How I Formed My 2020 Album Countdown

I try to do a yearly top albums of the year countdown. And usually I uses the Wiki albums (for that year) page to see what’s dropping. I make sue to listen to my historical favorite artists, and if I still have time I’ll check out albums of genres I’m a fan of, then big names. And I usually just go by my own opinions–nothing academic, nothing fancy. I simply rate the albums as I like them.

This year I decided to try a more quantitative approach. Which is why my descriptions of songs and albums, might not match up all that well with the album’s placement on my list. I judged songs on a scale of awesome, good, OK, meh, and dislike this year. OK means neutral. No complaints, but no excitement either. meh, ment to me that it was boring, or I tuned it out, or the song didn’t make an impact on me. Awesome songs instantly made me enthusiastic. It is a rank based on my own reactions, and what gets me going. So obviously–awesome isn’t objective. It’s geared toward what I like. Good were the songs that were above neutral, but that didn’t make me excited. They were solid songs, but didn’t have that it factor. And dislikes were things that offended me, things I thought were thrown together without a bunch of thought, things that made me angry. It takes a LOT for me not to like a song!

Then to formulate the list from worst to best, I mathematically quantified the number of each type of song against the number of songs on the album. And this definitely favored artists with less tracks. But a theme this year, was edit. Which, when I was first getting into music was entirely different. Back when you had to pay $12, then $17, and sometimes $22 for an album–it sucked when that album was short. What a waste of money. Those albums with 8 songs or something were an awful value. But also it sucked to buy a whole ass album, just for 1 song. And the rest of the songs sucked. I’m talking to you Billy Joel, River of Dreams. Don’t just put songs on an album to fill it out. Now that streaming is primary, nobody needs or wants filler material. I suggested that artists only put out there BEST work. Also, I really weighted disliked songs heavily. Just because I like most things. It really has to be awful for me to dislike it.

What came out was a list of albums that surprised me. It would have been different if the rankings weren’t based on percentage. But I can tell you the albums represent how much I like and dislike the tracks. So I might not do it this same way next year, but it’s totally accurate to the songs I like and dislike for this year.

Kelsea Ballerini: Kelsea Album Review

Oveshare: Totally relatable by the anxious (me)

Club: I like this gal.  She’s just like me.  I can totally understand not wanting to take part in a superficial meat market with drunks who want meaningless hook-ups.

Homecoming queen?:  I like to see Ballrini normalizing the homecoming queen and showing she has the same problems as the rest of us.  Sidenote-the homecoming queen from my Senior class, was genuine and nice, lived in poverty with trashy parents, but was beautiful inside and out (like the type of beauty that catches your eye in the yearbook).  Shout-out Kimberly!

The other girl:  This one has a definite Taylor Swift catchiness to it. It addresses a cheater.  But the scarlet letter bit, though it sounds like it could be on Reputation isn’t female-positive.  WOMEN, PLEASE STOP FIGHTING WITH THE OTHER WOMAN AND START HOLDING MEN ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR SHITTY ACTIONS! 

Love me like a girl:  Titles are lowercase.  I am going to say it about folklore and also the Black Eyed Peas, but playing with capialization in song titles is totally annoying–and I’m not going to play (in this review).  This song is sort of a throw-away love song.  It doesn’t really SAY anything new, and it’s repetitive.

Love and hate:  The most beautiful background so far, with the strings.  I like that it could be a love song, or interpreted as a political song (that’s how I’ll take it).  It’s a nice little song.

Bragger:  Probably the edgiest song.  I like the sycopation, and the bigger beat.  The hand claps, mmm, could leave, but they’re not super-distracting.

Hold in the bottle:  I love to hear a drinking song.  Especially by a female.  Another relatable tune, but not trashy or “too.”  And the guitar is fun–like a Brad Paisley song.

Half of my hometown:  Very sentimental.  Tells a detailed and complete story.  A perfect duet–Kenny Chesney blends well and fits the song without overpowering (of course he does).

The way i used to:  A really good example of our thoughts when we’re drunk after a breakup.  So many doubts, trying to play it cool, curious about the next romantic encounter/girlfriend, but still kinda hooked.  Ballerini does a wonderful job conveying those inner thoughts out loud.

Needy:  I don’t like how the female is capitulating to the societal expectation that women can’t demand what they want in a relationship.  It’s nothing to be ashamed.  Women shouldn’t be afraid to hide who she is, or tell a man what she wants/needs.  Feminism fail.

A country song:  I like the sentiment of going back to your roots, back to your hometown, family, and friends.  And writing to cope with the good and bad.  This bridge also reminds me of Taylor Swift as it lists things faster.  

La:  She is very down to Earth about LA (an allegory for fame).  Am I using “allegory” correctly?  I like that she tells us the grittier side of fame.  Lines like, “I’ve got some famous friends that I could call, but I don’t know if I’m cool enough, and what’s worse than spending time alone, is one of them not picking up.” really show the feelings of fame, but the insecurity (that we all feel) that being famous can’t fix.

Kenny Chesney: Here and Now Album Review

It feels to me like Chesney knows the exact combination of elements to make a winning record.  And he’s combined them (as he always has) to make a good record.  What I’m not getting, is a lot of genuineness, authenticity, or enthusiasm for making music.  It all seems very detached and formulaic.  Also, this party guy is wearing thin, and feels a bit disingenuous to me.  I’d like to see an album with more introspective, that I can tell Chesney feels.

Beautiful World:  I thought this was a duet, and liked the layering of voices.  It’s either uncredited or Chesney layered over himself, but whichever is the case it sounds good.  I also like the sentiment of the song.

Guys Named Captain:  The song is too saccharine, but the twist at eh end is effective.  It’s the best thing about the song that it turns out it’s about Chesney’s own father.