MCCh 2020 (08) May 15
Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 9:02 pm
The best albums of 2020 (update May, 15)
The numbers presented next to each album title are the weighted average rating, and, in brackets, average and number of ratings (out of 32 included sources). The weighted average is based on a formula that includes a) the average of ratings and b) the number of sources that have rated the album.
The magazines I used for the ratings were:
EUR + Australia: Gaffa-dk; Gaffa-sw; Humo; Indiestyle; Jenesaispop; Laut; Mondosonoro; Musikexpress; Nojesguiden; Ondarock; Plattentests; Sentire Ascoltare; The Music
UK: Clash; DIY; God Is In The Tv; Load And Quiet; Music OMH; The Guardian; The Line Of Best Fit; The Skinny
USA + Canada: Allmusic; Consequence Of Sound; Earbuddy; Exclaim!; Nothern Transmissions; Paste; Pitchfork; Popmatters; Rolling Stone; Spectrum Culture; Under The Radar
Highlights: These are the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, The Skinny, Beardfood, BostonGlobe, Nowtoronto, Entertainment Weekly, etc…
New entry or Re-entry
Albums that have obtained new reviews and improved the score
Albums that have obtained new reviews but worsened the score
Out:
None
45 - Ghostpoet: I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep - 74,3 (76,9 / 13)
Highlights: Rats in a Sack - Concret Pony - Nowhere to Hide Now
Art Pop
44 - The Chats: High Risk Behaviour – 74,6 (78,3 / 10)
Highlights: Pub Feed - Identity Theft - Stinker
Garage Punk
43 - Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit: Reunions - 74,7 (78,7 / 9)
Highlights: What've I Done to Help - Overseas - Dreamsicle
Americana
42 - Lanterns On The Lake: Spook The Herd – 74,7 (79,0 / 8)
Highlights: Every Atom - Before They Excavate - Swimming Lessons
Dream Pop
41 - Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs: Viscerals - 74,9 (78,2 / 11)
Highlights: Halloween Bolson - New Body - Rubbernecker
Stoner Metal
40 - Code Orange: Underneath – 75,2 (78,2 / 12)
Highlights: Swallowing the Rabbit Whole - Sulfur Surrounding - You and You Alone
Metalcore
39 - The Weeknd: After Hours – 75,2 (74,6 / 23)
Highlights: Blinding Lights - After Hours - Scared to Live
Alternative R&B
38 - Hamilton Leithauser: The Loves Of Your Life - 75,4 (77,7 / 14)
Highlights: Here They Come - Don't Check the Score - Isabella
Indie Rock
37 - Jessie Reyez: Before Love Came To Kill Us - 75,4 (79,8 / 8)
Highlights: Imported - Figures - Intruders
Trap Rap
36 - Kvelertak: Splid - 75,5 (79,9 / 8)
Highlights: Bråtebrann - Crack of Doom - Fanden ta dette Hull!
Hardcore Punk
35 - Shabaka And The Ancestors: We Are Sent Here By History - 75,6 (79,6 / 9)
Highlights: The Coming of the Strange Ones - They Who Must Die - We Will Work (On Redefining Manhood)
Jazz
34 - Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts VI: Locusts – 75,6 (78,6 / 12)
Highlights: Run Like Hell - Around Every Corner - The Cursed Clock
Dark Ambient
33 - King Krule: Man Alive! - 75,6 (73,6 / 27)
Highlights: Alone, Omen 3 - Stoned Again - Cellular
Art Rock
32 - Ben Watt: Storm Damage – 75,7 (79,0 / 11)
Highlights: Irene - Balanced on a Wire - Retreat to Find
Alternative Rock
31 - The Strokes: The New Anormal – 75,7 (72,4 / 31)
Highlights: Bad Decisions - The Adults Are Talking - Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus
Indie Rock
30 - Mac Miller: Circles - 75,8 (77,4 / 16)
Highlights: Good News - Everybody - Complicated
Neo-Soul
29 - Georgia: Seeking Thrills - 75,8 (73,8 / 27)
Highlights: About Work the Dancefloor - Never Let You Go - 24 Hours
Electropop
28 - Keeley Forsyth: Debris – 75,8 (80,1 / 8)
Highlights: Lost - Look to Yourself - Large Oak
Avant-Folk
