The best albums of 2020
Another pleasingly good year for music.
As one matures, it is very easy to dismiss new music and revert back to the comfort of the albums that were so essential in your youth.
But that would ignore so many talented new and old artists who release albums that deserves to be heard and cherished. Particularly in this year of all years where many bands are struggling to make ends meet.
Below are 15 albums that carried me through the year. I hope one or two may end up becoming classics that I will listen to in decades to come.
Despite the disappointment of cancelled concerts (especially Nick Cave and Erland Cooper), I did manage to get to two very memorable gigs before lockdown.
In February, William Doyle (Your Wilderness was a 2019 favourite), played his heart out in the intimate surroundings of The Crofters Rights in Bristol.
Just one week before lockdown, Jon Hopkins (Singularity was a 2018 favourite and Immunity a 2013 favourite), played his heart out at The Forum in Bath. It was a particularly pleasurable experience because it was the first gig I went to with my brother in a very, very long time. We even ‘danced.’
William Doyle, Bristol. February 2020
Jon Hopkins, Bath. March 2020.
And so…
… in no particular order, but grouped together by style. Kind of …
Electronic
Inner Song by Kelly Lee Owens
A Wonderful Hope by Late Night Final
Island by Owen Pallett
Glassforms by Bruce Brubaker & Max Cooper
Guitars and attitude
Every Bad by Porridge Radio
A Hero’s Death by Fontaines D.C.
To Love is to Live by Jenny Beth
RE-ANIMATOR by Everything Everything
Modern composition
Voices by Max Richter
Some Kind of Peace by Olafur Arnalds
Reflective
Earth by EOB
Songs by Adrianne Lenker
Political and foot-tappable (in places)
A first - two albums by the same artist on one list. Sault are a mysterious collective who have released four albums in the last two years.
Untitled (Black Is) by Sault
Untitled (Rise) by Sault
Quirky
Free Humans by Hen Ogledd
