TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2020
2020 has been... a lot, to understate it. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone's life, and musicians were no different. But rather than crumple under the toll of everyday life, the best of the best powered forward, using their signature styles to comment on the state of the pandemic or escape from it completely. The following 50 albums are my personal favorites from a year where the only certainty was that the music would be good.
50
Bright Eyes - Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was
A decade-long slumber left no rust on Conor Oberst & company, who return as Bright Eyes with a record you swear you loved in middle school. It’s got all the best qualities of the post-Arcade Fire indie craze, with sweeping melodies, lovely horn-backed instrumentals and strong hooks abound. Oberst finds himself back on his feet after a divorce, and his songwriting helps himself and the listener move past personal pain. It’s like covering yourself in an old blanket, familiar but always warm.
49
Julianna Barwick - Healing Is A Miracle
Album after album, Barwick proves less is more with her special brand of ambient music. Ethereal beauty is the name of the game, as Barwick’s voice drifts in and of pitch, volume, tone and more. The wide open instrumentals can be more chasmic than her previous work, like the excellent opener “Inspirit”, but they never sacrifice the feeling of curiosity. These songs are inviting, and Barwick’s voice is a magnificent guide.
48
Denzel Curry, Kenny Beats - UNLOCKED
In a world where massive rap albums are the norm, a quick-paced project is a breath of fresh air. It’s especially fresh when that kind of project comes from one of the premier producers and best pure rappers working today. UNLOCKED showcases what makes both Kenny Beats and Denzel Curry great, all in quick sucker punches that sting. Denzel busts through the sinister production as he does with typical fire. It’s in and out of your ears in a flash, making it easy to put on again and again to take in the madness.
47
Ichiko Aoba - Windswept Adan
Aoba’s songwriting is inspired by her dreams, and even though it’s sung in a language you may not understand, the fantastical imagery is easy to understand. The songs of Windswept Adan are serene and calming, warmly inviting you into dreamscapes of chamber folk. The lightly plucked guitars are backed by a swirl of woodwinds and strings, a stunning combination to explore over and over again. I’ve always stood by the idea that the best music overcomes language, and Windswept Adan is a clear example of that.
46
Black Dresses - Peaceful As Hell
One clear word to describe this year is “overwhelming”, and that’s a great word to describe Black Dresses’ music. But instead of an impending sense of dread, Peaceful As Hell bombards you with noise that is meant to uplift. If you dig past the addictive noise pop instrumentals, you’ll hear Devi & Rook boost each other’s morale with lyrics about friendship and the need for positive reinforcement. It’s proof that you can be blitzed with noise and still come out a happier person.
45
Kylie Minogue - DISCO
Kylie Minogue is an established legend in the world of pop music, but you’d be foolish to think she’s past her prime. Kylie’s voice is as electric as it’s ever been on DISCO, guiding you through a non-stop onslaught of disco pop bops. Like the best music of its genre, songs like “Last Chance” and “Miss a Thing” erase the outside world, leaving everything on the dance floor. If not especially new, DISCO is especially fun, and that’s what I want from my pop music. ABBA would be proud.
44
Caribou - Suddenly
With one of the smoothest voices in electronic music, Dan Snaith has been making calming music as Caribou for years. His beats are a perfect match for his voice, smooth and welcoming. All of his best qualities are present on Suddenly, where he explores relationships between friends and family. The album is a calming experience, but Snaith flexes his dancefloor strengths on highlights such as “Never Come Back”. In the end, it’s songs like “Home that make the record what it is. The old soulful sample beckons you into the track, and Snaith keeps you in with a friendly attitude that singular to him.
43
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
- K.G.
Sixteen(!) albums in, King Gizzard are still true to themselves. K.G. doesn’t break much new ground, but it reaffirms the prolific Aussie’s are still one of psychedelic rock’s most entertaining acts. Raucously energetic with a flow like butter, Stu Mackenzie & co. rock around psychedelia, folk, electronic, and weirdly funky songs with plenty going on under the hood. K.G. is branded as another exploration into microtonal tunings, rewarding multiple listens as any good King Gizzard album does. Plus, “Intrasport” sounds like a WarioWare song. What more do you need to hear?