27 - Grimes: Miss Anthropocene - 76,5 (72,8 / 32)
Highlights: Delete Forever - My Name Is Dark - Violence
Art Pop
26 - Childish Gambino: 3.15.2020 – 76,7 (76,3 / 22)
Highlights: Algorhythm - Time - 19.10
Neo Soul
25 - BC Camplight: Shortly After Takeoff – 76,9 (80,9 / 9)
Highlights: Arm Around Your Sadness - Back to Work - Ghosthunting
Psychedelic Pop
24 - Bill Fay: Countless Branches – 77,0 (79,6 / 13)
Highlights: Filled With Wonder Once Again - I Will Remain Here - Salt on the Earth
Singer-Songwriter
23 - Sorry: 925 – 77,1 (76,4 / 23)
Highlights: Right Round the Clock - Starstruck - More
Indie Rock
22 - Lucinda Williams: Good Souls Better Angels – 77,1 (78,4 / 17)
Highlights: Big Black Train - Wakin' Up - When the Way Gets Dark
Blues Rock
21 - Torres: Silver Tongue – 77,2 (77,1 / 21)
Highlights: Good Grief - Last Forest - Dressing America
Indie Rock
20 - Nicolas Jaar: Cenizas – 77,3 (81,6 / 8)
Highlights: Mud - Garden - Faith Made of Silk
Ambient
19 - Destroyer: Have We Meet – 77,5 (75,8 / 26)
Highlights: Crimson Tide - It Just Doesn't Happen - University Hill
Synthpop
18 - U.S. Girls: Heavy Light – 78,4 (77,4 / 24)
Highlights: 4 American Dollars - Overtime - Woodstock '99
Art Pop
17 - Hayley Williams: Petals For Armor - 78,9 (80,6 / 16)
Highlights: Simmer - Dead Horse - Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris
Art Pop
16 - Baxter Dury: The Night Chancers - 79,4 (81,1 / 16)
Highlights: I'm Not Your Dog - Carla's Got a Boyfriend - Slumlord
Synthpop
15 - Makaya McCraven: We’re New Again – A Re-imagining - 79,4 (82,1 / 13)
Highlights: Where Did the Night Go - New York Is Killing Me - I'm New Here
Nu Jazz
14 - Tame Impala: The Slow Rush – 79,5 (75,8 / 32)
Highlights: Lost in Yesterday - Posthumous Forgiveness - Breathe Deeper
Neo-Psychedelia
13 - Soccer Mommy: Color Theory – 79,6 (78,2 / 25)
Highlights: Circle the Drain - Bloodstream - Yellow Is the Color of Her Eyes
Singer-Songwriter
12 - J Hus: Big Conspiracy - 79,8 (83,8 / 9)
Highlights: Must Be - No Denying - Play Play
Hip Hop
11 - Laura Marling: Song For Our Daughter – 79,9 (79,5 / 22)
Highlights: Blow by Blow - Alexandra - Strange Girl
Folk
10 - Rina Sawayama: Sawayama – 80,0 (80,3 / 20)
Highlights: Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys) - XS - Dinasty
R&B
09 - Thundercat: It Is What It Is – 80,4 (79,7 / 23)
Highlights: Dragonball Durag - Black Qualls - Innerstellar Love
Nu Jazz
08 - Caribou: Suddenly – 82,1 (79,4 / 29)
Highlights: You and I - Home - Never Come Back
Indietronica
07 - Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia – 82,1 (80,8 / 25)
Highlights: Physical - Break My Heart - Don’t Start Now
Dance Pop
06 - Porridge Radio: Every Bad - 82,2 (81,8 / 22)
Highlights: Lilac - Sweet - Born Confused
Indie Rock
05 - Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud – 82,4 (79,7 / 29)
Highlights: Lilacs - Can't Do Much - Fire
Singer-Songwriter
04 - Moses Sumney: græ - 82,5 (86,9 / 8)
Highlights: Polly - Virile - Neither/Nor
Art Pop
03 - Yves Tumor: Heaven To A Tortured Mind – 83,9 (81,9 / 27)
Highlights: Kerosene! - Gospel for a New Century - Romanticist
Nu Jazz
02 - Perfume Genius: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately - 85,8 (86,4 / 19)
Highlights: Describe - On the Floor - Without You
Art Pop
01 - Fiona Apple: Fetch The Bolt Cutters – 94,3 (92,6 / 26)
Highlights: Shameika - I Want You to Love Me - Under the Table
Art Pop
The numbers presented next to each album title are the weighted average rating, and, in brackets, average and number of ratings (out of 32 included sources). The weighted average is based on a formula that includes a) the average of ratings and b) the number of sources that have rated the album.
