AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

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Holden
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AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

Alright, after a fabulous rollout from acroamor, time to get started on the rollout of our favorite albums of 2020! With 58 votes, we topped last year's numbers, which is amazing! 839 albums got votes, but only 235 albums got more than the equivalent of one first place vote, or one hundred points. I will be rolling out all of these albums that got at least 100 points! First up, though, each album that got only one first place vote:


236. The Suicide Machines | Revolution Spring
100.000 Points | 1 Vote
Biggest Fan(s): kendon (#1)


236. Damien Jurado | What's New, Tomboy?
100.000 Points | 1 Vote
Biggest Fan(s): Miguel (#1)


236. Squarepusher | Be Up a Hello
100.000 Points | 1 Vote
Biggest Fan(s): rivette (#1)


236. Ava Max | Heaven & Hell
100.000 Points | 1 Vote
Biggest Fan(s): bonnielaurel (#1)


236. Cabane | Grande est la maison
100.000 Points | 1 Vote
Biggest Fan(s): Romain (#1)


236. Nadin Amizah | Selamat Ulang Tahun
100.000 Points | 1 Vote
Biggest Fan(s): Wisnu Tirta Aji
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Edre Depeche Head
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Edre Depeche Head »

Haven't listened to the new Squarpusher album yet though I do really like the album Hard Normal Daddy
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »


235. Culk | Zerstreuen über euch
100.390 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): rumpdoll (#8)


234. Daxter Dury | The Night Chancers
101.553 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Romain (#12)


233. Drake | Dark Lane Demo Tapes
102.323 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Wisnu Tirta Aji (#21)


232. Willie Nelson | First Rose of Spring
104.320 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Father2TheMan (#7)


231. Irreversible Entanglements | Who Sent You?
104.867 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Matski (#23)


230. Miley Cyrus | Plastic Hearts
105.051 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Father2TheMan (#14)


229. Triángulo de Amor Bizarro | Triángulo de Amor Bizarro
105.923 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): slick (#16)


228. Kylie | Disco
106.316 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Moonbeam (#6)


227. Wire | Mind Hive
106.411 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): FrankLotion (#19)


226. Eartheater | Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin
106.686 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): cetamol (#18), Jackson (#19)


225. Zebra Katz | Less Is Moor
106.960 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Schüttelbirne (#26)


224. Chromatics | Faded Now
109.851 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): jamieW (#6)


223. Disclosure | Energy
110.482 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Madzong (#15)


222. Riz Ahmed | The Long Goodbye
110.522 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): notbrianeno (#15)


221. tricot | 真っ黒 (Makkuro)
110.644 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): DaveC (#9)


220. Torres | Silver Tongue
111.774 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): phil (#18)


219. King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard | K.G.
112.245 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): whuntva (#9)


218. Richard Marx | Limitless
112.414 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Father2TheMan (#3)


217. Autechre | SIGN
112.622 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham (#21)


216. Bring Me the Horizon | Post Human: Survival Horror
112.752 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): prosecutorgodot (#23)


215. Califone | Echo Mine
112.787 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): rumpdoll (#6)


214. Margo Price | That's How Rumors Get Started
112.878 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): bonnielaurel (#15), Dan (#18)


213. Mourning [A] BLKstar | The Cycle
113.297 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham (#12)


212. Field Music | Making a New World
116.364 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Romain (#6)


211. Tkay Maidza | Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2
116.964 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): cetamol (#16)


210. Delphine Dora | L'innatingible
117.260 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Jirin (#4)


209. Georgia | Seeking Thrills
118.227 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): BleuPanda (#46)


208. Birds of Tokyo | Human Design
118.494 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): whuntva (#2)


207. Nine Inch Nails | Ghosts V: Together
119.740 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Edre Peraza (#23)


206. Meghan Trainor | Treat Myself
119.743 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Father2TheMan (#4)


205. DJ Python | Mas amable
120.370 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Jackson (#5)


204. Lil Uzi Vert | Eternal Atake
120.965 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): notbrianeno (#27)


203. Été Large | When the Birds Upraise Their Choir
121.069 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Schüttelbirne (#5)


202. Duma | Duma
121.697 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): sonofsamiam (#22)


201. Alexandra Savior | The Archer
122.222 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): mileswide (#11), phil (#17)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Nassim »

Surprised Nadin Amizah didn't get a single other vote, it was quite a pleasant listen and did OK on the moderately acclaimed poll.

I'll consider Father2theman the bringer of surprises because Richard Marx is not a name I expected to ever see on AM, nor a Meghan Trainor album
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Edre Depeche Head
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Edre Depeche Head »

So far two of mine have shown up, KG and NIN.

Just wondering, are you going to add a comparison to where these albums rank on critics list.
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

Edre Peraza wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:10 pm So far two of mine have shown up, KG and NIN.

Just wondering, are you going to add a comparison to where these albums rank on critics list.
Once we get higher on the list
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Jackson »

Too bad DJ Python didn't take with most here. That was my favorite electronic album of the year.
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

The plan is to rollout 235-101 today, 100-61 tomorrow, 60-21 the next day, and finally 20-1.
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »


200. Selena Gomez | Rare
122.549 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): bonnielaurel (#21)


198. Girl Friday | Androgynous Mary
122.553 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): SL3 (#6)


198. Lime Cordiale | 14 Steps to a Better You
122.553 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Edre Peraza (#6)


197. Nation of Language | Introduction, Presence
124.807 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): rumpdoll (#3)


196. Erregung Öffentlicher Erregung | EÖE
125.316 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): rumpdoll (#1)


195. Jay Electronica | A Written Testimony
125.589 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): acroamor (#30)


194. J Balvin | Colores
125.932 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Javi (#10)


193. Halsey | Manic
126.421 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): M24 (#11)


192. Hen Ogledd | Free Humans
127.877 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Schüttelbirne (#4)


191. Mary Halvorson's Code Girl | Artlessly Falling
128.205 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Schüttelbirne (#7), sonofsamiam (#20)


190. JARV IS... | Beyond the Pale
128.377 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): jamieW (#26)


189. Boris | NO
128.788 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): prosecutorgodot (#5)


188. Badly Drawn Boy | Banana Skin Shoes
129.572 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Rocky Raccoon (#10), Romain (#14)


187. Backxwash | God Has Nothing to Do WIth This Leave Him Out of It
130.498 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Matski (#20)


186. Tricky | Fall to Pieces
130.952 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): granit (#5)


185. Boldy James & Sterling Toles | Manger on McNichols
131.020 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): prosecutorgodot (#19)


183. Space Jane | Sunlight
134.066 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): SL3 (#7), M24 (#16)


183. Kip Moore | Wild World
134.066 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Wisnu Tirta Aji (#7), Wezzo (#16)


182. Dirty Projectors | 5EPs
134.641 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): prosecutorgodot (#3)


181. Lina_Raül Refree | Lina_Raül Refree
135.180 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Dan (#20)


180. Trees Speak | Ohms
136.054 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): rumpdoll (#2)


179. Blake Mills | Mutable Set
136.177 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Chris K. (#22)


178. GoGo Penguin | GoGo Penguin
136.884 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): bonnielaurel (#13), DaveC (#16)


177. ДахаБраха [DakhaBrakha] | Alambari
136.957 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): jamieW (#4)


176. Alien Nosejob | Suddenly Everything Is Twice as Loud
137.529 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): mileswide (#7), Cold Butterfly (#14)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Jirin »

A couple entries by artists I like that I would have listened to if I heard they existed. Music criticism letting me down!
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »


175. Yumi Zouma | Truth or Consequences
140.606 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): votingbloc (#6), Greg (#14)


174. Will Butler | Generations
141.011 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): votingbloc (#4), andyd1010 (#18)


173. Tennis | Swimmer
141.820 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Rocky Raccoon (#14)


172. The Apartments | In and Out of the Light
143.541 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Greg (#3), Miguel (#19)


171. I Like Trains | Kompromat
143.722 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Romain (#7)


170. Eminem | Music to Be Murdered By
144.019 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Father2TheMan (#2)


169. Future Islands | As Long As You Are
144.093 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Edre Peraza (#13)


168. Kali Uchis | Sin miedo (del amor y otros demonios) ∞
145.077 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Cold Butterfly (#8), panam (#18)


167. Brian Fallon | Local Honey
145.889 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Wezzo (#7), votingbloc (#10)


166. Buscabulla | Regresa
146.690 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Cold Butterfly (#11), panam (#14)


165. Sløtface | Sorry for the Late Reply
146.743 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): M24 (#10)


164. Denzel Curry x Kenny Beats | Unlocked
147.877 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham (#23)


163. Melkbelly | PITH
148.413 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): rumpdoll (#11)


162. CeeLo Green | CeeLo Green Is Thomas Callaway
148.492 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Miguel (#15), Rdwdbob (#19)


161. Owen Pallett | Island
150.218 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Jackson (#14)


160. Beabadoobee | Fake It Flowers
150.581 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): phil (#20)


159. Actress | Karm & Desire
150.970 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Brad (#23)


158. Carly Rae Jepsen | Dedicated Side B
151.665 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Father2TheMan (#17), votingbloc (#19)


157. Songhoy Blues | Optimisme
153.352 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Romain (#17)


156. Nicolás Jaar | Telas
153.409 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): phil (#3), rivette (#13)


155. Don Toliver | Heaven or Hell
154.050 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Edre Peraza (#10)


154. Touché Amoré | Lament
155.154 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Nassim (#9)


153. 春ねむり [Haru Nemuri] | Lovetheism
155.922 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): DaveC (#4), prosecutorgodot (#10)


152. Sigur Rós, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Steindór Andersen & María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir | Odin's Raven Magic
157.407 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): DaveC (#5), Romain (#8)


151. Bdrmm | Bedroom
157.738 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): granit (#2), Romain (#13)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »


150. Matmos | The Consuming Flame: Open Exercises in Group Form
158.457 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Schüttelbirne (#11), prosecutorgodot (#18)


149. Nate Wooley | Seven Storey Mountain VI
159.875 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): jamieW (#3), sonofsamiam (#10)


148. Kvelertak | Splid
160.655 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Brad (#4)


147. Rufus Wainwright | Unfollow the Rules
162.385 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Dan (#9)


146. Green Day | Father of All...
164.520 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Madzong (#14), Wisnu Tirta AjI (#19), Rdwdbob (#20)


145. Khruangbin | Mordechai
166.589 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): acroamor (#7)


144. Black Dresses | Peaceful as Hell
166.897 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): prosecutorgodot (#11), Cold Butterfly (#12)


143. Kesha | High Road
167.806 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Father2TheMan (#1)


142. Eels | Earth to Dora
171.192 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Miguel, Kendon (#20)


141. Spanish Love Songs | Brave Faces Everyone
172.161 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): kendon (#2), Matski (#7)


140. Echosmith | Lonely Generation
174.242 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Wisnu Tirta Aji (#3), Father2TheMan (#5)


139. The Koreatown Oddity | Little Dominiques Nosebleed
175.366 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Matski (#2)


138. Chris Stapleton | Starting Over
176.369 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): slick (#6)


137. Myrkur | Folkesange
176.986 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): bonnielaurel (#7), DaveC (#20)


136. Calibro 35 | Momentum
177.866 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Romain (#4)


135. Juice WRLD | Legends Never Die
180.594 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): slick (#8), Edre Peraza (#19)


134. Tristan Perich | Drift Multiply
184.416 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): sonofsamiam (#11), Nassim (#14), jamieW (#16)


132. Arbouretum | Let It All In
186.147 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Brad (#2)


132. Sturgill Simpson | Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions
186.147 Points | 2 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): nicolas (#2), Dan (#3)


131. Kate NV | Room for the Moon
186.638 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): rumpdoll (#13), Jackson (#20)


130. Kaja Draksler Octet | Out for Stars
188.326 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Schüttelbirne (#2), sonofsamiam (#12)


129. Boniface | Boniface
189.908 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): votingbloc (#3), SafetyCat (#12)


128. The Electric Soft Parade | Stages
190.957 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): JohnnyBGoode (#8), Rdwdbob (#9)


127. Jyoti | Mama, You Can Bet!
191.632 Points | 5 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Jirin (#18)


126. Christian Lee Hutson | Beginners
194.384 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Wezzo (#4), kendon (#10)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by acroamor »

Sad to see Mordechai not make the top 100 - while it wasn't my "favorite" album of the year, it was probably the one I played the most - it's just so listenable!
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »


125. Nicolás Jaar | Cenizas
196.608 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): bonnielaurel (#8), phil (#16)


124. Moon Hooch | Life on Other Planets
200.511 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): mileswide (#2)


123. Horse Lords | The Common Task
201.083 Points | 5 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): rivette (#5)


122. Bill Callahan | Gold Record
201.977 Points | 6 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Chambord (#10)


121. Special Interest | The Passion Of
203.618 Points | 5 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): notbrianeno (#14)


120. Childish Gambino | 3.15.20
204.712 Points | 5 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Jirin (#13), FrankLotion (#15)


119. Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou | May Our Chambers Be Full
210.471 Points | 6 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): acroamor (#21)


