Year-End Lists

NME: The 50 Best Albums of 2020

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. RTJ4
   Run the Jewels
2. Folklore
   Taylor Swift
3. Future Nostalgia
   Dua Lipa
4. The New Abnormal
   The Strokes
5. Punisher
   Phoebe Bridgers
6. Inner Song
   Kelly Lee Owens
7. Sawayama
   Rina Sawayama
8. Women in Music Pt. III
   Haim
9. Fake It Flowers
   Beabadoobee
10. Big Conspiracy
    J Hus
11. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
    Fiona Apple
12. Good News
    Megan Thee Stallion
13. Ohms
    Deftones
14. Chromatica
    Lady Gaga
15. A Hero's Death
    Fontaines D.C.
16. The Slow Rush
    Tame Impala
17. Petals for Armor
    Hayley Williams
18. Every Bad
    Porridge Radio
19. Imploding the Mirage
    The Killers
20. Eternal Atake
    Lil Uzi Vert
21. Róisín Machine
    Róisín Murphy
22. Working Men's Club
    Working Men's Club
23. Twice as Tall
    Burna Boy
24. how I'm feeling now
    Charli XCX
25. Song for Our Daughter
    Laura Marling
26. Night Network
    The Cribs
27. Edna
    Headie One
28. Foolish Loving Spaces
    Blossoms
29. After Hours
    The Weeknd
30. Mordechai
    Khruangbin
31. I'm Your Empress Of
    Empress Of
32. Plastic Hearts
    Miley Cyrus
33. Zeros
    Declan McKenna
34. Made in Lagos
    Wizkid
35. color theory
    Soccer Mommy
36. acts of rebellion
    ela minus
37. It Is What It Is
    Thundercat
38. weird!
    Yungblud
39. What Could Possibly Go Wrong
    Dominic Fike
40. Manic
    Halsey
41. Jp4
    Junglepussy
42. Untitled (Black Is)
    Sault
43. Notes on a Conditional Form
    The 1975
44. Map of the Soul: 7
    BTS
45. Everything is Beautiful
    Princess Nokia
46. Ultra Mono
    Idles
47. Dark Matter
    Moses Boyd
48. Miss Anthropocene
    Grimes
49. Rough and Rowdy Ways
    Bob Dylan
50. Nightmare Vacation
    Rico Nasty

Folk Alley: Top 20 of 2020

[see also 2023 • 2022]

• Bonny Light Horseman
  Bonny Light Horseman
• No Summer
  Cinder Well
• Headlight
  Della Mae
• 2020
  Eliza Gilkyson
• The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury
  Gretchen Peters
• Formations
  Hawktail
• Spider Tales
  Jake Blount
• "I Remember Everything" [song]
  John Prine
• They'll Never Keep Us Down
  Kelsey Waldon
• Listen
  Kyshona
• Nonet
  The Mammals
• This Joy
  Resistance Revival Chorus
• "Crawl Into the Promised Land" [song]
  Rosanne Cash w/ John Leventhal
• Bravado
  Rose Cousins
• World On The Ground
  Sarah Jarosz
• 25 Trips
  Sierra Hull
• Can I Sit With You?
  Sunny War
• "Under the Devil's Knee" [song]
  Tré Burt
• Reliever
  William Prince
• "Hold On" [song]
  Yola and The Highwomen

Spin: The 30 Best Albums of 2020

[see also 2021 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
2. Live Forever
   Bartees Strange
3. RTJ4
   Run the Jewels
4. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
   Perfume Genius
5. Suddenly
   Caribou
6. YHLQMDLG
   Bad Bunny
7. Punisher
   Phoebe Bridgers
8. The Slow Rush
   Tame Impala
9. Saint Cloud
   Waxahatchee
10. Shore
    Fleet Foxes
11. Petals for Armor
    Hayley Williams
12. Ohms
    Deftones
13. Descendants of Cain
    Ka
14. Future Nostalgia
    Dua Lipa
15. Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
    The Soft Pink Truth
16. Alfredo
    Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
17. The Ascension
    Sufjan Stevens
18. Savage Mode II
    21 Savage & Metro Boomin
19. It Is What It Is
    Thundercat
20. As Long as You Are
    Future Islands
21. American Head
    The Flaming Lips
22. Fake It Flowers
    Beabadoobee
23. I Disagree
    Poppy
24. Mordechai
    Khruangbin
25. Songs for the General Public
    The Lemon Twigs
26. The Great Dismal
    Nothing
27. color theory
    Soccer Mommy
28. That's How Rumors Get Started
    Margo Price
29. The Ghost of Orion
    My Dying Bride
30. What's Your Pleasure?
    Jessie Ware

