Sunday, December 27, 2020

THE BEST OF 2020 IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOHN BOMMARITO

 

THE BEST OF 2020 IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOHN BOMMARITO

Here is a comprehensive look back at my favorite albums of the weirdest and possibly worst year of my life. Music is usually the thing that provides comfort and joy and often it did that.  Sometimes it brought up emotions that were not joyful.  A good song will move you on an emotional level if you let it.  There's still a pile of music released in 2020 that I never had time to listen to (which is odd, because I wasn't employed most of the year).    

Per normal, I have broken them into separate categories because a covers album is usually full of familiar songs as is a Christmas album. EP's are short. I define an EP as a release containing 3-7 songs.

Here is my yearly explanation of how I come up with the rating: I rate each song on each album on a 10 point scale. Then I do the math. So if an album has 11 songs, it has 110 possible points.  Perhaps it gets 66 points.  It's final score would be 6.0.  It's usually a pretty good way to determine what the best albums are. However, I've discovered a flaw in the system.  If an album has two songs that are just awesome, 10 on a 10 scale and then 8 songs that are mediocre, say a 5 out of 10, that would give it a score that makes it appear as the full album is better than it is.  Until I come up with a better system, this is how it will be. And of course, sometimes there is a tie with albums having the same score. That's how two albums can be the 9th best album of the year or the 13th best.

 

Maybe I'll continue this tradition next year.  No radio show means really not much of audience who might be interested in knowing my thoughts. Here they are anyway.

 

 

TOP COVERS ALBUMS OF 2020

1-JOSH GROBAN-HARMONY

2-ELLIS PAUL-TRAVELING MEDICINE MACHINE SHOW VOL. 1

2-ROD STEWART-YOU'RE IN MY HEART (WITH THE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA)(TARGET EDTION)

4-DREW HOLCOMB-KITCHEN COVERS: THE COLLECTION

5-LARKIN POE-KINDRED SPIRITS

6-BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG-NO FUN MONDAYS

7-LUCA STRICAGNOLI-CHANGE OF RULES

8-SMITH & MYERS-VOLUME 1 & 2

9-DEVON GILFILLIAN-WHAT'S GOING ON?

10-JAMES TAYLOR-AMERICAN STANDARD (TARGET EDITION)

11-VARIOUS-ECHOES-REMEMBERING THE MUSIC OF TOM PETTY

12-GRETCHEN PETERS-THE NIGHT YOU WROTE THAT SONG" THE SONGS OF MICKEY NEWBURY

13-VARIOUS-LIVE PEACE: THE VFP93 JOHN LENNON BIRTHDAY PEACE CONCERTS

14-VARIOUS-GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS -AN XTC CELEBRATION

 

TOP COVERS EPS OF 2020

1-STABBING WESTWARD-HALLOWED HYMNS

2-DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE-THE GEORGIA EP

3-TYLER RAMSEY-FOUND A PICTURE OF YOU

4-JAMES BLAKE-COVERS

 

 

TOP CHRISTMAS ALBUMS OF 2020

1-BEN RECTOR-A BEN RECTOR CHRISTMAS

2-MAY ERLEWINE-A SIMPLE PHRASE

3-DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS-A LOVENEST HOLIDAY

4-MATT NATHANSON-FAREWELL DECEMBER

5-STRAIGHT NO CHASER-SOCIAL CHRISTMASING

6-FOR KING AND COUNTRY-A DRUMMER BOY CHRISTMAS

7-BARNABY BRIGHT-BLEAK MIDWINTER

8-GOO GOO DOLLS-IT'S CHRISTMAS ALL OVER

9-VARIOUS-ROCK BY THE SEA CHRISTMAS 2020

10-JAMIE CULLUM-THE PIANOMAN AT CHRISTMAS

 

TOP CHRISTMAS EPS OF 2020

1-LIZ LONGLEY-A LITTLE MAGIC

2-JON MCLAUGHLIN-CHRISTMAS TIME

3-HEATHER MALONEY-CHRISTMAS ANYWAY

4-JETTY RAE-CHRISTMAS FOR THE BIRDS

 

 

