Best Albums of 2020

Here are the best albums of this young decade:

 

25. Porridge Radio

Every Bad

Key Tracks:  "Long", "Nephews", "Pop Song"

 

24. Dua Lipa,

Future Nostalgia

Key Tracks:  "Cool", "Levitating", "Hallucinate"

 

23. Grimes

Miss Anthropocene

Key Tracks:  "So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth", "Delete Forever", "Violence"

 

22. The Microphones

Microphones in 2020

Key Tracks:  "Microphones in 2020"

 

21. Blake Mills

Mutable Set

Key Tracks:  "May Later", "Vanishing Town", "Mirror Box"

 

20. Caribou

Suddenly

Key Tracks:  "You and I", "Magpie", "Cloud Song"

 

19. Lanterns on the Lake

Spook the Herd

Key Tracks:  "When It All Comes True", "Every Atom", "Before They Excavate"

 

18. Destroyer 

Have We Met

Key Tracks:  "In the Morning", "Stay Lost", "La Regle du Jeu"

 

17. I Break Horses

Warnings

Key Tracks:  "I'll Be the Death of You", "The Prophet", "I Live At Night"

 

16. Adrianne Lenker

songs

Key Tracks:  "two reverse", "ingydar", "anything"

 

15. Fleet Foxes

Shore

Key Tracks:  "Can I Believe You", "Jara", "Young Man's Game"

 

14. Sufjan Stevens

The Ascension Key

Tracks:  "Make Me an Offer I Can't Refuse", "Die Happy", "Sugar"

 

13. Moses Sumney

græ

Key Tracks:  "In Bloom", Virile", "Bless Me"

 

12. Bob Dylan

Rough and Rowdy Ways

Key Tracks:  "My Own Version of You", "Mother of Muses", "Murder Most Foul"

 

11. Taylor Swift

folklore

Key Tracks:  "cardigan", "seven", "august"

 

10. HAIM

Women In Music Pt. III

Key Tracks:  "Los Angeles", "I've Been Down", Hallelujah"

 

9. Yves Tumor

Heaven to a Tortured Mind

Key Tracks:  "Gospel For a New Century", "Kerosene!", "Romanticist"

 

8. Run the Jewels

Run the Jewels 4

Key Tracks:  "ooh la la", "pulling the pin", "a few words for the firing squad"

 

7. U.S. Girls

Heavy Light

Key Tracks:  "4 American Dollars, "IOU", "Woodstock '99"

 

6. Perfume Genius

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately

Key Tracks:  "Whole Life", "Describe", "On the Floor"

5. Laura Marling

Song for our Daughter

Key Tracks:  "Alexandra", "Strange Girl", "Fortune"

4. BC Camplight

Shortly After Takeoff

 

This album slipped under most critics’ radars (although it received high praise from those that did cover it). It’s a shame as this is a remarkable album from a sorely overlooked artist.

 

Key Tracks:  "Ghosthunting", "Back to Work", "I Want to Be in the Mafia"

3. Waxahatchee

Saint Cloud

Key Tracks:  "Can't Do Much", "Witches", "St. Cloud"

2. Phoebe Bridgers

Punisher

Key Tracks:  "Kyoto", "Halloween", "Savior Complex"

 

 

1. Fiona Apple

Fetch the Bolt Cutters

 

Some years, the pick for number 1 is a bit of a judgement call amidst two or three albums that could easily be considered the best of the year (see 2016 and 2017, where my number one picks have obviously changed when looking at my end of decade list). This year, it’s no contest. Fiona produced one of the best albums to come out in the last few years. Some albums are really exciting when they first arrive but lose a little of their initial luster once the newness is gone. Fetch the Bolt Cutters on the other hand seems to sound better to me with each passing listen.

Key Tracks:  "I Want You To Love Me", "Ladies", "Heavy Balloon"

Best Albums of 2010-2019

Here it is; it's a little unceremonious, but the best albums of the last decade:

200. Foxygen, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (2013)

199. Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence (2014)

198. Sharon Van Etten, Are We There (2014)

197. Tyler, The Creator, Flower Boy (2017)

196. Perfume Genius, Put Your Back N 2 It (2012)

195. Phosphorescent, Muchacho (2013)

194. Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe (2013)

