It's officially the time of the year where I wrap up all my favorite music in a neat little bow. Here are my top 50 favorite songs of 2020.
2020 has been a crappy year, folks. Despite all the isolation and tragedies, we have had a ton of great new music this year! Even though concerts have been a dismal, there have been many creative ways of live interactions with fans through live streaming and fun virtual performances throughout the year. We even had Bandcamp Fridays, where listeners purchased over $40 million (!) worth of music on the platform that is directly supporting the labels and artists that need it most. With all the chaos through 2020, we had some positive outcomes in music.
Now on to my annual year-end lists! Here are my top 50 favorite songs of 2020 and my thoughts on each one of them. Enjoy and thanks for reading! Enjoy and thanks for reading!
(PS: If you want to cut to the chase, you can scroll to see the full list all the way at the bottom of this page.)
(PSS: here is a Spotify playlist including all 50 of my favorite songs below:)
50.
Squid
"Sludge"
This young UK act recently signed to the legendary Warp records this year, so this naturally peaked my interest. Having never heard of the band, I checked out their first music they released through Warp and I was pleasantly surprised. "Sludge," the A-side to the single, is a heavy, groovy rager that I highly recommend for any interested in groove-laced post punk with a quirky edge. It's got a yelped vocal delivery along with some killer progression. Of course, what's more fitting than a track all about isolating yourself in a place where nobody knows but yourself. Boom.
49.
Shopping
"Initiative"
Speaking of post punk and grooves, how about this band? Shopping caught my ears early this year with the band's All or Nothing record, specifically the single 'Initiative." You'll know a Shopping song when you hear it and "Initiative" contains all the dance-punk, fast-paced groove, and B52's influenced vocals you've expected. But there's an added sense of darkness to it as well with the moody sinister synths hanging in the background, adding an even more intensifying and satisfying Shopping experience. Truly one of the band's best tunes yet.
48.
Bombay Bicycle Club
"Everything Else Has Gone Wrong"
The credited UK indie rock/pop band came back with a new album, their first in six years, titled Everything Else Has Gone Wrong. A record with such a fitting title for this year, you'd be shocked that it was released earlier in January. Yes, January, before everything, absolutely everything went wrong. The title track to the record is the band's best new attempts at providing a strong pop tune with a strong hook that really strikes. Despite frontman Jack Steadman facing all that is against him and the world itself, he offers glimmers of hope. In fact, a little bit of hope is all we need to get through the year, especially right now.
47.
Anna Burch
"Tell Me What's True"
Michigan resident and Polyvinyl signee Anna Burch came back quick with her next solo venture, If You're Dreaming. It was a much moodier and mellower record. Of course there were some peppier ones, but for sure the ones that stood out were the slower tunes. "Tell Me What's True" is a simple piano ballad that shines really bright. I would say that Anna really takes simplicity and essentials of her music to a sweet listen that's also very beautiful too.
46.
Dawes
"Who Do You Think You're Talking To?"
I felt that Dawes really went back to basics on their new record this time around. Really focusing on traditional songwriting and storytelling, Taylor Goldsmith lays it down on "Who Do You Think You're Talking To?" a tough talking tune where you can really picture Goldsmith's smug face trying to act tough and rowdy.
45.
Jessie Ware
"Spotlight"
In 2020, there have been many captivating attempts at bringing back disco, synth pop, and dance funk (a la Jessie Ware and Rósín Murphy) and the first of the two really brought in the heat and fire with her record What's Your Pleasure? "Spotlight" was certainly one of the best highlights with some flirty bass and synth jabs along with Ware's authentically soft and playful croon. Arguably some of her best tunes since "Wildest Moments," "Spotlight" was one of many disco pop tunes that I couldn't help but dance to this year. A year where "dancing the pain away" truly made sense for me.
44.
