The 50 Best Albums of 2020

No one would have guessed that 2020 was going to be the year that it turned out to be. What an incredibly depressing, exhausting, aggravating, and infuriating year. One of the only bright spots was the new music released. I very regularly found myself on a Friday marveling over all of the new releases to enjoy. Some things were completely new to me and some were favorites returning, but it all made for a silver lining that often kept me sane. personally. Music has saved me before and it came through again. Please enjoy the 50 best albums of 2020:

50.  Impenetrable Cerebral Fortress by Gulch

49.  Away Team by Shell Of A Shell

48.  Eno Axis by H.C. McEntire

47.  Sorceress by Jess Williamson

https://open.spotify.com/album/4PFQNELzkJ1AFwb9GsQc26?si=thUsLw2WTGC-66aiEli-LQ

46.  Whose Line Is It Anyway? by Private Function

Just some Aussie pub punk party anthems done right. – Apache Slomo

45.  Agritprop Alterna by Peel Dream Magazine

44.  The Great Dismal by Nothing

43.  Every Bad by Porridge Radio

42.  Pure X by Pure X

41.  Dance In The Decay by DROWSE

40.  NO DREAM by Jeff Rosenstock

Continues to be a torch bearer in modern day punk rock. – Apache Slomo

39.  Punishment Park by Big Cheese

38.  Ultra Mono by IDLES

37.  Off the Rails by Gino & the Goons

36.  Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

For my money, Fiona Apple is one of the greatest songwriters of her generation, if not of all time, and she once again displayed her prowess on Fetch the Bolt Cutters.  This album received high praise from every publication, and rightfully so.  There’s a great interview with her on Pitchfork surrounding the album that I recommend reading. – MCG

35.  Slomosa by Slomosa

Hitting all the stoner rock groove buttons, just a great album full of crunchy riffs. – Apache Slomo

34.  Feelings Blade by Peace’d Out

Just a great little thrasher of a punk album. – Apache Slomo

33.  Radiation Breeze by Richard Rose

Another prolific force in the garage punk game has a new group. – Apache Slomo

32.  Flesh, Steel, Victory… by Seed of Pain

Chewing the fat right of the bone, Seed of Pain are not here to sugar coat things. – Apache Slomo

31.  RTJ4 by Run The Jewels

The right band for just the right time! – Apache Slomo

30.  World House by Mil-Spec

29.  Welcome to Bobby’s Motel by Pottery

Reminding me of some of old dance rock favorites such as !!! and the Rapture.

28.  Ultimate Success Today by Protomartyr

Just Protomartyr doing Protomartyr shit, man.  They have done no wrong because it impossible for them to do any wrong.  Another perfect album under their belts.  – MCG

27.  Beneath by Infant Island

Such an exciting new band, and what an incredible leap they made from their debut album, which came in at #46 on our 50 Best Albums of 2018 list.  I have a strong feeling they’ll continue to improve and blow our minds with every release to come. – MCG

26.  Enter the Mirage by The Sonic Dawn

In a crazy year, this album was my psychedelic breath of fresh air. – Apache Slomo

25.  Take A Chance On Rock’n’Roll by Couch Slut

I don’t know what genre Couch Slut are, but I do know that they do whatever it is that they’re doing as good as anyone else.  Pure, unfiltered aggression with a voice that’s clearly fed up with the bullshit. – MCG

24.  Sideways to New Italy by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

With hooks for days, we are reminded it’s time for a trip to the beach. – Apache Slomo

23.  Set My Heart On Fire Immediately by Perfume Genius

At this point, it’s hard to imagine him doing anything that isn’t damn near perfect and year-end-list worthy.  I’m sure it’s not as effortless as it seems, but you can’t help but listen in awe. – MCG

22.  Venus Skytrip by Psychlona

Time to blast off into the outer realm of tasty riffs. – Apache Slomo

21.  When I Die, Will I Get Better? by Svalbard

20.  Shore by Fleet Foxes

Another beautiful album that offered a reprieve from the shitstorm. – Apache Slomo

