Pun Gently

JoJo - Good To Know

Consistently one of the most underrated singers in the industry, JoJo proved with this album once again that she can really SANG with the best of them. Don’t Talk Me Down is such a torchy banger. 

Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure

During pandemic, there were many tweets lamenting the fact that we can’t dance to Future Nostalgia and Chromatica (at least one place has started to dance to the latter, it seems). While I agree with them, the album I MOST want to dance to once we are able to again is Jessie Ware’s What’s Your Pleasure. The Public Works to Chromatica’s Beaux. Soulful, disco-y, whispery, perfect.

Dagny - Strangers / Lovers

As far as pop records go, this one is pretty much perfect. Somebody, Come Over, Coulda Shoulda Woulda - each one more unabashedly poppy than the next. The video for It’s Only Heartbreak is SO good too - the subtle quirky choreography is just so fun.

Maren Morris - Better Than We Found It

While the sentiment isn’t new, it’s refreshing to hear someone in country who is unafraid of speaking out for good. 

Chelsea Cutler - How To Be Human

Listening to her makes me feel very...how-do-you-do-fellow-kids.gif, but I can’t help it! She’s so good. This album especially hits in the vulnerability department. I just know if this had come out when I was in college I would’ve eaten this up.

Honorable mentions

Hailey Witters - The Dream

With a voice and style somewhere between Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert, Hailey Witters is one of my favorite new country discoveries. The wistfulness in her songs is just so...😭

Kiana Ledé - KIKI

My favorite R&B album of the year. My favorites are the duet with Lucky Daye (whom I LOVED, and was fully robbed on American Idol...*checks notes* 16 years ago), Forfeit, and Feel A Way. Every single song is a full MOOD.

Lady Gaga - Chromatica

A fully welcomed return to her electro-pop roots, with some pretty great visuals to boot. The 911 music video is definitely my favorite music video of the year (the references! The reveal at the end!) And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the BANGER that is the Sir Elton John collab Sine From Above. Oh, and I guess there’s that other collab that everybody had as their most played song. 

Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia

I knew she was a star the first time I heard Last Dance (one of my picks for my fave music from 2016(!)), and Don’t Start Now from 2019 set the bar incredibly high for her, but I was still not prepared by how incredible her sophomore album was. Physical was really the biggest case of Shoulda-Been-Bigger of 2020, for sure.

Vistas - Everything Changes in the End

AJ Mitchell - Say It Again

This feels like a 2020 teen idol version of a Carly Rae Jepsen or Betty Who song. Which is to say, incredible.

Cassadee Pope - Stages

Honestly, a perfect country-pop album. Taylor who?

Montgomery - Sure

After waiting for 5 years for new music from Montgomery, she’s finally back and dreamier than ever. If you haven’t heard of her, please do yourself a favor and revisit these bops.

88rising - Head in the Clouds II

This whole compilation is bangers on bangers, but Indigo is the standout. Representation, etc etc.

Bat For Lashes - Lost Girls

Madeon - Good Faith

Feels. Feels all over the place.

Can you show me a miracle?

Ariana Grande - thank u, next

Okay. I’m a stan. So sue me.

And sorry if I say sorry way too much

Lizzo - Cuz I Love You

Her meteoric rise in 2019 was truly something to behold. So glad I got to see her twice before she blew way up. Our pink noodle totem was in the middle of every shot of her live stream during Coachella.

LÉON - LÉON

Directly on opposite end of the popularity spectrum from Lizzo, LÉON is criminally underrate. I got to watch her in concert a few years ago and her cover of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac still haunts me. How she manages to sound both like she’s from the 60′s and today is a gift.

Dua Lipa - Don’t Start Now

Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour

This album is by far my favorite music thing of 2018. It manages to be nostalgic and futuristic at once (hello, vocoder(?) in Oh What A World). Her signature wordplay permeates every song (”You can have your space *PAUSE* cowboy”? *Swoon*). As a bonus, this is one of my favorite remixes of the year. It sounds like Fleetwood Mac disco and I live for it.

Tove Styrke - Sway

A perfect little synth pop album start to finish. Even though it is short and sweet at 8 songs, it packs so much. From the opener Sway (which had such a sweet video!) to the closer, a beautiful cover of Lorde’s Liability, there’s not one bad song. Seeing her in a small basement venue being surrounded by (much younger) people and hearing everyone in the audience sing along to every song is an experience that will stick with me for a long time.

