Killer virus and political mayhem aside, 2020 wasn’t all that bad. There was some phenomenal music released this year. In fact, whittling this list down to just 20 tracks was a real challenge. Below are some of the tracks that I kept returning to this year.
(P.S. Don’t forget to also check out my worst songs of 2020 if you like lists. If you're a hardcore listophile, feel free to also check out my favourite songs from '19, '18, '17 and '16.)
IT’S LIST TIME!!! I’ve already started working on my favourite tracks and favourite albums lists. But before we embrace the best of 2020, let’s remind ourselves of some of the most terrible songs from this terrible year. Compared to my previous lists, this year's annual music horror show is particularly ghastly. In fact, it's so ghastly that 6ix9ine didn’t even make the cut. Proceed at your own risk...
We're now into December. I can't decide whether this year has gone incredibly fast or whether it's been the slowest year ever,
Tunes to listen to while buying shit you don’t need in the Black Friday sale. FIFTY QUID FOR A PORTABLE SINGING TOASTER?! BARGAIN!!!!!
Martin Gore gets menacing, Tierra Whack gets wacky and Lil Pump goes pro-Trump, plus more...
A LOT has happened in the last two weeks. Biden has won the US election. The UK has gone back into lockdown. A potential Covid vaccine has been announced. And a plethora of new music has been released. I missed last week’s track roundup, so this week’s selection is a little lengthier to make up for it. NINE TRACKS THIS WEEK. You’re getting spoilt.
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Sufjan’s new record is an outpouring of frustration – and the perfect soundtrack to 2020.
Skrillex sounds spiritless and The Weeknd embraces his weird side. The rest are underground gems.
Deftones are back sporting 9-string guitars, seagull sound effects and tighter songwriting.
The Village People are singing about rainbow suspenders and Ariana Grande is in two rooms at once.
This week, Stevie Wonder collaborates with Busta Rhymes and Rapsody, while Kanye drops his own presidential ‘theme tune’.
This week features heart emojis, Bop It and an unexpected guest feature from Elton John.
Ultra Mono? MORE LIKE ULTRA MONOTONOUS. (I’m kidding - this album is far from boring. It is, however, a bit underwhelming compared to the band’s past material).
Vin Diesel has released an EDM track and it's neither fast nor furious.
Bieber is now making Christian pop, while Clipping continues to concoct devilish horror rap.
A Hero’s Death is a depressing album. But somehow an enjoyably depressing one.
It's the end of the week and Kanye's still pissing on his Grammy as we speak. I didn't do a track roundup last week, so here's an extra long one for y'all.
The new Big Sean track is a big improvement, Napalm Death’s new track is hot fire and the new BTS track is a load of BS.
No worst tracks this week.
Is the new Idles track impressing me? Will I be wowed by 'WAP'? Can Corey Taylor captivate me?
It’s a strange mixed bag of pop and metal this week.
The new J Cole track is gold. The new Jake Paul track... not so much.
RTJ4? iS tHaT R2D2s cOuSiN??? No numbnuts, it’s the new album from Run the Jewels...
These are some of the most creatively filthy EDM bangers I’ve ever heard.
It's time for the best tracks of the last two weeks (I missed last week's track roundup). Sufjan Stevens' new single has me floored. Meanwhile, I'm feeling less happy about Dixie D'Amelio's 'Be Happy'.
Is the new Kanye album going to be a Christian version of Yeezus?
A lot of songs have been written about the pandemic. I’ve rounded up some of the best and the worst for your listening pleasure/displeasure.
J Cole's 'IQ is average', Cubgod is going to 'save the world' and Belle Delphine is 'back'...
Once you get past the very very very lo-fi production, The Garden’s unique blend of grunge/grindcore/jungle/trap/funk is actually quite thrilling.
Lots of gems from underground artists this week, as well as a new single from The Dalai Lama himself!
