I mean, where do I even start with this year? I don’t. I don’t! I simply refuse. We’re all painfully aware of what kind of year this has been. Let’s just go ahead and skip the context that would typically be required for me to say something like, oh I dunno, thank fucking God-or-whoever for music this year. Seriously. In any year, this would have been an absolutely bananas six months of new tunes, but this year it has been especially appreciated. Whether it’s a newcomer or a triumphant return, defining solo career or dream collaboration — it’s 2020 and musicians are really out here Shooting. Their. Shots. So what have I been listening to and loving the most? I assume you clicked this to find out, so I’ll cut the impromptu ramble (but thanks for hanging in there). Here are my top 30 albums of the year so far.
- Hayley Williams – Petals For Armor
- Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
- Trace Mountains – Lost In The Country
- Caribou – Suddenly
- Frances Quinlan – Likewise
- Ovrkast. – Try Again
- Vasudeva – Generator
- Jenny Dee – Dancing From A Distance
- R.A.P. Ferreira – Purple Moonlight Pages
- Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
- Westerman – Your Hero Is Not Dead
- Navy Blue – Àdá Irin
- Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
- Knxwledge – 1988
- Emancipator – Mountain Of Memory
- Loathe – I Let It In And It Took Everything
- Caspian – On Circles
- Momma – Two Of Me
- Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist – Alfredo
- Gleemer – Down Through
- Thundercat – It Is What It Is
- Crisman – Crisman
- Mac Miller – Circles
- Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
- Dides – Fresh Cut Flowers
- Giver – Sculpture Of Violence
- Ruby Watson – Carry Me
- 070 Shake – Modus Vivendi
- Dryjacket – Going Out Of Business
- Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes – What Kinda Music
As any music lover knows, making these lists can be a tough ask. What about the stuff I had to leave off? How will the world keep spinning if it doesn’t know what number 31 would have been? You can’t really expect me to just leave these cool points sitting here on the table for the taking, can you? Well friend, that’s what honorable mentions are for. Here are a few records that pained me to leave off of the list above.
Jennah Barry – Holiday
Disq – Collector
Hum – Inlet
Fuss – Suck
Nat Vazer – Is This Offensive And Loud?
Retirement Party – Runaway Dog
So, what’s to come in the next six months? If it’s anything like the last six, we’d be foolish to attempt predicting. Er, I mean, the upcoming Land Of Talk record (the previously delayed release, Indistinct Conversations) is probably gonna squeeze it’s way into one of the top spots on my list when it eventually sees the light of day — but hey, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, let’s keep each other company in the forums and get through this time together. Or whatever we’re supposed to say. I dunno. Just spread that good music and wear a fucking mask.