118. Moses Boyd | Dark Matter
211.121 Points | 6 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): mileswide (#5)


117. Bonny Light Horseman | Bonny Light Horseman
211.317 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Greg (#4)


116. The Aces | Under My Influence
213.333 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): SafetyCat (#6), Rdwdbob, votingbloc (#11)


115. Jeff Parker | Suite for Max Brown
214.699 Points | 6 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): schaefer.tk (#7)


114. Blue & Exile | Miles
214.709 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): prosecutorgodot (#4), schaefer.tk (#18)


113. Angelica Garcia | Cha Cha Palace
214.907 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): panam (#1), Cold Butterfly (#9)


112. Dan Weiss | Natural Selection
215.126 Points | 3 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Schüttelbirne (#1), sonofsamiam (#4)


111. Arca | KiCk i
220.780 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): rivette (#11), panam (#12)


110. Beach Bunny | Honeymoon
221.584 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Rocky Raccoon (#7), votingbloc (#9)


109. Lanterns on the Lake | Spook the Herd
221.635 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Chambord (#9), Gillingham (#11), Chris K. (#20)


108. Klô Pelgag | Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs
225.170 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): cetamol (#8), Matski (#12), styrofoamboots (#14)


107. Christine and the Queens | La vita nuova
226.689 Points | 6 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Jackson (#9)


106. Crack Cloud | Pain Olympics
227.820 Points | 5 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Nassim (#12), DaveC (#15)


105. Les Amazones d'Afrique | Amazones Power
229.015 Points | 5 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): mileswide (#1)


104. Jehnny Beth | To Love Is To Live
229.407 Points | 4 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Jirin (#8), DaveC (#12)


103. Nubya Garcia | Source
230.602 Points | 6 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): schaefer.tk (#14)


102. The Chicks | Gaslighter
231.144 Points | 5 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Wezzo (#6), Future Critic (#11)


101. Four Tet | Sixteen Oceans
231.250 Points | 7 Votes
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham (#24)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Rob
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Rob »

Although it is common to see the albums from the Moderately Acclaimed Poll being reshuffled in the EOY list it is rather strange to see the album that ended last there (The Aces' Under My Influence) best the actual winner (Calibro's Momentum).
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »


100. R.A.P. Ferreira | Purple Moonlight Pages
235.237 Points | 5 Votes
Critics' List: 696
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham (#8), Matski (#16)


99. María José Llergo | Sanación
236.785 Points | 5 Votes
Critics' List: 525
Biggest Fan(s): bonnielaurel (#12), DaveC (#14)


98. Bartees Strange | Live Forever
237.120 Points | 5 Votes
Critics' List: 43
AMF Top 300 Songs: Boomer (#138)
Biggest Fan(s): Holden (#15), Nassim (#18)


97. Mary Lattimore | Silver Ladders
242.182 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: 80
Biggest Fan(s): DaveC (#8)


96. Gösta Berlings Saga | Konkret musik
243.627 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: Unranked
Biggest Fan(s): bonnielaurel (#5), SafetyCat (#19)


95. Moor Mother & Billy Woods | Brass
247.932 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: Unranked
Biggest Fan(s): Matski (#4)


94. Imperial Triumphant | Alphaville
250.157 Points | 4 Votes
Critics' List: 199
Biggest Fan(s): Matski (#8), Schüttelbirne (#10), prosecutorgodot (#14)


93. Bill Fay | Countless Branches
252.006 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: 169
Biggest Fan(s): nicolas (#1)


92. Nadine Shah | Kitchen Sink
252.862 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 76
AMF Top 300 Songs: Kitchen Sink (#216), Buckfast (#288)
Biggest Fan(s): rumpdoll (#5)


91. Julianna Barwick | Healing Is a Miracle
259.073 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 83
Biggest Fan(s): acroamor (#14)
Last edited by Holden on Tue Feb 23, 2021 7:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »


90. This Is the Kit | Off Off On
262.147 Points | 5 Votes
Critics' List: 203
Biggest Fan(s): Jirin (#3), Nassim (#7), SafetyCat (#20)


89. Neptunian Maximalism | Éons
270.428 Points | 5 Votes
Critics' List: 451
Biggest Fan(s): Schüttelbirne (#6), mileswide (#8)


88. Sages comme des sauvages | Luxe misère
271.464 Points | 5 Votes
Critics' List: Unranked
Biggest Fan(s): Dan (#5), Romain (#15)


87. Sevdaliza | Shabrang
275.474 Points | 4 Votes
Critics' List: 75
Biggest Fan(s): DaveC (#2), schaefer.tk (#6), prosecutorgodot (#13)


86. Makaya McCraven / Gil Scott-Heron | We're New Again: A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven
277.042 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 133
Biggest Fan(s): FrankLotion (#14), nicolas (#15)


85. Chloe x Halle | Ungodly Hour
277.374 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: 45
AMF Top 300 Songs: Do It (#232), Forgive Me (#243)
Biggest Fan(s): Cold Butterfly (#7), prosecutorgodot (#8), bonnielaurel (#19)


84. Agnes Obel | Myopia
283.401 Points | 5 Votes
Critics' List: 224
AMF Top 300 Songs: Broken Sleep (#88)
Biggest Fan(s): Romain (#2), Jirin (#9), jamieW (#15)


83. Slift | Ummon
285.339 Points | 4 Votes
Critics' List: 348
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham (#2), Brad (#7), SafetyCat (#11)


82. Shabaka and the Ancestors | We Are Sent Here By History
285.829 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 84
Biggest Fan(s): panam (#17), Cold Butterfly (#20)


81. Doves | The Universal Want
294.422 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 72
AMF Top 300 Songs: Prisoners (#111)
Biggest Fan(s): Madzong (#12), JohnnyBGoode (#19)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Rob »

Holden wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:15 pm 94. Imperial Triumphant | Alphaville
250.157 Points | 4 Votes
Critics' List: Matski (#8), Schüttelbirne (#10), prosecutorgodot (#14)
Biggest Fan(s):
Something went wrong here with the Critic's List/ Biggest Fan(s) part.


A surprising number of albums in the top 100 up til now I have never heard of. I'm talking mostly about all those that are miles away from the critics top 100.
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »


80. Keleketla! | Keleketla!
304.333 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 753
AMF Top 300 Songs: International Love Affair (#203)
Biggest Fan(s): sonofsamiam (#14), schaefer.tk (#15)


79. Kashiwa Daisuke | Program Music III
306.682 Points | 5 Votes
Critics' List: Unranked
AMF Top 300 Songs: Sons (#102)
Biggest Fan(s): jamieW (#2), sonofsamiam (#6), acroamor (#9)


78. Neil Young | Homegrown
310.400 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 141
Biggest Fan(s): Miguel (#9), Craig (#16)


77. Hayley Williams | Petals for Armor
311.482 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 41
AMF Top 300 Songs: Simmer (#65)
Biggest Fan(s): Chambord (#6), Holden (#20)


76. Beatrice Dillon | Workaround
311.590 Points | 8 Votes
Critics' List: 68
Biggest Fan(s): schaefer.tk (#8)


75. BC Camplight | Shortly After Takeoff
327.131 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: 246
Biggest Fan(s): Chris K. (#4), granit (#7), M24 (#18), Matski (#19)


74. Thundercat | It Is What It Is
336.845 Points | 10 Votes
Critics' List: 26
AMF Top 300 Songs: Dragonball Durag (#61), Black Qualls (#255)
Biggest Fan(s): LunarPiper (#17), BleuPanda (#20)


73. Katie Gately | Loom
339.348 Points | 8 Votes
Critics' List: 410
AMF Top 300 Songs: Waltz (#70)
Biggest Fan(s): Jackson (#8), Matski, rivette (#17)


72. Annie | Dark Hearts
342.197 Points | 5 Votes
Critics' List: 167
AMF Top 300 Songs: American Cars (#140), The Streets Where I Belong (#150), In Heaven (#247), Mermaid Dreams (#292)
Biggest Fan(s): Moonbeam (#4), Greg, jamieW (#5), Nick (#10)


71. Drive-By Truckers | The Unraveling
343.766 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 240
AMF Top 300 Songs: Thoughts and Prayers (#74)
Biggest Fan(s): Father2TheMan (#11), M24 (#14), Rocky Raccoon (#15), Miguel (#16)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »


70. Clarice Jensen | The Experience of Repetition as Death
345.576 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: 1868
AMF Top 300 Songs: Holy Mother (#117)
Biggest Fan(s): Nassim (#4), DaveC (#6), sonofsamiam (#7), jamieW (#19)


69. Poppy | I Disagree
349.548 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 126
Biggest Fan(s): Edre Peraza (#9), bonnielaurel (#14)


68. Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra | If You Listen Carefully the Music is Yours
353.180 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: 1674
AMF Top 300 Songs: Bøtteknott / Elastic Circle (#143)
Biggest Fan(s): Schüttelbirne (#3), sonofsamiam (#9), Cold Butterfly (#13), mileswide (#17)


67. Bad Bunny | YHLQMDLG
354.073 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: 32
AMF Top 300 Songs: Safaera (#78), Si veo a tu mamá (#229)
Biggest Fan(s): Cold Butterfly, Javi (#2), notbrianeno (#10)


66. Angel Olsen | Whole New Mess
356.552 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 134
Biggest Fan(s): phil (#2), Brad (#6)


65. The Soft Pink Truth | Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
359.528 Points | 8 Votes
Critics' List: 107
Biggest Fan(s): Nassim (#8), bonnielaurel (#16), sonofsamiam (#18)


64. Matt Berninger | Serpentine Prison
361.986 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: 82
AMF Top 300 Songs: Distant Axis (#246)
Biggest Fan(s): JohnnyBGoode (#4), Chambord (#7), andyd1010 (#13), Wezzo (#14)


63. Moor Mother | Circuit City
369.459 Points | 6 Votes
Critics' List: 483
AMF Top 300 Songs: Act 4 - No More Wires (#210), Act 1 - Working Machine (#271)
Biggest Fan(s): sonofsamiam (#1), mileswide (#4), Listyguy (#7)


62. Lady Gaga | Chromatica
395.294 Points | 8 Votes
Critics' List: 40
AMF Top 300 Songs: Rain on Me (#46), Stupid Love (#295)
Biggest Fan(s): Henry, notbrianeno (#8), Edre Peraza (#17), Wisnu Tirta Aji (#20)


61. Mac Miller | Circles
397.647 Points | 10 Votes
Critics' List: 38
AMF Top 300 Songs: Good News (#39)
Biggest Fan(s): panam (#9), FrankLotion (#18), cetamol (#20)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Jackson »

My biggest surprise/disappointment so far is the Owen Pallett album being entirely out of the top 100. I found Island to be on par in quality with his last two albums, which I thought had some fans around here, and "A Bloody Morning" grew on me to be one of my songs of the year.

Lots of unique stuff scattered around the usual suspects in the last few sections!
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"Mestarin kynsi piirtää kuvia
Nuorella verellä
Kuvat syöpyvät aivojen pintaan
Polttavana sienirihmastona"

60. Oranssi Pazuzu | Mestarin kynsi
399.622 Points | 8 Votes
Critics' List: 64
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham (#1), styrofoamboots (#12)
"One more dead rich runaway, who gives a shit?
Must be nice, must be the rain
When lightning strikes twice
The funeral goes completely insane"

59. Destroyer | Have We Met
401.778 Points | 9 Votes
Critics' List: 67
AMF Top 300 Songs: Cue Synthesizer (#182)
Biggest Fan(s): Nick (#9), acroamor (#13), Chris K. (#19), Brad (#20)
"This place is failing my thin ties to settled ground
Stands moving, dying wind
The cruel end will stare him down
A stone that you would hold
We can't hear, it doesn't ring
My hand just passes through
I don't feel anything"

58. Hum | Inlet
402.840 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 73
Biggest Fan(s): styrofoamboots (#6), whuntva (#8), Greg (#9), Holden (#17), slick (#19)
"Cause even when you're here
It's like there's no else around
I'm slippin' on my tears
I'm burnin' all my candles down"

57. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever | Sideways to New Italy
417.377 Points | 8 Votes
Critics' List: 71
AMF Top 300 Songs: Cars In Space (#156), Falling Thunder (#256)
Biggest Fan(s): Chambord (#8), Rdwdbob (#12), Greg, Holden (#13), acroamor (#20)
"Still think of New York every time
I see your face now, it just feels like another life
I’m up late with an imaginary pain
Always did come in waves
All that’s constant is that change"

56. Bright Eyes | Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was
432.432 Points | 8 Votes
Critics' List: 61
AMF Top 300 Songs: Persona Non Grata (#115), Mariana Trench (#172)
Biggest Fan(s): Edre Peraza (#4), Craig (#12), phil (#14), acroamor (#17)
"When facing the wind got wicked
We rallied and raised up
So now if she comes back kicking
We'll know what we're made of"

55. The Killers | Imploding the Mirage
434.048 Points | 7 Votes
Critics' List: 113
AMF Top 300 Songs: My Own Soul's Warning (#64), Caution (#101)
Biggest Fan(s): Madzong, slick (#3), Rdwdbob (#7), Henry (#10), Wezzo (#20)
"There are no more thrills I'll need
Than the desire that we shared
From the channels of our dreams
To the grave"