42
Annie - Dark Hearts
Having spent 11 years away from the music industry, Dark Hearts shows exactly where Annie’s mind and heart were during that time: the 1980’s. Playing into cliches like boys named Johnny and sappy guitar solos, Annie nonetheless turns her fascination with the decade into an album that ascends past the decade’s corniness. Heavily drenched in synths, these songs are about teenage love, memories of better times, and ominous forewarnings about the end of the world. The melodies and memories are alluring, and Annie’s welcoming voice serves as your tour guide through this picture-perfect history. It’s a shame the 80’s weren’t this fantastic, but the false daydreams artists like Annie create are a fine replacement.
41
Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud
Recorded at a time when a global pandemic wasn’t raging, Saint Cloud has a bright optimism often missing from this year. Other artists would come across as facetious with such a sunny sound, but Katie Crutchfield’s earnest voice carries Saint Cloud forward. It’s all like sitting in a sunny field of flowers, taking in the gentle breeze and the nature surrounding you. Though she compares her feelings to fires burning and war, Crutchfield always finds a way to press on to better times. It’s sentiments like this that the world desperately needs.
40
Bob Dylan - Rough And Rowdy Ways
Some legends never die while others reinvent themselves to remain relevant. Bob Dylan does a bit of both on Rough And Rowdy Ways, invoking his infinite and timeless wisdom upon us in new and exciting ways. He’s invited us into his cozy home, where the polished folk and bluesy production mimics the smell of old books. Dylan travels across decades and subjects, from concepts in philosophy and religion to events he’s lived through like the Kennedy assassination. Rough And Rowdy Ways is a collection of new classics for Dylan. That’s a mighty statement considering his huge catalog, but hearing these tracks over and over again is a marvelous thing.
39
Protomartyr - Ultimate Success Today
Protomartyr’s nature is doom, and that doom lends itself well to a year where doom is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Incorporating a string section, Ultimate Success Today succeeds as a rock album where everything around it is falling apart. The droning guitars and pounding drums on many tracks drive home a sense of desperation that’s only furthered by Joe Casey’s haunting baritone. A lesser band could get swallowed in such sadness, but strong rhythms and excellent performances all around keep the intrigue high. It’s dire music to distract you from the dire world we live in.
38
Hayley Williams - Petals For Armor
Breaking out on her own, the Paramore frontwoman outdoes most of her band’s output on her solo debut. Spread across 15 songs, I found there to be three distinct movements on Petals For Armor. The first five songs are about the pain Williams has endured, the middle five songs are about dealing with said pain, and the final five are about moving on to happier times. They all feature a more minimalistic approach to pop than her Paramore albums, but are just as compelling, like the stirring opener “Simmer”. It’s a refreshing change of pace to her radio pop band, and a fine start to a burgeoning solo career.
37
Oneohtrix Point Never - Magic Oneohtrix Point Never
Daniel Lopatin’s rise to fame has been meteoric. From underground experimental music producer to soundtracking major motion pictures like Uncut Gems, Lopatin is a household name at this point. His latest album, inspired by the radio stations of his youth, functions as a review of his body of work. You get songs that could soundtrack car commercials (Long Road Home) and weird soundscapes that you’d dig up on old forums (The Weather Channel). It’s all wrapped nicely around the radio concept. Fame hasn’t changed Lopatin, just strengthened his grip on his ideas and sound.
36
Taylor Swift - folklore
Surprise! Taylor’s stint in quarantine led her to go full indie, and the results are highly enjoyable. She doesn’t break any new ground, but her dedication to the folk music that inspired folklore is commendable, and it keeps the sound of the record strong throughout. Familiar territory is crossed on the starry-eyed “the 1” and “exile”, but Taylor’s mastery of love lyrics help them ascend. Swift remains an excellent storyteller, and the narrative-led “the last great american dynasty” and “betty” are career highlights. Her career has been full of twists and turns, but it’s still nice to hear Taylor hone her talents on a new sound and come out a winner.
