#2020 MUSIC

[music-moon]

All my liked songs from the 2020s, organized by the year they were released.

Always updating, discovering and refining. Cover art is my most listened to albums from each year, according to my last.fm.

My favourite songs organized by release year: 2020s

View more decades: 2000s / 2010s / 2020s

Take a deeper dive into my most listened to albums from each year:

Data from last.fm + pythfm.

2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024

[i-look-like-my-mother]

Taylor Swift Zodiacs Part 8: folklore

Aries: mirrorball & mad woman

Taurus: this is me trying

Gemini: betty & illicit affairs

Cancer: my tears ricochet

Leo: the last great american dynasty

Virgo: august & the lakes

Libra: the 1 & exile

Scorpio: invisible string

Sagittarius: hoax

Capricorn: cardigan

Aquarius: seven & epiphany

Pisces: peace

[lizard-spams-your-dash-too]

[musictyme]

Summer Walker, No1- Noah- White Tee

[camerongrn]

chromatica - lady gaga

lady gaga's sixth studio album 'chromatica' marked her return to her dance-pop roots after the failure that was joanne. this album, released in 2020, follows the formulae set up by early 1990s house and dance music, taking clear inspiration from ballroom cultures. this concept-driven record adopts this persona of an otherworldly cyberpunk-like setting; chromatica, a distant planet where people come together through dance. the tracks really impersonate this theming, all being dance-focused with this playful and colourful sound. this concept-driven album feels like the perfect evolution for a legacy artist such as gaga.

if i could use one word to describe the themes explored in this album, it would have to be 'fun'; it is such a healing album. although gaga discussing pain and suffering throughout the album, it is always turned on its head in a positive manner. gaga's attitude on this record is that of someone who wants to make others happy, she explores these ideas of inner struggle and failure set to dance beats. despite her suffering, gaga uses pop as an antidepressant on this album, and i really applaud that. the instrumentals really back up this narrative. synth. synth, synth, and even MORE synth. synthesisers are the main voice for this album, they appear to do all the talking. bloodpop uses these bright melodies to provide a perfect backdrop to gaga's voice, they blend together amazingly. gaga really thrives in these dance-pop albums. i have to also give props to this albums interludes, they are AMAZING and really help to build this world of 'chromatica'.

my favourite track will always be 'babylon', THE album closer. this track discussing gaga's public perception, dismissing the gossip, really encapsulates the albums overall sound. its this playful nod to grace jones and the b52s all while doing its own thing. the piano, the sax, the chants; they all create this movie-ending scene of dance and party despite worries, chromatica to a T. the wordplay in babylon is also incredible: "talk it out, babble on/battle for your life, babylon". despite being a infectious dance track, babylon is also a unique demonstration of gaga's underrated lyricism.

overall, 'chromatica' is definitely a part of my top 3 gaga albums. what is there not to love? gaga returns to her roots with this album after her frequent detours during the late 2010s, coming back with an addictive play on house and dance music. moreover, the concept of this album is so interesting, it's a shame she didn't get to explore it more due to covid. however, this is by far one of the 2020s more defining albums, with the era still going on today with the announcement of her chromatica ball film. nonetheless, chromatica is a great addition to gaga's catalogue and a must listen.

favourite track: babylon

least favourite track: 1000 doves

spotify link: Chromatica - Album by Lady Gaga | Spotify

★★★★★ 5/5

[warznymph]

I Disagree - Poppy (2020)

[plakatierenverboten]

Tamar Aphek: Crossbow

[thornvevo]

NEW SERIES I MAY OR MAY NOT STICK TO:

ALBUMS I'VE LISTENED TO - EPISODE ONE

So yeah, whether I remember to update this is dependent on "if i remember" but anyways this is a series where I just talk about albums I've listened to, and give my opnion on them.

first album is:

AFTER HOURS - THE WEEKND (2020)

where to begin with this.

oh yeah, THIS ALBUM EXPERIENCED THE GREATEST GRAMMY SNUB IN HISTORY. okay, now onto the actual album itself.

It kind of tells a story about the main protagonist (red suit guy? The Weeknd? no clue, but i'll refer to him as "The Weeknd" from now on), as he goes through a breakup at the beginning of the album, Alone Again, where he then comes to terms with the breakup (Too Late), becomes sad about it and remorseful, goes back into his vices to cope in a fictionalised Las Vegas (Heartless, Faith, Blinding Lights), and tries to get back with the girl before, apparently, dying. yeah, confusing shit.