Mary Lattimore
"Til a Mermaid Drags You Under"
I wanted to pick out a song off of Mary Lattimore's excellent new album into this list, but I wasn't sure which one to pick, since the whole flow and listen of Silver Ladders is so organic and ever growing, like her harp playing and attention to detail. "Til a Mermaid Drags You Under," the album's ten and a half minute centerpiece, legitimately sounds like its title: the heavy, brooding instrumentation literally is dragging me under into the abyss, gasping for oxygen. Like mermaids themselves, the song is gorgeous and mesmerizing, only to find yourself wrapped around each detail before it's inevitably too late.
43.
Sam Prekop
"Circle Line"
Many of the tracks off of Sam Prekop's solo venture Comma felt very singular and an individual experience, really aimed toward the listener themselves. "Circle Line" felt like one of the more dreamlike, ambient pieces from the record that felt like a part to a sonic soundtrack for clear skies and cloud watching.
42.
Laura Marling
"Held Down"
Traditional folk music is graciously overshadowed, especially new takes on it. Singer songwriter Laura Marling really showed us some prime excellence in the genre, particularly "Held Down," which is a gorgeous ballad that really sets the stage for her takes on Joni Mitchell and other classic songwriters. One of the biggest highlights from Song for Our Daughter, I could've chosen "Strange Girl" or "Alexandra" (two really prestige choices), but I chose my favorite and most gripping ballad of the bunch.
41.
Kate NV
"Telefon"
The Russian singer songwriter really provided her versatility on her latest record Room for the Moon, bringing in ambient music, African rhythms, new wave, and synth pop, all with an eye for personality and wit. Kate NV really brought 70's/80's synth pop with "Telefon," the album's exuberant and blissful closer to the record. There are peppy and quirky synth notes and saxophone (I think?) scattered throughout the instrumental with one of her best vocal lines on the record. Within its chorus, Kate sings through the rooftops, hoping her listeners can hear her cheers.
40.
U.S. Girls
"And Yet It Moves / Y Se Mueve"
Another flirty disco pop gem released this year, Meg Remy's U.S. Girls project provided some graceful funk and disco that was very difficult to ignore. "And Yet It Moves / Y Se Mueve" surprisingly added a latin flare in the mix for Remy which she hasn't really attempted before. It pays off well with Remy trading off in both Spanish and English to the listener over some sweaty, grimy synths and percussion. Surely her best song this year aside from "4 American Dollars," U.S. Girls can certainly make a disco pop tune that is all around amazing and inescapable for me to ignore.
39.
Yelle
"Karaté"
Another highlight from the Yelle cannon, the French trio fire on all cylinders with "Karaté," a lead single off of their latest album. French dance pop is something Yelle can never do wrong and bring in the fast paced action and intense movement of karate terminology in Yelle's lyricism. It's bouncy, it's energetic, it's off the wall. Like many of their fiery and fun singles, Yelle prove once again their wheelhouse is strong and consistent, even adding a bit of darkness into the fire. It makes me want to try out to earn a blackbelt for sure. Thanks Yelle!
38.
Matt Berninger
"Serpentine Prison"
The National frontman pulled through this year with more melancholy bliss with Serpentine Prison. Its title track really captured the bliss part of my description with its horns, acoustic guitar, and Berninger's famously bleak and raspy croon. Produced by Booker T. Jones, it brought the bluesy flare that is seeped in honey in the dreariest tea you could find. All the sadness aside, I really find the sunny joy in the track too, which can be found in many a Matt Berninger / EL VY / National performance. An A+ performance for Matt.
37.
Pink Martini
"Let's Be Friends"
All around personal jazz favorite Pink Martini gracefully came back with a few singles this year that brought the absolute cuteness and togetherness that is expected from the versatile and reliable group. "Let's Be Friends" is certainly no exception whatsoever, especially during a time of needing to be together and needing to make friends, both new and old. "Let's Be Friends" takes a lesson out of the old Sympathique and Hang On Little Tomato playbooks (two classic Martini albums) and combines classically playful, traditional jazz with cutesy lyricism about what makes you and I such great friends: "I'm the fancy, you're the pants / the Paris to my France / let's be friends." That's just one line from the many, many adorable lines from this absolute treat of a song.
