A Year In Review – My Top 10 Albums of 2020

2020 has been a wildly uncharacteristic year. From international relations crises to natural disasters to a global pandemic, the entire year has felt grim and more than a little depressing. What has shone through, however, is the music we've had the chance to listen to. Over the last year I've listened to nearly 30 albums in their entirety, most of which are deserving of some sort of recognition. From pop, to rock, to country, we've seen an incredible number of stellar albums from artists at the top of their game. Coming up with this list and narrowing down the number of albums I loved the most was incredibly difficult this year. Reviewing music has never been something I was entirely familiar with, but I started doing it casually every once in a while for my university's radio program. Since then I've really worked on finding music to listen to and I've taken the time to sit down and write out my thoughts before posting the reviews on my site. This is the first Year In Review I've ever done for music, and I'm proud to share it with you.

For this article, I've selected fifteen albums to highlight, five runners-up and my Top 10 albums. This system made much more sense to me than what I was originally going to do, which was to discuss what was bad, mediocre, and great. To do that would've been to list far too many albums for anyone's liking. At least now you can be mad about what I left out, rather than what was included and where. In any case, let's get to it!

Honorable Mentions:

Okay, I lied. I listened to far too much music this year to condense my list to just fifteen. But don't worry. This section is just a list, no details. Here are the albums that stood out to me but didn't make it on my official list.

Dur& – Durand Bernarr

PAPÍ JUANCHO – Maluma

RTJ4 – Run The Jewels

~How I'm Feeling~ – Lauv

Runners-Up:

For this section, I've selected five albums that I fell for, but didn't make it into my Top 10. These albums were enjoyable in their own rights and struck me at times, but didn't hit quite as hard as the rest of the music in my Top 10. Here are my Runners-Up!

5. DISCO – Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue's DISCO was one that I found by accident. Truth be told, I'm not all that familiar with Minogue as an artist but I felt that her latest album had a lot worth listening to on it. True to its name, it is a disco album that brings with it a sense of nostalgia. My favorite songs include "Magic", and "Fine Wine". This album, like so many others, was done a great disservice by the Covid-19 pandemic, as it most certainly deserves to be blasted in a club or at some sort of a party. DISCO is a wonderful album that brings variety to anyone's music collection. I highly recommend listening to the album if you ever need a pick-me-up or something fun to listen to on a road trip.

4. Swimmer – Tennis

Swimmer was recommended to me by someone who I follow on Twitter, and funnily enough, here the album is on my list. This album really caught my attention and drew me in. From the very first song, I was intrigued and wanted to listen to more. I'm not sure how much time I spent listening to this album, but it was definitely a lot. I found myself tuning in to it on late nights and during long car rides. My favorite songs were "I'll Haunt You", "Runner", and "Echoes". Well composed and even in quality throughout, it was hard to know where to place this album. Ultimately, it ended up here simply due to the sheer number of albums I enjoyed this year. Nonetheless, I highly recommend that you give Swimmer a listen.

3. Punisher – Phoebe Bridgers

Truly, I did enjoy Punisher. While I didn't have any problems with the album, per se, I did find myself wondering how much I actually enjoyed the album. Most of this, though, was due to the fact that the music in this album was so sad. Or at least, brought out those emotions. But that speaks to the power of this album and its ability to elicit a reaction out of its listener. After having so many people talk emphatically about Phoebe Bridgers as an artist, I was glad to finally have a way of understanding why people like her so much. I think everybody could use a good sad album to listen to when they need it. Punisher is a great addition to anyone's queue.

2. A Letter To My Younger Self– Quinn XCII

After finding one or two of Quinn XCII's songs by accident, I became friends with someone who highly recommended his music to me, and thus, when A Letter To My Younger Self was released, I immediately listened to it. This album is one that I have listened to periodically throughout most of the year. It hits hard on the nostalgia of childhood, as well as calling back those memories of the teen romances many of us found ourselves in. The album does a really good job of exploring its sadness and nostalgia with upbeat compositions that mask the lyrics. From the first song to the end, A Letter To My Younger Self is an album that dives into a nostalgic youth with great success.

