Year-End Lists

Pitchfork: The 50 Best Albums of 2020

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

1. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
2. Saint Cloud
   Waxahatchee
3. Græ
   Moses Sumney
4. Punisher
   Phoebe Bridgers
5. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
   Perfume Genius
6. Rough and Rowdy Ways
   Bob Dylan
7. Heaven to a Tortured Mind
   Yves Tumor
8. Women in Music Pt. III
   Haim
9. What's Your Pleasure?
   Jessie Ware
10. YHLQMDLG
    Bad Bunny
11. songs
    Adrianne Lenker
11. instrumentals
    Adrianne Lenker
12. Eternal Atake
    Lil Uzi Vert
13. Microphones in 2020
    The Microphones
14. Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn)
    Jay Electronica
15. Heavy Light
    U.S. Girls
16. RTJ4
    Run the Jewels
17. Róisín Machine
    Róisín Murphy
18. Have We Met
    Destroyer
19. The Angel You Don't Know
    Amaarae
20. Shore
    Fleet Foxes
21. Future Nostalgia
    Dua Lipa
22. Forever, Ya Girl
    KeiyaA
23. Every Bad
    Porridge Radio
24. Miss Anthropocene
    Grimes
25. SOURCE
    Nubya Garcia
26. color theory
    Soccer Mommy
27. Inner Song
    Kelly Lee Owens
28. Ungodly Hour
    Chloe x Halle
29. Folklore
    Taylor Swift
30. Live Forever
    Bartees Strange
31. Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
    The Soft Pink Truth
32. Thank You for Using GTL
    Drakeo the Ruler
33. Workaround
    Beatrice Dillon
34. Melee
    Dogleg
35. Descendants of Cain
    Ka
36. The Passion Of
    Special Interest
37. Hannah
    Lomelda
38. Help
    Duval Timothy
39. Flower of Devotion
    Dehd
40. KiCk i
    Arca
41. Sawayama
    Rina Sawayama
42. Room for the Moon
    Kate NV
43. Good News
    Megan Thee Stallion
44. Alfredo
    Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
45. Fountain
    Lyra Pramuk
46. Twice as Tall
    Burna Boy
47. My Turn
    Lil Baby
48. how I'm feeling now
    Charli XCX
49. What We Drew
    yaeji
50. Silver Ladders
    Mary Lattimore

Treble: Top 50 Albums of 2020

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018 • 2012 • 2011]

1. May Our Chambers Be Full
   Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou
2. Punisher
   Phoebe Bridgers
3. Heaven to a Tortured Mind
   Yves Tumor
4. RTJ4
   Run the Jewels
5. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
6. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
   Perfume Genius
7. Mestarin kynsi
   Oranssi Pazuzu
8. Saint Cloud
   Waxahatchee
9. Visions of Bodies Being Burned
   clipping.
10. Græ
    Moses Sumney
11. Suite for Max Brown
    Jeff Parker
12. songs
    Adrianne Lenker
12. instrumentals
    Adrianne Lenker
13. Rough and Rowdy Ways
    Bob Dylan
14. Inner Song
    Kelly Lee Owens
15. The Caretaker
    Half Waif
16. Suddenly
    Caribou
17. Microphones in 2020
    The Microphones
18. Inlet
    Hum
19. Birthmarks
    Hilary Woods
20. NO
    Boris
21. Shore
    Fleet Foxes
22. Róisín Machine
    Róisín Murphy
23. Likewise
    Frances Quinlan
24. We Are Sent Here by History
    Shabaka and the Ancestors
25. Silver Ladders
    Mary Lattimore
26. Ohms
    Deftones
27. SOURCE
    Nubya Garcia
28. how I'm feeling now
    Charli XCX
29. The Passion Of
    Special Interest
30. Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine
    Spectral Lore & Mare Cognitum
31. Persian Pillars Of The Gasoline Era
    Vatican Shadow
32. Person
    P.E.
33. Descendants of Cain
    Ka
34. On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment
    Ambrose Akinmusire
35. Have We Met
    Destroyer
36. Skeleton
    Skeleton
37. Just Look At That Sky
    Ganser
38. Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
    The Soft Pink Truth
39. Welcome to Conceptual Beach
    Young Jesus
40. The Ascension
    Sufjan Stevens
41. Who Sent You?
    Irreversible Entanglements
42. Sawayama
    Rina Sawayama
43. Polysomn
    Kairon; IRSE!
44. Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!
    Vile Creature
45. May You Be Held
    Sumac
46. Shame
    Uniform
47. KiCk i
    Arca
48. Manger on McNichols
    Boldy James / Sterling Toles
49. Reunions
    Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
50. Alfredo
    Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Billboard: The 50 Best Albums of 2020