36.
Quelle Chris & Chris Keys
(ft. Merill Garbus, Cavalier & Homeboy Sandman)
"Sacred Safe"
One of my favorite rap songs of the year, "Sacred Safe" is kind of a posse cut that has each rapper take turns and passing the baton over a dreamy, sunset-induced instrumental that's both moody and gorgeous. Tune-Yards' Merill Garbus singing on the chorus is more than enough reason to return to the track numerous times, but the galloping and unique takes on jazz, piano, and rap is a sight to behold on "Sacred Safe," keying together all of these elements into one stylistically diverse cup of potpourri.
35.
Future Islands
"For Sure"
Isn't every performance from Future Islands just a delight? Surely not far from the truth, "For Sure," the lead single off of As Long As You Are, is certainly that. Purely a dream pop / new wave gem, Sam Herring gives yet another moving performance over a groovy rhythmic dreamscape. Like "Seasons," "Ran," and "Balance" before it, "For Sure" ranks among the best Future Islands performances to date.
34.
The Flaming Lips
"Will You Return / When You Come Down"
Taking the ballad blueprints of my favorite Flaming Lips era (1999's The Soft Bulletin), American Head not only provided some moving, dreamlike ballads reminiscent of that era, but gave heartbreak and death to tragedies of drugs and police, among other things. "Will You Return / When You Come Down," the album's intro, sets the album up with glistening pianos over some incredible harmonies and stylistic progressions. Many reasons why of love "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton" and "Feeling Yourself Disintegrate" are also reasons why I love this song: the weighted, heavy lyrical loads of bleakness over instrumentals of brightness and hope.
33.
Dirty Projectors
"Holy Mackerel"
Dave Longstreth's Dirty Projectors came back with five EP's this year and among my favorites included the Super Joāo EP. The EP acted as a tribute to the legendary Joāo Gilberto, who passed away this year, who also popularized bossa nova music. "Holy Mackerel" was simply one of those songs that really gave Gilberto a stunning tribute. The band's acoustic warmth over this song gave off similar joy and artistic captivation that Gilberto did on his best songs. The guitar playing is soft, gentle and Longsreth's voice also carries the sonic dreams of joy that Gilberto previously brought. Surely my favorite DP song this year.
32.
Esther Rose
"Blue on Blue"
Esther Rose is simply one of my favorite voices in music right now due to her warm, personal delivery and her finger picked guitar playing. Her takes on traditional country and folk are so fun to hear. Her EP My Favorite Mistakes graced us with four delightful covers, including one of Nick Lowe's "Blue on Blue." It's quiet gallop is very genuine to the original.
31.
The Rolling Stones
"Scarlet" (The War On Drugs Remix)
Included from the rollout of reissuing their Goats Head Soup record, The Rolling Stones released a handful of different versions of their excellent track "Scarlet," including a couple of remixes from The Killers and The War On Drugs. The latter remix adds so much punch and energy to the already energetic original. Adding a supremely satisfying groove and bass line from The War On Drugs' Adam Granduciel, the track is sent into the stratosphere with his reworking of the tune. Yes, it's a new remix of a track from 1973, but it's one that I could not stop listening to this year.
30.
The Mountain Goats
"Get Famous"
What a year for John Darnielle's The Mountain Goats, having released two great projects this year. Getting Into Knives brought some great tunes and "Get Famous" was one of these. It's a track about getting famous (or the need/strive to) over some wholesome horn sections, classic keys, cheerful strums, and a great performance from Darnielle. Also noting the bad implications of it, it's mostly a positive turnout over wanting someone to be famous. Another great song that will surely make you smile.
29.
Gorillaz
(ft. Fatoumata Diawara)
"Désolé"
The second great performance featuring Fatoumata Diawara this year (the first being from Disclosure), Gorillaz came through with a vacation getaway themed song that brought in the grooves and swagger of the beach. Though not exactly the Plastic Beach, "Désolé" comes close to providing the darkened coastline bliss from it. Also, its extended version is the best version to check out.