TOP LIVE ALBUMS OF 2020

1-PEARL JAM-MTV UNPLUGGED

2-MATT NATHANSON-LIVE IN PARADISE: BOSTON

3-BETH STALKER-LIVE AT O'MALLEY'S

4-DELTA RAE-THIS FIRST DECADE LIVE

5-MATT NATHANSON-LIVE IN PARADISE: DELUXE EDITION BONUS DISC

6-RODRIGO Y GABRIELA-METTAVOLUTION LIVE

7-EAGLES-LIVE FROM THE FORUM MMXVIII

8-LIAM GALLAGHER-MTV UNPLUGGED

8-GUSTER-OMAGAH! GUSTER WITH THE OMAHA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

10-PETER MULVEY WITH SISTA STRINGS-LIVE AT THE CAFÉ CARPE

11-AOIFE O'DONOVAN-AN EVENING OF SONGS PERFORMED AT HOME

12-AOIFE O'DONOVAN-LIVE FROM BLACK BIRCH

 

 

TOP EP's  OF 2020

1-LIZ LONGLEY-FUNERAL FOR MY PAST (ACOUSTIC)

2-ROCHELLE CLARK-IN TIME

3-LILLY MACPHEE-NOTES

4-ALAN DOYLE-ROUGH SIDE OUT

4-AVI KAPLAN-I'LL GET BY

4-PEN PALS-LET'S PRETEND

7-JON MCLAUGHLIN-THINGS I SAY TO MYSELF

7-SNOW PATROL-THE FIRESIDE SESSIONS

9-VARIOUS-SONGS FROM HOME

10-NOAH KAHAN-CAPE ELIZABETH

10-ANDY REED-RELAY VOL 2

 

TOP ALBUMS OF 2020

1-AMY PETTY-THE DARKNESS OF BIRDS

2-SWEET WATER WARBLERS-THE DREAM THAT HOLDS THIS CHILD

3-LIZ LONGLEY-FUNERAL FOR MY PAST

4-ARI HEST-AGAINST THE SKY

5-LORI MCKENNA-THE BALLADEER

6-NEEDTOBREATHE-OUT OF BODY

7-ALOE BLACC-ALL LOVE EVERYTHING (TARGET EDITION)

7-CAITLYN SMITH-SUPERNOVA

9- RAY LAMONTAGNE-MONOVISION

9-KATIE PRUITT-EXPECATIONS

11-DAVE BOUTETTE & KRISTI LYNN DAVIS-SEVEN STARS AROUND THE MOON

11-DELTA RAE-THE LIGHT

13-SARA BAREILLES-MORE LOVE: SONGS FROM LITTLE VOICE SEASON ONE

13-OVERCOATS-THE FRIGHT

15-DAVE BARNES-DREAMING IN ELECTRIC BLUE

16-ALANIS MORRISSETTE-SUCH PRETTY FORKS IN THE ROAD

17-BRENDAN JAMES-LEAP TAKEN

17-SARAH JAROSZ-WORLD ON THE GROUND

19-DISTANT COUSINS-HERE AND NOW

20-JILL ANDREWS-THIRTIES

21-AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT-HOLLYWOOD PARK

21-WAR & TREATY-HEART TOWN

23-KILLERS-IMPLODING THE MIRAGE

24-DAWES-GOOD LUCK WITH WHATEVER

25-RUTHIE COLLINS-COLD COMFORT

26-JOSH RITTER-SEE HERE, I HAVE BUILT YOU A MANSION

27-CHRIS TRAPPER-COLD WATER WALTZ

28-KATHLEEN EDWARDS-TOTAL FREEDOM

28-NATHANIEL RATELIFF-AND IT'S STILL ALRIGHT

28-SUSAN WERNER-FLYOVER COUNTRY

31-DONOVAN WOODS-WITHOUT PEOPLE

32-ARI HEST-AGAINST THE SKY ACOUSTIC

32-LOGAN LEDGER-LOGAN LEDGER

34-TAYLOR SWIFT-FOLKLORE (TARGET EDITION)

34-ERIC HUTCHINSON-CLASS OF '98 (DELUXE)

34-SAM SMITH-LOVE GOES (TARGET EDITION)

37-GREEN DAY-FATHER OF ALL….

