Screenshot of Isabel Leonard in Francis Poulenc’s “Dialogues of the Carmélites” by There Stands the Glass.
The following compendium is the result of a music obsessive finally fulfilling a lifelong fantasy of scrutinizing sound every waking hour for months on end. While the circumstances are tragic, the relentless consumption of my music of choice acts as a balm. Performances by Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Post Malone, Roddy Ricch and Luciana Souza were the most memorable concerts I attended in the opening weeks of 2020. I’ve since filled the void created by the absence of live music with a crash course in opera. I’ve watched a complete production each of the last 257 days. In the time not dedicated to composers like Philip Glass, Giacomo Puccini and Richard Wagner, I’ve obsessed over the recordings listed below. Reviews of many of the selections are published at this site and at my jazz blog Plastic Sax.
The Top 50 Albums of 2020
1. Clarice Jensen- The Experience of Repetition as Death
2. Jyoti- Mama, You Can Bet!
3. Bad Bunny- YHLQMDLG
4. Peter CottonTale- Catch
5. Jay Electronica- A Written Testimony
6. Mac Miller- Circles
7. Beatrice Dillon- Workaround
8. Jennifer Curtis and Tyshawn Sorey- Invisible Ritual
9. Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist- Alfredo
10. Gorillaz- Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
11. Westside Gunn- Flygod Is an Awesome God 2
12. William Basinski- Lamentations
13. Shirley Collins- Heart's Ease
14. Ambrose Akinmusire- On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment
15. Bob Dylan- Rough and Rowdy Ways
16. Bill Frisell- Valentine
17. Anja Lechner and François Couturier- Lontano
18. José James- No Beginning No End 2
19. Childish Gambino- 3.15.20
20. Kaja Draksler Octet- Out for Stars
21. Armand Hammer- Shrines
22. Nine Inch Nails- Ghosts VI: Locusts
23. Jeremy Pelt- The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1
24. Run the Jewels- RTJ4
25. Moor Mother and Nicole Mitchell- Offering
26. Bill Fay- Countless Branches
27. Hailu Mergia- Yene Mircha
28. Angelica Sanchez and Marilyn Crispell- How to Turn the Moon
29. Nick Cave- Idiot Prayer: Alone at Alexandra Palace, 2020
30. Sara Serpa- Recognition
31. Nicolás Jaar- Cenizas
32. Teyana Taylor- The Album
33. Steve Arrington- Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions
34. Yaeji- What We Drew
35. Norah Jones- Pick Me Up Off the Floor
36. Rudresh Mahanthappa- Hero Trio
37. Mozzy- Beyond Bulletproof
38. Sturgill Simpson- Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1, The Butcher Shoppe Sessions
39. Mary Halvorson’s Code Girl- Artlessly Falling
40. Brad Mehldau- Suite: April 2020
41. Zara McFarlane- Songs of an Unknown Tongue
42. Kvelertak- Splid
43. Conway the Machine- From King to a God
44. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah- Axiom
45. Lianne La Havas- Lianne La Havas
46. Ellen Fullman & Theresa Wong- Harbors
47. Reverend John Wilkins- Trouble
48. Susan Alcorn Quintet- Pedernal
49. Raheem DeVaughn- What a Time to Be In Love
50. Tame Impala- The Slow Rush
The Top 25 EPs of 2020
1. Pongo- Uwa
2. Atmosphere- The Day Before Halloween
3. Obongjayar- Which Way Is Forward?
4. Rafiq Bhatia- Standards, Vol. 1
5. Blackstarkids- Surf
6. Roomful of Teeth and Michael Harrison- Just Constellations
7. Eddie Chacon- Pleasure, Joy and Happiness
8. Medhane- Full Circle
9. Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats- Unlocked
10. Philip Glass Ensemble- Music In Eight Parts
11. Christine and the Queens- La Vita Nuova
12. Marcos Valle- Jazz Is Dead 003
13. Flee Lord and Pete Rock- The People's Champ
14. Pasquale Grasso- Solo Bird
15. Black Noi$e- Oblivion
16. Omar Apollo- Apolonio
