MCCh 2020 (12) July 15
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:32 pm
The best albums of 2020 (update July 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: Rob makes the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, The Skinny, 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:
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Sideways to New Italy
Ghostpoet: I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep
65 - The Chats: High Risk Behaviour - 74,6 (78,3 / 10)
Highlights: Pub Feed - Identity Theft - Stinker
Garage Punk
64 - Lanterns On The Lake: Spook The Herd – 74,7 (79,0 / 8)
Highlights: Every Atom - Before They Excavate - Swimming Lessons
Dream Pop
63 - The Beths: Jump Rope Gazers - 74,7 (76,1 / 17)
Highlights: I’m Not Getting Excited - Don’t Go Away - You Are a Beam of Light
Indie Rock
62 - Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs: Viscerals - 74,9 (78,2 / 11)
Highlights: Halloween Bolson - New Body - Rubbernecker
Stoner Metal
61 - Dream Wife: So When You Gonna… - 75,1 (77,4 / 14)
Highlights: Sports! - Hasta la vista - Temporary
Indie Rock
60 - Mark Lanegan: Straight Songs Of Sorrow – 75,1 (76,1 / 18)
Highlights: Skeleton Key - This Game of Love - Stockholm City Blues
Singer-Songwriter
59 - Jessie Reyez: Before Love Came To Kill Us - 75,1 (78,8 / 10)
Highlights: Imported - Figures - Intruders
Trap Rap
58 - Sparks: A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip - 75,1 (76,5 / 17)
Highlights: Self-Effacing - I’m Toast - iPhone
Art Pop
57 - Code Orange: Underneath – 75,2 (78,2 / 12)
Highlights: Swallowing the Rabbit Whole - Sulfur Surrounding - You and You Alone
Metalcore
56 - Sonic Boom: All Things Being Equal - 75,2 (78,5 / 11)
Highlights: Just a Little Piece of Me - I Feel a Change Coming On - Things Like This (A Little Bit Deeper)
Neo-Psychedelia
55 - The Weeknd: After Hours – 75,2 (74,6 / 23)
Highlights: Blinding Lights - After Hours - Scared to Live
Alternative R&B
54 - Arca: KiCk i – 75,4 (75,0 / 22)
Highlights: KLK – Time - Mequetrefe
Deconstructed Club
53 - Hamilton Leithauser: The Loves Of Your Life - 75,4 (77,7 / 14)
Highlights: Here They Come - Don't Check the Score - Isabella
Indie Rock
52 - Julianna Barwick: Healing Is A Miracle - 75,4 (78,7 / 11)
Highlights: Inspirit - In Light - Nod
Ambient
51 - Lady Gaga: Chromatica - 75,5 (74,8 / 23)
Highlights: Stupid Love - Sine from Above - Rain on Me
Dance Pop
50 - Kvelertak: Splid - 75,5 (79,9 / 8)
Highlights: Bråtebrann - Crack of Doom - Fanden ta dette Hull!
