Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

2021 Hear My Year

Some of my favorite songs from 2021, with one 2020 release that snuck onto the list.

Listen to the songs on a Spotify playlist I put together or most of them on a Bandcamp playlist (unfortunately, I couldn’t find all the tracks on Bandcamp).

And here’s the full track list:

  • The Ship Song, Nell Smith, The Flaming Lips

  • Lost & Lonesome, Buffalo Nichols

  • B-Side, Khruangbin, Leon Bridges

  • 25 Years, Jonny Greenwood

  • I Wanna Monkey, Guided by Voices

  • I don’t Live Here Anymore (featuring Lucius), The War on Drugs, Lucius

  • Country Child, Robert Finley

  • Mississippi Phone Booth, John Hiatt, Jerry Douglas

  • Deep Breath, Riley Downing

  • Breathing, Amy Helm

  • Mercy, Suzanne Santo

  • Take Good Care, Megan Palmer

  • Lanyards, The Hold Steady

  • Down in the Country, Israel Nash

  • Change Things, Abby Hamilton (the 2020 release)

  • The Ghost of Cincinnati, Big Red Machine

  • Lord of the Flies, Bob Schneider

  • Idiot, Jenny Lewis, Serengeti

  • Funk #49, Los Straightjackets

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

The Last Moon of 2020

During times both good and challenging, I always return to the moon. Maybe it’s something about the permanence and predictability that’s helped make the moon my anchor. No matter what’s happening in my life or in the world, the moon rises. It’s no surprise that in 2020 I spent even more time looking at the moon.

So, last night on New Year’s Eve, I visited the moon one last time for 2020, about an hour before midnight. It’s the big bright ball that never drops, and that helps keep me going.

What are your anchors, the people, places, or things you return to in good and challenging times?

Follow me on Instagram to see more of my moon photos (and dog photos and food photos…).

The moon over East Dundee, Illinois, December 31, 2020.

The moon over East Dundee, Illinois, December 31, 2020.

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Mike Barzacchini Mike Barzacchini

A New Year's Prediction: Who Knew? Who Knows?

As we get ready to say, “goodbye" (good riddance?)" to 2020, it’s tempting to make predictions about what 2021 holds in store. But one year ago, could any of us have imagined most of what’s taken place the past 364 days?

On a call with colleagues earlier this year, we reflected on six months of remote work and speculated on what might be next. I summed up my feelings by saying, “Who knew? Who knows?”

I’ll stand by that statement as my prediction for 2021. While I can’t control what will happen, I do have a say in how I’ll handle what’s next. I intend to meet the new year with an open heart and an open mind. Kindness, resilience, empathy, and patience will be my guide words.

And I’ll start with a new year’s wish to you for peace, comfort, health, and loving-kindness.

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