My Favorite Albums (#40-21), 2020
Day 4 out of 5 in the countdown
Getting closer and closer to the top of the list!
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!
My Favorite Albums (#60-41), 2020
My Favorite Albums (#80-61), 2020
My Favorite Albums (#100-81), 2020
40. Honeymoon by Beach Bunny
Released: February 14th, 2020
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Remember Sports, Snail Mail
Beach Bunny has been honing in their sound and building anticipation for this debut album, releasing three EPs prior dating back to 2016. Honeymoon proves that the wait was worth it. Front woman Lili Trifilio built up a reputation for earnest and relatable lyrics over fun carefree indie rock. The track Rearview made my list of favorite songs, and the single Cloud 9 is another rambunctious standout.
Standout track: Cloud 9
39. Forever by Starchild & The New Romantic
Released: June 19th, 2020
Features: London O’Connor, Fabiana Palladino, Toro Y Moi, Le'Asha, Nick Hakim, Rosehardt
Genres: New Wave, Pop, R&B, Soul
Recommended For Fans Of: Blood Orange, Toro Y Moi
Bryndon Cook, the mastermind behind Starchild & the New Romantic, may have released his best project this year. Cook spent time learning from influential artists, playing in touring bands for Blood Orange and Solange. Since those tours, he’s been largely focused on his solo work, releasing one project a year since 2018’s Language. Forever features some of his best production and features to date. Also, I’m a sucker for a good tribute to Washington D.C., which comes in the form of the track Cool Disco Dan, named after a local graffiti artist.
Standout track: Mess Around
38. Hold Space For Me by Orion Sun
Released: March 27th, 2020
Genres: Alternative, Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Choker, Arlo Parks, Berhana
You know an artist bio section? Like where they usually just put some basic info about their music and some links to socials? This is what Orion Sun wrote to describe themself on their Bandcamp bio:
“i used to ask my neighbor/friend around my grandmas way if i could borrow his ipod shuffle. i would listen to music i couldnt at home, it took me places i never thought existed. you are someplace else. completely out of your control. it almost feels like magic. and then its over. i want to create a small pocket in this infinite space to maybe rest in and explore before venturing on.”
Unorthodox, but also describes the feeling of their music perfectly. Let this album take you somewhere.
Standout track: ne me quitte pas (don't leave me)
37. The Archer by Alexandra Savior
Released: January 10th, 2020
Producers: Sam Cohen
Genres: Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Lana Del Rey, Angel Olsen, Alex Turner
Swanky. Sultry. Sad. You can’t go wrong with the three S’s, all of which are apt descriptors for Alexandra Savior’s second album The Archer. There’s a lot of obvious Lana Del Rey influence on here, but Savior is able to separate herself with her own unique talents, particularly the blunt lyricism. The album was released on Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Records.
Standout track: Crying All The Time
36. Apolonio by Omar Apollo
Released: October 16th, 2020
Features: Ruel, Kali Uchis
Producers: Michael Uzowuru, Blake Slatkin, Teo Halm, Omar Apollo, Mk.gee, Budgie, Edgar Rodríguez, Oscar Santander, Albert Hammond Jr., DJ Dahi
Genres: R&B, Funk
Recommended For Fans Of: Dominic Fike, Cautious Clay
This album feels like a realization of the potential from Omar Apollo’s EPs. You can still hear the sound of his earliest bedroom pop Soundcloud uploads, but it’s backed by much funkier grooves and production. The results create a more mature sounding album that is still able to capture the fun of a kid from Indiana making songs in his room.
Standout track: I’m Amazing
35. BETTER by Deante’ Hitchcock
Released: May 13th, 2020
Features: JID, Young Nudy, 6LACK, Miguel, St. Beauty
Producers: Brandon Phillips-Taylor
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: J. Cole, JID, Saba
When Deante’ Hitchcock first came onto my radar with his 2016 album Good, I admittedly thought of him as a J. Cole knock off. He showed potential and raw talent but his influences shined brighter than his own voice. Better is that potential being fully realized, as Hitchcock creates a project that’s entirely his own, and it’s a blast to listen to.
Standout track: Attitude (Feat. Young Nudy)
34. The Slow Rush by Tame Impala
Released: February 14th, 2020
Genres: Psychedelic, Pop, Disco, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Khruangbin, Beach House, Alvvays
It was an impossible task for Kevin Parker, the one man show behind Tame Impala, to deliver on the hype that was built up for this album. The critical and commercial success of his prior album Currents lead to Coachella headlining dates and a massive amount of anticipation between the release of that 2015 album to this one. I can’t say he outdid what he did with Currents, but The Slow Rush is a damn good album. As the title suggests, this one is more of a slow burn, whose psychedelic disco pop is putting you in a trance and reeling you onto the dance floor at the same time.