19.  Snapshot of a Beginner by Nap Eyes

A laid back and clever venture into some very important and some other not so important questions.  This album provided a great soundtrack for many patio and pool beers in the spring and fall. – MCG

18.  WHAT THE FUCK DID WE DO TO THE EARTH by SØØN

Twelve songs.  Twelve minutes.  Straight to the point and not one single bit of fucking around in sight.  This was a welcomed scream-filled aggression-fest that helped me power through some of the roughest and weirdest times this year. – MCG

17.  Osees

Just continuing to perfect and expand on what they do best, just catchier than all fuck. – Apache Slomo

16.  How to Draw Fire by Painted Doll

This is where I turned for my power pop/rock, with just the right amount of psych. – Apache Slomo

15.  Off Fire by Truth Cult

Scratching that old D.C. punk itch with aplomb. – Apache Slomo

14.  PEARS by PEARS

My favorite NOLA punks return with another shot of vitriol just before the world goes dark. – Apache Slomo

13.  Inlet by Hum

90’s knob twiddlers return with another dose of fuzz and show why so many are influenced by what they do. – Apache Slomo

12.  California Cursed by DRAIN

Like dropping a new So Cal hardcore engine in your favorite speedster. – Apache Slomo

11.  Eight Gates by Jason Molina

This one snuck up on me.  Another instance of someone not being appreciated until they’re gone.  Molina passed away in 2013 which makes this feel like a deep, dark whisper issuing lovely warnings from the other side.  May he haunt this world forever. – MCG

10.  Splid by Kvelertak

New singer, same old riff rock fury! – Apache Slomo

9.  Lungs by Regrowth

My favorite “hardcore” release of the year; who knew Italians could do the damn thing so well?  Why did you doubt them in the first place?  Get your shit together man! – MCG

8.  Ohms by Deftones

Blood-curdling scream Chino is my favorite type of Chino, so when I heard “Genesis” as a single, I was very excited at the possibility of more of that.  They didn’t disappoint, delivering an album that’s about has heavy as they’ve been in over a decade, and at the same time experiments with some new and interesting things for them all while still being very much a Deftones album.  They’re one of my favorite bands of all time and when one of your favorite bands delivers like this, it’s a damn good feeling. – MCG

7.  Push by Heads.

What an Ominous, brooding, heavy, and dark piece of music that grabs you by the throat and drags you down to its level.  This band truly has set themselves apart from their contemporaries, and in a genre that can easily be stale, they keep you guessing throughout. – MCG

6.  Have We Met by Destroyer

According to my Spotify Wrapped, I was in the top 0.05% of Destroyer listeners this year, and that’s largely due to the deep obsession period that surrounded the release of this album.  I mean, I always have a deep obsession with Destroyer, but clearly this was some next level shit.  The concept behind Have We Met really had be intrigued, and I think it allowed for some really interesting new things to happen all while staying true to the Destroyer I know and love. – MCG

5.  South of Heaven by Fotocrime

Former Coliseum frontman rises to the occasion and drops a synth rock doozy for the end of days. – Apache Slomo

4.  The Neon Skyline by Andy Shauf

I had never heard of this guy previous to this album, but damn, can he ever tell a story!  Love the concept and he pulled it off expertly.  Such a fun and easy listen from start to finish. – MCG

3.  May Our Chambers Be Full by Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou

Being a fan of both of these artists had me very excited for this collaboration.  The end result is a towering, monumental offering, and one of the most objectively good albums of the year. – MCG

2.  Pagan Rhythms by Spiritworld

Take a trip into the darkside of hardcore, melding just the right amount of Slayer and honkytonk. – Apache Slomo

