ILM's Top 77 Tracks of 2020

should we do a typeface ballot poll?

I think indexed’s question re: Cardigan is a good one. Not sure how the song would rate if it were just another track on the album.

xp You can tell it's not Irvin because Irvin has a distinctive W.

"avalon" and "emerson" both sound like they could be fonts

Say "Cardigan" isn't the lead single and is placed somewhere toward the back half of Folklore. Does it even register as a top 10 Taylor Swift song in 2020?

― Indexed,

It's the second song and it hit #1.

― meticulously crafted, socially responsible, morally upsta (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, January 25, 2021 10:49 AM (three minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

All of her lead singles back to "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" have hit #1 or #2, and that list includes "Me!" and "Look What You Made Me Do."

enjoyed that tune of hers which placed fairly high 2 years back

this sounds good too

All of her lead singles back to "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" have hit #1 or #2, and that list includes "Me!" and "Look What You Made Me Do."

(points at taylor swift fans) look what you made "look what you made me do" and "me!" do

I initially found cardigan to be a lower tier folklore-track, but it has grown on me quite a lot. Still would pick several of that album's tracks over it.

mirror upon mirror mirror reflected

Haha
2xp

I never heard "Cardigan" on the radio and it took a while. Prefer "The 1."

I discovered "Rotting Hills," Eris Drew's "Transcendental Access Point," and Bicep's "Apricots" all through the ILM Nominated Tracks playlist and have been playing them on loop for a few weeks.

One More Fluorescent Rush, nxd.

Texan global pop-psychedelica trio Khruangbin have had something of a breakout year, seeing first-time chart success with their 2020-released album Mordechai.

https://i.imgur.com/oeAtQRF.png
#67: Khruangbin - “Time (You and I)” - 148 points - 4 votes
video

Khruangbin

Oooh, stoked to see Avalon Emerson on here. I am such a fan of p much everything she's done,

hadn’t heard “Rotting Hills” but I love it, my favourite so far, even over “Ain’t It Different”

'Rotting Hills' is excellent, I think I've had something by Avalon Emerson on my ballot for four or five years running now. Still not listened to the DJ-Kicks mix yet though!

I voted for the Avalon Emerson DJ Kicks album instead of any of the individual tracks, mostly because I usually just listened to that whole album from beginning to end and never really listened to any of the tracks individually. I'm listening to Rotting Hills now and I feel like it loses something without the context of the mix within which it was placed.

Oh nice, a band I enjoy, though not one I have bought from this far.

The Amalon Emerson track is good, I didn't like the more retro synth poppy tunes by her on the DJ-Kicks mix, but this one is dope!

oh i am getting POWERFUL hatred energy off this one

V nice graphic

I discovered "Rotting Hills," Eris Drew's "Transcendental Access Point," and Bicep's "Apricots" all through the ILM Nominated Tracks playlist and have been playing them on loop for a few weeks.

the 2020 khruangbin album was a big step down imo

the grooves gave way to vibes, which is never a good thing

this khurangbin song makes me wish I'd nominated skinshape

this is pure weapons-grade piffle

"So We Won't Forget" has a groove

"rotting hills" is amazing and i now feel devastated i never heard her dj-kicks mix last year

I think I only listened to the older album tbh. Will listen to this when I come back to the playlist.

Blue Comanche sounds like Running Up That Hill.

oooh am digging "Rotting Hills."

Surprised to see Khurangbin show up here tbh, thought this album was definitely a let down compared to their older stuff.

Their EP with Leon Bridges was better than the album imho.

I find I like other bands that do this sort retro-pysch sound better, but I can hear why Khruangbin have positioned themselves as the ones more likely to headline a festival, their production is very polished and careful and "pop" compared to most bands doing this sound.

This Sundfør definitely improves on repeat listens - beautiful!

Unafraid to mix virtuosity with goofiness, the uncategorizable bassist Thundercat effortlessly blends throwback R&B and funk with yacht and prog rock for a jaunty novelty cut that evokes themes at the intersection of Michael McDonald and Zappa. He may be covered in cat hair but he still smells good.

https://i.imgur.com/9W5JpJx.png
#66: Thundercat - “Dragonball Durag” - 148 points - 5 votes
video

Thundercat

This Khruangbin song sounds nice in a mannered way, but I could imagine it being an album track on some mid-70s soul record that no one would particularly stan for, let alone vote it among the best of the year. Is the appeal that someone is doing such a decidedly retro music in 2020 or what?

oh god we're in the Full Piffle Zone

TS: Antiga font vs. Antifa front

I've never listened to Thundercat before, this sounds like Pharrell Williams was hired as the frontman for George Duke's early-80s band, wtf?

That's two songs in a row that could easily be from 40 years ago if it wasn't for the lyrics, is this sound in vogue again? I guess I shouldn't complain, I like it.

'Time (You And I)' became a real favourite of mine last Summer.

I'm told Khruangbin in Thai means 'killfile'.

I hadn't heard this one before but I'm enjoying it. Goofy but sounds good enough to not be annoying.

I'm told Khruangbin in Thai means 'killfile'.

They're from Thailand? I wouldn't have guessed.

The Khurangbin album was one of the biggest releases of the year for us at work. We took a risk picking up Con Todo El Mundo when it first came out and it has been our biggest selling album of the last three years maybe even ever. We must have gone through at least 200 copies already (which is a ton for us). It's one of those albums that if we put it on, people will ask who it is amost immediately (Beta Band style). I'm amazed how much they seem to have connected with people here. Feels like they're set up to become quite big now. The album is good but not as strong as Con Todo. Time is a standout.

i enjoyed that thundercat song that made me feel i was wading through a swamp

I never listen to thundercat, but I always enjoy the way all his songs sound like your radio is drunk

Thoroughly enjoying the little font details in the graphics this year, like how the R in Khruangbin extends under the U and the A inside the C in Thundercat. Amazing work as always!