35
Future Islands - As Long As You Are
Melodic basslines, pulsing synths, and Sam Herring’s booming vocals are key to any Future Islands song. These elements have changed so little since the band’s inception, you’d think the law of diminishing returns would’ve kicked in already. Yet on As Long As You Are, the band’s style remains as potent as ever. Whether it’s on anthems like “For Sure” or balladry like “Moonlight”, Herring’s incredibly commanding voice continues to guide us into an uncertain future as he’s done for so many years. The familiar path is not always so bad, and Future Islands have their sound down to a science I’ll always enjoy.
34
Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher
One of the brightest new voices in indie rock, Phoebe Bridgers really shines on her sophomore LP. Her strength lies in turning mundane daily life into vivid portraits of millennial struggles. The pain of addiction, distance, loneliness and more all crop up here and there, and with Phoebe’s strong pen game, they connect all that much more to the listener. She finds comfort in the luller production for the most part, but also kills the Arcade Fire-esque highlight of “Kyoto”. Phoebe’s here to stay, and the world of indie rock is better for it.
33
BUMPER - pop songs 2020
Listening to the absolute joy that is BUMPER’s debut EP will make you forget how much 2020 has brought us down. This unlikely duo (Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner and Crying’s Ryan Galloway) give sound to a summer stolen by COVID-19. Zauner’s vocals are like rays of sunshine, as are the bright synthesizers and guitar solos peppered across these 4 great tracks. If modern city pop could have a place in the music world, it might sound something like pop songs 2020, and that’s a fine soundtrack for the summer we never got.
32
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Sideways To New Italy
My breakout rock band of 2020, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever flies into the indie scene with a fresh approach to an often stale genre. They take the sleepy sounds of bands like Real Estate and charge them up, with slick melodies and strong instrumental play carrying tracks like “Cars In Space” and “Rolling Thunder”. The band operates in sync at all times, and never does any part of a track lag behind the other. It’s fun indie rock, the kind of free sound you’d play on the road with the windows down.
31
George Clanton & Nick Hexum - George Clanton & Nick Hexum
A vaporwave pop master and the lead singer of a band with one minor hit on his belt? Why not? It’s 2020, so things got weird, but the result of this combination is anything but. Clanton’s typically sublime instrumental work ends up being a fantastic combo for Hexum’s simple vocals. He does just enough to get the job done, while Clanton takes it over the top. Whether driving out in your car or relaxing on a beach, these tunes make for excellent vibe music, and further proves Clanton is one of the best in his genre.
30
The 1975 - Notes On A Conditional Form
Matty Healy & company tried to not be the band of the now for millennials, but A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships changed their career trajectory. In response, they’ve dropped their lengthiest and most ambitious album to date. Amazingly enough, the twists and turns of Notes On A Conditional Form are fantastic, and the songs, ranging from country pop to screamo to dance club bumpers, are some of the best of The 1975’s discography. Matty is a musical chameleon, constantly changing his style and delivery but nailing pretty much all of it. It’s bloated for sure, but few bands could clump together so much diverse music and have it be this good.
29
Beach Bunny - Honeymoon
Remember sitting alone in your room as a teenager? Daydreaming about boys/girls while living through hypothetical events in your head? That’s the gist of Beach Bunny’s music, with those feelings accompanied by peppy power pop instrumentals. The emotions are strong and juvenile but perfectly emoted by Lili Trifilio. Even if you haven’t thought about your first boy/girlfriend or what you’ll look like at prom in years, these songs are likely to take you back and relive those memories. And even if the memories aren’t great, the instrumental energy throughout Honeymoon will bring your spirits back up. Summing up the teenage experience isn’t easy, but Beach Bunny do a damn good job here.
