The best albums of 2020 (update August 15)
The numbers presented next to each album title are the weighted average rating, and, in brackets, average and number of ratings (out of 32 included sources). The weighted average is based on a formula that includes a) the average of ratings and b) the number of sources that have rated the album.
The magazines I used for the ratings were:
EUR + Australia: Gaffa-dk; Gaffa-sw; Humo; Indiestyle; Jenesaispop; Laut; Mondosonoro; Musikexpress; Nojesguiden; Ondarock; Plattentests; Sentire Ascoltare; The Music
UK: Clash; DIY; God Is In The Tv; Load And Quiet; Music OMH; The Guardian; The Line Of Best Fit; The Skinny
USA + Canada: Allmusic; Consequence Of Sound; Earbuddy; Exclaim!; Nothern Transmissions; Paste; Pitchfork; Popmatters; Rolling Stone; Spectrum Culture; Under The Radar
Highlights: Rob makes the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, The Skinny, etc…
New entry or Re-entry
Albums that have obtained new reviews and improved the score
Albums that have obtained new reviews but worsened the score
Out:
None
75 - Bananagun: The True Story of Bananagun - 74,3 (78,3 / 9)
Highlights: She Now - Perfect Stranger - Modern Day Problems
Afrobeat
74 - The Chats: High Risk Behaviour - 74,6 (78,3 / 10)
Highlights: Pub Feed - Identity Theft - Stinker
Garage Punk
73 - Lanterns On The Lake: Spook The Herd – 74,7 (79,0 / 8)
Highlights: Every Atom - Before They Excavate - Swimming Lessons
Dream Pop
72 - The Beths: Jump Rope Gazers - 74,7 (75,7 / 18)
Highlights: I’m Not Getting Excited - Acrid - Mars, the God of War
Indie Rock
71 - Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs: Viscerals - 74,9 (78,2 / 11)
Highlights: Halloween Bolson - New Body - Rubbernecker
Stoner Metal
70 - Dehd: Flower Of Devotion – 75,0 (79,0 / 9)
Highlights: Loner – Haha - No Time
Indie Rock
69 - Dream Wife: So When You Gonna… - 75,1 (77,4 / 14)
Highlights: Sports! - Hasta la vista - Temporary
Indie Rock
68 - Jessie Reyez: Before Love Came To Kill Us - 75,1 (78,8 / 10)
Highlights: Imported - Figures - Intruders
Trap Rap
67 - Sparks: A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip - 75,1 (76,5 / 17)
Highlights: Self-Effacing - I’m Toast - iPhone
Art Pop
66 - Code Orange: Underneath – 75,2 (78,2 / 12)
Highlights: Swallowing the Rabbit Whole - Sulfur Surrounding - You and You Alone
Metalcore
65 - Sonic Boom: All Things Being Equal - 75,2 (78,5 / 11)
Highlights: Just a Little Piece of Me - I Feel a Change Coming On - Things Like This (A Little Bit Deeper)
Neo-Psychedelia
64 - The Weeknd: After Hours – 75,2 (74,6 / 23)
Highlights: Blinding Lights - After Hours - Scared to Live
Alternative R&B
63 - Hamilton Leithauser: The Loves Of Your Life - 75,4 (77,7 / 14)
Highlights: Here They Come - Don't Check the Score - Isabella
Indie Rock
62 - Julianna Barwick: Healing Is A Miracle - 75,5 (78,2 / 13)
Highlights: Inspirit - In Light - Nod
Ambient
61 - Lady Gaga: Chromatica - 75,5 (74,8 / 23)
Highlights: Stupid Love - Sine from Above - Rain on Me
Dance Pop
60 - Arca: KiCk i – 75,5 (74,8 / 23)
Highlights: KLK – Time - Mequetrefe
Deconstructed Club
59 - Kvelertak: Splid - 75,5 (79,9 / 8)
Highlights: Bråtebrann - Crack of Doom - Fanden ta dette Hull!