The magazines I used for the ratings were:
EUR + Australia: Gaffa-dk; Gaffa-sw; Humo; Indiestyle; Jenesaispop; Laut; Mondosonoro; Musikexpress; Nojesguiden; Ondarock; Plattentests; Sentire Ascoltare; The Music
UK: Clash; DIY; God Is In The Tv; Load And Quiet; Music OMH; The Guardian; The Line Of Best Fit; The Skinny
USA + Canada: Allmusic; Consequence Of Sound; Earbuddy; Exclaim!; Nothern Transmissions; Paste; Pitchfork; Popmatters; Rolling Stone; Spectrum Culture; Under The Radar
Highlights: These are the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, The Skinny, Beardfood, BostonGlobe, Nowtoronto, Entertainment Weekly, etc…
New entry or Re-entry
Albums that have obtained new reviews and improved the score
Albums that have obtained new reviews but worsened the score
Out:
None
45 - Ghostpoet: I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep - 74,3 (76,9 / 13)
Highlights: Rats in a Sack - Concret Pony - Nowhere to Hide Now
Art Pop
44 - The Chats: High Risk Behaviour – 74,6 (78,3 / 10)
Highlights: Pub Feed - Identity Theft - Stinker
Garage Punk
43 - Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit: Reunions - 74,7 (78,7 / 9)
Highlights: What've I Done to Help - Overseas - Dreamsicle
Americana
42 - Lanterns On The Lake: Spook The Herd – 74,7 (79,0 / 8)
Highlights: Every Atom - Before They Excavate - Swimming Lessons
Dream Pop
41 - Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs: Viscerals - 74,9 (78,2 / 11)
Highlights: Halloween Bolson - New Body - Rubbernecker
Stoner Metal
40 - Code Orange: Underneath – 75,2 (78,2 / 12)
Highlights: Swallowing the Rabbit Whole - Sulfur Surrounding - You and You Alone
Metalcore
39 - The Weeknd: After Hours – 75,2 (74,6 / 23)
Highlights: Blinding Lights - After Hours - Scared to Live
Alternative R&B
38 - Hamilton Leithauser: The Loves Of Your Life - 75,4 (77,7 / 14)
Highlights: Here They Come - Don't Check the Score - Isabella
Indie Rock
37 - Jessie Reyez: Before Love Came To Kill Us - 75,4 (79,8 / 8)
Highlights: Imported - Figures - Intruders
Trap Rap
36 - Kvelertak: Splid - 75,5 (79,9 / 8)
Highlights: Bråtebrann - Crack of Doom - Fanden ta dette Hull!
Hardcore Punk
35 - Shabaka And The Ancestors: We Are Sent Here By History - 75,6 (79,6 / 9)
Highlights: The Coming of the Strange Ones - They Who Must Die - We Will Work (On Redefining Manhood)
Jazz
34 - Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts VI: Locusts – 75,6 (78,6 / 12)
Highlights: Run Like Hell - Around Every Corner - The Cursed Clock
Dark Ambient
33 - King Krule: Man Alive! - 75,6 (73,6 / 27)
Highlights: Alone, Omen 3 - Stoned Again - Cellular
Art Rock
32 - Ben Watt: Storm Damage – 75,7 (79,0 / 11)
Highlights: Irene - Balanced on a Wire - Retreat to Find
Alternative Rock
31 - The Strokes: The New Anormal – 75,7 (72,4 / 31)
Highlights: Bad Decisions - The Adults Are Talking - Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus
Indie Rock
30 - Mac Miller: Circles - 75,8 (77,4 / 16)
Highlights: Good News - Everybody - Complicated
Neo-Soul
29 - Georgia: Seeking Thrills - 75,8 (73,8 / 27)
Highlights: About Work the Dancefloor - Never Let You Go - 24 Hours
Electropop
28 - Keeley Forsyth: Debris – 75,8 (80,1 / 8)
Highlights: Lost - Look to Yourself - Large Oak
Avant-Folk
27 - Grimes: Miss Anthropocene - 76,5 (72,8 / 32)
