Despite the chaotic year 2020 has been, one break in the clouds is the multiple albums that were released by insanely talented musicians this year. Sheesh Magazine listed some of our favourite albums of 2020 half way through the year, and without hesitation, here is our much-needed second half of the list to keep us all a little more sane during this stressful time.
Listed in order of release date:
1. Grimes, ‘Miss Anthropocene’
Grimes’ impeccable mastermind and brilliant production skills come together in the creation of her fifth studio album Miss Anthropocene. This Canadian musician is best known for her beautiful vocals and sounds unlike any other. Stepping inside this album brings listeners inside the complex mind of Grimes, a creative place where each track weaves itself together to make life of this masterful pop album.
Released: February 21
Our favourite tracks: “Violence” & “Delete Forever”
2. Yves Tumor, ‘Heaven To A Tortured Mind’
Yves Tumor keeps delivering promising content, as his fourth studio album Heaven To A Tortured Mind brings fans some of his greatest work yet. Critics heavily praised this work of art as it has accumulated high ratings all around. The experimental electronic artist still presents the vibe of psychedelic soul-like sounds which were found on his previous albums. Listen away and hear the experimental tendencies and dark subversions that are all found in this 12-length tracklist.
Released: April 3
Our favourite tracks: “Gospel For A New Century” & “Romanticist”
3. The Strokes, ‘The New Abnormal’
The highly anticipated and longly awaited album The New Abnormal finally arrived for Strokes fans this year. It’s been seven years since we’ve seen the Strokes last in action, and fans and critics are very pleased with the delivery of this excellent album. While listening let the vocals, multiple instruments and mad production skills transcend you into a place unlike any other.
Released: April 10
Our favourite tracks: “Ode To The Mets” & “The Adults Are Talking”
4. Chloe X Halle, ‘Ungodly Hour’
Sister-duo Chloe and Halle unite their gifted talents to deliver their superb second-studio album Ungodly Hour. Together they beautifully harmonize their blood-related voices to bring to life this R&B-type sound. Their youthful energy crafted together an album full of complex levels, beautiful vocals and lyricism. Undoubtedly, these sisters are making major impacts inside the music industry. This is just the beginning of a long and fulfilling road that lies ahead for Chloe and Halle.
Released: June 12
Our favourite tracks: “Do It” & “Forgive Me”
5. Kali Uchis, ‘Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞’
Kali Uchis recently released her first entirely Spanish spoken album Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞. The 26-year old enables this dream-like sensation to gift to the ears of her listeners while making their way through this monumental album. Featuring voices like Rico Nasty and PARTYNEXTDOOR, this is an album you don’t want to miss. Her thick and angelic voice carries itself track after track, as the album is a documentation of how truly talented and remarkable Kali Uchis is.
Released: November 18
Our favourite tracks: “la luz (Fín)” & “¡aquí yo mando!”
6. Rico Nasty, ‘Nightmare Vacation’
Rico Nasty and her nasty, catchy sounds debut themselves in her first studio album Nightmare Vacation. Nasty has a deep appreciation for the type of sound she carries in her complex vocal performance and instrumental sounds. Her furious rapping skills spit raunchy and steamy lyricism in a combination of tracks on this album. Altogether, critics and fans believe this is Nasty bringing forward some of her best music and material yet.
Released: December 4
Our favourite tracks: “OHFR?” & “Smack A Bitch (Remix)”
7. Kid Cudi, ‘Man On The Moon III: The Chosen’
Kid Cudi is loyal to his fans. After previously gifting them with both Man on the Moon: The End of the Day and Man on the Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager, Cudi came in clutch and delivered the third installment to complete his trilogy, Man on the Moon III: The Chosen. Despite this album only shortly being released, it has easily become one of the year’s best. Cudi’s fans are more than satisfied with the deliverance of this magnificent album full of bangers, track-after-track. This album features artists Pop Smoke, Skepta, Trippie Redd and Phoebe Bridgers. Listen through and let the soothing sounds of Cudi’s hypnotizing hums transcend you into his universe— a world unlike any other.
Released: Dec 11
Our favourite tracks: “Heaven On Earth” & “Solo Dolo, Pt. III”
Ultimately, there are countless remarkably talented artists who shined their way through 2020 with diverse and complex arrangements of sounds on multiple albums. Grateful that through the storm 2020 has been, we have been presented with the beautiful gift of music to take listeners away into another place that seems much calmer than the world right now. We can only await what a promising future lies ahead in 2021—until then.
