The 2020 end of year music lists thread

In a similar vein, Mixmag asked a large number of artists for their tracks of the year

https://mixmag.net/feature/the-best-tracks-of-the-year-2020

ha just seen what is #387 on the Uproxxx albums list!

I greatly value 5against4 for its coverage of contemporary classical and far more besides (ambient, 'experimental', free improv, synthpop, electronic, film soundtracks, etc.) so I very much look forward to 2020's EOY list. In the meantime, I thought this was an interesting meditation on what goes into actually making such a list:

http://5against4.com/2020/12/16/best-albums-of-the-year-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-making-lists/

https://aquariumdrunkard.com/2020/12/16/aquarium-drunkard-2020-year-in-review/

Killer Aquarium Drunkard list, as usual. Dangerous for my wallet though, always so many great discoveries.

Reading that 5against4 piece later on, can't wait for their EOY list. I'll chime in and say that I don't know about "one of the best books on music ever written," but 'Words and Music' most certainly is one of the most fun books I've ever read on music.

Aquarium Drunkard's list is incredible, but it doesn't feel like an *EOY* list ('lemme just dump 80% of what I heard this year onto a single page'). Not that I blame them given the task's sheer impossibility.

xp I haven't read it myself, so I'll keep that in mind.

It's a lot of music, but I like how they put some thought into the mini-groupings within the overall list. Keep in mind they also group in reissues and live albums and stuff, so I don't know that it ends up being that much longer than other outlets' lists if you combine their individual categories.

Really happy to see a nod for that killer Brown Acid series from Permanent Records and RidingEasy, so many gems I've picked up there.

Fair enough. I guess I'm simultaneously thankful that they brought at least a dozen amazing-sounding titles to my attention and kind of annoyed with them for ensuring I continue drowning in 2020 releases 'til kingdom come.

Pop Matters - The 20 Best Electronic Albums of 2020
https://www.popmatters.com/best-electronic-albums-2020-2649440753.html

Lots of EOY lists now up on A Closer Listen - electronic, ambient, drone, modern composition, experimental, field recording etc

https://acloserlisten.com/

Love the AD lists

Loads to digest on that mixmag feat

('lemme just dump 80% of what I heard this year onto a single page')

haha, this isn't too far off, really, but i think I prefer that approach!

maybe this has already been covered elsewhere but...

The 25 Best Ghanaian Songs of 2020
https://www.okayafrica.com/ghana-music-songs-best-2020/

The 20 Best Nigerian Songs of 2020
https://www.okayafrica.com/nigerian-music-songs-best-2020/

The 20 Best East African Songs of 2020
https://www.okayafrica.com/east-african-music-best-songs-2020/

15 Great Albums and EPs by South African Indie Artists That Came Out in 2020
https://www.okayafrica.com/15-albums-and-eps-by-south-african-indie-artists-2020/

AD list is top notch! Love that they blurb everything and actually describe the music well enough to give you an idea what it sounds like. Even when they blurb everything, many lists are so abstract in their descriptions that you get no idea if its something you would be interested in checking out.

Agreed, every list should aim for that – just 50 words per blurb is more than enough.

Having knowledgeable and accurate references to other artists helps a great deal. For instance, the name drop of Kevin Ayers in the Spiritual Vegas blurb was enough for me to check it out, and it turns out to have been an excellent reference point and a very cool sounding album!

uh I'll be back in a week after I listen to the dozen shortlisted records from that AD list, thanks

i scrolled thru the AD list and opened 9 new Bandcamp tabs ... and that was probably being careful, cuz i'm busy at work.

I had no idea there was a new Sir Richard Bishop album this year

I did the exact same thing and am now sad to report that I only decided to keep one. :(

xp

Which one pom?

I really like the Brigid Mae Power record on that list, so it's nice to see it get a mention. Co-produced with Alasdair Roberts, if anyone's a fan of his. Really lovely version of the 'The Blacksmith' as made famous by Steeleye Span et al

The Sunn Trio. I'm a sucker for psych rock improvs based on Middle Eastern scales, and I'd never heard of these guys before.

xp

Yeah that one was on my mental list to check out later tonight.

same

It's cool that A Closer Listen has a sublist devoted to 'The Year's Best Winter Music' but how the fuck does it not include Bára Gísladóttir's HĪBER?

actually I think I'm just gonna spend the week listening to the Hiroshi Yoshimura reissue of Green, damn this is like scientifically engineered sleevebait

Yeah, beautiful record

Stereogum - The 10 Best Electronic Albums Of 2020
https://www.stereogum.com/2109718/best-electronic-albums-2020/lists/year-in-review/2020-in-review/

10. Lorenzo Senni - Scacco Matto (Warp)
9. Beatrice Dillon - Workaround (PAN)
8. Shinichi Atobe - Yes (DDS)
7. Speaker Music - Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry (Planet Mu)
6. Vic Bang - Lira (Kit Records)
5. Auscultation - III (100% Silk)
4. Parris - Terrapin / Polychrome Swim EPs (Wisdom Teeth / The Trilogy Tapes)
3. The Soft Pink Truth - Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? (Thrill Jockey)
2. Actress - Karma & Desire (Ninja Tune)
1. Emily A. Sprague - Hill, Flower, Fog (RVNG Intl.)

