Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Jackson
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jackson »

New Run the Jewels album was a blast on first listen. There might not be a more consistent artist out there.
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PlasticRam
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by PlasticRam »

Jackson wrote: Sat Jun 06, 2020 4:28 pm New Run the Jewels album was a blast on first listen. There might not be a more consistent artist out there.
Consistent album covers at least.
I feel like that
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acroamor
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by acroamor »

I've listened to 40 new albums of the year now - here's the top half of them ranked. Subject to change heavily of course, but this is where I'm sitting at this moment.

1. Dogleg - Melee
2. Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters
3. Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud
4. Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind
5. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Sideways to New Italy
6. Laura Marling - Song for Our Daughter
7. Grimes - Miss Anthropocene
8. Destroyer - Have We Met
9. Soccer Mommy - Color Theory
10. Jason Isbell - Reunions
11. U.S. Girls - Heavy Light
12. The Electric Soft Parade - Stages
13. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush
14. Run the Jewels - RTJ4
15. Lucinda Williams - Good Souls Better Angels
16. Four Tet - Sixteen Oceans
17. Moses Sumney - grae
18. Caroline Rose - Superstar
19. The Magnetic Fields - Quickies
20. Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony
Jackson
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jackson »

My top five for the year are:

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Christine & The Queens - La vita nuova (EP)
Charli XCX - how i'm feeling now
Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind
Magdalena Bay - A Little Rhythm and a Wicked Feeling (EP)

Somewhere after that, pending further listens, are these:

Against All Logic - 2017-2019
Beatrice Dillon - Workaround
Caribou - Suddenly
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
Four Tet - Sixteen Oceans
Lady Gaga - Chromatica
Laura Marling - Song for Our Daughter
Owen Pallett - Island
Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire, Immediately
Run the Jewels - RTJ4
TOPS - I Feel Alive
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Maschine_Man »

PlasticRam wrote: Sat Jun 06, 2020 5:01 pm
Jackson wrote: Sat Jun 06, 2020 4:28 pm New Run the Jewels album was a blast on first listen. There might not be a more consistent artist out there.
Consistent album covers at least.
Someone has to after Vampire Weekend gave up ;)


I have been focused on the 2010s, so have a bit to catch up on from this year. Also the world is a dark and this guy needs is some pop-bangers.

Classics
Georgia - Seeking Thrills
Grimes - Miss Anthropocene
Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters

Bops
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
Mura Masa - Raw Youth College
Rina Sawayama - Sawayama
Hayley Williams - Petals For Armor

The Rest
Lady Gaga - Chromatica
Damian Jurado - What's New, Tomby?
Caribou - Suddenly
U.S. Girls - Heavy Light
Little Dragon - New Me, Same Us
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush

Oh God Don't Even, It's The Same Song 8 Times Over
La Roux - Supervision

Run The Jewels, Perfume Genius and Laura Marling are also brilliant, but haven't had a good listen yet.
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Holden
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

New Bob Dylan album - “Rough and Rowdy Ways” has 100 on metacritic so far.
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PlasticRam
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by PlasticRam »

The Dylan album is a solid 8/10 IMO. I like his other original late-career albums more.
I feel like that
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by PlasticRam »

The Weeknd - After Hours 9.0
Charli XCX - How I'm Feeling Now 8.9
Grimes - Miss Anthropocene 8.3
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia 8.0
Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways 8.0
Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated Side B 7.9
Laura Marling - Song for Our Daughter 7.9
Run the Jewels - RTJ4 7.8

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters 7.7
Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately 7.7
Moses Sumney - græ 7.7

Keiyaa - Forever, Ya Girl 7.6
Mac Miller - Circles 7.5
Childish Gambino - 3.15.20 7.5
X - Alphabetland 7.4
Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind 7.4
Kehlani - It Was Good Until It Wasn't 7.3
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush 7.2
Drake - Dark Lane Demo Tapes 7.1
The 1975 - Notes on a Conditional Form 7.0
Future - High Off Life 6.9

