For many, the year of 2020 will be remembered for many of the wrong reasons. The loss of our country's live music and festivals scenes from March left me with so few gigs to choose from with my End of Year Lists, however, left much time in which to delve further into the world of recorded music. So - without further ado, please find below my Top 8 Gigs, Top 30 LPs, Top 30 Singles, Top 5 EPs, and Top 5 Emerging Artists of such a transformative year.
Be sure to check out many of the playlists and previously-written reviews linked below...
Best Gigs of 2020
8. The Wants at The Lexington, London
Reminiscent of such acts as Television, Neu!, and Kraftwerk, this band proved a welcomed addition to the today's art-rock scene, conquering both sides of the Atlantic - including London's intimate Lexington. Showcasing their readily raw material from their debut LP, Container, the American art-rock act ehmpatically grooved their way into the hearts and minds of those attending.
Read the full review here.
7. Shabaka Hutchings & Britten Sinfonia at Barbican Centre, London
“It’s a reflection of jazz...but it’s not a jazz piece.”
In this turbulent world in which we reside, someone, somewhere, thought it might be apt to bring about the clash of two other worlds staged within London’s stoic Barbican Centre. 72 years after Aaron Copland and Benny Goodman’s classical-jazz ‘clash’ Shabaka Hutchings threw down his gauntlet amongst an insatiable duel displayed within a livestream.
Read the full review here.
6. Richard Dawson at Barbican Centre, London
“This could be an epicentre for an explosion of love.”
Come to think of it, this was unusual in every way possible: grounded in London’s Barbican; offering my first show in 268 days; performed by a shaggy-haired artist reciting 500-year old tales. The true literary authorship of Dawson prompted us to let our hair down one final time before a looming lockdown on the capital, basking in a true, 15th-century inspired ‘explosion of love’.
Read the full review here.
5. Black Midi, New Road at Windmill, London
“It’s not like buying a pancake, this is going to last forever.”
This time last year, 100 of us snuggled inside the now-struggling venue of Brixton’s Windmill admiring the supergroup of Black Midi and Black Country, New Road exude Christmas cheer. For their comeback, 1,000 of us remained snuggled within our homely environments as the same supergroup came to their beloved venue’s rescue.
Read the full review here.
4. Post Animal at Shacklewell Arms, London
Promoting their latest sophomore LP, Forward Motion Godyssey, Post Animal may have slacked on their security measures, but certainly made up for in an hour-long set crammed with their modern concoction of brash garage rock with hypnotic psychedelics - much reminiscent of their juggernaut contemporaries Tame Impala.
Read the full review here.
3. Caroline Polachek at Heaven, London
For this final show, before the panic stations were indefinitely taken on this Covid-19 outbreak, Caroline Polachek’s performance proved to be a fond lasting memory amidst the doom and gloom of isolation. Synonymous with the ‘pang’ with our country’s current situation, Polachek’s 3rd LP, Pang, also injected a sharp hit of emotions into our bloodstreams before departing into the fray of our respective homely lives.
Read the full review here.
2. JPEGMAFIA at Earth, London
On this third occasion of viewing the rapping masterclass of the receding-hairline-rapper Jpegmafia, Hackney’s audience came out in force to witness the ever-growing rise of this man. Journeying with him over the past couple of years, it ultimately culminated with his sold-out EU and UK tour promoting his elusively experimental 3rd LP, All My Heroes Are Cornballs.
Read the full review here.
1. Dan Deacon at Scala, London
“Imagine if all LSD ran out tomorrow...there’s a part of you that thinks ‘I should try it’ - that’s how you should treat the idea of seeing Cats.”
Deacon’s finale before the onslaught of Covid-19 came from a human-formed tunnel - traversing from the dancefloor to the outskirts of the venue. With the multi-faceted composer rushing through such a triumphant tunnel of reciprocated love, this communal scene still resonates in my mind as an awe-inspiring, wholesome experience which has me longing for this country's return of live music.
Read the full review here.
