2020 Magna Cum Laude Albums, Part II

Like Part I, these are not rank-ordered.

Haim Women in Music Pt. III

I love this sister trio from LA.







Kandle Stick Around and Find Out

Singer-songwriter based in Montréal. Surpised she is not better known.







Maria Mena They never leave their wives

Singer from Norway. This album definitely has a theme to it. Beautiful music.







Moonlight Haze Lunaris

Another symphonic metal band. This one is from Italy.







Pike and Sutton Heart Is A Compass

Austin based duo. Glad I stumbled onto them.







Polly Scattergood In This Moment

Long been a fan of this singer from Essex, England.









Reb Fountain Reb Fountain

New Zealand always seems to have an artist that catches my attention.







Roses & Revolutions Under The Spell

Wonderful duo from Rochester, NY.







Shel Wild Child

Another great sister act. This one from Fort Collins Colorado.







Taylor Swift Folklore AND evermore

OK, I am just going to assume you know who Taylor Swift is. I will add this: Two albums this year. I really liked them both.











The Big Moon Walking Like We Do

Another band from London. That's a thing.

2020 Magna Cum Laude Albums Part I

Like the Cum Laude list, these are not rank-ordered

The Aces Under My Influence

A great act can come from the most unexpected places. For example, Provo, Utah.







Amaranthe Manifest

This Swedish band keeps delivering.







Anna Ihlis Röd

Another act from Sweden, quite a contrast though.







Anya Marina Queen of the Night

One of the first acts I ever saw at the Varsity Theater. Enjoyed her music for years. Originally for Portland, she now is based in NY.







Beyond The Black Hørizøns

A German Symphonic Metal Band. I really liked this album.







Bre Kennedy Twenty Something

Very glad I discoverd this Nashville Based singer this year.







Deau Eyes Let It Leave

Debut album of this singer from Virginia. Very nice.







Deep Sea Diver IMPOSSIBLE WEIGHT Excellent band from Seattle







Dream Wife So When You Gonna... London based pop band. I can't not like them.







Eleine Dancing in Hell

With a title like that, what's not to like? Great band from (big shock this year) Sweden.







Gabrielle Aplin Dear Happy

I've been a fan of this British singer for some time.







Ignea The Realms of Fire and Death

This metal band hails from Ukraine.

2020 Cum Laude Albums Part II

Continuing on....

Not Rank ordered. Ryan Cassada The Witches Made Me Do It

From NY and very talented.







Saint Agnes The Family Strange

This EP would be higher, but hey, it's only 4 songs. From London. They kick ass!







Semblant Obscura

Excellent Goth Metal band from Brazil.







Shopping All or Nothing

Another London band. Maybe there is a trend here?







Stitched Up Heart Darkness

Great band from L.A.







Sweet Spirit Trinidad

Austin, Texas always gets represented here. I love this band.







U.S. Girls Heavy Light

From Toronto, obviously.







Vukovi Fall Better

Rock band from Scottland.







War On Women Wonderful Hell

I always associate Baltimore with Hardcore Feminist Punk bands. But that's just me.







Whim Abuzz in the Abyss

From Portland, OR







WorriersYou or Someone You Know

Booklyn, NY based band.

2020 Cum Laude Albums part I

This is quite a bit late this year. For several reasons but I will just list two. 

First, due to COVID, I purchased a silly amount of albums this year. So, a lot of work to sort through and pick favorites.

Second, in late August, we addedd a puppy to the family. Well, she doesn't like me putting headphones on and *not* paying attention to her. Hence, I just don't have as much time to listen and decide what I prefer.

Anyway, here is goes:

Cum Laude These are not rank-ordered.  

 

Agnes Obel Myopia 

This Danish singer is instantly recognizable with a few notes. Mesmerizing.  

 

 

ALI.NI Acca

A reviewer compared her to Judy Garland. Yep, listen to the third one.







Braids Shadow Offering

From Calgary. This band really grew on me.



Sorry about age restricted. If you are 18, click :)





Draconian Under a Godless Veil

A Swedish band, they've been around a while.







Fallcie Bad Blood

Another Goth band. This one from St. Peterburg, Russia.







False Heads It's All There but You're Dreaming

From London. Who says all my acts are female fronted?







Hayley Williams Petals for Armor

I first became of aware of Paramore when the warmed up for No Doubt in 2009. I remember thinking, where did they find this crazy energenic singer? LA of course.







Kalina & Kiana The Golden Age This Sister Act from California provides us with this EP. It would put it up higher, but it's only an EP.







Mammút Ride thee Fire

There is always a band from Iceland. So it seems.







Reasons Behind Project M.I.S.T

A symphonic metal band from Italy







Rose Cousins Bravado A folk singer from Prince Edward Island. A first I think. Last year, I had one from Novia Scotia.







More to come ...