Slant Magazine: The 50 Best Albums of 2020

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
2. Miss Anthropocene
   Grimes
3. What's Your Pleasure?
   Jessie Ware
4. Folklore
   Taylor Swift
5. Future Nostalgia
   Dua Lipa
6. how I'm feeling now
   Charli XCX
7. YHLQMDLG
   Bad Bunny
8. Punisher
   Phoebe Bridgers
9. After Hours
   The Weeknd
10. RTJ4
    Run the Jewels
11. Dedicated Side B
    Carly Rae Jepsen
12. Saint Cloud
    Waxahatchee
13. Lament
    Touché Amoré
14. Dark Hearts
    Annie
15. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
    Perfume Genius
16. Sawayama
    Rina Sawayama
17. The Ascension
    Sufjan Stevens
18. Shamir
    Shamir
19. Live Forever
    Bartees Strange
20. BRAT
    NNAMDÏ
21. Notes on a Conditional Form
    The 1975
22. Every Sun, Every Moon
    I'm Glad It's You
23. Man Alive!
    King Krule
24. Every Bad
    Porridge Radio
25. Printer's Devil
    Ratboys
26. Anyways
    Young Nudy
27. songs
    Adrianne Lenker
28. Manic
    Halsey
29. KiCk i
    Arca
30. Rough and Rowdy Ways
    Bob Dylan
31. In a Dream
    Troye Sivan
32. Empty Country
    Empty Country
33. Starmaker
    Honey Harper
34. My Turn
    Lil Baby
35. Græ
    Moses Sumney
36. Microphones in 2020
    The Microphones
37. Gaslighter
    The Chicks
38. Lianne La Havas
    Lianne La Havas
39. Energy
    Disclosure
40. Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was
    Bright Eyes
41. Women in Music Pt. III
    Haim
42. color theory
    Soccer Mommy
43. Ultimate Success Today
    Protomartyr
44. Walking Proof
    Lilly Hiatt
45. I Disagree
    Poppy
46. DISCO
    Kylie Minogue
47. Funeral
    Lil Wayne
48. Petals for Armor
    Hayley Williams
49. Savage Mode II
    21 Savage & Metro Boomin
50. Melee
    Dogleg

Beats Per Minute: Top 50 Albums of 2020

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2012]

1. Anime, Trauma and Divorce
   Open Mike Eagle
2. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
   Perfume Genius
3. The Price of Tea in China
   Boldy James & The Alchemist
4. The Caretaker
   Half Waif
5. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
6. Microphones in 2020
   The Microphones
7. Island
   Owen Pallett
8. Shore
   Fleet Foxes
9. Take Me Away From Tokyo
   Zombie-Chang
10. Græ
    Moses Sumney
11. songs
    Adrianne Lenker
11. instrumentals
    Adrianne Lenker
12. Room for the Moon
    Kate NV
13. Heaven to a Tortured Mind
    Yves Tumor
14. Ohms
    Deftones
15. Tumbling Towards a Wall
    Ulla
16. Welcome to Conceptual Beach
    Young Jesus
17. Pain Olympics
    Crack Cloud
18. Windswept Adan
    Ichiko Aoba
19. Ultimate Success Today
    Protomartyr
20. Bloom*Iz
    Iz*One
21. Punisher
    Phoebe Bridgers
22. Song for Our Daughter
    Laura Marling
23. Lianne La Havas
    Lianne La Havas
24. Anyways
    Young Nudy
25. Man Alive!
    King Krule
26. Winterreise
    Jerskin Fendrix
27. Union Suit XL
    Them Airs
28. What's Your Pleasure?
    Jessie Ware
29. Empty Country
    Empty Country
30. Mirror
    Leafar Legov
31. No Dream
    Jeff Rosenstock
32. La vita nuova
    Christine and the Queens
33. What's Tonight To Eternity
    Cindy Lee
34. Philadelphia
    Shabason, Krgovich & Harris
35. Little Dominiques Nosebleed
    The Koreatown Oddity
36. Saint Cloud
    Waxahatchee
37. Ashioto
    Tatsuhisa Yamamoto
38. Live Forever
    Bartees Strange
39. Regresa
    Buscabulla
40. Lament
    Touché Amoré
41. Hannah
    Lomelda
42. acts of rebellion
    ela minus
43. Manger on McNichols
    Boldy James / Sterling Toles
44. Face Down In Meta
    Pet Shimmers
44. Trash Earthers
    Pet Shimmers
45. Eyes Wide Open
    Twice
46. Descendants of Cain
    Ka
47. Origin of the Alimonies
    Liturgy
48. Pray for Paris
    Westside Gunn
49. Fountain
    Lyra Pramuk
50. Debris
    Keeley Forsyth