28
Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony
The myth of Jay Electronica grew so big over the last decade that seemingly no album could live up to the hype. Yet, on almost every level, A Written Testimony delivers. Jay Elec plays into the mythos built around his long disappearance, and the production is suitably lush and full of grandeur. His bars are cool and collected, touching on his long absence, his religious beliefs and more. He even gets Jay-Z, one of the greatest rappers of all time, to assist on almost every song and doesn’t let Hova upstage him. It renders A Written Testimony an incredible achievement, and let’s hope it doesn’t take 10 more years for the next event.
27
Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song
Electronic music is a broad term, as there’s so many subgenres within the stylings of the synthesizer. It takes a master producer to wrangle them together, and wouldn’t you know it, Kelly Lee Owens does it with confidence on Inner Song. There’s dance pop on “L.I.N.E.”, analog domination on the fantastic “Jeanette”, and true club bangers about climate change(!) on “Melt!. It’s perfectly produced and quite addicting. There’s even a rendition of Radiohead’s “Weird Fish/Arpeggi”, along with an lengthy ambient number (Corner Of My Sky) featuring Velvet Underground legend John Cale. It’s an eclectic electronic mix that comes together gorgeously.
26
Lady Gaga - Chromatica
After years away from the genre, Lady Gaga reasserts herself at the top of the pop world with Chromatica. It’s her most coherently produced album to date, with dance pop bangers all flowing together to create a world unto its own. Chromatica is extremely cathartic, with Gaga finding relief from stardom, relationships, abuse and more on the dance floor like never before. Her vocals are as dominant as they’ve ever been, and they contain that dramatic sense of urgency some of the best dance music has. Along with some great guest spots, Chromatica marks a high point in Gaga’s career.
25
Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension
An indie legend like Sufjan generally sticks to their laurels and produces album after album that run together. But Sufjan is no typical indie legend, never content to sit still and make the same thing. He, at one point, “planned” on releasing an album for every state, after all. Though he has dabbled in synthesized sounds before, The Ascension stands apart from Sufjan’s lengthy discography. The programmed beats are nevertheless beautiful in their coldness, aided by Sufjan’s always clear vocals. The length of these tracks allows for much electronic exploration, culminating in the awe-inspiring closer “America”. That track is Sufjan’s cry for help in a world that makes no sense, fully displaying his songwriting talent amidst the electronic world he’s delved into.
24
HAIM - Women In Music III
Three albums in and the trio of sisters from LA show no signs of slowing down. Their latest is their most musically diverse and darkest effort yet. Danielle, Este and Alana have all experienced their share of trauma since the release of their last record, and it shows in their songwriting. They confront the loneliness, depression and other feelings of despair they felt with the sense of humor and wit they’re known for. It’s all sung over effortlessly smooth renditions of the Laurel Canyon vibes they grew up on. The sky seems to be the limit for HAIM, and the way they’re going they’ll blast into space soon enough.
23
The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You
A final gift from 2020, The Avalanches’ latest is a sampledelic odyssey through the reaches of space, time and love. It’s a galactic experiences that stretches to all corners of the music world. It’s filled with hordes of samples that define The Avalanches’ music, but the heavier emphasis on synthpop creates a different vibe than their past work. It’s as if you’re floating through space, appreciating the roving galaxies of stars that come and go throughout the tracklist. No matter their origin, they seamlessly melt into the beautiful flow of WWALY. The daunting tracklist is a breeze thanks to these master DJ’s skills, and the aimless drift through space and time with these songs has never been more appealing.
22
Fleet Foxes - Shore
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken so much from us all, but from every wilted flower a new bloom sprouts. The isolation in quarantine and solo drives through the New York wilderness brought forth a sense of newfound positivity in Robin Pecknold, and it inspired him to write one of the most purely enjoyable records of 2020. Shore is a record of loving life despite the hell around you, and the sunny folk sound reinforces the need to push onward. Pecknold acknowledges those lost and the importance of remembrance, how their legacies define him and how he wants to hold them high. There’s few records from 2020 in as high spirits as Shore, and still after many listens there’s so much to appreciate about it.