28.
Land of Talk
"Weight of That Weekend"
Elizabeth Powell is a powerhouse, providing some spectacular songwriting and performances to boot. "Weight of That Weekend," along with a number of great performances this year, brought the charm of Powell's wistfully powerful voice along with her knack for chords and layering of guitars, similar to that of Feist's recent work.
27.
Fleet Foxes
"Maestranza"
Arguably one of the best grooves in the Fleet Foxes catalog, "Maestranza" features the visions of windy, breezy mountaintops over some stellar layered instrumentation of guitars, keys, drums, and Robin Pecknold's recognizable voice. It could've easily fit onto Crack-Up if it weren't so straightforward and easy to listen to, but don't let its easiness fool you. It's still one of the more complex and interestingly gorgeous tunes from Shore.
26.
clipping.
"Say the Name"
Sampling the famous Geto Boys line, "Say the Name" includes all the themes of horror, blood, demons, and murder to come to expect from recent works of the experimental hip hop trio clipping. Arguably the catchiest tune they've created in a while, its bass and pacing is hard to deny. Also its intensifying progressive ending is worth listening to all the way through.
25.
The Avalanches
(ft. Jamie xx, Neneh Cherry & CLYPSO)
"Wherever You Go"
A star-studded collaboration with Jamie xx, Neneh Cherry and CLYPSO from Australia's very own The Avalanches, "Wherever You Go" is a certified gold banger with so much color and grit. It's difficult to pick one track off of The Avalanches recently released record (it just came out a few days after I'm writing this), but this one stuck with me throughout 2020 with its buzzing bass, childlike joyful vocal samples, and Neneh Cherry and CLYPSO's excellent performances too. There's a lot packed into its near six minute length, but the more the merrier for The Avalanches in this case. It really contains all themes of harmony, joy, and love and togetherness that The Avalanches spread throughout We Will Always Love You. PS: one of my favorite music videos this year was a special performance of this song featuring The Avalanches and The International Space Orchestra in lockdown. I've included a link here.
24.
The Strokes
"The Adults Are Talking"
The best Strokes performance in years comes from the opener from The New Abnormal. "The Adults Are Talking" features a skeletal intro with a steady drum machine beat, a classic Albert Hammond Jr. guitar line, and Julian Casablancas' signature croon. It quickly turns into one of Julian's best vocal performances too, a powerfully moving tune that captures all the greatness from the Strokes all while adding new styles of experimentation in the instrumental too. When Julien reaches his high falsetto towards the end, you know it's gonna be amazing stuff.
23.
Julianna Barwick
"Inspirit"
"Inspirit" is what I've come to expect from Julianna Barwick's ever-growing expansion of ambient music. It has some beautifully layered vocals that wash in and out of the listener's ears like waves from the ocean. It has these dreamlike echoed effects on Barwick's vocals that sound like they are coming from a totally different planet. Very futuristic, yet present. I can't imagine any moment like these four minutes that are this mesmerizing...
22.
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
"Expanding Electricity"
... Except this song! The ten and a half minutes of "Expanding Electricity" are more of a full experience than one piece of music. It features some strings, uplifting vocals and synths that raise the hairs on your arms up. It truly lives up to its name, really expanding the electricity of your body into these currents of movement and sound. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith legitimately made the perfect meditative experience, one that everyone needs for the mind and soul after all of the brutality we've come to face this year. Thanks Kaitlyn!
21.
Stephen Malkmus
"Shadowbanned"
Pavement frontman and indie rock legend Stephen Malkmus is as unpredictable as ever these recent years, especially pulling through with the best traditional folk record I've heard in 2020. The instrumental of "Shadowbanned" is very homegrown and old with its acoustic instrumentation, but the modernized lyrics and ridiculousness of "shadowbanning," where one individual blocks another on social media, where the one being blocked doesn't even know it. Something I didn't expect Malkmus to generate an opinion on, but here we are! It's 2020, so anything can happen, right? Themes aside, this is a great track that 100% of the tik-tok kids won't listen to. And that's totally ok!