17. Lyric Jones- Closer Than They Appear
18. E-40- The Curb Commentator Channel 1
19. Tricky- Fall to Pieces
20. Aoife O’Donovan- Bull Frogs Croon (and Other Songs)
21. Joseph- Trio Sessions, Vol. 1
22. 10k.Caash- Planet Swajjur
23. We the People- Misunderstood
24. A$AP Ferg- Floor Seats II
25. Blackpink- The Album
The Top 25 Reissues, Compilations and Reimaginings of 2020
1. Flying Lotus- Flamagra (Instrumentals)
2. Prince- Sign o’ the Times (Super Deluxe)
3. Gil Scott-Heron- We’re New Again: A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven
4. Sleaford Mods- All That Glue
5. Jóhann Jóhannsson and Yair Elazar Glotman- Last and First Men
6. The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection
7. Gillian Welch- Boots No 2: The Lost Songs, Vol. 1
8. Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela- Rejoice
9. Mike and the Moonpies- Touch of You: The Lost Songs of Gary Stewart
10. Iva Bittová and Dorothea Kellerova- Bartók: 44 Duets for Two Violins
11. Ennio Morricone- Morricone Segreto
12. Kassa Overall- Shades of Flu: Healthy Remixes for an Ill Moment
13. The Stooges- Live at Goose Lake: August 8, 1970
14. Charlie Parker- The Savoy 10-Inch LP Collection
15. Soul Love Now: The Black Fire Records Story: 1975-1993
16. Jon Gibson- Songs & Melodies, 1973-77
17. Neil Young- Homegrown
18. Ambiance- Into a New Journey
19. Edward Simon- 25 Years
20. Stone Crush: Modern Memphis Soul 1977-1987
21. Soul Jazz Records Presents Kaleidoscope: New Spirits Known and Unknown
22. Dave Alvin- From an Old Guitar: Rare and Unreleased Recordings
23. Thelonious Monk- Palo Alto
24. Yusuf- Tea for the Tillerman 2
25. Ipa-Boogie- Ipa-Boogie
The Top 50 Songs of 2020 (Spotify playlist)
1. Juice Wrld- “Wishing Well”
2. Zsela- "Drinking"
3. Caroline Shaw and David Lang- “When I Am Alone”
4. 070 Shake- “Guilty Conscience”
5. Drake featuring Lil Durk- “Laugh Now Cry Later”
6. Thundercat- "Black Qualls"
7. Little Simz- "Might Bang, Might Not"
8. Alicia Keys featuring Khalid- "So Done"
9. Sam Hunt- "Hard to Forget"
10. John Prine- “I Remember Everything”
11. Streets and Idles- “None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive”
12. 6ix9ine- "Gooba"
13. Sa-Roc- "Hand of God"
14. Frank Ocean- "Cayendo"
15. Meredith Monk and the Bang on a Can All-Stars- “The Games: Downfall”
16. Stephen Malkmus- “The Greatest Own in Legal History”
17. Elle King- "The Let Go"
18. Chris Stapleton- “You Should Probably Leave”
19. J Balvin- "Amarillo"
20. Genevieve Artadi- “Godzillaaaa”
21. City Girls- "Jobs"
22. Eminem, Royce Da 5’9”, Black Thought, Q-Tip and Denaun- "Yah Yah"
23. Future and Lil Uzi Vert- "Marni On Me"
24. Duck Sauce- "Captain Duck"
25. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion- "WAP"
26. Groupe RTD- "Buuraha U Dheer"
27. Destroyer- “Cue Synthesizer”
28. Jessie Ware- “Remember Where You Are”
29. Illuminati Hotties- “Freequent Letdown”
30. Chloe x Halle- “Don’t Make It Harder On Me”
31. Ledisi- "Anything For You"
32. Rapsody and Bilal- “Pray Momma Don’t Cry”
33. Flo Milli- "May I"
34. BTS- "Ugh!"
35. Hinds- “Just Like Kids (Miau)”
36. Bruce Springsteen- “Janey Needs a Shooter”
37. Norah Jane Struthers- “I Feel Like My Old Self”
38. 2 Chainz- “Wait For You to Die”
39. Deftones- "Genesis"
40. Ty Dolla $ign featuring Kanye West, FKA Twigs and Skrillex- "Ego Death"
41. Miley Cyrus- “Midnight Sky”
42. Willie Nelson- "Our Song"
43. Ray Wylie Hubbard featuring Elizabeth Cook and Paula Nelson- “Drink Til I See Double”
44. The Magnetic Fields- “Favorite Bar”
45. Tyler Childers- "Long Violent History"
46. James Blake- "I Keep Calling"
47. Playboi Carti- “@meh”
48. Poppy- "Don't Go Outside"
49. Conway the Machine featuring Flee Lord, Havoc and Lloyd Banks- "Juvenile Hell"
50. Metz- "Pulse"