21
Poppy - I Disagree
While she’s dabbled in crushing metal on past projects, I Disagree sees the Youtube project turned musical act dive headfirst into it. Just look at the cover after all for an idea of what you’re in for. But where Poppy’s cutesy voice over intense guitars and drums might come across as gimmicky, you’ll find that there’s no compromise in genre here. The instrumental prowess is impressive, and the raw-as-hell metal mixes surprisingly well with more pop melodies. Poppy is no slouch either, turning recent experiences with a former manager into rage to channel into some of her most impactful vocals yet. Such a mix of disparate genres will naturally raise eyebrows, but Poppy’s dedication to both sides is a winning combination.
20
Perfume Genius - Set My Heart On Fire Immediately
Surely one of the most gorgeous collections of songs one can get in 2020, Mike Hadreas’ latest is an art pop dream come true. There’s a glowing sheen to every song, sliding into your ears like butter. Hadreas continues to explore themes of identity and sexuality with his tender voice, a match made in heaven over these instrumentals. It’s a marvelous experience, and yet another improvement for one of art pop’s finest voices.
19
The Strokes - The New Abnormal
Though titled as if it’s a change in direction, The New Abnormal isn’t even that far off from the trash music the Strokes have been dropping for a while now. It’s just the record that cuts the bullshit. There’s very little goofing around on TNA, delivering straightforward but great alternative rock tracks. The 80’s is mined on the delicious “Bad Decisions”, a fat synth line is abused on “At The Door”, and the misery of a baseball loss is put to song on “Ode To The Mets”. All the while, Julian Casablancas’ golden pipes carry along the best Strokes album since their debut 20 years ago. Thanks for trying this time, guys.
18
Declan McKenna - Zeros
Glam rock is a genre that’s larger than life, cosmic in aspirations with showmanship to match. The titans like Bowie & Elton have rarely been challenged, but Declan McKenna makes a damn good case to be ranked up there. Zeros shoots for the stars from the very beginning, combining the best aspects of his progenitors with a millennial outlook. Be it rampant consumerism, technological surveillance or the feeling that the world is coming to an end, Declan covers it all with a brash confidence to pull it all together. Declan’s brand of glam rock is infused with electronics and modern pop sensibilities that always keep the songs fresh and catchy. All in all, Zeros is a fine example of if you shoot for the moon, you’ll land among the stars.
17
Charli XCX - how i'm feeling now
How fitting is it that the artist of the future made an album that’s perfectly fitting of the now? Feeling the effects of quarantine like everyone else, Charli’s workaholic nature led to the creation of how i’m feeling now, a perfect vision into everyone’s feelings at the onset of the pandemic. The want to go party, the longing for connection, and the pain of isolation are all present on hifn, and Charli’s sharp songwriting lends itself to songs anyone in the world could relate to. The production is DIY, quickly made but still electric and futuristic. It’s purposefully rough around the edges but always catchy. Years from now, how i’m feeling now could be the definitive look into the world’s psyche at the onset of the pandemic.
16
The Killers - Imploding The Mirage
For years, The Killers have been one of modern rock’s biggest acts without a great album to their name. Sure you knew of Hot Fuss and Day & Age, but did you know them? Finally, on Imploding The Mirage, The Killers have their signature album. Grand and majestic, ITM pulls from classic rock a la Springsteen and the mythos of the American West to create majestic synth-rock. These songs are wide open, with huge sweeping choruses and instrumental passages worthy of legend. Brandon Flowers’ voice is stronger than ever before, and when he crescendos along with the climaxes of “Dying Breed” and “My Own Soul’s Warning”, it’s pop rock bliss. Rock isn’t what it used to be, but with great albums like this, the genre has a positive path forward.
15
Yves Tumor - Heaven To A Tortured Mind
Who expected Yves Tumor to become an unlikely rock icon in 2020? As an experimental artist, Tumor has dabbled in many styles of music before, but Heaven To A Tortured Mind is a wild rock opus that thrills from the opening beat. Over an orchestra of scuzzy guitars, blaring horns, and punchy drums, Tumor’s voice sizzles. They indulge on an overabundance of sex and violence, shifting in and out of feeling invincible and vulnerable at any given moment. The album is fearless in its path, boldly bring in a number of influences that beef the album’s sound up. The character Tumor portrays might be a tortured one, but for the rest of us, this is experimental heaven.
