The 2020 List

One of the few good things to come out of 2020 was some pretty incredible music. Here our are top 15 albums from 2020, ranked alphabetically (because we’re too indecisive and couldn’t do it numerically!)

Apolonio Omar Apollo

Apolonio, the debut album by Omar Apollo, kicks off this list and shows us the potential that this artist has. This 9-track album takes us through the journey Omar Apollo has been on in his slow rise to becoming a prominent artist in the industry. As Pitchfork described, Apollo “knows how to navigate the peaks and valleys of youthful angst, lust, and carefree fun without ever taking himself too seriously”. He starts off this album declaring he is amazing and reflecting on his success with “I’m Amazing”. One of the highlights of this album is “Want U Around” featuring Ruel, which oozes with undeniable youthful yearning and lust. In another standout track, Apollo puts his Mexican roots on full display in “Dos Uno Nueve (219)” and shows off that he has the genre-bending chops to pull a Corrido-inspired song off in an album rooted more so in rock and R&B. With Apolonio, Omar Apollo demonstrates with a glimpse here and there that he is capable of versatility with his music and will grow as an artist. This album was a much welcomed highlight from 2020.

Djesse Vol. 3 Jacob Collier

Djesse Vo. 3 is the third of four albums in the Djesse series by renowned musician Jacob Collier, who proves once again that he is one of the most talented and versatile artists of this generation. He explains the album in an NPR interview as a “a way to describe all of the music that I had been listening to for my whole life...an exploration of a lot of the negative space type sounds,” and this album is indeed the perfect brainchild of jazz, electronic, gospel, hip-hop, folk, classical, and R&B influences. To blend so many diverse sounds together is no easy feat, but he does it flawlessly, and we see that one of Jacob Collier’s greatest musical strengths is his intuition and ability to make the most complex ideas beautiful and cohesive. Songs like “Time Alone with You ft. Daniel Caesar”, and Grammy-nominated “He Won’t Hold You ft. Rapsody” are funky, soulful, and experimental: it’s impossible not to appreciate the way Jacob plays with strange chord progressions, harmonies, and even how he incorporates the empty space into his music. With a collection of impressive features on the album (like Mahalia, T-Pain, and and Kiana Ledé), Djesse Vol 3 might be unlike any album any of us at the Orpheus Review have heard before, but it is nonetheless an incredibly creative and exciting record that everyone should listen to.

El Último Tour Del Mundo Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny has had a monumental year despite the COVID-19 pandemic and El Último Tour Del Mundo is a testament to that. The album, originally conceived as a concept album with the idea of Bad Bunny having his last tour ever in 2032, was the first all-Spanish language album to top the Billboard 200 chart. Compared to his previous effort YHLQMDLG, this album feels like a more personal look into the mind of Bad Bunny and less concerned about making hits. This album also recalls back to X 100PRE, in that there is more experimentation with the music that we did not see much of in YHLQMDLG. A highlight track that stands out is “La Noche De Anoche” featuring ROSALÍA, a long awaited collaboration that speaks about lovers having only one night with each other. “Maldita Pobreza” and “Trellas” bring forward the rock influence that is present in Bad Bunny’s music and give us two opposing tracks, one rooted in hardcore sounds while the latter rooted in much more relaxed and existential. With this third album, Bad Bunny has solidified his place as one of the top international acts.

Fetch the Bolt Cutters Fiona Apple

Undoubtedly one of the biggest masterpieces to come out of 2020 is Fiona Apple’s Fetch The Bolt Cutters. Fiona Apple navigates her complicated life and feelings through the album and truly demonstrates to her audience that music is a storytelling art. The album is the embodiment of the phrase “art is for self-expression”. It is no surprise that this album garnered critical acclaim, including Pitchfork’s first perfect score in over a decade. The opening track, “I Want You To Love Me” entrances the audience with a piano that hypnotizes one to listen to her desire to be loved and appreciated. A highlight on the album is the back to back pairing of “Newspaper” and “Ladies”, which are empowering songs as Fiona Apple navigates the complex emotions she has surrounding men and love. The album is full of lyrical gems and quips that are bound to keep an audience entertained, along with a hypnotic production that pulls the audience into her world.

Future Nostalgia Dua Lipa

2020 was an incredible year for pop. Future Nostalgia has cemented Dua Lipa’s rightful place as one of the pop queens of this generation. Her powerful vocals and the equally dynamic production are the perfect formula for creating a masterpiece of dance-pop-synth-pop-electro-pop-80’s-disco-throwback-and-more. The choruses are irresistible and the instrumentation and basslines are bold and just as captivating as the melodies. Dua Lipa tells us that this album is “purely about dancing and having fun and being free and being in love,” and these qualities are able to shine through even through her lyricism. Songs like “Future Nostalgia” and “Physical” share a strong message of feminism and female empowerment, and somehow, Dua Lipa is able to explore difficult topics like heartbreak and misogyny in tracks like “Break My Heart” and “Boys Will Be Boys,” while still maintaining this intoxicatingly upbeat, danceable spirit. When it comes down to it, Future Nostalgia is a timeless and infectious album that gifted everyone some much needed light and energy in what was otherwise quite a somber year.

