2020 was a year marred with so much despair and destruction. 2020 forced all of us to reevaluate and change the way we do things whether we were ready to or not. 2020 has been a year in which uncertainty of the future was at an all-time high.
Music is what I found myself leaning on the most in 2020. I am grateful for the various albums that were released during this year which provided at least some level of comfort during this tumultuous and hectic year. This latest esLists post celebrates the Top 10 Projects that I personally have heard during this calendar year.
10. It Is What It Is – Thundercat
Release Date: April 3, 2020
Top Tracks: Black Qualls, Miguel’s Happy Dance, Funny Thing, Dragonball Durag, Fair Chance
Features: Childish Gambino, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil B, Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, Zack Fox, Pedro Martins, Louis Cole
esLists.com’s Analysis: It Is What It Is is Thundercat’s first studio album in 3 years since the critically acclaimed Drunk album. This latest album features Flying Lotus as its executive producer. There are plenty of comedic moments sprinkled throughout the album which adds a nice touch. It Is What It Is contains the smooth listening vibes that you come to expect from a Thundercat project.
esLists.com’s Rating: 77/100
9. Music to Be Murdered By – Eminem
Release Date: January 17, 2020
Top Tracks: You Gon’ Learn, In Too Deep, Godzilla, Yah Yah, Marsh, Lock It Up
Features: Young M.A, Royce Da 5’9, Ed Sheeran, Juice WRLD, Skylar Grey, Black Thought, Q-Tip, Anderson .Paak, Don Toliver, KXNG Crooked, Joell Ortiz, Denaun, White Gold
esLists.com’s Analysis: Music to Be Murdered By is Eminem’s 11th studio album. It was a surprise album released on the same day as Mac Miller’s posthumous Circles album. This album is a concept album which features themes from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Music to Be Murdered By album.
In my opinion, Music to Be Murdered By is Eminem’s best lyrical showcase since The Marshall Mathers LP 2 in 2013. I’m not sure why this album doesn’t get more credit. I think it is partly because Rap has truly become a young man’s (or woman’s) game. At the time of this album’s release, Eminem was 47 years old so it almost feels as though he gets automatically overlooked due to his age. Either way, Music to Be Murdered By is one of the best projects of 2020. On December 18, 2020, Eminem went on to release Music to Be Murdered By (Side B) which features 16 new songs and is a continuation of the first project.
esLists.com’s Rating: 79/100
8. 3.15.20 – Childish Gambino
Release Date: March 22, 2020
Top Tracks: Time, 12.38, 24.19, 39.28
Features: Ariana Grande, 21 Savage, Ink, Kadhja Bonet
esLists.com’s Analysis: 3.15.20, Childish Gambino’s 4th studio album, was an odd release. It was first released to Gambino’s website on March 15th only to be taken down 12 hours later. It was then officially released on March 22nd to all streaming services. 10 of the album’s 12 songs are nameless. The names of these songs are only identified by the time in which they begin on the album. In my opinion this made the tracks harder to identify. Either way though, 3.15.20 is one of the more underrated albums of the year. It doesn’t feature a massive single such as “Redbone” or “This is America”, but it is one of Gambino’s most diverse projects in his entire discography. Donald Glover himself called it his “best” project.
3.15.20 is truly a hidden gem of 2020. I am excited to see what 2021 has in store for Donald Glover.
esLists.com’s Rating: 80/100
7. The Slow Rush – Tame Impala
Release Date: February 14, 2020
Top Tracks: Breathe Deeper, On Track, Borderline
Features: None
esLists.com’s Analysis: The Slow Rush is the 4th studio album from the Australian super-group, Tame Impala. It was released nearly 5 years after the massively successful Currents album of 2015. “On Track”, in my opinion, is one of the best songs of 2020. It served as sort of a soundtrack to this crazy year that we all lived through.
esLists.com’s Rating: 80/100
6. After Hours – The Weeknd
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Top Tracks: Scared To Live, Snowchild, Escape From LA, Save Your Tears
Features: None
esLists.com’s Analysis: The Weeknd was criminally robbed by The Grammys after receiving no nominations for After Hours even after having possibly the biggest song of 2020 (“Blinding Lights”). After Hours is a dark, moody album that captures all of The Weeknd’s strengths as an artist. It is sort of a return to The Weeknd’s sound from the beginning of his career. Simultaneously though, he was still able to dominate the charts with massive singles (“Heartless” and “Blinding Lights”). After Hours is my favorite album in The Weeknd’s entire discography.
esLists.com’s Rating: 82/100
5. Man on the Moon III – The Chosen – Kid Cudi
Release Date: December 11, 2020
Top Tracks: Damaged, Heaven On Earth, Show Out, Solo Dolo Pt. III, Elsie’s Baby Boy (flashback), Sept. 16, Lovin’ Me
Features: Pop Smoke, Skepta, Trippie Redd, Phoebe Bridgers
esLists.com’s Analysis: Man on the Moon III: The Chosen was released during the 50th week of 2020. This is the main reason why I don’t do my “Best of the Year” lists until literally the last week of the year. Many others do their reviews during the first week of December which results in overlooking all of the subsequent December releases.
