A Year in Music: 2020

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A Reflection on Music in 2020

There’s really no other way to describe this year than terrible. COVID has made sure of that. And for music in 2020, the effects of the pandemic have certainly been felt as well. People were no longer able to sing along live to their favorite artist’s new album, or feel the energy of a massive festival crowd, and for the artists themselves, the absence of live shows not only increased the disconnect between their fans, but also risked the livelihood of their careers for those not fortunate to be at the top of the industry’s money list.

But music at large was far from decaying this year: the difficult circumstances sparked ingenuity. Although not nearly the same, artists held virtual concerts and charity livestreams, and participated in YouTube series’ to foster engagement as much as they could. New ways of utilizing social media were popularized, and whether it be through IG Live or podcasts, people were able to see different, more personable, and more transparent perspectives of their favorite artists, for better or for worse.

Even without the pandemic, 2020 has still been heavily tainted by loss. The grievous announcement of MF DOOM’s passing today is a deeply sore reminder of how many talented and influential musicians the world has lost this year. Posthumous albums have become more occurrent, but this can’t continue to trend forward.

Like always, music is healing, and especially this year more than ever, music has been instrumental in providing people solace in times of grief, excitement in times of boredom, and escape in times of isolation. A lot of 2020 records have been thematically more personal and private than usual, and it definitely has found relatability for a lot of listeners this year. It also probably explains much of this year’s trends in escapist songwriting, or the momentous comeback of disco.

Nonetheless, despite everything that this year threw at the world, 2020 remained quite a memorable year for music, with a number of truly outstanding albums to show for. It goes to show that even if the world is falling apart, music will be there to console.

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Favorite 50 Albums/EPs of 2020 (Alphabetical)

Alina Baraz - It Was Divine

Aminé - Limbo

Bad Bunny - YHLGMDLG

Benny the Butcher - Burden of Proof

Blu & Exile - Miles

Bruno Major - To Let A Good Thing Die

BTS - BE

Charli XCX - how i'm feeling now

CHIKA - INDUSTRY GAMES*

Chloe x Halle - Ungodly Hour

clipping. - Visions of Bodies Being Burned

Conway the Machine - From King to a GOD

Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats - UNLOCKED

Donovan Woods - Without People

Disclosure - ENERGY

Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia

ELIO - u and me, but mostly me*

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Fleet Foxes - Shore

Fontaines D.C. - A Hero's Death

Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - Alfredo

GIVĒON - TAKE TIME*

Gorillaz - Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez

HAIM - Women in Music Pt. III

Jeremy Zucker - love is not dying

Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure

KA - Descendants of Cain

Kiana Ledé - KIKI

Kid Cudi - Man On the Moon III: The Chosen

Kota the Friend - Everything

Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas

Lil Uzi Vert - Eternal Atake

Lizzy McAlpine - Give Me A Minute

Logic - No Pressure

Mac Miller - Circles

Mahalia - Isolation Tapes*

Nas - King's Disease

Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

Polo G - THE GOAT

Rina Sawayama - SAWAYAMA

Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 4

Soccer Mommy - color theory

The Strokes - The New Abnormal

Taylor Swift - evermore

Taylor Swift - folklore

Tkay Maidza - Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 2)*

Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes - What Kinda Music

The Weeknd - After Hours

Westside Gunn - Pray for Paris

21 Savage & Metro Boomin - SAVAGE MODE II

* indicates an EP.

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Thank you all for your support, I truly appreciate this community, and I hope 2021 is a little bit better for all of us.