Caribou - Suddenly 6.9
Tech N9ne - EnterFear 6.9
Destroyer - Have We Met 6.8
Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony 6.8
Lyra Pramuk - Fountain 6.7
Lil Uzi Vert - Eternal Atake 6.5
Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud 6.5
Blake Mills - Mutable Set 5.9
Beatrice Dillon - Workaround 5.7
Drakeo the Ruler - Thank You for Using GTL 5.5
I feel like that
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Listyguy
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Listyguy »

Bob Dylan's new album has been getting praised all week, so I had no choice but to check it out today. Plus he's one of my favorite artists. Still, I wasn't expecting to love it going in if I'm being honest, since "Murder Most Foul" and "I Contain Multitudes" weren't knocking my socks off as singles. And my feelings were more or less confirmed. The album is fine, but it's not one of his best. Maybe it will grow on me, but it just seems like he's following the blues rock formula of Time Out of Mind with a weaker group of tracks.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

I am listening to the new Dylan.

It’s good and all but a lot of tracks sound exactly like Love and Theft era songs with different lyrics.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by styrofoamboots »

The new Dylan album is not doing much for me after a bit of listening. Definitely not bad, but it kind of drags on at 70 minutes... Also, the title and album art seem pretty disparate from the music itself.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

Halfway through the year and here's what I've got...

Excellent Tier:

1. Yves Tumor- Heaven to a Tortured Mind
2. Fiona Apple- Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Great Tier:

3. Run the Jewels- RTJ4
4. Dua Lipa- Future Nostalgia
5. Destroyer- Have We Met
6. Charli XCX- How I'm Feeling Now

Very Good Tier:

7. Tame Impala- The Slow Rush
8. Bob Dylan- Rough and Rowdy Ways
9. Neil Young- Homegrown
10. Haim- Women in Music Pt. III
11. Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist- Alfredo
12. A.A.L (Against All Logic)- 2017 - 2019
13. Makaya McCraven- We're New Again: a Reimagining by Makaya McCraven

Good Tier:

14. The 1975- Notes on a Conditional Form
15. Gum Country- Somewhere
16. Phoebe Bridgers- Punisher
17. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever- Sideways to New Italy
18. Waxahatchee- Saint Cloud
19. Laura Marling- Song for Our Daughter
20. Thundercat- It Is What It Is
21. Soccer Mommy- Color Theory
22. Medhane- Cold Water
23. Grimes- Miss Anthropocene
24. Dan Deacon- Mystic Familiar
25. Disclosure- Ecstasy (EP)
26. The Strokes- The New Abnormal

Decent Tier:

27. The Weeknd- After Hours
28. Moses Sumney- grae
29. Jay Electronica- A Written Testimony
30. Four Tet- Sixteen Oceans
31. U.S. Girls- Heavy Light
32. Caribou- Suddenly
33. Perfume Genius- Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
34. Jeff Parker- Suite for Max Brown
35. Georgia- Seeking Thrills

Poor Tier:

36. Car Seat Headrest- Making a Door Less Open
37. A.A.L (Against All Logic)- Illusions of Shameless Abundance (EP)
Jackson
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jackson »

I loved Jessie Ware's new album What's Your Pleasure on first listen. It's definitely her best album since Devotion, and it's probably even better than that album. Starting off with an extended version of my SOTY to date "Spotlight", it's 12 tracks of straight late 70s-inspired, immaculately produced dance pop. I think it tops Dua Lipa in this year's surprisingly resurgent "nu disco" category.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by andyd1010 »

Jackson wrote: Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:47 pm I loved Jessie Ware's new album What's Your Pleasure on first listen. It's definitely her best album since Devotion, and it's probably even better than that album. Starting off with an extended version of my SOTY to date "Spotlight", it's 12 tracks of straight late 70s-inspired, immaculately produced dance pop. I think it tops Dua Lipa in this year's surprisingly resurgent "nu disco" category.
Spotlight is one of my songs of the year too, and Future Nostalgia is my album of the year, so I'm excited to listen to this. What do you think of the extended version of Spotlight versus the single? Interesting that there's been a separate album version for three of my favorite songs this year, after Borderline and On the Floor.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Listyguy »

