Album Of The Week’s Top 15 Records Of The Year
By: Joseph Jordan
Tags: Album Of The Year, Rap, Alternative, Review, Music

2020 has been some year. From lockdowns to vaccines to Zoom to facemasks, it has also been a disaster for the music industry in particularly independent artists who have seen their revenue streams be destroyed by the pandemic.

Despite all this, there have thankfully been lots of albums to help us through what has been a tough year.

Some honourable mentions go to The Orielles and their excellent album ‘Disco Volador’ as well as The 1975’s ‘Notes on a Conditional Form’ which would have been on here if it were more focused and concise.

So here are Album Of The Week’s best of 2020…

15. Dua Lipa — Future Nostalgia

Future Nostalgia — Dua Lipa — Warner Records

I could never have predicted at the start of the year that a Dua Lipa album would find it’s way into my top records of the year but that is testament to how well crafted this album is.

Combing elements of ’80s dance as well as house, funk and R&B, Future Nostalgia matches catchy melodies with an eclectic range of influences to produce one of the best mainstream pop releases of the past few years.

The album to many was the soundtrack to the first lockdown providing of shimmering pop escape from the dour reality of life in 2020.

14. Working Men’s Club — Working Men’s Club

Working Men’s Club — Working Men’s Club — Heavenly

The self-titled debut of Yorkshire outfit, Working Men’s Club saw the band combine post-punk, acid house and indie influences together to form a stark sound which pierced through the blandness of 2020.

There are definitely influences from the likes of New Order on tracks such as ‘A.A.A.A.’ which sound as though they could have slipped into their late 80’s work. However, altogether the album provides something dark and unique to the indie circuit.

13. IDLES — Ultra Mono

Ultra Mono — IDLES- Partisan

One of the most anticipated releases of the year rarely does one of these albums live up to the hype however Idles managed to do just that.

Very much the ‘In Utero’ to Joy as An Act of Resistance’s ‘Nevermind’, Idles third album sees the band flex their creative muscles expanding their sound on songs like the excellent ‘Grounds’.

The group also prove they can get even heavier with songs like the opener ‘War’ which sets the album off like a firework. Overall, IDLES succeed on following up the best alternative album of the 2010s in new and interesting ways.

12. The Strokes — The New Abnormal

The New Abnormal— The Strokes— RCA Records

2020 wasn’t all despair as it saw the return of The Strokes after a four-year break following the release of 2016's EP ‘Future Present Past’.

The album saw their best effort since 2003’s ‘Room On Fire’ combining new sounds which normally would feel more at home on frontman Julian Casablancas’ other venture ‘The Voidz’.

Overall, the catchy riffs and evolution in sound lead to the best Strokes’ album for over a decade.

11. The Cribs — Night Network

Night Network-The Cribs-Sonic Blew

The Cribs were down and out this time last year however luckily for us, they picked themselves up and brushed themselves down producing a wonderful comeback record.

Taking influences from Motown and bands such as The Beach Boys, the Wakefield trio didn’t stand still with this record or attempt to recreate a nostalgic repeat of their classic 2000’s sound, instead providing a fresh new style for the band.

The group reunited with Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo on the track ‘I Don’t Know Who I Am?’ to produce one of the best singles of the year proving the band are here to stay.

10. Gorillaz — Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez

Song Machine — Gorillaz — Parlophone

Gorillaz marked their 20th anniversary with an eclectic set of songs with features which may have raised an eyebrow.

However, in truth, this makes the album all the more special as the record travels through various avenues from the punk stylings of ‘Momentary Bliss’ featuring rapper Slowthai and punk duo Slaves to the beautiful ‘Aires’ featuring New Order bassist Peter Hook which surely is one of the songs of the year.

Together, this makes one of the best records the virtual band have put out in their long career.

9. Run The Jewels — RTJ4

RTJ4 — Run The Jewels — BMG

Run The Jewels continue their sparkling career with possibly their best record since their formation. The aggression and political lyrics infuse this with a frantic energy which allows this album to hit hard.

With the events of this year in the United States and across the world provoking anger across the globe, this record takes these strong emotions and channels them into a set of socially charged, head-rushing bangers.