Best Albums of 2020
30. HMLTD: West of Eden
29. Rina Sawayama: Sawayama
28. Charli XCX: How I'm Feeling Now
27. A.A.L: 2017-2019
26. Adrianne Lenker: Songs / Instrumentals
25. Phoebe Bridgers: Punisher
24. Conway the Machine: From King to a God
23. Kelly Lee Owens: Inner Song
22. Crack Cloud: Pain Olympics
21. Poppy: I Disagree
20. Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood: Live
19. Bad Bunny: YHLQMDLG
18. Moor Jewelry: True Opera
17. The Flaming Lips: American Head
16. Horse Lords: The Common Task
15. Imperial Triumphant: Alphaville
14. Jeff Rosenstock: No Dream
13. Blu & Exile: Miles (From an Interlude Called Life)
12. Sevdaliza: Shabrang
11. Idles: Ultra Mono
10. Backxwash: God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It
At last, the Canadian-based rapper Backxwash has released her debut LP with a feverish tenacity and conviction buried in a stew of modern hip-hop. Conglomerating tropes of punk, goth, and rap in a cacophony of her experimental hip-hop machine, the newcomer deservedly won the 2020 Polaris Music Prize for this spellbinding piece of work.
Read the full review here.
9. Gorillaz: Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
Damon Albarn & Co have returned with truly some of their best work to date - insatiably obscure features, tight-knit and elusive production, as well as a particularly cohesive and fluid album for listeners of almost every scene. Whilst their recent repertoire may have gone off the boil, this can certainly be considered a real return to form.
8. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist: Alfredo
Gibbs effortlessly revels amongst Alchemist's glitchy, heavy-handed sampling - grinding through various gears of conscious rap, glistening soul, and infectious funk littered with luring features from head to toe. This is a rapping undertow which will draw you in for good.
Read the full review here.
7. Perfume Genius: Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
Forever tussling with the eternal struggle of love, situated in a world of hyper-masculinity within the outbacks of the United States, Hadreas once again delivers some haunting truths and crushing realities amidst the clamouring hold of romance.
Read the full review here.
6. Dorian Electra: My Agenda
After inching into my Top 30 LPs of last year with their debut, Flamboyant, Dorian Electra has no doubt climbed the ranks with their second attempt, My Agenda. The Houston-based singer-songwriter seamlessly soars through an hyper-updated blend of electropop, metal, and careening electronics on their latest project - resulting in some formidable singles amidst a slew of impressive features.
5. Run The Jewels: RTJ4
Killer Mike and El-P have enlisted their 4th LP as their grandest statement yet. Standing head and shoulders above many of the other rap albums produced this year, the unflappable rap/production duo strike while the iron's hot - raging with red and white embers throughout the journey. A quintessential 2020 album.
Read the full review here.
4. Moses Sumney: Græ
Exploiting the nature of multiplicity and the void of such “in betweens” encapsulated in a world of looming R&B and electronics, Sumney has profoundly executed a near-perfect LP with admirable maturity - marking an uncanny reflection on our current void of isolation thus far.
Read the full review here.
3. Natalia Lafourcade: Un Canto por México Vol. 1
Marking her 9th studio effort, Lafourcade oozes an untampered and unrivalled quality when it comes to embracing her established repertoire: soaring vocal melodies, vibrant guitars, piercing brass - all underpinned by the joyous Mexican-based community supporting her every step of the way. For those of you looking to be transported to another time and place right now, this may well be the album for you.
Read the full review here.
2. Jessie Ware: What's Your Pleasure?
The 4th LP from the English singer-songwriter stretches together the notions of house, electropop and funk into a breathable experience under the ongoing lockdown restrictions. Bearing various similarities to A.A.L's 2012-2017 and Donna Summer, the infectiously upbeat vibrancy circulates through every single one of Ware's fibres - transmitting itself onto our disheveled selves as a desperate last-chance-saloon out of lockdown blues. A memorably uplifting experience which will consume your heart with infectious grooves time and time again.
Read the full review here.
1. Clipping: Visions of Bodies Being Burned
And this year's top spot is taken by none other than the experimental American hip-hop trio Clipping and their 4th studio LP, Visions of Bodies Being Burned. As the title may suggest, this LP isn't exactly for the faint-hearted: inundated with gory details of a violent horrorcore nature, Daveed Diggs & Co have produced a truly spellbinding, enrapturing LP into a 52-minute experience. This album is certainly unlike any other currently out there, and for all of the best reasons - you've been warned.