Listyguy wrote: Sun Feb 09, 2020 3:21 am It's been five years since Sufjan Stevens' last "real" album, so naturally he is releasing one on March 27. Apparently it's going to be a new age record. I'm looking forward to it either way.
He's releasing another album this year, so while Aporia didn't dazzle me, there's still hope for the "every five years" streak.
https://pitchfork.com/news/sufjan-steve ... ascension/
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

Don’t know if anyone here loves IDLES as much as I do, but their releasing a new album in September and both of the singles are pretty damn good.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by PlasticRam »

I really don't get the critic hype for Rough and Rowdy Ways. Listening to Modern Times right now and it's so much better.
I feel like that
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by prosecutorgodot »

2nd Quarter:

1 | Laura Marling - Song For Our Daughter
Great songwriting, can't really complain about anything except it's not very forward-thinking, sonically speaking. If you like singer-songwriters, there is no reason to not check this out.

2 | Haru Nemuri - Lovetheism EP
This is like the soundtrack to an anime with bright colors filling the screen. I would call this "symphonic J-pop." I like this more than 2018's Haru to shura, as I find the beats less linear and repetitive. And we should all pray at the altar of love.

3 | Kiko Dinucci - Rastilho
I feel that the basic building blocks of music are all here. Kinda rustic in that sense.

4 | The Strokes - The New Abnormal
The guys are sounding more Frank Sinatra than ever. This is pretty much the equivalent of a sad-sack band in a speak-easy.

5 | Black Dresses - Peaceful as Hell
Experimental production with Farah-like vocals. If you like Death Grips, this is probably up that alley.

6 | Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?
Yeah, this is pretty much the most perfect (for me) aesthetic of the year. Jesus, I could die in the arms of this production. But... I find Jessie's voice a bit lacking, and the songs aren't the boldest things ever. But the album starts strong, and ends really strong. I don't know if anyone else thinks this, but I think the closer "Remember Where You Are" is the best homage to Minnie Riperton's "Les Fleur" ever.
Everyone's been comparing this to the other major nu-disco album this year, and I'll join in. Whereas Dua Lipa is the in-your-face b-boy/b-girler on the football stadium podium, Jessie is the weird older sister in the corner of the room, lit by a bunch of candles, playing her violin and dancing ballet. It's hard for me to pick a better album - they're good for different reasons.

7 | Run the Jewels - RTJ4
Political album of the year so far? Mike and El are pretty much writing the layman's guide to societal politics here. Timing was important for this album, and it paid off. For me, RTJ2 still takes the crown - the flow of that album was stellar, and the beats were more dynamic.

8 | IDK & Friends - IDK & Friends 2
I like the chill vibe of this EP. It's packed with fun verses, and hard-hitting beats. IDK is the lord of the banger.

9 | Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters
The whole point of this album is the rawness, and it certainly delivers there. I personally would have liked tighter songwriting. When it is tight, though, it is very good.



Honorable mentions:

backxwash - God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It
I think music history fans HAVE to hear this just for the samples. Think of this as required listening a la "Losing My Edge."

Rina Sawayama - Sawayama
Half the tracks are great, the other half is meh/decent. I prefer the Rina EP, probably just for a more varied production style.

Dirty Projectors - Flight Tower EP
I love harmonized vocals to death, and this EP gives me that, particularly "Lose Your Love."

Nicolas Jaar - Cenizas
Good instrumental-ish music, makes me think of dry landscapes like deserts.

Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
This is my first (contemporary) outing with the Perfume Genius, and he sure knows his aromas!