8. Sorry — 925

925 — Sorry — Domino

Sorry’s debut album is perhaps one of the more underrated releases of 2020. A mix of different influences produces a varying album which sets Sorry apart from other bands in alternative music.

The sensational ‘Right Around The Clock’ samples Tears For Fears with excellent results whilst ‘Ode To Boy’ sees the band hit cinematic heights in beautiful ways.

Overall, this leads to one of this year’s best debuts showing the promise for the band in the future.

7. Charli XCX— how i’m feeling now

how i’m feeling now — Charli XCX — Warner Records

Charli XCX’s brand of hyper pop is not for everyone however you can’t deny that she doesn’t produce some of the most interesting pop releases.

This lockdown album goes hard something which is immediately relayed to you in the first track, a thumping assault on the ears in all the right ways which sets the album up perfectly.

The record’s raw lyrics capture a moment during the first lockdown of which this album was created within. This leads to truly chaotic results and one of pop’s most interesting releases from one of it’s most intriguing artists.

6. HAIM — Women In Music Pt. III

Women In Music Pt. III — HAIM — Columbia

HAIM’s third album sees their best release yet with the band pushing forward their folk-pop sound.

The group experiments with their core sound adding more of an electronic element and even go slightly Tame Impala with the heavy bass line in track, ‘Up From A Dream’ all whilst retaining their individuality.

The track ‘Gasoline’ has a soothing quality with a funk shaped twist in the guitar work whilst ‘3am’ even touches upon an R&B influence which adds a chilled element to the album.

5. Fontaines D.C. — A Hero’s Death

A Hero’s Death — Fontaines D.C. — Partisan

Fontaines D.C. had a lot to live up to following up their debut, ‘Dogrel’ in just a year however they did that with stupendous results.

The post-punk band have produced a much more subtle record with their sophomore. This all leading to a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album which was a shock to many.

However, with songs like the title track, which is amongst the singles of the year with it’s driving riff and the finisher ‘No’ which provides a beautiful, heartbreaking ending to the record, no one should be surprised about the Dublin band’s growing success.

4. Sports Team — Deep Down Happy

Deep Down Happy — Sports Team — Island

This album is just what was needed in 2020, fun. It may not be the most experimental album to come out this year but it was the sound of a band having fun.

The group has released one of the best indie albums of the past ten years breathing new life into the genre with their unique lyrical take. Songs such as ‘Lander’ and ‘Stations of the Cross’ aren’t even singles but take the group to new heights. A truly spectacular debut.

3. Rina Sawayama — SAWAYAMA

SAWAYAMA — Rina Sawayama — Dirty Hit

SAWAYAMA is the terrific debut album from British-Japanese star, Rina Sawayama. The album fuses multiple genres together to create one of the most unique sounding pop releases of recent times.

This becomes immediately apparent from the beginning of the album with the opener, ‘XS’ which fuses heavy guitars into a catchy pop melody creating one of the best tracks of the year.

These fusions continue throughout the album producing one of the most unique pop albums of the year.

2. Phoebe Bridgers — Punisher

Punisher — Phoebe Bridgers — Dead Oceans

2020 has been the year of Phoebe Bridgers’ in which she has collected five Grammy nominations as well as seen her popularity hit an all-time high.

This popularity is certainly not unwarranted with Bridgers releasing an absolute masterpiece in ‘Punisher’, each track is immersed in personality. This is demonstrated in the lyrics which are self-aware, clever and personal which is then backed up by some lush instrumentals.

You only need to listen to one track to understand why this album comes in at number two and that is the final track, ‘I Know The End’ which is a masterpiece on its own.

1.Laura Marling — Song For Our Daughter

Song For Our Daughter — Laura Marling — Chrysalis Records

So here we are, the best album of 2020 according to Album of the Week and it’s the beautiful ‘Song For Our Daughter’ by Laura Marling.

The record is a heartbreaking folk album which is packed full of heart and intimate melodies which truly moved me even from the first listen.

The concept of the album sees Marling writing an album to her imaginary daughter in which she explains what it is to be a woman in modern society.

This threads itself beautifully through the album with the titled track providing one of many highlights across a truly touching album.

This was my top 15 but what would be in yours? Make sure to let me know on Twitter @week_album.