We here at idobi are ready to wave goodbye to 2020 (preferably off the edge of a cliff). But before we peace out ’til 2021 we want to shoutout the music, the memes, and the wishes for a brighter future that kept us all going this year. Keep scrolling to see what the idobi staff have chosen as their top picks of 2020.
—
Eddie Barella
Program/Music Director, COO, It’s News to Us Host
Best Album:
Ordinary Man by Ozzy Osbourne
Best Song:
“Level of Concern” by Twenty One Pilots
Best Music Video:
“The Adults Are Talking” by The Strokes
Favorite Collaboration:
“chinatown” by Bleachers (feat. Bruce Springsteen)
Moment that Made it Better:
The 2020 election results.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
Peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters of all races and age groups standing up to systemic racism and police brutality which resulted in ongoing steps toward positive change across the country.
Favorite Meme:
Biggest Wish for the Future:
A quick end to the pandemic, less political polarization in the culture, reduced misinformation spread on social media, and a united humanity combating climate change.
–
Sherin Nicole
Chief Creative Officer & CMO, Geek Girl Riot Host
Best Album:
BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US by Jessie Reyez
Best Song:
“Graveyard” by Halsey
(but I listened to “Glitter” by 070 Shake relentlessly and I’d do it again)
NOTE:
I must also tell you, I love CHIKA. Give her your listens.
Best Music Video:
Julie and the Phantoms (say nothing)
Favorite Collaboration:
“Catch Up” by Chloe x Halle feat. Swae Lee & Mike WILL Made-It
Moment that Made it Better:
My nephew asking me for a grappling hook for Christmas (he is my people).
Most Punk Rock Moment:
“Will you shut up, man”
Favorite Meme:
Baby Yoda doing things.
Biggest Wish for the Future:
Let us be a true democracy AND respect each other’s lives.
–
Fish
Assistant Program Director, Gone Fishkin Host
Best Album:
Wake Up, Sunshine by All Time Low
Best Song:
“Not Like You” by Nightly
Best Music Video:
“You Should Be Sad” by Halsey
Favorite Collaboration:
Machine Gun Kelly and Mod Sun directing each other’s music videos
Moment that Made it Better:
Adopting a dog, his name is Biggie and he’s the f**king best!
Most Punk Rock Moment:
Machine Gun Kelly climbing The Roxy on release night with Megan Fox.
Favorite Meme:
Biggest Wish for the Future:
I hope shows and clubs return so friends can hangout
and create more together again.
–
Alex Bear
Senior Editor, Geek Girl Riot Host
Best Album:
Wake Up, Sunshine by All Time Low
Best Song:
“Survivin’” by Bastille
Best Music Video:
“Me & You Together Song” by The 1975
Favorite Collaboration:
“Favorite Place” by All Time Low feat. The Band CAMINO
Moment that Made it Better:
The 2020 US election.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
The protest marches and calls for action to challenge racial injustice.
Favorite Meme:
Biggest Wish for the Future:
That a free, safe, and effective vaccine is rolled out worldwide.
–
Patrick Walford
Howl Music Director, Rock The Walls Host
Best Album:
Too many great ones to pick just one. I could literally pick 30+ deserving ones. in no particular order: Passenger by Kingdom of Giants / Fracture by Bleed From Within / Guardians by August Burns Red / They Way It Ends by Currents / Where Only Gods May Treat by Ingests / A Quiet Place to Die by Alpha Wolf / Palimpsest by Protest the Hero / Cannibal by Brry Tomorrow
Best Song:
“Holy Roller” by Spiritbox
Best Music Video:
“Hypa Hypa” by Eskimo Callboy
Favorite Collaboration:
The entire Doom Eternal Soundtrack (Legendary Composer Mick Gordon + a ton of awesome Metal Vocalists = Amazing), the awesome quarantine covers of Punk Rock Karaoke (shoutout to Darrin of The Dangerous Darrin Show!) & “Two Minutes To Midnight”
Moment that Made it Better:
Every single band & artist adapting to a nightmare situation of not being able to tour by having amazing livestreams the last 9 monthz with more unreal ones still to come!
