2020 songbook
a year that was, finally truly was and won't be again. here are my fave songs and EPS. one per artist. not really ranked |
| 101 |  | 44th Move
44th Move
FULL SPOTIFY PLAYLIST OF EVERY BEST SONG OF 2020 (every song available of Spotify): https://tinyurl.com/2020playlistbyGene
During writing of this list I completely forgot about this 44th Move EP, which would have ranked on the 4th spot probably, so here it is as a more than honourable mention and a reminder of my stupid ass.
Honourable EP Mentions:
PUP - This Place Sucks Ass /pop-punk/
MYSS KETA - IL CIELO NON E UN LIMITE /egregious pop-hop/
Rejoice! The Light Has Come - Untitled /doom black metal/
Visit Kalvhaga - hardcore ambient /i'm not sure/
Dramachine - s/t /synth-punk/
Batushka - Raskol /black metal/
Annie Hamilton - s/t /dream-rock/
I Am the Void - s/t /black metal/
Blosse - Loin /doom metal/
Serocs - Vore /tech death metal/ |
| 100 |  | Ritual Clearing
Ritual Clearing
10. EP
/lo-fi black metal/
So I have a bit of a soft spot for straightforward raw lo-fi black metal, but lately I've been slacking it off. Ritual Clearing have come out of nowhere and I am quite uncertain how I found out about them. Anyway, theirs is a visceral kind of black metal, bare and aggressive. Nothing unusual, but all fun. |
| 99 |  | Dragged Into Sunlight
Terminal Aggressor II
9. EP
/drone doom death metal/
Takes a lot of patience, but this seeps in and disturbs only upon revision. Horrifying display of musical disintegration in metal form. |
| 98 |  | Vital Spirit
In The Faith That Looks Through Death
8. EP
/cowboy black metal/
So I initially dismissed plenty of this EP's qualities due to the general overarching commonplace nature of the rest of it. But time after time I kept coming back to it and eventually realised that the repetitive parts are quite good for the atmosphere, and that the more musically surreal decisions the band has made are some of the most exciting statements in black metal in 2020. |
| 97 |  | Jackson Lee
The Undiscovered Self
7. EP
/deep house/
I am angry with myself at how much I've been slacking off house music this year. My method of random album selection rarely landed on anything of the genre and not a lot of projects I'd be excited about have been released. But Jackson Lee, whose work I discovered in a deep dive through the Mystical Disco label on Bandcamp struck me as something quite new and fascinating. I'll copy and paste my sound-off here, cause I think it sums up this EP about right: This is what happens when deep house tries emulating disco music. |
| 96 |  | IJdelheid
God Must Be Love
6. EP
/noir folk/
A really surprising release that sounds much more mature than you'd expect a debut miniproject to be. A lot of religiously-oriented themes and a dark disconnected sound to match it. |
| 95 |  | Christopher Rau
The Keys
5. EP
/deep house/
Chris Rau likes to work on repetition until it melts your brain. But heck if it isn't working. |
| 94 |  | Ichiko Aoba
amuletum bouquet
4. EP
/experimental folk/
I am really on edge with Ichiko Aoba's music afraid that her stranger sides will overwhelm and annoy me, but she always managed to pull a twist and turn her work all the more beautiful in the process. |
| 93 |  | Do Nothing
Zero Dollar Bill
3. EP
/post-punk/
I like it when this band switches up its sound mid-song. Not that those were very obvious or were put any significance to, I just liked that detail of their song-writing. Anyway, this is meat and potatoes when it comes to post-punk, but Do Nothing know how to bring the (understated) thunder with witty bittersweet lyricism and a sharp atmosphere. |
| 92 |  | Mora Mothaus
Overture To A Dream
2. EP
/folk/
'Overture to a Dream' is disappointingly short, which on the other hand gives me hope that it is indeed an overture, a prelude to something bigger and more expansive to come. This 5 track quickie is some of the most beautiful music I've heard all year. |
| 91 |  | Julia-Sophie
y?
1. EP
/dream pop/
So yeah, you don't know it, but this is a piece that made me join Sputnikmusic. On surface level, there is nothing quite unusual about this. It's a dream pop EP from a debutante and it talks of the same things many such projects do. But somehow the Oxford-based Julia-Sophie found a fine line between instantly memorable, softly melodious song-writing and many fantastic minimalist experiments with her sound that make all the already quality music all the more exciting and lovely.
