My Favorite Albums (#100-81), 2020
My Favorite Albums (#100-81), 2020
Time to dig into it
I know you all probably think I’m ridiculous for making my albums list span 100 projects. But I figured if I’m going to do this, I might as well go all in, right? Ranking art is super difficult and subjective. Even with my list, lots of things could be moved around. Better to think of these lists as tiers that the albums fit into, rather than definitive 1, 2, 3 rankings. But of everything I heard in 2020, these were my favorites.
Below is a playlist with one standout track from each project on my favorite albums list, that will be updated with each post.
Catch up on previous lists!
100. Pity Party by Curtis Waters
Released: October 9th, 2020
Features: Renzo Suburbn, Harm Franklin
Producers: Curtis Waters, Declan Hoy,
Genres: Pop, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Charli XCX, Glaive
I recommend you give this a listen if you only know Curtis Waters’ sound from the viral track Stunnin. That song is kind of like a trojan horse as the rest of the songs on here range through anything but simplistic Tik Tok pop. There’s lots of nuance in the electronic pop production, and it paints him as a more interesting artist than most people’s first impression. Here’s hoping he goes more in this direction moving forward.
Standout track: Mistakes (Feat. Renzo Suburbn)
99. After the Gold Rush Party by Husbands
Released: January 14th, 2020
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Castlebeat, TOLEDO
Husbands makes irresistibly catchy indie rock tracks. The duo wrote a lot of this album apart, in various cities. But you would never guess it from the chemistry they clearly have here. While the cover may make this album look like an awkward ‘5 feet apart cause they’re not gay’ moment, this album is nothing but a good time.
Standout track: Manhorse
98. Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞ by Kali Uchis
Released: November 18th, 2020
Features: PARTYNEXTDOOR, Rico Nasty, Jowell & Randy, Jhay Cortez
Producers: Josh Crocker, Jahaan Sweet, Ray “Quasi” Nelson, Sounwave, Ricky Reed, Rogét Chahayed, Albert Hype, Jon Leone, Tainy, Rvnes, Kurtis McKenzie, Erik Boden, Manuel Lara, Supa Dups, Austen Jux-Chandler, Kali Uchis
Genres: R&B, Pop, Latin
Recommended For Fans Of: Kelela, Tei Shi
Following up the critically acclaimed Isolation with an album almost entirely in Spanish was a big risk for Uchis. But the move pays off with another beautiful project that feels super authentic to herself and her identity.
Standout track: telepatía
97. Wake Up by Fat Tony & Taydex
Released: February 7th, 2020
Features: Sophia Pfister, Negashi Armada, Dai Burger, Clarence James, Revenge Wife
Producers: Taydex
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Open Mike Eagle, The Cool Kids
Fat Tony and Taydex bring out the best of each other. You can hear how much fun they had making this project by listening to any of the tracks. The energy is simply contagious.
Standout track: Magnifique
96. Ugly is Beautiful by Oliver Tree
Released: July 17th, 2020
Features: Little Ricky ZR3
Producers: Oliver Tree, Whethan, Casey Mattson, Little Ricky ZR3, David Pramik, Trevor Brown, William Zaire Simmons, Imad Royal, Rogét Chahayed, Stint, NVDES, Marshmello, Andrew Goldstein, Dylan Wiggins
Genres: Alternative, Pop, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: POORSTACY, Joji
Oliver Tree sounds (and looks) like they’re doing their own thing. This album blends modern pop with alternative music (and some hip-hop) in a very unique way. There aren’t many albums from this year with a sound quite like this one.
Standout track: Introspective
95. Violent by David Wolves
Released: August 28th, 2020
Features: Josh December
Producers: David Wolves, Reksoblow, Josh December
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Night Lovell
I wrote about this album in What I’ve Been Listening To, 9/15/20.
Standout track: Touring Test
94. Sad People Laughing by I Am Karate
Released: May 8th, 2020
Genres: Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: MØ, Empress Of
I Am Karate made a big impression with this debut project that was entirely written and produced by the Swedish pop duo. This album is full of sugary sweet synth pop tracks. Don’t mind that the band name sounds like it came from a Chuck Norris bot account, you’re going to like this.
Standout track: Freaky
93. Fuck The World by Brent Faiyaz
Released: February 7th, 2020
Producers: Brent Faiyaz, L3GION, Paperboy Fabe, Nascent, Sam Wish, Loshendrix, Jake One, Dpat, D phelps, Jariuce Banks, Freeze, Atu, NO ID,
Genres: R&B
Recommended For Fans Of: dvsn, Roy Woods
I knew definitively that Brent Faiyaz was toxic when I heard him sing “fuck the world, I’m a walking erection” and it didn’t sound corny because of how smooth he sang it. I don’t know if I agree with most of the stuff he’s saying here, but damn do I love the way he says it.
Standout track: Let Me Know
92. Stock Child Wonder by Knox Fortune
Released: October 30th, 2020
Features: Elliott Skinner
Producers: Knox Fortune, Lane Beckstrom, Malcolm Brown, Nate Fox, Pomo, Carter Lang, Colin Croom, Macie Stewart, Pete Scum Nebula, Jack Dolan, Lillie West, Peter Cottontale
Genres: Indie Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Homeshake,Jerry Paper
I wrote about the unique sound of this album in What I’ve Been Listening To, 11/09/20.
Standout track: Come Over
91. Whatever, Man by BLACKSTARKIDS
Released: October 22nd, 2020
Genres: Hip-Hop, R&B, Alternative, New Wave, Garage
Recommended For Fans Of: N*E*R*D*, The Internet
One of my favorite new artist discoveries of 2020. The youthful lyrics and nostalgic sound makes this feel like a week at summer camp, fitting the cover’s statement that this is a “black coming of age story.” Pay close enough attention and you’ll hear a Matty Healy and beabadoobee cameo. The most impressive thing about this album is that it’s so good and it wasn’t their only album on this level in 2020.