HIGHTIDE Leven Kali

Leven Kali doesn’t require anything flashy to prove his worth. HIGHTIDE is absolutely a must-listen, and Kali’s work continues to be jam packed with soul and all the right grooves you need to start your day or end the night. As his sophomore album, Leven Kali crafts a smooth set of thirteen songs that showcase the soft and warm R&B that he’s become known for. He starts off with “FIRE IN YOUR EYES”, which briskly speeds up within the first 30 seconds, letting us all know that we’re in for a good time. The following tracks, such as “12345 (GET REAL)” continue this fun and funky theme, before effortlessly transitioning into the more romantic and passionate section of the album. Kali then comes back around with his signature laid-back groove to finish off HIGHTIDE. Overall, the melodies are catchy, and the vocals and production are breezy, nonchalant, evoking a comforting portrait of summertime. Leven Kali has created his own niche in the space of R&B, combining neo-soul with electronic influences and humble acoustic instrumentals and melodies, ultimately creating one of the best R&B albums of 2020.

Ho, Why Is You Here? Flo Milli

As 2020 becomes the year of bad bitch anthems and TikTok trends, Flo Milli has become widely regarded as one of the biggest viral stars of the year. But calling Flo Milli a viral star doesn’t properly encapsulate the potential of the young artist (who, to most of our surprise, is actually younger than many of us on campus). At 21, Flo Milli has already mastered an impressively confident and dominating flow; she brings this badass energy to every line she raps. Aside from her distinct, snappy delivery, Flo Milli thrives off of sassy lyricism and clever flexes. Ho , why is you here? is filled with tracks with funny hooks that you can’t help but repeat in your head over and over and over again. The backing tracks too, are always explosive and catchy: the simple piano loops and other (quite brash) backing instrumentals are always entertaining to listen to, and do so much to add to this mixtape’s charm. Running at exactly half an hour, this album is banger after banger, and is very promising for whatever Flo Milli will have for us next.

how i’m feeling now Charli XCX

Years from now, the COVID-19 pandemic will not be taught from a history textbook, but rather by playing how i’m feeling now on repeat. Charli XCX’s quarantine album perfectly captured many of the emotions shared by fans around the world who were staying home, desperately missing the fun moments with their friends. On the album’s opener, “pink diamond”, Charli wonders, “In real life could the club even handle us?” On “c2.0”, she longs to reunite with her clique, and on “anthems” she comments on the monotony of waking up for another day of isolation. As time progresses, this album will be an interesting time capsule of the early days of the pandemic. Despite its subject matter, the album has an undeniable sense of fun. The glitchy production is practically addictive, and is a great example of the hyperpop trend which thrived in 2020. And, the hooks on many of these songs are incredibly catchy. After 2019’s self-titled album, how i’m feeling now is another promising step in Charli’s career.

Punisher Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers’ sophomore album Punisher was a 2020 sensation. The indie-folk/alt-rock project, which gives a strikingly honest glimpse into the LA musician’s head, features poignant lyricism and fantastically-treated instruments that make all 12 tracks feel just the right amount of subdued. Punisher was a collaborative effort; alongside her 4-person band, Bridgers brought in fellow musicians Conor Oberost, Lucy Daucus, Julien Baker, and Jim Keltner. Standout tracks include “Garden Song'', in which Bridgers sings about her hometown and nightmares over muted guitar, cleverly swapping out the words between the two chorus refrains to hint at the aching passing of time. Others are “Kyoto”, an epic indie-rock track featuring a great horn motif, and “I Know The End”, the lyrically-packed semi-metal closer that ends with Bridgers flat-out screaming. Punisher, with its wide range of instruments, voices, and lyrical metaphors all encapsulated by a muffled indie/alt production, is an album that evokes deep feeling. Considering the stylistic growth from Bridgers’ first album, it will be exciting to see what direction the musician and her highly-talented cohorts take next.

RTJ4 Run the Jewels

Run the Jewels have always embraced the rage of the people against the establishment and those in power. In a year characterized by police brutality, the pandemic, and the government’s disastrous response to both issues, RTJ4 felt like it arrived at just the right time. The duo, consisting of Killer Mike and El-P, returned to their tried and true formula of aggressive beats and socially relevant lyricism which earned them plenty of acclaim for their first three albums, Run the Jewels 1 through 3. Throughout the course of the album, the two imagine themselves running from the cops, comment on the all-encompassing importance of money in our society, and provide a scathing defamation of America’s response to police brutality and systemic racism. Both Killer Mike and El-P are in great form on the project, and each have a few standout verses. They are joined by a star-studded cast of features, including Pharell Williams, Mavis Staples, 2 Chainz, and Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine.