14
U.S. Girls - Heavy Light
After a frenetic art-pop breakout in In A Poem Unlimited, Meg Remy wasn’t content to run the same formula back again. Instead, she and her bevy of collaborators aimed for something more subjective, something that required more analysis. What resulted is Heavy Light, an album just as good as its predecessor but in different ways. There are tracks reminiscent of Poem, like the amazing “4 American Dollars”, but Heavy Light allows Meg’s voice to shine in a new way. She’s not surrounded by as much noise, leaving her poetry and political thoughts to be on full display. And though the instrumentals aren’t as rich as before, they’re still incredibly detailed and worthy of multiple replays. This is the thinking man’s art pop record, not as immediately satisfying but truly rewarding of continued visits.
13
Destroyer - Have We Met
The worlds that Dan Bejar concocts as Destroyer are sublime, hazy, mystical and weird. They’re filled with interesting characters and unbelievable stories, all made possible by Bejar’s poetic mastery of the English language. They’re worlds worth getting lost in, and in a year where the real world is sullen and dire, Destroyer albums are even more necessary. Have We Met grips you from the first synth beat on “Crimson Tide” and keeps you hooked until you drift away on “foolssong”. In between you’ll hear Destroyer’s funkiest slap bass on “Cue Synthesizer” and “Kinda Dark”, and some of Bejar’s finest lyricism on “The Raven”. It’s high praise to say something is Destroyer’s best, but Have We Met is an achievement all in its own.
12
The Flaming Lips - American Head
After a decade of aimlessly drifting through the world, The Flaming Lips return with one of the sharpest projects they’ve ever recorded. American Head shows the American Dream in a way only Wayne Coyne could create. It’s a world filled with drugs, growing pains, questioning authority and some of the lushest soundscapes of the year. Coyne & company effortlessly mix psychedelia with orchestral arrangements that flows so smoothly into your ears, you might think you’re on a trip of your own. It’s one of the Lips’ greatest efforts, and the conclusion of a long-winded journey that cements their legacy as one of psychedelic rock’s most legendary acts.
11
Róisín Murphy - Róisín Machine
“I feel my story's still untold/But I'll make my own happy ending”. These lyrics open Róisín Machine and permeate throughout the nu-disco epic. The ever-creative Róisín has no intention of letting others define her career, and thus forges ahead on a journey that pulls from all aspects of the disco scene. Every track is a readymade club hit, and all in varying styles of play. You could choose the epic opener “Simulation” and its winding melody, or the sublime house-based “Murphy’s Law”, or the dramatic string-driven “Narcissus”, or the ecstatic closer “Jealousy” and its catchy-as-hell refrain. Róisín is telling her own story, and it chugs along like a well oiled machine. It’s thrilling to hear so many styles done so well, and Róisín Machine will have you dancing to your own happy ending like Róisín herself.
10
Run The Jewels - RTJ4
Never afraid to face danger head on, Killer Mike and El-P delivered the signature album of a dire summer. Dropped amongst widespread protests against racism and police brutality, the duo’s continued themes of exposing the rich and powerful and rebelling against abusers of power ring more powerfully relevant than ever before. The beats and samples on RTJ4 sound more expensive, but El-P makes sure they fit within the canon of RTJ music just fine. Killer Mike is as angry and real as he’s ever been, while El-P balances him with his humor, both brash and dry. This duo has absolutely mastered the genre of hardcore hip-hop, and their fourth classic couldn’t have come at a better time.
9
Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?
Disco is a popular genre for pop artists to mine for inspiration, but never before has it been turned into an event quite like What’s Your Pleasure?. Ware’s opening croons on “Spotlight” set a sensual tone, and from there on out things only become smoother. These disco pop instrumentals are a blessing on the ears, and they’re filled with a grandeur and sense of posh luxury unlike anything Ware’s compatriots could make. It’s like a fancy party where faux-fur coats and expensive brands are the norm, with Jessie herself offering her hand to lead you in. Her performance is pitch-perfect for these instrumentals, strong and alluring, leading you through the socialites that dominate the scene. What’s Your Pleasure? is one of the most enjoyable listens of the year, and thanks to Ms. Ware, it’s a party worth enjoying until the early hours of the morning.
