But even quarantine couldn’t stop her from adding a little more light and positivity to a rather dull year. Nubya Garcia, SOURCE2. Clem Snide, Forever Just Beyond8. Clarice Jensen, "Holy Mother"4. Agnes Obel, Myopia6. Christine and the Queens, "People, I've been sad"8. WizKid, Made In Lagos, 1. Ze Lucy (ዘ ሉሲ) ሴት አይደለሽም እንዴ, "You're Not A Woman", Adrianne Lenker. City Girls, "Broke N*****" ft. Yo Gotti5. Kllo, "Still Here"5. The 50 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far): Staff Picks 1. Jhay Cortez)8. Vistas, Everything Changes In The End4. Being the bigger person after a breakup requires growth, but sometimes you just want to be a little petty and get some things off your chest. Bad Bunny, "Dakiti" (feat. Les Amazones d'Afrique, "Love", Dua Lipa. Nick Hakim, WILL THIS MAKE ME GOOD5. Each of these artists offer a unique interpretation of rock music from poppy or emotional to dark and rhythmic. On the lesser known spectrum, don’t miss releases from COIN, Ethan Gruska, and Bartees Strange. Clarice Jensen, The experience of repetition as death3. Honestly, it can all blur together at times and it's hard for any one or five or 10 albums and songs to rise to the top and stay there. Jack McKain/Courtesy of the artist Fusing R&B smoothness with jazzy, dreamy melodies reminiscent of the '70s, “Breathe Deeper” feels like the kind of song that soundtracks a scene depicting a character’s dizzying acid trip, which makes sense since the beginning of the song was created when Kevin Parker was “stoned.”. Lido Pimienta, Miss Colombia8. Jyoti, Mama, You Can Bet!7. Lomelda, "Hannah Sun"4. 1. Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters2. Serena Isioma, "Sensitive"7. Never one to shy away from broadcasting his sexual desires, Daley sings that even though he and his partner have issues to work out, "I don't want nothing in between us/Nothing there to stop the feeling." Porridge Radio, Every Bad8. Lido Pimienta, Miss Colombia2. Adia Victoria, "South Gotta Change"4. Okan, Espiral9. Perfume Genius, Set My Heart On Fire Immediately 4. Bright Eyes, Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was7. Here's hoping we all experience a little more serendipity in 2021. Soccer Mommy, color theory9. Best Music Of 2020 Music News New Music Music Features Live Sessions Shows & Podcasts Expand/collapse submenu for Shows & Podcasts. Butcher Brown, #KingButch9. These end-of-year lists are by nature non inclusive, and for that I apologize to so many others who created music that was very important to me. hide caption. hide caption. Black Taffy, Opal Wand8. hide caption. Chucky73 & Fetti031, "Dili", Protomartyr. Noname, "Song 33" 4. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords3. That said, the 10 records and tracks here, for me, will stand the test of time. Gina Chavez, La Que Manda7. Pop Smoke, Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon3. Perfume Genius, "Your Body Changes Everything"6. Try not to dance, I dare you. … Valentine's Day is long gone but James Blake's "You're Too Precious" is hauntingly beautiful song you can sing to your loved ones year-round. Beyoncé)10. Check out NPR Music's primary best of 2020 lists — I appreciate those consensus picks, too. Katie Pruitt, Expectations, 1. Jayda G, "Both of Us"8. Hailey Whitters, "Dream, Girl"9. But don’t expect to find Chloe or Halle teary-eyed and broken over a dying relationship. SAULT, Untitled (Black Is)3. Ariana Grande, "34+35" 9. Bonny Light Horseman, Bonny Light Horseman9. Steve Arrington, Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions8. Víkingur Ólafsson, Debussy • Rameau2. Sylvan Esso, "Make It Easy"3. Burna Boy, Twice As Tall9. Fana Hues, "Icarus"9. Here are the healing spaces I kept returning to in 2020. Olof Grind/Courtesy of the artist Isaac Dunbar, "Makeup Drawer"9. Men I Trust, "Lucky Sue"5. 1. Lady Gaga is back, y'all—but she never really left. Megan Thee Stallion, "Savage Remix" (feat. Deante' Hitchcock, BETTER5. The best six minutes of your life begin the moment the bright drums of Tame Impala’s “Breathe Deeper” roll in. HAIM, Women in Music Pt. Sarah Kirkland Snider, Mass for the Endangered 6. The thing is, distracting music can't land anywhere. In a year that dirged and dragged in so many ways, jazz and improvised music kept uplifting, transcending, astonishing. Best music of 2020. The Chicks, Gaslighter9. As such, I thought it only fitting to feature women and trans people of color to remind us of the excellent music they create. It wasn't hard to find music to distract myself this year. Drive-By Truckers, "Watching the Orange Clouds"8. Brandy Clark, "Pawn Shop"6. Heavy is the crown, indeed. ", The late Mac Miller’s pensive “Good News” is like the old saying, “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” Miller works through his dark thoughts in the beginning of the song, singing, “Why can't it just be easy?