193. Danny Brown, Atrocity Exhibition (2016)

192. Atoms for Peace, Amok (2013)

191. Charli XCX, Pop 2 (2017)

190. Sky Ferreira, Night Time, My Time (2013)

189. Parquet Courts, Human Performance (2016)

188. Lotus Plaza, Spooky Action at a Distance (2012)

187. Mount Kimbie, Love What Survives (2017)

186. PJ Harvey, The Hope Six Demolition Project (2016)

185. Passion Pit, Gossamer (2012)

184. Bat For Lashes, The Haunted Man (2012)

183. Carly Rae Jepsen, E*MO*TION (2015)

182. The Antlers, Burst Apart (2011)

181. Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights (2017)

180. Gwenno, Y Dydd Olaf (2015)

179. Ty Segall Band, Slaughterhouse (2012)

178. Four Tet, There Is Love In You (2010)

177. James Blake, The Colour In Anything (2016)

176. Emeralds, Does It Look Like I'm Here? (2010)

175. Arial Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Mature Themes (2012)

174. Deerhunter, Monomania (2013)

173. Danny Brown, Old (2013)

172. Sharon Van Etten, Tramp (2012)

171. Chairlift, Something (2012)

170. Chance the Rapper, Acid Rap (2013)

169. Majical Clouds, Impersonator (2013)

168. Boards of Canada, Tomorrow's Harvest (2013)

167. Frankie Rose, Interstellar (2012)

166. Sleigh Bells, Treats (2010)

165. Shabazz Palaces, Black Up (2011)

164. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Rest (2017)

163. Japandroids, Celebration Rock (2012)

162. Helado Negro, This Is How You Smile (2019)

161. Janelle Monae, Electric Lady (2013)

160. Big Boi, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (2010)

159. The National, Trouble Will Find Me (2013)

158. Perfume Genius, No Shape (2017)

157. Darkside, Psychic (2013)

156. Real Estate, Atlas (2014)

155. Spiritualized, Sweet Light Sweet Heart (2012)

154. Anderson Paak, Malibu (2016)

153. The Weeknd, House of Balloons (2011)

152. Blood Orange, Freetown Sound (2016)

151. Volcano Choir, Repave (2013)

150. Fever Ray, Plunge (2017)

149. Iceage, Beyondless (2018)

148. The xx, I See You (2017)

147. Frank Ocean, Nostalgia, Ultra (2011)

146. Panda Bear, Tomboy (2011)

145. Mac DeMarco, 2 (2012)

144. Flying Lotus, You're Dead! (2014)

143. EMA, Past Life Martyred Saints (2011)

142. Sampha, Process (2017)

141. Solange, When I Get Home (2019)

140. The Avalanches, Wildflower (2016)

139. Panda Bear, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper (2015)

138. Bjork, Vulnicera (2015)

137. The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding (2017)

136. Ariel Pink, pom pom (2014)

135. Titus Andronicus, The Monitor (2010)

134. Joanna Newsom, Divers (2015)

133. AHOHNI, HOPELESSNESS (2016)

132. Thom Yorke, ANIMA (2019)

131. Car Seat Headrest, Twin Fantasy (2018)

130. Snail Mail, Lush (2018)

129. Father John Misty, Pure Comedy (2017)

128. Mount Eerie, A Crow Looked At Me (2017)

127. Todd Terje, It's Album Time (2014)

126. Holly Herndon, Platform (2015)

125. Bon Iver, i, i (2019)

124. Aldous Harding, Designer (2019)

123. Oneohtrix Point Never, Replica (2011)

122. Spoon, They Want My Soul (2014)

121. Courtney Barnett, Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit (2015)

120. Kamasi Washington, Heaven and Earth (2018)

119. Parquet Courts, Wide Awake! (2018)

118. Killer Mike, R.A.P. Music (2012)

117. The Walkmen, Lisbon (2010)

116. Flying Lotus, Until the Quiet Comes (2012)

115. Slowdive, Slowdive (2017)

114. Father John Misty, God's Favorite Customer (2018)

113. James Blake, Overgrown (2013)

112. The National, Sleep Well Beast (2017)

111. King Krule, The OOZ (2017)

110. The Knife, Shaking the Habitual (2013)

109. Hot Chip, One Life Stand (2010)

108. Caribou, Our Love (2014)

107. Julia Holter, Aviary (2018)

106. Vampire Weekend, Father of the Bride (2019)

105. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues (2011)

104. Disclosure, Settle (2013)

103. Robyn, Honey (2018)

102. Beach House, 7 (2018)

101. Big Thief, Two Hands (2019)

100. The Savages, Silence Yourself (2013)

99. Beck, Morning Phase (2014)

98. Vince Staples, Big Fish Theory (2017)

97. Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire For No Witness (2014)