_______________________________________________________ |
| 90 |  | Richard Dawson
2020 |
| 89 | | Richard Dawson
2020 |
| 88 | | Richard Dawson
2020 |
| 87 | | Richard Dawson
2020 |
| 86 | | Richard Dawson
2020 |
| 85 | | Richard Dawson
2020 |
| 84 |  | Various Artists (Jazz)
New Horizons: A Bristol Jazz Sound
Run Logan Run - "3.3 Encke Ups" |
| 83 |  | Moor Jewelry
True Opera
"Working" |
| 82 | | Richard Dawson
2020
From here on, reserved space for songs that didn't make it in time |
| 81 |  | Robovine
How to Start a Business
Honourable SONG Mentions:
Robovine - How to Start a Business
Soul Glo - 29
Esoctrilihum - Shtg (4th Passage - Frozen Soul)
Norah Jones - Hurts to Be Alone
Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky
Con$piracy & Stainless ART - ZAZA (feat. Young Jeter, Yozke, TP & GreyHound)
Christopher Rau - The Keys
Yashira - Amnesia
Shabaka and the Ancestors - Go My Heart, Go To Heaven
Run the Jewels - Walking in the Snow
Sivyj Yar - Poetry of Barren Lands
Black Country, New Road - Science Fair
Metz - Hail Taxi
Maarja Nuut and Ruum - Cloths of Heaven |
| 80 |  | Thin (USA-NY)
Dawn
"Maiden Name"
In only 1 minute, all hell breaks loose on this noise/grind/screamo track.
https://thinshred.bandcamp.com/track/maiden-name |
| 79 |  | Linocut
Linocut
"Lisdexamfetamine"
I am always glad to hear modern underground bands trying to bring back minimal synth and no wave.
https://linocutlinocut.bandcamp.com/track/lisdexamfetamine |
| 78 |  | Woods
Strange To Explain
"Where Do You Go When You Dream?"
Breezy, but conceptually weighty track that keeps expanding ever so subtly.
https://youtu.be/oQvGoVX5p48 |
| 77 |  | Lido Pimienta
Miss Colombia
"Resisto Y Ya"
Lido's fusions of pop music with Colombian genres like bullerengue certainly is admirable and I would love to hear more of things like this song in the future and not just from Lido.
https://youtu.be/IWJjjHv9uqg |
| 76 |  | Melenas
Dias Raros
"3 segundos"
You sometimes need to unwind, relax, sit back and enjoy these 4 Spanish girls breeze over your senses with their easy-listening brand of indie rock.
https://youtu.be/YP3C9c8nmlI |
| 75 |  | Motorpsycho
The All Is One
"N.O.X. II: Ouroboros (Strange Loop)"
It's hard to pick a single song from Motorpsycho's latest behemoth; not just because they're all excellent, but because thematically and sound-wise they are linked and uninterchangeable. But by its sheer beauty and also accessibility as opposed to other cuts in the tracklist, "Strange Loop" goes on the list (also as a place holder for most other songs on the record)
https://youtu.be/5GHB42vw_0M |
| 74 |  | Aesop Rock
Spirit World Field Guide
"Dog At The Door"
Despite Aesop's hour of conceptual material and meticulously honed lyrical and musical craftsmanship, the most striking and outstanding cut on the whole record turned out to be one of the shortest ones: a one and a half minute long minimalist witty banger.
https://youtu.be/f--QTXpb0QI |
| 73 |  | Eefje de Visser
Bitterzoet
"Stilstand"
Eefje's newest album didn't quite accomplish everything it set itself out, but credit where the credit's due, "Stilstand" beautifully builds and shows Eefje's minimalist pop ideals in full swing.
https://youtu.be/HQeH0l_4S7I |
| 72 |  | Bill Callahan
Gold Record
"35"
A beautiful bittersweet spoken-word tune about ageing, forgetting and losing what one once had.
https://youtu.be/JJXfl7WmzWI |
| 71 |  | Jadu Heart
Hyper Romance
"Walk the Line"
Cute infectious pop song from a band that I feel can do much more.