1.  The New Abnormal by The Strokes

I can’t think of a more pleasant surprise than this album.  The Strokes have long been one of my favorite bands, and for the past 10 years or so it’s felt like they’ve been declining overall due to what I’m sure was a long list of reasons.  So, given that, I was hopeful, but my expectations weren’t very high for The New Abnormal.  It ended up simultaneously being true to the classic Strokes sound while still allowing for plenty of experimentation within that.  It was easily my most played album and I still can’t get enough of it. – MCG

I can’t think of a more pleasant surprise than this album.  The Strokes have long been one of my favorite bands, and for the past 10 years or so it’s felt like they’ve been declining overall due to what I’m sure was a long list of reasons.  So, given that, I was hopeful, but my expectations weren’t very high for The New Abnormal.  It ended up simultaneously being true to the classic Strokes sound while still allowing for plenty of experimentation within that.  It was easily my most played album and I still can’t get enough of it. – MCG

**Honorable Mentions**:

SPICE by SPICE
Hollow Hope by FAIM
Atlas Vending by METZ
Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
What’s Your Pleasure? by Jessie Ware
III by Fuzz
From King to a God by Conway the Machine
Introduction, Presence by Nation of Language
Untitled (Rise) and Untitled (Black Is) by SAULT
Dead End by R.I.P.
Muzz by Muzz
The Price of Tea in China by Boldy James
Skeleton Coast by The Lawrence Arms
Nobody Lives Here Anymore by Cut Worms
Andra vyer by Horizont
Burden of Proof by Benny the Butcher
Viewing by Stay Inside
Speed Kills by Chubby & the Gang

**EPs**:

Lavender by Initiate
World of Pleasure by World of Pleasure
Freedom Beach by Constant Elevation
Hurts to Laugh by Methyl Ethyl
Lovers in Marble by The Cowboys
Before by James Blake
Swingin’ Swords, Choppin Lords by Mindforce
My Life is Over by Militarie Gun
Hurtin’ 4 Certain by Tommy & the Commies

On the Refreshing Nature of The Strokes Finding Their New Abnormal

Blah blah blah The Strokes came out in 2000 and saved rock’n’roll blah blah they have two classics blah blah I like their third quite a bit as well but you don’t blah blah blah blah their next two albums blah are blah with blah and some really great songs but overall uninspired and the EP was good!  And so are a lot of songs Julian wrote with The Voidz!  blah blah so now after all this time blah blah their new album blah what do they have to offer in 2020?  Blah blah blah.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, that history that everyone feels the need to reiterate every single god damned motherfucking time The Strokes are discussed, let’s talk about The New Abnormal.

First, my first impressions (no, not of Earth, of the album!) and how they made me feel.  Here’s a recollection of the stream-of-consciousness thoughts I remember from the first time I heard it last Thursday Evening, because you know I stayed up to hear it:

Track 1 – “The Adults Are Talking”:  

Oh wow, very Strokes-y, nice and familiar, makes me feel at warm and cozy like a trip home for the holidays.  This is good!  If nothing else, this will be one I revisit and this easily belongs on a “Best-of” Strokes list, no doubt.  The instruments are nice and tight, Julian sounds great with the falsetto here.  Love the adlibs and studio banter at the end.  That’s new.

Track 2 – “Selfless”

Another one that can easily stand up next to their past material.  This won’t ever be the first song anyone mentions but it has great parts and the melodies are blissful.  Another great vocal performance.

Track 3 – “Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus”

Oh shit, 80’s video game intro music synths!  Fuck me up with those, guys.  Go ahead and fuck me up with them!  Plenty of great Strokes tricks strewn through this one as well.  I feel like it’s picking up some steam here.  “Can we switch into the chorus, right nowww…”.  Anything you say, good sir.

Track 4 – “Bad Decisions”

Great single, heard it a lot already.  I’m sure it’s very enjoyable for people who aren’t familiar with the songs it’s borrowing from.  The ending saves it a bit but this one will probably be skippable for me in the near future.