Moses Sumney - grae
If you liked the Perfume Genius album, listen to this as well.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

Here's what's on my radar for later this year:

Disclosure- ENERGY- August 28th
Lana Del Rey- Chemtrails Over the Country Club- September 5th
The Flaming Lips- American Head- September 11th
Idles- Ultra Mono- September 25th
Sufjan Stevens- The Ascension- September 25th
Annie- Dark Hearts- October 16th

Not really much to look forward to until late August/September. Oh well.
Jackson
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jackson »

Nick wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2020 3:34 pm Here's what's on my radar for later this year:

Disclosure- ENERGY- August 28th
Lana Del Rey- Chemtrails Over the Country Club- September 5th
The Flaming Lips- American Head- September 11th
Idles- Ultra Mono- September 25th
Sufjan Stevens- The Ascension- September 25th
Annie- Dark Hearts- October 16th

Not really much to look forward to until late August/September. Oh well.
Def looking forward to new Sufjan, Idles, and Annie too.

In August, I am most looking forward to Kelly Lee Owens' Inner Song. Her 2017 self-titled was my AOTY that year, and based on the first three singles, this one looks like it will be at the same level. The last one was well-received by electronic-oriented sources but not so much by mainstream critics, hopefully this one will cross over more.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Future Critic »

1. folklore, Taylor Swift

That's all I'm sure of right now.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Dan »

It will take something special to dethrone Dua Lipa from the top of my list. To me, Future Nostalgia is a dance-pop delight that is as good as Madonna at her peak in the 80s. And it has played a massive part in keeping me sane in 2020.

1 Dua Lipa | Future Nostalgia
Dance-Pop

2 Fiona Apple | Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Art Pop

3 Laura Marling | Song for Our Daughter 
Contemporary Folk

4 Sages comme des sauvages | Luxe misère
Chanson, Indie Folk, Global Music

5 Run the Jewels | RTJ4
Hip Hop

6 Rufus Wainwright | Unfollow the Rules
Chamber Pop

7 Jessie Ware | What's Your Pleasure?
Dance-Pop, Disco, House

8 Perfume Genius | Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
Art Pop

9 Bob Dylan | Rough and Rowdy Ways
Singer/Songwriter, Americana

10 Waxahatchee | Saint Cloud
Alt-Country

11 Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit | Reunions 
Americana

12 Haim | Women in Music Pt. III
Indie Pop

13 Honey Harper | Starmaker 
Alt-Country, Chamber Pop

14 Margo Price | That's How Rumors Get Started 
Country Pop

15 The James Hunter Six | Nick of Time
Rhythm & Blues, Blue-Eyed Soul

16 Lina_Raül Refree | Lina_Raül Refree
Fado, Art Pop

17 ДахаБраха [DakhaBrakha] | Alambari
Ukrainian Folk Music, Art Pop
...will keep us together.
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Holden
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

Dan wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2020 4:56 pm
Do you plan on submitting a list for the mid year album poll? I see you have one made
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Dan
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Dan »

Holden wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2020 5:31 pmDo you plan on submitting a list for the mid year album poll? I see you have one made
Yeah sure. I just need to figure out which albums are from July and therefore ineligible (a couple of them are), then I’ll post a list on your mid-year thread.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by PlasticRam »

Albums marked with D are new reviews. Don't feel like bolding them cos I'm on mobile.