https://youtu.be/cOqp3XbRGHM |
| 70 | | Jackson Lee
The Undiscovered Self
"33"
Excellent quirky house music.
https://youtu.be/TN3Qi1hWOA8 |
| 69 |  | Black Foxxes
Black Foxxes
"Jungle Skies"
Black Foxxes are hands-down up there as one of the biggest surprises of the year and this song exemplifies the nature of the album.
https://youtu.be/_eROcr_5j5k |
| 68 |  | Morket
Oro
"Tvenne Fiende"
I really like this kind of black metal and hardcore punk fusion I keep hearing more and more artists do lately.
https://youtu.be/0PbhFjyFrRo |
| 67 | | Richard Dawson
2020
Mikki Jenkins - "NoƩmie"
So a little backstory to how I came to find this song from a relatively unknown artist that only has this song and nothing else released: I was goofing around with my girlfriend on Spotify, looking for songs with our names in them and there we find this beautiful emotional piano piece released just a few days prior.
https://open.spotify.com/album/6ESd1pP4cH03zETvAiNISE?si=mi7en8HOQIK2JBIxg6fF-A |
| 66 |  | Seigen Tokuzawa and Masaki Hayashi
Drift
"The South Downs"
This 12 minutes long gigantic cello and piano cover of Gavin Bryars' composition is a fantastic centrepiece of the whole album, heavy and aquatic in atmosphere.
https://youtu.be/wvQroWl5UZg |
| 65 |  | The Republic Tigers
Mind Over Matter
"Latter Daisy"
I like this kind of happy-go-lucky indie music for whenever I feel a little down. Its cuteness always eases up the situation.
https://youtu.be/UYKUas93sWQ |
| 64 |  | Man Man
Dream Hunting in the Valley of the Inā€‹-ā€‹Between
"Cloud Nein"
Well at least the lead single off this album was helluva fun.
https://youtu.be/Mc_wtqSSp5I |
| 63 |  | Son Lux
Tomorrows II
"Warning"
I was left feeling mostly underwhelmed by Son Lux's new double album project, but I can recognise that this song could have easily been a great low tempo slow burning buffer in the middle of like 'Brighter Wounds' or something.
https://youtu.be/zoREyHrY-l0 |
| 62 |  | R.A.P. Ferreira
purple moonlight pages
"Leaving Hell"
Wordy witty and poetically potent track, Rory sounding smooth as ever.
https://youtu.be/6YVv5pDspfA |
| 61 |  | HMLTD
West of Eden
"Blank Slate"
At least three songs on this list also appear on theneedledrop's list and I don't know whether that's a sign of good or bad taste or not a sign at all.
https://youtu.be/Hjt5MzQG4h0 |
| 60 | | Vital Spirit
In The Faith That Looks Through Death
"Centaur"
The epic blackened wild west themed ending of this track alone is worth the listen.
https://youtu.be/DpQTFFBlq50 |
| 59 |  | Dream Wife
So When You Gonna...
"Sports!"
These girls got a lot of flack this year (unjustly, I say), but everyone has to agree that at least this song slaps.
https://youtu.be/aWZFtIcMPS8 |
| 58 |  | Armand Hammer
Shrines
"King Tubby"
A song whose individual characteristics almost sound like a joke (some samples and lyrical parts), but it is mortifyingly serious. Oh man.
https://youtu.be/wZinON5lCOo |
| 57 |  | New Primals
Horse Girl Energy
"A Beast With Two Backs"
Some of the most pulverising noise punk of the year.
https://youtu.be/t8159HJF0tI |
| 56 |  | PUP
This Place Sucks Ass
"Anaphylaxis"
PUP riffing hard and shouting their way into my heart again. Have a funny/angering story about their concert too, if anyone is interested.
https://youtu.be/PWNyNg3SVqk |
| 55 |  | Sickle of Dust
To the Shores of Sunrise
"Over Desolate Lands"
If I stay on this site long enough to make a best of 2021 list, which is very likely, I suppose you should all come to learn of my obligatory "black metal epic of the year" shoutout. This year it is this long-ass beauty complete with string sections and spoken word poetic passages.