Track 5 – “Eternal Summer”

Oh good god all mighty, what have we here?  That groove, that melody, and that falsetto have me ready for oblivion.  I’m just here floating around loving everything about this.  Those guitars and shouting in the chorus are some real Pink Floyd-esque treats that absolutely no one was expecting.  “They got the remedy, but they won’t let it happen!”  Yeah that’s The Wall if The Wall was fun and had some Jean-Michel Basquiat graffiti on it in (eternal) summer colors.  This is instantly one of the best songs they’ve ever done and it has no business being this good.

Track 6 – “At The Door”

Okay heard this one quite a bit as well at this point.  This was the first song released from the new album letting us all know things were going to be at least somewhat different with the synths, lack of percussion, and once again, Julian bringing his A-game.  The lyrics and the melody deserve to be spotlighted here.  So good.

Track 7 – “Why Are Sunday’s So Depressing”

Good fucking question, mate.  Solid song, the vocal delivery makes it fun for me.  More synths, I appreciate that and how well they’re working with the guitars.  

Track 8 – “Not The Same Anymore”

More somber than the other songs, more serious lyrics.  Get some shit off your chest man, it’s okay, we all need that.  Let ’em know.  Great build into the chorus melody.  Nice minor key guitar solo (probably), really drives the theme of this one home, you know?  Yeah let it all breathe and ruminate to the end, that’s how we do it with the heavy shit.

Track 9 – “Ode To The Mets”

Love me some fuckin’ sports man.  Question is if this is going to be deGromm or Familia (“oh shit, does he really love him some fuckin’ sports?  Now I can’t tell because he just went there with some real deftness”).  More crooning, more Julian nailing it and hitting a home run ball far over the fence (sports continued).  Oh wait, what did he say?  Rewind.  “Drums please, Fab”.  He said “Drums please, Fab” and then the drums kicked right in on beat after missing the cue.  For the love of all that is good and sacred, tell me that wasn’t planned and rehearsed.  If that’s real, then the band that reinvented being cool in 2000 just fucking did it again.  That’s some cool ass shit!  I’ve been walking around yelling “CORONAVIRUS!  CORONAVIRUS!!” in Cardi B’s voice for a month, and now I have something new to say.  “Drums please, Fab”.  God.  So good.  OH AND THIS: 

“I was just bored, playin’ the guitar
Learned all your tricks, wasn’t too hard”

Sick burn, man.  Don’t know why he had to do it to ’em like that.  Make some room in the burn unit for sure.  This song is the perfect slow-burn (I’m on a roll) fade out.  Great melodies again, fuck, JFC is unstoppable and can do no wrong.  Time to start it over.

 

So there you have it.  Perhaps not an exact recollection, but pretty close.  I’ve been listening to this thing all weekend and I haven’t gotten close to having enough of it yet.  Perfect spring time and (eternal) summertime jams.  Easily repeatable, a lot of new things they did here – Synths!  Long songs!  Studio banter!  And even with the new stuff, every song sounded nice and tight with the guitars and drums like The Strokes always have, and as I mentioned numerous times, Julian was in top form.

As I stated, everyone loves talking about The Strokes’ past and is absolutely obsessed with ranking their albums on a graph so they can talk about the trend lines and blah blah blah blah blah so where this sits among their previous work will obviously be highly debated.  It’s probably in middle, and you can split hairs all you want, but the fact is this is a damn good album from a band that was once the biggest thing in the world, and that most people had completely written off.

– MCG

The 10 Best Albums of Quarter 1, 2020

Well shit, this year took a turn, didn’t it?  In spite of all the insanity going on in this world, the gods have seen us fit to receive a seriously ridiculous amount of new music in the first three months of 2020 that ranges from good to great to spectacular.  There are so many, in fact, that we felt simply limiting it to ten was a crime in itself, and so for the first time we’ve included a list of honorable mentions at the bottom.  That honorable mention list quickly got to be very extensive and very much out of control, so I had to go back and edit it down a bit.  I’ve been tracking and keeping up with new music on a weekly basis for about eight years now, and I don’t ever remember it being this rich and fruitful over a three month timeframe.  I hope you find something new here that you love, and that makes these hard times a little easier on you.  Bask in the glory!