Hardcore Punk
58 - Shabaka And The Ancestors: We Are Sent Here By History - 75,6 (79,6 / 9)
Highlights: The Coming of the Strange Ones - They Who Must Die - We Will Work (On Redefining Manhood)
Jazz
57 - Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts VI: Locusts – 75,6 (78,6 / 12)
Highlights: Run Like Hell - Around Every Corner - The Cursed Clock
Dark Ambient
56 - Mark Lanegan: Straight Songs Of Sorrow – 75,7 (76,3 / 19)
Highlights: Skeleton Key - This Game of Love - Stockholm City Blues
Singer-Songwriter
55 - Ben Watt: Storm Damage – 75,7 (79,0 / 11)
Highlights: Irene - Balanced on a Wire - Retreat to Find
Alternative Rock
54 - The Strokes: The New Anormal – 75,7 (72,4 / 31)
Highlights: Bad Decisions - The Adults Are Talking - Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus
Indie Rock
53 - Mac Miller: Circles - 75,8 (77,4 / 16)
Highlights: Good News - Everybody - Complicated
Neo-Soul
52 - Georgia: Seeking Thrills - 75,8 (73,8 / 27)
Highlights: About Work the Dancefloor - Never Let You Go - 24 Hours
Electropop
51 - Keeley Forsyth: Debris – 75,8 (80,1 / 8)
Highlights: Lost - Look to Yourself - Large Oak
Avant-Folk
50 - King Krule: Man Alive! - 75,8 (73,5 / 28)
Highlights: Alone, Omen 3 - Stoned Again - Cellular
Art Rock
49 - Shirley Collins: Heart's Ease - 75,8 (79,5 / 10)
Highlights: The Merry Golden Tree - Locked in Ice - Sweet Greens and Blues
Folk
48 - Jarv Is: Beyond The Pale – 76,0 (76,3 / 20)
Highlights: Must I Evolve? - House Music All Night Long - Save the Whale
Art Rock
47 - Bdrmm: Bedroom - 76,3 (80,6 / 8)
Highlights: A Reason to Celebrate - Happy - If…
Dream Pop
46 - Owen Pallet: Island – 76,4 (79,4 / 12)
Highlights: The Sound of the Engines - A Bloody Morning - Paragon of Order
Chamber Folk
45 - Grimes: Miss Anthropocene - 76,5 (72,8 / 32)
Highlights: Delete Forever - My Name Is Dark - Violence
Art Pop
44 - Childish Gambino: 3.15.2020 – 76,7 (76,3 / 22)
Highlights: Algorhythm - Time - 19.10
Neo Soul
43 - Nadine Shah: Kitchen Sink – 76,7 (78,1 / 17)
Highlights: Ladies for Babies (Goats for Love) - Kitchen Sink - Trad
Art Rock
42 - BC Camplight: Shortly After Takeoff – 76,9 (80,9 / 9)
Highlights: Arm Around Your Sadness - Back to Work - Ghosthunting
Psychedelic Pop
41 - Bill Fay: Countless Branches – 77,0 (79,6 / 13)
Highlights: Filled With Wonder Once Again - I Will Remain Here - Salt on the Earth
Singer-Songwriter
40 - Sorry: 925 – 77,1 (76,4 / 23)
Highlights: Right Round the Clock - Starstruck - More
Indie Rock
39 - Lucinda Williams: Good Souls Better Angels – 77,1 (78,4 / 17)
Highlights: Big Black Train - Wakin' Up - When the Way Gets Dark
Blues Rock
38 - Torres: Silver Tongue – 77,2 (77,1 / 21)
Highlights: Good Grief - Last Forest - Dressing America
Indie Rock
37 - Khruangbin: Mordechai - 77,2 (77,1 / 21)
Highlights: Time (You and I) - So We Won’t Forget - Pelota
Psychedelic Rock
36 - Nicolas Jaar: Cenizas – 77,3 (81,6 / 8)
Highlights: Mud - Garden - Faith Made of Silk
Ambient
35 - Destroyer: Have We Meet – 77,5 (75,8 / 26)
Highlights: Crimson Tide - It Just Doesn't Happen - University Hill
Synthpop
34 - U.S. Girls: Heavy Light – 78,4 (77,4 / 24)
Highlights: 4 American Dollars - Overtime - Woodstock '99
Art Pop
33 - Lianne La Havas: Lianne La Havas - 78,7 (79,1 / 20)