37-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-LETTER TO YOU

37-MOLLY TUTTLE-…BUT I'D RATHER BE WITH YOU

40-LONE BELLOW-HALF MOON LIGHT

41-RUSTON KELLY-SHAPE & DESTROY

42-LYNN MILES-WE’LL LOOK FOR STARS

43-JEFF DANIELS-ALIVE AND WELL ENOUGH

43-MICHAEL MCDERMOTT-WHAT IN THE WORLD…

43-MANDY MOORE-SILVER LANDINGS (TARGET EDITION)

46-AVETT BROTHERS-THE THIRD GLEAM

47-LUKE BRINDLEY-THE DEVIL'S DRUM

47-INDIGO GIRLS-LOOK LONG

49-FRANCESCA BLANCHARD -MAKE IT BETTER

49-MAY ERLEWINE & THE WOODY GOSS BAND-ANYWAY

51-ANDREA BOCELLI-BELIEVE (TARGET EDITION)

52-SIERRA HULL-25 TRIPS

53-BAHAMAS-SAD HUNK

53-DAVID RAMIREZ-MY LOVE IS A HURRICANE

55-PARIS JACKSON-WILTED

55-YELLO-POINT (LIMITED)

57-MAYA DE VITRY-HOW TO BREAK A FALL

57-PEARL JAM-GIGATON

59-GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS-LIGHTNING, SHOW US YOUR STUFF

59-SUGARCANE JANE-RUFFLED FEATHERS: SONGS IN THE KEY OF ME

59-TRAVIS-10 SONGS (DELUXE EDITION)

62-PAUL WELLER-ON SUNSET (JAPANESE EDITION)

63-DAVID STARR-BEAUTY & RUIN

64-ANOTHER SKY-FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY

64-RACHAEL SAGE-CHARACTER

66-NORAH JONES-PICK ME UP OFF THE FLOOR (JAPANESE EDITION)

66-VARIOUS-NASHVILLE UNRELEASED VOL. 1

68-BETTYE LAVETTE-BLACKBIRDS

68-MONKS ROAD SOCIAL-HUMANISM

70-SOCCER MOMMY-COLOR THEORY

71-JON ANDERSON-1000 HANDS CHAPTER ONE

72-MARGARET GLASPY-DEVOTION

72-LIANNE LA HAVAS-LIANNE LA HAVAS

72-TREESKIN (MICHAEL DAUSE)-LEARNING

75-ELVIS COSTELLO-HEY CLOCKFACE

76-NINE INCH NAILS-GHOSTS V TOGETHER

76-NINE INCH NAILS-GHOSTS VI

76-AOIFE O'DONOVAN-BULL FROGS CROON (AND OTHER SONGS)

Acoustic Alternatives December 27th, 2020

 

The Best of 2020.  A more detailed note can be found in my blog.

 

View or listen and subscribe to my channel by going to:

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbntNtWVbW3WT0u_YyQ7LyA/playlists?view_as=subscriber

 

 

Acoustic Alternatives December 27th,  2020

 

Artist-Song Title

ROCHELLE CLARK-IN BETWEEN

LIZ LONGLEY-FUNERAL FOR MY PAST (ACOUSTIC)

DAVE BARNES-TAKE ME BACK TO NASHVILLE (THE BRILLIANCE REMIX)

OVERCOATS-FIRE AND FURY

SARA BAREILLES-SIMPLE AND TRUE

SARA BAREILLES-DEAR HOPE

DELTA RAE-TAKE ME THERE

DELTA RAE-THE WRONG OCEAN

DAVE BOUTETTE-THE MICHIGAN SONG

KATIE PRUITT-NORMAL

KATIE PRUITT-EXPECTATIONS

RAY LAMONTAGNE-WE'LL MAKE IT THROUGH

RAY LAMONTAGNE-I WAS BORN TO LOVE YOU

CAITLYN SMITH-DAMN YOU FOR BREAKING MY HEART

CAITLYN SMITH-I DON'T WANT TO LOVE YOU ANYMORE

CAITLYN SMITH-LONELY TOGETHER

ALOE BLACC-HARVARD

ALOE BLACC-HOLD ON TIGHT

ALOE BLACC-I DO

NEEDTOBREATHE-WHO AM I

NEEDTOBREATHE-HANG ON

NEEDTOBREATHE-SEASONS

LORI MCKENNA-TWO BIRDS

LORI MCKENNA-UPHILL

LORI MCKENNA-THE DREAM

ARI HEST-AGAINST THE SKY

ARI HEST-HATHERLY

ARI HEST-LESS

LIZ LONGLEY-HEART OF A CHILD

LIZ LONGLEY-FINE

LIZ LONGLEY-LONG DISTANCE

LIZ LONGLEY-TORTURE

SWEET WATER WARBLERS-HALLELUJAH

SWEET WATER WARBLERS-SUMMERTIME

SWEET WATER WARBLERS-MAD AT YOU

SWEET WATER WARBLERS-SOMETHING MORE

AMY PETTY-LIAR AND A THIEF

AMY PETTY-UNDERTOW

AMY PETTY-MOSES

AMY PETTY-MURDER BALLAD (THE INNOCENT CRY)