 

Have We Met by Destroyer

I’ll be honest, this one was a lock on our lists the day it was announced.  Dan Bejar’s main creative outlet has long been a favorite of mine.  I’d gladly make a case for his output in the last 15 years as being the best in that timeframe.  Have We Met seemingly tangents off of his fundamental sound once more, as all Destroyer albums do, building on it and altering it slightly by utilizing the tools he’s been honing all along.  Bejar and Destroyer continue to evolve expertly, conjuring themes and atmospheres like no one else can.

– MCG

 

 

Splid by Kvelertak

Kvelertak have emerged once again as the mythical sun ship that they are. To even waste time and harp about a new singer joining the band this time around is moot, Kvelertak remain a unified vision and wrecking ball tour de force! With Splid they have stretched out and added some nuance and goth rock embellishments. Make no mistake, they will stampede you, Turbonegro you in the ballsack then rip out your heart like the dark priest in the Temple of Doom. Have you actually seen what these guys look like, imagine multiple Norwegian terminators sent from the future to rock your socks off. I hear writers say all the time that they would love to do just one thing in their life, that good ! Well, I’m gonna go one step further and say that I would just love to show up to band practice, plug in and produce a sound this batshit crazy yet tight as a virgin’s bunghole! Don’t even get me started with the music video for Crack of Doom, quite the soothsayer for the current state of affairs if you ask me!

– ApacheSlomo

 

 

The Neon Skyline by Andy Shauf

This one snuck up on me, sinking its hooks in with a great concept and smoothness that made it instantly accessible enough to enjoy multiple listens in a row.  The replay-ability with this album is off the charts, leaning on a nostalgic feeling and expertly painted scenes that are as relatable as can be.

– MCG

 

 

Flesh, Steel, Victory… by Seed of Pain

The syncopated anvil drop in of New Age of Chaos gives way to a rifle onslaught of carnage! Who the fuck is playing drums in this band, the timing is absolutely out of this world. This is music you start your car to, music to put on when you have that strong cup of coffee in your hand and you say to yourself, ok for whetever it’s worth, I’m ready to run someone over! If you’ve ever seen a cyclops smash fists with a sasquatch then you know what caliber of band I speak of. They are comprised of pure rage and highly apropos in the current climate. If I played hockey, it would be to this, the clunky start-stops beating in time with every time I dig my skates in and change direction. Make no mistake Seed of Pain are not margarita music, they are here to peel back eyes and help you see pain!

– ApacheSlomo

 

 

Every Bad by Porridge Radio

The raw energy that builds throughout and the way the lyrics are repeated and carved into my ears until they become mantras made this album a revelation for me.  I remember my first listen with headphones very vividly because I was overcome by these things.  Every Bad isn’t an album, it’s a cathartic experience that yields a new perspective on things you might not have been sure were there ruminating in your subconscious.  It’s a lighthouse for feelings you may have buried, intentional or not.  Let it guide you.

– MCG

 

 

PEARS by PEARS

I’ve just always been able to relate to these guys on some level, mostly due them hailing from New Orleans! Now more than ever we need a band like PEARS, they will shake and bake you all day long, never steering in one direction for more than a few clips at a time. For fucks sake, Dial Up references Chumbawamba and the ol’ El Macarena in the same breath. Talk about combining the classic Fat Wreck sound with a 90’s freak show extravaganza. I did a little research on this one and found that while on the previous record they went in with most of the material ready to roll, on this one they went in with fractional ideas and structures. Well, that certainly blows me away and fuels my desire to seen them live, as they have alluded me thus far! If you’re in the market for some …And Out Come the Wolves shit, some Dookie shit as well as some, How to Clean Everything shit then plug in and get destroyed!