The Weeknd - After Hours 9.0
Charli XCX - How I'm Feeling Now 8.9
Grimes - Miss Anthropocene 8.3
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia 8.0
Haim - Women in Music Pt. III 8.0 D
100 gecs - 1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues 7.9 D
Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated Side B 7.9
Laura Marling - Song for Our Daughter 7.9
Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure? 7.9 D
Taylor Swift - folklore 7.8 D
Kacy Hill - Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again 7.8 D
Gorillaz - Song Machine Episode 3 7.8 D
Run the Jewels - RTJ4 7.8
Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways 7.7
Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters 7.7
Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately 7.7
Moses Sumney - græ 7.7
Keiyaa - Forever, Ya Girl 7.6
Mac Miller - Circles 7.5
Childish Gambino - 3.15.20 7.5
Special Interest - The Passion Of 7.4 D
X - Alphabetland 7.4
Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind 7.4
Kehlani - It Was Good Until It Wasn't 7.3
Dehd - Flower of Devotion 7.3 D
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush 7.2
Drake - Dark Lane Demo Tapes 7.1
Julianna Barwick - Healing Is a Miracle 7.0 D
The 1975 - Notes on a Conditional Form 7.0
Future - High Off Life 6.9
Caribou - Suddenly 6.9
Tech N9ne - EnterFear 6.9
Destroyer - Have We Met 6.8
Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony 6.8
Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher 6.7 D
Lyra Pramuk - Fountain 6.7
Lil Uzi Vert - Eternal Atake 6.5
Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud 6.5
Blake Mills - Mutable Set 5.9
Beatrice Dillon - Workaround 5.7
Drakeo the Ruler - Thank You for Using GTL 5.5

T Swift with 89 Metacritic. I can't understand the hype. Album has no standout songs
I feel like that
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Maschine_Man »

PlasticRam wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 7:35 am T Swift with 89 Metacritic. I can't understand the hype. Album has no standout songs
The album should really be titled '#folklore' because the music seems secondary to the process of creating a temporary mania around the album.

#folklore is as bloated as any other Swift album, and although the songs are of decent standard, they are also unambitious and (once fifty minutes hits and you realise there are three more songs) tedious. I probably wouldn't be so cynical towards this particular attempt at 'authentic-pathos' hadn't it been subsumed by the obvious/successful manipulation of streaming algorithms and sales figures.

This is achieved by not just releasing a staggering 20 editions (collect all 8 covers!) only shipped after you have streamed the 16 track album several times; each cardigan, phone case or key chain is bundled with it's own digital album. Make sure you grab them quick though, they are only available for a limited time. This approach to making/selling music seems antithetical to the content and image the the album is trying to promote. It really highlights a hypocrisy in Swift, someone who decried Spotify for not paying musicians fairly but then exploits the already favourable algorithms (for the second time in as many years) which just pressures smaller artists. I'm not here for it and I don't get why she is being rewarded for such trite work regardless.



Anyways, I'm going to recommend the new Shirley Collins album, Heart's Ease, a brilliant folk album also released this week, not too long after her 85th birthday!
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Future Critic »

Maschine_Man wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 2:35 pm
PlasticRam wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 7:35 am T Swift with 89 Metacritic. I can't understand the hype. Album has no standout songs
The album should really be titled '#folklore' because the music seems secondary to the process of creating a temporary mania around the album.

I think fans can always find standout songs and non-fans don't spot standouts, or give enough listens to find the standouts. I've been guilty of that in numerous occasions.

In my opinion, folklore has several songs that could place in the top 100 at year end: the last American dynasty, exile, mirrorball, invisible string, betty and possibly even cardigan. They might not perform as well on AM, but they almost surely would have cleaned house in the Pazz & Jop poll, if it still existed.

But I completely get your feelings because I had similar feelings about Ghosteen last year, and it ended up as the number two album of the year! I think it's all a matter of personal taste and I'm glad there's music for all of us!

As far as the multiple albums, it's definitely a money grab, but I don't feel in anyway that it takes away from the beauty of Swift's album, or makes it secondary. After all, I've heard so many people talk about folklore, but none have talked about the fact that she released 8 different album covers. And it's certainly not the first record to release multiple covers - nobody had issues with good kid, m.A.A.d. city's multiple artworks. And all the power to Taylor Swift if she's popular enough to sell merch along with her albums. I don't know a single band that doesn't try to sell merchandise at concerts. In fact, I don't think there are many businesses in the world that wouldn't try to make an extra buck if they had the opportunity.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by prosecutorgodot »