Highlights: Paper Thin - Read My Mind - Weird Fishes
Neo-Soul
32 - Charli XCX: how i'm feeling now - 78,8 (77,4 / 25)
Highlights: Forever - Claws - Anthems
Bubblegum Bass
31 - Hinds: The Prettiest Curse - 78,9 (79,6 / 19)
Highlights: Good Bad Times – Riding Solo – Come Back and Love Me <3
Indie Rock
30 - Jehnny Beth: To Love Is To Live – 79,0 (77,0 / 27)
Highlights: I’m the Man - French Countryside - Flower
Art Pop
29 - Hayley Williams: Petals For Armor – 79,2 (80,2 / 18)
Highlights: Simmer - Dead Horse - Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris
Art Pop
28 - Baxter Dury: The Night Chancers - 79,4 (81,1 / 16)
Highlights: I'm Not Your Dog - Carla's Got a Boyfriend - Slumlord
Synthpop
27 - Makaya McCraven: We’re New Again – A Re-imagining - 79,4 (82,1 / 13)
Highlights: Where Did the Night Go - New York Is Killing Me - I'm New Here
Nu Jazz
26 - Tame Impala: The Slow Rush – 79,5 (75,8 / 32)
Highlights: Lost in Yesterday - Posthumous Forgiveness - Breathe Deeper
Neo-Psychedelia
25 - Soccer Mommy: Color Theory – 79,6 (78,2 / 25)
Highlights: Circle the Drain - Bloodstream - Yellow Is the Color of Her Eyes
Singer-Songwriter
24 - J Hus: Big Conspiracy - 79,8 (83,8 / 9)
Highlights: Must Be - No Denying - Play Play
Hip Hop
23 - Laura Marling: Song For Our Daughter – 79,9 (79,5 / 22)
Highlights: Blow by Blow - Alexandra - Strange Girl
Folk
22 - Rina Sawayama: Sawayama – 80,0 (80,3 / 20)
Highlights: Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys) - XS - Dinasty
R&B
21 - Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist: Alfredo - 80,3 (85 / 7)
Highlights: 1985 - Baby $hit - Frank Lucas
Hip Hop
20 - Crack Cloud: Pain Olympics - 80,7 (85,0 / 8)
Highlights: Post Truth (Birth of a Nation) - The Next Fix (A Safe Space) - Ouster Stew
Post-Punk
19 - Thundercat: It Is What It Is – 80,8 (79,8 / 24)
Highlights: Dragonball Durag - Black Qualls - Innerstellar Love
Nu Jazz
18 - Jessie Ware: What's Your Pleasure? – 80,8 (79,5 / 25)
Highlights: Spotlight - Save a Kiss - Remember Where You Are
Dance Pop
17 - Neil Young: Homegrown – 81,2 (81,6 / 20)
Highlights: Separate Ways - Try - Vacancy
Singer-Songwriter
16 - The Microphones: Microphones in 2020 - 81,8 (86,1 / 8)
Highlights: The Microphones in 2020 *(Album with only one song)
Singer-Songwriter
15 - Fontaines D.C.: A Hero's Death - 81,8 (79,5 / 28)
Highlights: I Don’t Belong - A Lucid Dream - A Hero’s Death
Post-Punk
14 - Protomartyr: Ultimate Success Today - 81,8 (80,5 / 25)
Highlights: Bridge & Crown - Processed by the Boys - Worm in Heaven
Post-Punk
13 - Caribou: Suddenly – 82,1 (79,4 / 29)
Highlights: You and I - Home - Never Come Back
Indietronica
12 - Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia – 82,1 (80,8 / 25)
Highlights: Physical - Break My Heart - Don’t Start Now
Dance Pop
11 - Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud – 82,4 (79,7 / 29)
Highlights: Lilacs - Can't Do Much - Fire
Singer-Songwriter
10 - Haim: Women In Music Pt. III – 82,7 (79,7 / 30)
Highlights: The Steps - Up for a Dream - Summer Girl
Indie Pop
09 - Porridge Radio: Every Bad - 82,8 (82,2 / 23)
Highlights: Lilac - Sweet - Born Confused
Indie Rock
08 - Taylor Swift: Folklore - 83,4 (81,1 / 28)
Highlights: The Last Great American Dynasty - Cardigan - Exile
