The Top 25 Albums of 2020 (So Far)

So here’s the deal: I have, in fact, been working on and planning to share new reviews…but I contracted the dreaded writer’s block. The good news is that they are coming very soon! However, I couldn’t delay the third quarter installment of the year’s top albums even though I really wanted to get those reviews out there first. You will see some new, excellent entries on this list, and although I will post their corresponding write-ups in the coming weeks, this list may be a little bit of a spoiler. No matter — September has ended and there are three months left in the year, so regardless, it’s time to reveal my revised list — the last update before the finale at the end of December. Enjoy what I consider to be the top twenty-five albums of 2020:

25. The Strokes — “The New Abnormal”

24. Margo Price — “That’s How Rumors Get Started”

23. Logic — “No Pressure”

22. Tame Impala — “The Slow Rush”

21. Norah Jones — “Pick Me Up Off The Floor”

20. Fleet Foxes — “Shore”

19. Lil Uzi Vert — “Eternal Atake”

18. Mac Miller — “Circles”

17. Tyler Childers — “Long Violent History”

16. The Weeknd — “After Hours”

15. Hayley Williams — “Petals For Armor”

14. Neil Young — “Homegrown”

13. Childish Gambino — “3.15.20”

12. Rina Sawayama — “Sawayama”

11. The 1975 — “Notes On A Conditional Form”

10. Bob Dylan — “Rough And Rowdy Ways”

9. Haim —” Women In Music Pt. III”

8. Run The Jewels — “RTJ4”

7. Perfume Genius — “Set My Heart On Fire Immediately”

6. Soccer Mommy — “Color Theory”

5. Laura Marling — “Song For Our Daughter”

4. Taylor Swift — “Folklore”

3. Phoebe Bridgers — “Punisher”

2. Dua Lipa — “Future Nostalgia”

1. Fiona Apple — “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”

I’m loving how wonderful, surprising, and excellent this year of music has been — it’s been its best year in quite a while. Forty albums down, I’m excited to listen to many more before this tumultuous year finally ends. I hope this list intrigues you enough that you give your ears something new to consume. I’ll see you in December with the best of 2020!