Standout track: Let’s Play God
90. Chaotic Good by Johanna Warren
Released: May 1st, 2020
Genres: Acoustic, Folk, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Becca Mancari, Tenci, Lomelda
Warren ends the track Twisted (one of my favorite of 2020) with the cry “I gave it my all.” Which she does for this albums entirety, baring her soul through the lyrics here. The result is a beautiful, honest reflection of being human.
Standout track: Bed of Nails
89. SUGAREGG by Bully
Released: August 21st, 2020
Producers: John Congleton
Genres: Rock, Grunge, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: illuminati hotties, Diet Cig
Grunge is not dead! While this may not be exactly as heavy as the Seattle scene you remember, it’s a great modern grunge album (and was recorded in the same studio as Nirvana’s In Utero!). Going into this album, Bully’s Alicia Bognanno had never worked with a producer before, and decided to tap the versatile John Congleton. This collaboration proved to push Bognanno to new heights without breaking down the sound they’d created on their previous albums.
Standout track: Where to Start
88. Making a Door Less Open by Car Seat Headrest
Released: May 1st, 2020
Producers: Andrew Katz, Will Toledo
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Weezer
The album that proved it’s possible to be good and disappointing at the same time. When you hold this album up against most of Car Seat Headrest’s discography, particularly the incredibly strong 2 albums that preceded this one, Making a Door Less Open is a major let down. But when you listen to it without that context, there’s good songs on here. The band just picked a bad year to drop an album aimed to make them a main act at festivals.
Standout track: Martin
87. Innocent Country 2 by Quelle Chris & Chris Keys
Released: April 24th, 2020
Features: Marcella Arguela, Joseph Chilliams, Cavalier, Merrill Garbus, Homeboy Sandman, Josh Gondelman, Pink Siifu, Billy Woods, Mosel, Nelson Bandela, Dr. Tennille, Starr Busby, Melanie St. Charles, Earl Sweatshirt, Denmark Vessey, Big Sen, Nappy Nina, Fresh Daily, 5ILL
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: just look at the list of features
You don’t need to have listened to the first one to get that this is everything a sequel should be. A fun run back of the original, this time with a ton more friends along. This project feels like the Pro Bowl of underground hip-hop, and everyone delivers.
Standout track: Living Happy (Feat. Joseph Chilliams & Cavalier)
86. Lianne La Havas by Lianne La Havas
Released: July 17th, 2020
Producers: Beni Giles, Lianna La Havas, Matt Hales, Sam Crowe, Mura Masa, Homer Steinweiss, Joe Harrison, Geo, Nick Hakim, Chris Tabron
Genres: R&B, Soul
Recommended For Fans Of: Corinne Bailey Rae, Esperanza Spalding
If you (like many) were wondering what took Havas so long with the follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2015 album Blood, I think we can now assume she was waiting until we would need it most.
Standout track: Please Don’t Make Me Cry
85. Invisible People by Chicano Batman
Released: May 1st, 2020
Producers: Leon Michels
Genres: Indie, Psychedelic, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Yellow Days, Crumb
Along with producer Leon Michels, Chicano Batman also worked with Grammy award winning engineer/mixer Shawn Everett. Everett’s previously worked with Alabama Shakes, War on Drugs, and Julian Casablancas among others. The combination of the band with those two in the studio lead to pristine results with some of the best sounding music I heard all year.
Standout track: I Know It
84. Son of a Gun by Key Glock
Released: May 22nd, 2020
Producers: Bandplay, Teddy Walton, Sosa808, Sledgren, KingWonka,
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Yo Gotti, Young Dolph
The upstart Memphis rapper made a statement this year dropping two strong albums, with this one being his best to date (in my eyes). I think having one producer (Bandplay) produce a majority of the album helped make it feel consistent. And this project is super consistent, going hard from start to finish.
Standout track: Son of a Gun
83. KiCk i by Arca
Released: June 26th, 2020
Features: Björk, Shygirl, ROSALÍA, SOPHIE
Producers: Arca, Cardopusher, SOPHIE
Genres: Experimental, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Sophie, A.G. Cook
Arca is transcendent of labels, genres, and everything else. I could try to describe the music to you, but no words I could write would do it justice. You’ve just got to listen.
Standout track: KLK (Feat. ROSALÍA)
82. Portalz by Mother Nature
Released: May 20th, 2020
Features: Jeff K%nz, Gr8Sky
Producers: Burns Twins, Rokmore, FYWTAI, Plainro, H-Kalel, SPLPH, Jimmy Park,
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: OSHUN, Mereba
The Chicago rap duo describes their sound on this album better than I could:
“We explore the topics that have always guided our path of resilience -- freedom, balance and self-realization. We fearlessly take on the chaos of Self to align w/ Nature and ultimately get closer to God.”
Standout track: Language
81. Heaven Or Hell by Don Toliver
Released: March 13th, 2020
Features: Travis Scott, Kaash Paige, Quavo, Offset, Sheck Wes
Producers: Cash Passion, Cássio, Cubeatz, Cvre, El Michels, Frank Dukes, Forthenight, Freakey, Mido, Mike Dean, Nkenge 1x, Nils, Sonic Major, Sonny Digital, TM88, Travis Scott, WondaGurl
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Travis Scott, Juice WRLD
Don Toliver has such a sweet singing voice, it’s no surprise he’s getting passed around for features like he’s late 2000s T-Pain. Sure some melodies get repeated a bit too much by the album’s end, but it sounds so good you probably won’t mind that much. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Standout track: Cardigan
Next installment coming tomorrow morning!