54. Deftones | Ohms
434.414 Points | 9 Votes
Critics' List: 29
AMF Top 300 Songs: Ohms (#100), Genesis (#277)
Biggest Fan(s): Madzong (#4), FrankLotion, whuntva (#10), slick (#15)
"Self-doubt is a stalking fiend
Narcissism is a killer
That and no healthcare
Dumb aphorist embrace obscurants
And write in ogham for your final lines"

53. Protomartyr | Ultimate Success Today
439.901 Points | 8 Votes
Critics' List: 44
AMF Top 300 Songs: Processed by the Boys (#118)
Biggest Fan(s): DaveC (#3), LunarPiper (#7), cetamol (#12), styrofoamboots (#15)
"We will now wait
Patience is our virtue
Now just wait"

52. Against All Logic | 2017-2019
454.228 Points | 10 Votes
Critics' List: 145
AMF Top 300 Songs: Fantasy (#244)
Biggest Fan(s): phil (#5), panam (#13)
"They were separating families carelessly
Under the guise of protecting you and me
Jailing innocents, no hope of being free
Crank the white noise and pretend that we're asleep"

51. Jeff Rosenstock | NO DREAM
458.629 Points | 10 Votes
Critics' List: 77
AMF Top 300 Songs: Ohio Tpke. (#193)
Biggest Fan(s): styrofoamboots (#7), Nassim (#11), panam (#20)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by panam »

Lot of rock in this 60-51 section!
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"Still falling away
Return one hand, faster than you can pretend
You can doubt, "Where are you now?"
We're marching today
We're marking the traditions that we all fall away"

50. Dogleg | Melee
460.626 Points | 9 Votes
Critics' List: 100
AMF Top 300 Songs: Kawasaki Backflip (#96), Fox (#177)
Biggest Fan(s): styrofoamboots (#1), acroamor (#3), Nassim (#16)
"I can go back there so easily
My mind wonders so efficiently
You wobbling in and out of consciousness
Doing all those things that you would soon regret
The bottle proved too tempting
And not to mention all the spending"

49. U.S. Girls | Heavy Light
486.989 Points | 10 Votes
Critics' List: 93
AMF Top 300 Songs: 4 American Dollars (#35), And Yet It Moves / Y Se Mueve (#189)
Biggest Fan(s): Rocky Raccoon (#6), Chris K. (#7), LunarPiper (#11), Rdwdbob (#17), M24 (#19)
"Yo nací con la luna de plata
Y nací­ con alma de pirata
He nacido rumbero jarocho
Trovador de veras
Y me fui lejos de Veracruz"

48. Natalia Lafourcade | Un canto por México vol. 1
488.058 Points | 9 Votes
Critics' List: 212
AMF Top 300 Songs: El Balaju / Serenata Huasteca (#245)
Biggest Fan(s): cetamol (#6), prosecutorgodot (#9), phil (#10), Gillingham (#18), nicolas (#20)
"Microphone check, one, two, mic checka
Still pack that bladadah, Subhan'Allah, I pray to Mecca
All this gang shit in my vein, I got the rank, I got the blessin'
Take some extras out the brick, we press a brick, it ain't no pressure"

47. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist | Alfredo
493.342 Points | 10 Votes
Critics' List: 35
Biggest Fan(s): Cold Butterfly (#6), FrankLotion, LunarPiper (#9), schaefer.tk (#13)
"If I kept my head down
And showed up to work on time and watched my appetite
Put the money in the mattress
Lock the doors at night, and we'd all be alright"

46. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit | Reunions
521.678 Points | 11 Votes
Critics' List: 54
AMF Top 300 Songs: Overseas (#265)
Biggest Fan(s): Holden (#5), Future Critic, JohnnyBGoode (#12), Dan (#15), slick (#17), bonnielaurel (#20)
"Floodlight dreams go drifting past
All the lines we could've had
Distant loves floating above
Close these eyes, they've seen enough"

45. Pearl Jam | Gigaton
561.469 Points | 10 Votes
Critics' List: 88
AMF Top 300 Songs: Dance of the Clairvoyants (#68), Superblood Wolfmoon (#197)
Biggest Fan(s): whuntva (#3), Madzong (#5), kendon, slick (#7)
"Y ya pude verte, pude reclamarte
Luego abandonarte; lo que quise ahora
Y aunque fui tal vez un poco ignorante
Fui muy lista ayer para no volver"

44. Lido Pimienta | Miss Colombia
565.493 Points | 13 Votes
Critics' List: 50
AMF Top 300 Songs: Eso que tú haces (#157), Nada (#171)
Biggest Fan(s): panam (#4), cetamol (#10), Cold Butterfly (#17), schaefer.tk (#20)
"Dig deep (The water deep down is safe enough to drink)
Burn bright (The fire inside is brighter than you think)
Stay sharp (Time will want it smooth around the end)
Feel free (First you must relax before transcend)"

43. Dan Deacon | Mystic Familiar
586.188 Points | 12 Votes
Critics' List: 418
AMF Top 300 Songs: Become a Mountain (#72), Say By a Tree (#259)
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham (#5), Holden (#7), Brad (#8), phil (#13), Jirin (#16), DaveC (#17)
"Wake up, wake up, wake up
It's Monday morning and we've only got a thousand of them left
Well, I know it feels pointless and you don't have any money
We're all just gonna try our fucking best
Well, my generation wanna fuck Barack Obama
Living in a sauna with legal marijuana"

42. The 1975 | Notes on a Conditional Form
590.362 Points | 9 Votes
Critics' List: 52
AMF Top 300 Songs: If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know) (#19), Me & You Together Song (#94), Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America (#151), Frail State of Mind (#286), Guys (#290)
Biggest Fan(s): Edre Peraza (#1), whuntva (#4), Henry (#5), Madzong (#7), slick #(#10), SafetyCat (#17), Nick (#20)
"Up on the mountain they'd be all alone
You can't just leave them on the side of the road
You know they'll never make it on their own
All alone, all alone"

41. The Flaming Lips | American Head
628.498 Points | 12 Votes
Critics' List: 42
AMF Top 300 Songs: Flowers of Neptune 6 (#109), Will You Return / When You Come Down (#252)
Biggest Fan(s): granit (#1), Henry (#4), DaveC (#7), FrankLotion (#12), Jirin (#14), Craig (#18)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Edre Depeche Head
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Edre Depeche Head »

Holden wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 4:50 pm
"Wake up, wake up, wake up
It's Monday morning and we've only got a thousand of them left
Well, I know it feels pointless and you don't have any money
We're all just gonna try our fucking best
Well, my generation wanna fuck Barack Obama
Living in a sauna with legal marijuana"

42. The 1975 | Notes on a Conditional Form
590.362 Points | 9 Votes
Critics' List: 52
AMF Top 300 Songs: If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know) (#19), Me & You Together Song (#94), Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America (#151), Frail State of Mind (#286), Guys (#290)
Biggest Fan(s): Edre Peraza (#1), whuntva (#4), Henry (#5), Madzong (#7), slick #(#10), SafetyCat (#17), Nick (#20)
I am pleased with this placement. Considering how polarizing it was, I was surprised it made the top 50
Edre the Depeche Head
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Rob
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Rob »

Edre Peraza wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 6:20 pm
Holden wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 4:50 pm
"Wake up, wake up, wake up
It's Monday morning and we've only got a thousand of them left
Well, I know it feels pointless and you don't have any money
We're all just gonna try our fucking best
Well, my generation wanna fuck Barack Obama
Living in a sauna with legal marijuana"
42. The 1975 | Notes on a Conditional Form
590.362 Points | 9 Votes
Critics' List: 52
AMF Top 300 Songs: If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know) (#19), Me & You Together Song (#94), Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America (#151), Frail State of Mind (#286), Guys (#290)
Biggest Fan(s): Edre Peraza (#1), whuntva (#4), Henry (#5), Madzong (#7), slick #(#10), SafetyCat (#17), Nick (#20)
I am pleased with this placement. Considering how polarizing it was, I was surprised it made the top 50
That's the difference between a poll in this format or something like Moderately Acclaimed: it's only based on love and not on dislikes.
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Nick »

I think there’s a fantastic 50 minute album in Notes on a Conditional Form, but sadly it’s 80 minutes long. When it’s good it’s REALLY good though, which was enough to get it to #20 on my list.
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

Nick wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:02 pm I think there’s a fantastic 50 minute album in Notes on a Conditional Form, but sadly it’s 80 minutes long. When it’s good it’s REALLY good though, which was enough to get it to #20 on my list.
The 1975 are great at making one great song on an overly long album. They’ve done it twice now, with Love It If We Made It and If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know).
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Jackson »

Dan Deacon might be the most surprising album in the top 50. Nothing on the album outside of Become a Mountain (which made my songs list) stood out to me, though I only listened to it once.
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"Well things ain't been the same in heaven since Big Bad Bobby came to town
He's been known to down eleven, then ask for another round
Me I've got scabs on my knees from kneeling way too long
It's about time I played the man, took a stand where I belong
And I forget about the old friends and the old times
There's just too many new boys trying to work the same line"

40. Bruce Springsteen | Letter to You
677.244 Points | 12 Votes
Critics' List: 36
AMF Top 300 Songs: Ghosts (#104), Letter to You (#134)
Biggest Fan(s): Wezzo (#1). Craig (#7), Future Critic (#9), Madzong (#10), Dan (#11), Rdwdbob (#13), slick (#14), andyd1010 (#17)
"Being patient's never been my forté
And your waiting room is hard on my esteem
My demeanor has been diving all day
(I can only read so many sun-bleached magazines)
I don't know if I've ever felt this way
I can't remember if I like myself at all
Just you in this empty space
It's getting darker the deeper that I fall"

39. The Beths | Jump Rope Gazers
681.815 Points | 10 Votes
Critics' List: 111
AMF Top 300 Songs: Jump Rope Gazers (#31), Dying to Believe (#71), I'm Not Getting Excited (#126), Don't Go Away (#176), Out of Sight (#227)
Biggest Fan(s): Madzong (#1), SafetyCat, SL3 (#2), kendon (#5), andyd1010 (#7), mileswide (#10), DaveC (#11)
"But you're not the only one suffering
That's enough, I know you're made of better stuff
Baby, you gotta roam free
Please don't forget about me"

38. Lianne La Havas | Lianne La Havas
685.015 Points | 15 Votes
Critics' List: 48
AMF Top 300 Songs: Weird Fishes (#75), Bittersweet (#82)
Biggest Fan(s): slick (#5), cetamol (#7), Matski, schaefer.tk (#10), Gillingham (#15)
"In the valley where you wake up every beautiful day
And the world you created in your image is golden
In a valley made of mirrors, oh, the light is so bright
You can feel like a Pagan, you can feel like a Pagan"

37. Gorillaz | Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
691.257 Points | 15 Votes
Critics' List: 56
AMF Top 300 Songs: Aries (#49), Désolé (#147), Pac-Man (#170), Strange Timez (#239)
Biggest Fan(s): prosecutorgodot (#2), SafetyCat (#4), Madzong (#8), Moonbeam (#10), styrofoamboots (#18), andyd1010 (#19)
"I lost my heart and my mind
I try to always do right
I thought I lost you this time
You just came back in my life
You never gave up on me
I'll never know what you see
I don't do well when alone
You hear it clear in my tone"

36. The Weeknd | After Hours
698.236 Points | 12 Votes
Critics' List: 31
AMF Top 300 Songs: Blinding Lights (#3), After Hours (#53), In Your Eyes (#169)
Biggest Fan(s): Henry, slick (#1), notbrianeno (#7), Craig (#8), FrankLotion, jamieW (#20)
"Love is not enough to stay
I'd rather be on my own
Gonna trust my speed and show him
Love is not enough alone"

35. Kelly Lee Owens | Inner Song
698.321 Points | 15 Votes
Critics' List: 25
AMF Top 300 Songs: On (#162), Melt! (#283)
Biggest Fan(s): Jackson (#6), BleuPanda (#7), Nick (#12), sonofsamiam (#16), styrofoamboots (#19)
"Sometimes it's all too much for me to hide
When everything gets twisted up inside
And I wish that you were there by my side, but still I try
If you find someone else, I'll be glad for you
I have to stop myself from thinking about the things you'll do
But I can't help it, the things I think just might be true, I try"

34. Caribou | Suddenly
749.689 Points | 15 Votes
Critics' List: 23
AMF Top 300 Songs: Never Come Back (#57), You and I (#165), Home (#174)
Biggest Fan(s): Nassim (#2), Jackson (#10), Brad (#11), LunarPiper (#12), BleuPanda (#15), FrankLotion (#16)
"Working people down to the bone on their knees
9-to-5 every day of the week is carcinogenic
Getting minimum wage, while your boss takes a raise
As he lies through his brand new teeth, he is carcinogenic
Over-working, working nurses and teachers
Whilst you preach austerity is carcinogenic"