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

1. Folklore
   Taylor Swift
2. Future Nostalgia
   Dua Lipa
3. After Hours
   The Weeknd
4. YHLQMDLG
   Bad Bunny
5. Chromatica
   Lady Gaga
6. My Turn
   Lil Baby
7. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
8. Gaslighter
   The Chicks
9. Meet the Woo 2
   Pop Smoke
10. Women in Music Pt. III
    Haim
11. Positions
    Ariana Grande
12. Good News
    Megan Thee Stallion
13. Starting Over
    Chris Stapleton
14. RTJ4
    Run the Jewels
15. Punisher
    Phoebe Bridgers
16. Circles
    Mac Miller
17. Ungodly Hour
    Chloe x Halle
18. Manic
    Halsey
19. Tickets to My Downfall
    Machine Gun Kelly
20. Sawayama
    Rina Sawayama
21. Miss Anthropocene
    Grimes
22. Rare
    Selena Gomez
23. Eternal Atake
    Lil Uzi Vert
24. Colores
    J Balvin
25. The Album
    Blackpink
26. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
    Perfume Genius
27. The Slow Rush
    Tame Impala
28. Before Love Came to Kill Us
    Jessie Reyez
29. Notes on a Conditional Form
    The 1975
30. Reunions
    Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
31. Fake It Flowers
    Beabadoobee
32. It Was Good Until It Wasn't
    Kehlani
33. Map of the Soul: 7
    BTS
34. Letter to You
    Bruce Springsteen
35. Atrapado en un Sueño
    Junior H
36. The Album
    Teyana Taylor
37. Ho, Why Is You Here?
    Flo Milli
38. Emmanuel
    Anuel AA
39. Love Goes
    Sam Smith
40. Suddenly
    Caribou
41. Petals for Armor
    Hayley Williams
42. B7
    Brandy
43. Southside
    Sam Hunt
44. Mesa Para Dos
    Kany García
45. Savage Mode II
    21 Savage & Metro Boomin
46. Good Souls Better Angels
    Lucinda Williams
47. Kid Krow
    Conan Gray
48. Hecho En México
    Alejandro Fernández
49. A Written Testimony
    Jay Electronica
50. Blame It on Baby
    DaBaby

PopMatters: The 60 Best Albums of 2020

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Punisher
   Phoebe Bridgers
2. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
3. What's Your Pleasure?
   Jessie Ware
4. Women in Music Pt. III
   Haim
5. Heaven to a Tortured Mind
   Yves Tumor
6. RTJ4
   Run the Jewels
7. Outland
   Ital Tek
8. Untitled (Black Is)
   Sault
9. Saint Cloud
   Waxahatchee
10. A Hero's Death
    Fontaines D.C.
11. Future Nostalgia
    Dua Lipa
12. It Is What It Is
    Thundercat
13. A Written Testimony
    Jay Electronica
14. 3.15.20
    Childish Gambino
15. YHLQMDLG
    Bad Bunny
16. Rough and Rowdy Ways
    Bob Dylan
17. Folklore
    Taylor Swift
18. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
    Perfume Genius
19. songs
    Adrianne Lenker
19. instrumentals
    Adrianne Lenker
20. Ohms
    Deftones
21. Gaslighter
    The Chicks
22. Workaround
    Beatrice Dillon
23. Shore
    Fleet Foxes
24. Good Souls Better Angels
    Lucinda Williams
25. Reunions
    Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
26. Inner Song
    Kelly Lee Owens
27. Private Lives
    Low Cut Connie
28. Suddenly
    Caribou
29. Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
    Gorillaz
30. Keleketla!
    Keleketla!
31. Seeking Thrils
    Georgia
32. Every Bad
    Porridge Radio
33. I'm Your Empress Of
    Empress Of
34. Before Love Came to Kill Us
    Jessie Reyez
35. Róisín Machine
    Róisín Murphy
36. The Cycle
    Mourning [A] BLKstar
37. Microphones in 2020
    The Microphones
38. Notes on a Conditional Form
    The 1975
39. The Universal Want
    Doves
40. Rejoice
    Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela
41. Mama, You Can Bet!
    Jyoti
42. Eno Axis
    H.C. McEntire
43. color theory
    Soccer Mommy
44. Visions of Bodies Being Burned
    clipping.
45. Ultrasonic
    Field Works
46. Sixteen Oceans
    Four Tet
47. Voices
    Max Richter
48. On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment
    Ambrose Akinmusire
49. Neon Cross
    Jaime Wyatt
50. Cenizas
    Nicolas Jaar
51. To Love Is to Live
    Jehnny Beth
52. Amazones Power
    Les Amazones d’Afrique
53. Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
    The Soft Pink Truth
54. The Piano Equation
    Matthew Shipp
55. Making a Door Less Open
    Car Seat Headrest
56. Silver Tongue
    TORRES
57. BRAT
    NNAMDÏ
58. The Night Chancers
    Baxter Dury
59. Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me
    Waylon Payne
60. Wooden Cave
    Thin Lear

