I’m usually not one for year end “Best of” lists- I will often browse the selections of my favorite critics but that’s about the extent of my engagement with them. But this year I, like many others around the world, consumed a ridiculous amount of entertainment and I leaned away from my usual fare and more towards genres that I normally wouldn’t invest a lot of time or attention.
The most notable thing I noticed was that music was nowhere on my list. It was shocking to me when I realized I didn’t listen to a lot of music this year, and certainly nothing new. But whether I’m writing or listening to music it has never been a form of escape for me, it’s more of a way to bring into focus my thoughts and feelings. This was a year where I needed blurry and dull edges around everything; when things came into focus they felt too painful or scary. So I didn’t listen to a lot of music and what I did listen to was older and familiar enough to simply be background music, that didn’t make me feel anything.
So without further ado, here are my favorites of 2020. Please share yours in the comments!