33. Idles | Ultra Mono
770.880 Points | 15 Votes
Critics' List: 18
AMF Top 300 Songs: Grounds (#42), Model Village (#79), Mr. Motivator (#159)
Biggest Fan(s): SafetyCat (#3), Edre Peraza (#11), Holden, kendon (#12), Brad (#17), Rocky Raccoon (#19)
"I don't wanna live here
Sometimes don't wanna live at all
I want to be cotton candy
In the mouth of many a lover
Saccharine and slick technicolor
I'll dissolve"

32. Moses Sumney | Græ
773.049 Points | 15 Votes
Critics' List: 13
AMF Top 300 Songs: Cut Me (#146), Me in 20 Years (#155), Virile (#212)
Biggest Fan(s): schaefer.tk (#2), LunarPiper (#8), BleuPanda (#12), Chris K. (#14), Nassim (#17), Brad, slick (#18), Craig (#20)
"Broken middle finger pointed right up to the sky
Broken fist and hammer hangin' right up in the light
Waiting patient for the signal when the time is right
To bring it down"

31. clipping. | Visions of Bodies Being Burned
777.422 Points | 15 Votes
Critics' List: 65
AMF Top 300 Songs: Say the Name (#59), Pain Everyday (#130), Enlacing (#272)
Biggest Fan(s): Listyguy (#3), Gillingham (#7), LunarPiper (#10), jamieW (#17), cetamol (#19)
Last edited by Holden on Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

A lot of heavy hitters in the 31-40 section!
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"I wake up with the sun in my eyes
Beneath present moment skies
Squinting and wondering how I got here
Going through the contents of my backpack
Shaking out the dust to bring some empty space back
Filling a long merch table with artifacts
Looking back to see if I could draw a map
That leads to now"

30. The Microphones | Microphones in 2020
842.228 Points | 13 Votes
Critics' List: 46
AMF Top 300 Songs: Microphones in 2020 (#201)
Biggest Fan(s): jamieW (#1), Listyguy (#5), FrankLotion (#7), styrofoamboots (#8), Matski (#9), acroamor, cetamol (#11), Jackson (#12), Nick (#17)
"The saddest story ever told
The perfect glory, so all alone
And I could love you till kingdom come
I might not deserve you, but save you from"

29. Róisín Murphy | Róisín Machine
853.037 Points | 17 Votes
Critics' List: 21
AMF Top 300 Songs: Jealousy (#112), Murphy's Law (#137), Something More (#270)
Biggest Fan(s): notbrianeno (#4), BleuPanda, Moonbeam (#5), Jackson (#7), cetamol, styrofoamboots (#13), Craig (#14)
"You told your family for a reason
You couldn't keep it in
Your sister splashed out on the bottle
Now no one's celebrating"

28. Taylor Swift | evermore
855.080 Points | 13 Votes
Critics' List: 646
AMF Top 300 Songs: Willow (#120), Marjorie (#230), Evermore (#235)
Biggest Fan(s): Future Critic (#2), M24 (#3), andyd1010 (#5), JohnnyBGoode (#7), FrankLotion, Listyguy (#8), Chris K., phil (#12), Wezzo (#15), votingbloc (#18)
"London's fun, been and done, one for all, all for one
Hit the town, fit the crown, heavy head hanging down
If you don't know, we will not go
Turning your tricks like a newborn gangster
You need not be born wealthy, if you care, you're the heir"

27. Fontaines D.C. | A Hero's Death
867.462 Points | 18 Votes
Critics' List: 8
AMF Top 300 Songs: A Hero's Death (#40), Televised Mind (#58), I Don't Belong (#164)
Biggest Fan(s): Chambord (#1), granit, Holden (#3), BleuPanda (#9), Rdwdbob (#10), DaveC (#13), Brad (#15)
"ほほえみ合う
風がとおる
髪が舞い踊って
なにもみえない
ここは高いところ"

26. 青葉市子 [Ichiko Aoba] | アダンの風 (Adan no kaze) [Windswept Adan]
868.025 Points | 14 Votes
Critics' List: 443
AMF Top 300 Songs: Dawn in the Adan (#105), Porcelain (#154)
Biggest Fan(s): cetamol (#2), styrofoamboots (#4), Matski (#5), phil (#6), Nick (#7), DaveC (#10), Listyguy (#11), Gillingham, Jackson, prosecutorgodot (#17)
"God created space and time with no end
If he did it once, he can do it again
Like interstellar love, shining light from above"

25. The Avalanches | We Will Always Love You
881.559 Points | 17 Votes
Critics' List: 249
AMF Top 300 Songs: The Divine Chord (#86), Running Red Lights (#163), We Go On (#173)
Biggest Fan(s): acroamor (#4), SL3 (#5), styrofoamboots (#9), Craig, Madzong (#13), Gillingham (#14), Nassim (#15), Nick (#16)
"And you waited patiently
And you took all of me
Never thought that I would leave
Never thought I had it in me
And you took all that I had
And you wanted to give me it all
And I tell you that I love you
Even when I don't feel anything at all"

24. Porridge Radio | Every Bad
908.289 Points | 17 Votes
Critics' List: 22
AMF Top 300 Songs: Sweet (#45), Long (#114), Born Confused (#205)
Biggest Fan(s): DaveC (#1), Holden (#2), Nassim, Romain (#3), jamieW (#9), JohnnyBGoode (#15), FrankLotion (#17), BleuPanda (#19)
"Hydrangeas blooming off the branches of park trees
It's a half-hearted calm, the way I've felt since I was thirteen
'Cause I may not feel it now, covered up the wounds with my long sleeves
But I know it's waiting there, swimming through my bloodstream"

23. Soccer Mommy | Color Theory
925.859 Points | 17 Votes
Critics' List: 34
AMF Top 300 Songs: Circle the Drain (#21), Yellow is the Color of Her Eyes (#52 - 2019)
Biggest Fan(s): JohnnyBGoode (#5), Henry (#7), Craig, kendon, Listyguy, phil (#9), Jirin (#10), acroamor (#16), notbrianenoRocky Raccoon (#17), LunarPiper (#18)
"Every single word you told me
I believed without a question, always
To save all of us, you told us both to trust
But now I know you only saved yourself"

22. Tame Impala | The Slow Rush
955.416 Points | 17 Votes
Critics' List: 16
AMF Top 300 Songs: Borderline (#26 - 2019), Lost in Yesterday (#60), Breathe Deeper (#108), It Might Be Time (#251)
Biggest Fan(s): Henry (#3), M24 (#5), Nick. SL3 (#8), andyd1010, JohnnyBGoode (#10), Madzong (#11), Brad (#13), notbrianeno, Romain (#19)
"Broken glass that shines like Northern Lights
So I pray, but the world burns
And still, you need to come first
So I don't know where you stand"

21. Grimes | Miss Anthropocene
1020.738 Points | 17 Votes
Critics' List: 37
AMF Top 300 Songs: Delete Forever (#8), 4ÆM (#167), IDORU (#190)
Biggest Fan(s): SL3 (#1), bonnielaurel, Listyguy, notbrianeno (#2), Edre Peraza (#3), Javi (#5), Brad (#10), jamieW (#14), Jirin (#20)
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Rob
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Rob »

You have the same lyrics for Bruce Springsteen and The Beths albums.

Also the very low placements of Evermore and We Will Always Love You with the critics proves once again the stupidity of releasing EOY lists when the year isn't done yet.
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

Rob wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:40 pm You have the same lyrics for Bruce Springsteen and The Beths albums.

Also the very low placements of Evermore and We Will Always Love You with the critics proves once again the stupidity of releasing EOY lists when the year isn't done yet.
I imagine evermore will be on several lists next year. Though I doubt the Avalanches will be as lucky, which is unfortunate.
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
Future Critic
Let's Get It On
Posts: 222
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:04 am

Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Future Critic »

Holden wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 1:49 am I imagine evermore will be on several lists next year. Though I doubt the Avalanches will be as lucky, which is unfortunate.
I somewhat disagree. Beyonce's self-titled album didn't even crack the top 100 the year after it was released in late December, and I believe D'Angelo's Black Messiah placed somewhere around 40th the year after its release.

December surprise releases just get lost in the void, which is unfortunate. Fortunately, we are much more patient with our countdowns!
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Moonbeam
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Moonbeam »

Woo hoo for Dark Hearts cracking the top 100!
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Gillingham »

Great to see R.A.P. Ferreira, Slift and Dan Deacon doing so well and making the top 100 (top 50 even for the latter) and doing much better here than on the critics list.
Also definitely not disappointed by Oranssi Pazuzu's placement
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"I went and messed up again
Went against everything you said
Summer of drinking in Trafalgar Square, yeah, yeah
Then you threaten to send me to
Boarding school for the seventh time
I know we can't afford that, so I'm fine"

20. Rina Sawayama | Sawayama
1079.165 Points | 20 Votes
Critics' List: 19
AMF Top 300 Songs: XS (#25), Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys) (#198), Dynasty (#200), Bad Friend (#278)
Biggest Fan(s): Javi (#1), Rdwdbob (#5), M24 (#7), FrankLotion (#11), BleuPanda, LunarPiper (#13), andyd1010, Holden (#14), Listyguy (#16), Future Critic (#18), Craig (#19), Rocky Raccoon (#20)
"Rina Sawayama brings a forward-facing sound I haven't heard elsewhere and the product created is spectacular and one-of-a-kind. Clarence Clarity's production throughout this album is super interesting, unique, and bold. It seems to have no bounds, jumping from Metal in XS and STFU to a slower ballad in Bad Friend. On the vocal front, Rina is no less adventurous and traverses numerous speeds and styles. Every track has a unique identity and feels like a necessary piece in a puzzle of intricacy and diversity. There is a subtle dystopian vibe on this album that is brought about by the future-tech production and certain little elements such as the crowd-chanting on Who's Gonna Save U Now? or the robotic voice uttering ""Tokyo"" on Tokyo Love Hotel.

The bombastic Dynasty kicks the albums off, where Rina sets the bar sky-high in an introduction so grand and maximal. On STFU, the layered juxtaposition of style with Rina's soft-spoken ""Shut the fuck up"", the aggressive metal riffs, and the glittery instrumental during the chorus makes for a fabulously elaborate track. I think that Clarence Clarity's production is at its best on Akasaka Sad with the violent, bubbling, lava-like instrumental and this odd ""waaaaa"" voice that hits the right spot and sounds great. The saxophone on Paradisin' is so amazing and is one of my favorite parts of the album, though much too brief. Additionally, Rina casually takes advantage of her range and effectively communicates that she really is ""living her best life thriving"". Snakeskin goes super hard and sounds awesome in the buildup, but I wish the drop had a bit more style and variance in it as I find it quite underwhelming.

The only moments on this album that I dislike are the background ""Whoooooo"" that makes its way onto tracks like Comme Des Garcons (Like The Boys) and Love Me 4 Me.

Overall, Rina Sawayama and Clarence Clarity team up to create one of the most interesting and detailed pop projects I've heard, that includes a great number of smash singles. In my opinion, Sawayama is the best release of 2020.

-ryryliang"

"Locking all the doors to my house, I'm alone in my head
But I wish you were in my bed
Can't get a read on myself
Gotta change this situation"

19. Haim | Women in Music Pt. III
1100.433 Points | 18 Votes
Critics' List: 10
AMF Top 300 Songs: The Steps (#13), I Know Alone (#91), Don't Wanna (#209)
Biggest Fan(s): Rdwdbob (#2), Future Critic (#3), Rocky Raccoon (#4), acroamor (#8), Chris K. (#10), Jirin (#11), votingbloc (#12), FrankLotion (#13), Dan (#16), Craig, M24 (#17), Cold Butterfly (#18), Holden, Nick (#19)
"It was only in the past week that HAIM rose to become one of my favorite groups. I did really enjoy this album since it was released, but one day last week I turned on the bonus tracks and it just... clicked. As I checked out the rest of their discography, their snappy attitude and stylish melodies were irresistible.

While Days Are Gone and Something To Tell You are both great, this album is really what I view as the trio’s magnum opus. While it spans many genres and influences, it maintains a vintage feel throughout. Whether it be through vocal compression, guitar/percussion based instrumentals (“Man From The Magazine”, “The Steps), or stylish saxophone solos (“Los Angeles”, “I’ve Been Down”, “Summer Girl”), HAIM’s song craftsmanship shows as they put all the progress they’ve made since their debut in 2013 on full display.

Danielle’s signature half-hushed delivery perfectly pairs with subtle melodies; while they are fairly simple, they still manage to grab the listener’s attention. There are more exciting moments on the record such as the harsh, dissonant guitars that ring out during the midsection of “Up From A Dream” and the spine-chilling screams that back the chorus on “All That Ever Mattered”, but on the whole it is a very laid-back album, which I appreciate it for. Being more vibe-y and easygoing than HAIM’s other albums, it has a much more stylish and polished sound.

