Top Albums of 2020

These are in no particular order and I'm probably missing a few, considering that this one single year felt like it was centuries long, but here you have it! My top albums of 2020!

 1. Missing Person, Kelsy Karter

An entire album dedicated to not really knowing who you are, Karter manages to find out exactly who she is by the final track, and she's not going anywhere anytime soon. 

Favorite tracks: "Goodness Gracious" and "Devil On My Shoulder"

2. weird!, YUNGBLUD

weird! focuses on the disjuncture between self-confidence and exuberance and self-esteem - a burden we all have to figure out how to carry at one point or another in life. 

Favorite tracks: "cotton candy" and "strawberry lipstick"

3. No One Sings Like You Anymore, Chris Cornell

The final album that Cornell recorded in 2016 before his death the following year, the posthumous album contains covers by John Lennon, Prince, and Janis Joplin. 

Favorite tracks: "Jump Into the Fire" (Harry Nilsson cover) and "You Don't Know Nothing About Love" (Carl Hall cover)

4. Fake It Flowers, beabadoobee

Perfectly reminiscent of 90s riotgrrrl nostalgia. 

Favorite tracks: "Care" and "Worth It"

5. Death Of An Optimist, grandson

Death of An Optimist is a collection of bold and harsh observations about the world in which we live. grandson flexes his creative muscle excellently in this album - absolutely worth a listen. 

Favorite tracks: "Dirty" and "Drop Dead"

6. Plastic Hearts, Miley Cyrus

While it's hardly the 'hard-rock' album that Miley has been threatening to release in recent years, it's full of catchy, Stevie Nicks inspired tracks that make sense for the moment. 

Favorite tracks: "Midnight Sky", "Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix) (feat. Stevie Nicks), and "Plastic Hearts"

7. Tickets To My Downfall, Machine Gun Kelly

Hard hitting and far more 2000s punk rock inspired than his previous works, Tickets To My Downfall is MGK's best album to date. 

Favorite tracks: "kiss kiss", "bloody valentine", and "my ex's best friend" (feat. blackbear)

8. Strange Days, The Struts

With a variety of guest appearances, Strange Days perfectly depicts the feelings we've all gone through throughout the course of this hellish year. 

Favorite tracks: "Wild Child" (with Tom Morello) and "Can't Sleep"

9. Ho, why is you here?, Flo Milli

Her first full-length album, clocking in at 30 minutes exactly showcases Flo Milli's flow and rhythm, as well as her casual dismissal of the things that are bothering her, particularly, dudes who won't stop texting her. 

Favorite tracks: "In The Party", "Weak", and "May I"

10. MTV Unplugged, Pearl Jam

After spending so many years listening to this album in low-quality YouTube videos, I'm thrilled to have it released onto streaming platforms. 

Favorite tracks: "State of Love and Trust", "Even Flow", and "Porch"

Honorable Mentions:

"Figure It Out" by Blu DeTiger

"Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa

"Lying On The Floor" by Violent Soho

"Love's Gone Bad" by The Jaded Heart's Club

While it's been a hellish year, it's also been one of growth and creativity. Cheers to all that 2020 taught us, and let's hope for a healthier, happier 2021!