Partial Traces (Brad Lokkesmoe)
photo by Brent Porter
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2020? (In order 1-5)
- Waxahatchee - St. Cloud
- Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways
- Worriers - You or Someone You Know
- Run the Jewels - RTJ4
- Bright Eyes - Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was
2. What band did you discover in 2020 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Richmond Fontaine. I'm a sucker for dense, narrative driven lyrics and somehow I had never come across his stuff previously. I randomly discovered his album You Can't Go Back If There's Nothing to Go Back To and it stayed in constant rotation. His other records are great too. It was a good year to get into someone with a lot of material to check out. While his songs are generally pretty dark, there was a comforting escapism in taking a break from the bleak reality of 2020 by sinking into his world of characters and places.
3. How will you remember 2020? (In terms of music)
I'll remember leaning into a few albums harder than I can remember doing maybe ever in my life, spending lots of time with headphones on walking around outside and being so fucking thankful for a few new albums by people who's stuff I love.
As far as Partial Traces goes I'll remember it as a strangely productive year. We did a lot of writing and recording in new ways, sending tracks back and forth, figuring out how to be a band in a pandemic like everyone else, I suppose.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2021?
We'll be releasing a new full-length we tracked over the summer and hopefully a couple EPs as well. I'd love to think we'll be playing some shows at some point, here's hoping!
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2021?
The Hold Steady have a new album coming out in February. I reliably enjoy everything Craig Finn does so I'm excited about that. I'd love to hear something new from Dark Thoughts but no idea if they actually have anything planned. I'm sure there's a lot more I am unaware of at this point...
6. Trying to put a positive spin on things, what is your favorite development from the global pandemic this year? (Is there a new medium you enjoy, a specific song or collaboration, personal news, etc. that was a bright spot?)
I'd like to think we've all gained a lot of appreciation for all the things we're currently unable to do, everything from hanging out with friends, hugging the people you love, live music and on and on, I know I have.