The lyrics are some of the strongest parts of the album. While HAIM’s first two albums were enjoyable, some lyrics felt like breakup-song cliches. However, with this album, the sisters delve into more personal matters: the death of one of youngest sister Alana’s dearest friends on “Hallelujah” and the cancer diagnosis of HAIM producer Ariel Rechtshaid on “Summer Girl”. And not to say that the topics presented on this album are 100% exclusive to them; the lyrics deal with misogyny, deteriorating relationships, and the quarantine experience. Even though many lines are filled with anger, there is a sense of empowerment throughout. “I don’t wanna hear ‘it is what it is’, it was what it was,” Danielle quips on “Man From The Magazine”. “I can’t understand why you don’t understand me,” she sings on “The Steps”, which, even though it is a line of not understanding, she sings confidently. And even on a tearjerker like “Hallelujah”, it is shown that sisterly love can carry you through the toughest of situations.

Women In Music Pt. III is most certainly one of the best albums of 2020 that shows HAIM on top of their game and leaves me wondering where they will go from here.

-garbear"
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"Lord, I ask for patience now
Call off all of your invasion
There's is beauty where I see it
Everywhere that I can feel it
I am on the verge of sorrow
Tell me, Lord, which road to follow"

18. Sufjan Stevens | The Ascension
1101.038 Points | 20 Votes
Critics' List: 24
AMF Top 300 Songs: America (#77), Video Game (#149), The Ascension (#158)
Biggest Fan(s): notbrianeno (#1), Jirin (#5), Henry, Holden (#6), jamieW (#8), Listyguy (#10), JohnnyBGoode (#13), Chris K., SL3 (#15), Nick (#18), LunarPiper, M24 (#20)
"after 3 listens to the ascension, i think i can now that that this was more than worth the 5 year wait.

this album feels like an amalgamation of so many different things that sufjan has done prior: the glitchy electronica of enjoy your rabbit, the grand concepts and lyrical themes on ilinois and michigan, the warm ambient soundscapes of the collaborative album planetarium. another obvious comparison would be the age of adz, but apart from the similar genres of glitch pop and electronica, i feel like their goals and sounds are a bit too different to make a 1:1 comparison.

melody engulfs every track of this album, every track has a vocal melody or instrumental idea that gives each tracks beautiful production a safe point to come back to. the title track alone has a good enough melody to carry itself on, let alone the glowing vocal harmonies and synth chords.

despite each track having its own seperate styles and sounds instrumentally, they all move along very well together and don't ever feel jarring to me. this is especially true on the track run from ursa major -> landslide -> gilgamesh. while all of them sound very different and are good on their own merits, the warm synthesizers and soft drum patterns on all of these give them all a sense of cohesion that lets them glide smoothly across one another.

otherwise, i am extremely happy with how the ascension turned out, and hearing sufjan go back to the sound of his debut, while adding in all of the new ideas and sounds he has tried throughout his decades long career is an amazing showing of his legacy as a musician and songwriter, as well as making for some of his best songs to date.

-lurien"

"I just wanna go real hard
Lip gloss on and I'm lookin' like a star
Got a tiny bag, but I got a big heart
On the video chat, cute skirt and a bra"

17. Charli XCX | How I'm Feeling Now
1107.620 Points | 19 Votes
Critics' List: 20
AMF Top 300 Songs: Forever (#24), Claws (#127), Detonate (#161), Enemy (#192)
Biggest Fan(s): bonnielaurel, Jackson (#4), Future Critic (#5), Nick (#6), Moonbeam, panam (#7), cetamol, Javi, notbrianeno (#9), slick (#13), Cold Butterfly (#15), BleuPanda (#16), schaefer.tk (#17)
"the best thing about ""forever"" today is how charli sounds like she's getting closer to the listener each time repeats ""be there be there be there with you"". it's a testament to just how stunningly fucking good this album is that while ""forever"" is predictably the best song on here, it actually has to fight for that title, and I'm not entirely certain it will still have it in a month (""7 Years"" is coming in hot, especially with that second verse, and ""Detonate"" has that absolutely mindblowing outro). ""forever"" was the perfect choice for the lead single for a lot of reasons- not just the powerful message (which was reinforced by the emotionally resonant video) that indicated that this album was going to be a raw and immediate reaction to the quarantine but the fact that it displayed a synthesis of Charli's previous sounds, calling back as far as True Romance, into a new whole that sounds more confident and precise than anything she had done previously.

the Dylan Brady produced tracks are like a distillation of everything I liked about 100 Gecs shot directly into my veins, and the AG Cook ones are even better somehow. that dude's outros are otherworldly. I guess I understand that this isn't a J. Cole NO FEATURES album because the production is just as distinctive as Charli's rap features used to be (sidenote: thank you from the bottom of my heart for not subjecting us to Tommy Cash on this album, Charli) but I also don't care because Charli goes so fucking well with this production. it's so bright and addicting and makes for such a powerful contrast with Charli's downcast, longing, sometimes aggressive lyricism (which feels both personal and universal, it may just be projection to say that she's reflective of the uncertain edginess of modern times, but the fact that so many other reviewers are touching on the same point makes me think it was intentional on Charli's part)

this dips off just a tiny bit after ""I Finally Understand"" (which feels like it could be a perfectly appropriate closing song) but after that run of the first seven songs there's no way this isn't a ten. and those songs are perfectly good and will likely grow to great with time (and ""Anthems"" and ""Visions"" are better than the two that precede them), just not at the level of the rest of the album.

both a living document and absolutely timeless pop music. incredibly modern yet something tells me it will provide fresh endorphin rushes a decade from now, not just nostalgia rushes and triggering memories of hand sanitizer and facemasks.

Charli provided the party we all we wish we could attend right now and the catharsis I've been desperately craving. she perfectly articulated how I'm feeling now.

-Patrique"
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Edre Depeche Head
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Edre Depeche Head »

I will always be shocked to see the praise How Im Feeling Now receives. Ive never been the biggest fan of Charli XCX but I found Charli and Pop 2 much better
Edre the Depeche Head
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"We gon' fight it whether you like it
Keep playing the music loud
God gonna let me down, no
He won't ever stop, no
We are survivors
We are the titans"

16. Sault | Untitled (Rise)
1129.235 Points | 18 Votes
Critics' List: 17
AMF Top 300 Songs: Strong (#107), Little Boy (#196), Fearless (#282)
Biggest Fan(s): Jackson, sonofsamiam (#2), Javi, schaefer.tk (#4), Jirin (#6), Brad (#9), Dan (#10), JohnnyBGoode (#11), Gillingham (#13), rumpdoll (#15), Nassim (#20)
"Very little is known about SAULT. The group may be a trio, and they are much more about ""show"" than ""tell"". The band revealed the bare minimum to the public when they appeared on the scene, seemingly out of nowhere, with two albums in 2019: album titles and a band name. Eventually, listeners were led to the names of multi-instrumentalist/producer Inflo, singer/songwriter Cleo Sol, and rapper Melisa Young (Kid Sister). SAULT is most likely a London based band, as both Inflo and Cleo Sol are Londoners. Inflo has worked on recent high-quality British albums such as Grey Area (Little Simz) and Love & Hate (Michael Kiwanuka). He also produced Cleo Sol's sublime debut album, Rose In The Dark. The role of Young in SAULT is arguably the most curious revelation, as she is best known for a brand of pop-rap that is radically different from her empowering spoken word on UNTITLED (Black Is).*

Young's poem on album opener ""Out The Lies"" ends with ""when everything else fails, Black endures"". This, in tandem with the black fist of the album cover, could be viewed as SAULT's album thesis statement. UNTITLED (Black Is) is an impactful and wonderfully sequenced collection of Pro-Black music. One could call it a soundtrack to the current worldwide Black Lives Matter protests, but that would be horribly reductionist. Anti-Blackness and systemic racism are constants. The content that drives this record has been painfully relevant for far longer than any of SAULT's musicians have been alive. UNTITLED (Black Is) centers itself around Blackness by way of expressions of determination, strife, and resistance.

SAULT can be stern and minimalist to great effect. A combination of firm drums and warbled keys fills ""Stop Dem"" with a hypnotic urgency. Unwavering chants (""even though we know that you fear us (stop dem) / that ain't no reason to kill us"") make the song a vigorous protest anthem. ""Don't Shoot Guns Down"" has a similar sparse palette with an even stronger groove. A mantra of ""don't shoot, guns down / racist policeman"" is delivered over sirens, deep bass, and organic percussion. The potent simplicity of the rhythm makes it hard not to nod along.

Mesmerizing stripped-down environments are crucial to the strength of UNTITLED (Black Is), but SAULT is equally capable with lusher soundscapes. ""Hard Life"" is an example of the beauty the group can conjure up in a more fleshed-out sound. ""Hard Life"" begins spaciously, with tight drumming and bass accompanying Cleo Sol's beautiful voice. The second half of the song bursts open with a wave of euphoric singing, warm keys, and bass that completely change the mood. ""Sorry Ain't Enough"" is a brilliant somber number that has another impressive switch up in the introduction of driving percussion in its chorus. Drenched in melancholic synths and keys, vocals that fade in and out of the mix give the song a gorgeous conclusion.**

Be it because of the lyrics or the instrumental style, the influence of Black history as a whole is omnipresent in UNTITLED (Black Is). This is extremely evident in ""Bow"", an afro-beat romp that features Michael Kiwanuka. It's a ridiculously fun Pan-African liberation tune with references to African countries and modern liberation oriented figures such as Uganda's Bobbi Wine. ""Wildfires"" captures a different brand of energy, but is no less impressive. With lovely singing from Cleo Sol, SAULT uses the imagery of wildfire to portray the state of being Black. The band makes its point clear: despite a seemingly endless supply of anti-blackness and systemic racism, Black people have never completely faltered and continue to protest the injustice. ""Wildfires"" is a compelling ode to Black resilience.

UNTITLED (Black Is) is captivating from start to finish. It's an extremely moving album, with radiant moments like ""Eternal Life"" being the aural representation of the joy of being Black. ""Miracles"" is similarly inspiring, boasting an old-school soulful atmosphere with a powerful message of unwavering hope. This is a stellar, uplifting record informed by timeless struggle, solidarity, and pride.

-Kosa12"

"You're just broken because of them
No need to worry again
Thought you said you never loved me
Don't lie, sunshine
All these words in your head"

15. Sault | Untitled (Black Is)
1168.215 Points | 22 Votes
Critics' List: 9
AMF Top 300 Songs: Wildfires (#7)
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham, schaefer.tk (#4), JohnnyBGoode (#6), Javi (#8), rumpdoll (#12), Jackson, sonofsamiam (#13), Brad (#14), acroamor (#15), Rocky Raccoon (#18), Future Critic (#20)
"Very little is known about SAULT. The group may be a trio, and they are much more about ""show"" than ""tell"". The band revealed the bare minimum to the public when they appeared on the scene, seemingly out of nowhere, with two albums in 2019: album titles and a band name. Eventually, listeners were led to the names of multi-instrumentalist/producer Inflo, singer/songwriter Cleo Sol, and rapper Melisa Young (Kid Sister). SAULT is most likely a London based band, as both Inflo and Cleo Sol are Londoners. Inflo has worked on recent high-quality British albums such as Grey Area (Little Simz) and Love & Hate (Michael Kiwanuka). He also produced Cleo Sol's sublime debut album, Rose In The Dark. The role of Young in SAULT is arguably the most curious revelation, as she is best known for a brand of pop-rap that is radically different from her empowering spoken word on UNTITLED (Black Is).*

Young's poem on album opener ""Out The Lies"" ends with ""when everything else fails, Black endures"". This, in tandem with the black fist of the album cover, could be viewed as SAULT's album thesis statement. UNTITLED (Black Is) is an impactful and wonderfully sequenced collection of Pro-Black music. One could call it a soundtrack to the current worldwide Black Lives Matter protests, but that would be horribly reductionist. Anti-Blackness and systemic racism are constants. The content that drives this record has been painfully relevant for far longer than any of SAULT's musicians have been alive. UNTITLED (Black Is) centers itself around Blackness by way of expressions of determination, strife, and resistance.

SAULT can be stern and minimalist to great effect. A combination of firm drums and warbled keys fills ""Stop Dem"" with a hypnotic urgency. Unwavering chants (""even though we know that you fear us (stop dem) / that ain't no reason to kill us"") make the song a vigorous protest anthem. ""Don't Shoot Guns Down"" has a similar sparse palette with an even stronger groove. A mantra of ""don't shoot, guns down / racist policeman"" is delivered over sirens, deep bass, and organic percussion. The potent simplicity of the rhythm makes it hard not to nod along.

Mesmerizing stripped-down environments are crucial to the strength of UNTITLED (Black Is), but SAULT is equally capable with lusher soundscapes. ""Hard Life"" is an example of the beauty the group can conjure up in a more fleshed-out sound. ""Hard Life"" begins spaciously, with tight drumming and bass accompanying Cleo Sol's beautiful voice. The second half of the song bursts open with a wave of euphoric singing, warm keys, and bass that completely change the mood. ""Sorry Ain't Enough"" is a brilliant somber number that has another impressive switch up in the introduction of driving percussion in its chorus. Drenched in melancholic synths and keys, vocals that fade in and out of the mix give the song a gorgeous conclusion.**

Be it because of the lyrics or the instrumental style, the influence of Black history as a whole is omnipresent in UNTITLED (Black Is). This is extremely evident in ""Bow"", an afro-beat romp that features Michael Kiwanuka. It's a ridiculously fun Pan-African liberation tune with references to African countries and modern liberation oriented figures such as Uganda's Bobbi Wine. ""Wildfires"" captures a different brand of energy, but is no less impressive. With lovely singing from Cleo Sol, SAULT uses the imagery of wildfire to portray the state of being Black. The band makes its point clear: despite a seemingly endless supply of anti-blackness and systemic racism, Black people have never completely faltered and continue to protest the injustice. ""Wildfires"" is a compelling ode to Black resilience.

