Best Music of 2020
- Thread starter Woob_woob
- Start date
dhodo
Well-Known Member
Ii think it's interesting how people look at the band differently. I think RYM has the scores steadily increasing every album from first to last.
I got into them with UCoOR and it is probably still my favorite, followed closely by the next two. Newest one is maybe a slight step lower for me, but all are great albums. I haven't spent much time with the first one.
Really I should try to spend more time with all of them and rank them again, they are such a great band.
Funny you should mention the Chameleons, one song on one of their last couple albums featured synths and I was bummed that it seemed like more of a one off, as I really dug it. Let me see if I can remember which one.
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Taevis
Active Member
I wish I liked the Sufjan album more. The first 2 tracks had me thinking it could be AOTY material, but overall, it's just not completely my thing.
cbl
Active Member
have you gotten to "Ativan"? I think that's the best track on the album.
I've a really up and down relationship with Sufjan...I think he is a savant and really love Illinois and Michigan, but nothing else of his has really just grabbed me...I tried so hard with Carrie & Lowell, in part b/c I know its a board fave, but man...I just think it's boring.
I'm also recognizing that I need to revisit Age of Adz and that I was probably not musically mature and diverse enough ten years ago
whatwhatsaywhat
Well-Known Member
it's miles too long
for mine, if it was 5 tracks, 30-40 mins shorter it'd be a lot more impactful
BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
Taevis
Active Member
gaporter
Well-Known Member
So good. 
RowBearToe
Well-Known Member
My 2020 list after Q3:
Top Tier - Absolutely Love:
1. Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
2. Run the Jewels - RTJ4
3. Sam Hunt - SOUTHSIDE
4. Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas
2nd Tier - Great Albums:
5. Son Little - aloha
6. Holy Hive - Float Back To You
7. Tall Tall Trees - A Wave of Golden Things
8. Khruangbin & Leon Bridges - Texas Sun
9. Norah Jones - Pick Me Up Off The Floor
3rd Tier - Really Good Albums:
10. Monophonics - It’s Only Us
11. Nicole Atkins - Italian Ice
12. The Weeknd - After Hours
13. Taylor Swift - folklore
14. Born Ruffians - JUICE
15. Childish Gambino - 3.15.20
16. Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony
17. Moses Sumney - Grae
18. Bishop Nehru - Nehruvia: My Disregarded Thoughts
Others that I enjoyed:
-Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Reunions
-Noah Cyrus - The End of Everything
-Caroline Rose - Superstar
-Thomas Dybdahl - FEVER
-Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - Temple
-Orion Sun - Hold Space for Me
-Marcus King - El Dorado
-Mac Miller - Circles
I still need some time with Ava Max - Heaven & Hell, but it'll definitely end up on the list. I'm guessing the 2nd Born Ruffians release of the year, SQUEEZE, which dropped today, will be on here somewhere too based on how much I like JUICE.
Anticipated:
-Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Rendition Was In) (10/23)
-Sam Smith - Love Goes (11/13)
-Shawn Mendes - Wonder (12/4)
-Aaron Frazer
Top Tier - Absolutely Love:
1. Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
2. Run the Jewels - RTJ4
3. Sam Hunt - SOUTHSIDE
4. Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas
2nd Tier - Great Albums:
5. Son Little - aloha
6. Holy Hive - Float Back To You
7. Tall Tall Trees - A Wave of Golden Things
8. Khruangbin & Leon Bridges - Texas Sun
9. Norah Jones - Pick Me Up Off The Floor
3rd Tier - Really Good Albums:
10. Monophonics - It’s Only Us
11. Nicole Atkins - Italian Ice
12. The Weeknd - After Hours
13. Taylor Swift - folklore
14. Born Ruffians - JUICE
15. Childish Gambino - 3.15.20
16. Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony
17. Moses Sumney - Grae
18. Bishop Nehru - Nehruvia: My Disregarded Thoughts
Others that I enjoyed:
-Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Reunions
-Noah Cyrus - The End of Everything
-Caroline Rose - Superstar
-Thomas Dybdahl - FEVER
-Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - Temple
-Orion Sun - Hold Space for Me
-Marcus King - El Dorado
-Mac Miller - Circles
I still need some time with Ava Max - Heaven & Hell, but it'll definitely end up on the list. I'm guessing the 2nd Born Ruffians release of the year, SQUEEZE, which dropped today, will be on here somewhere too based on how much I like JUICE.
