Say all you want about 2020, there’s one thing you can’t deny. 2020 was a year filled with fantastic music by some of your all-time favorite artists. Here are our top ten records of 2020.

10. Mac Miller - Circles

The late Mac Miller's sixth and final record was released posthumously earlier this year. Since its release, the record has been met with widespread critical acclaim. Miller was well into the recording process of "Circles" before his death on September 7, 2018. Miller wrote, "Circles" with the intent to accompany his previous record "Swimming" which was released in 2018. The decision to release it after his passing was not an easy one to make. The record is riddled with the hip hop, funk, emo rap vibe that you know and love from Miller, and it's genius. The lead single "Good News" was released on January 9, 2020, hitting the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 17 followed by his second single "Blue World" which was sent to the US rhythmic contemporary radio. His lyrics present one last attempt to make himself heard in "Good News",

A lot of things I regret but I just say I forget
Why can't it just be easy? Why does everybody need me to stay?

-”Good News”

9. Kathleen Edwards - Total Freedom

Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards released her sixth studio album “Total Freedom” in August of 2020. Edwards has been in the music scene for years, beginning with her freshman record, “Failer” in 2003. Following the release of her 2012 record “Voyager”, Edwards decided to quit music in 2014. Country superstar Marren Morris invited Edwards to write a song for her record “Girl”, which in turn inspired Edwards to continue writing for herself. Since the album’s release, Edwards has received critical acclaim, hitting number 24 on the Canadian Billboard charts, and 183 on the US Billboard charts.

There were some things behind me
An open door I did not close when I was lonely
But I swore I wouldn't go near you with a ten-foot pole
It's not my fault that I wasn't sure
But I'm holding up a mirror, we look so sweet
You make me stronger, I'm waiting for nothing

-”Options Open”

8. Ball Park Music - Ball Park Music

Australian indie- rock group Ball Park Music released their sixth studio album self titled “Ball Park Music” in October of 2020. The band’s lead single “Spark Up!” was released on March 19, with their two following singles “Day & Age” and “Cherub”, navigating the record to the top 10 on Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), eventually peaking at number 2 on the ARIA list.

I shouldn't have to have a crystal clear philosophy
I shouldn't have to demonstrate that yeah, we come in peace
I shouldn't have to squat before you
So that you can see if I'm a good girl
I'm a good girl f— you

-”Spark Up”

7. Bilmuri - Eggypocket

Johnny Franck is the genius behind Bilmuri. He’s a one-man show that continuously releases amazing self-written, produced, recorded, and performed music. His newest record, “Eggy Pocket” is his tenth overall record and his second record of 2020. His style melds punk, EDM, metalcore, and pop altogether in one seamless project. His leading single off the record “ABSOLUTELYCRANKINMYMF’INHOG“ features a sample out of the 2011 video game Portal, which is identified as the first thing you hear when you open a single-player game.

Waste away
I was scared to fade away in the background
Took whatever thing you gave
Stripped away my face to hide
But I'm not gonna waste my time again
Sick of all the lies you'd always spin
I'm the same person I was then

-”ABSOLUTELYCRANKINMYMF’INHOG”

6. Waxahatchee - St. Cloud

American indie- rock group Waxahatchee released their fifth studio album, “St. Cloud” in March 2020. Frontwoman Katie Crutchfield wrote most of the record based on her struggles with addiction. The records fruition also birthed a decision in Crutchfield to get sober. Crutchfield’s voice soars with poems of healing and conflict.