Gigwise: 51 Best Albums of 2020

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Sawayama
   Rina Sawayama
2. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
   Perfume Genius
3. Folklore
   Taylor Swift
4. Untitled (Black Is)
   Sault
5. RTJ4
   Run the Jewels
6. Good News
   Megan Thee Stallion
7. Women in Music Pt. III
   Haim
8. Ohms
   Deftones
9. Circles
   Mac Miller
10. The Night Chancers
    Baxter Dury
11. Sex, Death & the Infinite Void
    Creeper
12. What's Your Pleasure?
    Jessie Ware
13. The Archer
    Alexandra Savior
14. Future Nostalgia
    Dua Lipa
15. Punisher
    Phoebe Bridgers
16. color theory
    Soccer Mommy
17. Mordechai
    Khruangbin
18. Heaven to a Tortured Mind
    Yves Tumor
19. Night Network
    The Cribs
20. I Disagree
    Poppy
21. Introduction, Presence
    Nation of Language
22. Modern Dread
    Denai Moore
23. K.G.
    King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
24. To Love Is to Live
    Jehnny Beth
25. A Hero's Death
    Fontaines D.C.
26. Saint Cloud
    Waxahatchee
27. Working Men's Club
    Working Men's Club
28. We Live Here
    Bob Vylan
29. Song for Our Daughter
    Laura Marling
30. how I'm feeling now
    Charli XCX
31. I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep
    Ghostpoet
32. 925
    Sorry
33. Got to Be Tough
    Toots and the Maytals
34. Græ
    Moses Sumney
35. Viscerals
    Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
36. Three Mile Ditch
    The Wytches
37. England Is a Garden
    Cornershop
38. It Is What It Is
    Thundercat
39. In This House
    Lewsberg
40. Optimisme
    Songhoy Blues
41. songs
    Adrianne Lenker
42. Letter to You
    Bruce Springsteen
43. Big Conspiracy
    J Hus
44. Every Bad
    Porridge Radio
45. Monument
    Keaton Henson
46. Seeking Thrils
    Georgia
47. Hyper Romance
    Jadu Heart
48. Container
    The Wants
49. The Prettiest Curse
    Hinds
50. In Waiting
    Pillow Queens
51. The Reson For Hardcore Vibes
    Joe & The Shitboys

Ann Powers: The Best Albums of 2020, as posted by NPR

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2011]

1. Songs Of An Unknown Tongue
   Zara McFarlane
2. Asterisk the Universe
   John Craigie
3. Agüita
   Gabriel Garzón-Montano
4. Distance
   Jess Cornelius
5. Omega
   Immanuel Wilkins
6. Inner Song
   Kelly Lee Owens
7. to feel love/d
   Luke James
8. Bonny Light Horseman
   Bonny Light Horseman
9. I Think I'm Good
   Kassa Overall
10. To Love Is to Live
    Jehnny Beth

Entertainment Weekly: The 15 Best Albums of 2020

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

1. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
2. After Hours
   The Weeknd
3. RTJ4
   Run the Jewels
4. Rough and Rowdy Ways
   Bob Dylan
5. Folklore
   Taylor Swift
6. Gaslighter
   The Chicks
7. Women in Music Pt. III
   Haim
8. A Written Testimony
   Jay Electronica
9. YHLQMDLG
   Bad Bunny
10. Untitled (Black Is)
    Sault
11. Future Nostalgia
    Dua Lipa
12. American Love Story
    Butch Walker
13. Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
    Perfume Genius
14. Your Life Is a Record
    Brandy Clark
15. Petals for Armor
    Hayley Williams