20.
Everything Everything
"Violent Sun"
The UK quartet's "Violent Sun" may be the biggest choral moment from their recent record, evoking the sunlight and uplifting chaos of their overall sound. Everything Everything pull through with a fast paced tribute to bands like Radiohead with all the darkness and apocalyptic themes included. Arguably the band's catchiest moment from RE-ANIMATOR, this band can still pull off some well written pop tunes, with or without the massively odd experimentation and edge.
19.
Run the Jewels
(ft. 2 Chainz)
"out of sight"
My favorite hip hop song from my favorite hip hop album of 2020, the consistently iconic duo of Killer Mike and El-P come back with a vengeance like no other the heavy "out of sight." It's pure fun, non-stop energy from the two trading off along with a lovely and playful feature from 2 Chainz. They really can't seem to go wrong at all, especially this year, and the two boast like no other in the most fun and colorful way imaginable. Also arguably my favorite line of 2020 from 2 Chainz: "I buy a hot dog stand if I'm tryna be frank."
18.
The Chicks
"Gaslighter"
One of the biggest comebacks this year was from The Chicks (aka the Dixie Chicks). Featuring production from Jack Antonoff (of Bleachers and fun.), it's a gloriously epic comeback of a single from the trio. A song on divorce and gaslighting, "Gaslighter" is arguably the biggest and best country song of 2020. The acoustic guitars, vocal performances and harmonies are a slam dunk.
17.
Róisín Murphy
"Murphy's Law"
The Irish singer, songwriter, and queen Róisín Murphy came back with a killer album with a fire song one after the other. It was hard to pick just one moment from her this year, but I think we all know it's gotta be "Murphy's Law." A track about individuality and finishing your own story, "Murphy's Law" has the best hook on the new record and some of the best lines ("our love is stuck on replay") And no radio edits are written about (the extended eight minute version or the six and a half minute original will suffice) here, the disco and vintage dance pop from Murphy is a home run. Also, the play off her name with the song's title is perfect.
16.
Duck Sauce
"I Don't Mind"
The playful and often ridiculous duo of Armand Van Helden and A-Trak make club music for the purely fun and imaginable. They came back this year with a handful of infectiously and insanely catchy bangers, including "I Don't Mind." Focusing on the vocal sample repeating the song's title, this is a remarkable and powerful tribute to house music. It brings the silliness of a cartoon, as well as the obnoxious fun and charm too. I couldn't stop listening to this one in 2020, and cheers to hearing a new Duck Sauce album in the near future. Congrats A-Trak and Helden.
15.
Perfume Genius
"On the Floor"
The musical project from Mike Hadreas is ever evolving over the years, from strictly piano ballads to now expansive art pop. "On the Floor" may in fact be the brightest and catchiest Perfume Genius tune to date. I say "brightest" by instrumental terms with its groovy, heavy instrumental, seeing Hadreas having a knack for dance and pop music. On the lyrical standpoint, it's a breakup tune that's quite dark and wonders how long this heartbreak and great sense of isolation will last. Its chorus is arguably the best chorus of 2020 with its uplifting and powerful vocal performance. It's a gem that I'm glad I didn't miss out on this year.
14.
Creed Bratton
"Chan Chu Toad"
Leave it to The Office star / Grass Roots member Creed Bratton to create one of the most fun songs of 2020. About comparing his love to a toad, "Chan Chu Toad" is produced incredibly well to my ears. It's full of color and sunshine with its clear layered guitar licks and backing choir vocals in the latter half. The guitar solo later on (and guitars in general) is wonderful, along with its well detailed and rewarding backing instrumentation. The overall song is silly and fun and we certainly need more of that right now. If there was one song this year that always leaves a smile on my face, it is undoubtedly this one. A song from Slightly Altered that is supremely entertaining after repeated listens (I also highly recommending that record a listen).
13.