Standout track: Breathe Deeper
33. Run The Jewels 4 - Run The Jewels
Released: June 3rd, 2020
Features: Greg Nice, DJ Premier, 2 Chainz, Pharrell Williams, Zack de la Rocha, Joshua Homme, Mavis Staples
Producers: El-P, Dave Sitek, Boots, Little Shalimar, Wilder Zoby, Nick Hook, Josh Homme, Matt Sweeney
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Big Boi, PRhyme
This is an album that will forever be tied to the time it was released. At the height of late May/early June’s Black Lives Matter protests, still about a week out from the album’s official release date, Killer Mike and EL-P released the album as a free download online. With the impromptu release they included a brief note that began, “Fuck it, why wait? The world is infested with bullshit.” Run The Jewels have made a career out of rapping about bullshit such as killer cops, the prison-industrial complex, racial inequality, and more. This album isn’t going to make you a RTJ fan if you weren’t already. They’ve had a formula and stuck to it since the first RTJ tape: hard hitting in your face beats with even harder in your face lyrics. Every album since then, they’ve doubled down on that formula, and this project is no exception.
Standout track: yankee and the brave (ep. 4)
32. Moveys by Slow Pulp
Released: October 9th, 2020
Producers: Henry Stoehr
Genres: Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Big Thief, Jay Som
Slow Pulp is a four-piece band from Chicago, but this album came together in different locations. Singer/guitarist Emily Massey recorded most of the vocals for this album on a borrowed mic in her father’s Wisconsin home studio while she was home caring for her parents after a serious car accident. The album was then finished in isolation after lockdown began. Despite the difficult circumstances, the results are beautiful. Moveys sounds like the soundtrack to an indie coming of age movie.
Standout track: Idaho
31. Limbo by Aminé
Released: August 7th, 2020
Features: JID, Charlie Wilson, Young Thug, slowthai, Vince Staples, Summer Walker, Injury Reserve
Producers: Mac Wetha, Greg Sekeres, James Maddocks, Yung Lan, Pasqué, Parker Corey, T-Minus, Rook, Nik D, OZ, Maneesh, Vinylz, Boi-1da, Jackuum, Aaron Childs, P2J, Jahaan Sweet
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Buddy, Smino, Tobi Lou
Limbo feels like a marriage of the pop rap Aminé popped onto the scene with on Good For You and the braggadocios bars he showed off on ONEPOINTFIVE. Flexing his versatility, style, and confidence on every track, this is Aminé’s most complete work to date.
Standout track: Woodlawn
30. Jp4 by Junglepussy
Released: October 23rd, 2020
Features: Ian Isiah, Gangsta Boo
Producers: Nick Hook, Roc N Mayne, Shy Beats, David Andrew Sitek, Kashaka, Sporting Life
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Kari Faux, Bbymutha, Princess Nokia
Jp4 is an interesting name for this project, because on one hand it is more of the same. Not in a bad way just in an “if it ain’t broke don't fix it” kind of way. On the other hand, there are some unique differences here, especially with hooks. Main Attraction and Telepathy had me checking to see if there was a feature singing the hook, I’d never heard Junglepussy vocals like that. While the attitude is the same, it’s great to see the artistic growth across the album.
Standout track: Main Attraction
29. Women In Music Pt. III by HAIM
Released: June 26th, 2020
Producers: Danielle Haim, Rostam Batmanglij, Ariel Rechtshaid, Dave Fridmann
Genres: Alternative, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Vampire Weekend, The Aces
HAIM comes back strong from the 2017 album Something To Tell You with their best album to date. Though a lot of these songs sound bright and summery, the lyrics reveal an underlying sadness. Most of these songs deal with issues like depression, grief, break-ups, and failing health. Who’d have thought that these topics could be packaged in such a fun way?
Standout track: Gasoline
28. Muthaland by Bbymutha
Released: August 28th, 2020
Features: Swerzie, Na-Kel, Yung Baby Tate, Zelooperz, Liv.e, Kindora, Nina Tech
Producers: Paris Aden, Rock Floyd, Black Noi$e, Summer Dregs, Keadrean, Paris Aden, Roget Chahayed, Wavy Wallace, Big Lo$, Louis Brodinski, Por Vida
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo, Junglepussy
I wrote about this farewell album in What I’ve Been Listening To, 9/15/20.
Standout track: Heavy Metal (Feat. Swerzie)
27. SAVAGE MODE II by 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
Released: October 2nd, 2020
Features: Drake, Young Thug, Young Nudy
Producers: Metro Boomin, Prince 85, Southside, Honorable C.N.O.T.E., David x Eli, Peter Lee Johnson, Allen Ritter, Kid Hazel, Zaytoven
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Migos
Between the original Savage Mode, Without Warning (the tape that brought Offset along for the ride as well), and now Savage Mode II, it’s clear that 21 Savage and Metro Boomin bring out the best of each other. There’s no overcomplicating things on the second go around. This album brings out more of Metro Boomin’s exceptional dark trap beats that 21 Savage glides over with his aggressive lyrics.