Sawayama Rina Sawayama

Arguably the best debut album of the year, Rina Sawayama made a huge splash in the music industry with Sawayama. Although the sound is rooted in pop, Sawayama makes an effort to bend the genre as she incorporates heavy rock, mental, and hyperpop. As one listens to the album one can very clearly hear how Sawayama recalls to the music trends of the early 2000’s present in Evanescence, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera’s music while still remaining in 2020. The album opener, “Dynasty”, is a declaration to breaking family trauma cycles, which already is a refreshing topic to speak about in a world full of love songs. Throughout the album she deals with mental health (“Akasaka Sad”), the ills of capitalism and excessive consumption (“XS”), climate change (“Fuck This World (Interlude)”), and struggling to accept the good and bad about one’s self (“Bad Friend”). As Rina herself has said, there is a track for everyone on this album and 2020 was a good year for music when you include her debut.

Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon Pop Smoke

As 2020 debut albums go, the posthumous debut album from Pop Smoke, Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon, definitely made an impact in the world of hip hop. Debuting at Number 1 on the Billboard 200, the New York-native rapper demonstrates that he is able to hold his own on many of his own songs with influence from not only his city but around the world. Pop Smoke’s lyrics demonstrate a well roundedness in his material rapping about the streets of Brooklyn, love, and having a good time. The title track and unofficial opening track to the album featuring Quavo give the indication that Pop Smoke is not one to be underestimated. Although many artists guest star in this album, Pop Smoke is able to hold his own on tracks like “44 Gangsta” and “What You Know About Love”. Overall, there is a reason why Pop Smoke’s popularity skyrocketed beyond just the NYC hip hop scene and this album proves all of that.

Shore Fleet Foxes

Shore is Fleet Foxes’ fourth studio album and the second one they’ve released since the end of their hiatus in 2016. The album, produced by frontrunner Robin Pecknold and sound engineer Beatriz Artola, is a bright indie folk rock celebration. Airy guitar, percussion, and gorgeous harmonies are the bread and butter of this album, creating the effect of one, big marvelous sound. Each track holds its own however; horns, piano, choir vocals, and nature sounds are interwoven throughout. Two especially distinct tracks are “Wading in Waist High Water” and “Shore”, which feature newcomer Uwade Akhere, who Pecknold brought in to sing on the album. As Pecknold revealed via Apple Music, Shore covers a wide range of topics. The frontrunner pays tribute to his musical influences in the euphoric “Sunblind”, addresses the turbulence of 2020 in the slower and heavily-layered “Featherweight”, and climate change in the harmonic “Quiet Air/Gioia.” The juxtaposition of intimate lyrics with effervescent instrumentals feel fitting for the ups and downs that defined 2020. Even though Shore is intensely reflective and the topics it covers are often serious, its breezy production maintains a triumphant and hopeful feeling that makes you want to listen to it while driving on a sunny road with the windows down.

Ungodly Hour Chloe x Halle

Dynamic sister duo Chloe x Halle deliver badass tracks after badass tracks on their second studio album Ungodly Hour. The album is prominently R&B, but features elements of Pop, Trap, and House Music. Chloe x Halle demonstrate immense maturity in Ungodly Hour. As Halle accurately expressed via Apple Music: “I feel like we’ve come a long way and in our growth as young women, and you’d definitely be able to hear that in the music.” Ungodly Hour brought Chloe x Halle their first Billboard Hot 100 Hit with “Do It”, a high-tempo, bouncy track with an insanely catchy chorus in which the sisters cooly proclaim they’re looking for “No drama, no baby mamas, keepin’ it cute.” Other notable tracks include “Don’t Make It Harder On Me”, an “old school” song (as Chloe describes it) with vibey guitar and “Baby Girl”, a song with great backing instrumentals that’s all about womanly power and reclamation. Chloe x Halle’s tremendous vocal capabilities and untouchable energy shine through on each and every track. That, combined with the feel-good production of this album, makes Ungodly Hour a fantastically expressive and relatable work you want to dance and sing your heart out to. It’s exciting to see Chloe x Halle finally get their-well deserved recognition with Ungodly Hour; if this is only their second studio album, who knows what the future holds.

UNLOCKED Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats

In the era of streaming, TikTok, and decreased attention spans, how long should an album really be? Music fans will likely debate this topic for years, but for Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats, just 17 minutes are enough to craft something impressive. Their project UNLOCKED is packed full of bouncy beats, esoteric samples, and solid lyricism from Curry. One of the features that gives UNLOCKED its characteristic quirkiness is the variety of samples it incorporates. The album contains many short skits from a variety of obscure sources, which combine to form an atmosphere which is at times dark and eerie while also keeping a lighthearted and fun feeling. Overall, Kenny Beats’ production on the album is excellent. Some of the beats are aggressive, while others are more relaxed, but what’s consistent is the way the beats and Curry play around each other. This is aided by the effects applied to Curry’s voice, deepening it at times and making it squeaky at others. Curry’s lyricism on this project is by no means the most profound, but he executes clever wordplay and throws in many pop culture references (Harry Potter, Grand Theft Auto, and Thanos, to name a few). UNLOCKED is a fun collaboration, and has many fans desperately awaiting a sequel.

Orpheus ReviewJanuary 9, 2021Comment