Singer-Songwriter
07 - Yves Tumor: Heaven To A Tortured Mind – 83,9 (81,9 / 27)
Highlights: Kerosene! - Gospel for a New Century - Romanticist
Nu Jazz
06 - Moses Sumney: græ – 84,1 (85,1 / 18)
Highlights: Polly - Virile - Neither/Nor
Art Pop
05 - Phoebe Bridgers: Punisher - 85,9 (82,9 / 30)
Highlights: Kyoto - Garden Song - I Know the End
Singer-Songwriter
04 - Run The Jewels: RTJ4 – 87,7 (85,7 / 27)
Highlights: Walking in the Snow - Yankee and the Brave (ep. 4) – JU$T
Hip Hop
03 - Bob Dylan: Rough and Rowdy Ways – 88,3 (88,0 / 22)
Highlights: I Contain Multitudes - Murder Most Foul - Goodbye Jimmy Reed
Singer-Songwriter
02 - Perfume Genius: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately – 90,2 (87,2 / 30)
Highlights: Describe - On the Floor - Without You
Art Pop
01 - Fiona Apple: Fetch The Bolt Cutters – 94,3 (92,6 / 26)
Highlights: Shameika - I Want You to Love Me - Under the Table
Art Pop
MCCh 2020 (14) August 15
- Otisredding
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MCCh 2020 (14) August 15
Last edited by Otisredding on Mon Aug 17, 2020 5:21 pm, edited 5 times in total.
- Otisredding
- Keep On Movin'
- Posts: 1875
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:00 am
- Location: Banyoles, Catalonia (Spain)
Re: MCCh 2020 (14) August 15
76 - Ghostpoet: I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep - 74,3 (75,9 / 16)
77 - Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit: Reunions - 74,2 (76,6 / 14)
78 - Empress Of: I'm Your Empress Of - 74,2 (76,2 / 15)
79 - Kate NV: Room For The Moon - 74,2 (78,5 / 8)
80 - Damien Jurado: What's New, Tomboy? - 74,1 (78,1 / 9)
81 - Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Sideways to New Italy - 74,1 (72,8 / 25)
82 - Illuminati Hotties: Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For - 74,1 (78,7 / 7)
83 - Moses Boyd: Dark Matter - 73,9 (77,3 / 11)
84 - Andy Shauf: The Neon Skyline - 73,9 (75,9 / 15)
85 - Boniface: Boniface - 73,9 (78,6 / 7)
86 - Dan Deacon: Mystic Familiar - 73,8 (73,8 / 21)
87 - Bonny Light Horseman: Bonny Light Horseman - 73,7 (77,4 / 10)
88 - Kiwi Jr.: Football Money - 73,6 (77,6 / 9)
89 - Lido Pimienta: Miss Colombia - 73,5 (76,8 / 11)
90 - Nap Eyes: Snapshot of a Beginner - 73,5 (76,8 / 11)
91 - Margo Price: That's How Rumors Get Started - 73,4 (75,7 / 14)
92 - Rufus Wainwright: Unfollow The Rules - 73,4 (73,0 / 22)
93 - Jessy Lanza: All The Time - 73,4 (74,7 / 17)
94 - Halsey: Manic - 73,4 (71,7 / 26)
95 - Wire: Mind Hive - 73,3 (76,3 / 12)
96 - Jason Molina: Eight Gates - 73,3 (77,0 / 10)
97 - Muzz: Muzz - 73,2 (77,2 / 9)
98 - Buscabulla: Regresa - 73,2 (76,2 / 12)
99 - Bambara: Stray - 73,2 (76,2 / 12)
100 - Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts V: Together - 73,1 (76,1 / 12)
101 - 100 Gecs: 1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues - 73,0 (77,4 / 8)
102 - Courtney Marie Andrews: Old Flowers - 73,0 (74,7 / 16)
103 - Pearl Jam: Gigaton - 73,0 (71,7 / 25)
104 - Frances Quinlan: Likewise - 73,0 (75,3 / 14)
105 - Sløtface: Sorry For The Late Reply - 72,9 (76,6 / 10)
106 - The Soft Pink Truth: Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? - 72,9 (77,3 / 8)
107 - Westerman: Your Hero Is Not Dead - 72,9 (75,9 / 12)
