My musical wish list for 2020.

Goodbye 2019.  It’s been a good year for new music.  As I wrote about in the Sound Vapors Top 15 Songs of 2019 – There were many game changing moments across a wide spectrum of genres.  I expect 2020 to keep reminding us of the magic and power that music has over millions of people.  Of course, we all have our preferences and I am no different in this department.  While I was moved by many songs this past year, I know that new music from certain artists would be game changing for my brain.  So – every year I prepare a list of artists and bands that I wish would come together and record once (or twice) more.

Over the years I’ve actually had some of those wishes come true.  2008’s eponymous album from Stone Temple Pilots was sitting on top of that list for many years.  The Verve Pipe released Overboard in 2014.  2015’s Faith No More – Sol Invictus did not disappoint and scratched off a long tenured entry on my list.  There’s many more that have been moving up as these bands started releasing music, once again.  So here’s my wish list for 2020 – and here’s hoping at least one of these actually gets done.  I’d love to cross another one off.

Number one on my wish list: When The Police announced that they would be touring in 2007, there was talk of them maybe writing some new songs for release on an album.  I could hardly contain myself.  I went to one of the shows and saw firsthand that these guys still had it.  We know Sting still does.  He continues to put out great music.  57th and 9th was one of my favorite albums of 2016.  Andy Summers recorded with Circa Zero and put out an album in 2014 called Circus Hero.  It was damn good and Gamma Ray still gets spins on my personal playlist.  Stewart Copeland is about as busy a musician as there is out there today.  He has a countless number of musical projects that include albums and movie scores.  Having heard pretty much everything he does, I can tell you that the man still has such a unique musical mind.  So yeah – The Police are at the top of my wish list.

Probability of happening: 2/10 – It’s not a 1 out of 10 because I feel like they worked it out to complete a successful world tour and they are not getting any younger.  I think they all understand this and getting together for one last studio session would be.. well.. I think it would be a pain in the ass for all of them but I’m hoping that they won’t realize this until near the end of the recording sessions.  So keep that part under your toup.

Realistically, I just don’t see it happening.  But believe me, if it does, I’ll do everything in my power to document as much of it as I can.  From the lobby, I’m sure.

Number two on my wish list: Is there any music fan that doesn’t want to hear a new Rage Against The Machine record?  And full disclosure here – I could quite literally listen to instrumentals of the bands catalog on repeat for the rest of my life and be content.  That’s the love I have Tom Morello’s guitar playing and one of the tightest and  most genius rhythm sections ever assembled in Timmy C and Brad Wilk.  Combined with one another is monstrous.  Just thinking about Zach de la Rocha dropping in his razor like flow over that sound… just gave me the chills.  The feels.  The goosebumps.  All of that.  Just bring that shit on.

Probability of happening: 5/10 – First off, I have no scientific data or any inside scoop to back this up.  That’s why I’m putting it 50/50.  They recently announced a few dates including at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.  Their motivation may be the 2020 election or maybe they miss the musical madness that happens when they play together.  Maybe it’s both.  But if they find a way to rehearse songs like Sleep Now In The Fire, Bulls On Parade and Renegades Of Funk, maybe they will find a way to piece together a song or nine during those sessions.  How could you not get motivated with Tim laying down crazy bass lines over Brad’s uber-in-the-pocket drum grooves.  Enter Morello’s Marshall tubes heated up to full capacity, pushing the sound from his Fender Strat to a few Greenbacks.  I can almost see Zach popping up from his chair and spitting a little freestyle, that everyone hopes gets remembered by someone in the room.  Fantasy?  Maybe.  But I still give it a 50/50 chance.

Number three on my wish list: Facing New York.  They were my Album of the Year in 2018.  And it wasn’t even close.  Here’s the thing – Dogtown is still number one on my playlist that started in 2017.  It’s better than any single album that came out in 2019.  For real.  I like it that much.  It’s so good that I hesitated listening to their 2008 release Get Hot.  The reason I held off for so long was because I didn’t want to hear something I didn’t like and tarnish the band’s seemingly genius, in my eyes.  Truth is, that while I feel like Dogtown is the more cohesive record, I think I listen to Get Hot as a whole, more than I do Dogtown.  Which equates to hours spent listening every week.  The albums are so different but still have certain elements that tie one another together.  There’s just certain tendencies that the band still had after ten years apart from recording.  Certain chord progressions, Rage-ish guitar tones and those crazy jazzy chords.  Gone was the electric piano.  That would normally be a 100% negative for me but whatever they did on Dogtown worked and was the perfect sound for that album.  They are like 1 and 1A for me on my current favorite albums list.  The 2018 release had such a huge sound, in an album that saw less instrumentation.  Sounds weird but it’s true.  Put it on and you’ll see, sonically it’s a friggin’ BEAST.  So yeah.  I’d kill to get another record from these guys.  They just make music that is extremely pleasing to my ear.  Hell, I don’t even think I fully understand all of the lyrical content.  Doesn’t matter.  It’s just my favorite thing to listen to these days.

Probability of happening:  I think not.  1/10.  Eric Frederic is way too busy as Ricky Reed, being nominated for Grammy’s (but seriously, he’s a killer producer).  I can’t find jack on any other musical projects that includes Omar Cuellar and Brandon Canchola.  So if you have information on this, feel free to drop me a line and enlighten me: info@soundvapors.com.  In fact, I don’t even know how to reach the band to ask them if there’s any chance we see a new Facing New York album in the future. 

Anyway, we had to wait ten years in between two of my all time favorite albums and I just don’t see it happening anytime soon.  But.  With today’s technology and ease of laying down tracks on the fly and remote capabilities.. maybe?  Not sure who I’m trying to convince more.  Them or me. 

I was going to leave it at three but what the heck.  I’ll make it an even five.  I can’t finish any music wish list without including something with Simon LeBon or Mike Patton on it.  So the last two on my wish list are Faith No More and Duran Duran.   Faith No More is always on the list, even after Sol Invictus.  I just want more.  They have never put out an album I didn’t like.  Then there’s Duran.  I’m always excited when I hear that Duran Duran is working on something.  As long as they keep making music, I’ll always be there to listen.  Side note: Sunset Garage off of Paper Gods is such a gem.  I love that song!  But I’ll be excited when they eventually put out a new record.  I’d be super excited if they could get Andy Taylor to come in and maybe finish up the lost album – Reportage.  Actually, I don’t know that it’s lost or unfinished.  Just unreleased.  So, how about releasing it in 2020?  I think that’s probably a 0/10 on my probability meter.  But one can wish.

-Tommy Marz

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