There’s a saying: “Bad times create great music!” Well in 2020, there was plenty of great music to be had. Most of my music shopping was online, but in the Summer time on a few occasions I went into a record store with gloves and browsed for a limited time. It was such a throwback to a happier time. The biggest selling album of 2020 was Taylor Swift’s Folklore. Here are my favorite albums of the year that kept me sane and then some:
Haim Women in Music Pt. III
Jeff Tweedy Love is the King
The Dirty Knobs Wreckless Abandon
10. Green Day Father of All…
Tie Billie Joe Armstrong No Fun Mondays
On Green Day’s best album since 2009, they wore their influences on their sleeve, especially glam and garage. On Billie Joe’s solo compilation of his cover songs he did on social media throughout 2020, he really embraced and paid tribute to his influences!
9. Will Butler Generations
The Arcade Fire co-founder’s second solo album was the next best thing to an Arcade Fire album in 2020!
8. Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
I’m sure Dylan fanatics will come after me for saying this, but Dylan’s 39th studio album is his best since the 70s!
Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien’s solo debut has some great alt rockers, many of which would sound right at place on a Radiohead album!
6. Paul McCartney McCartney III
Macca follows 1970’s McCartney and 1980’s McCartney II with another album of him playing all instruments, that felt like comfort food in 2020!
5. Sad13 Haunted Painting
Speedy Ortiz leader Sadie Dupuis really explored her pop tendencies on her second solo album and it pays off bigtime!
It took 46 years for this album to finally be released after Young recorded it and shelved it, but it truly feels like Classic Neil!
Pearl Jam came back with their best album since 2006 and the rock album we needed in 2020!
2. Bruce Springsteen Letter to You
Bruce and the E Street Band are bigger than the sum of their parts and this is one of their greatest creations since 2002!
1. Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple doesn’t release new albums too often (this is her first in 8 years) but when she dropped this song-for-song masterpiece it was well worth the wait! I only hope we don’t have to wait until 2028 for the next album!