Standout track: Runnin
26. Nightmare Vacation by Rico Nasty
Released: December 4th, 2020
Features: Don Toliver, Gucci Mane, Aminé, Trippie Redd, ppcocaine, Sukihana, Rubi Rose
Producers: B. Lewis, Buddah Bless, Jasiah, Dylan Brady, Take A Daytrip, CashMoneyAP, Dez Wright, Laura Les, Brandon Finnesin, Seeley, Banx Dadda, F1LTHYAI, B. Smoove, Avedon, Camden Bench, Alter Ego, Kenny Beats
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Bree Runway, Tommy Genesis
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
A late entry that may have ranked higher had I gotten to spend more time listening to it. One think I love about Rico is how often she’ll change and experiment with her sound between projects. Nightmare Vacation sees her attempting to blend hyper pop with her aggressive metal rap vocals on some songs, to great results. I think we’re still working towards Nasty’s “final form” but she keeps sounding better with every new sound she adds to her arsenal.
Standout track: IPHONE
25. SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama
Released: April 17th, 2020
Producers: Clarence Clarity, Chris Lyon, Valley Girl, Bram Inscore, Danny L Harle, Rina Sawayama, Jonathan Gilmore, Kyle Shearer
Genres: Pop, R&B, Rock, Nu-Metal, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Kim Petras, Charli XCX, Poppy
Describing this project to someone makes me feel like Bill Hader doing Stefon on SNL:
“This album has EVERYTHING”
Nu-metal thrashing guitars over N.E.R.D. like drum beats (XS).
A Britney Spears esque dance track about toxic masculinity (Comme Des Garçons).
Dark bubbly electronic pop production paired with Japanese lyrics (Akasaka Sad).
A track modeled off 80s TV theme songs where Rina sings as both herself and her mother, topped off with a saxophone solo (Paradisin’).
A RuPaul quoting self love anthem, sonically inspired by New Jack Swing (Love Me 4 Me)
Larger than life stadium rock, complete with crowd noise (Who’s Gonna Save U Now?).
A Beethoven sample in a swirling epic synth pop track that includes a snippet from an interview Rina conducted with her mom (Snakeskin).
And that’s just scratching the surface. While the pop oriented songs worked better for me than the more abrasive nu-metal tracks, there’s no denying that it all works. If you won’t take my word for it, take it from Sir Elton John.
Standout track: Bad Friend
24. Look at Us Now Dad by Banoffee
Released: February 21st, 2020
Features: Empress Of, CupcakKe
Producers: Banoffee, Yves Rothman, SOPHIE, umru, HTMLflowers, Rob Cohen, Ben Zelico, Ceci G, Blake Mares, & Josh Wei
Genres: Pop, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Charli XCX, Hannah Diamond, Rina Sawayama
Folk singer turned electro-pop artist Banoffee delivers with their debut album Look at Us Now Dad. After feeling like her sound didn’t fit into the Australian music scene, Banoffee was inspired to move to America and finished the project with helpful advice from artist she toured with, including King Princess, Empress Of, Charli XCX, and Taylor Swift.
Standout track: Fuckwit
23. Pray For Paris by Westside Gunn
Released: April 17th, 2020
Features: Conway the Machine, Benny the Butcher, Tyler the Creator, Billie Esco, Joey Bada$$, Wale, Joyce Wrice, Freddie Gibbs, Roc Marciano, Boldy James, Keisha Plum, Cartier William
Producers: DJ Muggs, Beat Butcha, Camoflauge Monk, 7ies, ConductorWilliams, Daringer, The Alchemist, Jay Versace, DJ Premier, Tyler the Creator, Bohemia Lynch
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Boldy James, Roc Marciano, Action Bronson
BOOM BOOM BOOM!! The grimy underground (maybe not as much anymore as he was last year) rapper returned in April with his first of three albums this year. Griselda (the Buffalo rap collective Gunn is a founding member of) had a massive amount of output this year and to me, this is the peak of what Griselda albums can be. The beats, features, and verses all come together in the biggest way possible.
Standout track: 327 (Feat. Joey Bada$$, Tyler the Creator, & Billie Essco)
22. Deep Down Happy by Sports Team
Released: June 19th, 2020
Producers: Burke Reid
Genres: Rock, Alternative, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Sundara Karma, Arctic Monkeys
Yes, I understand that the band name is basically a stereotype of indie bands (American Football, Modern Baseball, Soccer Mommy, Hockey Dad, Remember Sports, Baseball Team, etc.). That doesn’t change the fact that this album rips from the second you press play. The British group jokingly refers to themself as an Oasis cover band, but it won’t take long to realize they have much more to offer.
Standout track: Lander
21. Anyways by Young Nudy
Released: February 27th, 2020
Producers: 20 Rocket, BLSSD, Coupe, DJ Marc B, Jake One, Lamb, Mojo Krazy, Young Lord Sean, Maurice McAdams, BL$$D, WhatItDoFlip
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Playboi Carti, Valee
Young Nudy sounds like what I imagine it would sound like if there was a character who was a trap rapper in Adventure Time (no, Donald Glover’s character does not count as that). There’s just something so uniquely cartoonish about his vocals. This album comes on the heels of a collab album with Pi’erre Bourne. While Bourne’s production isn’t featured on this album, his presence is certainly felt with many beats feeling like they were influenced by his sound.
Standout track: Blue Cheese Salad
Big day tomorrow, what’s going to be number 1???