Deradoorian
"Saturnine Night"
The seven minute single from one of my favorite voices in music is quite mystical and ethereal, which shouldn't come off as surprising if you're familiar with Angel Deradoorian's voice and music. It's mystical, but also surprisingly one of the more rock-centered tunes she's created. This garage rock tune and rough around the edges approach reminds me of bands like Deerhunter, churning out a steady but menacing pace. Only getting more and more intense throughout the track, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't listen to Monomania or Microcastle before recording. Her ever worldly vocal harmonies over the rocky instrumental chugs are gargantuan with each new listen, reeling the listener in more and more.
12.
Kelly Lee Owens
"Melt!"
Welsh producer and electronic music voyager Kelly Lee Owens made a track about the melting icecaps and detrimental effects of climate change, so much so that she sampled looping sounds of icecaps melting in the song itself. As a result, "Melt!" is one of the most frantic and feverish bangers of the year. Her echoed voice glistens over the instrumental, while quirky grooves ripple in and out of the track, similar to waves rippling from melted ice. As dark and frantic as "Melt!" can be, it's still quite a fun tune to listen to and dance to, despite its negative themes. "Melt!" can also induce hope to some degree, giving the listener joy and positivity in its grooves and overall bouncy tones.
11.
Disclosure
"ENERGY"
The title track off of the Lawrence brothers' third album features many qualities of what made the duo so exciting in the first place by creating absolute fun house tunes that had so much personality and quirk to them. "ENERGY" brings in the vocal samples that made "When A Fire Starts to Burn" so fantastic in 2013 and its Brazilian influenced percussive elements are extremely hard to deny. The progression of the track and inspirational/motivational sampled speech throughout the track really gives off the positivity that the duo are going for, while also reminiscing of a simpler time when house music was the turning point of dance music in the 90's. If this song doesn't make you hit repeat, I don't know what will.
10.
TOPS
"I Feel Alive"
I don't think any band created such a sunny and positive vibe like the Montreal band TOPS did on "I Feel Alive." The title track off of their newest record featured some really great takes on 60's pop with a charming vocal lead from Jane Penny. The chorus, the cheerily sung moment of the song's title is triumphant, carefree, and peacefully lovesick. A singalong that is as blissful as a Summers day in the park, on a bike ride while eating an ice cream cone.
9.
My Morning Jacket
"Spinning My Wheels"
Unlike boasts of positivity and peacefulness, Jim James sings about darkness and negative tendencies of tiresome failures on "Spinning My Wheels," a song from My Morning Jacket's first batch of tracks in five years. A slow burning ballad of generous harmonies and smooth balladry within its instrumental, the band approach a gentle softness to open up The Waterfall II rather than lay down a jam-heavy rocker. Arguably one of the band's most gorgeous tracks in their career, "Spinning My Wheels" is liberating and refreshing to hear from the band, a reflective ballad that acts as the other side of the coin that is the counterpart to 2015's The Waterfall.
8.
Chicano Batman
"color my life"
The LA-based psychedelic band Chicano Batman lay down the psych pop on "color my life." A colorful tune (yes, very) in which its simplicity of grooves and lyrics on thoughtful love make it genuinely catchy and radio friendly. More pop than psych, "color my life" is infectious with its fuzzed out guitar riffs and quickly manageable performances within the percussion and vocal prowess. Transitioning to beaches and sunny circuits, Chicano Batman lay down one pop-oriented tune after the other on Invisible People, and "color my life" is certainly no exception.
7.
M. Ward
"Heaven's Nail and Hammer"
"Heaven's Nail and Hammer" finds singer songwriter M. Ward gently rocking back and forth with its gently paced, lush instrumentation that sounds like it's from a static state of mind, frozen in one space of time. M. Ward is taking his own time, laying out lightly strung guitar and a chorus that sways you into a deep slumber. As heavenly as the themes and lyricism suggest, M. Ward hits you on the head with yet another well written and pleasantly performed track (no pun intended).
6.