Honourable Mentions:
Chris Stapleton: Starting Over
Dan Deacon: Mystic Familiar
Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats: Unlocked
Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia
Fiona Apple: Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Haim: Women in Music Pt. III
Laura Marling: Song For Our Daughter
Lianne La Havas: Lianne La Havas
Liturgy: Origin of the Alimonies
Matmos: The Consuming Flame: Open Exercises in Group Form
R.A.P Ferreira: Purple Moonlight Pages
The Koreatown Oddity: Little Dominiques Nosebleed
The Weeknd: After Hours
Best Singles of 2020
30. Model/Actriz: ‘Suntan’
29. U.S. Girls: ‘Overtime’
28. Jamie xx: ‘Idontknow’
27. Tyler, The Creator: ‘Best Interest'
26. Aminé: ‘Shimmy'
25. Bad Bunny: ‘La Difícil'
24. JPEGMAFIA: ‘Bald!’
23. Run The Jewels: ‘Yankee and The Brave (Ep. 4)’
22. Charli XCX: ‘Forever’
21. Perfume Genius: ‘Describe’
20. Laura Marling: ‘Held Down’
19. Terrace Martin & Denzel Curry: ‘Pig Feet'
18. Shame: ‘Snow Day’
17. HAIM: ‘The Steps’
16. Ashnikko: ‘Daisy’
15. Clipping: ‘Say the Name’
14. The Weeknd: ‘After Hours'
13. Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion: ‘WAP'
12. Gorillaz feat. ScHoolboy Q: ‘Pac-Man'
11. Idles: 'Model Village'
10. Natalia Lafourcade: ‘Veracruz’
Sumptuous beauty has always been instilled within the Mexican singer-songwriter's work. However, her latest single from her latest LP, 'Veracruz', soars even further into these sumptuous ethers with a spell-binding tribute and homage to her hometown state in Mexico.
9. Rina Sawayama: ‘XS’
After storming through with her debut LP, Sawayama, earlier this year, the British singer-songwriter chose this insatiably nostalgic single as the leader of the pack. Consumed by 90s/00s pop throwbacks and enticing hooks, Sawayama deepens her pop repertoire once more for the hungry masses in our current popsphere.
8. Tkay Maidza: ‘Shook’
Carrying us through the balmy hot summers of this year, the Australian singer-songwriter and rapper brought this single to the fore ahead of her highly-lauded EP, Last Year Was Weird, Vol 2. Tight-knit production and an insatiable hook leaps this single into the top 10 singles of the year with pure ease.
7. Dorian Electra feat. Village People & Pussy Riot: ‘My Agenda’
Whilst many Electra fans have picked up on the reference to 'homosexual frogs' saddling this electropop single, the track as a whole ducks and weaves into external, out-of-reach stratospheres within pop as we know it - all the more bettered by its counterparts Village People and Pussy Riot.
6. Imperial Triumphant: ‘City Swine’
The New York black metal group forge themselves into this listing with an unadulterated, unfiltered breach into the monolithic prowess of a genre tinged with jazz leanings and consumed by an overwhelmingly enticing drum feature from Meshuggah's Tomas Haake.
5. Moses Sumney: ‘Me in 20 Years’
It may seem like an entire lifetime since this single was released at the very beginning of this year, yet Sumney's endearing, candid vocal delivery amidst the swelling sounds of melancholic synths still resonate within me to this day. A sobering experience for any of you looking to start your new year on a wallowing note.
4. SZA feat. Ty Dolla $ign: ‘Hit Different’
Following in similar footsteps, the American R&B singer SZA has finally hit back with her highly-anticipated return single with a helping hand from The Neptunes and Pharrell Williams on production. The real beauty behind SZA's vocal and lyrical prowess shine through once more, reasserting to us that the wait since her debut LP in 2017 really was worthwhile.
