Every year I count down the year’s best albums. This year was going to be no different, and I started planning my Best Albums of 2020 list on Spotify as soon as the year started.

You’ve heard it everywhere, but it bears repeating – 2020 was a year unlike any other. Particularly for musicians. In a year where touring was canceled, musicians had to find new ways to promote new music. But being quarantined also gave them plenty of time and opportunity to write, record, and release new music.

I’ve put together what I thought were the most noteworthy and best albums of 2020 below. Unlike in years past, I chose not to rank them and I’m offering no context, explanation, or description of them.

You can check them all out on my Spotify playlist “Best Albums of 2020” HERE or in the Spotify Web Player Below


SAULT // Untitled (Black Is) & Untitled (Rise)

Review: SAULT's 'UNTITLED' Lights Up The Full Spectrum Of Blackness : NPR
Sault release new album Untitled (Rise) on vinyl

Taylor Swift // folklore & evermore

Taylor Swift: folklore Album Review | Pitchfork
Taylor Swift: evermore Album Review | Pitchfork

Rina Sawayama // SAWAYAMA

Rina Sawayama: SAWAYAMA Album Review | Pitchfork

Ben Seretan // Youth Pastoral

Ben Seretan: Youth Pastoral Album Review | Pitchfork

Tennis // Swimmer

Tennis: Swimmer Album Review | Pitchfork

Lido Pimienta // Miss Colombia

Lido Pimienta: Miss Colombia Album Review | Pitchfork

Yves Tumor // Heaven to a Tortured Mind

Yves Tumor: Heaven to a Tortured Mind Album Review | Pitchfork

U.S. Girls // Heavy Light

U.S. Girls: Heavy Light Album Review | Pitchfork

Sufjan Stevens // The Ascension

The Ascension | Sufjan Stevens

Agnes Obel // Myopia

Agnes Obel - Myopia – Blue Note Records

Open Mike Eagle // Anime, Trauma and Divorce

Open Mike Eagle: Anime, Trauma and Divorce Album Review | Pitchfork

Soccer Mommy // color theory

Soccer Mommy: color theory Album Review | Pitchfork

Run the Jewels // RTJ4

Run The Jewels - RTJ4 Lyrics and Tracklist | Genius

Phoebe Bridgers // Punisher

Phoebe Bridgers: Punisher Album Review | Pitchfork

Låpsley // Through Water

Lapsley - Through Water LP | New Music | Rainy Day Records, Olympia WA

Laura Marling // Song for Our Daughter

Laura Marling: Song for Our Daughter Album Review | Pitchfork

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit // Reunions

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: Reunions Album Review | Pitchfork

Fleet Foxes // Shore

Fleet Foxes: Shore Album Review | Pitchfork

Fiona Apple // Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Fiona Apple: Fetch the Bolt Cutters Album Review | Pitchfork

Bob Dylan // Rough and Rowdy Ways

On 39th Studio LP 'Rough And Rowdy Ways', Bob Dylan Astounds Minds & Ears  (Again) (ALBUM REVIEW) - Glide Magazine

Moses Sumney // græ

Moses Sumney - græ Lyrics and Tracklist | Genius

Perfume Genius // Set My Heart on Fire Immediately

Perfume Genius: Set My Heart on Fire Immediately Album Review | Pitchfork

Porridge Radio // Every Bad

Porridge Radio: Every Bad Album Review | Pitchfork

TORRES // Silver Tongue

Torres: Silver Tongue Album Review | Pitchfork

Adrianne Lenker // songs

Adrianne Lenker: songs / instrumentals Album Review | Pitchfork

Nadia Reid // Out of My Province

Out of My Province | Nadia Reid

Rufus Wainwright // Unfollow the Rules

Rufus Wainwright: Unfollow the Rules Album Review | Pitchfork

Badly Drawn Boy // Banana Skin Shoes

BADLY DRAWN BOY - Banana Skin Shoes - Amazon.com Music

Land of Talk // Indistinct Conversations

Land of Talk: Indistinct Conversations Album Review | Pitchfork

HAIM // Women in Music, Part III

HAIM Announces New Album, 'Women In Music Pt. III,' Shares 'The Steps' : NPR

Emma Louise // Lilac Everything

Emma Louise: Lilac Everything Album Review | Pitchfork

Dua Lipa // Future Nostalgia

Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia Album Review | Pitchfork

Bruce Springsteen // Letter to You

Bruce Springsteen: Letter to You Album Review | Pitchfork

Bonny Light Horseman // Bonny Light Horseman

Bonny Light Horseman: Bonny Light Horseman Album Review | Pitchfork

Boniface // Boniface

Boniface - Boniface | Album Review

Lianne La Havas // Lianne La Havas

Lianne La Havas – The New Album out now

Ashley Ray // Pauline

Album Review: Ashley Ray – Pauline – Highway Queens

Julianna Barwick // Healing Is a Miracle

Healing Is A Miracle | Julianna Barwick

Jónsi // Shiver

Jónsi: Shiver Album Review | Pitchfork

The Killers // Imploding the Mirage

The Killers: Imploding the Mirage Album Review | Pitchfork

Thundercat // It Is What It Is

Thundercat: It Is What It Is Album Review | Pitchfork

Nubya Garcia // Source

SOURCE | Nubya Garcia

Waxahatchee // Saint Cloud

Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud Album Review | Pitchfork

This Is the Kit // Off Off On

This Is The Kit

What were your best albums of 2020? Contact me, or enter a comment below!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *