Top 10 albums of 2020
A pandemic year led to some interesting decisions for artists looking to release new music in 2020, some written throughout the year and some written without knowing we'd be where we are today.
Music is personal
Before I go any further, let’s set the ground rules here. Music is personal, and therefore, this is my Top 10 albums of the year. It’s who I think did the best job of putting out an album during a scary time to release music, without the ability to connect with fans on the road, touring and playing the albums live. It’s a list of some artists who had an album that was finished prior to the pandemic and had to navigate when to release it, and some who wrote from home, hoping to connect with us at home.
The top 10
1. “Gaslighter” by The Chicks
This was one of those situations where the album had been finished and then the year that was 2020 happened. This year not only challenged The Chicks in when to release their highly-anticipated return, but also a name change as a result of the awakening this summer to the grave injustices and racism baked into even the band’s name.
The Chicks called up the heavy-hitters to help them write and produce this personal, yet inclusive album of female empowerment. Jack Antonoff (leader of the band Bleachers and songwriting and producing extraordinaire behind Taylor Swift’s “folklore”) and Teddy Geiger (mastermind behind a bundle of Shawn Mendes’ hits) to name just a couple. The album brilliantly weaves in and out of lead vocalist Natalie Maine’s troubled marriage (“Sleep at Night,” “Texas Man”) while also issuing a call to action (“March March,” “For Her”). My personal favorite is “Julianna Calm Down,” a song started by Julia Michaels and after Antonoff introduced it to The Chicks, they begged Michaels to let them record it according to their interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music.
2. “ENERGY” by Disclosure
The electronic pair teams up with a bunch of different artists to create quite the soundscape on this album. A few singles leading up to the album came out at the end of 2019, channeling African sounds (“Tondo” featuring Cameroon artist Eko Roosenvelt). It was clear this was going to be a departure from Disclosure’s previous mega hits with Lorde (“Magnets”) and Sam Smith (“Omen”).
When the full album came out this year, one song in particular really smacked me in the face. There’s nothing like living through 2020 and hearing motivational speaker Eric Thomas tell you, “If you are alive, I know you haven’t reached your best yet. You got more, you could do more, you could see more, you could be more, alright? Right now, you should feel invincible. Powerful. Strong. Look, where your focus goes, your energy flows. Are you hearing me?” All of this, over Disclosure’s signature dance production, it creates something quite memorable for these times.
3. “in defense of my own happiness, Vol. 1” by Joy Oladokun
I’m sorry, but this is my “folklore.” Similar to Taylor Swift, Oladokun wrote most of these folk songs during the pandemic times and therefore they illicit a bundle of emotions.
Oladokun gets personal and sobers us in the reckoning that 2020 will also be a capsule of memories when racial tension in our country boiled over in the midst of the pandemic (“mercy,” “breathe again”).
I’ve written previously about “too high,” and it’s still a stand-out here. The track “bad blood” is also one of my favorites for its Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” feel.
4. “Love, Death & Dancing” by Jack Garratt
This was another highly-anticipated return album, as Jack Garratt won the coveted Brits Critics Choice award in 2016, following the massive success of the previous winners by the names of Adele and Sam Smith. Garratt retreated and according to his interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music, was paralyzed with uncertainty of what to write next.
Well, he found it. This album is split into four “discs,” each with three songs. All of them encapsulate what Garratt does so well, blending rock and electronic dance together while his near perfect vocals preach self-expression and introspection.
Absolute do-not-misses are “Time” and “Better,” but almost every track on this one is worth FaceTime-ing home to. If the final minute of “Time” doesn’t get you off the couch, we need to talk.
5. “Plastic Hearts” by Miley Cyrus
Squeaking in at the last moments of this year, Miley’s 80s rock album is gold. Her low, edgy vocals, reminiscent of Stevie Nicks, fit like a glove in this genre and some of the tracks sound like they were written years before her time. There’s even a track where Cyrus mashes up her tune with Nick’s “Edge of Seventeen” and of course, got Nicks to come and sing along (“Edge of Midnight”).
Any time you summon Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic to the studio, you’re in good hands. She also called up one of the hottest pop singers of today, Dua Lipa, to come along for a duet (“Prisoner”) which sounds eerily similar to Lipa’s hit “Physical” and no one seems to care. They’re both that good.
Shoutout to Minnesota-native Caitlyn Smith who wrote one of the ballads on the album, “High,” showcasing Cyrus’ country upbringing with Dolly Parton as a godmother and Billy Ray Cyrus as a father.
6. “Renaissance” by Aluna
Known mostly for the duo AlunaGeorge, Aluna steps out with a solo album that’s real fun. It’s electronic pop at its finest. The opening track “I’ve Been Starting to Love All the Things I Hate” will give you true Robyn vibes.
The reason I term this as “fun” is because there are so many different types of sounds happening on this album. Of course the heavy disco dance track that you might expect if you’re an AlunaGeorge fan, but then hints of R&B and African music.
I’m a big fan of “Don’t Hit My Line,” but this is a great album to listen all the way through.
7. “ALICIA” by Alicia Keys
This self-titled album was quite serendipitous. The track “Underdog” has arguably become somewhat of a pandemic song with Alicia Keys knowing it would end up that way.
The song “Time Machine” is also what we needed in 2020, but having come out as a single back in 2019.
Keys does not shy away from getting philosophical on this album and coming from anyone but her, it might seem disingenuous but her vocals and lyricism is believable. With the likes of Tierra Whack, Khalid, and Miguel joining her on the album, it’s quiet and moody but quite loud in its poetry and society of poets it features.
8. “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa
Just as things were shutting down across the country, Dua Lipa gave us a reason to dance. I’ll always remember that about this album.
We’ve already talked a bit about Lipa being featured on Cyrus’ album. Lipa also went after an updated 80s rock sound as well. She even features a sample of INXS’ “Need You Tonight” in the guitar lick for her track “Break My Heart.”
Lipa distinguishes herself from Cyrus’ 80s vibe firstly with the simple fact that her vocals are clean pop reminiscent of Madonna. It’s a bit of disco meets 80s rock and it works, with smash hits like “Physical,” “Don’t Start Now,” and “Levitating.”
9. “RE//CHOIRED” by House Gospel Choir
Singers of the House Gospel Choir have been featured in a plethora of smash European dance hits. Here, they come together as a choir to create a magical album of music that just might make you believe again.
As a former choir boy turned cycling instructor, this is just too good. There is so much positive energy on this album that you’ll see colors as you listen.
Again, in the context of the year, tracks like “Blind Faith” shine with lyrics, “I know life (2 steps forward, 2 steps back) can feel like (2 steps forward then we take 2 steps back) sometimes (2 steps forward, 2 steps back) but if you just believe (Nothing's gonna hold us back).”
10. “3.15.20” by Childish Gambino
Similar to Lipa’s album, Childish Gambino released this album just as things were taking a turn and stay-at-home orders were going into effect across the country.
Straight out of the gate, we needed the push to move, to take stock of how we connect with each other (“Algorythm”).
There are some serious Prince vibes (“19.10”) and Lenny Kravitz funk (“53.49”). Arianna Grande lends her cloud-like vocals to “Time” to create an ethereal pop track.
What were your favorite albums in 2020? Let us know below 👇