LANY - Malibu Nights

As far as I am concerned, they basically haven’t released a single bad song, but this album is SO good. I wish more pop music sounded like this - glossy but confessional. It manages to sound 90s, mid 2000s, and current all at the same time. I love that even their upbeat bops are tinged with heartbreak, and the title track, a piano ballad, straight up brings me back to my emo college days. <3

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Pale Waves - My Mind Makes Noises

Goth visual + synth pop with a heavy dose of 80′s. Yes. Yes. YES.

Sabrina Carpenter - Singular Act I

The standout on this EP for me is Mona Lisa, which is only 2:18 long!!! The hook is truly wordplay that is so good it’s cringey.

Kungs & Stargate ft GOLDN - Be Right Here

Clean Bandit ft. Julia Michaels - I Miss You

When I first heard this song I was like, okay not my favorite but good enough to put on my playlist. But, after I finally paid attention to the lyrics after like 20 listens, it finally clicked for me. Julia Michael’s brand of personal songwriting really shines here.

Mariah Carey - Caution

Almost 30 years in the game, and she’s still got it. Mimi doesn’t get recognized for her songwriting skills enough, which are as sharp as ever here. I love me a cheeky Mimi moment, as in basically the entirety of A No No (check that multilingual outro). My favorite is 8th Grade, which is just such a good R&B bop. And! I maintain that the Porter Robinson sample on GTFO is brilliant.

Zara Larsson - Ruin My Life

I don’t have a lot to say about this one. Honestly, it’s not groundbreaking but it is catchy af.

The Aces - When My Heart Felt Volcanic

Jess Glynne - All I Am

Okay her album is just pretty good, but this song is everything. It helps that it soundtracked a Hawaii trip with an awesome video that Charles put together! It just gives me so much joy.

LIONE

I’ve been aching for new music from Porter Robinson (no, Virtual Self doesn’t count). I somehow stumbled upon LIONE this year (thanks Pandora!), and his blend of anime influences with EDM is just what I’ve been missing since Porter’s Worlds. His entire discography (of like 5 songs) are all great. Also, apparently Asian DJs love animal-adjacent monikers? See: Elephante, Giraffage. 

Ariana Grande - breathin

2018 was an eventful year for Ariana, to say the least. As a long-time Ariana stan, I am very happy that she finally has that #1 (x2 now!!!) that she’s deserved for so long. Sweetener was a burst of joy in a year that was otherwise dreary. breathin was the dose of calm that I desperately needed when I was feeling quite burnt out earlier this year. Thank u, next (album please).

Zayn - Icarus Falls

Cave Me In | Gallant, Eric Nam & Tablo

What a perfect collaboration. Eric sounds so smooth here. Also, A REALLY FUN SONG TO SING IN THE CAR.

How Long | Charlie Puth

I can’t handle his awkward little “dance”, but it is endearing. This dance video contributed greatly to my love for this song. That middle guy is incredible.

Broken Clocks | SZA

The whole album is groundbreaking, but the moment I heard Broken Clocks before the album even dropped, I knew it was going to end up on my top 3 songs of 2017. I was so pleasantly surprised that it got the spotlight it deserved from SZA at the Grammy’s.

All I got is these broken clocks I ain't got no time Just burning daylight

Sorry Not Sorry | Demi Lovato

I have never been the biggest Demi fan (she can admittedly be quite pitchy live, and releases some underwhelming singles), but it feels like she finally found a sound that works for her and her voice. Sassy and appropriately belty. Get that Lyft promotion! 

(Also, Cool for the Summer is still 100% a banger)

Slide | Calvin Harris ft Frank Ocean & Migos

Trip | Jhené Aiko

I just love the druggy hazy r&b vibe of the entire album. While We’re Young is such a carpe diem anthem that makes me want to play hooky and go lay out in dolo.

Still Got Time | Zayn ft. PARTYNEXTDOOR

His perfect face aside, I think Zayn is by far the best vocalist from 1D (FIGHT ME). His vocal range is something to behold, but you can’t tell on this laid back, groovy bop. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. 

Swish Swish | Katy Perry ft. Nicki Minaj

Soooo Witness was kind of an epic flop, but Swish Swish really should have been a moment. It probably had more influence on my vernacular than any other song. Yes the actual video is a damn mess and the SNL performance is just trying too hard but the lyrics video is...better? Welcome to 2017.

Big Picture | London Grammar

Their last album was a go-to soundtrack for many a working session. This remix is a perfect night driving song.

Cut To The Feeling | Carly Rae Jepsen