UNTITLED (Black Is) is captivating from start to finish. It's an extremely moving album, with radiant moments like ""Eternal Life"" being the aural representation of the joy of being Black. ""Miracles"" is similarly inspiring, boasting an old-school soulful atmosphere with a powerful message of unwavering hope. This is a stellar, uplifting record informed by timeless struggle, solidarity, and pride.

-Kosa12"
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by mileswide »

I'd have sought out SAULT if I knew Inflo was involved! His production has been crucial to Little Simz's artistry, I think Drop 6 was her first since her debut not to have him at the mixing desk and it showed. Praise be to Holden and acroamor to two dependably awesome rollouts so far!
All I got inside is vacancy!
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"Drying blueberries, figurines and the angel leans
At the head of the bed
The juice of dark cherries cover my chin
The dog walks in and the crow lies in his smile like lead"

14. Adrianne Lenker | songs / instrumentals
1241.854 Points | 19 Votes
Critics' List: 27
AMF Top 300 Songs: anything (#9)
Biggest Fan(s): Greg (#1), cetamol, Listyguy (#4), Craig (#5), kendon, Matski (#6), Dan (#7), nicolas, phil (#8), Jirin, Gillingham, schaefer.tk (#16), Chris K. (#17), acroamor, BleuPanda (#18)
"Much like Earl Sweatshirt's Some Rap Songs, the titles of Adrianne Lenker's newest albums display the artist presenting their very best work under the guise of dismissal. However, Songs and Instrumentals taken together are an exercise in intimacy and quietness, and I am not the first to point out how her songs continue to soften themselves across the two albums' runtimes (dropping the overdubs on side B of Songs, then dropping vocals and composition for sides A and B respectively of Instrumentals). These are deeply personal works, as it were, and the reduction of her own work serves more as Lenker's way of inviting you into that space, like someone making a self-deprecating joke to lighten the mood of a conversation.

As it turns out, Songs is perhaps the most impressive singer/songwriter effort in recent memory - even in a year containing outstanding records from such impressive competition as Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor Swift, and The Microphones. It is one of those albums where a songwriter, armed only with their voice and guitar, emerges from the process with a masterful work of melody and storytelling - think Pink Moon, or Elliott Smith, or All Hail West Texas. At the same time, it also lies squarely in the history of ""deep-in-the-woods"" albums such as For Emma, Forever Ago or The Glow Pt. 2. After all, that is exactly how this album came to be - Lenker and her producer holed out in a cabin in the woods while she recorded the pieces that would end up on these records. This method of recording leads to a natural sound and an eerie calm pervading the album - you can hear rain hitting the roof on ""Come,"" chimes jangling in the wind on ""Zombie Girl,"" and a faint ambient buzz that wouldn't be present in a recording studio throughout the whole work - the sound feels authentic and alive as a result.

Songs is a record that is comfortable at one moment and haunting at the next - it is lush yet minimal, it is warm but you can feel the cold knocking at the door. Perhaps no song has arrested me this year quite like ""Ingydar"" or ""My Angel,"" which make me want to curl up under a blanket and let their sounds envelop me in their guitar work (“Ingydar” plods along like the titular horse) and striking mantras (“everything eats and is eaten, time is fed” and simply “my angel,” respectively). In fact, I’ve listened to “Ingydar” so many times now that I may be ready to describe it as the perfect indie folk song, and certainly the best song I have heard this year - it puts me in an indescribable stupor that very few songs do. Some of the other more somber moments on the record rank among my favorites as well: ""Forwards Beckon Rebound,"" ""Half Return,"" ""Not a Lot, Just Forever,"" and ""Come."" The tracks with lighter tones are no slouches either - ""Two Reverse,"" ""Zombie Girl,"" and ""Anything"" are beautiful, and feature some of the best songwriting on the album - ""Zombie Girl"" sees Lenker dealing with the departure of an ex-partner, and the heartbreaking ode to a lover ""Anything"" features one of the most aurally pleasing couplets I've heard in a long while: ""Christmas eve with your mother and sis / Don't wanna fight but your mother insists"" (I wouldn't say that's even the best line in the song, and certainly not the most emotional - it's just an example of poetry that sounds good, a trait that carries on throughout the entire album).

The album ends on the aforementioned, starkly beautiful ""My Angel."" It is probably the bleakest moment on the entire record, and the most intimate as well. In each chorus, Lenker sings the words ""my angel"" four times, except for the final double chorus, where we should hear the words ""my angel"" eight times in a row. However, Lenker cuts the song off abruptly on the sixth repetition, as if to say ""but that's all just stupid anyway"" after laying all of her emotions bare. I think it's a perfect, fitting ending to a record simply entitled Songs, a record containing just that - some of the most beautiful and well-crafted songs I have heard in years.

-RebelCobra5"

"Well, I'm the enemy of treason
An enemy of strife
I'm the enemy of the unlived meaningless life
I ain't no false prophet
I just know what I know
I go where only the lonely can go"

13. Bob Dylan | Rough and Rowdy Ways
1300.570 Points | 24 Votes
Critics' List: 4
AMF Top 300 Songs: Murder Most Foul (#22), I Contain Multitudes (#95), Key West (Philosopher Pirate) (#106)
Biggest Fan(s): Gillingham (#6), Jirin (#7), andyd1010 (#9), Craig, Father2TheMan (#10), Nick, nicolas (#11), Rocky Raccoon (#12), Chris K., Dan (#13), M24, Schüttelbirne (#15), Future Critic (#16), Edre Peraza (#18)
"As a lyricist, Bob Dylan is as upfront as he is ambiguous. His allusions to God and select God-like figures are almost painfully obvious, yet in their contribution to a heartbreaking narrative arc, each song adds a layer of uncertainty to exponentially complicate its feelings, motivations, and deeper implications. Its musical arrangement offers each song its own remarkably unique identity, never compromising in its full-force delivery of each concept -- whether slow, booming ballads, or uppity electric grooves -- all of which successfully capture the spirit of a long-awaited, familiar homage mercilessly mashed with the fresh, passionate energy of an urgent prophecy.

“I’m a man of contradictions,” he says in its first song, a promise he has delivered on in his career and relentlessly capitalizes upon throughout the following hour. Like the late Leonard Cohen, Dylan breathes a croaky, tired wisdom in his older age that’s almost too confident. But in the same breaths, he just as quickly humbles himself to the Gods before him, gloomily reflecting upon a futile eternity that has him questioning every turn. This album is a fucking rollercoaster of emotional and spiritual introspection. It’s manic in its highs and crippling in its lows.

Every song offers personal, first-person accounts from Dylan where he directly pits himself against the mystical world he has learned to love and fear -- except Black Rider. Black Rider is so fucking good. It never makes itself clear -- there’s no obvious indication of the narrator and the subject, nor any distinction between them; its melody alternates between spacy plucks and rapid strums; and Dylan makes it entirely up to you whether his delivery is that of a depressed, hopeless follower, or a cheeky, charming, almost condescending master. Black Rider stands out as the album’s shortest song, its most atmospherically dark, its most subtle, its most clever, its most experiential moment. And the best part is, it’s immediately followed by a whimsical, instantly catchy, loud and boisterous tune with a riff that resembles Leopard-Skin Pill Box Hat -- a song where the man is filled with misguided anger, delusion, and mad insanity -- and brings back the trademark harmonica in a quiet, preserved, and quick-bite of a mix that’s almost frustratingly brief, but perfectly executed. Polarizing moments like this can be found at every turn, and their strangely beautiful contributions to its whole make this a most worthy, stand-out project.

Recency bias is real, but I don’t give a shit. This one tops the charts. This is my favorite thing he’s ever made.

-jawrom"
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"Came down, you came down inside
You made sure, you asked, am I alright?
Then you left, you ran outta sight
Like you were, like you were supposed to do"

12. Yves Tumor | Heaven to a Tortured Mind
1333.485 Points | 23 Votes
Critics' List: 12
AMF Top 300 Songs: Gospel for a New Century (#12), Kerosene! (#17), Romanticist (#186)
Biggest Fan(s): LunarPiper, styrofoamboots (#2), Javi, Nick (#3), acroamor (#6), Chris K. (#9), BleuPanda (#10), Holden, panam, schaefer.tk (#11), cetamol (#15), Jackson (#16), Gillingham, slick (#20)
"It's finally time to open the review box again and stare at the empty page. This one feels a little bit different though. It feels like I have more to say about this album than almost every album in my catalog. Why? Because I've been stuck inside for the past week. My friends have been locked away in their own houses, my girlfriend lives in another town that I can't travel to, and my mind feels like it's slowly dissolving into some digested slush. I've been waiting everyday for something to finally catch my eye. I've been mindlessly hammering away at the f5 button on my laptop, or the fn+5 buttons for my desktop, or the simple refresh button on my phone. Or, I've just been sitting around staring at my ceiling listening to the saddest music I could muster the courage to listen to.

Counting seconds is useless. Waiting by the phone is brutal. Playing games will only get you so far. The paranoid jibber-jabber banging against my skull, and the worrying boiling over. Maybe I have more to say about my current lonely, locked-in, fed-up attitude or the current state of the central valley. But fuck it you guys, this album is saving me right about now. Today I gave that f5 button one more push and I was finally rewarded with a little bit of relief for my tortured mind.

And you're probably saying ""Oh geez, get a load of this guy,"" and you're right; I am being pretty dramatic. But honestly, I was just looking for a great hook for my usual abysmal writing style. I wanted to shake it up and add a bit of extra flare, something to rip apart the newfound monotony in my daily life. But it has been difficult, and the quarantine has not been kind. There are now 450 deaths in California, there have been 63 today. Both of my parents are essential workers so I'm just... alone.

What's the next best thing to having human interaction? Finding some mind-bending music. I'm sure that I've haphazardly stumbled onto a new masterpiece. There is a slight chaotic nature to this album, and it's one that I've eaten up in a heartbeat. Medicine Burn is beautiful in the strangest way: hard drum beats, screaming synths, abrasive vocals, brutally distorted guitars, and an atmosphere you couldn't cut with a knife, even if you wanted to. Even in its frenzied tone you can find a smidgen of familiarity. There's an undeniable reference to infinitely re-playable guitar riffs from the 80's, while bending the sound into something to fill the ears of even the most insatiable listeners.

Gospel for a New Century makes me want to dance until I drop. Medicine Burn squeezes my brain. Romanticist is like dancing with my sweetheart. Super Stars is a jam for the soul. All of this collectively boils down into the most potent, addicting music I've laid my ears on in a while, and definitely this year. I've listened to it three times today, and I'm listening to it while writing this review. It's something new to dig my teeth into, and something different enough to love the taste of it.

-tman1015"

"I leave my home, desolate but not alone
I have a gift, I've been told, for seeing what’s there
And I will chase all the rain, put it down, call it paint
To possess something arcane, oh, it's a heavy weight"

11. Waxahatchee | Saint Cloud
1391.812 Points | 23 Votes
Critics' List: 11
AMF Top 300 Songs: Fire (#30), Lilacs (#41), Can't Do Much (#48), Saint Cloud (#250), Ruby Falls (#285)
Biggest Fan(s): acroamor (#1), Chris K. (#3), Future Critic, LunarPiper (#4), Rocky Raccoon, whuntva (#5), Rdwdbob (#6), JohnnyBGoode (#9), nicolas (#10), andyd1010 (#11), BleuPanda, Dan, Nick (#14), Holden (#16), SL3 (#19)
"Honestly? I would not be entirely surprised if this was Katies last album before taking a longer hiatus from making music. Highly speculative of course, but I sense a certain ""closing of the circles"" with this one. From listening to this music, I imagine Katie has settled down somewhere on the countryside, in a landscape perhaps similiar (if not the same) to the one she grew up in. The same landscape she left to travel the world as a young artist. The hardships and heartbreaks she encountered on the way was expressed and dealt with through her art and the records are cherished as musical documents to her own path through life. In this sense, listening to an album of her, one can't help but to interpret them as analogical to chapters in her own story. But does this story end here? Entering the 30s, leaving the city and establishing a familiy. That's what happens to a whole lot of people and their priorities changes because of it. But its not like i have that much information about Katies real life or that i have truly read these things off of the lyrics. I guess the mind can't help but imagining what's going on in her life behind the scenes, given the honest and personal way she expresses herself as a singer and songwriter.

