so, this year sucked, obviously. unfortunately, so did most of the music released this year, even among artists i really like; this is probably the shortest list i've made so far, and not because i listened to less music lol. one prevailing theory is that many artists' labels have been urging them to hold off releases until 2021 when they can (maybe?) tour again. at this point i really hope that's the case. still, 2020 was - with all its death, injustice and disappointment - able to cough up enough impressive & creative albums to help me get through the year. here they are:

1. Protomartyr // Ultimate Success Today

(yeah, i know a fuckin donkey's on the cover. just listen to it, it's great. absurdly consistent, great songwriting. for fans of Parquet Courts, Idles, and Interpol.)

2. Fiona Apple // Fetch the Bolt Cutters

(experimental-yet-barebones pop that - for millions - will be THAT record that gets conjured when they're out walking down the street and hear a certain familiar drum pattern or piano melody off in the distance...the one that transports and puts them right back in 2020...and this is the only bad thing i can think to say about this album.)

3. Viva Belgrado // Bellavista

(screamo imported from Spain. but it's kind of - dare i say - soft? [even as far as this melodic band's stuff goes] they even have a pop song in here!)

4. Loathe // I Let It In and It Took Everything

(what most metalcore heads will say is album of the year, hands down. suuper creative. sounds like if Deftones were younger and grew up listening to djenty stuff. probably where the future of metalcore is headed and i'm not mad about it.)

5. Frail Hands // Parted/Departed/Apart

(a short, very good screamo album with thoughtful chord progressions and

beautiful clean sections.)

6. Post Animal // Forward Motion Godyssey

(psych-rock w/ heavy 70's influence. sounds like if King Gizzard and Tame Impala's Currents had a baby.)

7. Svalbard // When I Die, Will I Get Better

(a female-fronted melodic screamo four-piece from Bristol, U.K.)

8. Nø Man // Erase

(another great screamo album. well done, lads [& lass].)

9. Envy // The Fallen Crimson

(Japanese metal with big chords, grand crescendos and melodic hardcore influence.)

10. The Strokes // The New Abnormal

(your fav "indie" band has done it again.)

11. Tame Impala // The Slow Rush

(chill, 70's-influenced psychedelic pop-rock. def more laid back than Currents.)

12. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever // Sideways to New Italy

(indie rock for the beach. for fans of Wavves, Real Estate, Beach Fossils.)

13. Everything Everything // Re-Animator

(alt/indie rock for fans of Radiohead, Depeche Mode, Yeasayer.)

14. Ratboys // Printer's Devil

(country-tinged indie rock that's usually pretty mellow, but doesn't shy away from distortion. suuuper good songwriting.)

15. Adrianne Lenker // Songs

(an acoustic album. this super-songwriter of Big Thief fame could breathe and i'd save that shit to my spotify. christ.)

16. End //

Splinters from an Ever-Changing Face

(ridiculously good metal/hardcore supergroup [including Brendan Murphy of Counterparts on vox]. for fans of Vein & Code Orange.)

17. Floating Room // Tired and True EP

(shimmering, shoegaze-inspired indie rock out of PDX. really good songwriting.)

18. Real Estate // The Main Thing

(mellow indie-surf rock/dream pop.)

19. Ringo Deathstarr // self-titled

(shoegazey. grungy. punky. beautiful.)

20. Nuvolascura //

As We Suffer from Memory & Imagination

(yet another female-fronted screamo band killing it this year, except this one's more frantic-sounding and kind of cerebral [think math rock].)

21. Sufjan Stevens // The Ascension

22. Bumper // Pop Songs 2020 EP