I hope Emily Sprague's increasing success/profile as an ambient artist doesn't put Florist on the shelf. I love Florist.

the phonica lists are up, some great deep-diving to be had here:

http://offtherecord.net/phonica-best-of-2020/

it's the big one, lads:

Ultimate Classic Rock - 25 Best Rock Albums of 2020
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/best-albums-2020/

25 (tie). Rick Wakeman, 'The Red Planet'
25 (tie). Dennis DeYoung, '26 East, Vol. 1'
24. James Taylor, 'American Standard'
23. Drive-By Truckers, 'The New OK'
22. Deep Purple, 'Whoosh'
21. Ace Frehley, 'Origins Vol. 2'
20. Marilyn Manson, 'We Are Chaos'
19. The Smashing Pumpkins, 'CYR'
18. The Strokes, 'The New Abnormal
17. Yusuf / Cat Stevens, 'Tea for the Tillerman2'
16. Blue Oyster Cult, 'The Symbol Remains'
15. Jeff Tweedy, 'Love Is the King'
14. Joe Satriani, 'Shapeshifting'
13. 'Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Mark Bolan & T. Rex'
12. Drive-By Truckers, 'The Unraveling'
11. Pretenders, 'Hate for Sale'
10. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, 'Reunions'
9. Elvis Costello, 'Hey Clockface'
8. Ozzy Osbourne, 'Ordinary Man'
7. Nine Inch Nails, 'Ghosts V: Together,' 'Ghosts VI: Locusts'
6. Pearl Jam, 'Gigaton'
5. Bruce Springsteen, 'Letter to You'
4. Neil Young, 'Homegrown'
3. AC/DC, 'Power Up'
2. Paul McCartney, 'McCartney III'
1. Bob Dylan, 'Rough and Rowdy Ways'

finally a publication that understands jeff tweedy can’t hold a candle to the mighty satch

Wonder which staffer threw an absolute shitfit and refused to back down until they crammed the Dennis DeYoung album in with a #25 tie to shut him up.

i wonder how many times Dylan, McCartney, Young and Springsteen have all released albums in the same year

Here's my annual songs list:
http://www.saidthegramophone.com/archives/best_songs_of_2020.php

Thank you ILM for all the music you introduce to my life.

Great list, Sean. Lots I don't know. Thanks for sharing.

great list, sean, and better write-ups

The deWardener sounds interesting. Will listen.

It's a pleasant listen.

Treble lists are a mix of hivemind and stuff I've never heard of (may be my metal blindspot).
https://www.treblezine.com/best-albums-of-2020/
https://www.treblezine.com/best-songs-of-2020/

Some genre-specific lists here:
https://www.treblezine.com/category/lists-2/best-of/

Sean thank god you’re back StG was almost completely silent this year. Your eoy list is a tradition for me.

Phonica list: lol had no idea Omar S had an ep called “Fuck Resident Advisor” and I can see why. They compared his last record to a Ford Fiesta and sort of judge him for not being poor and/or having the blues anymore?: https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/24832

The treblezine lists are a refreshing surprise for sure. Great #1 album choice.

Blues Rock Review - Top 20 Albums of 2020
https://bluesrockreview.com/2020/12/top-20-albums-of-2020.html

20. Jeremiah Johnson: Heavens To Betsy
19. Tinsley Ellis: Ice Cream In Hell
18. Savoy Brown: Ain’t Done Yet
17. Alastair Greene: The New World Blues
16. Artur Menezes: Fading Away
15. Shemekia Copeland: Uncivil War
14. Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown: Pressure
13. Dion: Blues With Friends
12. Marcus King: El Dorado
11. Fantastic Negrito: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?
10. Robert Jon and the Wreck: Last Light On The Highway
9. When Rivers Meet: We Fly Free
8. Larkin Poe: Self Made Man
7. King King: Maverick
6. Mike Zito: Quarantine Blues
5. Anthony Gomes: Containment Blues
4. Philip Sayce: Spirit Rising
3. Walter Trout: Ordinary Madness
2. The Allman Betts Band: Bless Your Heart
1. Joe Bonamassa: Royal Tea

The Morning Star - Best Albums of 2020
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/c/albums-with-ian-sinclair

somewhat damning indictment of socialism in 2020 tbh

The Pit claims to be a "Heavy metal news, opinions, and culture" website.
It is actually owned by Warner Music, so their top metal albums of 2020 probably takes that into account.

20. Kvelertak, Splid (Rise Records)
19. Necrot, Mortal (Tankcrimes)
18. Deftones, Ohms (Reprise Records)
17. Mr. Bungle, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo (Ipecac)
16. Nothing, The Great Dismal (Relapse Records)
15. Carnation, Where Death Lies (Season of Mist)
14. Mrs. Piss, Self-Surgery (Sargent House)
13. Tombs, Under Sullen Skies (Season of Mist)
12. Code Orange, Underneath (Roadrunner Records)
11. Bedsore, Hypnagogic Hallucinations (20 Buck Spin)
10. Avatar, Hunter Gatherer (eOne)
9. Killer Be Killed, Reluctant Hero (Nuclear Blast)
8. Wayfarer, A Romance With Violence (Profound Lore)
7. Video Nasties, Dominion (APF Records)
6. Body Count, Carnivore (Century Media)
5. Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou, May Our Chambers Be Full (Sacred Bones)
4. Primitive Man, Immersion (Relapse Records)
3. The Black Dahlia Murder, Verminous (Metal Blade Records)
2. Spirit Adrift, Enlightened In Eternity (20 Buck Spin)
1. Ozzy Osbourne, Ordinary Man (Epic)

http://www.wearethepit.com/2020/12/the-pits-20-best-albums-of-2020/