2020 IN REVIEW
2020. You’ve been quite the year. Along with many people, I’m not sad to see you go. As is my tradition, I recount the year with my usual lists.
Let’s start with movies and shows. It felt like everyone was talking about movies and shows (especially shows) they were watching to fill the void created by not being able to go anywhere. I will admit, I couldn’t keep up. And, I didn’t try. That said, there were a few shows I enjoyed. In terms of movies, well, that list is pretty sad. The two - yes two - on the list were amazing in their own way and I highly recommend watching both. I feel like this list could have been longer but from what I can gather (because I don’t really pay attention), many studios withheld their releases due to lockdowns (and thus no theater ticket sales). In a year where the studios could have reinvented their business model, it seems that many chose to cling to the past. Here’s hoping the few studios that are experimenting see the opportunities in changing up the distribution model.
Favorite 2020 Movies/Documentaries:
My Octopus Teacher (Netflix)
Soul (Disney+)
Favorite 2020 Shows/Series:
The Last Dance (Netflix)
We Are Who We Are (HBO)
Tehran (Apple TV+)
Industry (HBO)
The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
By now, you all hopefully know how important music is to me. And there were some great tunes in 2020. Phoebe Bridgers’ second album is my hands down best album of the year. Sufjan Stevens and Jonsi are givens as they are always favorites of mine. Khruangbin’s Mordechai arrived in June to lift my spirits (the fact that it coincided with what turned out to the best part of the year from a COVID lens also helped elevate this album). The War on Drugs released a live album compilation that hit hard - both sonically and in helping me manage through the lack of live music in 2020. Finally, 2020 was about uncertainty and stress that shifted daily. It’s left me exhausted. But Olafur Arnalds and Goldmund’s albums helped me wind down and keep my sanity. Not listed here, but honorable mention goes to Hammock which released music directly on their website. They too helped me maintain a delicate balance in 2020.
10 Most Played Songs in 2020
Phoebe Bridgers - Garden Song
Phoebe Bridgers - Kyoto
Jamie XX - I Don’t Know
Sufjan Stevens - Video Game
Hammock - Circular as Our Way
Jonsi - Exhale
Hammock - When It Hurts to Remember
Jonsi - Cannibal
Julien Baker - Faith Healer
Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher
Favorite 2020 Albums:
Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher
The War on Drugs - Live Drugs
Olafur Arnalds - some kind of peace
Jonsi - Shiver
Sufjan Stevens - Ascension
Khruangbin - Mordechai
Goldmund - The Time it Takes
These things helped me get through 2020 in one way or another…
Favorite “Things” in 2020
1. Normatec Recovery Pulse 2.0 Legs - Recovery has been in the spotlight for the past few years and for good reason - to perform at your best you need to recover properly. I was lucky enough that my health insurance covered the cost of these and I can’t recommend it enough. after a workout, I like to turn it up to 7 and for 45 minutes, I put on headphones, close my eyes and zone out (AKA, take a nap). My legs feel better and my mind feels better too. Best purchase of 2020.
2. Wahoo Kickr Smart Trainer - Before the pandemic, you couldn’t get me on a trainer. And if I did, I couldn’t last for more than 30 minutes. Enter a global pandemic and lockdowns and the trainer became a nemesis I had to face. Turns out, when paired with Zwift (see #3), I could stomach the trainer and dare I say, I actually got to a place where I didn’t mind riding it. And then I got to a place where It changed my outlook on cycling - no more suffering through cold, rainy rides in the winter - i’d just ride the trainer! And in 2020, half of my miles were done on the trainer. The data speak for themselves.
3. Zwift - Did I think I wanted my cycling gamified? No. Did I think a virtual “video game” like world would hold my attention? No. Did I think I’d actually give a company money to ride my bike? No. Was I wrong about Zwift? Yes. Combined with my Kickr, Zwift was a big part of my exercise routine in 2020 and it’s not just a fad. As we enter the cold dreary winter months, I plan to swap soggy cold rides for Zwift and my Kickr.
4. Pike & Western Champagne Club - A bottle of grower champagne each month? Yes, please. I’m not normally a fan of wine clubs but the folks at Pike & Western are big fans of grower champagne and after a visit one day to get a bubbles recommendation, I was sold. So I signed up for the club and it was such a great experience - every month there was a new bottle of champagne to look forward to. Not a single dud either. Easy recommendation if you want to learn more about grower champagne and/or you’re a fan of bubbles like I am. ($45-$65/mo)