 

Next show January 3rd: Radical Revisions

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Acoustic Alternatives December 20th, 2020

 

Merry Christmas. My gift to you.

 

View or listen and subscribe to my channel by going to:

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbntNtWVbW3WT0u_YyQ7LyA/playlists?view_as=subscriber

 

 

Acoustic Alternatives December 20th,  2020

 

Artist-Song Title

GEORGE WINSTON-CAROL OF THE BELLS

THE ACCIDENTALS-I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

RAUL MALO-I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

THE WAR AND TREATY-PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

MATT ANDERSEN-BLUE CHRISTMAS

DAR WILLIAMS-WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

TOAD THE WET SPROCKET-DOESN'T FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS

ALAN DOYLE-I'LL BE THERE CHRISTMAS EVE

BRUCE COCKBURN-CRY OF A TINY BABE

ADAM PLOMARITAS-FIRESIDE CHRISTMAS

AMY PETTY-LULLABYE FOR A KING (ACOUSTIC)

SARA BAREILLES & INGRID MICHAELSON-WINTER SONG

ELLERY-LONG AGO (IN 2019)

MATT NATHANSON-SNOW

LIZ LONGLEY-GETTIN' AWAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

LIZ LONGLEY-ONE MISSING

LIZ LONGLEY-LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

CHUCK BRODSKY-ON CHRISTMAS I GOT NOTHING (LIVE)

JILLETTE JOHNSON-CANCEL CHRISTMAS

HEATHER MALONEY-THE CHRISTIANS AND THE PAGANS

JON MCLAUGHLIN-CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE (BUT YOU'RE NOT)

JON MCLAUGHLIN-FEELING LIKE CHRISTMAS

VIENNA TENG-THE ATHIEST CHRISTMAS CAROL

MINDY SMITH-SANTA WILL FIND YOU

SERENA RYDER-CHRISTMAS KISSES

KERI NOBLE-WINTER COMES AGAIN

LOWEN & NAVARRO-A SONG OF CHRISTMAS

JOSH GROBAN-CELEBRATE ME HOME

MAY ERLEWINE-WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

MAY ERLEWINE-PRETTY PAPER

MATT NATHANSON-I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS

MARY FAHL-O HOLY NIGHT/SILENT NIGHT

BARNABY BRIGHT-CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

TOM CHAPLIN-RIVER

NEEDTOBREATHE-GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN (LIVE)

JON ANDERSON-3 SHIPS

GOO GOO DOLLS-HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

JONATHA BROOKE-O COME O COME EMMANUEL

BEN RECTOR-IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

BEN RECTOR-THE CHRISTMAS SONG

STRAIGHT NO CHASER-WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE?

THE SWEEPLINGS-WHITE CHRISTMAS

THE PIANO GUYS-WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

MAY ERLEWINE-SILVER BELLS

MAY ERLEWINE-I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

BARNABY BRIGHT-O HOLY NIGHT

GUSTER-CAROL OF THE MEOWS

 

Next show December 27th: The Best of 2020.

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Acoustic Alternatives December 13th, 2020

 

I tried to make today's show a good mix of new music I've discovered, a few old favorites and some Holiday music to warm you up for next week. I still love an extralong playlist. I hope aNy of you don't mind.

 

View or listen and subscribe to my channel by going to:

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbntNtWVbW3WT0u_YyQ7LyA/playlists?view_as=subscriber

 

 

Acoustic Alternatives December 13th,  2020

 

Artist-Song Title

KATIE PEDERSON-CHRISTMAS STAR

MATT NATHANSON-RIVER

MATT NATHANSON-LITTLE DRUMMER BOY (FT. DONOVAN WOODS)

DONOVAN WOODS-CLEAN SLATE

DONOVAN WOODS-SEEING OTHER PEOPLE

KERI LYNN ROCHE-SCAR ON MY HEART

WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS-AS LONG AS I CAN BREATHE

TYRONE WELLS-MORE (ACOUSTIC)

TYRONE WELLS-HAPPY AS THE SUN (ACOUSTIC)

LIZ LONGLEY-A LITTLE MAGIC

BARNABY BRIGHT-IF WE LISTEN (FEAT. LIZ LONGLEY)

BARNABY BRIGHT-MARY, DID YOU KNOW?