https://youtu.be/6ZrDK2TDDPU |
| 54 |  | Khora
Timaeus
"l'Annihilateur"
The album as a whole I didn't think much of, but this song is quick and beautiful atmospheric black metal.
https://youtu.be/u41LEsWTh30 |
| 53 |  | Gorillaz
Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
"How Far? (feat. Tony Allen and Skepta)"
Top-notch Gorillaz here. "DƩsolƩ" was a close second.
https://youtu.be/GiWduWEtma4 |
| 52 |  | Wobbler
Dwellers of the Deep
"By the Banks"
A multi-layered, multi-sectioned varied prog epic.
https://youtu.be/YiZwrB50vlw |
| 51 |  | Dua Lipa
Future Nostalgia
"Physical"
You might either be angry that I picked this over "Don't Start Now" or that I picked a Dua Lipa song at all.
https://youtu.be/9HDEHj2yzew |
| 50 |  | Torres
Silver Tongue
"Last Forest"
Gorgeous understated song that is either metaphorical or is literally about floral conservationism.
https://youtu.be/wzptTGrzxkQ |
| 49 | | 44th Move
44th Move
"Two Nil"
Alfa Mist is back with a project not unusual for him, where he fuses jazz with electronica and hip-hop production.
https://youtu.be/PiLBftmguyE |
| 48 |  | Bob Dylan
Rough and Rowdy Ways
"I Contain Multitudes"
Bob's spoken-word lyrically sharp "I-am-the-fucking-ace" kind of song.
https://youtu.be/pgEP8teNXwY |
| 47 |  | Thomas Azier
Love, Disorderly
"Entertainment"
I went back and forth between this and "Freed From Desire" as entries on this list, just saying.
https://youtu.be/RHOGMjZrIuE |
| 46 |  | Rina Sawayama
Sawayama
"Bad Friend"
A fantastic wild cut from Rina's no less fantastic pop extravaganza.
https://youtu.be/OLXtc2OSrLQ |
| 45 |  | A. Swayze and the Ghosts
Paid Salvation
"Cancer"
Don't worry, this isn't actually a heavy lyrical matter on the perils of cancer and dealing with death or something. It's a witty, fun garage rock song that will immediately sound Australian, whether or not you know the band is.
https://youtu.be/PENtYYS8imI |
| 44 |  | JARV IS...
Beyond the Pale
"Children of the Echo"
Sophisticated prog-pop with a lot of swagger.
https://youtu.be/Q8fR3wNhEyY |
| 43 |  | Kairon IRSE!
Polysomn
"Welcome Blue Valkyrie"
Can't say I'd make an agreeable ranking of this band's catalogue, as apparently many were left let down by this record. I, on the other hand, was thoroughly impressed. Hope this song convinces the many of you who have not yet heard the record to check it.
https://youtu.be/1xdD89p85OI |
| 42 |  | Conway
From King To A God
"Juvenile Hell (feat. Flee Lord, Havoc and Lloyd Banks)"
Rich, wordy banger with attitude.
https://youtu.be/kKkzXyiJhU0 |
| 41 |  | Alex Rex
Andromeda
"Funeral Music For Alex Rex"
Just a teeny tiny bit pretentious orchestrally arranged chamber pop tune, a great centrepiece to the album.
https://alexrex.bandcamp.com/track/funeral-music-for-alex-rex |
| 40 |  | Monolake
Archaeopteryx
"Ircks Argle"
Oddball quirky techno track.
https://roberthenke.bandcamp.com/track/ircks-argle |
| 39 | | Do Nothing
Zero Dollar Bill
"Contraband"
I wanted to put the song "Lebron James" on here, but they're pretty much on par with one another, besides that one was released late 2019. It's a tuneful, loveable post-punk song; but perhaps a little too straightforward for some.
https://youtu.be/EjbuWoTSvwg |
| 38 |  | Vagabon
Vagabon
"In A Bind (Strings Version)" - non-album single
Stretching my definition of a 2020 song, Vagabon's 2019 cut "In A Bind" got an orchestral revision and sound maybe better than anything she's done up until that point. Gorgeous, emotional track, whose arrangement compliments its weight, content and vocals much more than that so-so indie original did. Hopefully, this marks a step forward for her work.
