20 Albums of 2020
I might be a couple of weeks late with this list, but luckily these albums aren’t going anywhere! Here are 20 albums that I thought really stood out this year. And how much more important are albums now that we can’t see an artist live? Many artists did still give us some live streaming or recorded shows, which helped with the withdrawal somewhat, and so as I give a short description of the album (no long reviews this year - sorry, not sorry), I’ve linked my track highlights to a mix of music videos and live performances whenever possible. The album covers are linked to Spotify, so you can jump directly to listening.
To 2021, and hopefully, eventually, maybe seeing more live music with friends, in person. Please? Cheers!
20. Renaissance - Aluna
Remember AlunaGeorge? Well, this is half of that duo striking out on her own and making an eclectic and fun dance record.
Track Highlights: I’ve Been Starting to Love All the Things I Hate, Envious, The Recipe
19. Ungodly Hour - Chloe x Halle
A matured offering from two phenomenal vocalists who have hit their stride.
Track Highlights: Ungodly Hour, Do It, Forgive Me
18. Golden Ticket - Brasstracks
A flawless debut from an appropriately named duo.
Track Highlights: Golden Ticket, Three Steps, Swerve
17. Evermore - Taylor Swift
The surprise Folklore sequel surpassed the original in terms of songwriting and vibe, IMO.
Track Highlights: Willow, ‘Tis the Damn Season, Dorthea
16. Coping Mechanisms - Tayla Parx
Master songwriter keeps some personal gems for herself. And they’re bops.
Track Highlights: Dance Alone, Sad, Residue
15. Twice As Tall - Burna Boy
Energetic, positive afrobeat with some big mainstream features.
Track Highlights: Level Up (Twice as Tall), Bebo, Wonderful
14. Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas
I’m so glad she reserved her self-titled status for this third album, because it’s wonderful, even if you aren’t yet familiar with this velvety voice.
Track Highlights: Bittersweet, Green Papaya, Weird Fishes
13. I’m Your Empress Of - Empress Of
Eclectic electro-pop artist, solidly embracing her roots and heartbreak on a vulnerable record.
Track Highlights: U Give It Up, Give Me Another Chance, Love is a Drug
12. Giver Taker - Anjimile
Folky, thoughtful, trans artist wrestling with big ideas. Easily one of my favourite new artists of the year. You can read more about my feelings about this album on my Oct 18th new music highlights.
Track Highlights: 1978, Maker, In Your Eyes
11. Shore - Fleet Foxes
Mellow, reflective and full of interesting time signatures. What more would I ask of this folk pop band? I wrote more about it on Sept 25th, when it was my highlight of New Music Friday.
Track Highlights: Wading in Waist High Water, Maestranza, and Cradling Mother, Cradling Woman
10. Before Love Came to Kill Us - Jessie Reyez
Jessie can do no wrong in my books, and this was on repeat for me during the better part of Vancouver’s initial spring lockdown.
Track Highlights: Ankles, Love in the Dark, I Do and No One’s In the Room
9. Spilligion - Spillage Village
A hip hop super group who harnessed the excuse to get creative and vocal during a global pandemic. This is pure gold and I wrote more about it on Sept 25th as well.
Track Highlights: Baptize, End of Daze, Hapi, PsalmSing
8. Fetch the Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple
A fiery Fiona album, just in time for a trash fire of a year.
Track Highlights: I Want You to Love Me, Under the Table, Shameika
7. Punisher - Phoebe Bridgers
A striking, emotional and thought provoking collection of beautifully sung stories.
Track Highlights: Kyoto, Punisher, I Know the End
6. Songs - Adrianne Lenker
Just another sad, break-up album, written while isolated in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Why does this often work so well? In this case it helps that Adrianne’s lyrics are deeply captivating. This was a highlight of my Oct. 23rd post, so you can read more there.
Track Highlights: Anything, Zombie Girl, Heavy Focus
4. Sawayama - Rina Sawayama
Eclectic, nostalgic and generally mind blowing debut album from a brilliant new artist. You can read more on my Dec. 4th New Music Weekly post when I highlighted the deluxe release of this record.
Track Highlights: XS, Bad Friend, Comme Des Garçons (Like the Boys), and Lucid from the deluxe album.
3. Untitled (Rise) - Sault
An honest processing of a Black experience in a white supremacist world, from a (probably) supergroup that remains a mystery. Phenomenal response to the upheaval of 2020’s summer. I highlighted this record on Sept 18th, so feel free to read more there.
Track Highlights: Uncomfortable, I Just Want to Dance, Little Boy
2. Industry Games - CHIKA
Yes, I know it’s an EP, but that’s just how good this mini record is. Crisp and clever rhymes over tight productions. I just wish it was longer.
Track Highlights: Intro, Industry Games, Songs About You, Balencies, Designer, On My Way, and Crown. Yes, that’s every song - fight me.
1. Dinner Party - Terrace Martin, Robert Grasper, 9th Wonder, & Kamasi Washington
Jazz, hip hop, soul, politics, love, current events, beauty, magic, all from 4 musical geniuses in collaboration with one another. There’s also a “Dessert” version of this album where they invite a few more guests, and it’s just as good. 100% my album of the year.
Track Highlights: Freeze Tag, The Mighty Tree, Love You Bad