It’s that time again. That time where I dredge up this abandoned blog for my year-end top 20. This year, I strongly considered foregoing the traditional ranked list in favor of an alphabetized one, but a burst of inspiration made me finally decide to keep the ranked. As cursed a year as 2020 was (I feel like I’ve said this in the intro of every one of these the last several years), there was an overwhelming amount of good music released, and I loved so much of it, that whittling the list down to 20 required a lot of re-listens and deliberation. Below are the 20 albums I ultimately decided on.
I always seem to discover more music in the following year, and wonder how I could amend these lists with my future finds (My most listened-to and beloved record of 2020 released in 2019, and is notably absent from that list). But if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to not sweat the small stuff. So here are 20 albums that I loved from this year, regardless of the order. Enjoy!
20. Neil Cicierega – Mouth Dreams
The latest mash-up monstrosity from meme veteran Neil Cicierega offered the perfect 2020 analog. It’s an absurd, occasionally nightmarish romp that drags you along for the ride with no choice but to hang on. Mouth Dreams provided me with some of the heartiest, most confused laughs of the year. Favorite Tracks: “Just a Baby,” “Ribs,” “Closerflies”
19. Kelly Lee Owens – Inner Song
Welsh electronic musician Kelly Lee Owen’s sophomore LP is a mesmerizing listen; a hypnotic synthesis of loops and voice that’s occasionally eerie, frequently euphoric, and always engaging. Favorite Tracks: “Re-Wild,” “L.I.N.E.,” “Corner of My Sky (Ft. John Cale)”
18. Dirty Projectors – 5EPs
The latest iteration of David Longstreth’s long-running indie project, this time featuring work from Maia Friedman, Felicia Douglass, and Kristin Slipp, is the most natural it has sounded in years. Each member has an opportunity to showcase fabulous vocal work among a variety of instrumental pallets, and the result is an inspired, occasionally comforting compilation that offers exciting prospects for the band’s direction. Favorite Tracks: “Overlord,” “Lose Your Love,” “Holy Mackerel”
17. Colter Wall – Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs
Of all the country music I’ve listened to in my life, perhaps 80% of it happened this year, and Canadian cowpoke Colter Wall’s latest record fit in like a pistol in a ranger’s hand. Wall’s smokey vocals continue to delight alongside his simple, yet effective songwriting, and a couple covers of classic tunes as well. Favorite Tracks: “Western Swing & Waltzes,” “Big Iron,” “High & Mighty”
16. The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You
The third record from the Australian sampledelia duo (dropped in only 4 years instead of 16 like their last record Wildflower) takes their consistently enthusiastic sonic exploration to new expanses. It doesn’t quite hit the heights of Since I Left You (what can) or Wildflower, but it’s a lovely and immersive excursion nonetheless. Favorite Tracks: “The Divine Chord (Ft. MGMT & Johnny Marr),” “Interstellar Love (Ft. Leon Bridges),” “We Will Always Love You (Ft. Blood Orange)”
15. Aesop Rock – Spirit World Field Guide
Legendary indie wordsmith Aesop Rock’s first solo album since 2016’s The Impossible Kid is yet another highlight in his storied career. His consistently impressive verbosity married with an ambitious concept and some of his tightest production yet make for a wonderful trip. Favorite tracks: “The Gates,” “Gauze,” “Jumping Coffin”
14. R.A.P. Ferreira – Purple Moonlight Pages
Rory Ferreira’s first record since retiring his Milo moniker features the pure, unadulterated hip hop we’ve come to expect with him over the years, but with a newfound freshness and exuberance. Ferreira’s word play is as delicately-crafted as ever, and the minimalist production by the Jefferson Park Boys compliments it sublimely. Favorite Tracks: “Noncipher,” “Omens and Totems,” “Absolutes”
13. Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
One of the innumerable disappointments this year is that the many bangers of Dua Lipa’s second album have yet to be experienced on a dancefloor. It’s not necessarily the all-around finest retro-inspired pop album of late (see lower in this list), but it is an indisputable blast. Favorite Tracks: “Levitating,” “Don’t Start Now,” “Cool”
12. Soccer Mommy – Color Theory
Sophie Allison’s sophomore LP, perhaps not intentionally, perfectly captured the grim mindset at the onset of the pandemic earlier this year. It’s a sharp and emotional record that finds Allison continuing to hone her songwriting chops, and its 90’s pop rock sound is frequently irresistible. Favorite Tracks: “circle the drain,” “night swimming,” “yellow is the color of her eyes”
11. Bob Dylan – Rough & Rowdy Ways
There’s not much else to say about Bob Dylan at this point, and he’s certainly far beyond needing to prove anything. But six decades into his career, he still finds ways to surprise. Rough and Rowdy Ways is at times funny and moving, and, of course, often mythologically inscrutable. It contains that kind of indescribable air that only Dylan could conjure. Favorite Tracks: “I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You,” “Murder Most Foul,” “I Contain Multitudes”