https://youtu.be/Xaa_p120Yvg |
| 37 |  | DVNE
Omega Severer
"Of Blade and Carapace"
This or the title track, doesn't matter. Shattered my ears and anus completely, looking forward to the new album.
https://youtu.be/sbW90M_LyFg |
| 36 |  | King Dude
Full Virgo Moon
"My Rose by the Sea (Satyr Boy)"
King Dude's music is the epitome of hit or miss. I don't think I've ever come across an album of his that would have been excellent start to finish. His song-writng and lyrical skill is there, but he tends to run his ideas a little too dry and repetitive to like. Thankfully, the tune on "Satyr Boy" is so solid that it doesn't get tired at all.
https://youtu.be/ow04dkW2Fnw |
| 35 |  | Zeal and Ardor
Wake of a Nation
"Wake of a Nation"
The eponymous EP was rushed, unfocused and didn't really have a lot to show for, but this song is a great display of Zeal and Ardor's brand of darkness. It's very rough, but that's precisely the point.
https://youtu.be/wjiVKfrHge0 |
| 34 |  | Einsturzende Neubauten
Alles in Allem
"Mƶbeliertes Lied"
Asphyxiating oddball industrial "rock" ballad.
https://youtu.be/kxYuQdTPLv4 |
| 33 |  | Alice Boman
Dream On
"It's OK, It's Alright"
How this album and especially this song didn't win over you Phoebe Bridgers-loving Sowingcore-worshipping nuts is beyond me.
https://youtu.be/TFcsoJHO5Uw |
| 32 | | IJdelheid
God Must Be Love
"I Trust Strangers"
For a song off of a debut EP this is incredibly mature, layered and intense in the most surprising and subtle way possible.
https://tartarusrecords.com/track/i-trust-strangers |
| 31 |  | Model/Actriz
Suntan cā€‹/ā€‹w Damocles
"Damocles"
Fusing post-punk and noise rock with industrial production, non-trivial song-writing and
https://youtu.be/Hd6jMn-7Ca8 |
| 30 |  | ZrnĆ
NebeskĆ½ klid
"Dva utonulĆ na mÄ›lĨinÄ› Å™eky Rio Grande"
A song so good I had to take reigns in the Song of the Day to promote it (to mostly mixed results:( But yeah, it's probably only this relevant to me, cause I understand the lyrics.
https://youtu.be/QbHdOe--2jw |
| 29 |  | Chris Stapleton
Starting Over
"Cold"
A cheesy song that is actually heartbreaking.
https://youtu.be/fq15HXc6pmw |
| 28 |  | M. Ward
Migration Stories
"Heaven's Nail and Hammer"
Didn't expect M. Ward of all people to come through with a track this heavenly, cozy and nocturnal.
https://youtu.be/ld9T5-Mbm54 |
| 27 |  | Isaiah Rashad
The Sun's Tirade
"Why Worry" - non-album single
I have no idea where I got this, but it's about as banging as a 2020 hip-hop track gets.
https://youtu.be/kGeWK9hce1o |
| 26 |  | U.S. Girls
Heavy Light
"4 American Dollars"
Riveting beautiful song that has layers, witty lyricism and pristine sound.
https://youtu.be/UGQ1UAX0aYo |
| 25 |  | Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats
Unlocked
"Take_it_Back_v2"
Out of memes came a blessing and the Curry/Beats powerhouse gave us a quick funny but thought-provoking banger (album).
https://youtu.be/UbASjaj-P4A |
| 24 | | Ichiko Aoba
amuletum bouquet
"amuletum"
Quite certainly not a lot has been more beautiful than this song in 2020 and I keep beating myself up for not having heard her new album yet.
https://youtu.be/ypuG18IjHcs |
| 23 |  | Deeper
Auto-Pain
"Helena's Flowers"
Dry-mouthed, minimalist piece of in-your-face post-punk that gets unexpectedly serious and melodic half-way through.
https://youtu.be/m35vDrFcGU4 |
| 22 |  | CJ Fly
Rudebwoy
"Show You"
Statik Selektah-produced, "Show You" is a surprise catchy single from an album I shamefully slacked off this year.
