by Laurel Dernbach // March 31, 2020
Even in the midst of uncertainty, 2020 has been a powerful year for the music industry. The following albums have set themselves apart as some of the best releases of the year so far.
01/10: Alexandra Savior, The Archer
As a sophomore album, Alexandra Savior’s The Archer tightens up her brand as an ethereal, crooning, desert-rock princess. Psychedelic swells and dreamy baselines create a sense of sonic liminality, which Savior describes herself as the feeling of being alone in a bar or stranded in the desert.
01/17: Mac Miller, Circles (Deluxe version release 03/19)
A posthumous album sent directly from heaven—Circles is a beautiful cap to a stellar, gone-too-soon career. Polished but not over-produced, the album feels like Mac Miller’s way of saying “I’m going to be okay and you are too.” Co-writes by Disclosure and baselines by Thundercat in the deluxe version, Circles is a healthy dose of melancholy and a must listen for the year.
01/31: Frances Quinlan, Likewise
Philadelphia indie/folk/rock band Hop Along’s vocalist Frances Quinlan takes a dive into the deep end and sets a remarkable example of social distancing with her first solo project, Likewise. With unbounded creative freedom, Quinlan enhances her beloved emotional, witty lyricism with experimental instruments and synthesized sounds.
02/07: Against All Logic, 2017-2019
Against All Logic is an alias for Chilean-American musician Nicolas Jaar. An eagerly anticipated follow-up to the project’s previous, critically acclaimed record, 2017-2019 is equally as impressive in composition. The first few songs of the album include seamlessly sampled hooks that Jaar does so well, and flows unhurriedly into a series of syndicated, percussion-heavy beats that clearly reflect his technical skill and deep understanding of electronic music.
02/14: Tame Impala, The Slow Rush
The Slow Rush is Tame Impala’s fourth album, released five years after Currents—an album that made the project a household name for any modern psychedelic rock fan. Writer, singer, musician, producer Kevin Parker explores the enigma that is time all while putting refreshing, nothing-short-of-genius twists on the sounds and rhythms that are so uniquely Tame Impala.
02/21: Grimes, Miss Anthropocene
Marking the end of another five-year hiatus between albums, Miss Anthropocene includes some of Grimes’ most sentient, but nevertheless ethereal, works to date. The album sonically reflects the range of her discography—from experimental ambient to speed-fueled benders to vibrant hyper-pop.
02/21: Kamaiyah, Got It Made
Oakland rapper Kamaiyah gives us Got It Made with Missy Elliot-esk attitude and 90s hip-hop nuances. She commands attention effortlessly—the album is full of high energy bangers that are just waiting to be played at your next pregame, workout, or mid-day dance break.
02/21: King Krule, Man Alive!
Genre-bending, emotional, and expertly crafted, Man Alive! reflects an upward trend in the career and maturation of 25-year-old English musician Archy Marshall. Moody and angsty tones nod toward his previous work, but this album is one of his most cohesive yet and demands introspect—sometimes gently, others not—of its listeners.
02/21: Moses Sumney, græ: Part 1
græ: Part 1 is another example of artists rejecting the idea of genre—angelic vocals, chilling monologues, and a variety of sounds. This album comments beautifully on identity and resistance, all while seamlessly weaving jazz-style instrumentation and experimental synthesization.
02/21: COIN, Dreamland
Nashville indie band COIN tackles the idea of duality with Dreamland: to live with and without, to perceive and be perceived. With over half the album’s songs out as singles before the official release, COIN continues to surprise their audience with an organized narrative about disillusion, complete with punchy pop hooks and ethereal interludes.
02/21: Banoffee, Look at Us Now Dad
Look at Us Now Dad is Banoffee’s debut album in the modern pop scene. Club-ready swells, alluring interludes, and vulnerable lyrics combine to create a well-rounded first album. The only thing left is to wonder: what will she do next?
02/28: Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny takes the trap scene by storm with YHLQMDLG, an acronym for “Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana”, or “I do whatever I want.” With deep roots in traditional reggaeton sound, Bad Bunny moves the genre forward with this feel-good, club-ready record that challenges some of the misogynistic and homophobic themes so commonplace to the style.
02/28: Caribou, Suddenly
Canadian musician Dan Snaith, also known as Caribou, is not new to the music scene, but Suddenly is surprisingly current and intentional. Blanketed under the electronic genre but more specifically named “folktronica” or “dream pop,” the album begs the listener to decide its identity—or wonder if it even matters.