Hardcore Punk
49 - 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
48 - Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts VI: Locusts – 75,6 (78,6 / 12)
Highlights: Run Like Hell - Around Every Corner - The Cursed Clock
Dark Ambient
47 - Ben Watt: Storm Damage – 75,7 (79,0 / 11)
Highlights: Irene - Balanced on a Wire - Retreat to Find
Alternative Rock
46 - The Strokes: The New Anormal – 75,7 (72,4 / 31)
Highlights: Bad Decisions - The Adults Are Talking - Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus
Indie Rock
45 - Mac Miller: Circles - 75,8 (77,4 / 16)
Highlights: Good News - Everybody - Complicated
Neo-Soul
44 - Georgia: Seeking Thrills - 75,8 (73,8 / 27)
Highlights: About Work the Dancefloor - Never Let You Go - 24 Hours
Electropop
43 - Keeley Forsyth: Debris – 75,8 (80,1 / 8)
Highlights: Lost - Look to Yourself - Large Oak
Avant-Folk
42 - King Krule: Man Alive! - 75,8 (73,5 / 28)
Highlights: Alone, Omen 3 - Stoned Again - Cellular
Art Rock
41 - Bdrmm: Bedroom - 76,3 (80,6 / 8)
Highlights: A Reason to Celebrate - Happy - If…
Dream Pop
40 - Owen Pallet: Island – 76,4 (79,4 / 12)
Highlights: The Sound of the Engines - A Bloody Morning - Paragon of Order
Chamber Folk
39 - Grimes: Miss Anthropocene - 76,5 (72,8 / 32)
Highlights: Delete Forever - My Name Is Dark - Violence
Art Pop
38 - Childish Gambino: 3.15.2020 – 76,7 (76,3 / 22)
Highlights: Algorhythm - Time - 19.10
Neo Soul
37 - Nadine Shah: Kitchen Sink – 76,7 (78,1 / 17)
Highlights: Ladies for Babies (Goats for Love) - Kitchen Sink - Trad
Art Rock
36 - BC Camplight: Shortly After Takeoff – 76,9 (80,9 / 9)
Highlights: Arm Around Your Sadness - Back to Work - Ghosthunting
Psychedelic Pop
35 - 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
34 - Sorry: 925 – 77,1 (76,4 / 23)
Highlights: Right Round the Clock - Starstruck - More
Indie Rock
33 - Lucinda Williams: Good Souls Better Angels – 77,1 (78,4 / 17)
Highlights: Big Black Train - Wakin' Up - When the Way Gets Dark
Blues Rock
32 - Torres: Silver Tongue – 77,2 (77,1 / 21)
Highlights: Good Grief - Last Forest - Dressing America
Indie Rock
31 - Khruangbin: Mordechai - 77,2 (77,1 / 21)
Highlights: Time (You and I) - So We Won’t Forget - Pelota
Psychedelic Rock
30 - Nicolas Jaar: Cenizas – 77,3 (81,6 / 8)
Highlights: Mud - Garden - Faith Made of Silk
Ambient
29 - Destroyer: Have We Meet – 77,5 (75,8 / 26)
Highlights: Crimson Tide - It Just Doesn't Happen - University Hill
Synthpop
28 - U.S. Girls: Heavy Light – 78,4 (77,4 / 24)
Highlights: 4 American Dollars - Overtime - Woodstock '99
Art Pop
27 - Charli XCX: how i'm feeling now - 78,8 (77,4 / 25)
Highlights: Forever - Claws - Anthems
Bubblegum Bass
26 - Hinds: The Prettiest Curse - 78,9 (79,6 / 19)
Highlights: Good Bad Times – Riding Solo – Come Back and Love Me <3
Indie Rock
25 - Jehnny Beth: To Love Is To Live – 79,0 (77,0 / 27)
Highlights: I’m the Man - French Countryside - Flower
Art Pop
24 - Hayley Williams: Petals For Armor – 79,2 (80,2 / 18)
Highlights: Simmer - Dead Horse - Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris
Art Pop
23 - Baxter Dury: The Night Chancers - 79,4 (81,1 / 16)
Highlights: I'm Not Your Dog - Carla's Got a Boyfriend - Slumlord
Synthpop
22 - 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
21 - Tame Impala: The Slow Rush – 79,5 (75,8 / 32)
Highlights: Lost in Yesterday - Posthumous Forgiveness - Breathe Deeper
Neo-Psychedelia
20 - Soccer Mommy: Color Theory – 79,6 (78,2 / 25)
Highlights: Circle the Drain - Bloodstream - Yellow Is the Color of Her Eyes
Singer-Songwriter
19 - J Hus: Big Conspiracy - 79,8 (83,8 / 9)
Highlights: Must Be - No Denying - Play Play
Hip Hop
18 - Laura Marling: Song For Our Daughter – 79,9 (79,5 / 22)
Highlights: Blow by Blow - Alexandra - Strange Girl
Folk
17 - Rina Sawayama: Sawayama – 80,0 (80,3 / 20)
Highlights: Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys) - XS - Dinasty
R&B
16 - Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist: Alfredo - 80,3 (85 / 7)
Highlights: 1985 - Baby $hit - Frank Lucas
Hip Hop