Most Punk Rock Moment:
The entire scene collectively coming together to protest, raise awareness, and fight against fascism, racism, and social injustices.
Favorite Meme:
Harms Way Running Man (shoutout to James Pligge, past guest of the show!)
Biggest Wish for the Future:
Shows, tours, festivals return to normal when it’s safe so we can hear all these great records that came out in 2020 and the ones that were written/recorded during 2020 that will come out in 2021!
–
Emillie Marvel
Podcast Producer/Specialist
Best Album:
Folklore / Evermore by Taylor Swift
Best Song:
“Willow” by Taylor Swift
Best Music Video:
Cardigan” by Taylor Swift
Favorite Collaboration:
“Monsters” by All Time Low feat. blackbear
Moment that Made it Better:
Opening Twitter on 11/7 to find videos of the world honking, singing, setting off fireworks, and celebrating the end of a very dark chapter.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
The Black Lives Matter protests. In the face of rubber bullets, tear gas, and intimidation, the world stood up to say enough is enough and fight for justice. I can’t think of a more punk rock moment in my lifetime, let alone this year.
Favorite Meme:
Biggest Wish for the Future:
That we don’t experience Groundhog Day when the clock hits midnight on New Years Eve.
–
Aud Lew
Live Activations and Events
Best Album:
Toss up between Nonsuch Park (Sa) by Scott Helmanand The Album by BLACKPINK
Best Song:
“Stand Tall” by Julie and the Phantoms
Best Music Video:
“Lois” by Scott Helman
Favorite Collaboration:
“Bet You Wanna” by BLACKPINK feat. Cardi B
Moment that Made it Better:
When Action/Adventure went viral on TikTok for their Barricades video.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
All protests that happened against racial/social injustices and seeing everyone (including celebrities) go out and march.
Favorite Meme:
Is Baby Yoda from 2020? Time is irrelevant so I can’t remember if that was from this year but that’s what I’m going with.
Biggest Wish for the Future:
That we finally end the pandemic lololol.
–
Tommy Wooldridge
Video Director/Editor
Best Album:
Ugly is Beautiful by Oliver Tree
Best Song:
“Twenty Something” by Nightly
Best Music Video:
“Papa” by Scott Helman
Favorite Collaboration:
“All In My Head” by Whethan feat. grandson
Moment that Made it Better:
Drive-in movie theaters making a comeback.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
Not showering for weeks at a time.
Favorite Meme:
Leo pointing at the TV from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Biggest Wish for the Future:
That movie theaters still exist.
–
Sarah Madden
Social Media Manager
Best Album:
Death of an Optimist by Grandson
I waited for Death Of An Optimist like I haven’t waited for an album in a long time. I love Grandson. He breaks down genres with passion and style you don’t see all the time. He’s got a lot of heart and it’s matched with talent.
Best Song:
“National Anthem” by DeWayne Jackson
This song is such an accurate reflection of what America is like. It’s a heavy hitter sonically but the lyrics pack a way bigger punch. Sadly, even tho
Best Music Video:
“The Birthday Party” by The 1975
This one speaks to me because of how much time I spend engaging with social media. Everyone is searching for connection but for the most part what they get are hollow sales tactics that don’t mean anything or cheap knock offs of ‘influencers’ fake unattainable lives. For sure there are a lot of very real and valid online communities that create connection and support for people but so much of it is wasting your time, wasting your energy, and distracting you from something you truly could be benefiting from. I love that idobi’s social media is just idobi sharing music, entertainment, humor, and trying to shine a light on political/social issues (and sometimes just fucking with the douche from Trapt). You can enjoy it and when we respond, be it from our account or one of our shows accounts, it really is a person behind the keyboard trying to create real connection in a world of papier mache statues that collapse when it rains.
Moment that Made it Better:
Trapt getting kicked off of almost every social media platform. Free speech is great but it doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for what you say.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
Dolly Parton supporting Black Lives Matter.
Favorite Meme:
Nathan Apodaca (420doggface208) skateboarding to “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac.