Sufjan Stevens
"America"
Sufjan Stevens' twelve and a half minute epic finds Stevens at a crossroads of his country. "America" is Stevens' attempts at his thoughts on the country's true representation of peace being swept away and taken advantage of by people who are wanting violence, war, and division between the people. The song's main lyrical line, "don't do to me what you did to America," can effect in many different ways to the listener. To Stevens, it's the country's religious connections of Christianity being taken out of context and are being used for hate instead of the love and togetherness it originally intended. The lyrical themes over the pummeling synths, abrasive guitars (from The National's Aaron Dessner), and abstract glitchy electronics in a cacophonous, but beautifully stirring way. "America" is a notable documentation that sums up the chaos, the current national divide of this country's people, and the crossroads that many are at right now including Stevens, being how we need togetherness, harmony, and peace now more than ever. There's a shining glimmer of hope in the songs final minutes of ambience and the listener surely grapples onto it with a strong sense of positivity.
5.
Metz
"A Boat to Drown In"
"A Boat to Drown In" is quite the surprising turn for the Canadian garage punk band. Instead of their typical simplicity and quickness of razor sharp pummeling noise, the band decides to create a seven and a half minute epic. Metz create beauty within its noise, creating a progression that slowly becomes more and more intensifying, eventually taking the listener down a path that they may never be able to get out of. It's a track about escapement, leaving everything behind in a rush of desperation. Once you go through its obliterating ambient noise, you notice that what you're escaping from is still stuck with you all along, never leaving your side.
4.
The Killers
"My Own Soul's Warning"
The intro to the Las Vegas band's new album kicks things off with a bang on "My Own Soul's Warning." The track not only brings in the wistfulness of a War On Drugs track (take "Holding On" for example) thanks to Shawn Everett, but it features the powerful lyrics of love and connections from Brandon Flowers. The lead synth lines certainly strike a chord from first listen to hundredth listen, while Flowers' vocal performance and Vannucci Jr.'s fierce and on point drumming abilities are some of the band's best in years. This combination of dreamy shouting from the mountaintop themes matched with Springsteen like power prove that The Killers still know how to make a captivating song. One that really touches your soul, very similar to that of Adam Ganduciel's "Holding On," one of the best rock songs in recent years.
3.
Phantom Planet
"Only One"
There was not one band that surprised me more than California's very own Phantom Planet. After twelve years, they came back with a breakup record that shook things up for them, where they tried new styles and production tactics and it really paid off. "Only One" was a single from Devastator that I literally could not stop playing this year, a pop rock tune with a touch of reggae and dub influence about the comfort and joy of simply having that reliability of the one person in your life that you need. We all have our "Only One" and we really needed to cling to them in 2020, a year where togetherness was necessary either physically or virtually. Alex Greenwald's vocal chops have not calmed down over the years, while the band's guitars and drums are clear and hit hard. An infectious pop song, "Only One"'s simplicity and genuineness is what makes the song so genuine, honest, and heartfelt.
2.
Real Estate
"The Main Thing"
Released right before everything went wrong this year, I don't think Real Estate knew exactly how these themes of isolation, uncertainty, and frantic nervousness of what's to come would resonate so clearly until a few weeks after its release. The title track off of the New Jersey band's latest album surely has singer songwriter Martin Courtney relying and staying true to "The Main Thing," despite all that is going wrong with the world (take climate change, politics, violence, hate, you name it). Or take it from this line: "the crushing weight / all that's on our plate." Courtney's reasons to strive for "The Main Thing" could be any "crushing weight" that's stopping in your tracks: it could be your sense of isolation during lockdown, your sense of longing for peace, your lack of an ecosystem during your time in college. All of these things and more can lead you into a rabbit hole of insecurities and hopelessness, but striving for "The Main Thing," whatever that goal is, is key for a sense of hope and success during a time of all uncertainty.
1.
