Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2020

by Karl W.

 Well, 2020 is finally nearing its end. It's no secret that 2020 has been a bad year for, well, pretty much everybody, but now that the year is almost at its end (and not a moment too soon), it's a better time than ever to look at the good the year had to offer. Music in 2020 has managed to strive even through the pandemic that has put a lot on hold, and while there were plenty of artists who had delayed their new music as a lot of their touring opportunities were just not there, plenty of others pushed through without it. New artists were able to break through the scene and place themselves on the map while established artists were able to put some of their best music out during this time. I fully expected the music scene to be a quiet one this year, and while it was a fair bit different than what most of us expected, it certainly wasn't for the worse. In this list, I'll be talking about the ten albums that helped make 2020 just a bit more bearable, but before I do that, let's take a look at a few honorable mentions.

Taylor Swift "folklore"

It's a change of pace for Taylor Swift, but a welcome one as Taylor truly shows her talents as a songwriter with her most raw performances to date, as well as some of her absolute best songs.

The Weeknd "After Hours"

The album that was among the biggest albums of the year and of the Weeknd's entire career. A massive genre-bending piece of work that revels in its own grand sense of hedonism.

American Aquarium "Lamentations"

I listened to my fair share of country this year, with this being a fantastic introduction to a prolific group in alternative country for me. Daring in its material but also earnest in its emotion, American Aquarium deal their fair share of relatable moments and gut punches over their newest work.

Lydia Loveless "Daughter"

After her heart-wrenching 2016 release, "Real", this album delivers a more subdued, though still willing to look back and learn from the past. Lydia Loveless has been one of the most underrated country acts of recent memory, and she is currently four for four.

Open Mike Eagle "Anime, Trauma, and Divorce"

Open Mike Eagle delivers one of his more personal and depressing albums in his career, delving into his divorce and the events that led to one of the worst years of his life, and the trials he took to get back on track.

Mac Miller "Circles"

As far as posthumous albums go, Mac Miller's send-off might be among his best, with his most personal and emotional songs to date, all lovingly completed by Jonathan Brion. We will miss you, Mac.

Now with that out of the way, let's get into the top ten:

10. "Punisher" by Phoebe Bridgers

It's been a solid year for up and coming artist Phoebe Bridgers, who has received a lot of well deserved praise for her crushing new album "Punisher". The album has a lucid feel to it, as if walking through your own dreams. The production is stunning on this album, helping capture that dreamy and crushing feeling. The true standout, however, is Phoebe's songwriting, adding detail to scenes that help encapsulate every feeling to these songs, from disassociation to depression. Through it all, there's a certain type of detachment to Phoebe's performances and lyrics that only add to the experience of it all, adding a feeling of everyday mundanity to given situations. The songs are relatable and crushing at the same time, helping to create an album that is certainly punishing as to its name, but one that allows you to sink your feelings into, to truly encapsulate how you feel even in the worst of times.

Standout Tracks: "Kyoto", "Punisher", "Moon Song", "Savior Complex", "I Know the End"

9. "Imploding the Mirage" by The Killers

After a pretty middling album in 2017, I wasn't expecting The Killers to hit back in the way that they did on their sixth studio album "Imploding the Mirage". This could end up as one of their best albums since their hey day in the 2000s, where they take their anthemic and theatric swell to new heights, with more collaborators on this project in particular and some of the best hooks of their entire career. It's not similar to a lot of their earlier stuff, but it shoots for higher with a slightly different sound and more anthemic hooks and an air of optimism that brings this album to life. It's a throwback, to be sure, owing to the sounds of arena rock acts of the 80s like Bruce Springsteen, though that's what you expect when you have members of The War on Drugs and Foxygen helping produce this record. That alongside other collaborators like Alex Cameron, Weyes Blood, k.d. lang, and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac help make this the most expansive Killers album yet. Now it's just a matter of time to see where they take that expanse from here.

