Damn this asterisk of a year – the white drew carey’s Top 10 of 2020

#10 – The COVID-19 pandemic

Hey, I didn’t say this list was going to be the Top 10 of GOOD things. There is no way anyone can talk about 2020 without taking into account the global pandemic that has shaped (or re-shaped) so much of all of our lives. This virus has shown us the best of what people can be (our health care workers, first responders, and more), as well as the darker and more selfish side of a large swathe of the world’s population (anti-maskers, unabashed racists, you get the idea).

But, through it all, we’ve managed to (mostly) persevere. As you may find below in some of my entries, many of the ways that the world and, especially, our music scene has adapted does bring a little joy to my heart.

But, still, fuck you COVID-19.

#9 – Paper Tigers

When Michael Smyth of Northern Ireland’s Paper Tigers contacted me in late March about maybe premiering their new single on Punknews.org, I had some bad news for him: that I was making my way out of the door at Punknews. But I did mention that I was planning on starting up new and, hopefully, better site that does the same thing, but without some of the more onerous parts of PN that are such a drag.

Still, this was just when COVID was really, really getting real. My daughter and wife were now going to school/working from home, which cut into my activities (I work from home already) and, frankly, I didn’t know how quickly I would get to launch the site.

Well, Michael persisted and, finally, I realised I should just make the plunge. In late-April I registered and started building up the site, we went live on 01 May 2020, and Paper Tigers’ single “Flames” was the first premiere on the site, and on the site’s launch day, no less!

So, thank you Michael and Paper Tigers for giving me the right kick in the ass.

#8 – Pinkshift

Baltimore’s Pinkshift hit the scene hard with their single/video “i’m gonna tell my therapist on you.” It is not entirely perfect, but that doesn’t matter. It is fun and catchy, and the video is a hoot. Their follow-up single “Rainwalk” is a bit more dirge-like and not as poppy, but still showcases the promise this band has. I can’t wait for the chance to hear more, and to see them live.

#7 – Bandcamp Friday and charity

Whodathunk that the first Bandcamp Friday back in March would become the semi-regular thing it has? It’s pretty damn awesome though, innit?

For those who may have missed out, Bandcamp has been (mostly) designating the first Friday of the month as a day when the site foregoes their cut of all sales, passing 100% of the profits to the artists and labels.

I already liked Bandcamp’s business model anyway, with limited streams of an album or song until the site tells you that you should really just pony up some money for it. Enough so that it is a editorial guideline that TGEFM’s editors should embed a music stream via Bandcamp as the first option whenever possible.

Add on to that all of the strife that’s been going on in the world, many artists and labels have been turning around and dedicating all or a portion of their proceeds from Bandcamp Fridays on to worthy causes. Many artists or labels have also taken to selling Bandcamp Friday-only releases for charity that are available for the 24 hours of Bandcamp and then go bye-bye.

Truly awesome.

#6 – Cover acts

Punk rock and cover songs go hand-in-hand, it’s true. But if 2020 has given us anything, it is a bunch of musicians– often in the same band, but not always– who still feel the need to play and record, but can’t get together in the same place for obvious reasons which definitely hinders the creation of new material. As such, we’ve seen a glut of cover songs from both established pre-pandemic cover acts, as well as ones established since the onset of the global pandemic. Some of my favorites to check out are Skatune Network, The Punk Cellist, DEALL!, Punk Rock Karaoke, and Wuttin Tarnation.

#5 – Remote video interviews and Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

Like the above with cover songs, a lot of musicians suddenly had a lot of free time on their hands. Video interviews were already a thing, but the circumstances of 2020 really pushed the format into the limelight.

My friend and former-coworker at Punknews Mike Elfers came to me early on with the idea of a Zoom interview he had lined up with Jarret and Zach of PEARS, I made a joke about Arethra Franklin‘s 80s track “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?,” and TGEFM’s first remote video interview series was born.

Through two “seasons” and 20 episodes so far, we’ve met up with musicians across the fame spectrum, big and small. I haven’t been on every interview, but I still relish the ones that I have had the chance to participate in. Also just that I’ve been able to meet up with bands, and friends, old and new in the this interview series. The likes of Joey Cape, The Lawrence Arms, Freezepop have participated; as well as members of the aforementioned PEARS, Bracket, Millencolin, Flatfoot 56, and more.