Highlights: Delete Forever - My Name Is Dark - Violence
Art Pop
26 - Childish Gambino: 3.15.2020 – 76,7 (76,3 / 22)
Highlights: Algorhythm - Time - 19.10
Neo Soul
25 - BC Camplight: Shortly After Takeoff – 76,9 (80,9 / 9)
Highlights: Arm Around Your Sadness - Back to Work - Ghosthunting
Psychedelic Pop
24 - Bill Fay: Countless Branches – 77,0 (79,6 / 13)
Highlights: Filled With Wonder Once Again - I Will Remain Here - Salt on the Earth
Singer-Songwriter
23 - Sorry: 925 – 77,1 (76,4 / 23)
Highlights: Right Round the Clock - Starstruck - More
Indie Rock
22 - Lucinda Williams: Good Souls Better Angels – 77,1 (78,4 / 17)
Highlights: Big Black Train - Wakin' Up - When the Way Gets Dark
Blues Rock
21 - Torres: Silver Tongue – 77,2 (77,1 / 21)
Highlights: Good Grief - Last Forest - Dressing America
Indie Rock
20 - Nicolas Jaar: Cenizas – 77,3 (81,6 / 8)
Highlights: Mud - Garden - Faith Made of Silk
Ambient
19 - Destroyer: Have We Meet – 77,5 (75,8 / 26)
Highlights: Crimson Tide - It Just Doesn't Happen - University Hill
Synthpop
18 - U.S. Girls: Heavy Light – 78,4 (77,4 / 24)
Highlights: 4 American Dollars - Overtime - Woodstock '99
Art Pop
17 - Hayley Williams: Petals For Armor - 78,9 (80,6 / 16)
Highlights: Simmer - Dead Horse - Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris
Art Pop
16 - Baxter Dury: The Night Chancers - 79,4 (81,1 / 16)
Highlights: I'm Not Your Dog - Carla's Got a Boyfriend - Slumlord
Synthpop
15 - Makaya McCraven: We’re New Again – A Re-imagining - 79,4 (82,1 / 13)
Highlights: Where Did the Night Go - New York Is Killing Me - I'm New Here
Nu Jazz
14 - Tame Impala: The Slow Rush – 79,5 (75,8 / 32)
Highlights: Lost in Yesterday - Posthumous Forgiveness - Breathe Deeper
Neo-Psychedelia
13 - Soccer Mommy: Color Theory – 79,6 (78,2 / 25)
Highlights: Circle the Drain - Bloodstream - Yellow Is the Color of Her Eyes
Singer-Songwriter
12 - J Hus: Big Conspiracy - 79,8 (83,8 / 9)
Highlights: Must Be - No Denying - Play Play
Hip Hop
11 - Laura Marling: Song For Our Daughter – 79,9 (79,5 / 22)
Highlights: Blow by Blow - Alexandra - Strange Girl
Folk
10 - Rina Sawayama: Sawayama – 80,0 (80,3 / 20)
Highlights: Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys) - XS - Dinasty
R&B
09 - Thundercat: It Is What It Is – 80,4 (79,7 / 23)
Highlights: Dragonball Durag - Black Qualls - Innerstellar Love
Nu Jazz
08 - Caribou: Suddenly – 82,1 (79,4 / 29)
Highlights: You and I - Home - Never Come Back
Indietronica
07 - Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia – 82,1 (80,8 / 25)
Highlights: Physical - Break My Heart - Don’t Start Now
Dance Pop
06 - Porridge Radio: Every Bad - 82,2 (81,8 / 22)
Highlights: Lilac - Sweet - Born Confused
Indie Rock
05 - Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud – 82,4 (79,7 / 29)
Highlights: Lilacs - Can't Do Much - Fire
Singer-Songwriter
04 - Moses Sumney: græ - 82,5 (86,9 / 8)
Highlights: Polly - Virile - Neither/Nor
Art Pop
03 - Yves Tumor: Heaven To A Tortured Mind – 83,9 (81,9 / 27)
Highlights: Kerosene! - Gospel for a New Century - Romanticist
Nu Jazz
02 - Perfume Genius: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately - 85,8 (86,4 / 19)
Highlights: Describe - On the Floor - Without You
Art Pop
01 - Fiona Apple: Fetch The Bolt Cutters – 94,3 (92,6 / 26)
Highlights: Shameika - I Want You to Love Me - Under the Table
Art Pop