and final upbeat catchy chorus feeling like a ray of sunlight after the dark clouds of the track before. Once again, the lyrics are perfectly written: "It's not a dying planet that's made you less free, is it the brown child that we've caged public". This conveys everything you need to say about scapegoating in the current climate, and it sounds sweet on this song. With this final song, we're left with a message that another world is possible if we only stand up to this one.

This record is a great start to 2020, providing anthems of hope to get stuck in your head and powerful songs of anger to make you get off your ass to go and be the change you want to see. Anti-Flag have created another record which I will be revisiting for years to come!

Stream and download 2020 Vision in the usual places.

Like Anti-Flag here.

This review was written by Dan Kilvert.