10. Freddie Gibbs/The Alchemist – Alfredo
Freddie Gibbs is on an unparalleled roll. Following closely on the heels of his second collab with Madlib, 2019’s Bandana, Gibbs teams with a different legendary producer for yet another superb, tightly-crafted hip hop album. Alfredo is 35 minutes of crystal-clean flows, raw bars, and buttery smooth production. Easy to love. Favorite Tracks: “Scottie Beam,” “God is Perfect,” “Something to Rap About (Ft. Tyler the Creator)”
9. Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season 1: Strange Timez
The Song Machine project, a multimedia collection of singles and animated music videos, is by far the best material released by Gorilla mastermind Damon Albarn in at least a decade. Nearly every track is a hit, with polished production and a slew of guests utilized in fun and exciting ways, while still leaving room for 2-D’s own vocal highlights as well. Very excited to see where this project heads, and if they can top some of the highs found here. Favorite Tracks: “Aries (Ft. Peter Hook and Georgia),” “Pac-Man (Ft. Schoolboy Q),” “The Lost Chord (Ft. Leee John)”
8. Fleet Foxes – Shore
Released with little fanfare on the Autumn solstice, Fleet Foxes’ fourth album is a blast a cool, refreshing air that finds common ground between the more complex compositions of Crack-Up and the pop folk sensibilities of their earlier work. It’s a bright and life-affirming record that provided much-needed solace and comfort in the rocky back half of the year. Favorite Tracks: “Sunblind,” “Can I Believe You,” “Featherweight”
7. Run the Jewels – RTJ4
As protests against police brutality raged across the United States in late May and early June, RTJ4 arrived precisely when it was needed most. The most searingly political album of their run so far, RTJ4 finds Killer Mike and EL-P offering up more immeasurably hard beats and bars they’re beloved for, perfect for the spitting in the eye of authority to. Favorite Tracks: “out of sight (Ft. 2 Chainz),” “walking in the snow,” “a few words for the firing squad (radiation)”
6. Haim – Women in Music Pt. III
The Haim sisters’ sun-drenched third album offered the compliment to a Summer where the safest, best option was being outside. Women in Music Pt. III, an album of infectious melodies, smooth guitar licks and glossy production, is something of a blissful vacation in and of itself. Favorite Tracks: “The Steps,” “Don’t Wanna,” “I’m in It”
5. Adrianne Lenker – Songs/Instrumentals
In her first solo record since Big Thief’s domination of 2019, Adrianne Lenker’s songwriting capabilities and emotional potency remain completely unparalleled. Recorded in a cabin in the forests of Massachusetts, occasionally featuring the patter of rain on the ceiling or the creak of floorboards, Songs & Instrumentals is a vulnerable and intimate album that feels like a warm sharing of stories with a close friend. Favorite Tracks: “anything,” “zombie girl,” “music for indigo”
4. Perfume Genius – Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
Every release since Mike Hadreas’ debut as Perfume Genius a decade ago has, impressively, set a new high-water mark in terms of quality. His latest may be his masterpiece. SMHoFI finds Hadreas at his most open and confident with an immaculate new musical style molds classic shoegaze and art rock sounds into something deeply felt and beautiful. Favorite Tracks: “Describe,” “On the Floor,” “Moonbend”
3. Jessie Ware – What’s Your pleasure?
Jessie Ware’s foray into vintage disco, boogie and new wave is by far the best of the recent crop of faux-retro pop records. What’s Your Pleasure? is a sexy and playful album that doesn’t skirt the songwriting or instrumentation; there are too many delicious bass and synth lines here to keep count of. It conjures nostalgia in the best of ways, and is the most fully-realized pop album of the year. Favorite Tracks: “Ooh La La,” “Spotlight,” “Remember Where You Are”
2. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
Katie Crutchfield’s latest album felt like a much-needed embrace in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak this Spring. A return to a more Americana and folk sound from her previous album Into the Storm (one of my favorites of 2017), Saint Cloud is a warm and often euphoric celebration of life and making it out the other side of hardship. It’s just wonderful. Favorite Tracks: “Can’t Do Much,” “Fire,” “St. Cloud”
1. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters
My first obvious album of the year selection in some years. A new Fiona Apple record always feels like an event, and Fetch the Bolt Cutters is no exception, but I’m not sure anyone expected just how unorthodox and otherworldly it would sound. The album’s cacophonous and evocative percussion along with Apple’s trademark multi-faceted songwriting-perhaps never before with this much rage or urgency-make for a supremely special piece of music. Favorite Tracks: “Under the Table,” “Relay,” “Newspaper”
The Tropebox 