15 - Thundercat: It Is What It Is – 80,8 (79,8 / 24)
Highlights: Dragonball Durag - Black Qualls - Innerstellar Love
Nu Jazz
14 - Jessie Ware: What's Your Pleasure? – 80,8 (79,5 / 25)
Highlights: Spotlight - Save a Kiss - Remember Where You Are
Dance Pop
13 - Neil Young: Homegrown – 81,2 (81,6 / 20)
Highlights: Separate Ways - Try - Vacancy
Singer-Songwriter
12 - Caribou: Suddenly – 82,1 (79,4 / 29)
Highlights: You and I - Home - Never Come Back
Indietronica
11 - Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia – 82,1 (80,8 / 25)
Highlights: Physical - Break My Heart - Don’t Start Now
Dance Pop
10 - Porridge Radio: Every Bad - 82,2 (81,8 / 22)
Highlights: Lilac - Sweet - Born Confused
Indie Rock
09 - Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud – 82,4 (79,7 / 29)
Highlights: Lilacs - Can't Do Much - Fire
Singer-Songwriter
08 - Haim: Women In Music Pt. III – 82,5 (79,9 / 29)
Highlights: The Steps - Up for a Dream - Summer Girl
Indie Pop
07 - Moses Sumney: græ – 83,7 (85,1 / 17)
Highlights: Polly - Virile - Neither/Nor
Art Pop
06 - Yves Tumor: Heaven To A Tortured Mind – 83,9 (81,9 / 27)
Highlights: Kerosene! - Gospel for a New Century - Romanticist
Nu Jazz
05 - Phoebe Bridgers: Punisher - 85,9 (82,9 / 30)
Highlights: Kyoto - Garden Song - I Know the End
Singer-Songwriter
04 - Run The Jewels: RTJ4 – 87,7 (85,7 / 27)
Highlights: Walking in the Snow - Yankee and the Brave (ep. 4) – JU$T
Hip Hop
03 - Bob Dylan: Rough and Rowdy Ways – 88,3 (88,0 / 22)
Highlights: I Contain Multitudes - Murder Most Foul - Goodbye Jimmy Reed
Singer-Songwriter
02 - Perfume Genius: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately – 90,2 (87,2 / 30)
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: Rob makes the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, The Skinny, 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:
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Sideways to New Italy
Ghostpoet: I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep
65 - The Chats: High Risk Behaviour - 74,6 (78,3 / 10)
Highlights: Pub Feed - Identity Theft - Stinker
Garage Punk
64 - Lanterns On The Lake: Spook The Herd – 74,7 (79,0 / 8)
Highlights: Every Atom - Before They Excavate - Swimming Lessons
Dream Pop
63 - The Beths: Jump Rope Gazers - 74,7 (76,1 / 17)
Highlights: I’m Not Getting Excited - Don’t Go Away - You Are a Beam of Light
Indie Rock
62 - Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs: Viscerals - 74,9 (78,2 / 11)
Highlights: Halloween Bolson - New Body - Rubbernecker
Stoner Metal
61 - Dream Wife: So When You Gonna… - 75,1 (77,4 / 14)
Highlights: Sports! - Hasta la vista - Temporary
Indie Rock
60 - Mark Lanegan: Straight Songs Of Sorrow – 75,1 (76,1 / 18)
Highlights: Skeleton Key - This Game of Love - Stockholm City Blues
Singer-Songwriter
59 - Jessie Reyez: Before Love Came To Kill Us - 75,1 (78,8 / 10)
Highlights: Imported - Figures - Intruders
Trap Rap
58 - Sparks: A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip - 75,1 (76,5 / 17)
Highlights: Self-Effacing - I’m Toast - iPhone
Art Pop
57 - Code Orange: Underneath – 75,2 (78,2 / 12)
Highlights: Swallowing the Rabbit Whole - Sulfur Surrounding - You and You Alone
Metalcore
56 - Sonic Boom: All Things Being Equal - 75,2 (78,5 / 11)
Highlights: Just a Little Piece of Me - I Feel a Change Coming On - Things Like This (A Little Bit Deeper)
Neo-Psychedelia
55 - The Weeknd: After Hours – 75,2 (74,6 / 23)
Highlights: Blinding Lights - After Hours - Scared to Live
Alternative R&B
54 - Arca: KiCk i – 75,4 (75,0 / 22)
Highlights: KLK – Time - Mequetrefe
Deconstructed Club
53 - Hamilton Leithauser: The Loves Of Your Life - 75,4 (77,7 / 14)
Highlights: Here They Come - Don't Check the Score - Isabella
Indie Rock
52 - Julianna Barwick: Healing Is A Miracle - 75,4 (78,7 / 11)
Highlights: Inspirit - In Light - Nod
Ambient
51 - Lady Gaga: Chromatica - 75,5 (74,8 / 23)
Highlights: Stupid Love - Sine from Above - Rain on Me
Dance Pop
50 - Kvelertak: Splid - 75,5 (79,9 / 8)
Highlights: Bråtebrann - Crack of Doom - Fanden ta dette Hull!