When writing a text about an album, I'd also would like sometimes to be true to what's really going on in my mind, rather than to conduct research into the artists irl from the get to go in order to to write a more professional-looking review or something. Because many times, i believe the more interesting things that can be said about an album is whatever unfiltered impression it had on any given person.

Now i don't think it's a strech to picture some kind of rural backdrop to a lot of the songs on the album. Somewhere that lifes moves a little bit slower and all that. The slight country/folk sensibility to her voice this time around adds a more engaging aura to her personality, one that i could imagine might have been stimulated by living in togetherness with her surroundings in, according to my imagination, a small town on the countryside.

Leave that particular thought as it might be, it is however made quite obvious that she has, like many does, grown both more confident and wiser during her 20s. She feels more relaxed and content now, despite still being clearly attuned to the conflicted and fragile nature of relationships. But still, i enjoy how balanced she seems in terms of accepting that life and love will have its ups and down. That these things are never written in stone, that after a sunny day comes a cloudy one, but it won't rain forever. It's not always under your control, yet you can choose to view it as a part of life. It seems like Katie, in certain aspects in her vocal delivery, is urging us to fold up our sleeves, get up and enjoy the ride for what it is. At least for now.

-Allvaer"
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"Get all your records out and throw them all away
No one left to listen to, much left, less to say
Working hard and getting on, still not getting paid
Stay low, keep brave"

10. Laura Marling | Song for Our Daughter
1460.167 Points | 23 Votes
Critics' List: 30
AMF Top 300 Songs: Held Down (#66), Alexandra (#103), Only the Strong (#180), For You (#207), Song for Our Daughter (#234), Fortune (#274)
Biggest Fan(s): prosecutorgodot (#1), JohnnyBGood (#2), Craig, FrankLotion, Matski (#3), Dan (#4), Chris K. (#5), andyd1010, Listyguy (#6), acroamor (#10), Rocky Raccoon (#11), mileswide (#12), Future Critic (#14), sonofsamiam (#19)
"Laura Marling is a very consistent songwriter. She’s gotten better at Marlingology over the years to the extent that this sounds effortlessly Marling, and that’s a great thing. Her last few records have been under-appreciated: the weird LA adult contemporary rock of Short Movie, the lush Semper Femina, the offbeat electronic collaboration with Mike Lindsay. Like literally all of her records, they’re all worth revisiting.

This one, is of course, the one that came out during COVID. At this point, it’s the most mature she’s been as a writer. The title track, “For You,” possibly “Strange Girl” and, well, maybe most of them, are sung to an unborn daughter. She’s a hybrid confessional-canonical songwriter, and the songs here are vulnerable but wise.

She cements herself as the inverse Leonard Cohen with “Alexandra,” indebted to Cohen’s “Song for Alexandra,” where she subverts the male songwriter love story stereotypes to tell it from Alexandra’s perspective. She’s always been notable as a “End of the Affair” also fits in the comparison, written in first person with a named male protagonist Max (Maryanne?), with the admission that she tried to keep it going. The structure of “Only the Strong” is very much You Want it Darker, though light and airy in comparison, probably because she isn’t on her death bed.

The arrangements are refreshing here: “Fortune” is more Five Leaves Later Nick Drake in its plucked guitar and strings. The use of background vocals is notably good, from the ascending harmonies of “Held Down” to the hums of “For You.” “Blow by Blow” is the only piano number I can recall in her catalogue. These small advancements pair well with a ever-growing perspective to cement herself as one of the great modern songwriters.

-natespirateradio"

"May the last long year be forgiven
All that war left within it
I couldn't, though I'm beginning to
And we've only made it together
Feel some change in the weather
I couldn't, though I'm beginning to"

9. Fleet Foxes | Shore
1478.761 Points | 23 Votes
Critics' List: 14
AMF Top 300 Songs: Sunblind (#32), Can I Believe You (#69), Maestranza (#124), Jara (#145), I'm Not My Season (#202)
Biggest Fan(s): Holden (#1), panam (#2), granit, Miguel, phil (#4), Chambord (#5), Craig (#6), Matski, styrofoamboots (#11), acroamor, Brad (#12), LunarPiper (#14), Future Critic (#15), Chris K., Rocky Raccoon, SL3 (#16), nicolas (#17)
"I still remember the day I checked out Fleet Foxes for the first time. From the sound of their debut, it was obvious that they took after Paul Simon in the melody department. This would gradually become less true with the releases of the more typically folk-rooted ""Helplessness Blues"" and the experimental ""Crack-Up."" Each album had such huge differences from the previous one that it's hard to tell what Fleet Foxes will do next.

I have to admit that when the fourth album was announced, I was less than ecstatic. Fleet Foxes already had a career that spanned twelve years, and like most bands they could have easily lost a lot of their best ideas. I guessed that ""Shore"" could be their worst. But I'm glad to say that I was dead wrong. Fleet Foxes sound as beautiful as ever, as if they had not aged a day out of their twelve-year-long career. But to be fair, I guess it's hard for a voice as soft and soothing as Robin Pecknold's to age very much.

I was right about one thing: the album's style was different from the other albums. I can't detect a trace of Paul Simon in this album at all., and I grew up with Paul Simon since I saw him on The Muppet Show as a kindergartner. Instead, we have a stronger emphasis on harmonized vocals dominating the background and a cleaner, slightly more ambient production to help the atmosphere. If you pair this with the fact that ""Shore"" is the poppiest of the four albums, you might see that Fleet Foxes have been able to fit snugly within whatever pop music expects in 2020. And they accomplish a lot with ""Shore."" Songs like ""Can I Believe You"" have a very uplifting sound to them, while songs like ""Maestranza"" are low and hypnotic, and counter the pop songs without losing its folk flow suffer. And some songs like ""Young Man's Game"" have a light rock background, something the Fleet Foxes haven't used very often before.

You know, there's plenty of Paul Simon out in the world. Fleet Foxes have proven that they don't need to sound like him in order to be a classic folk act. They change their style every time they release a new one, and just as I grew to love Radiohead's ""A Moon Shaped Pool"" for its change in Radiohead's direction, I'm really happy with ""Shore"" and Fleet Foxes' expected change in direction. Normally when a band goes pop, you could easily accuse the band of selling out. Trust me. ""Shore"" is not a sellout. It might be Fleet Foxes' first pop album, but it's just as beautiful, melodic and folk-rooted as all of their previous efforts. It takes the modern production form that's common in 2010's pop and uses tightly-knit melodies with less emphasis to keep the atmosphere perfectly strong. I'd say ""Shore"" is my personal AOTY.

-JGuy"
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"You're not the same anymore
Don’t wanna play that game anymore
You'd make a better window than a door
Oh, the strangers, they implore
It gets so easy to ignore
Just like the girl next door"

8. The Strokes | The New Abnormal
1531.817 Points | 25 Votes
Critics' List: 28
AMF Top 300 Songs: The Adults Are Talking (#26), Bad Decisions (#36), Ode to the Mets (#47), At the Door (#90), Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus (#110), Eternal Summer (#268)
Biggest Fan(s): Rdwdbob (#1), Craig, Madzong, slick (#2), Chambord, SL3, styrofoamboots (#3), Moonbeam (#8), nicolas (#9), andyd1010 (#12), LunarPiper, prosecutorgodot #(16), Listyguy (#17), DaveC (#18), acroamor (#19), Romain (#20)
"I'll start by informing you that I'd never heard the Strokes before I heard this album. Heresy for a music fan? A complete loss of credibility to review this album? Perhaps, but it's with these fresh eyes that I want to share my thoughts on this album. To give it a new perspective, sure, but also to highlight how incredible this release really is. I'll even leave out the fact that I've never really had an interest in indie rock, either. But I still love this album.

I'll cut to the point and explain why it's getting a 9 from me. Almost every song on here is incredible. Nine tracks packed with emotion, tightly written melodies, energetic instrumentation, and a band that seems as passionate as ever to put their music out there after twenty years. Again, I'm far from familiar with the band. No, I haven't even heard Is This It? I have no frame of reference to compare this album to. But on it's on, as a collection of nine songs, these are smartly written, strong tracks, and are all I could ask for from a group of talented artists.

Regarding the interesting choice of a title, The New Abnormal, feels like more of a statement of the album's lyrical contents than anything else. Songs about loneliness, change, unease, and a bittersweet acceptance of the mediocrity of life are at the forefront here, with these melancholic topics adding to the emotion of the album's music. The actual musicality of the album isn't particularly abnormal. Other than some interesting production embellishments and quirky samples, there's not much that's new here, with most songs taking a on mostly standard rock formulas and sticking to what's worse. Not a flaw, though, as the passion and punchy, emotive songwriting more than pull their weight and give this albums the songs to back this album up. Julian Casablanca's confident yet depressive vocals shine with personality that are the perfect companion to the music they chaffeur. This is just one of those albums where each note feels nearly perfectly placed, where the songwriting and artist are in sync, and feels like it has something to say.

My favorite songs are definitely the more emotive one, the chirpy 'The Adults are Talking', the emotional highpoint 'Selfless', the poppy and manic 'Bad Decisions', the gutwrenching 'Not the Same Anymore', and the powerful final punch that is 'Ode to the Mets.' 'Eternal Summer' and 'Why Are the Sundays So Depressing' are less sentimental but deserve a note for their perfect encapsulations of Pink Floyd and Lou Reed, respectively. Both are high energy groove machines and will be in my rotation for a long time.

My least favorite six minutes on the album is the song 'At the Door', though I understand that I am probably alone. It's a slower burner of a track, more of a synth oddysey if anything, though I find that it never hits that catharsis that it's reaching for. I'll die alone on that hill.

All in all, I'm absolutely a fan of this band of this band now, and I haven't even heard their most popular albums. I'm willing to bet you're gonna be seeing more 9's from me, soon.

-fruitrings"

"We gather stones, never knowing what they'll mean
Some to throw, some to make a diamond ring
You know I didn't want to have to haunt you
But what a ghostly scene
You wear the same jewels that I gave you
As you bury me"

7. Taylor Swift | folklore
1564.967 Points | 25 Votes
Critics' List: 5
AMF Top 300 Songs: Exile (#34), Cardigan (#54), The Last Great American Dynasty (#55), Betty (#87), Invisible String (#113), August (#141), The 1 (#221)
Biggest Fan(s): Future Critic (#1), M24 (#2), JohnnyBGoode (#3), andyd1010 (#4), Wezzo (#5), phil (#7), panam, Rocky Raccoon (#8), slick (#9), granit, SafetyCat (#10), BleuPanda, Chris K., Henry (#11), Father2TheMan, Nick (#15), notbrianeno (#16), Listyguy (#20)
"This album blows me away on every listen. Swift has had her ups (Red, 1989) and downs (Reputation) as a musician, but nothing tops this. This is an hour of some of the best written indie folk I have ever heard. It turns out giving pop songwriters acoustic instruments creates amazingly melodic folk music. If this were by some nobody in the indie scene, she would be being hailed as the next Sufjan. That’s how good this album is. The lyrics are poignant and beautiful. The production is lush and bare and gorgeous. And the melodies are on par with any indie folk darling.

Swift has always had a talent for clever turns of phrase, but her songwriting has never sounded better. Nothing compares to the bare beauty of lyrics like “August slipped away like a bottle of wine” or “I didn’t have it in myself to go with grace.”

Now the production is goddamn gorgeous. It’s no shock that Aaron Dessner produced an album that sounds good, but that it sounds *this* good is just wonderful. Listen to those layered vocals on This Is Me Trying or that lovely moog bass during the bridge on Exile. This is an expertly composed album and to think it was all done without the musicians ever meeting in person astounds me.

If I had to nitpick, Cardigan’s kind of a weird choice for the single. It’s not bad, just not as catchy as some other songs. Also the lyrics on Epiphany are a bit *too* on the nose, but I can excuse it because the production of that song is goddamn incredible.

I, whose favorite album of all time is Yeezus, never thought I would do it, but I’m giving a Taylor Swift album a 10/10. We will look back at this album in 20 years as THE Taylor Swift album, and not just that, as the prime example of a popular artist creating a thoughtful, beautiful masterpiece.

-alexmjjohnson"
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Holden
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"No sun
Hangs outside
Just borrowed light
Now match my breathing
Now rest your hand in mine"

6. Perfume Genius | Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
1674.421 Points | 28 Votes
Critics' List: 7
AMF Top 300 Songs: On the Floor (#6), Describe (#18), Without You (#181)
Biggest Fan(s): BleuPanda, Rocky Raccoon (#2), FrankLotion (#4), Brad, LunarPiper (#5), Chris K. (#6), Edre Peraza (#7), andyd1010, granit (#8), M24, SafetyCat (#9), Dan (#12), cetamol, Matski (#14), Jackson (#15), Future Critic (#17), Holden, Listyguy (#18), styrofoamboots (#20)
"With the four amazing albums of Perfume Genius, Learning, Put Your Back N 2 It, Too Bright and No shape which Mike Hadreas released in the last decade, he manifested his status as a celebrated exceptional artist on the margins of art pop mainstream, as a queer icon. All albums are titled by critics as some

of the best albums of the decade, adapted in numerous soundtracks - the expectation of what will come next grew. The wait is over, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately, the fifth studio album of the project on Matador Records, was released today.