/Why does everybody need me to stay?” But by the end of the track, he’s optimistic that “that there's a whole lot more for me waiting.”. Moses Sumney, "Two Dogs"3. Like the '80s hit, Dua's song is about the other form of physical fitness—no resistance bands or dumbbells needed. Kendrick Lamar)8. Yebba, "Distance"7. Caity Arthur/Courtesy of the artist The truth is, I had near-zero interest in new music during the first six months of the pandemic. Luke James, To Feel Love8. My top 10 albums and songs are those that made me smile, laugh, dance or cultivate a sense of peace when I needed it most. hide caption. Kathleen Edwards, Total Freedom6. The title track, “Song for Our Daughter,” faces down the thorny “bullshit” of coming of age as a young woman, imagining a world where Marling’s hypothetical daughter knows enough to shun it. It began normally, so I reveled in the flamboyance of Thomas Adès' extraordinary piano concerto. “You must got me fucked up/I think I had enough,” Chloe sings on the hook of “Forgive Me” after learning the person she’s been loving has been dishonest. Ólafur Arnalds, some kind of peace2. Nearly two million people tuned in to watch Gucci and Jeezy come together to create the most-watched Verzuz, that livestream phenomenon of pandemic proportions. Music reviews, ratings, news and more. Frances Quinlan, "Went To LA"4. David Greilsammer, Labyrinth10. Tame Impala, The Slow Rush7. Jhene Aiko, "P*$$y Fairy (OTW)"6. 1. Hand Habits)2. In the midst of an emotional Grammys ceremony, H.E.R. Here are a few of the best sites buy music online. This selection represents just a sliver of the great music released in this year of supposed excess downtime. Beyoncé)6. Sam Sweeney, "Steppy Downs Road (Unearth Repeat)"2. Knowing her critics try to cancel her out, Doja hits back with a sharp bite, a reminder she’ll keep eating up her competition: "Big up yourself 'cause you know they don't/I chew, chew, chew, 'cause they hope I choke. Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou, "Ancestral Recall"6. For the comfort of Saint Cloud. Megan Thee Stallion feat. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, Alfredo9. Black Grapefruit, "Inside"9. It is one of the most popular and best music download sites and offers a humongous collection of Hip-hop and pop music. Little Simz, "might bang, might not"8. Run The Jewels, "Walking in the Snow"3. From a bittersweet posthumous release to petty breakup bops, here are the best songs 2020 has to offer so far. Dreamville, "BUSSIT" (with Ari Lennox)6. Jess Cornelius, Distance5. Caylee Hammack, "Small Town Hypocrite"8. Spillage Village, Spilligion6. Little Dragon, "New Fiction"4. Jessie Ware, What's Your Pleasure?7. But my favorite #SadBoy is fed up with the city and its effect on his relationship, especially the temptation lurking at every corner. Angelica Garcia, "Agua de Rosa" 9. The best music of 2020. The 50 Best Albums Of 2020: 50-41 / 40-31 / 30-21 / 20-11 / 10-1 Mickey Guyton, "Black Like Me"7. Hilary Woods, "Through the Dark, Love"10. Buscabulla, "Mio"8. Frances Quinlan, Likewise2. Courtesy of the artist And the music that came in from the far corners of the Latin music world was rich in variety, as it is every year. Carla Morrison, "Ansiedad"9. Adrianne Lenker, "anything"3. 1. But the bouncy, joyful “Shameika” celebrates a creative milestone in young Fiona’s life—the time a classmate told her she “had potential.” —Julie Kosin, Marling describes her new album as a “triumph over trauma,” and her soothing vocals and defiant lyrics offer unexpected solace in this time of crisis. Cardi B, "WAP" (feat. Lido Pimienta, "Nada", Lido Pimienta. JFDR), Spillage Village. I chew through a staggering amount of music to prep for New Music Friday – as many as 100 or more albums in a single week. hide caption. Perfume Genius, "On The Floor"2. Gabriel Garzon-Montano, Agüita4. 