96. (Sandy) Alex G, House of Sugar (2019)

95. Swans, The Seer (2012)

94. Arctic Monkeys, AM (2013)

93. U.S. Girls, In a Poem Unlimited (2018)

92. These New Puritans, Field of Reeds (2013)

91. Julia Holter, Loud City Song (2013)

90. tUnE-yArDs, w h o k i l l  (2011)

89. Angel Olsen, My Woman (2016)

88. Car Seat Headrest, Teens of Denial (2016)

87. Kurt Vile, Smoke Ring For My Halo (2011)

86. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Ghosteen (2019)

85. Rihana, ANTI (2016)

84. Moses Sumney, Aromanticism (2017)

83. Kamasi Washington, The Epic (2015)

82. Fleet Foxes, Crack-Up (2017)

81. Gorillaz, Plastic Beach (2010)

80. Caribou, Swim (2010)

79. St. Vincent, Masseduction (2017)

78. Girls, Father, Son, Holy Ghost (2011)

77. Run the Jewels, RTJ2 (2014)

76. Low, Double Negative (2018)

75. Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book (2016)

74. LCD Soundsystem, American Dream (2017)

73. My Bloody Valentine, MBV (2013)

72. FKA Twigs, LP1 (2014)

71. Grizzly Bear, Shields (2012)

70. Aphex Twin, Syro (2014)

69. Mac DeMarco, Salad Days (2014)

68. Bon Iver, 22, A Million (2016)

67. Perfume Genius, Too Bright (2014)

66. Real Estate, Days (2011)

65. FKA Twigs, Magdalene (2019)

64. Sharon Van Etten, Remind Me Tomorrow (2019)

63. Drake, Take Care (2011)

62. Radiohead, The King of Limbs (2011)

61. Flying Lotus, Cosmogramma (2010)

60. Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour (2018)

59. Julia Holter, Ekstasis (2012)

58. Aerial Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Before Today (2010)

57. Sufjan Stevens, The Age of Adz (2010)

56. Vampire Weekend, Contra (2010)

55. Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. (2017)

54. Tame Impala, Currents (2015)

53. Beach House, Bloom (2012)

52. Robyn, Body Talk (2010)

51. Lorde, Melodrama (2017)

50. Amen Dunes, Freedom (2018)

49. Weyes Blood, Titanic Rising (2019)

48. A Tribe Called Quest, We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service (2016)

47. Chromatics, Kill for Love (2012)

46. Beyonce, Beyonce (2013)

45. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Skeleton Tree (2016)

44. Mitski, Puberty 2 (2016)

43. Grimes, Art Angels (2015)

42. St. Vincent, St. Vincent (2014)

41. M83, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (2011)

40. James Blake, James Blake (2011)

39. Kanye West, Yeezus (2013)

38. Vince Staples, Summertime '06 (2015)

37. Grimes, Visions (2012)

36. Daft Punk, Random Access Memories (2013)

35. Lana Del Rey, Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019)

34. The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream (2014)

33. Mitski, Be the Cowboy (2018)

32. Dirty Projectors, Swing Lo Magellan (2012)

31. Janelle Monáe, The ArchAndroid (2010)

30. Joanna Newsom, Have One On Me (2010)

29. Arcade Fire, Reflektor (2013)

28. Angel Olsen, All Mirrors (2019)

27. Julia Holter, Have You In My Wilderness (2015)

26. Destroyer, Kaputt (2011)

25. Jamie xx, In Colour (2015)

24. Big Thief, U.F.O.F. (2019)

23. Tame Impalla, Lonerism (2012)

22. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel… (2012)

21. Beyonce, Lemonade (2016)

20. David Bowie, Blackstar (2016)

19. Father John Misty, I Love You, Honeybear (2015)

18. D'Angelo, Black Messiah (2014)

17. LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening (2010)

16. Solange, A Seat at the Table (2016)

15. Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)

14. Beach House, Teen Dream (2010)

13. PJ Harvey, Let England Shake (2011)

12. Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011)

11. Frank Ocean, Blonde (2016)

10. St. Vincent, Strange Mercy (2011)

9. The National, High Violet (2010)

8. Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest (2010)

7. Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City (2012)

6. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs (2010)

5. Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City (2013)

4. Sufjan Stevens, Carrie and Lowell (2015)

3. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

2. Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

1. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange (2012)