Anticipated:
-Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Rendition Was In) (10/23)
-Sam Smith - Love Goes (11/13)
-Shawn Mendes - Wonder (12/4)
-Aaron Frazer
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wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
Updated again with some shifting around places... The new Fontaines D.C. and Protomartyr albums are REALLY doing it for me right now.
new additions in bold
- Yumi Zouma - Truth or Consequences*
- Fontaines D.C. - A Hero's Death
- Owen Pallett - Island
- Protomartyr - Ultimate Success Today*
- Tops - I Feel Alive*
- Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher*
- Caroline Rose - Superstar
- Andy Shauf - The Neon Skyline
- Fleet Foxes - Shore
- Pinegrove - Marigold
- Nap Eyes - Snapshot of a Beginner
- Hazel English - Wake Up!*
- Courtney Marie Andrews - Old Flowers*
- Julianna Barwick - Healing is a Miracle*
- Anna Burch - If You're Dreaming*
- Nadia Reid - Out of My Province*
- Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately*
- Ratboys - Printer's Devil
- Pausal - Melatonia*
- Soccer Mommy - Color Theory*
- The Mountain Goats - Songs for Pierre Chuvin*
- Bully - Suggaregg*
- Tennis - Swimmer
- Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension
- Laura Marling - Song For Our Daughter
- Nation of Language - Introduction, Presence
- Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud*
- Angel Olsen - Whole New Mess
- Caribou - Suddenly
- I Break Horses - Warnings
- Land of Talk - Indistinct Conversations*
- Låpsley - Through Water
- Hum - Inlet
- M. Ward - Migration Stories
- Sylvan Esso - Free Love
- Beach Bunny - Honeymoon
- Dream Wife - So When You Gonna...
- Snarls - Burst
- Jonsi - Shiver
- Half Waif - The Caretaker
- Real Estate - The Main Thing*
- Bob Mould - Blue Hearts
- Torres - Silver Tongue
- The Flaming Lips - American Head
- Peach Pit - You and Your Friends
- Kelly
- Moses Sumney - græ
- Cloud Nothings - The Black Hole Understands
- The Killers - Imploding The Mirage
- Bright Eyes - Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was
- U.S. Girls - Heavy Light
- Idles - Utra Mono
- Roger Eno and Brian Eno - Mixing Colours
- Tame Impala - The Slow Rush
- Car Seat Headrest - Making a Door Less Open
- The Strokes - The New Abnormal
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Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Looks like the new Fleet Foxes album is doing it for you too.
DownIsTheNewUp
Well-Known Member
Glad to see I'm not the only one who was left feeling a little underwhelmed, it's not bad at all and there's moments of greatness (I especially like "Model Village") but it's kind of just more of the same thing that they were doing on Joy. I can see why they leaned more heavily into the "positivity is punk" ethos of that album considering the current climate but it just doesn't feel as fresh as it did on that album. It sucks because the album has good intentions but it just doesn't hold my attention as much as what came before
Definitely my most disappointing album of 2020. Joy is in my top 50 of all of last decade. I didn't even get to listen #4 of the new one. The new Deftones (which is easily the best thing they have done since White Pony) has unexpectedly been in rotation instead of it.
McGlam
Well-Known Member
That's funny, I think it's the most enjoyable Idles record so far. I'm not a hardcore fan, but I like them a lot. This record just keeps me entertained the whole time.
DownIsTheNewUp
Well-Known Member
I'll re-approach it in a bit. Maybe even while I'm walking the puppy today. It's funny, I liked the singles a lot. But then when put together, it all sort of blurs into itself and I wind up wanting more in the vein of "A Hymn".
DownIsTheNewUp
Well-Known Member
Update (that I will continue to update for the next week or so ala usual). I truly can't believe how much I'm in love with the new Manson / Deftones:
Tier 1 (Masterpiece):
1) Fiona Apple: Get the Bolt Cutters [singer / songwriter]
2) Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia [pop]
3) Deftones: Ohmm [alt metal]
4) Run the Jewels: IV [hip-hop]
5) Grimes- Miss Anthroposcene [indie electronica / indie pop]
6) HAIM: Women in Music Pt. III [indie rock]
Tier 2 (Excellent):
7) Phoebe Bridgers: Punisher [folk]
8) Porridge Radio- Every Bad [post-punk]
9) PVRIS: Use Me [Pop Rock]
10) Caribou- Suddenly [electronic]
11) Marilyn Manson: We Are Chaos [rock / alt-metal]
12) Nicolas Jaar- Cenizas [downtempo, ambient]
13) Yves Tumor: Heaven to a Tortured Mind [psychedelic rock]
14) Yaeji: What We Drew [hip-house]
15) Kelly Lee Owens: Inner Chorus [techno, pop]
16) Sorry- 925 [art rock]
17) Perfume Genius: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately: [art pop / indie rock]
Tier 3 (Great):
18) Moses Boyd- Dark Matter [nu-jazz / acid house]