108 - Blake Mills: Mutable Set - 72,9 (77,6 / 7)
109 - Pet Shop Boys: Hotspot - 72,9 (72,9 / 21)
110 - Pottery: Welcome To Bobby's Motel - 72,8 (74,8 / 15)
111 - Katie Von Schleicher: Consummation - 72,6 (77,3 / 7)
112 - Coriky: Coriky - 72,5 (76,9 / 8)
113 - Keleketla!: Keleketla! - 72,5 (77,1 / 7)
114 - Deerhoof: Future Teenage Cave Artists - 72,2 (74,5 / 14)
115 - Jade Hairpins: Harmony Avenue - 72,1 (76,1 / 9)
116 - Tennis: Swimmer - 72,0 (75,7 / 10)
117 - Swamp Dogg: Sorry You Couldn't Make It - 71,9 (76,6 / 7)
118 - Pantha Du Prince: Conference of Trees - 71,9 (76,6 / 7)
119 - James Dean Bradfield: Even In Exile - 71,8 (75,8 / 9)
120 - The Chicks: Gaslighter - 71,7 (74,1 / 14)
121 - Drive-By Truckers: The Unraveling - 71,7 (74,4 / 13)
122 - Ohmne: Fantasize Your Ghost - 71,7 (75,7 / 9)
123 - Pinegrove: Marigold - 71,5 (73,1 / 16)
124 - Kamaal Williams: Wu Hen - 71,4 (75,8 / 8)
125 - ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead: X: The Godless Void and Other Stories - 71,4 (74,4 / 12)
126 - Orlando Weeks: A Quickening - 71,3 (75,6 / 8)
127 - NZCA Lines: Pure Luxury - 71,3 (75,6 / 8)
128 - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith: The Mosaic Of Transformation - 71,2 (74,5 / 11)
129 - 070 Shake: Modus Vivendi - 71,2 (72,8 / 16)
130 - The Big Moon: Walking Like We Do - 71,2 (72,8 / 16)
131 - The Streets: None Of Us Are Getting Out Of This Life Alive - 71,1 (70,8 / 22)
132 - Squarepusher: Be Up A Hello - 71,0 (71,9 / 18)
133 - Katie Gately: Loom - 70,9 (75,3 / 8)
134 - Paul Weller: On Sunset - 70,9 (71,6 / 19)
135 - Biffy Clyro: A Celebration Of Endings - 70,8 (74,5 / 10)
136 - Car Seat Headrest: Making a Door Less Open - 70,7 (71,7 / 18)
137 - Stephen Malkmus: Traditional Techniques - 70,7 (70,3 / 22)
138 - Cornershop: England Is A Garden - 70,3 (75 / 7)
139 - Disq: Collector - 70,2 (74,2 / 9)
140 - Braids: Shadow Offering - 70,1 (74,1 / 9)
Last edited by Otisredding on Wed Sep 16, 2020 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: MCCh 2020 (14) August 15
Thanks for your work, Otis. This is one of my favorite sections of AM.
Re: MCCh 2020 (14) August 15
Welcome back, Otis! Great work as always.
Highlights section should be pretty easy for Microphones in 2020...
Highlights section should be pretty easy for Microphones in 2020...
Re: MCCh 2020 (14) August 15
Of course! 04:39-10:31, 20:58-23:14, and 40:44-44:45.
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
- Rob
- Die Mensch Maschine
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- Location: Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Re: MCCh 2020 (14) August 15
Here is the updated playlist:
The Microphones in 2020 is the first album to appear here, but not on Spotify in 2 years. Here it is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7BkabF31ak
The highlights should be added to Otisreddings' post soon.
The Microphones in 2020 is the first album to appear here, but not on Spotify in 2 years. Here it is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7BkabF31ak
The highlights should be added to Otisreddings' post soon.
- Otisredding
- Keep On Movin'
- Posts: 1875
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:00 am
- Location: Banyoles, Catalonia (Spain)