Fiona Apple
"Shameika"
Nobody created a more personal, homegrown record out of isolation than Fiona Apple did. One of the singles off of Fetch the Bolt Cutters, "Shameika," features the homegrown instrumentation of shouts, handclaps, and piano thumping that's all over the rest of the record. We get a personal sense of her past, specifically about her upbringing and past signs of potential from her. Fiona was bullied, an outcast during her days in school, but Shemeika, a stranger and classmate of Fiona's, saw potential in her. This potential drives Fiona so much that she decided to record a song decades after this occurred. It resonated so much that even the real Shameika actually recorded a song with Fiona. This potential, seen years and years ago, is true to her individuality and talents as a singer, songwriter, and performer. She notes previous partners' direct thoughts on what she was like, and notably blares out her life essentials: "my music, my dog and my man is my holy trinity." "Shameika" features the classic piano slamming of her best songs, along with a hip hop-inspired groove within the song's core, a new twist of experimentation from her. Fiona Apple hasn't been forgotten Shameika and she surely never will.
The Full List:
1. Fiona Apple - “Shameika”
2. Real Estate - “The Main Thing”
3. Phantom Planet - “Only One”
4. The Killers - “My Own Soul’s Warning”
5. Metz - “A Boat to Drown In”
6. Sufjan Stevens - “America”
7. M. Ward - “Heaven’s Nail and Hammer”
8. Chicano Batman - “Color my life”
9. My Morning Jacket - “Spinning My Wheels”
10. TOPS - “I Feel Alive”
11. Disclosure - “ENERGY”
12. Kelly Lee Owens - “Melt!”
13. Deradoorian - “Saturnine Night”
14. Creed Bratton - “Chan Chu Toad”
15. Perfume Genius - “On the Floor”
16. Róisín Murphy - “Murphy’s Law”
17. Duck Sauce - “I Don’t Mind”
18. The Chicks - “Gaslighter”
19. Run the Jewels feat. 2 Chainz - “out of sight”
20. Everything Everything - “Violent Sun”
21. Stephen Malkmus - “Shadowbanned”
22. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - “Expanding Electricity”
23. Julianna Barwick - “Inspirit”
24. The Strokes - “The Adults Are Talking”
25. The Avalanches feat. Jamie xx, Neneh Cherry & CLYPSO - “Wherever You Go”
26. clipping. - “Say the Name”
27. Fleet Foxes - “Maestranza”
28. Land of Talk - “Weight of That Weekend”
29. Gorillaz feat. Fatoumata Diawara - “Désolé”
30. The Mountain Goats - “Get Famous”
31. The Rolling Stones - “Scarlet” (The War On Drugs Remix)
32. Esther Rose - “Blue on Blue”
33. Dirty Projectors - “Holy Mackerel”
34. The Flaming Lips - “Will You Return / When You Come Down”
35. Future Islands - “For Sure”
36. Quelle Chris & Chris Keys feat. Merill Garbus, Cavalier & Homeboy Sandman - “Sacred Safe”
37. Pink Martini - “Let’s Be Friends”
38. Matt Berninger - “Serpentine Prison”
39. Yelle - “Karaté”
40. U.S. Girls - “And Yet It Moves / Y Se Mueve”
41. Kate NV - “Telefon”
42. Laura Marling - “Held Down”
43. Sam Prekop - “Circle Line”
44. Mary Lattimore - “Til a Mermaid Drags You Under”
45. Jessie Ware - “Spotlight”
46. Dawes - “Who Do You Think You’re Talking To?”
47. Anna Burch - “Tell Me What’s True”
48. Bombay Bicycle Club - “Everything Else Has Gone Wrong”
49. Shopping - “Initiative”
50. Squid - “Sludge”
Honorable Mentions:
Baauer - “REACHUPDONTSTOP”
Bahamas - “Own Alone”
Best Coast - “For the First Time”
Caribou - “Never Come Back”
Car Seat Headrest - “There Must Be More Than Blood”
Cass McCombs - “The Wine of Lebanon”
Foster the People - “Lamb’s Wool”
Khruangbin - “Time (You and I)”
Lianna La Havas - "Weird Fishes"
Ondatrópica & Juancho Vargas - “Noche de Amor”
You can also listen to a Spotify playlist including the best songs of 2020 here:
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