Sheldon Pearce: My Thirty Favorite Albums of 2020, as published by The New Yorker

[see also 2022]

• Microphones in 2020
  The Microphones
• Fetch the Bolt Cutters
  Fiona Apple
• Punisher
  Phoebe Bridgers
• Græ
  Moses Sumney
• Rough and Rowdy Ways
  Bob Dylan
• Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn)
  Jay Electronica
• YHLQMDLG
  Bad Bunny
• Mama, You Can Bet!
  Jyoti
• Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
  Perfume Genius
• songs
  Adrianne Lenker
• instrumentals
  Adrianne Lenker
• color theory
  Soccer Mommy
• Sawayama
  Rina Sawayama
• Thank You for Using GTL
  Drakeo the Ruler
• Shore
  Fleet Foxes
• Anime, Trauma and Divorce
  Open Mike Eagle
• What We Drew
  yaeji
• Miss Anthropocene
  Grimes
• Mutable Set
  Blake Mills
• RTJ4
  Run the Jewels
• Apollo
  Fireboy DML
• Couldn't Wait To Tell You...
  (Liv).e
• Live Forever
  Bartees Strange
• Ho, Why Is You Here?
  Flo Milli
• Untitled (Black Is)
  Sault
• Every Bad
  Porridge Radio
• Descendants of Cain
  Ka

Craig Jenkins: The Best Albums of 2020, as published by New York Magazine’s Vulture

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016]

1. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
2. songs
   Adrianne Lenker
2. instrumentals
   Adrianne Lenker
3. Rough and Rowdy Ways
   Bob Dylan
4. After Hours
   The Weeknd
5. Punisher
   Phoebe Bridgers
6. Circles
   Mac Miller
7. Starting Over
   Chris Stapleton
8. It Is What It Is
   Thundercat
9. Eternal Atake
   Lil Uzi Vert
9. Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World
   Lil Uzi Vert
9. Wunna
   Gunna
10. Mt. Marci
    Roc Marciano

Other 2020 Album Highlights

• Detroit 2
  Big Sean
• Countless Branches
  Bill Fay
• how I'm feeling now
  Charli XCX
• Ungodly Hour
  Chloe x Halle
• Ohms
  Deftones
• The Unraveling
  Drive-By Truckers
• Shore
  Fleet Foxes
• Ho, Why Is You Here?
  Flo Milli
• A Hero's Death
  Fontaines D.C.
• Alfredo
  Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
• Women in Music Pt. III
  Haim
• Petals for Armor
  Hayley Williams
• Reunions
  Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
• A Written Testimony
  Jay Electronica
• Descendants of Cain
  Ka
• Forever, Ya Girl
  KeiyaA
• Imploding the Mirage
  The Killers
• Man Alive!
  King Krule
• Microphones in 2020
  The Microphones
• RTJ4
  Run the Jewels
• Southside
  Sam Hunt
• color theory
  Soccer Mommy
• The Slow Rush
  Tame Impala
• Folklore
  Taylor Swift
• The Album
  Teyana Taylor