Hardcore Punk
49 - 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
48 - Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts VI: Locusts – 75,6 (78,6 / 12)
Highlights: Run Like Hell - Around Every Corner - The Cursed Clock
Dark Ambient
47 - Ben Watt: Storm Damage – 75,7 (79,0 / 11)
Highlights: Irene - Balanced on a Wire - Retreat to Find
Alternative Rock
46 - The Strokes: The New Anormal – 75,7 (72,4 / 31)
Highlights: Bad Decisions - The Adults Are Talking - Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus
Indie Rock
45 - Mac Miller: Circles - 75,8 (77,4 / 16)
Highlights: Good News - Everybody - Complicated
Neo-Soul
44 - Georgia: Seeking Thrills - 75,8 (73,8 / 27)
Highlights: About Work the Dancefloor - Never Let You Go - 24 Hours
Electropop
43 - Keeley Forsyth: Debris – 75,8 (80,1 / 8)
Highlights: Lost - Look to Yourself - Large Oak
Avant-Folk
42 - King Krule: Man Alive! - 75,8 (73,5 / 28)
Highlights: Alone, Omen 3 - Stoned Again - Cellular
Art Rock
41 - Bdrmm: Bedroom - 76,3 (80,6 / 8)
Highlights: A Reason to Celebrate - Happy - If…
Dream Pop
40 - Owen Pallet: Island – 76,4 (79,4 / 12)
Highlights: The Sound of the Engines - A Bloody Morning - Paragon of Order
Chamber Folk
39 - Grimes: Miss Anthropocene - 76,5 (72,8 / 32)
Highlights: Delete Forever - My Name Is Dark - Violence
Art Pop
38 - Childish Gambino: 3.15.2020 – 76,7 (76,3 / 22)
Highlights: Algorhythm - Time - 19.10
Neo Soul
37 - Nadine Shah: Kitchen Sink – 76,7 (78,1 / 17)
Highlights: Ladies for Babies (Goats for Love) - Kitchen Sink - Trad
Art Rock
36 - BC Camplight: Shortly After Takeoff – 76,9 (80,9 / 9)
Highlights: Arm Around Your Sadness - Back to Work - Ghosthunting
Psychedelic Pop
35 - 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
34 - Sorry: 925 – 77,1 (76,4 / 23)
Highlights: Right Round the Clock - Starstruck - More
Indie Rock
33 - Lucinda Williams: Good Souls Better Angels – 77,1 (78,4 / 17)
Highlights: Big Black Train - Wakin' Up - When the Way Gets Dark
Blues Rock
32 - Torres: Silver Tongue – 77,2 (77,1 / 21)
Highlights: Good Grief - Last Forest - Dressing America
Indie Rock
31 - Khruangbin: Mordechai - 77,2 (77,1 / 21)
Highlights: Time (You and I) - So We Won’t Forget - Pelota
Psychedelic Rock
30 - Nicolas Jaar: Cenizas – 77,3 (81,6 / 8)
Highlights: Mud - Garden - Faith Made of Silk
Ambient
29 - Destroyer: Have We Meet – 77,5 (75,8 / 26)
Highlights: Crimson Tide - It Just Doesn't Happen - University Hill
Synthpop
28 - U.S. Girls: Heavy Light – 78,4 (77,4 / 24)
Highlights: 4 American Dollars - Overtime - Woodstock '99
Art Pop
27 - Charli XCX: how i'm feeling now - 78,8 (77,4 / 25)
Highlights: Forever - Claws - Anthems
Bubblegum Bass
26 - Hinds: The Prettiest Curse - 78,9 (79,6 / 19)
Highlights: Good Bad Times – Riding Solo – Come Back and Love Me <3
Indie Rock
25 - Jehnny Beth: To Love Is To Live – 79,0 (77,0 / 27)
