The Best Albums of 2020

 

Well the year is nearly at an end and it’s safe to say that we will all be glad to wave farewell to 2020! In a year that was difficult for everyone, many of us found solace in music, and many bands and artists defied the challenges of lockdown and the huge impact on the creative industries, to release new material (often recorded at home).

Here’s our top ten records released in 2020. There have been some amazing musical moments and here are our favourites:

10. Paul Weller - ‘On Sunset’ - The elder statesman of rock has maintained impressive form in recent years, and this release is no disappointment. Weller stylishly blends an impressive kaleidoscope of musical styles, from the electro licks of inspired opener ‘Mirror Ball’ to the music hall flavoured ‘Equanimity’. It is ‘Village’ though, with its melodic and soothing rhythms, that is the highlight here.

9. Bright Eyes - ‘Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was’ - This is a welcome return to form for Bright Eyes and a strong addition to their collection. The aggressive rhythms of ‘Dance and Sing’ recall the bands classic ‘Casadaga’ and suits Conor Oberst’s lyrical narratives to a tee. Single ‘Mariana Trench’ has an enjoyably rolling melody before building to a catchy chorus whilst ‘One and Done’ is more experimental with an atmospheric orchestral undertone.

8. Bob Dylan - ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ - We gave this a well deserved 8/10 in the summer months, and it  turns out it is a record that gets more enjoyable with each listen. Dylan’s’ well aged vocals provide the perfect balance of weariness and reflection on the laid back opener ‘I Contain Multitudes’ whilst he happily goes electric again on ‘False Prophet’ and ‘Goodbye Jimmy Reed’. Both are brimming full of typical Dylan character and attitude. It may not be new tricks for this old dog but he certainly hasn’t lost his unique lyrical and songwriting ability and draws from a huge array of sources of inspiration here to paint his vivid pictures.

7. Blossoms - ‘Foolish Loving Spaces’ - Blossoms have been trying to re-capture the spark of excitement they created when they first arrived ever since and, whilst they may not manage it here, it’s still a fine collection of songs from the sons of Stockport. The rest of the album never quite catches up with the electric opening of ‘If you Think This is Real Life’, ‘Your Girlfriend’ and ‘The Keeper’, but the melody of ‘My Swimming Brain’ is enjoyably catchy whilst ‘Romance, Eh’ is joyously 90s without ever sounding pastiche.

6. Big Moon - ‘Walking Like We Do’ - Big Moon’s 2017 debut ‘Love in the 4th Dimension’ was so jam packed with guitar heavy indie anthems that it was always going to be a hard act to follow. They took a wise course and a different direction completely on this record which is more ambitious in its soundscapes and is an excellent evolution for the group. Opener ‘It’s Easy Then’ tackles heartache with a throbbing electric beat and harmonised vocals whilst ‘Waves’ tackles the same subject but with just a subtle piano for company. The highlight is single ‘Your Light’ which proves that the band are just as capable of writing anthems powered by synths and strong songwriting as the distorted guitars of their debut.

5. Daniel McKenna - ‘Zeros’ - McKenna builds on the huge success of debut ‘What do you Think of the Car’ with this collection. Opener ‘You Better Believe’ is a rollicking launch to the album whilst ‘Be an Astronaut’ is a piano ballad heavily indebted to David Bowie that cleverly evolves both sonically and lyrically. ‘Beautiful Faces’ is a standout moment as McKenna tells the tale of nights out and the characters he meets on a track that never pauses for breath.

4. The Strokes - ‘The New Abnormal’ - New York’s finest may never quite live up to the heady heights of their legendary debut, but this is their best attempt in over a decade! Opener ‘The Adults are Talking’ is a storming opener with a classic Casablancas chorus whilst ‘Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus’ employs 90s videogame guitars and synths to create atmosphere before building up to a chorus that will be a huge sing-along at future gigs. The laid back closer ‘Ode to the Mets’ finds them slowing things down and proves they don’t need to move at 100mph to impress. The door is open for more from the Strokes and whilst they may never top their debut it has to be hoped they don’t stop trying!

3. Fleet Foxes - ‘Shore’ - Lockdowns have impacted many artists this year yet necessity is the mother of invention and this latest album found Robin Pecknold tackle the majority of the songwriting and recording duties alone. And he did it marvelously. This is a fine record and combines many of the elements (stirring rhythms, atmospheric melodies, and harmonised vocals) that make Fleet Foxes so special. From the meaningful tribute to lost music legends on ‘Sunblind’, to the utterly stunning choral soaked ‘For a Week or Two’, the collection contains many moving moments. It is, however, the passionate urgency of ‘Can I Believe You’ that is the finest and one of the best of the bands entire collection.

2. Laura Marling - ‘Songs for Our Daughter’ - Released months early to provide some joy during the first lockdown, this stunning collection is the finest of Marling’s career. Loosely themed around the passing of wisdom to an imaginary daughter (an idea politely borrowed from Maya Angelou), the record finds Marling intertwining her influences - Leonard Cohen on stirring opener ‘Alexandra’ and Joni Mitchell on ‘Blow by Blow’ - with her stunning acoustic melodies and atmospherically lush vocals to create a sound uniquely her own. The highlight of the collection is the emotional closer ‘For You’ which manages to combine all her trademark components and even includes an accordion solo to fine effect. 

1. Taylor Swift - ‘Folklore’ - To be totally honest there would never have been an expectation prior to this year that a Taylor Swift record would top the albums of 2020 list. It is, however, testament to her talented and brave songwriting which effortlessly combines vulnerability and strength. That, and the stunning production, meant no record better captured 2020. Love, loss, strength, despair, weakness and hope. They are all here and the influence of Bon Iver and the National give the songs a touch of understated passion. This direction really suits Swift and the album finds her flexing her lyrical muscle to craft narratives that leave the listener deeply moved. Opener ‘the 1’ reflects on lost love, whilst lead single ‘Cardigan’ (part one of a trilogy of songs about lovers Betty and James) finds her yearn for youthful memories as she sings ‘but I knew you dancing in your Levi’s drunk under a streetlight’. ‘Seven’ is a heart achingly pretty portrait of youth, whilst the delicate harmonies and gently plucked guitars on ‘Invisible String’ come together with stunning effect. Her duet with Bon Iver on the break up ballad ‘Exile’ may be the biggest moment on the album but the highlight is the anthemic ‘Betty’ which captures teenage angst and emotion vividly over a melody you’ll be singing for weeks. ‘Folklore’ is a masterpiece. It captures a year like no other in a moment in time and will be the soundtrack that moved and soothed us during a difficult year.