There Stands the Glass

As part of an ongoing effort to preserve my sanity in a preposterously challenging year, I choose to believe Ty of Blackstarkids was joking when he recently told a journalist he was unable to secure the interest of a single Kansas City based record label. I fell in love with his trio in February after hearing just 30 seconds of “Sounds Like Fun,” the first song on Blackstarkids’ self-released debut EP. Ty’s group subsequently signed a pact with the prestigious London based Dirty Hit consortium. Blackstarkids is the most exciting act to emerge from Kansas City in years.

Top 25 Kansas City Albums of 2020

1. Blackstarkids- Whatever, Man (My review.)

2. Bobby Watson- Keepin' It Real (My review.)

3. Molly Hammer- I'm Feeling Mellow (My review.)

4. Mike Dillon- Rosewood (My review.)

5. Ebony Tusks- Heal Thyself

6. Steve Cardenas- Blue Has a Range (My review.)

7. Shiner- Schadenfreude

8. Pat Metheny- From This Place (My review.)

9. Rich the Factor- Blaccfish (My review.)

10. The Freedom Affair- Freedom Is Love

11. Brian Scarborough- Sunflower Song (My review.)

12. Guitar Elation- Double Live at Green Lady Lounge (My review.)

13. Kevin Morby- Sundowner

14. Matt Otto- Alliance (My review.)

15. Shy Boys- Talk Loud

16. Flutienastiness- This Is Me (My review.)

17. Krizz Kaliko- Legend (My review.)

18. Black Light Animals- Playboys of the Western World

19. Ashley Ray- Pauline

20. The Casket Lottery- Short Songs for End Times

21. Rich the Factor- Rose Out the Concrete 2

22. Howard Iceberg & the Titanics- Kansas City Songs, Vol. 3

23. Orphans of Doom- II

24. Purna Loka Ensemble- Metaraga

25. The Black Creatures- Wild Echoes

Top Ten Kansas City EPs of 2020

1. Blackstarkids- Surf

2. We The People- Misunderstood (My review.)

3. Una Walkenhorst- Woman of the Year

4. Blackstarkids- Surf (Basement Demos)

5. Hermon Mehari- A Change For the Dreamlike (My review.)

6. Stik Figa- ...If It's the Last Thing I Do

7. The Cur3- The Anecdote (My review.)

8. Tech N9ne- Fear Exodus

9. Jo MacKenzie- Let Me Give You What I Wish I Had

10. Dylan Pyles- Solo Acoustic Guitar, Vol. 1

I revere Thelonious Monk. So why didn’t I join the rapturous chorus of giddy anticipation for Palo Alto? The release of the live 1968 recording is widely hailed as one of the most momentous jazz events of the year. For starters, I already own live sets by Monk’s quartet of saxophonist Charlie Rouse, bassist Larry Gales and Ben Riley. It seemed silly to flip my lid over another session. The pages dedicated to the unlikely high school gig are among the most interesting sections of Robin D.G. Kelley’s essential but often tedious 2009 biography of the icon. The backstory is further explored in a podcast promoting Palo Alto that’s almost as interesting as the actual recording. Still, any additional documentation of the singular American genius is a cause for celebration. I suppose I’m finally singing from the same hymnbook after all.

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I provide context for We The People’s new album in my review of Misunderstood at Plastic Sax.

The Top Kansas City Albums and EPs of 2020

Well, You Needn’t