Pat Top Ten 2020

Top 10 Albums
1. HAIM - Women In Music Pt. III - In response to criticism about women not being recognized at the 2017 Grammys, the then-Grammy president stated that if women want to be recognized, they “need to step up.” In a year in which the music world was dominated by women (Billie, Megan, Phoebe, Taylor, Gaga, Rosalia, Ariana, Dua), the Haim sisters have “taken the steps” and stand on top. Backed by frequent collaborators Ariel Rechtshaid & Rostam Batmanglij, Danielle, Este, and Alana mostly abandon their classic retro sound to write 16 groove-driven timeless tracks. Shimmering between Sheryl Crow-esque melodies and dancing power chords, this collection is their best so far, and 2020’s masterpiece. [Listen to Now I’m In It and Summer Girl]
2. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher - “Twenty-five felt like flying” the 26-year-old indie hustler sings about the year before she started a record label, the year before she produced several albums, was featured on a dozen songs, released 2 EPs and an album. Punisher is undoubtedly the best of this work and her best project yet. Sometimes patient, and sometimes powerful, Bridgers feels like she’s still growing through these tracks that reflect so heavily on her childhood. And yet, at her highest peak so far, she shows no signs of slowing down. I’m already excited for next year. [Listen to Kyoto and I Know The End]
3. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush - The inconstant nature of time is the perfect topic for a concept album from the music world’s consummate hippie. However, Kevin Parker’s TSR also became the perfect companion to the twilight-zone era of the early pandemic. As the fourth album from this project, TSR is chalk-full of perfectly orchestrated tracks, representing Parker at the height of his power. [Listen to Borderline and It Might Be Time]
4. Bombay Bicycle Club - Everything Else Has Gone Wrong - Stupendous fret is what you feel when you’re British, aging, and in a perpetually underrated indie-pop band. At least, that’s what EEHGW would lead you to believe. This is the catchiest album of the year for me, and I think it left us with the best advice for a year in which music was often the best respite: “keep the stereo on, everything else has gone wrong.” [Listen to I Can Hardly Speak and Everything Else Has Gone Wrong]
5. Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia - In an interview with Hrishikesh Hirway (God bless Hrishikesh), Dua Lipa mentions that she never meant for this title to be interpreted as “nostalgic music for people in the future,” which appalled me because, for me, there is no better example. This album will always sound like the 18th day of not leaving the apartment, cutting vegetables for another home-cooked meal, and crushing Ed on the Nintendo Switch. Dua is 2020’s queen of pop, and this album kicks. [Listen to Cool and Hallucinate]
6. Run The Jewels - RTJ4 - In June of this year, Killer Mike of RTJ appeared before news cameras in Atlanta to discuss the recent injustice and subsequent unrest in his city. What he said was moving, it was emotional, and it was true. This has been Killer Mike’s life and it has been reflected in his music throughout his career. RTJs 1-3 are just as aggressive, just as poignant, and just as good - it’s just that with RTJ4, the world is finally listening. [Listen to walking in the snow and ooh la la]
7. Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony - This album marks the return of a forgotten prodigy. Ten years after signing to Jay Z’s Roc Nation, Jay Electronica has finally released his debut album. Written and produced over 40 days, AWT is a fascinating mix of devout faith and expert boast-rap showcasing. Accompanying him step-for-step is Jay Z in his best performance since Watch the Throne. The album is an incredible listen, and is already making me very excited for 2030. [Listen to Fruits of the Spirit and The Blinding]
8. Hazel English - Wake UP! - The debut album from this singer/band is a fuzzed-out easy listening, (ironically) mellow, and undeniably catchy record. That Hazel makes such a great indie pop album with so many interesting choices makes me very excited to see what comes next from her/them. [Listen to Wake UP! and Off My Mind]
9. Jeff Parker - Suite for Max Brown - This album was an incredible accompaniment to working from home at the beginning of the pandemic. The swirling guitars and bass lines are mesmerizing when you allow them to occupy your attention, and perfectly motivating when you let them slip behind you while you work. Loving this encouraged me to visit the back catalogue from Tortoise and boy! I was not disappointed. [Listen to C’mon Now and Build a Nest]
10. Taylor Swift - folklore - “I can change everything about me to fit in.” And just like that Taylor becomes the most self-aware rising star of indie-alternative. Teaming up with producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff, she writes a series of self-containing fairy tales that can cynically be seen as a plea for pitchfork praise. In reality, this is Taylor at her best - imaginative, emotional, and outrageously successful. [Listen to the last great american dynasty and betty]

Top 10 Jazz Albums
1. Jeff Parker - Suite for Max Brown
2. John Carroll Kirby - My Garden
3. Kamasi Washington - Becoming
4. Kansas Smitty - Things Happened Here
5. Christian Sands - Be Water
6. Immanuel Wilkins - Omega
7. Terrace Martin · Robert Glasper · 9th Wonder - Dinner Party
8. John Carroll Kirby - Conflict 
9. Jeremy Pelt - The Art of Intimacy Vol. 1
10. Moses Boyd - Dark Matter

Best Covers:

1. Amber Mark - Heart-Shaped Box [Originally by Nirvana]
2. Madison Cunningham - Hold On [Originally by Tom Waits]
3. Kelly Lee Owens - Arpeggi [Originally by Radiohead]

Exceptionally Honorable Mentions
Harry Styles - A Fine Line [this album is so good and came out too late last year to be included on my list. Listen to Falling and Sunflower, Vol. 6]
Fleet Foxes - Shore [Listen to Featherweight and A Long Way Past The Past]
The Beths - Jump Rope Gazers [Listen to Do You Want Me Now and Dying to Believe]
Julianna Barwick - Healing Is A Miracle [Listen to Inspirit and Healing Is A Miracle]
​The Weeknd - After Hours [Listen to Blinding Lights and Save Your Tears]