https://youtu.be/nplUrNosT18 |
| 21 |  | Dry Cleaning
Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks
"Scratchcard Lanyard" - non-album single
Youtube algorithm works in mysterious ways and has recently recommended this to me from a band I've never heard of. It's a dry iced witty post-punk track with a really subtle transition into chorus and spoken word vocals.
https://youtu.be/6PuqlOTyJt0 |
| 20 |  | Vous Autres
Sel de Pierre
"Onde"
One helluva devastating post-metal track that blew most everything within the genre out of the water this year (and even most thing off of the album.
https://youtu.be/fAblZPDpdN4 |
| 19 |  | Cable Ties
Far Enough
"Hope"
A multi-faceted, sectioned indie punk odyssey with great vocals and every melodic turn a banger.
https://youtu.be/YHEfSKcZ_0o |
| 18 |  | The Chats
High Risk Behaviour
"AC/DC CD" - non-album single
Aussie good vibes all throughout.
https://youtu.be/9wJzzspiwK0 |
| 17 |  | Melt Yourself Down
100% Yes
"Every Single Day"
This year has not been kind on us and the summer for most was a tiring season with little to no good vibes. SO it's actually refreshing to hear something that can transport you to a spastic beach party, where the beach sand is coke. (but it's actually really dark underneath, but you couldn't tell from the sound of it)
https://youtu.be/iLCVZi267LU |
| 16 |  | Lianne La Havas
Lianne La Havas
"Weird Fishes"
I know, you know, everybody and their mother knows...
https://youtu.be/AHeW8McMBS8 |
| 15 |  | Pottery
Welcome to Bobby's Motel
"Hot Like Jungle"
At an album that is basically a one giant Talking Heads worship, this is the most worshipping, but also their most catchy, soothing and sexy track.
https://youtu.be/FuU3jXhgrfA |
| 14 |  | The Strokes
The New Abnormal
"At The Door"
In what I can only describe as Strokes' catchiest album to date (beat me) this lead single is a beautiful, atmospheric exemplification thereof. So much theatrical and emotional potency in a track that playys it this cool and mild.
BEST MUSIC VIDEO of the year ALERT!
https://youtu.be/9CAz_vvsK9M |
| 13 | | Mora Mothaus
Overture To A Dream
"Toxic Snow"
I mostly forget who recs me what (I should be writing this stuff down, I think), but this I definitely got off JohnnyoftheWell's list. But I'm not sure which one.
https://moramothaus.bandcamp.com/track/toxic-snow |
| 12 |  | Baxter Dury
The Night Chancers
"I'm Not Your Dog"
The way these hot synths compliment Baxter's deep ageing voice is impeccable
https://youtu.be/x_x9tB2Qsyk |
| 11 | | Julia-Sophie
y?
"x0x"
You're sleeping on her, for real. I'm calling it now that Julia-Sophie is gonna dominate the Sput (and not only) Top lists in years to come.
https://youtu.be/eR_66qMBN8s |
| 10 |  | Blu and Exile
Miles
"Roots of Blue"
A mammoth track celebrating and acknowledging the important figures in black history (predominantly those relating to USA), a powerful statement of a track that perfectly samples only a slight of the lyrical and musical weight and masterful skill on 'Miles'.
https://youtu.be/wFf3kWdaEq8 |
| 9 |  | Ka
Descendants Of Cain
"I Love (Mimi, Moms, Kev)"
In theory, this is a very simple song; quiet beats of bongo drums and smooth bass to perfectly match Ka's spoken word delivery. But its lyrical sentiment is what makes it all the more heartwarming. Ka is acknowledging the three people that made him who he is and to whom he owes most in his life: his wife, his mother and his best friend. It's a wonderful turn to positivity and love for Ka, whose usual work revolves around poetic epics and heavy subject matters.
https://youtu.be/A5d8RF7dndM |
| 8 |  | Mamaleek
Come and See
"Cabrini-Green"
So what I think most people find difficult to stomach about this band, album and song is its nastiness. Excuse the vagueness of that sentence, but there isn't really a lot else to say. This song is nasty, ugly and rough like a blunt force trauma. There are multiple phases to "Cabrini-Green", all of which are actually pretty in their own degenerate ways; especially the final section that goes from a dissolved screeching of instruments into rhythmic progression and into strange hypnotic atmospheric metal outro.
https://youtu.be/CZN3p9Lu71k |
| 7 |  | Shame (UK)
Drunk Tank Pink
"Snow Day"
I don't really care for most things Shame do, but out of nowhere to promote their upcoming release (now released and actually well put together) 'Drunk Tank Pink', the band put out a single whose boisterousness and intensity is unmatched by anything they've done so far and in many respects by most anything other modern post-punk bands do.
https://youtu.be/0dVZKosGgUo |
| 6 |  | Jessie Ware
What's Your Pleasure?