Highlights: I’m the Man - French Countryside - Flower
Art Pop
24 - Hayley Williams: Petals For Armor – 79,2 (80,2 / 18)
Highlights: Simmer - Dead Horse - Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris
Art Pop
23 - Baxter Dury: The Night Chancers - 79,4 (81,1 / 16)
Highlights: I'm Not Your Dog - Carla's Got a Boyfriend - Slumlord
Synthpop
22 - 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
21 - Tame Impala: The Slow Rush – 79,5 (75,8 / 32)
Highlights: Lost in Yesterday - Posthumous Forgiveness - Breathe Deeper
Neo-Psychedelia
20 - Soccer Mommy: Color Theory – 79,6 (78,2 / 25)
Highlights: Circle the Drain - Bloodstream - Yellow Is the Color of Her Eyes
Singer-Songwriter
19 - J Hus: Big Conspiracy - 79,8 (83,8 / 9)
Highlights: Must Be - No Denying - Play Play
Hip Hop
18 - Laura Marling: Song For Our Daughter – 79,9 (79,5 / 22)
Highlights: Blow by Blow - Alexandra - Strange Girl
Folk
17 - Rina Sawayama: Sawayama – 80,0 (80,3 / 20)
Highlights: Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys) - XS - Dinasty
R&B
16 - Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist: Alfredo - 80,3 (85 / 7)
Highlights: 1985 - Baby $hit - Frank Lucas
Hip Hop
15 - Thundercat: It Is What It Is – 80,8 (79,8 / 24)
Highlights: Dragonball Durag - Black Qualls - Innerstellar Love
Nu Jazz
14 - Jessie Ware: What's Your Pleasure? – 80,8 (79,5 / 25)
Highlights: Spotlight - Save a Kiss - Remember Where You Are
Dance Pop
13 - Neil Young: Homegrown – 81,2 (81,6 / 20)
Highlights: Separate Ways - Try - Vacancy
Singer-Songwriter
12 - Caribou: Suddenly – 82,1 (79,4 / 29)
Highlights: You and I - Home - Never Come Back
Indietronica
11 - Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia – 82,1 (80,8 / 25)
Highlights: Physical - Break My Heart - Don’t Start Now
Dance Pop
10 - Porridge Radio: Every Bad - 82,2 (81,8 / 22)
Highlights: Lilac - Sweet - Born Confused
Indie Rock
09 - Waxahatchee: Saint Cloud – 82,4 (79,7 / 29)
Highlights: Lilacs - Can't Do Much - Fire
Singer-Songwriter
08 - Haim: Women In Music Pt. III – 82,5 (79,9 / 29)
Highlights: The Steps - Up for a Dream - Summer Girl
Indie Pop
07 - Moses Sumney: græ – 83,7 (85,1 / 17)
Highlights: Polly - Virile - Neither/Nor
Art Pop
06 - Yves Tumor: Heaven To A Tortured Mind – 83,9 (81,9 / 27)
Highlights: Kerosene! - Gospel for a New Century - Romanticist
Nu Jazz
05 - Phoebe Bridgers: Punisher - 85,9 (82,9 / 30)
Highlights: Kyoto - Garden Song - I Know the End
Singer-Songwriter
04 - Run The Jewels: RTJ4 – 87,7 (85,7 / 27)
Highlights: Walking in the Snow - Yankee and the Brave (ep. 4) – JU$T
Hip Hop
03 - Bob Dylan: Rough and Rowdy Ways – 88,3 (88,0 / 22)
Highlights: I Contain Multitudes - Murder Most Foul - Goodbye Jimmy Reed
Singer-Songwriter
02 - Perfume Genius: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately – 90,2 (87,2 / 30)
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