We’re taking a break for the end of the year, and Season 3 should be just around the corner for you!

#4 – TGEFM Editors

I started TGEFM pretty on much my own, carrying over a single reviewer from Punknews (Ryan) that no one else there probably realized existed because he didn’t use social media for internal communication.

Since then Ryan has continued reviewing, but has also moved up to creating news posts. We’ve also added two more in the same roles, Bad Dad and Tiffa Vigilante; as well as a small group of semi-regular contributors.

While every contributor has helped with the site, those three have a been a boon that I never could have imagined. Without them TGEFM wouldn’t be able to showcase and post about such a great variety of music.

Remember, we’re always looking for contributors! You start as a reviewer, but can quickly move up the ranks once you establish yourself. Shoot an email here, and let’s talk!

#3- Streaming concerts

Few things in this scene are as cool as going to see a live show. I’ve been going to shows for a long time and, while I recognized how special they are, the lack of live music this year has made me understand how important it really is to be in a room with hundreds, maybe thousands (or even a dozen) strangers listening to musicians play their hearts and souls out for you.

For a lot of us, that just straight-up stopped. And it sucks hard.

Stepping in to fill that gap were the live streaming concerts. What started as someone just playing in their living room soon evolved into ongoing events like The Fest‘s near-weekly “Fest at Home” gigs, Fast Life‘s semi-regular collection of international acts, and more have been keeping us satiated.

While there are still always a plethora of free, streaming events you can check out (we try to share as many of them as we can with our Quarantine Concert Roundup), more sophisticated, ticketed live stream gigs have started to become the norm. But that’s totally OK. I can think of worse things than throwing money at the bands that I know and love.

Live streaming concerts is a solution, to be sure. But I hope it is a solution to a problem that we soon won’t have to worry about anymore.

#2 – Fine… here are my Top 9 albums…

…and it is the Top 9 because they fit nicely into a square. These are also in alphabetical order because I don’t really want to rank them.

Bad Cop/Bad Cop – The Ride (Fat Wreck Chords)
This album is stellar from front to back. I love listening to this band.

Bandaid Brigade – I’m Separate (self-released)
Brian and Zach are two truly accomplished musicians and songwriters. Having them put out an album together is a treat.

Giant Eagles – Second Landing (Shield Recordings)
I came into 2020 not knowing about this band. But damn, they are stellar. Basically a Ramonescore-synth-pop-punk act that tickles me pink.

Lamonta – Where be Your Nutcracker? (Shove-It Records)
California melodic/pop-punks put out a stellar holiday EP. It may not really be a top-of-the-list album… I don’t know. I just know I’ve been listening to it a lot this holiday season and it rocks.

The Lawrence Arms – Skeleton Coast (Epitaph)
Skeleton Coast is everything I wanted Metropole to be. I still think the production is a bit too polished, but that might just be nostalgia clouding my memory. Still, this is a great album and a shot in the arm for this shitty year.

The Malones – The Malones (self-released)
This Wisconsin-based pop-punk trio put out a stellar debut LP before everything went to hell. I’ve been listening to it a lot. You should to.

Paper Rifles – Traitor’s Hill (Anti Manifesto)
I was introduced to Paper Rifles a few years back by Fraser Murderburger and, golly, it’s one of the best things he’s ever given me aside from his own music. Paper Rifles rock at everything they do.

PEARS – PEARS (Fat Wreck Chords)
PEARS put out what I will say is one of the best albums of the year. Too bad the pandemic scuttled any chance for them to capitalize on it. Nice guys, too.

Swayze – St. Angry (self-released)
Swayze are “punk” in the most general sense of the word, but their music is kinda all over the board and I love it. This EP is short but sweet. I dig it.

#1 – You

One of the reasons I started TGEFM because I wanted to showcase more bands from around the world, small bands, big bands, bands you (and I) have likely never heard of. Sure, we’ll let you know about the big acts. We’re no fools. But it is my opinion that discovering new music should ALWAYS be an ongoing adventure. As soon as you stop looking, you’ve given up. TGEFM is here to help with that.

You (yes, YOU) have been part of this ride. So I’d like to thank you for your patronage of That’s Good Enough For Me, either through our reading our posts here, our video interviews on YouTube, or interacting and sharing via social media.

Here’s to the next year. Let’s all make it a good one.