Noisey: The 100 Best Albums of 2020, as published by Vice

[see also 2010s • 2019]

1. Untitled (Black Is)
   Sault
1. Untitled (Rise)
   Sault
2. Ho, Why Is You Here?
   Flo Milli
3. It Is What It Is
   Thundercat
4. Edna
   Headie One
5. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
6. Live Forever
   Bartees Strange
7. My Turn (Deluxe)
   Lil Baby
8. Heaven to a Tortured Mind
   Yves Tumor
9. Saint Cloud
   Waxahatchee
10. Jaguar
    Victoria Monét
11. Meet the Woo 2
    Pop Smoke
12. BRAT
    NNAMDÏ
13. Shame
    Uniform
14. YHLQMDLG
    Bad Bunny
15. Send Them to Coventry
    Pa Salieu
16. Full Wack No Brakes
    Bad Boy Chiller Crew
17. Shore
    Fleet Foxes
18. how I'm feeling now
    Charli XCX
19. Fuck The World
    Brent Faiyaz
20. Cruisin’ with Junior H
    Junior H
21. Twice as Tall
    Burna Boy
22. Punisher
    Phoebe Bridgers
23. Sawayama
    Rina Sawayama
24. Inlet
    Hum
25. Alfredo
    Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
26. Forever, Ya Girl
    KeiyaA
27. Eternal Atake
    Lil Uzi Vert
28. Lament
    Touché Amoré
29. A Written Testimony
    Jay Electronica
30. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
    Perfume Genius
31. color theory
    Soccer Mommy
32. Rich Slave
    Young Dolph
33. Fires In Heaven
    Salem
34. Future Nostalgia
    Dua Lipa
35. City on Lock
    City Girls
36. Big Conspiracy
    J Hus
37. The Great Dismal
    Nothing
38. Welcome to O'Block
    King Von
39. songs
    Adrianne Lenker
40. Thank You for Using GTL
    Drakeo the Ruler
41. Àdá Irin
    Navy Blue
42. Featuring Ty Dolla Sign
    Ty Dolla $ign
43. Scacco Matto
    Lorenzo Senni
44. Grime MC
    Jme
45. Viva el Perreo
    Jowell & Randy
46. Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin
    Eartheater
47. The Goat
    Polo G
48. Speed Kills
    Chubby & The Gang
49. Common Prayers
    Walter Martin
50. Petals for Armor
    Hayley Williams
51. Burden of Proof
    Benny the Butcher
52. Eternity Of Shaog
    Esoctrilihum
53. Magic Oneohtrix Point Never
    Oneohtrix Point Never
54. Corridos Tumbado
    Natanael Cano
55. The Price of Tea in China
    Boldy James & The Alchemist
56. A Muse in Her Feelings
    dvsn
57. KiCk i
    Arca
58. Circles
    Mac Miller
59. Rise Above Hate
    Unknown T
60. I Love You, Hook
    Hook
61. What We Drew
    yaeji
62. Every Bad
    Porridge Radio
63. From King to a God
    Conway the Machine
64. Chromatica
    Lady Gaga
65. Healing Is a Miracle
    Julianna Barwick
66. 12th House Rock
    Narrow Head
67. Watch This Liquid Pour Itself
    Okay Kaya
68. Growth & Development
    22Gz
69. Miss Anthropocene
    Grimes
70. weight of the world
    MIKE
71. Auto-Pain
    Deeper
72. Outside
    Bino Rideaux
73. Tearless
    Amnesia Scanner
74. Made in Lagos
    Wizkid
75. U-Void Synthesizer
    Machine Girl
76. Take Time
    Giveon
77. Pure X
    Pure X
78. Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2
    Tkay Maidza
79. Women in Music Pt. III
    Haim
80. Starmaker
    Honey Harper
81. So Help Me God!
    2 Chainz
82. Crabs in a Bucket
    Nines
83. Descendants of Cain
    Ka
84. Good News
    Megan Thee Stallion
85. Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me
    Waylon Payne
86. Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?
    Fantastic Negrito
87. Just Look At That Sky
    Ganser
88. 7G
    A.G. Cook
89. Vibras de Noche
    Eslabon Armado
90. Immersion
    Primitive Man
91. SuperGood
    Duckwrth
92. The Weather Up There
    Jeremy Cunningham
93. Underneath
    Code Orange
94. El Androide
    El Alfa
95. Lianne La Havas
    Lianne La Havas
96. Sign
    Autechre
97. Folklore
    Taylor Swift
98. Occupational Hazard
    Mozzy
99. The Freelancer's Blues
    Dougie Poole
100. 4 da 304’s
     KentheMan

