See who releasead the top album of 2020.
NEW FACES, OLD FAVORITES RELEASED THE YEAR’S Memorable music from Polo G, Taylor Swift, Doves, X
This was the a year that underscores so clearly why we need music.
It helps us cope with the times, as it soothes and settles our hearts and minds. It can distract us from the day, or intensely focus our thoughts on current issues.
It can make us feel like we’re connected to something bigger, even in a year when millions of people were feeling isolated and alone. It’s like a good friend, in a time when we couldn’t always be with our friends.
And music was there for us when we needed it most, as a ton of good albums were released this year. Here are our picks for the top 10 albums of 2020.
1. ‘The Goat,’ Polo G
You’d better be ready to deliver when you choose an album title like “The Goat,” knowing that many people will translate it as a self-proclamation for being “the greatest of all time.” Yet, deliver is exactly what Polo G does on his stunning sophomore effort, which showcases all the reasons why this 21-year- old rapper should be a real contender for years to come.
The album is full of grit and glory, with Polo G delivering one memorable line after another as he paints uncompromising portraits of his young life in his native Chicago. The production is relatively straightforward and low-key — rarely ever crowded — further spotlighting the stark rhymes.
Polo G probably doesn’t actu
ally think he’s “the greatest of all time” — at least not yet, anyway. He’s downplayed the seemingly
pretentious title during interviews, saying that it was intended as a reference to his Capricorn zo
diac sign. ( Yeah, we’re not buying that explanation either.)
Yet, we don’t need to downplay anything here: “The Goat” is simply the greatest album of 2020.
2. ‘Folklore,’ Taylor Swift
The biggest pop star on the planet takes another unexpected turn, leaving the pumped- up world of Top 40 dance hits behind in favor of introspective, intimate singer- songwriter/indiefolk-pop. The result is arguably Swift’s most enchanting album to date, filled with a half- dozen immediate standouts — the best of which is the achingly sad love song “The 1” — and the remaining 10 or so likely to grow on you with each listen.
“Folklore” stands as further proof that Swift is crafting one of the most artistically satisfying careers of all time, approaching the same level as the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Prince, David Bowie and Madonna. It should also be noted that, as a way to feature more voices in our annual top 10 list, we made the decision to only include one offering per artist. If that weren’t the case, Swift’s “Evermore” — released less than five months after “Folklore” — would easily have made the cut as well.
3. ‘The Universal Want,’ Doves
It always felt like this brainy British alt-rock outfit left the party too soon, having delivered four splendid albums — the best of which is 2002’s mind-blowing “The Last Broadcast” — in just 10 years’ time before calling it quits in 2010.
Well, it turns out Doves did have plenty more to offer, as the trio proved when it finally released its fifth full-length album in September.
“The Universal Want” is a gorgeous monument to musical