3. Black Country, New Road: ‘Science Fair’
The obscure 8-piece has endowed in me yet another single of their's into the top 5 for this year. After releasing their traversing single 'Sunglasses' last year, Black Country, New Road follow suit with their successor single 'Science Fair', just months before their debut LP release. Reciting a simpler time at a science fair, the lead-singer disperses his romantic pinings with such elusive yet enticing obscurity.
2. Rosalía: ‘Juro Que’
It's no secret I've been hooked on the Spanish popstar's repertoire since the release of her sophomore LP in 2018, El Mal Querer. And it's also no secret that she's bolstered herself from strength to strength since then, releasing notable singles and features inundated with applause from musicians and critics alike. However, this second spot is swept up in a true-blue homage to her Spanish flamenco roots updated with a modern, romantically-fledged twist like no other.
1. Jessie Ware: ‘Spotlight’
And this top spot is ultimately taken from one of the best LPs of this year, What's Your Pleasure?. Jessie Ware effortlessly revamps the nostalgic sounds of disco and pop into the modern (covid-safe) dancefloor with this single, surging the desperate masses through a torturously challenging year and optimistically into the new year.
Listen to the full playlist of singles here.
Honourable Mentions:
100 Gecs feat. Charli XCX, Rico Nasty & Kero Kero Bonito: 'Ringtone (Remix)'
Adrianne Lenker: 'Anything'
Blu & Exile: 'The Feeling'
Jessica Winter: 'Sad Music'
Lianne La Havas: 'Weird Fishes'
Lingua Ignota: 'O Ruthless Great Divine Director'
Phoebe Bridgers: 'Kyoto'
Sech, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin & Rosalía: 'Relación (Remix)'
Shygirl: 'Freak'
Slowthai: 'NHS'
Yves Tumor: 'Gospel for a New Century'
Best Eps of 2020
5. Flatbush Zombies: Now, More Than Ever
The Brooklyn-based rap trio continue their craft at experimental, challenging hip-hop with their second EP, Now, More Than Ever, showcasing some of the most noteworthy rap singles of this year littered with impressive production and elusive deliveries throughout.
4. Shygirl: Alias
The British newcomer on the experimental pop scene, Shygirl, surges to the fore with her sophomore EP, Alias, exuding an effective raunchy sexiness and intimacy seldom found in modern pop. As you'll find later on in this article, she'll be one to watch as we move forward into the new year, particularly if you find yourself situated in the U.K...
3. Dos Monos: Dos Siki
The Japanese-based hip-hop group arrive in third spot with their unbridled and adventurous summoning of modern trap against some more elusive, glitchy production littered throughout. Whilst the group may be less well known in this part of the world, they're certainly worth watching and, at the very least, worth spending 15 minutes of your day to consume some creative hip-hop.
2. JPEGMAFIA: EP!
The Baltimore-based rapper Peggy comes through with yet another piece of work which deserves your time and recognition (if you're inclined by slightly leftfield rap) - tying together a collection of experimental, understated tracks into a neat 26-minute listening experience.
1. Tkay Maidza: Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2
This EP should be seen as a true diamond amongst the roughage of 2020 - rightfully lauded by critics throughout the world for Maidza's insatiable blend of modern trap with funky grooves and poppier hooks undoubtedly lifting our spirits through the year of 2020 and into 2021.
Honourable Mentions:
Backxwash: Stigmata
Bring Me The Horizon: Post Human: Survival Horror
Dirty Projectors:Windows Open
James Blake: Before
Little Simz: Drop 6
Best Emerging Artists of 2020
This list is not just for the artists who began publishing music this year, but for those who well and truly sprung to my personal radar during 2020 and whom should be given the time of day to be recognised as pertinent artists for the near future.
5. Lil Mariko
Whilst we've yet to experience an entire body of work from the incoming pop artist, the elusive singer has certainly given her fair share of features (both singing and screaming) amongst Dorian Electra's latest LP and her latest singles, 'Shiny' and 'Don't Touch', in collaboration with Full Tac. One to watch for those avid fans of hyperpop tinged with metal tendencies.