Ones that just missed the cut

• Punisher
  Phoebe Bridgers
• Saint Cloud
  Waxahatchee
• Eternal Atake
  Lil Uzi Vert
• The New Abnormal
  The Strokes

Carl Wilson: The Best Albums of 2020, as published by Slate along with pairings for each entry, "cocktails of works comparable to the main choices in genre or spirit or je ne sais quoi"

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

1. Punisher
   Phoebe Bridgers
2. Artlessly Falling
   Mary Halvorson's Code Girl
3. What's Your Pleasure?
   Jessie Ware
4. Songs for Pierre Chuvin
   The Mountain Goats
5. Untitled (Rise)
   Sault
5. Untitled (Black Is)
   Sault
6. Dutch from the 5th
   Dutchavelli
7. On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment
   Ambrose Akinmusire
8. Your Life Is a Record
   Brandy Clark
9. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
10. My Turn
    Lil Baby
11. Folklore
    Taylor Swift
12. Mama, You Can Bet!
    Jyoti
13. Love-Lore
    Deerhoof

Rolling Stone: Best Albums of 2020

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

1. Folklore
   Taylor Swift
2. Fetch the Bolt Cutters
   Fiona Apple
3. YHLQMDLG
   Bad Bunny
4. Rough and Rowdy Ways
   Bob Dylan
5. Future Nostalgia
   Dua Lipa
6. RTJ4
   Run the Jewels
7. Saint Cloud
   Waxahatchee
8. Eternal Atake
   Lil Uzi Vert
9. What's Your Pleasure?
   Jessie Ware
10. Punisher
    Phoebe Bridgers
11. Chromatica
    Lady Gaga
12. Letter to You
    Bruce Springsteen
13. City on Lock
    City Girls
14. Women in Music Pt. III
    Haim
15. Ho, Why Is You Here?
    Flo Milli
16. Map of the Soul: 7
    BTS
17. Shore
    Fleet Foxes
18. Græ
    Moses Sumney
19. Ungodly Hour
    Chloe x Halle
20. Never Will
    Ashley McBryde
21. Honeymoon
    Beach Bunny
22. Positions
    Ariana Grande
23. Plastic Hearts
    Miley Cyrus
24. Rare
    Selena Gomez
25. Manic
    Halsey
26. To Love Is to Live
    Jehnny Beth
27. Good News
    Megan Thee Stallion
28. Reunions
    Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
29. Shamir
    Shamir
30. Sixteen Oceans
    Four Tet
31. Petals for Armor
    Hayley Williams
32. After Hours
    The Weeknd
33. A Hero's Death
    Fontaines D.C.
34. Private Lives
    Low Cut Connie
35. Got to Be Tough
    Toots and the Maytals
36. Traditional Techniques
    Stephen Malkmus
37. color theory
    Soccer Mommy
38. Inner Song
    Kelly Lee Owens
39. Fake It Flowers
    Beabadoobee
40. McCartney III
    Paul McCartney
41. Haunted Painting
    Sad13
42. Alphabetland
    X
43. Aftermath
    Elizabeth Cook
44. Starting Over
    Chris Stapleton
45. Power Up
    AC/DC
46. The Price of Tea in China
    Boldy James & The Alchemist
47. Good Souls Better Angels
    Lucinda Williams
48. Growth
    Kareem Ali
49. Love Is The King
    Jeff Tweedy
50. Live Forever
    Bartees Strange

Jennifer Lucy Allan: The Best Music of 2020, as published by The Quietus

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2019]

• Rock Sutra
  Sun Araw
• Superstar
  Harry Pussy
• Workaround
  Beatrice Dillon
• Jamaican Drum Machine
  Gavsborg
• Los Jaivas
  Los Jaivas
• Sufi Hispano-Pakistani
  Aziz Balouch
• The Last Song Of My life
  Tori Kudo
• Glory Days
  Heather Leigh
• Znayesh Yak? Rozkazhy
  Svitlana Nianio & Oleksandr Yurchenko
• Toho Sara 東方沙羅
  Toho Sara