Good morning and welcome to Fitzie’s Wrapped!
Last week, I expressed my thoughts on Spotify’s Wrapped, and this time, I’m sharing my own end-of-year musical reflections.
In past years, I enjoyed showcasing the albums I purchased and the concerts I attended. However, this year, my album purchases were fewer, making it a bit challenging to compile my favorites. Nevertheless, I did experience some standout moments, especially with the concerts I attended.
Let’s dive in.
Fitzie’s favorite purchase: Haim, “Women in Music Part III,” on yellow vinyl.
This album has quickly become one of my top picks in recent years, and I’ve listened to the standard black vinyl version countless times. Finding unique vinyl variants can be tough, so I was thrilled to discover this gem at Reckless Records. Additionally, I stumbled upon some fantastic Japanese pressings of albums by Queen, Dexter Gordon, and Bill Evans this year. I might also have picked up a German pressing of The Beatles’ “Revolver,” but I can’t recall if that was this year or last.
Fitzie’s highlight concert: The Rolling Stones in Denver, Colorado.
After waiting for years to see The Rolling Stones, I finally attended the concert with my dad this year. I originally bought tickets for him back in 2019, but due to Covid, the show was postponed. Experiencing them live was incredible! The band still delivers one of the best shows out there, outshining many younger artists. Ronnie Wood stood out as a highlight, and I loved how Keith Richards had a solo three-song set while Mick took a short break. From “Sympathy For the Devil” onward, it was a relentless stream of classic hits, showcasing their impressive catalog.
Other concerts I particularly enjoyed included performances by Jack White and Vampire Weekend.
Fitzie’s least favorite concert: The Decemberists in D.C.
I took a chance on seeing The Decemberists after enjoying a few of their newer songs on the radio. While I appreciated “Burial Ground,” the rest of the performance felt lackluster, and their lengthy track “Joan In The Garden” didn’t resonate well live.
Most-played band: The Grateful Dead.
Not much of a surprise there!
Fitzie’s favorite radio station: 88.5M The SoCal Sound.
This station has held my heart since 2018, despite the recent departure of my favorite DJ to a station in Chicago. But the music continues!
Top new album: “Songs of a Lost World” by The Cure.
I previously featured this album as a Track of the Day; it’s tremendous and showcases The Cure at their finest.
Top new song: “Coming to a Hoddle Near You.”
Fitzie’s track of the day: “Lost Changes” by Beth Gibbons.
Finally, here are some links to explore:
– Jay Harris notes, ‘Things will get worse before they get better’ for Spurs.
– Dan KP urges Daniel Levy to support Ange Postecoglou in January.
– David Hytner discusses Postecoglou grappling with Spurs’ fragility amidst rising fan demands.
– PGMOL has made the decision to sack David Coote.
This year has had its ups and downs, but there were still plenty of memorable highlights in music and live performances. As we look to the future, let’s remain hopeful that the music scene continues to thrive and that we can look forward to more incredible concerts and albums next year.