19) Car Seat Headrest- Making a Door Less Open [indie rock / electronica]
20) Medhane: Cold Water [hip-hop]
21) Royce Da 5’9: The Allegory [rap]
22) Roislin Murphy: Machine [deep house]
23) Katie Pruitt: Expectations [indie rock]
24) R.A.P. Ferreria: Purple Moonlit Pages [hip-hop]
25) Moses Sumney- grae: Part 1[experimental r&b]
26) Pottery: Welcome to Bobby’s Motel [post-punk / funk]
27) Soccer Mommy: Color Theory [indie rock]
28) Westside Gunn: Pray for Paris [rap]
29) A.A.L: 2017-19 [techno]
30) Shabaka and the Ancestors: We are Sent Here By History [nu-jazz]
31) Jessie Ware: What’s Your Pleasure [art pop, disco]
Tier 4 (Good):
32) Jay Electronica: A Written Testimony [hip-hop]
33) Allie X: Cape God [pop]
34) Sufjan Stevens: The Ascension (Indie Pop, Electronica)
35) Laura Marling: Songs for Our Daughter [folk]
36) Freddie Gibbs, The Alchemist: Alfredo [rap]
37) Hum: Inlet [shoegaze / post-rock]
38) Haley Williams: Petals for Armor (art pop, new-wave)
39) A.A. Williams: Forever Blue [post-rock, singer song-writer]
40) Armand Hammer: Shrines [hip-hop]
41) Four Tet: Sixteen Oceans [downtempo, ambient techno]
42) I Break Horses: Warnings [dream pop]
43) Conway the Machine: No One Mourns the Wicked EP [rap]
44) U.S. Girls: Heavy Light [psychedelic pop, indie rock]
45) Somni: Home [downtempo electronic]
open.spotify.com
Tier 1 (Masterpiece):
1) Fiona Apple: Get the Bolt Cutters [singer / songwriter]
2) Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia [pop]
3) Deftones: Ohmm [alt metal]
4) Run the Jewels: IV [hip-hop]
5) Grimes- Miss Anthroposcene [indie electronica / indie pop]
6) HAIM: Women in Music Pt. III [indie rock]
Tier 2 (Excellent):
7) Phoebe Bridgers: Punisher [folk]
8) Porridge Radio- Every Bad [post-punk]
9) PVRIS: Use Me [Pop Rock]
10) Caribou- Suddenly [electronic]
11) Marilyn Manson: We Are Chaos [rock / alt-metal]
12) Nicolas Jaar- Cenizas [downtempo, ambient]
13) Yves Tumor: Heaven to a Tortured Mind [psychedelic rock]
14) Yaeji: What We Drew [hip-house]
15) Kelly Lee Owens: Inner Chorus [techno, pop]
16) Sorry- 925 [art rock]
17) Perfume Genius: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately: [art pop / indie rock]
Tier 3 (Great):
18) Moses Boyd- Dark Matter [nu-jazz / acid house]
19) Car Seat Headrest- Making a Door Less Open [indie rock / electronica]
20) Medhane: Cold Water [hip-hop]
21) Royce Da 5’9: The Allegory [rap]
22) Roislin Murphy: Machine [deep house]
23) Katie Pruitt: Expectations [indie rock]
24) R.A.P. Ferreria: Purple Moonlit Pages [hip-hop]
25) Moses Sumney- grae: Part 1[experimental r&b]
26) Pottery: Welcome to Bobby’s Motel [post-punk / funk]
27) Soccer Mommy: Color Theory [indie rock]
28) Westside Gunn: Pray for Paris [rap]
29) A.A.L: 2017-19 [techno]
30) Shabaka and the Ancestors: We are Sent Here By History [nu-jazz]
31) Jessie Ware: What’s Your Pleasure [art pop, disco]
Tier 4 (Good):
32) Jay Electronica: A Written Testimony [hip-hop]
33) Allie X: Cape God [pop]
34) Sufjan Stevens: The Ascension (Indie Pop, Electronica)
35) Laura Marling: Songs for Our Daughter [folk]
36) Freddie Gibbs, The Alchemist: Alfredo [rap]
37) Hum: Inlet [shoegaze / post-rock]
38) Haley Williams: Petals for Armor (art pop, new-wave)
39) A.A. Williams: Forever Blue [post-rock, singer song-writer]
40) Armand Hammer: Shrines [hip-hop]
41) Four Tet: Sixteen Oceans [downtempo, ambient techno]
42) I Break Horses: Warnings [dream pop]
43) Conway the Machine: No One Mourns the Wicked EP [rap]
44) U.S. Girls: Heavy Light [psychedelic pop, indie rock]
45) Somni: Home [downtempo electronic]
The Best of 2020- Music to Quarantine Yourself With
The Best of 2020- Music to Quarantine Yourself With · Playlist · 236 songs · 26 likes
open.spotify.com
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Rip_City
Well-Known Member
It appears our Venn Diagrams still align nicely, you and I. To amend my list, I would also add the new Deftones (unsure if Masterpiece tier, though).
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
I'm conflicted. I think it's good but it's easily their least good album. the songs in the first half are very "same-y". The second half gets more diverse. The songs are mostly one thought throughout. Look at the best FF songs "Montezuma", "Helplessness Blues", "Ragged Wood", etc. They all change tempo, instrumentation throughout. These songs don't do that.
DownIsTheNewUp
Well-Known Member
I feel like you and I always have heavy, heavy overlap.
Yeah that new Deftones album is a masterclass in heavy alt-metal!
I’d say that other than Deafhaven’s Ordinary Corrupt Human Love (2018), it’s my favorite alt-Metal album since Queen’s of the Stone Age released Like Clockwork in 2013.
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wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
Anyone listened to the new Touche Amore album yet? it's real good.