1. Theo Alexander, "re; Waiting", Alex "Grizz" Loucas/Courtesy of the artist. Listening felt like a trivial exercise compared to the mortal dangers — both bat- and man-made — running amok across the country and around the world. Rita Indiana, Mandinga Times5. Mireya Ramos, "Angelitos Negros"2. hide caption. THICK, "Mansplain", Sarah Kirkland Snider. Ruston Kelly, Shape & Destroy, 1. Shygirl, ALIAS8. Ana Tijoux, "Antifa Dance" 7. Anunaku, Stargate EP, 1. BRB, crying. Sam Hunt, SOUTHSIDE7. There's not too much music of the commons; this music is more internal, reflecting tight communities or building worlds. Protomartyr, Ultimate Success Today7. Evanescence has an amazing new song and yes, we're still in 2020. (Rihanna, we're waiting!). In the 25th anniversary year of our Lawd and Savior Faire Andre 3K's legendary proclamation that "the South got something to say," the hometown ran up the score yet again. *cries in black converse, skinny jeans, and Tumblr*. This is the music I listened to on repeat in 2020. Noname, "Song 33" 10. Special Interest, The Passion Of10. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Willie Nelson, "Our Song"10. Lianne La Havas, Lianne La Havas7. Pablo R. Ruiz, Estados Criminales6. This list could change as I make my way through all the albums I intended to hear in 2020. C.S. Like sipping on a cup of hot cocoa at a bonfire, throaty vocals from Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon add warmth to the rather mellow track, as Swift's softer tone meets his midway through the song. Thundercat, "Black Qualls"4. SAULT, Untitled (Black Is)9. Gracie and Rachel, "Ideas"9. India Shawn, "Movin' On" (feat. Courtesy of The Insanity Group Choosing one of the best phones for music isn’t as simple as just choosing the best or more high-end phone, as music and audio aren’t always the focus for phone makers. Bartees Strange, Live Forever6. Ana Tijoux, "Antifa Dance"10. SAULT, "Wildfires"10. ... Best albums of 2020: Peppy synths, a funky guitar line, and a breakup helped craft this unofficial quarantine anthem. Rafiq Bhatia, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"7. You can’t argue with science I had never heard of British fiddle virtuoso Sam Sweeney until I decided to press play on the unassuming image in my Bandcamp feed, which was overflowing with neglected records I bought during Bandcamp Fridays throughout the year. Pink Siifu, NEGRO7. Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud3. Dua Lipa, "Don't Start Now" (2019)6. Courtesy of the artist When di quarantine ting done and everybody touch road?”. Cardi B, "WAP" (feat. Lido Pimienta, Miss Colombia4. Salt Cathedral, "Mueveló"6. Perfume Genius, Set My Heart On Fire Immediately10. Junglepussy, Jp44. And Morgan Freeman lent his voice to the best mixtape sequel of the year: 21 Savage and Metro Boomin's Savage Mode II. Thundercat, It Is What It Is2. Westside Gunn, Pray For Paris8. Katie Malco, "Creatures"7. Tim Heidecker, Fear of Death3. Twerking is an art form, so Missy Elliott, the queen of all things dance, put it in a museum. Kassav', 40ème anniversaire - Le concert3. Gia Margaret, Mia Gargaret8. Megan Thee Stallion, "Savage Remix" (feat. Nancy Sanchez, "Gran Civilización" (feat. Sad13, "Take Care"10. What are we giving back? Micah Thomas, Tide9. Carly Rae Jepsen, "This is What They Say"4. Justin Bieber said the return of "R&Bieber" was imminent, then released the bubbly, trap-inspired"Yummy"—and had me worried about what the rest of his forthcoming album would sound like. It's music that made me feel less alone, helped me find moments of joy and fun, and often articulated the complicated emotions that came with so much unrest — both personal and in the world at large. Dedicated Men of Zion, Can't Turn Me Around4. Lomelda, Hannah6. Best Coast, "Everything Has Changed"8. Kassa Overall, I THINK I'M GOOD10. City Girls and DaBaby), Taylor Swift. In 2020 there are segments of our population that are still marginalized, still discriminated against and still oppressed. The Weeknd, "Blinding Lights" 2. This Is Us keeps us perpetually teary-eyed with its heart-wrenching storylines, and in the season 4 premiere, Kevin meets a girl with whom he instantly clicks—only to find out she’s in town for a limited time. hide caption, 1. Don Bryant, You Make Me Feel10. 18. Now, if we could just see it all played live... 1. “Water” is a two-minute guide on the many ways the Pisces singer wants to be pleased, so if you’re eyeing a water sign, act accordingly. Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher5. In a confounding and overwhelming year, music has allowed us both to reflect on the state of the world and escape from it with equal brilliance, writes Nick Levine. Tierra Whack, "Peppers and Onions"3. An abundance of great releases offered reprieves from being angry about death, corruption, respectability politics, misogynoir, etc., etc.. Christine and the Queens, "People, I've been sad" 10. An incomplete list of thanks: For the reassurance that The Chicks' return offered. I was drawn to music that challenged my place in the world and demanded that I back up my ideals with action. Charli XCX, How I'm Feeling Now2. SAULT, "Wildfires"2. Rosalía, "Juro Que"4. The Strokes, "Eternal Summer", Sam Sweeney. Victoria Monet, Jaguar9. And, in the same hour and on the same playlists, music that wrapped me in a security blanket. But the spirit of the music that is listed has helped me, and may help you, face what 2020 has thrown at us and whatever lies in 2021. As ever, each critic votes for top 20 … Spitzwell x Boog Brown, "The Unknown"8. Apple told ELLE the “delayed angst” of childhood defines the songs on her masterful new album Fetch the Bolt Cutters. III2. In past years, many of my nights were spent at clubs, seeing live music — loud, brash, fun, uplifting and thrilling. *cries in black converse, skinny jeans, and Tumblr* Listen Now 13 "I Want War (But I Need Peace)" by Kali Uchis Khruangbin, Mordechai6. SWV’s classic “Weak” gets flipped from a classic lovestruck ballad to a player’s anthem about Flo Milli yearning for a man with cash and not the “boring” ones who've become a nuisance in her life. Son Lux, "Plans We Made"8. The Microphones, "Microphones In 2020"8. Ashley McBryde, "Hang In There, Girl"10. Hayley Williams, "Why We Ever"2. Lido Pimienta, "Eso Que Tu Haces" 5. Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Brian Blade, "Right Back Round Again", X Alfonso. hide caption. Bad Bunny, "Safaera," (feat. The 50 best albums of 2020 We’ve collated our writers’ ‘best of’ lists and crunched the numbers in a big old music ranking machine. Alanis Morissette, "Ablaze"5. In 2020, Phil Elverum encapsulated his lifetime of music with a single lyric: "fog imbued with light and emptiness." Taylor Swift, folklore4. For "Letting You Go," which brought me to tears time and time again. And finally, for folklore, a surprise that, even months later, still feels like something from a dream. Adrianne Lenker, "anything"2. Ms Banks, Spice)2. Courtesy of the artist On “Black Magic Hour,” Jidenna seeks to educate the Black community about the tools they already possess to enact social and economic change. Beyoncé), Nubya Garcia. U.S. I was drawn to tranquil and cathartic albums by Víkingur Ólafsson and Anna Clyne, and music that shouted for justice from SAULT and William Dawson. WaqWaq Kingdom, "Positive Sound"6. Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher, 1. Here are a few of the best sites buy music online. hide caption. Kathleen Edwards, "Options Open"5. Nils Frahm, Empty, 1. Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus, Songs of Yearning / Nocturnes 8. Dogleg, "Kawasaki Backflip", Pop Smoke. Big Sean, Detroit 28. Sunny War, "She Just Don't Care"10. Six Organs of Admittance, Companion Rises10. The 1975, "If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)"7. In a year full of unexpected twists and turns for the world, and for me personally, I was like so many other people around the globe who relied on music to get me through. J Hus, "Repeat" (feat. Bob Lanzetti, "Invention No. Tame Impala, The Slow Rush10. Steady Holiday, "Living Life"5. hide caption. Run The Jewels, RTJ46. Thank you to all those musicians who poured their hearts into their instruments in 2020. Code Orange, Underneath6. Soccer Mommy, "circle the drain"7. More than half of the music I connected with and loved in 2020 fit that description. Meet Me @ the Altar, "Garden" 3. The songs list is where you'll find some nods to my extracurricular listening, as well as standout pieces from more great jazz albums that barely missed the cutoff for a Top 10. The shortest song on the album follows a braggadocious skit from the Hot Girl herself, Megan Thee Stallion, which serves as a preview to the kind of song you should expect: SEX, SEX, SEX. This year kept me guessing at every stress-filled twist in the road. —JK. Apps. My listening was deeply contradictory this year. Tracy Awino/Courtesy of the artist Sylvan Esso, Free Love4. If Olivia Newton-John's classic "Let's Get Physical" is the quintessential Zumba workout jam, then Dua Lipa's "Physical" is the darker, sultrier tune suited for an intense Barry's Bootcamp session. Haus of Altr, HOA112. For the world that Bartees Strange built on Live Forever. Why is this pop princess dabbling in the country sound? Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Transmissions: The Music of Beverly Glenn-Copeland9. Ask yourself that as you explore these strong stories and alluring personalities, these sonic realizations of emotional risk. The Microphones, Microphones in 2020 5. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Mahlia, Ty Dolla $ign)3. Almost as if they were laughing in the face of death (from the virus or at the hands of abusive police officers) by going deep within themselves for the inspiration to create as a means of survival. Yumi Zouma, Truth Or Consequences5. TORRES, "Good Grief"10. That all stopped in mid-March, right about the time I'd usually be in the midst of thousands of fans seeing hundreds of musicians at SXSW. Koffee)10. hide caption. lemin., "one brain"8. Roger Eno & Brian Eno, Mixing Colours10. Overall, artists managed to make the best of 2020 and put out, in … W e kick off our end of 2020 music coverage with Guardian critics’ favourite songs, with our album of the year countdown starting tomorrow. Mavis Staples, "All In It Together"9. As I was putting together my list, I noticed certain themes emerge. Adrianne Lenker, songs3. Flo Milli, Ho, why is you here?3. Today we're featuring the good stuff from the private reserves. Orquesta Failde, Failde Con Tumbao10. Bad Moves, "Local Radio"9. My only qualm is that the song is entirely too short. Be safe, wear a mask and thanks for listening. Carlos Vives, "Cumbiana"4. SAULT, Untitled (Black Is)5. My list isn't the "best" music of the year. 13 in A Minor"9. María José Llergo, Sanación10. Our 15 Favorite Music Books of 2020 From Jeff Tweedy’s practical advice and Mariah Carey’s decadent memoirs to scene-defining oral histories and deep-dives into the … hide caption. Bill Fay, "Time's Going Somewhere"6. Moneybagg Yo "Said Sum" (feat. Immanuel Wilkins, Omega6. When the city's noblest daughters in... 3. Megan Thee Stallion)7. Roberta Flack, First Take 50th Anniversary5. Tierra Whack, "Peppers & Onions"3. Bilal & HighBreedMusic, "DAY THREE: Voyage to a New World"6. More than half of the music I connected with and loved in 2020 fit that description. But "Pu$$y Fairy" goes much deeper than its steamy lyrics; the song was made using Aiko's crystal sound bowl in the key of D, which is the sacral chakra—also known as the sexual organs. Elizabeth Cook, "Mary, the Submissing Years"10. SAULT, Untitled (Black Is)2. In many different ways, that's what these albums and songs did. Soccer Mommy, "circle the drain"6. Open Mike Eagle, Anime, Trauma & Divorce, The Alchemist and Freddie Gibbs. Mon Laferte, "Biutiful"5. Gabriel Garzon-Montano, Agüita9. Piano Novel, Lumino Forest (Alternative Takes)7. Lil Baby is (in)arguably the best rapper alive. 1. Daniella Murillo/Courtesy of the Artist Sorry, "Right Round the Clock" (2019)8. ELLE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Dua Lipa, "Break My Heart"3. Stephen Malkmus, Traditional Techniques7. DJ Python, Mas Amable9. It is my hope that you will enjoy all of this music as much as I do. “If we spend the bread, we can do it on our own,” he reminds listeners. 1. Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia, 1. Immanuel Wilkins, Omega6. Yes, this is technically cheating. 1. KIRBY, Sis.6. Cadenza. Lido Pimienta, Miss Colombia4. Somewhere in between these ranks sits the final minute-and-a-half of Bad Bunny's "Hablamos Mañana," my half-song of the year, and its glorious emo-trap-to-nu-metal breakdown, a moment out of time that, like all my favorite music this year, feels like the whole pizza and the house to myself. Koffee packages all of our current thoughts about quarantine in “Lockdown” by asking all the right questions: “Where will we go? You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Taylor's New (Old) Song Seems to Be About Joe, Taylor's New Old Song Seems to Be About Joe Jonas, Watch Tate McRae Play a Game of Song Association, The Best Reactions to Harry Styles at the Grammys, What Selena's ‘Buscando Amor’ Lyrics Mean, "Un Dia" by J Blavin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy, "Black Magic Hour" by Jidenna and Bullish, "I Want War (But I Need Peace)" by Kali Uchis, "In My Room (Quarantine Freestyle)" by Ilham, "Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris" by Hayley Williams, "Conversations In the Dark" by John Legend.