Don't worry, if you haven't heard folklore, you'll hear plenty of it at weddings for the next ten years ;)
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Listyguy »

I haven't listened to Folklore yet, but I've listened to few of the songs. I've heard "Exile" a few times (mostly because of Bon Iver), and I think it's pretty good.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

Listyguy wrote: Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:35 pm I haven't listened to Folklore yet, but I've listened to few of the songs. I've heard "Exile" a few times (mostly because of Bon Iver), and I think it's pretty good.
Definitely her best of recent years, in my opinion
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

Fontaines D.C. released a new album. Consensus seems to be not as good as Dogrel, but I thought that they were about equally great. Definitely recommend it.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

Well known artists also get major critic score inflation when their music is even half decent, cause it sells more when you're on the side of people the audience knows about.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Wisnu Tirta Aji »

The following is a list of new albums released by popular all-genres acts (Alternative Rock, Country Music, Hard Rock, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, New Wave, Pop, and other genres) in the future in this year according to my radar, source from Wikipedia, sorted by date:
1 | 7 August 2020 | Deep Purple | Whoosh!
2 | 7 August 2020 | Luke Bryan | Born Here Live Here Die Here
3 | 14 August 2020 | Biffy Clyro | A Celebration of Endings
4 | 21 August 2020 | Blackbear | Everything Means Nothing
5 | 21 August 2020 | Bright Eyes | Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was
6 | 21 August 2020 | The Killers | imploding the mirage
7 | 21 August 2020 | Troye Sivan | In a Dream
8 | 28 August 2020 | Angel Olsen | whole new mess
9 | 28 August 2020 | Diesel | Sunset Suburbia
10 | 28 August 2020 | Katy Perry | Smile
11 | 28 August 2020 | Seether | Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
12 | 4 September 2020 | Billy Ocean | One World
13 | 4 September 2020 | Hurts | Faith
14 | 4 September 2020 | Hardy | A Rock
15 | 5 September 2020 | Lana Del Rey | Chemtrails over the Country Club
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Romain
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Romain »

Field Music strike again. For those ho like beautiful melodies and english atmosphere. They are fucking good.


«Field Music - Making A New World» is in my Top 2 album.
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Holden
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

New Protomartyr, Ultimate Success Today, is pretty great. Never listened to a Protomartyr album before, but very reminiscent of Swans, Public Image Ltd. (at least metal box) and some modern punk.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

I will second the praise for Agnes Obel - Myopia. I discovered Aventine I think through a BMAA and this new album is even better, easily a top ten of the year candidate.
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Romain
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Romain »

Jirin wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 12:50 am I will second the praise for Agnes Obel - Myopia. I discovered Aventine I think through a BMAA and this new album is even better, easily a top ten of the year candidate.
Aaaaaaah ! Another convinced :-)
It's my top1 !
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

Finally listening to Folklore.

Exile is a really good single. The rest of the album is super generic and blah. Seven is okay I guess. The lyrics in general reek of the overdramatized self importance of modern pop music and social media culture, and most of the melodies aren’t engaging or immediate enough to have the dramatic impact it needs to work.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

The year is basically 2/3rds of the way over. Here's what I've heard:

Excellent Tier:

1. Yves Tumor- Heaven to a Tortured Mind
2. Fiona Apple- Fetch the Bolt Cutters
3. Jessie Ware- What's Your Pleasure?

Great Tier:

4. Run the Jewels- RTJ4
5. Dua Lipa- Future Nostalgia
6. Destroyer- Have We Met
7. Charli XCX- How I'm Feeling Now

Very Good Tier:

8. Tame Impala- The Slow Rush
9. Taylor Swift- Folklore
10. Bob Dylan- Rough and Rowdy Ways
11. Neil Young- Homegrown
12. The Microphones- Microphones in 2020
13. Kelly Lee Owens- Inner Song
14. Haim- Women in Music Pt. III
15. Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist- Alfredo
16. A.A.L (Against All Logic)- 2017 - 2019
17. Makaya McCraven- We're New Again: a Reimagining by Makaya McCraven