BLINDLOVE-I WANNA BE OK (ACOUSTIC)

JAMIE SCOTT-THE NIGHT'S GONNA TRICK ME AGAIN

SARA BAREILLES-DEAR HOPE

ROB FETTERS-THE FIRST NOEL

SARAH POTENZA-O HOLY NIGHT

AMY PETTY-SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

LIZ LONGLEY-CHRISTMAS IS WHEN I MISS US

LIZ LONGLEY-NEVER REALLY MINE (LIVE)

LEWIS CAPALDI-BEFORE YOU GO (ACOUSTIC)

MONDAY NIGHT SOCIAL-NOTHING BROKEN

THE DUNWELLS-ARMY OF FRIENDS

THE CORONOAS-COLD

LYDIA LUCE-OCCAISONALLY

JOHN-ROBERT-ADELINE

JAMES SMITH-I DON'T WANNA KNOW (ACOUSTIC)

MATT NATHANSON-CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

LIZ LONGLEY-FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS

GOO GOO DOLLS-LET IT SNOW

GOO GOO DOLLS-HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING

 

Next show December 20th: A fine mix of Holiday music to set the mood for your week.

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Acoustic Alternatives December 6th, 2020

 

The Radical Revisions version of Acoustic Alternatives.  Fun and interesting covers, designed to ease you into Sunday morning.

 

View or listen and subscribe to my channel by going to:

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbntNtWVbW3WT0u_YyQ7LyA/playlists?view_as=subscriber

 

Acoustic Alternatives December 6th,  2020

 

Artist-Song Title-Originally By

THE PIANO GUYS-YOU SAY/SONATA PATHETIQUE-LAUREN DIAGLE/BEETHOVEN

JOSH GROBAN/SARA BAREILLES-BOTH SIDES NOW-JONI MITCHELL

LAKE STREET DIVE-LOLA-THE KINKS

LISSIE-WRECKING BALL-MILEY CYRUS

SUSAN WERNER-LONELY PEOPLE-AMERICA

JESSE COOK WITH DANNY WILDE-FALL AT YOUR FEET -CROWDED HOUSE

STRAIGHT NO CHASER-UP ON THE ROOF-THE DRIFTERS

THE PIANO GUYS-SOMEONE TO YOU-BANNERS

JOSH GROBAN/LESLIE ODOM JR.-SHAPE OF MY HEART-STING

POMPLAMOOSE AND KT TUNSTALL-I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR-U2

TYLER RAMSEY-BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG-PRETENDERS

NICKI BLUHM AND THE GRAMBLERS-I CAN'T GO FOR THAT-HALL & OATES

MOLLY TUTTLE-ZERO-YEAH YEAH YEAHS

THE STAVES-CHICAGO-SUFJAN STEVENS

OLIVIA RAFFERTY-GLENFERN-KATHLEEN EDWARDS

DEVON GILFILLIAN-MERCY MERCY ME (THE ECOLOGY)-MARVIN GAYE

MUMFORD AND SONS-HURT-NINE INCH NAILS

ALYSSA SHOUSE-I HOPE-GABBY BARRETT

FOREST BLAKK-MARRY YOU-BRUNO MARS

JOSE RAMIREZ-ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME-BURT BACHARACH & HAL DAVID

SMITH & MYERS-NEVER TEAR US APART -INXS

SMITH & MYERS-DON'T LOOK BACK IN ANGER-OASIS

ZELLA DAY-CRAZY TRAIN-OZZY OSBOURNE

ANDREA BOCELLI AND ALISON KRAUSS-AMAZING GRACE-JOHN NEWTON

NEEDTOBREATHE-SILENT NIGHT-FRANZ XAVER GRUBER

 

Next show December 13th: a mix of new Holiday music and acoustic tunes from Matt Nathanson, Donovan Woods, Katie Pederson, Barnaby Bright, Tyrone Wells, Liz Longley and more