My Favorite Albums of 2020
Here is my list of my personal top albums of 2020
You can find my separate list for top EPs of 2020 here
My Previous monthly lists from 2020: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
My list last year for my top albums of 2019 can be found here.
Honorable Mention:
Aluna - Renaissance Genre: Synth Pop / Dance
Lead singer from AlunaGeorge steps out on her own with this fast paced romp. She brings along many well known producers like Diplo (who she’s signed with as a solo artist), KAYTRANADA, SG Lewis and more.
Proof: Warrior (Feat. SG Lewis) / Body Pump
Big Gigantic - Free Your Mind Genre: Electronic / Dance
The Colorado duo Big Gigantic’s big breakout was their sixth album in 2016’s Brighter Future that really expanded the reach of their high octane music. Four years later we have their follow up in this joyous affair. With their use of horns (one of them is a trained saxophonist) they always have a big band feel that meets the club in their sound that's so infectious.
Cam - The Otherside Genre: Country / Pop
I’m not typically a big country fan but this country with a little infusion of pop is something I can ride for. Really digging the ways Cam expanded on a typical country vernacular while still staying true to it as well.
Proof: The Otherside / Classic
CloZee - Neon Jungle Genre: Electronic / World Bass
CloZee’s musical landscapes are living breathing entities. Her music is lush and vibrant that seem to flow to and frow with a breeze. Not what most people would attribute to the genre which is why it stands out.
Proof: Winter Is Coming / Heya
dvsn - A Muse In Her Feelings Genre: R&B / Neo-Soul
The third album by Toronto R&B duo dvsn and this is by far their best. A seductive and savory exploration through love, sexuality and heartbreak.
Duke Dumont - Duality // Duality Remixed Genre: Electronic / Dance
This is sort of a greatest hits with some new songs masked as a debut. The fact most of these songs we have heard before and some way back to 2015, knocks this album back a bit on my list. That being said Duke Dumont is one of the best at funk infused dance music and this album bangs!
Proof: Ocean Drive / Together (w/ How To Dress Well) // Ocean Drive (Purple Disco Machine Remix) / Together (Luttrell Remix) w/ How To Dress Well
Empress Of - I’m Your Empress Of Genre: R&B / Pop
Empress Of’s sophomore album Us was quite an upward trajectory from her already good debut album. On her third record here that momentum is kept going with a little flair. This is her most danceable record yet with some nostalgic synths added to her musical attire that’s an accessory worth attention but not too distracting.
Proof: Bit of Rain / Love Is A Drug
Fakear - Everything Will Grow Again Genre: Electronic / Dance / Tropical House
French DJ Fakear’s eclectic sophomore album is lush and expansive in it’s sound. You feel enveloped in an exotic and kinetic world that you can’t help but get lost in while listening.
Proof: Sekoia / Rituals (Feat. Luiza Fernandes)
Georgia - Seeking Thrills Genre: Synth Pop
This sophomore album by the english singer is a riot full of pulsating beats and neon lit synth patterns. The singing has Santigold/M.I.A. vibes without being an emulation.
Proof: Never Let You Go / Ray Guns
Halsey - MANIC Genre: Pop / R&B
It’s been a pretty dramatic rise for the singer. She was already a sensation by the time her debut album Badlands came out in 2015. Now she’s one of the sought after features and a pretty big act in music. This third album MANIC is her most consistent, powerful and best. She has perfected how to utilize her raspy voice and how to connect with the listener and evoke strong emotions.
Proof: you should be sad / Without Me
Illenium - ASCEND (Remixes) Genre: Electronic / Dance
Illenium’s ASCEND was my 3rd favorite record of 2019. As quite a nice gift Illenium dropped off this super sized remix album with at least one remix of each song off the glorious album.
Proof: Good Things Fall Apart (3LAU Remix) Feat. Jon Bellion / In Your Arms (Alan Walker Remix) Feat. X Ambassadors
Kingdom - Neurofire Genre: Electronic / Neo-Soul / Dance
Even if you don’t know Kingdom off the top of your head you’ve probably heard a Kingdom produced song without knowing. He’s been a behind the scenes go-to producer and runs a label that has such artists as Kalela and Dawn Richards on it. Neurofire is a smooth soulful electronic album that has such an contagious bob to it you can’t help yourself but start dancing.
Lady Gaga - Chromatica Genre: Pop / Dance
Despite her immense success, Lady Gaga is not a complacent woman. After readjusting her sound to something more stripped down on 2016’s Joann, Gaga did another about face this time leaning into the EDM world and making an ecstatic dance record. Linking with many big hitter DJs for production work in Tchami, BloodPop, Madeon, Skrillex, Axwelll and others, who create a great vivacious platform for Gaga to strut all over.
Proof: Stupid Love / Replay
Låpsley - Through Water Genre: Indie Pop / Electronic
It’s been four years since British singer Låpsley’s debut album. But it seems that time was well utilized as this is a great leap for the artist. I enjoyed her understated debut but here she was able to incorporate a little more kinetic energy in her recording while keeping the sentimentalism of them really effectively.
Lastlings - First Contact Genre: Electronic / Future Bass / Dance
I haven’t heard the early EPs from Australian dou Lastlings so first listening to this album was quite a pleasant surprise. There’s some definite influences from fellow Australian act RÜFÜS DU SOL here. And influences that they utilize nicely.
The Strokes - The New Abnormal Genre: Alternative / Rock
It’s not often an extremely successful rock group after an extended hiatus returns and makes one of their best albums. Working with Rick Ruban the legendary New York group returns after seven years with an album that exerts a high level of confidence and maturity. It doesn’t scream out at you as an album yet the music is incredibly in depth and rewarding.
Sylvan Esso - Free Love Genre: Synth Pop
For their third album the North Carolina based duo took a slightly scaled back sound as the tone is a bit more somber and muted then their past albums. The indie pop is much more dominant over the Electronic aspects of their music. It still however is their enjoyable meshing of the two and there’s still plenty of danceable moments, they are just more interspersed in a more internal faced record.
Proof: Ferris Wheel / Frequency
Tchami - Year Zero Genre: Electronic / Dance
The French DJ Techami finally drops a debut album and what a blast this is. Year Zero is a joy ride form start to finish with no real filler tracks of straight enjoyable dance records.
Tyler Swift - evermore Genre: Indie Pop / Folk
The second of Taylor’s 2020 albums; made with the National’s Aaron Dessor. This one you can tell is a bit of tracks that didn’t fit the construct of folklore. This has a bit of a “thrown together” feel, which sounds more harsh then how I mean it. With that being said these are still more of probably my favorite iteration we’ve seen of Taylor so I enjoy it immensely. More on folklore below.
Proof: ‘tis the damn season / ivy
We Are The City - RIP Genre: Rock / Alternative
This is the fifth by the Concadian Rock group but the first I have heard by them so I can’t offer insight on how this fits in their past work. But when I heard the guitars and crashing drums come in on the thunderous opener “Killer B-Side Music” I was instantly hooked. This is a fun and emotionally gripping journey through this groups organized chaos.
Proof: Killer B-Side Music / Saint Peter
The List:
Last One Out: The Naked And Famous - Recover Genre: Synth Pop
New Zealand band The Naked and Famous return with their fourth album full of their patented form of catchy synth pop meant to excite and evoke. The songs are take their shoes off and make themselves at home in your head demanding a sing along.
Proof: Sunseeker / Bury Us / Come As You Are / Coming Back To Me