Good Tier:

18. The 1975- Notes on a Conditional Form
19. Gum Country- Somewhere
20. Phoebe Bridgers- Punisher
21. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever- Sideways to New Italy
22. Waxahatchee- Saint Cloud
23. Laura Marling- Song for Our Daughter
24. Thundercat- It Is What It Is
25. Soccer Mommy- Color Theory
26. Grimes- Miss Anthropocene
27. Dan Deacon- Mystic Familiar
28. Angel Olsen- Whole New Mess
29. Medhane- Cold Water
30. Disclosure- ENERGY
31. Disclosure- Ecstasy (EP)
32. The Strokes- The New Abnormal
33. Dinner Party- Dinner Party

Decent Tier:

34. The Weeknd- After Hours
35. Moses Sumney- grae
36. Jay Electronica- A Written Testimony
37. Four Tet- Sixteen Oceans
38. U.S. Girls- Heavy Light
39. Father John Misty- Anthem +3 (EP)
40. Caribou- Suddenly
41. Perfume Genius- Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
42. Jeff Parker- Suite for Max Brown
43. Georgia- Seeking Thrills

Poor Tier:

44. Car Seat Headrest- Making a Door Less Open
45. A.A.L (Against All Logic)- Illusions of Shameless Abundance (EP)
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jackson »

Kelly Lee Owens' Inner Song is awesome. I knew it would be because I loved each of the four singles, but was great to finally hear it after it was delayed from its initial release date. Definitely an EOY contender for me (which is no surprise, as her s/t debut was my 2017 AOTY). I hope this gets her some more attention from critics, who slept on her debut.

I also belatedly discovered the Katie Gately album Loom, which is an easy top 5 for the year to date. Very creative and emotionally powerful.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Romain »

Calibro 35 is a cinematic funk Italian band and their last album is exactly what I love. Black Moon should be in the best of song at the end of the decade if the perfect world existed :-)

1. Calibro 35 - Momentum 9 or 9.5.
2. Agnes Obel - Myopia 9
3. Field Music - Making A New World 9
4. NzcaLines - Pure Luxury 8
5. Muzz - Muzz 8
6. Rustin Man - Clockdust 8
7. Baxter Dury - The Night Chancers 8
8. Bdrmm - Bedroom 8
9. Badly Drawn Boy - Banana Skin Shoes 8
10. Sages Comme Des Sauvages - Luxe Misère 8
11. The Orielles - Disco Volador 7,5
12. Benjamin Biolay - Grand Prix 7,5
13. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush 7,5
14. The Strokes - The New Abnormal 7
15. Sondre Lerche - Patience 7
16. Cerrone - DNA 6
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

My current list:

1. Soccer Mommy - Color Theory
2. Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters
3. Caribou - Suddenly
4. Sufjan Stevens - Aporia
5. HTMLD - West Of Eden
6. Grimes - Miss Anthropocene
7. Destroyer - Have We Met
8. Myrkur - Folkesange
9. Moon Horch - Life On Other Planets
10. Chromatics - Faded Now
11. Waxahatchee - Saint Coud
12. Dan Deacon - Mystic Familiar
13. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher
14. Delphine Dora - L'inattingible
15. Chouk Bwa & The Angstromers - Vodou Ale
16. Perfume Genius - Set Your Heart On Fire Immediately
17. Maria Jose Llergo - Sanacion
18. Childish Gambino - 3.15.20
19. Moses Sumney - grae
20. Bob Dylan - Rough And Rowdy Ways
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

PlasticRam wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 7:35 am
T Swift with 89 Metacritic. I can't understand the hype. Album has no standout songs
My opinion, it has one standout song and absolutely nothing else.