1. Apolonio – Omar Apollo

Again, I will lament that a Top 10 list is in fact a list of 10, not more. Omar Apollo's Apolonio was an album that stuck with me from the moment I completed listening to it for the first time. The cohesion throughout the album despite the distinct aesthetics and melodies of each song impressed me. This is something that felt unique to me from many of the other albums I listened to this year, which had cohesive and similar sounds that made up their songs. I truly fell in love with this album and loved listening to songs like "Kamikaze" on repeat. This is an album that I highly recommend and one that is definitely worth listening to. It's also not that long, totaling only 25 minutes. Sweet and short, Apolonio is a truly solid album.

The Top 10:

Here, we take a look at my top albums of 2020. What I've tried to do throughout these lists is be fair and unbiased. I also listened to multiple albums that were way outside of what I listened to on a normal basis. This was new for me and it led me towards a ton of new music that I wouldn't have otherwise listened to, which joined the music I enjoy from artists that are more familiar to me. I'm hoping to see more from every artist on this list in the future. Here are my Top 10 Albums of the Year.

10. Moral Panic – Nothing But Thieves

After swiping through Spotify's selections for top albums in certain genres, I stumbled upon Nothing But Thieves' third album Moral Panic. After deciding to listen to it on a whim, I found myself thrown into an album riddled with angst and a concern for the world around it. This album chooses to tackle the problems facing our society and does so subtly at times, but often hits you over the head and leaves no question as to how this band feels about the world's current situation. The album is not only powerful in its messaging, but in its execution. While I've found work like this to struggle with balancing the message with the music, this album perfectly combines both and doesn't make you feel accosted by an aggressive tone. This is an album that I came to love very quickly. It's not often that I find myself wooed by much music in the realm of Rock. but this album did just that.

9. Ungodly Hour – Chloe X Halle

Ripped straight from the late 90s and early 2000s with a modern twist, Ungodly Hour is a spectacular album from Chloe & Halle Bailey. The two have crafted an album that draws heavily upon the R&B artists who came before them. The album is catchy, memorable, and something that anybody could listen to and enjoy. While Chloe and Halle takes inspiration from the style of R&B that dominated the turn of the century, they make it clear that Ungodly Hour is a modern album. Standout singles include "Do It", "Ungodly Hour", "Tipsy", and "Lonely". While R&B has not typically been my favorite gene of music, Ungodly Hour is something that I've come to thoroughly enjoy. While not every song is one that I would enjoy on its own, I find that the album works incredibly well as a whole composition.

8. Good News – Megan Thee Stallion

After taking the world and internet by storm with "Savage" on her EP Suga, Megan Thee Stallion's latest album is one of the best rap albums of the year. From beginning to end, Megan Thee Stallion's album is chock full of hit after hit. Good News is another casualty of the pandemic, as tracks like "Shots Fired", "Sugar Baby", and "Body" should all be blasting over the speakers at every club in the country. I would say that the only unfortunate track on the album is "Don't Rock Me To Sleep". While it's a track that I myself enjoy, it really is just a guilty pleasure since most people would probably consider it to be a monstrosity. At least, that's what my friend's reaction would lead me to think, anyways. Despite that misfire, the album is incredibly solid and well-deserving of a spot in my Top 10.

7. folklore – Taylor Swift

Surprising her fans in the middle of the summer, Taylor Swift released her 8th album folklore. This album quickly caught my attention. As someone who has never been particularly a fan of Swift's, I was caught off guard by how great I thought this album was. I was enamored with the tenderness of the album and how patiently Swift explored these so-called "folklorian woods". Now accompanied by a sister album titled evermore, I debated including the two of them on the same slot, but felt that it would undercut both albums as I think they deserve to stand on their own. This new sound that Swift has chosen to explore suits the artist. I'm impressed with the maturity of her sound and I truly encourage everyone to at least give the album one listen through.

6. Women In Music Pt. III – HAIM

Another recommendation, Women In Music Pt. III surprised me in terms of how much I liked it right off the bat. Only having been familiar with one of their songs which was featured in the movie Insurgent, I was wasn't sure what to expect when I pressed play. This album was a wonderful experience. I can't imagine anything better than going on a road trip with friends while this album plays in the background. I love music that commands attention on its own, but I also love music that can play while something else is happening and that can enhance that particular memory. The tone of the album feels somewhat nostalgic, though for what I can't really say. The three bonus tracks, "Now I'm In It", "Hallelujah", and "Summer Girl" are among some of my favorites, along with "Los Angeles" and "3 AM". I have a hunch that Women In Music Pt. III will make it into many Top 10 lists this year.