8
The Weeknd - After Hours
Abel Tesfaye’s pre-established popularity is undeniable, but he lacked a signature album or style to truly define him. His past records hinted at something greater but never reached what the talent hinted at. Then came After Hours, completely blowing away all previous efforts and rocketing The Weeknd into a tier of stardom unmatched by his peers. The cold sheen of After Hours’ synthpop is apparent from the opening twinkles of “Alone Again”, but always shifting that chilly nature into a new catchy track. Massive hits like “Blinding Lights” and “In Your Eyes” are on the same wavelength as the harrowing “Faith” or the jittery “Hardest to Love”. The themes of love, drugs and heartbreak aren’t anything new, but at this point Abel is the master of his craft, and After Hours never dips into repetitive boredom like past efforts. It culminates with the title track, an epic summation of the progressions Abel has made on his path to superstardom. How the Grammys disrespected such a great popular album like this is beyond me.
7
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
In a world where rap is the dominant genre and pop music superstars are fewer and fewer, Dua Lipa made her claim as the current queen of pop. Future Nostalgia exudes a brash confidence from the beginning, never allowing those in Lipa’s way to bring her down. Men who can’t handle her are turned into chart topping smashes like “Future Nostalgia” and “Don’t Start Now”. Those who bring her joy turn into the magical “Levitating” and the club ready “Hallucinate”. Not only is Lipa a master of modern pop, her knowledge and respect of past hits turns legends like INXS and Olivia Newton-John into modernized hits about love like “Break My Heart” and “Physical”, respectively. It seems that nothing can get in Dua Lipa’s way, and such a bold outlook is what helps Future Nostalgia be one of this year’s best pop albums.
6
Neil Cicierega - Mouth Sounds
The internet and its sense of humor wouldn’t be what it is without Neil Cicierega. His mark on the audio side is unmistakable, pioneering Soundclown with mashups galore, and his latest effort is one of his best. Mouth Sounds takes the sleep themed lyrics of some of your favorite songs and throws them in a blender with their antithesis, and yet, or perhaps of course, it sounds amazing. The Yahoo jingle is turned into a fantastic tonesetter. Rick James & David Byrne mix like magic. The Chili’s baby back ribs commercial becomes the backbone for an unexpected masterpiece. Limp Bizkit becomes listenable. 80’s one-hit wonders turn into avant-garde synthscapes. The list goes on, and every track flows into another with the impeccable smoothness you come to expect from a Mouth album. Cicierega’s technical prowess and humor are as sharp as ever on Mouth Sounds, and you’ll never hear the songs used here the same again (in the best way possible).
5
Gorillaz - Song Machine Season 1: Strange Timez
There’s an art to the single that has been lost over time. The ability to contain a singular event into one song & video isn’t something artists are interested in in the age of streaming and massive album drops. So leave it to one of the most innovative acts of their time to bring back the single in a big way. Every song on Strange Timez is a world unto itself. The freaky deaky synthpop of “Strange Timez”, the bossa nova bliss of “Desole”, the smooth R&B on “The Lost Chord”, and more are all entirely unique and excellently done. These far-reaching genre jumps can’t work without putting in the work, and Damon Albarn respects each style he tries. He also uses his rolodex of contacts to bring out an amazing guest list, with modern artists Beck and St. Vincent and legends like Peter Hook and Robert Smith alike. An album this disparate in sound and style should fall apart at the seams, but Albarn’s ability to curate the diverse group allows Strange Timez to be one of Gorillaz’ best ever. Now onto Season 2!