Biggest Wish for the Future:
Am I allowed to wish for the total and complete annihilation of all patriarchal systems, conscious and subconscious, spiritual and physical, resulting in the liberation of all human beings worldwide? If so, that. If not, I wish the McRib was gluten free. I haven’t had one in over a decade. Really hoping I can wish for the patriarchy thing though, that’s way better.
–
Katherine Calligori
Writer/Office Assistant
Best Album:
Lianne La Havas by Lianne La Havas
Best Song:
“Bittersweet” by Lianne La Havas
Best Music Video:
“Therefore I am” by Billie Eilish
Favorite Collaboration:
Cover of “Enter Sandman” with Elise Trouw and Travis Barker, with Paul Raci performing in ASL.
I know a lot of Metallica fans hated it, but I didn’t. For one, I’m not a metal purist and don’t care if it’s not “metal” enough, but also most importantly, Paul Raci, the one signing, is my friend’s dad and he’s really great!
Moment that Made it Better:
Waking up the news Biden won.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
The ongoing racial and social reckoning.
Favorite Meme:
Biggest Wish for the Future:
Everyone gets their shit together, we beat COVID, break up monopolies, distribute the wealth, and everyone is treated with dignity and respect. And that I adopt a corgi.
–
Sam Devotta
Writer
Best Album:
Sex, Death & the Infinite Void by Creeper
Best Song:
“Some Kind of Disaster” by All Time Low
Best Music Video:
“Obey” by Bring Me the Horizon feat. Yungblud
Favorite Collaboration:
“Cover You” by The Hunna ft. Travis Barker
Moment that Made it Better:
Virtual concerts for that live music fix.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
Any time an artist/band used their platform to talk about politics and important issues (#BlackLivesMatter).
Favorite Meme:
“How the email finds me”
Biggest Wish for the Future:
A safe, effective, and ethical vaccine distribution (so I can start going to actual concerts again!!).
–
Brett Callwood
Writer
Best Album:
Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
Best Song:
“Alphabetland” by X
Best Music Video:
“The Existential Threat” by Sparks
Favorite Collaboration:
“WAP” by Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
Moment that Made it Better:
The results of the 2020 presidential election.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
“You’re a clown” – Biden to Trump during the debates.
Favorite Meme:
Biggest Wish for the Future:
I can’t look beyond the pandemic — hoping that the vaccine is rolled out successfully so that lives can be saved.
–
Joe DeAndrea
Writer
Best Album:
Forever and Ever x Infinity by New Found Glory
Best Song:
“If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)” by The 1975
Best Music Video:
“Scarier Than Jason Voorhees at a Campfire” by New Found Glory
Favorite Collaboration:
“Bodybag” by Machine Gun Kelly feat. YUNGBLUD and The Used
Moment that Made it Better:
Anytime I got to play soccer.
Most Punk Rock Moment:
Grimes and Elon Musk naming their kid X Æ A-12.
Favorite Meme:
Everything’s cake
These Are All Cakes pic.twitter.com/ejArkJHaid
— Tasty (@tasty) July 8, 2020
Biggest Wish for the Future:
That the Dexter revival doesn’t suck.
–
Alice Meichi Li
Writer
Best Album:
FIRE DIVINE by Nuit Oceān
Best Song:
“Damage” by H.E.R.
Best Music Video:
“Sad Day” by FKA twigs
Favorite Collaboration:
“Lady Marmalade” cover by G Flip feat. JessB, Thandi Phoenix, Isabella Manfredi, Jess Kent, Alex The Astronaut, Rosie Fitzgerald, Clio Renner, Kate Richards, Bernice Tesara and Carla Dobbie
Moment that Made it Better:
Joe Biden getting elected President!
Most Punk Rock Moment:
BLM protesters defacing the monument to Confederate general Robert E. Lee in Richmond, VA after the wake of George Floyd’s murder.
Favorite Meme:
The Four Seasons Total Landscaping Zoom background.
Nothing so perfectly captures the end of the Trump administration in a world transformed by pandemic.
Biggest Wish for the Future:
Widespread vaccination and immunity to COVID-19!