The story of it is HEAVILY up for interpretation if you just listen to the album, so I would recommend watching the music videos and the short film. They showcase some excellent character work from Abel, in addition to everything he did with this album's rollout, ALL UNDER LOCKDOWN.

Obviously then, it doesn't take a genius to guess that this album had a massive impact. What, with Blinding Lights now being the most streamed song on spotify ever, and it probably being the single factor to getting Abel to perform, SOLO, AT THE SUPER BOWL. (please get him back for another year he deserves no covid restrictions)

standout songs:

Six. Minutes. Of. Good. Ass. Music. Simple as that. This song is the perfect sum of all the album's themes, and is a perfect segway into the outro, Until I Bleed Out, as The Weeknd sings about how regretful he is that he did what he did, and how much he wants this girl back.

Under. Rated. This song's more of an introspective on The Weeknd's career up to this point, but no specifics are named. It could go the same for any artist who blew up, reached the top, and is now thinking "Where Now?" This hits very hard at the final verse, and makes the following track, Escape From LA, hit harder.

The point where the album with 80s-inspired songs finally gets its sax solo. this got a remix with Kenny G that has a saxxier sax solo, and i encourage checking that out after listening to this one.

worst song (honestly, still good):

literally only here because its the interlude. this is still a good song, and a nice transition thematically into the title track.

CONCLUSION:

In short, this is an album that is a must-listen. It managed to make a massive impact, and get snubbed out of the GRAMMYs, all during a pandemic. This album is pretty much perfect in every single way, and will have a song that resonates with everyone, no matter what.

RATING: 10/10

[dichotomoustessellations]

Cashlin - Looking For Hope Out of Key

[schnuron]

1 or 2 albums I like from each year of 2020-2023

2020: Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song / Charli XCX - how i'm feeling now 2021: Hante. - Morning Tsunami / Perturbator - Lustful Sacraments 2022: Boy Harsher - The Runner OST / Charli XCX - Crash 2023: Mareux - Little Lies / Saigon Blue Rain - Oko

as for 2024...

I don't know yet. Either Chelsea Wolfe's new album or Erika de Casier's Still.

[dailyflicks]

WICKED (2024) dir. Jon M. Chu

[musictyme]

Robert Glasper- After the Storm

[camerongrn]

folklore - taylor swift

this album surprise dropped after the initial covid19 outbreak in 2020 and follows a completely new side of taylor swift, away from her established roots in pop music. 'folklore' is her 8th studio album and takes on a much more chill, indie, folklike energy, in a similar yet different way to her early country music. 'folklore' consists of these low energy ballads driven by beautiful acoustic instrumentals. this album is a narrative driven album through and through.

with folklore, taylor explores these ideas of nostalgia and romanticism; almost in a similar vein to her albums fearless and speak now. however, here she takes on a much more mature lens by discussing themes such as infidelity, suicide, and alcoholism. this is by far one of her most vulnerable albums, some of the tracks feel uncomfortably intimate at times; feeling like im listening to someone's sob filled journal entries. escapism, however, is the album's main theme; being fuelled by the pandemic, empathy and loss come through in the haunting vocals and instrumentals. it's crazy how private this album is.

the record additionally follows fictional narratives and arcs based in a love triangle between 3 teenagers. i LOVE when artists do this and transport us into a whole new world unique to an album. moreover, this fictional narrative is extremely realistic and relatable; in a sense being semi autobiographical to swift herself. the story of this album is by far its shining feature.

my favourite track would have to be 'betty'. this song is told from the perspective of the fictional character james, who is apologising to betty after cheating on her. i love this, swift's ability to delve into this persona and to still create such a personal feeling song is crazy. this song takes clear inspiration from her earlier country music and its honestly sort of comforting; listening to this teenage boy beg for forgiveness over an americana inspired instrumental. i do have to give 'august' and 'the 1' shoutouts here as they are extremely personal songs to myself; lyric-wise.

overall, 'folklore' is by far one of taylor's best albums. escaping into this fictional world in the trees on a late august's day, swift manages to delve back to her roots and explore a softer sound. she manages to reinvent her artistry on this record, and i doubt she'll ever be able to produce a body of work as intimate as this.

favourite track: betty

least favourite track: epiphany

spotify link: folklore - Album by Taylor Swift | Spotify

★★★★★ 5/5

[plakatierenverboten]

Pat Finnerty & the Full Band: Tough Gig