03/06: Megan Thee Stallion, Suga
The rushed release of Suga is Megan Thee Stallion’s middle finger to her former, restrictive record label. The release in itself echoes the theme of the album and Megan’s brand as a rapper: I do what I want, when I want. Her iconic phrase “hot girl s***” continues with the album’s high energy beats and (positive) sexually charged lyrics.
03/06: U.S. Girls, Heavy Light
Heavy Light is yet another topical and soulful release for U.S. Girls. Don’t be confused by the phrase “yet another”—the record is still as refreshing and unique as one might expect from the pop project. The sounds, lyrics, and spoken word interludes alike pack an emotional and nostalgic punch.
03/06: Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Atake (Deluxe version release 03/13)
Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake defines a new decade of rap. The sonic narrative emulates a journey into space, and the Philadelphia rapper flows with energy and dexterity. The deluxe version, subtitled LUV vs. The World 2 (signaling a sequel to his 2016 album Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World), contains a full EP’s worth of extra songs and a multitude of powerhouse features.
03/13: Four Tet, Sixteen Oceans
Seasoned English electronic artist Kieran Hebden surprises and intrigues his audience yet again with Sixteen Oceans. The 16-track album ranges widely and fluidly, some tracks short and melodic, others long and electronic, and many in between.
03/13: Vundabar, Either Light
Either Light is a perfect example of indie rock excellence—the three-piece Boston band effortlessly delivers the sounds of a carefree and ephemeral youth. With this record, Vundabar practically invites the listener to roll down the windows and take the long way home.
03/20: The Weeknd, After Hours (Deluxe version release 03/23)
Fourth album by The Weeknd, After Hours is another solid collection of sexy, soulful, R&B ballads. Even though much of his career has been shaped by features and collaborations, the entire EP is just himself and his beats, reflecting a degree of vulnerability that is apparent in his songs.
03/22: Childish Gambino, 3.15.20
Musician-entertainer-creative extraordinaire Donald Glover’s latest album 3.15.20 rejects the typical aesthetics of an album, with almost entirely numeric song titles and solid-colored cover art. While not exactly a cohesive collection of songs, the record still emanates all the funk and ardor Childish Gambino does so well.
03/27: Pearl Jam, Gigaton
Twenty years after tearing through the Seattle alternative rock scene, Pearl Jam’s unbeatable musical energy continues on Gigaton. With guitar riffs sent from the gods and grungy ballads, the album feels current but not without strong nods towards the band’s roots—an incredible feat for a band so far into an incredible career.
03/27: Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud
Folksy and pungent as ever, Saint Cloud is arguably Waxahatchee’s magnum opus. Jovial guitar and crystal clear vocals are the name of the game—this album sounds like “a-long-time coming” but also “I’ve-been-here-all-along.“ Her youthful croons make one wonder what they might have missed, even when it is right in front of them.
03/27: Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia
Her sophomore album, Future Nostalgia is Dua Lipa’s lunge at the pop throne. She has succeeded, with the album being arguably the best, through-and-through pop record of the year so far. High energy disco motifs and powerhouse vocals, Future Nostalgia was made to be belted and danced to, in anywhere from packed clubs (not now though #StayHome) to the living room.
03/27: Nicolas Jaar, Cenizas
Cenizas, which translates from Spanish to “Ashes,” is a fully fleshed out album of the dark, ambient themes Jaar has explored in his previous work. The contrast between this album and his alias Against All Logic’s 02/07 release is stunning, to say the least. Although Jaar is well known for his complex synthesization, Cenizas explores silence, simplicity, and weight, but not without his familiar musical prowess.
03/27: Little Dragon, New Me, Same Us
Swedish alternative electronic group Little Dragon delivers pungent lyrics over groovy tracks on New Me, Same Us. The album gracefully touches on several different genres like electronic, indie, and R&B, but it never fully embodies one—a reflection of their maturation and experience as a band.
Some albums to look forward to:
04/03: Yves Tumor, Heaven to a Tortured Mind
04/03: Thundercat, It Is What It Is
04/03: TOPS, I Feel Alive
04/03: Peach Pit, You and Your Friends
05/01: Car Seat Headrest, Making a Door Less Open