4
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush
After five long years, Kevin Parker finally returns with the album that cements his turn into a pop star. Well, not completely, but the dominance of disco on The Slow Rush is noticeable. Guitar grooves built for the dancefloor dominate TSR, a far cry from the psychedelic origins of early Tame Impala records. But Parker is a master of sound and a perfectionist to a fault, which is why it took so long for the cheekily titled The Slow Rush to get here in the first place. So it’s no surprise every track is a joy on the ears, masterfully mixed and supremely catchy. The musical layoff has Parker thinking about his life, his legacy, and the very concept of time itself. But the passage of time has no bearing on the quality of Tame Impala’s music, and every passing year yields fantastic new albums like The Slow Rush to keep you looking forward to.
3
Rina Sawayama - SAWAYAMA
Future pop is a loose-leaf term to describe artists whose sound might dictate the future of the genre, but like all music it’s incredibly indebted to the past. What’s most important about it is that the sound of the music is good, and on every level and more, Rina Sawayama’s debut is good. Great, even, Absolutely fantastic, actually. SAWAYAMA is so many things all at once, but it’s never dull. Feeling some synthpop? Try “Comme des Garçons (Like The Boys)” or a journey through Rina’s childhood in “Paradisin’”. Something a little more raw? How about Rina treating herself to more on “XS” or the proclamation of her fledgling “Dynasty”. What about something a little more emotional? There’s a touching tribute to friends and community in “Chosen Family” and the need for better connection on “Bad Friend”. No matter the style, the songs sound crisp and insanely catchy. Never does the record slow, thanks in part to the production but equally to Rina herself. She sounds like she’s been doing this for years, clearly and confidently confessing her feelings in and out. The future of pop is wide ranging, and as far as a debut record in the genre, you aren’t going to find many others as masterfully executed as SAWAYAMA.
2
Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters
A record that absolutely blew the doors off of the music world when it dropped, Fetch The Bolt Cutters is a career best effort from an artist who continually seems to outdo herself. Recorded in her house with a few select collaborators, Apple has created an album that is powerfully organic in both sound and theme. The instrumentation, with a backbone of Apple’s always excellent piano melodies, is a whirlwind of everything from guitars and drums to handclaps, vocal harmonies, floor stomping and more. These sounds are never permanent, with song structures constantly shifting in pace and time signature, making every moment must-hear. It’s a fearless approach to structuring songs, a fearlessness that’s equally matched by Fiona herself. She sings of terrible experiences and overcoming them, and Fetch The Bolt Cutters is a wholly cathartic experience for her and the listener. She sticks it to her exes (Under The Table), dishes her sympathies for the other women her exes have dated (Ladies), and pays tribute to the people who helped her become who she is (Shameika). Fiona confronts her past and sets it free, and it’s hard not to marvel at the achievement. It all adds up to an incredibly dynamic album, a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience that frees itself from conventions to become something more.
1
Jeff Rosenstock - NO DREAM
COVID-19 has not only ravaged the current world, but it’s thrown the already uncertain future of a generation into even more peril. Millennials, starved of work and hope by the world around them, have no idea what their future entails now that a pandemic threw a monkey wrench into their plans. Eternal optimist Jeff Rosenstock is no doubt going to be affected by these future trials, but rather than allow the despair to consume him, he chooses hope as his drug of choice. NO DREAM is the perfect record for the world of quarantine, boldly powering forward with a positive attitude unmatched by any peer.
It’s an album where every punk hook is more anthemic than the last, perfectly encapsulating millennial angst towards the present and the future. Classic elements of punk rock like clueless adults and seasonal depression are solved through mindless consumerism and beach trips, but such pains are just bumps in the road for Jeff. His singing is true and deep from the heart, passionate and joyous as all hell. He’s a perfect match for every energetic guitar chord and intricate drum patterns, all impressively tight and incredibly catchy.
It all culminates in “Ohio Tpke”, an anthem to the road and the trials and tribulations of traveling. This album was written before the pandemic hit the world, yet it feels like it could’ve been written yesterday with how relevant it is. It’s positivity like this that the world needs more of, and it’s positivity like this that makes NO DREAM my favorite album of 2020.