Standout Tracks: "My Own Soul's Warning", "Blowback", Caution", "Fire in Bone", "My God" ft. Weyes Blood

8. "RTJ4" by Run the Jewels

The release of a new Run the Jewels album has become something of an event now. The rap duo have accumulated enough underground swell and respect in the music scene that this album was stacked with their fair share of guest collaborators and explosive hooks. Is it as good as the second and third RTJ projects? Not quite, as the hooks and songs on those albums are near impossible to top. However, Run the Jewels still prove to be as explosive and prophetic as ever, especially given the societal upheaval and turmoil we've experienced in 2020. What RTJ4 offers the listener is fury at a system that upholds systemic racism and brutality, and it doesn't pull any punches, as they yearn for better in a system that doesn't strive to do better and only puts those groups down. Both Killer Mike and El-P are on their game as always with their lyricism and their flows, with El-P also offering his eclectic and frenetic brand of production also makes this album stand out. It was the big rap release of the year and one that saw their biggest success to date. It's raw and righteous, and I cannot wait to see where they go from here.

Standout Tracks: "out of sight" ft. 2 Chainz, "walking in the snow", "JU$T" ft. Pharrell Williams and Zack de la Rocha, "pulling the pin" ft. Mavis Staples and Josh Homme, "a few words for the firing squad (radiation)"

7. "SAWAYAMA" by Rina Sawayama

This is the type of debut that makes you look forward to an artist's future work. Rina Sawayama delivers a genre blending, eclectic, and catchy debut album that is instantly memorable and incredibly catchy. It's more of a throwback than anything, calling to mind the bubblegum pop, dance pop, symphonic rock, even nu-metal of acts from the early 2000s and even doing better than a lot of those groups during that time. Despite the influences to her sound, Sawayama's delivery is out of this world, and truly a unique blend that makes the songs all pop and sound wholly unique to Sawayama herself. It's a forward thinking album too, delving into artistic exploitation, male privilege, and self identity. It's admittedly a bit of a nostalgic trackback of sounds from that time, but when the hooks are as good as they are here and Rina Sawayama sells her delivery on nearly every song, then there's very little to complain about here.

Standout Tracks: "Dynasty", "XS", "Bad Friend", "Who's Gonna Save U Now?", "Chosen Family"

6. "Future Nostalgia" by Dua Lipa

The much anticipated follow-up from Dua Lipa's breakthrough debut might have come at a time where everyone was stuck inside and really couldn't go to the clubs, but at the same time, this album is just so fun and a massive step up from the previous release that it hardly even matters we can't go to the clubs to enjoy it. "Future Nostalgia" incorporates elements of disco and funk into Dua's dance pop stylings immaculately well, where nearly every single song here has the hooks and melodies destined to be stuck in your head for days. There is a different style and groove to each of these songs to make the experience stand out and feel fresh and invigorating with each and every song. It might have had some poor timing when it released (given this incredibly catchy and club-ready music came out when all the clubs were closed this year) but Dua Lipa shows she has the incredible range and talent to get anywhere from here.

Standout Tracks: "Physical", "Levitating", "Pretty Please", "Love Again", "Break My Heart"

5. "Honeymoon" by Beach Bunny

I don't see this one on a lot of best albums lists of this year, and I fully expect that putting this one so high on my own list, especially above artists like Run the Jewels and Dua Lipa might raise some eyebrows...but I don't really care. I've been listening to a lot of emo and indie rock music at the turn of the year, and this was the kind of fresh face in the scene that I really needed, and became a frequent listen for me throughout the year. It's a promising debut that shows off the emotional depth and complexity of bad or stagnant relationships and early 20's angst. The riffs and melodies may not be the most complex or original, but they work wonders with the heartfelt and catchy delivery of Lili Trifilio, who sells the project with her insecurity and heartbroken yearning. Not to mention the songs are all insanely catchy with a healthy helping of melodrama that is relatable but not insufferable. Beach Bunny shows their immense promise as a group on this album and I sincerely look forward to what they have in store for the future.