The album was created during and after a formative collaboration with the music and dance project The Sun Still Burns Here. Hadreas spent nearly a year developing text and movement alongside Seattle-based choreographer Kate Wallich and her dance company The YC. The warmth and tenderness that such an intimate project entails also permeates the current album. Although the songs still deal with concepts of masculinity, gender roles, love, sex, physicality, the sound is more approachable and melodic than on the previous records - without losing its great artistic complexity. The album was recorded in Los Angeles, where Hadreas, who grew up in Seattle, lives. As with the predecessor, he and his long-time partner Alan Wyffels worked with Grammy-nominated producer Blake Mills.

""Whole Life"" focuses on Hadreas' voice, which sounds very vulnerable, in the background the music increases from simple piano accompaniment to a sound surface dominated by strings, interrupted by interesting dissonances - the experimental mixes with intimate vulnerability and sets the tone for the upcoming tracks. But the record also has real bittersweet pop songs: ""On the Floor"", the second single, is dynamic and danceable. But beyond the dynamic synthesizers and deceptive, lush harmonies, the vocals are almost painful in their seriousness. Here the album lives from contrasts. Hadreas' falsetto before spinet accompaniment in the ballad ""Jason"" tells of an encounter with a man who didn't even bother to take off his clothes during sex and is reminiscent of Hadreas' early master song “Mr. Peterson”, to the discovery of queerness, packaged here as a baroque pop song from the 1960s. In haunting ""Nothing At All"" it is the deeper tones in his voice that convince. The extensive instrumentation, used again and again, arranged and interpreted, makes the tracks on the album so worth listening to. ""Your Body Changes Everything"" as a whole is an absolute gem. Hadreas uses the best side of his voice, while the fleeting violin strings give the already high tempo of the music an extra layer of tension. Every whistle and beep in the song has been put down with unprecedented precision and at the same time it sounds free and uninhibited. In addition to many classic instruments and pop tones, there are even some steel guitars in casual ""Without You"". The theme of Set My Heart on Fire Immediately are blurring boundaries between physical and psychological closeness - particularly moving in the minimalist track of the record: ""Touch Me Deep"" is a pause in this artistic record, where a lot often happens at once.

""Set My Heart On Fire Immediately"" is an album straight from the heart of Mike Hadreas. The artist admires his versatility and thus the best sides. Genius? He certainly justifies that.

-tarifa"

"Guess I never had a love like this
Hit me harder than I ever expected
We been up all goddamn night, all night, all night
Keep it going till we see the sunlight"

5. Dua Lipa | Future Nostalgia
1993.907 Points | 29 Votes
Critics' List: 6
AMF Top 300 Songs: Physical (#14), Levitating (#16), Break My Heart (#23), Don't Start Now (#61 - 2019), Love Again (#62), Hallucinate (#80), Cool (#119), Future Nostalgia (#152), Pretty Please (#257), Good in Bed (#269)
Biggest Fan(s): andyd1010, Dan, Moonbeam, SafetyCat (#1), Henry, votingbloc (#2), bonnielaurel, Rdwdbob (#3), Nick (#4), Cold Butterfly (#5), BleuPanda, FrankLotion, Future Critic, M24, whuntva (#6), Holden (#9), panam (#10), LunarPiper, schaefer.tk (#19), SL3 (#20)
"Dua Lipa’s latest release, the cleverly titled Future Nostalgia, came on a wave of hype, as the Grammy winning English pop sensation has been responsible for some of the most irresistible and inescapable hits of the last three years. Predictably, Future Nostalgia not only lives up to its hype, but actually exceeds it.

On Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa asserts her bold, assertive and unapologetic femininity in a way in a series of tough, punchy dance floor anthems bristling with clever, often biting and hilarious lyrics and complemented by dazzling production values. From the opening infectious title track, Lipa immediately establishes herself as a dominant force to be reckoned, as well as clarifies the intent behind the album’s contradictory title:

“You want a timeless song, I wanna change the game
Like modern architecture, John Lautner coming your way
I know you like this beat ’cause Jeff been doing the damn thing
You wanna turn it up loud, future nostalgia is the name.” *

If her goal was to create an album of songs that are indisputably rotted in modern times while incorporating iconic sounds and production values of the 1970s’, ’80s, and beyond, she achieves it, especially on tracks such as the dreamy “Levitating” and the lush “Love Again,” both of which sail on a caressing wave of 70s’ R&B tapestries, with the latter also incorporating the more pointed New Jack Swing beats of the early 1990s’.

Specific artists are also recalled, either consciously or consciously; the fantric, pulsating beat of “Physical” recalls the similarly suggestive pacing of ABBA’s edgy “Lay All Your On Me” and Madonna’s early classic “Burning Up,” among others. The appropriately hypnotic “Hallucinate” pays homage to The Fame era Gaga without sounding derivative, while the album’s best song, the irresistbly raunchy “Good in Bed” combines the brassiness of TLC, the lyrical bite of Lily Allen (as pointed out by other critics) and the raw, upfront sexual bravado of Lizzo, as well as echoing Prince’s similarly graphic and spiritually gratifying portrayal of sex during the days of Dirty Mind.

The album’s closer, “Boys Will Be Boys,” is a blunt condemnation against toxic masculinity as well as the idea that it’s on women to protect themselves rather than on men to behave appropriately; it’s not the first song tackle these subjects, but the song’s lyrics are laced with a formidable combo of defiance, resignation, and even humor. Its serious pedigree may seem jarring, but in reality it’s a culmination of all the non-apologetic femininity Lipa presents throughout the album, and establishes her as an artist capable of serious depth and thought and offers a great conclusion.

With its smartly constructed songs, soaring and diverse production values, and Lipa’s charismatic vocals and personality, it’s going to be very tough to top Future Nostalgia as one of, if not the, best albums of 2020. Be on the lookout come Grammys time, whenever that will be.

-AnalongKid2112"
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
Jackson
Into the Groove
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Location: Los Angeles

Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Jackson »

Of course the Sault albums ended up right next to each other. I think the order will flip over time.

That Marling/Fleet Foxes/Strokes run to start the top ten was pretty surprising to me. I guess you can never underestimate the power of the big indie names. I voted for the Marling album, but I wouldn't put it among her best.
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prosecutorgodot
Keep On Movin'
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Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by prosecutorgodot »

Lol all the FN tracks ranked except the closer.
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Holden
Never Going Back Again
Posts: 3781
Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:06 pm

Re: AMF Favorite Albums of 2020 - RESULTS

Post by Holden »

"There were butterflies moving in the light
They were justified every single time
Every time you looked, they were justified
You were here before then you go away
But I never left, I feel just the same
What I wanna know, did something change?"

4. Jessie Ware | What's Your Pleasure?
2110.583 Points | 32 Votes
Critics' List:
AMF Top 300 Songs: Spotlight (#4), What's Your Pleasure? (#27), Remember Where You Are (#37), Soul Control (#92), The Kill (#226), Save a Kiss (#241)
Biggest Fan(s): cetamol, Nick (#1), Moonbeam (#2), Cold Butterfly, Jackson (#3), BleuPanda, Rdwdbob, slick (#4), SafetyCat, styrofoamboots (#5), Javi (#7), Dan, Future Critic, votingbloc (#8), schaefer.tk (#9), Holden (#10), notbrianeno, prosecutorgodot (#12), andyd1010, Craig, LunarPIper (#15), JohnnyBGoode (#17), Nassim (#19)
"OK. right from the getgo, I'm just going to admit it. I expected NOTHING from this album. It was released right during the peak of this disco revival movement that's persisted throughout 2020 and honestly I was bored by the majority of it, with most of it just feeling like popular artists profiting off of nostalgia. I was recommended this album right after I checked out Dua Lipa's take on the genre, so I was just generally not looking forward to it as most new music out at the time was so oversaturated with the sound. I eventually broke and decided to listen to Spotlight, the opening track, and...

Wow.

Spotlight is easily the best opener I've heard in 2020 and probably amongst the top 5 best songs I've heard this year in general. The atmosphere created by it is just completely unimaginable, and it's almost impossible to put into words. the vocals are ridiculously smooth and compliment the serene instrumental beautifully, while still managing to make the track danceable the entire time. It's legitimately hard to describe without wanting to listen to it, and while I was in the process of drafting this I couldn't resist putting it on and taking yet another listen to this perfect song. After listening to Spotlight, I began to get nervous that this was the exception and not the rule, and that the album would start at an unimaginable plateau and only get worse comparatively afterward, but I was gladly proved wrong. the first 3 track run is utterly fantastic all the way through, and I still can't get enough of it, especially the infatuated title track, with it's shredding background guitars on top of the synth lead. the whole album feels like such a loving rendition of the genre, and the production feels so layered and detailed. Listening to this album without headphones is a sin. This is all without acknowledging Jessie's stellar vocal performances throughout the LP, which are simply perfect. She uses her grand, beautiful vocals to ride over these synth instrumentals and compliment them perfectly. her tone makes this album feel so infatuated and lovestruck that it's hard to imagine the album maintaining such a sensual sound without them. it almost feels like she's soaring across the tracks and I adore it. Not only that, she manages to kill every single hook on this album. Every single one is instantly memorable.

I cannot imagine a disco album that's anywhere close to as well produced, tasteful, beautiful, and memorable as this, and for now it's my number 1 album this year. This was an easy light 9 on first listen but it's grown on me after every listen and at this point it could even be a 10 for me. If you enjoy synthpop, listen to this record immediately. Even if you don't like it, listen to this project anyway as it could potentially give you a newfound appreciation of the genre. No matter what kind of music you like, listen to this project as soon as you can, as it's one of the most enjoyable album listening experiences I've had in a very long time.

-Iblis_Triggered"

"The law defier, the non-complier, the death defier
The Mike Myers, murder rapper for hire
Doer of drive-byers, the back-back, clack-clack
Let it loose, murder all witnesses and survivors
That's a job completer, dependable contractor
The backhand wack rap slapper
Mr. Leather Bomber Taker, catch ya getting off the escalator
Run the Jewels smooth and don't trigger the undertaker"

3. Run the Jewels | RTJ4
2112.507 Points | 32 Votes
Critics' List: 3
AMF Top 300 Songs: Ju$t (#28), Ooh La La (#51), A Few Word for the Firing Squad (Radiation) (#52), Walking in the Snow (#83), Yankee and the Brave (ep. 4) (#129)
Biggest Fan(s): Nassim, votingbloc (#1), FrankLotion (#2), Rocky Raccoon (#3), rivette (#4), Nick, schaefer.tk (#5), Dan, LunarPiper (#6), BleuPanda, Chris K. (#8), SL3 (#9), Gillingham, jamieW, styrofoamboots (#10), Craig, Jackson (#11), M24 (#12), SafetyCat (#13), Listyguy (#14), sonofsamiam (#15), cetamol (#17), Cold Butterfly (#18), Future Critic (#19), andyd1010, prosecutorgodot (#20)
"I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like Run the Jewels; they just haven’t heard them yet. They’re one of the coolest bands I can think of off the top of my head. EI-P and Killer Mike have an amazing chemistry in the booth and on the stage and both are so charismatic and funny. They light up any song they’re featured on and I constantly connect their music to cars and I can’t even be mad at them for that. Both at 45 years old, they make music that some younger, “cooler” rappers can only dream of making. Personally, I find something so charming and electric about them it’s impossible for me to find a flaw in the band as a band.

If there’s anyone I want to hear tell me about what’s going on in the world, it’s Killer Mike. Killer Mike is an incredible, well-educated black rights activist and someone I’ve looked up to for years. The world is fucking terrifying right now but Killer Mike and people like him make me hopeful. This album is the soundtrack not only for this injustice but every injustice for black people around the world. It feels like this album has been written within the events of the past 5 days- but it’s not. Because George Floyd wasn’t the first this happened to. I feel shame calling myself an American because that verse I copied from walking in the snow could’ve been written last week. Or 8 months ago. Or 3 years ago. It’s a tragedy that the “Land of the Free” is free for white people only. It’s a tragedy that racism is so American, people think you’re protesting against America.

This album is a premeditated attack made for times like this and ready to pack a punch and lift you up. It makes you fucking angry and ready to fight- like all of RTJ’s past music but this one is a new level of it. The stadium-like screaming of “Hell fuck yeah” on goonies vs ET just sets up the speed of this album. The energy of this album. The power of this album. This album is an angry build with no end. It can replay forever on loop and that anger never feels fake. This is 39 minutes of energetic injustice ready to be unleashed.

Run the Jewels stays in touch with their strange samples on songs like walking in the snow and they even got Pharrell Williams to deliver bars on JU$T. They hide some of their humor throughout songs like out of sight: “I know you just about mcfuckin' had it, our shit is just magic”. The final song on the album ends with a story about yankee and the brave and transitions right into the intro song- yankee and the brave- perfectly. The songs are catchy, every line is an instant bar. There isn’t a bad feature on this album. In fact- I don’t think there’s a single flaw about this album. Run the Jewels has had the most consistently-well discography of any band from the past decade but this is their best project.

-snailmail"
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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