– ApacheSlomo

 

 

WHAT THE FUCK DID WE DØ TØ THE EARTH by SØØN

Just some pedal to the fucking metal hardcore, foaming at the mouth, spewing into the air, and clawing into the ground.  This is a totally different type of cathartic experience.  This is close your eyes and swing your fucking fists like you’re trying to split the atoms in the air until you collapse music.  This is that “our-corrupt-government-was-negligent-and-failed-us-during-a-global-pandemic” type shit.  Play it fucking LOUD and fucking OFTEN.

– MCG

 

 

Eyes and Tongues by Desert Colossus

Load up the boogie van, grab your flippies and silkiest pair of trunks cause this aroma permeates all the way from Zaandam, Netherlands. Now you normally wouldn’t expect such dank desert rock from Holland but these days the strain has spread to all parts of the globe such as Italy and Sweden. What Desert Colossus meld is the likes of Kyuss, Fu Manchu with a touch of Fear. Just check out the extended super jam of The One, as it starts off in slow trucker doom territory and eventually morphs into a stoner groove that would make Brant Bjork blush. With 7 songs in 43 minutes there is no doubt you get your money’s worth with this one. So if you find yourself wanting to hop in the car for a toke break, this would be the album to burn rubber and save your soul to!

– ApacheSlomo

 

 

Snapshot of a Beginner by Nap Eyes

This one arrived at the eleventh hour of our first quarter and bumped another great album out of the top ten.  The sound itself is just about perfect for the beautiful spring weather I am experiencing here; sitting on a patio with a beer and the sun shining, with nothing to do and nowhere to go (like I have much of a choice anyway).  The lyrics, however, are sort of a juxtaposition to the sound, offering deep thoughts, silly thoughts, nonsensical thoughts, sensical thoughts, existential thoughts, etc., and the balance that Nap Eyes walks this tight rope with is skillful and precise.  The album flows like a melatonin-induced dream, intense and making no sense at all, yet still leaving you with a stark feeling when you wake up from it.

– MCG

 

South of Heaven by Fotocrime

When Coliseum broke up it cut me a little bit, mainly because they encapsulated what I love about dark rock n’ roll and they were getting better with each album. Plus, when Principle of Pain dropped in ’18 it just didn’t stick with me for some reason, I think it was the lack of Coliseum muscle. Well with the help of some dudes from Metz and Steve Albini, frontman and mastermind Ryan Patterson went out and got him that muscle. Now with South of Heaven, all the planets have aligned and we get those Depeche Mode synths with the goth rock swagger. The production is gorgeous and with headphones on, the subtle nuances reveal themselves. This beast was released at a crazy time for us and “Expulsion From Paradise” is a great way to soundtrack the uncertainty with love and hope for the future.

– ApacheSlomo

 

 

**BONUS EP**: 

Lavender by Initiate

Oh shit!  Another first!  Not only have we never included a Honorable Mentions list before, but we’ve never had a Bonus EP!  What a time to be alive, right?!  Initiate took the brutal craftsmanship they slapped us with on 2018’s Before Long… and sharpened that shit up so nice that every song is now a deathblow instead of just a maiming to leave you crippled.  On Lavender, Initiate have become both the unstoppable force AND the immovable object, reaching deep down to deliver eleven minutes of fury sure to have you clenching your fists and gritting your teeth in euphoria.

– MCG.

 

 

**Honorable Mentions**:

Hearts In Gardens by Kyle Forester
Empty Country by Empty Country
Void Moments by FACS
There Is No Year by Algiers
I Was Born Swimming by Squirrel Flower
Mercy by The Men
Collector by Disq
Swimmer by Tennis
Bloem by Fluisteraars
Uneasy Laughter by Moaning
Melee by Dogleg
Fungus II by Wasted Shirt
Love In High Demand by Too Free
Grave of a Dog by Sightless Pit
Delux by Bib
Speed Kills by Chubby and the Gang
Nothing by Ghouli
Conundrum by Hallas
Fever Dream by Mutually Assured Destruction