The Wire: Top 50 Albums of 2020

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Workaround
   Beatrice Dillon
2. Circuit City
   Moor Mother
3. The Cycle
   Mourning [A] BLKstar
4. Rough and Rowdy Ways
   Bob Dylan
5. Duma
   Duma
6. Suite for Max Brown
   Jeff Parker
7. Fast Edit
   Still House Plants
8. A Late Anthology of Early Music Vol. 1: Ancient to Renaissance
   Jennifer Walshe
9. BAKUNAWA
   White Boy Scream
10. Stolen Car
    Carl Stone
11. God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It
    Backxwash
12. Shrines
    Armand Hammer
13. Cantus, Descant
    Sarah Davachi
14. BLQLYTE
    zeroh
15. Both
    Bill Nace
16. Lamentations
    William Basinski
17. Re Imaginos
    Albert Bouchard
18. Telyn Rawn
    Rhodri Davies
19. Innocent Country 2
    Quelle Chris & Chris Keys
20. The Passion Of
    Special Interest
21. Who Sent You?
    Irreversible Entanglements
22. Figures
    Aksak Maboul
23. Couldn't Wait To Tell You...
    (Liv).e
24. Harbors
    Ellen Fullman & Theresa Wong
25. Red Summer
    ONO
26. Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
    The Soft Pink Truth
27. Swirling
    Sun Ra Arkestra
28. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
    Fiona Apple
29. Sign
    Autechre
30. oviparity
    gogoj a.k.a Sheng Jie
31. Artlessly Falling
    Mary Halvorson's Code Girl
32. A Written Testimony
    Jay Electronica
33. Live In Sharjah
    Praed Orchestra!
34. LIVE
    Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood
35. Tara Clerkin Trio
    Tara Clerkin Trio
36. Illusory Expansion
    Crazy Doberman
37. skins n slime
    Oliver Coates
38. Visions of Bodies Being Burned
    clipping.
39. Silver Ladders
    Mary Lattimore
40. NEGRO
    Pink Siifu
41. Recognition
    Sara Serpa
42. It Is What It Is
    Thundercat
43. All Thoughts Fly
    Anna von Hausswolff
44. Éons
    Neptunian Maximalism
45. GANG
    Headie One x Fred again..
46. Low and Beyond
    Neil Charles
47. Auto
    Wendy Eisenberg
48. Dialectic Soul
    Asher Gamedze
49. Fall to Pieces
    Tricky
50. Tree Time
    Sylvia Hallett

Flood Magazine: The Best Albums of 2020

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014]

1. RTJ4
   Run the Jewels
2. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
3. Græ
   Moses Sumney
4. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
   Perfume Genius
5. Punisher
   Phoebe Bridgers
6. color theory
   Soccer Mommy
7. Magic Oneohtrix Point Never
   Oneohtrix Point Never
8. Saint Cloud
   Waxahatchee
9. After Hours
   The Weeknd
10. Ungodly Hour
    Chloe x Halle
11. Women in Music Pt. III
    Haim
12. Visions of Bodies Being Burned
    clipping.
13. Sawayama
    Rina Sawayama
14. What's Your Pleasure?
    Jessie Ware
15. Alfredo
    Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
16. My Agenda
    Dorian Electra
17. Live Forever
    Bartees Strange
18. Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin
    Eartheater
19. Shrines
    Armand Hammer
20. That's How Rumors Get Started
    Margo Price
21. It Is What It Is
    Thundercat
22. American Head
    The Flaming Lips
23. Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)
    Kali Uchis
24. Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
    Gorillaz
25. Moveys
    Slow Pulp