My Top 10 Albums of 2020

C: It’s almost the end of the year (thankfully), so it’s time for me to do one of my favorite things in the world: make lists. To start things off, I am going to rank my top 10 albums of 2020.

10. Circles by Mac Miller

Whenever a posthumous album is released, there’s always a fear of it not being handled correctly and disrespecting the artist’s memory. Fortunately, that was not the case with Circles, a gorgeous album that nicely encapsulates him as an artist and what musical directions he was exploring before his passing. It’s deeply reflective, and the lyrics are incredibly honest. At times, it feels like perfect peace.

9. Best Wishes by MAITA

Something about this album is just perfect. It has this untouchable quality about it that feels so comforting. It reminds me of restaurants, nighttime, just things that feel like home. It’s very personal, and talks about love, anxiety and independence in a very mature way. Also, the melodies on this project are absolutely immaculate. This album was just such a big part of my year and it’ll always be very special.

8. Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

In order to have possibly the most critically acclaimed album of all time, you have to be pretty unique. And while that’s certainly wasn’t what her goal was, she did it. No one did what Fiona Apple did this year. FTBC is an autobiography of sorts, which results in a jumble of surprisingly powerful stories. The neighing at the beginning of I Want You to Love Me pretty much sums it up. She’s always been this wacky, and maybe people are just now catching on.

7. how i’m feeling now by Charli XCX

Many artists made quarantine albums this year, and some felt very rushed. how i’m feeling now is no exception. However, I think that’s the point. Each song is a bit rough around the edges, and that lends authenticity to the project. It’s about what it feels like to isolate with someone and how quarantine can impact you. As for the music, it leans even further into experimental pop than her previous works, which I really enjoy. This album will forever be a genuine time capsule for how she was feeling then.

6. RTJ4 by Run the Jewels

Run the Jewels has made consistently great music for a while, so fans expected something really special this time. They got exactly what they wished for. Everything is there: the beats, the lyrics, the flow are all exceptional. RTJ4 was made primarily in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and it does a fantastic job of conveying raw, angry power. This was undeniably the protest album of the year.

5. Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa

In 2017, when Dua Lipa first rose to fame with New Rules, she received many complaints about her lack of stage presence and perhaps not being too original. Well, she listened. With Future Nostalgia, she took her music to new heights. It’s an array of undeniably catchy, fun, fresh songs. She brings in elements of 70s and 80s pop too, and the result could not be better. If 2020 wasn’t … well, 2020, these songs would be playing on every dance floor across the globe. On the other hand, it was exactly what the world needed for a dance party at home.

4. Ungodly Hour by Chloe x Halle

To put it simply: Ungodly Hour is a showcase of all of Chloe and Halle’s talents: production, songwriting and, of course, vocals. Their harmonies throughout are absolutely glorious. Every moment of the album just feels effortlessly beautiful. The songs themselves are also quite versatile, delving into anxiety (Lonely, Overwhelmed), relationships (Don’t Make It Harder on Me, Wonder What She Thinks of Me) and womanhood (Do It, Baby Girl). Chloe x Halle are an act to be reckoned with, and this album proves it.

3. folklore by Taylor Swift

In 2019, Taylor Swift released Lover, a sort of poppy, commercial album. In Miss Americana, she described that period as “possibly my last chance to grasp on to that kind of success” reminiscent of her previous eras. It was not. folklore, her latest, was written entirely in quarantine. Somehow in that time, she tapped into something magical. It feels like a storybook rather than a diary. Some of these songs are personal, but they’re written from different perspectives and in a way she hasn’t before. She’s always wanted to tell fairy tales, but she now approaches them with a growing maturity. The music is stripped down and minimal, but the songs are rich because of the incredible lyrics. folklore is a new chapter for Taylor Swift, one that is just beginning.

2. græ by Moses Sumney

From the zaniness of Virile to the serenity of Cut Me, this double album is one of cleansing. It feels pure and natural, like a waterfall. It’s something that could only have been made by someone incredibly wise. He explores themes of isolation, justice and himself. I could listen to this album for hours and hours.

1. Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers

Punisher is my favorite album of the year because it allowed me to escape. It’s haunting, deeply personal and weird. “You said I wasn’t your vegetable…” Maybe Phoebe Bridgers is speaking a language all her own. I think it’s fitting that the album incorporates voice memos - these songs are so heartbreaking you can only confess them to yourself. It feels so cutting, yet I find a sliver of optimism. The album cover truly says it all. Punisher is a glimmer of hope in an ocean of sadness. You can always stare up at the stars.

C + L