favourite albums, 2020
The usual caveats apply. Ranking works of art is an insanely arbitrary endeavour, so this list might look radically different next month, depending on my mood or mindset. Orders are also relatively meaningless, especially toward the tail end. But I thought it would be a useful exercise to retrace and subsequently record my year in listening. (I find personal lists much more interesting than consensus-skewed, ad revenue-courting publication events.) In the end, it turned out to be a pretty accurate synthesis of the sounds and albums I loved most this year.
It was also another stellar 12 months for Irish music, and I hope to eventually get around to doing something similar for Irish releases. In the meantime do feel free to let me know if encounter surprises, mutual favourites, new discoveries—or even if recommendations come to mind.
Flora Yin-Wong - Holy Palm
Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind
Space Afrika - hybtwibt?
Still House Plants - Fast Edit
Armand Hammer - Shrines
Dogleg - Melee
Boldy James - The Price of Tea in China / The Versace Tape / Manger on McNichols
Moodymann - TAKEN AWAY
Kmru - Peel
Nazar - Guerilla
Porridge Radio - Every Bad
A.k.Adrix - Código De Barras
Ka - Descendants of Cain
Anna Von Hausswolf - All Thoughts Fly
Drakeo the Ruler - We Know the Truth / Thank You for Using GTL
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - Alfredo
Moor Mother & billy woods - BRASS
William Basinski - Lamentations
Beatrice Dillon - Workaround
WiFiGawd - Heat Check, Vol. 2
Hook - I Love You 2, Hook
Nidia - Não Fales Nela Que A Mentes
Brent Faiyaz - Fuck the World
Ana Roxanne - Because of a Flower
Jeff Parker - Suite for Max Brown
Actress - Karma & Desire
Eartheater - Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin
J Hus - Big Conspiracy
Roc Marciano - Mt. Marci
Unknown T - Rise Above Hate
Duma - Duma
Duval Timothy - Help
Hodge - Shadows In Blue
KeiyaA - Forever, Ya Girl
Sorry - 925
Touché Amoré - Lament
Lil Uzi Vert - Eternal Atake
Zora Jones - Ten Billion Ages
MIKE - Weight of the World
Auscultation - III
Rina Sawayama - SAWSAYAMA
Soft Pink - Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
NSG - Roots
SahBabii - Barnacles
Rio Da Yung OG - City on My Back
Elysia Crampton - Orcorara 2010
Envy - The Fallen Crimson
Gill Scott-Heron & Makaya McCraven - New Again
Wizkid - Made in Lagos
Boof - Rebirth of Gerberdaisy
One Year - Model Home
Jyoti & Georgia Anne Muldrow - Mama, You Can Bet