5. Chromatica – Lady Gaga

Released well over the standard 9-month gestation period of a human infant, Lady Gaga's sixth album Chromatica is a true return to form for the pop star. I reviewed the album back in July of this year. I still hold many of the same opinions now that I did then. What I love the most about this album is how true it feels to Gaga's self as an artist. The leading single "Stupid Love" was my number one song of the year, according to Spotify. The album is incredibly cohesive and well thought out, with transitions that sparked social media trends for months. For this album, the thing about it that places it so high on this list is how much I appreciate it after so much time. "Rain On Me" is my current favorite song on the album, followed by "Stupid Love" and "Alice". Lady Gaga is one of my favorite artists, and albums like Chromatica are why.

4. Plastic Hearts – Miley Cyrus

Instead of a return to form, Plastic Hearts is a discovery of self. Miley Cyrus' latest album is her most authentic to date. I also reviewed this album when it was released last month and I've been enamored with it. There isn't a single song on the entire album that I don't at least like. Despite being only a month old, this album has made its way into my regular rotation and even overshadowed the work of artists I've been listening to for most of the year. I truly do adore this album. It's very clearly a look inside of Miley's personal journey and one that seeks to explore the decisions she's made, sometimes explaining them to the listener. One thing that's unique to the album is the way it progresses. The album's narrative is very clear in a way that feels almost cinematic, and as the credits roll you get the remix for "Midnight Sky" featuring Stevie Nicks. It's a little thing, but it speaks to how well the album is crafted and how effective it is at telling Miley's story.

3. After Hours – The Weeknd

After the release of the lead single "Blinding Lights" in late 2019, After Hours was released in March of this year. This album was probably the best in its ability to conjure up imagery along with the music. Despite being recorded and produced well before the pandemic, After Hours is an album that really speaks to the general anxiety of the time we find ourselves in. The album was detailed as being inspired by films like Joker, which came across to me remarkably well even before I read up on the album. This album has not left my brain since its release. The lead single "Blinding Lights", along with "In Your Eyes" and "Faith" are some of my favorite songs of the year. As my #2 artist of 2020 according to Spotify, it's only fitting that After Hours would have a place in my Top 10.

2. SAWAYAMA – Rina Sawayama

Another recommendation and another surprise, SAWAYAMA blew me away with how good it was. Released back in April, I didn't actually get around to listening to it until about a month ago. Despite that, I have really found that this album was criminally underrated by many, including myself. As the debut studio album for Rina Sawayama, it's an incredible feat. It packs a punch immediately with "Dynasty" and goes from there. The album is extremely reminiscent of various styles from the early 2000s. You can particularly hear it in songs like "XS" and "Comme Des Garcons (Like The Boys)". This album is incredibly dynamic and explores Rock, Metal, and Dance all in one. And yet the entirety of the album is cohesive and all works well together. While some albums feel like the songs have to be listened to all together in order to make sense, SAWAYAMA works both as a singular piece as well as working well completely apart. I absolutely did not expect this album to be as good as it is, yet here we are.

1. Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa

More than anything, I'm a sucker for a good Pop album. Released back in March of this year, I have been in love with this album for almost the entire year. Dua Lipa's album has dominated my playlists for as long as its been out, and the reason why it sits at the top of my list is because it has accomplished what so few albums have (for me); it has never once gotten old. In the nine or so months that I've had to listen to it, there's hardly a time that I've skipped a single song, unless I was in a particular mood for something more downcast. For me, Future Nostalgia is a perfect Pop album. It was an instant classic right from its release and my love for it has only grown since. For a sophomore album, Dua Lipa has done the opposite of slump. While I wouldn't consider this album to be the most sophisticated, or the most complex, I don't think that takes away from what it is; a fun, fantastically executed pop album that I'll still be listening to a year from now.

If you've made it this far, thank you! I appreciate all of you who take the time to actually sit down and read what I've written. Reviewing music is something that I love because it allows me to write something without needing to feel like a know-it-all or like a hyper-intellectual. I love good music and all of the albums I picked for this review are special in their own way. Choosing to do this project has taken me down many paths and led me to some wonderful new artists. If you recommended something to me, thank you! Even if it didn't make it on the list, I enjoyed having something new to listen to. I'll be back in 2021! Here's to the end of 2020.

Rudy FunkMeyer