Standout Tracks: "Promises", "April", "Ms. California", "Colorblind", "Cloud 9"

4. "Shape & Destroy" by Ruston Kelly

Ruston Kelly's sophomore album had quite a bit to follow up on after his incredible debut in 2018 with "Dying Star", and while I won't say this is as good as that last album, Ruston Kelly is still able to deliver his gut-punching and heart-wrenching sentiments with "Shape & Destroy" all the same. Yet, it's also difficult to separate the two given the arc Kelly goes through in these two albums. His last album was bleak, showing Kelly at the deepest lows of his life in his addictions and how that complicated his relationships and his life as a whole. Yet, on "Shape & Destroy", he shows true signs of growth, where even after the pitfalls in his own life, he seeks to grow as a person. Despite all this, he does show signs of struggle and turmoil, showing he does want to put in the work to make everything work, especially in the throws of a new relationship, where, even if it doesn't work, he hopes his changes will make it work better in the future. It is an easier listen than his debut, which was a gut-punch and a half of an album, but even still, this album has its own moments of showing Kelly's internal struggle and his need to curb it all. That coupled with his innovative and clean production proves why this is a name you're gonna want to remember in alternative country, as his combination of country and emo music is something to truly behold.

Standout Tracks: "Radio Cloud", "Changes", "Mid-Morning Lament", "Rubber", "Under the Sun"

3. "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" by Fiona Apple

Yeah, it's the critical darling of 2020, I know. It might be the easy choice for a list like this, but honestly, it's the type of nuanced and eclectic comeback that is to be remembered. There is a certain rawness to this album that is commendable and brave. It's an album that speaks to the women in life who have been silenced or pushed aside, showing the braveness of those that speak out and refuse to take it, but also the struggles of seeing those who abuse or assault them constantly finding success and adoration. It's clear that Fiona has little patience for seeing women like her being put down by a mostly male-dominated world, especially when plenty of those men abuse and disregard them, and even though that anger is subdued, there is a sense of righteousness that still shines through, and it's a poignant listen especially in an age where more women are speaking out about their own experiences. It's also clear how much Fiona has experienced of this in her own life, adding her own personal flair to it. Even still, Fiona knows her way around a catchy chorus, poignant lyrics, memorable lines, and varied and unique production. It had been a long time since the last Fiona album, but time still shows that she still has potential.

Standout Tracks: "Shameika", "Under the Table", "Relay", "Ladies", "For Her"

2. "Visions of Bodies Being Burned" by Clipping.

Clipping. released their brand of horrorcore rap music with their excellent album "There Existed an Addiction to Blood" last year just in time for Halloween. "Visions of Bodies Being Burned" is the sister album to last year's release, and the horror and intensity has been cranked up even further. The horror iconography on each of these songs is pronounced and varied, spanning from slasher movies to disaster movies; from the urban to the extraterrestrial. The production makes this album an experience to behold, something clipping. has always excelled at, just further improved in nearly every aspect, where sampling and bass heavy beats add to the experience of each of these songs. Though that's not to put down Daveed Diggs and his most varied flows and brutal lyricism ever, as the album explores feelings  of fear and panic of the black experience through the lens of the familiar horror iconography. "Visions of Bodies Being Burned" is stunning, brutal, and terrifying in the best possible way, and it could very well be among their best album to date...and yet, there is one album released this year that I liked better.

Standout Tracks: "Say the Name", "'96 Neve Campbell" ft. Cam and China, "Check the Lock", "Body for the Pile" with SICKNESS, "Enlacing"

1. "Brave Faces Everyone" by Spanish Love Songs

The order of this list has been changed and altered a lot over the course of the year. Even still, this was the only constant. With their third album, Spanish Love Songs not only delivered a phenomenal emo rock album, but also the statement for a generation. Exploring themes of depression, death, financial instability, and overall societal collapse and generational divide that the current generation is stuck having to deal with. Matched with Dylan Slocam's distinct and emotional warbling vocals and some of the band's best ever hooks, Spanish Love Songs delivers a phenomenal emo album that is exciting and powerful, while also kicking you in the gut with the lyrical content, to the point where some might deem it tough to listen to. Heck, even I felt that way when I first heard this album, to the point where I even questioned if this album's placement here would even be stable. And yet...I kept coming back to it. It's been a real mess of a year for pretty much everyone, where any given day was a 6/10 and the worries of financial instability and medical worries plagued nearly everyone's mind. That's because, while this album gets real and bleak, pushing you further into the point of breaking where it feel like all is lost, there is a sense of hope that ties it all together. It is rough out there, but we just need to put on a brave face and keep carrying on. To quote the last song on this album: "we were never broken, life's just very long".

Standout Tracks: "Routine Pain", "Generation Loss", "Kick", "Losers", "Brave Faces, Everyone"