4. Sinead O'Brien
I was fortunate enough to have had the chance to interview this Irish singer-songwriter earlier this year for Gigwise ahead of her single 'Roman Ruins'. What I found was a remarkably thought-provoking, poetic artist deftly churning her craft into an enticing repertoire built upon spoken word, art-rock, and post-punk - be sure to keep an eye out for her if you're in the London area over the next year...
3. Shygirl
Staying close to home, Shygirl has been one of the latest notable installations of modern pop to transcend today's overflowing market. After noting her sophomore EP of this year (see above), an intimate prowess over her delicate formulations of pop reign supreme and certainly worth keeping on your radar for the forthcoming year - again, especially if you're in the London area...
2. Ashnikko
2020 has undoubtedly been a triumph for the American pop singer-songwriter Ashnikko. After garnering more domestic attention from the release of her debut EP last year, Hi, It's Me, this year she has effectively crossed the pond and onto our poppier radio stations with such singles as 'Cry (Feat. Grimes)' and 'Daisy'. Now based in London, (you may cotton on to what I'm alluding to here) be sure to...
1. Tkay Maidza
2020 has been the year of Tkay Maidza - the Zimbabwean-born, Australian singer-songwriter and rapper burst onto the international scene earlier this year with the critically-acclaimed second instalment of her EP series, Last Year Was Weird. Endorsed by a feverish fanbase of like-minded rapper and producers, Maidza must be on anyone's rap radar as move into the new year. Particularly if you're in London, she'll (hopefully still) be supporting Princess Nokia's London headline show this June...
Honourable Mentions:
Famous
Haviah Mighty
Jessica Winter
Yendry
Best Gigs TO
(potentially) LOOK FORWARD TO In 2021
JANUARY:
Black Country, New Road at Islington Assembly Hall, London
FEBRUARY:
Lianne La Havas at Hackney Church, London
Shabaka Hutchings' One Fest at EartH, London
MARCH:
Grandmaster Flash at New Cross Inn, London
Rina Sawayama at Electric Brixton, London
Harry Styles at O2 Arena, London
Sinead O'Brien at Chats Palace, London
Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes at Alexandra Palace, London
APRIL:
Michael Kiwanuka at O2 Academy Brixton, London
Kelly Lee Owens at EartH, London
Stormzy at O2 Arena, London
Sevdaliza at Electric Brixton, London
Nick Cave at O2 Arena, London
Shame at Electric Brixton, London
Jessie Ware at O2 Academy Brixton, London
MAY:
D Double E at O2 Kentish Town Forum, London
Thundercat at Roundhouse, London
U.S. Girls at Southbank Centre, London
Shygirl at Village Underground, London
Fontaines D.C. at Alexandra Palace, London
King Krule at O2 Academy Brixton, London
Brockhampton at O2 Academy Brixton, London
JUNE:
Bauhaus at Alexandra Palace, London
Squid at Scala, London
Princess Nokia & Tkay Maidza at EartH, London
Thom Yorke at Eventim Apollo, London
HAIM at O2 Arena, London
Idles at O2 Academy Brixton, London
JULY:
The Flaming Lips at O2 Kentish Town Forum, London
Lady Gaga at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
AUGUST:
Gorillaz at O2 Arena, London
Imperial Triumphant at The Dome, London
SEPTEMBER:
Julianna Barwick at Union Chapel, London
Beabadoobee at O2 Forum Kentish Town, London
Bring Me The Horizon at O2 Arena, London
OCTOBER:
The Weeknd at O2 Arena, London
Squarepusher at Roundhouse, London
NOVEMBER:
Bon Iver at SSE Wembley Arena, London
Rina Sawayama at Roundhouse, London
Porridge Radio at Village Underground, London
DECEMBER:
The World is a Beautiful Place at Underworld, London
Listen to the full playlist of this year's best acts here.
For much, much more of the latest and greatest music visit EarsMelt.com
And, at last, that draws 2020 to a close....we made it! Whilst my number of attended gigs, live or livestream, seemed few, I really do wish the best for all of those working and performing within the live music and festival scenes around the world. Hopefully we will return to our past form in the not-so-distant future. Lastly, I wanted to say a thank you to all of those who have supported this channel thus far - 2020 has been a challenge for us all but I'm certain the future will bring greater prospects...here's to then!