INDIEVOTION'S BEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR (2020)

After countless hours of genuine joy listening to loads of standout music, INDIEVOTION presents its year-end list for 2020 Best Albums. Last year was quite weird as the world knows. Anyway even in times of hardship for musicians and artists in general there was great music, mesmerizing records were released, many great acts, lots of refreshingly sounds and gorgeous, addictive songs struck the airwaves making every day a feast for the senses. If 2021 will be as good as 2020 is yet unknown but there's always hope that month after month thrilling new sounds will be discovered and celebrated. 

1 Aoife Nessa Frances - Land of No Injunction



2 En Attendant Ana - Juillet



3 Caroline Rose - Superstar



4 Metz - Atlas Vending



5 Katie Malco - Failures



6 Idles - Ultra Mono



7 Fontaines D.C. - A Hero's Death .



8 Protomartyr - Ultimate Success Today



9 Death Bells - New Signs of ife



10 Madeline Kenney - Sucker's Lunch



11 Dream Syndicate - Universe Inside



12 Porridge Radio - Every Bad



13 Deep Sea Diver - Impossible Weight



14 Sweeping Promises - Hunger For A Way Out



15 The Psychedelic Furs - Made of Rain



16 Emma Kupa - It Will Come Easier



17 Bob Mould - Blue Hearts



18 Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher



19 Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud



20 Anna Burch - If You're Dreaming

Monroe Moon: Trip and Pop

A couple of months ago I've came across MONROE MOON a band hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan formed by Heather Monroe (vocals, Keys), Theo Malkin (guitar) Tim Strothers (drums) and Justin Jackson (bass) and felt compelled to write a few lines about them after listening to all their current discography. 

Monroe Moon seems to still be on a phase of building a defined sonic identity that can better consolidate their apparent choice for space rock blended with trip-hop, sophisticated jazz vibes and some incidental ethereal pop although sometimes the idea one gets is that they're pretty much comfortable with their soundscape as it probably reflects a way to avoid them being linked to any specific musical genre. 

At first Monroe Moon musical influences seem to be mostly under the spell of both Massive Attack and Portishead but then there's some Cocteau Twins in the background, a little bit of Stereolab and unintentionally until further proof a Wye Oak vibe but there's also some Widowspeak presence and all this helps to give them a contemporary dream-pop contour. 

Monroe Moon overall sound is an atmospheric, warm, sensual embrace that wraps oneself in a curtain, not of darkness but dusk and light, a time gone by and a longing for another era, joy and wisdom enhanced by a brilliant rhythm section, spacey, dreamy guitars, inspirational piano and synths and last but, not least the superb jazzy, posh, dreamy voice of Heather Moon which undeniably stands out as MM ace of spades and brings to mind the voices of Jenn Wasner, Molly Hamilton and Corinne Drewery. 

With two EP's already released, "When The Seagulls Follow The Trawler (2018) and "Joy" (2020), Monroe Moon emerges as one of the most promising bands to keep an eye on in 2021 with or without the pandemic.