"Spotlight"
I'm fairly at a loss for words here. Nothing particularly spectacular is happening on Jessie Ware's "Spotlight" and her whole album. The lyrics are mostly basic love or lust songs and the musicianship is basic on paper. But it all comes together into a beautifully sophisticated piece of pop. It's plain and simple a gorgeous song all throughout.
https://youtu.be/kw56LGfrf4A |
| 5 |  | Protomartyr
Ultimate Success Today
"Worm in Heaven"
Bold of them to release a closing track as a pre-album single, but certainly a justified one. With an album dealing this much in mostly dour, depressing themes, having a song like this reassure listeners that everything will be okay, is great. Well, I say that everything will be okay, but it is literally a song about an insect describing its way from life into afterlife. But somehow it is still a beautiful and uplifting bittersweet ballad with an explosive ending that wonderfully rounds up all the album was about.
https://youtu.be/7jBayKVcc7s |
| 4 |  | Fiona Apple
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
"I Want You To Love Me"
In a year where everyone and their mother praised Fiona Apple's newest unquestionably masterful album, let me not waste your time with the very same arguments everyone has already made. Instead, I'd just like to thank Fiona for coming back with new music and then I'll go on to listen to this for the umpteenth time.
https://youtu.be/N541HLPeG6Y |
| 3 |  | Terrace Martin
Village Days
"Pig Feet (feat. Denzel Curry, Daylyt, Kamasi Washington)" - non-album single
Okay, I hate politics. I don't like talking about them, I don't like following them and so such. But when does an issue one'd perceive as socio-political become so pressing that is crosses the border from icky debates and activism to just your common daily life. I'm not an American, I've never been to America (the whole continent, I mean) and I don't entirely condone the downright anarchist stance this song takes. But I can understand it. I get what it means (and sorry for being too vague, if you don't know what it is about, listen and you'll see). It is brutal, in its delivery, message and production. And somehow it also manages to be the catchiest, most intense and most spectacularly instrumentally arranged hip-hop track of the year.
https://youtu.be/2OMirbGvn8o |
| 2 |  | Arab Strap
As Days Get Dark
"The Turning of Our Bones"
I have not listened to Arab Strap in probably 5 or 6 years. And I had little to no intention of starting back at their work now. But by some miraculous circumstance I've been introduced to this song, at first a non-album single, now obviously a lead up to their new album. And whatever it was that prompted me to press play, I relistened to it that day (no joke) probably every other minute until the day ended. And the next day about the same. And still every now and again on repeat a few times. There is some excellent tongue-in-cheek attitude and lyrics that funnily describe a love and horniness that transcends life and death and turns you into a rotting zombie. Cheesy and corny, sure, but for some odd magical reason, the synth-led music, the occasional brief instrumental solos that each comes out of nowhere and is always all over the place, and the blunt Scottish accent of Aidan Moffat make it an unforgettable listening experience.
https://youtu.be/f4CN6sxDvr0 |
| 1 |  | Dan Deacon
Mystic Familiar
"Become a Mountain"
Right, so at a strange time of uncertainty and change in my life (don't worry, this ain't going to be another first-place justification due to personal issues) this song came and a little later its album. It struck a gentle, mystical, awe-inducing positivity in me and I fell in love with it, only later to realise that this inspiring lovable tune would carry me through the dumb-fuck-shitshow of 2020. Everybody needed a little ray of sunshine and kindness then and still needs these days, I presume, so I am glad that Dan Deacon's gorgeous and infectious happy-go-lucky attitude was there to brighten up my days at any given moment.
https://youtu.be/GtBmZYqZZjU |
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