Exile is one of the best songs of the year but everything else is generic mediocre.
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Holden
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

Anyone else get Stereogums compilation album? It’s not mindblowing or anything but it’s a good collection of songs. I will say I am ashamed to have not listened to clipping. until now....
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by rumpdoll »

Holden wrote: Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:16 am Anyone else get Stereogums compilation album? It’s not mindblowing or anything but it’s a good collection of songs. I will say I am ashamed to have not listened to clipping. until now....
After one listening the clipping one and Portishead cover by Sharon van Etten stood out. I would have liked a few more risky covers, but hey, it was only for saving stereogum anyway.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

The new Flaming Lips album, American Head, is probably the best thing they've done since Embryonic (sidenote: I actually used to dislike Embryonic quite a bit because I listened to it once or twice in 2009 and thought it was an unintelligible mess. But when my brother moved to Colorado this summer he left behind some CDs and my dad asked me if I wanted any. One was Embryonic. I said "sure" and took the album and popped it into my car to see if my opinion on it would change given it'd been 11 years since I last heard it. Holy shit. The album is way, way, way better than I remembered. Where I once heard "an unintelligible mess" I now hear "a daring and ambitious psychedelic rock odyssey". I think it took me years of growing accustomed to weirder, more off-beat music in order to really appreciate the album. Seriously, if you're an Embryonic skeptic who hasn't heard it in a number of years, give it another shot.)

But anyway, American Head is worth your time.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

I agree about American Head. They have backed away from all the noisy experimentation and wrote their most emotional songs ever.

I am listening to Jehnny Beth - TO LOVE IS TO LIVE and it is excellent. Vocals remind me of Savages, need to look up of that’s a real connection or just a similarity.

Edit: Confirmed she is the singer from Savages.
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Holden
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

Relistening to the first two IDLES albums in preparation for the new album tomorrow! Such a phenomenal band, in my opinion.
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the new Fleet Foxes album that came out a couple of days ago.

Have any of you had a chance to hear it? I just listened to it today. I'm liking it, but so far it's my least favorite of their albums...
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Re: Albums of 2020 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

Listening to Ultra Mono, something about IDLES has become apparent. With each release they have become less nuanced, with their debut's lyrics often being hidden by several different layers of meaning. Brutalism has gotten better everytime I listen to it, and while I definitely wouldn't call it as good Joy, it is something worth noting, and I, especially, enjoy nuance a lot.
However, with the lyrics becoming less guarded with each release, the production on the albums are just getting better and better. This is the 'best' IDLES has ever sounded. They are clear, concise, and sometimes beautiful. However, as any music fan can tell you, good production doesn't necessarily mean a better album. Arcade Fire's production also comes to mind as having improved on paper with each release, but I can't imagine many people saying that every one of their albums is better than the previous. It feels as though that is the direction IDLES is going. Ultra Mono is certainly a very enjoyable punk/metal record, with memorable songs and the like, however, I don't think that it is an album that will get better with each listen. And ultimately, it feels as though that is something that artists should be striving for. Other albums that get better with each listen for me include classics like Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper's, Blonde on Blonde, but also some more personal picks like Reflektor, The Boatman's Call, and, of course, Brutalism. IDLES really didn't lose anything when moving on from their debut, it seems as though they found their sound. I struggle to think of any album other than Every Bad and perhaps Fetch the Bolt Cutters that rank above this one for me for a potential AOTY.
However, relistening to each of IDLES trio of albums, a trio that stands with other 21st century trios of Funeral-The Suburbs, good kid, m.a.a.d. city-DAMN., and LCD Soundsystem-This Is Happening, one thing becomes clear: Ultra Mono is a great album. Solid 8/10. However, a small part of me wishes that, after the masterpiece of Joy, IDLES had gone backtracked a little to the blurry listening and high nuace of Brutalism when making their third record.
I await future IDLES with much anticipation, however. If they can keep up this breakneck pace of three albums in four years, I'm sure I won't be waiting long.

Thanks for reading! This wasn't meant to be like a whole review but it turned into that lol. Can't wait to listen to The Ascension tomorrow!
"The better a singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they're saying."
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