Man on the Moon III: The Chosen is the sequel to Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager; which was released 10 years prior. Being a huge Kid Cudi fan myself, I was nervous when he first announced this album. I was afraid that MOTM3 wouldn’t be able to stand next to MOTM1 and MOTM2 since they were so great. Luckily though, Man on the Moon III ended up living up to the hype! It is a great 3rd installment to the Man on the Moon series. Kid Cudi teases the 4th installment to the series at the end of the last song of the album, “Lord I know”. It is on this track where Cudi’s daughter, Vada, whispers “to be continued” hinting that a Man on the Moon IV is on the horizon.
esLists.com’s Rating: 83/100
4. Circles – Mac Miller
Release Date: January 17, 2020
Top Tracks: Good News, I Can See, Woods, Hands, Right
Features: Baro, Jon Brion
esLists.com’s Analysis: Saying that Circles is an emotional album would be an understatement. This posthumous album features original content recorded by Mac Miller prior to his untimely passing on September 7, 2018. Jon Brion, who is a singer, songwriter, and record producer, went on to finish the album with the support of Mac’s family. Mac Miller intended for Circles to be a follow-up album to Swimming, which was released in August 2018. The concept of the two album series was “Swimming in Circles“. Circles features 12 songs on the standard edition and 2 additional songs on the deluxe version. “Right” which is one of the deluxe tracks happens to be my favorite song on the entire album. I really feel like it should have been on the standard album Circles is the perfect conclusion to Mac Miller’s music catalogue.
esLists.com’s Rating: 86/100
3. Alfredo – Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
Release Date: May 29, 2020
Top Tracks: God Is Perfect, Frank Lucas, Something to Rap About, Skinny Suge
Features: Rick Ross, Tyler, The Creator, Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine
esLists.com’s Analysis: Alfredo is the best rap album of 2020. It was released just 11 months after the critically acclaimed Bandana album; which happens to be my favorite Freddie Gibbs project. Legendary hip-hop producer, The Alchemist, handles the production of the entire album. The Grammys recognized Freddie and Alchemist’s album by nominating it in the “Best Rap Album” category.
esLists.com’s Rating: 87/100
2. CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3 – Jaden Smith
Release Date: August 28, 2020
Top Tracks: Falling For You, LUCY!, Bad Connection, Muted Sunrise, Young In Love, Cabin Fever, Endless Summer
Features: Justin Bieber, Raury
esLists.com’s Analysis: The album I listened to the most in 2020 is CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3. Jaden is an artist that I have been listening to for a few years since the release of the SYRE album in 2017. Jaden’s growth as an artist has been apparent for some time now, but it all comes together on CTV3. Sonically, the album is so well put together. Jaden has a style similar to Drake in that he frequently raps and sings on the majority of his songs. The one thing I want you to take from this Top 10 list is to go listen to CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how addicting this album is.
esLists.com’s Rating: 88/100
1. Women in Music Pt. III – Haim
Release Date: June 26, 2020
Top Tracks: The Steps, Up From A Dream, Gasoline, 3 AM, Another Try, Leaning On You, Now I’m In It
Features: None
esLists.com’s Analysis: The best album of 2020 is Women in Music Pt. III by three sisters who form the band, Haim. Women in Music Pt. III clocks in at just over 50 minutes in duration. It is truly an album that you can listen to without having to hit the skip button. This album, which has been abbreviated as wimpiii, can be best described as having a soft rock or indie pop sound. The subject-matter of this project is particularly relatable and easy to listen to.
Women in Music Pt. III has since been nominated for two Grammy Awards: Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance. I am particularly proud of these nominations because I have been a fan of Haim since before the release of their first album, Days Are Gone, in 2013. So seeing their growth as a band from then to now being Grammy nominated has been particularly cool. Women in Music Pt. III is a must listen for all.
esLists.com’s Rating: 93/100
Thanks for reading. Check out my “Top Albums of 2019” here: https://eslists.com/the-top-albums-of-2019/.