That's what I wanted
It's not as if we cry a river, call it rain
West Memphis is on fire in the light of day
Give me something, it ain't enough
It ain't enough

-”Fire”

5. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush

Australia’s Tame Impala made of multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker released his fourth album, “The Slow Rush” on October 25th. The albums leading single “Patience” was released in March, followed by “It Might Be Time”, and “Posthumous Forgiveness”. The record won, Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album, Engineer of the Year, and Producer of the Year at the 2020 AIRA and is nominated for The Best Alternative Rock Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

I've been lost before
So tell me it's not over
'Cause I finally got somethin' goin'
And suddenly all my friends are growin' up
And movin' on
I must be missin' somethin'

-”It Might Be Time”

4. The Killers - Imploding The Mirage

American rock band The Killers released their sixth studio record, “Imploding The Mirage” in August 2020. During the recording of the record, the band battled through disagreements and differences, resulting in guitarist David Keuning to part ways with the group. As a result of Keuning’s absence, the record is sprinkled with a few guest artists such as Lyndsey Buckingham and Adam Granduicel. The album’s lead single “Caution”, is about frontman Brandon Flowers’ support for his wife, and her struggles with PTSD. The second single “Fire And Bone” was followed by “My Own Souls Warning” and “Dying Breed”. The infamous band had planned a world tour for the record but was derailed by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Let me introduce you
To the featherweight queen
She's got Hollywood eyes
But you can't shoot what she's seen
Her momma was a dancer
And that's all that she knew
'Cause when you live in the desert
It's what pretty girls do

-”Caution”

3. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers released her sophomore album “Punisher” in June 2020. The Urban Dictionary defines “Punisher” as a person who excessively talks about a subject matter that no one else is interested in. Bridgers decided to name her record that based on her fear of being a punisher to those in her life. The album in its entirety is ironically written around the possibility of an apocalypse. The lead single “Garden Song” is about a reoccurring dream. Her second single “Kyoto” was written about her tumultuous relationship with her father, and her final single, “ICU” was written about her relationship with a close friend, drummer, and ex-boyfriend, Marshall Vore. “Punisher” gained critical acclaim and as a result, Bridgers is nominated for Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, and Best Alternative Music Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Day off in Kyoto
I got bored at the temple
Looked around at the 7-Eleven
The band took the speed train
Went to the arcade
I wanted to go but I didn't
You called me from a payphone
They still got payphones
It cost a dollar a minute
To tell me you're getting sober
And you wrote me a letter
But I don't have to read it
I'm gonna kill you
If you don't beat me to it
Dreaming through Tokyo skies
I wanted to see the world
Then I flew over the ocean
And I changed my mind

-”Kyoto”

2. The 1975 - Notes On A Conditional Form

English rock band The 1975 released their fourth full-length album in May 2020. The eclectic album ranges from pop to rock, to electric, and a little bit of folk. In its entirety, “Notes” is comprised of 22 songs resulting in one hour and twenty minutes in length. The record is the second and final part of the titled series “Music For Cars” and features their traditional opening track, self-titled “The 1975”, which has taken on a slightly different theme with each passing record. This time, Sweedish activist Gretta Thunberg is voiced over the track, raising issues on climate change, and our current global environmental crisis. Frontman Matty Healy claims he never intended on making another record to follow their 2018 release “A Brief Inquiry To Online Relationships”, but with the launch of his new record label Dirty Hit / Polydor Records, he decided to release new material was best. The record released 7 singles, leading with “People”, “Frail State Of Mind”, “Me & You Together Song”, “The Birthday Party”, “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)”, “If You’re Too Shy”, and “Guys”. Critics have given this record a mixed bag of reviews, but loyal fans of the band consider it to be some of their best work.

Oh, what's the vibe?
I wouldn't know, I'm normally in bed at this time
You guys, go do your thing
And I'll just leave at nine
Don't wanna bore you with my (frail state of mind)

-”Frail State Of Mind”

1. Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters

American singer-songwriter Fiona Apple released her sixth studio album “Fetch The Bolt Cutters” in April 2020. The 13 track record is her first release since 2012. The record integrates found objects and experimental percussion, and the lyrical content covers topics like bullying and abuse toward women, fighting injustice, and pushing back against oppression. The record gained critical acclaim, and is nominated for Best Alternative Rock Album, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Performance for “Shameika”, at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

I used to march down the windy, windy sidewalks
Slapping my leg with a riding crop
Thinking it made me come off so tough
I didn't smile, because a smile always seemed rehearsed
I wasn't afraid of the bullies
And that just made the bullies worse

-”Shameika”