Playboi Carti: Whole Lotta Red (2020) (Hip-hop,Trap)

It's not metal and barely punk, Whole Lotta Red is an unfinished, aesthetically dirty, collection trap scraps. Like his previous album, his writing is often impressionist, with embellishing ad-libs and some versatile inflexions and flows but not as capable as a Young Thug. Carti has a unique lane, it's too bad he does not commit to developing his ad-libs and repeated mantras throughout the song, they just exist to assume space. M3tamorphosis is good and parts of New N3on, and King Vamp have promising instrumentals and flows but are burdened but nonessential ad-libs and under committment

Hip-hop/Trap

C-

Savage Mode II: 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, 2020 (Hip-hop,Trap)

21 Savage is much more versatile much more amiable and occasionally humorous. Metro Boomin keeps up his consistent production with wide dark beats with little shimmers and sparkles. Retro Homage is present as shown on Steppin on Niggas an NWA nod. Savages attempts at softer more sensual trap are largely effective on Mr. Right Now and Said N Done while the tough songs (Glock in My Lap and Brand New Draco) reminding us that this is still a Savage tape. One of the better trap albums of the year.

Hip-hop/Trap

Fleet Foxes: Shore (2020) (Folk,Pop,Rock)

Much more poppy than last efforts. Many pop ballads work well in their sphere and the punchy drums and colourful instrumentation helps give life to many songs, with many being well written. Some ballads are a bit to watered down. 

Chamber Folk/Folk-Pop/Folk Rock

Run the Jewels:RTJ4 (Hip-hop) (2020)

Hard bars, digitized boom-bap production, and some monster flows. From the start Killer Mike and El-P hit you with high octane and politically charged verses that demand attention, crafting an enticing album for hip-hop listeners. The oldheads win on this one, one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.

Boom-bap/ Concious Hip-hop/ Hardcore Hip-hop

Gryphon: Red Queen to Gryphon Tree (Folk, Instrumental, Progressive Rock) (1974)

Other than the song titles and the occasional tension, not much gives the impression of a "chess album" but the slight medieval tinges and pleasant motifs (especially on the 3rd song) do give a beautiful archaic tang much like much of fantastical scene of 70s UK prog, but this much with an apparent baroque and folk influence while still maintaining electronic instruments, organs, a rustic percussion section and all the gimmicks and intricacies of prog.

Medieval Folk/Progressive Folk/Progressive Rock

Taylor Swift: folklore (2020) (Folk, Pop)

As much as the gimmick of lowercase titles may be evidence of quaint rustic indie folk, a sheen of top 40 always remains. "The Woods" are a backdrop for Taylor's pop all crafted meticulously and clean but often effectively written songs about well ... romance and movies? The album is a bit of a bummer and its melancholy can be a bit overbearing not in how sad it is but how passive and similarly many of the songs are, but I can say its value can come from its dreaminess and occasional subtlety.






Chamber Pop/Folk Pop

Arca: KiCk i (2020) (Electronic, Pop)

Arca's usage of texture is intriguing and varied with her performances, ranging from chaotic to open and dramatic, focusing for the most part on sonic sentiment and dynamism rather than harmony and catchiness which allows for left field-like songs that still occasionally manage to fit in the pop sphere(Mequetrefe, KLK, Machote), for the most part, the tunes are for avande garde electronic but much crossover appeal can be found. Most songs are in Spanish, few are in English.







Art-Pop/Avande Garde/Electronic

Donovan: A Gift From a Flower to a Garden (1967) (Folk,Pop,Rock)

The hippie tendencies run deep and the faint nature of many songs will be worthwhile for those wishing to relive this era. As charming Donovan's whimsical and earthy sing is, at times the performances and instrumentals don't take as much authority rather seeming frivolous and too passive. Highlights include Wear your love like Heaven, There Was a Time, Someone Singing.






Folk-Rock/Psychedelic Pop

Gene Clark: No Other (1974) (Country, Folk, Rock)

Encapsulated sentiments of 60s counterculture but this time rather than reiterating the same tired anti establish motifs, it is rather passive and accepting, vying between spiritual and grounded, with tailored production yet maintaining the Midwest authenticity.

Country Rock/Folk Rock/Psychedelic Rock

Bladee: Gluee (2014) (Hip-hop,Pop)

In icy fashion, this tight album is a hazy collection of tunes rapped in a dejected occasionally monotone fashion, but in a drugginess that is intoxicating and beats that glisten and can't help giving a feeling of bliss and euphoria, allowing for a fruitful merger of art-pop and cloud rap. A very similar album to Yung Lean's Unknown Memory released in the same year, but an all-round more concise and stronger finished product. Favourites include Ebay, Shadowface, Everlasting Flames and Unreal.






Art-pop/Alternative R&B/Cloud Rap/Trap

Neil Young: Homegrown (2020) (Country,Folk,Rock)

Recorded between 1974 and 1975. For the most part quaint country-folk ballads with the occasional rock tune largely relating to Young's relationships at the time. A good batch of folk songs from one of the greatest in the genre.








Country/Folk/Rock

Bladee: 333 (2020) (Hip-hop,Pop)

With excellent production helmed by Whitearmor, Bladee continues his trend of art-pop, rap fusions. Some poppier tracks that surely borrow from older trends such as Don't Worry, Mean Girls and It Girl. With ballads such as Wings in Motion and Only One mixed in, 333 has a range of productions and Bladee's singing and vocals have improved, largely due to a more effective use of autotune. The brevity of the songs does lead to a disjointed listening experience but many of the minuscule songs are refreshing enough both in performance and production. Such as Hero of My Story 3style3 where Bladee alternates between flows and vocal effects over a very ascending ethereal instrumental and the quirky Reality Surf with Bladee's subtle delivery and vocal samples.



Art-pop/Experimental Hip-hop/Trap

Juice WRLD: Legends Never Die (2020) (Hip-hop,Pop,Trap)

Juice WRLD was one of the many prominent figures in the trend of angsty emo-rap who died much too early. On Legends Never Die, Juice WRLD follows this aesthetic but includes some of his most commercial songs like the EDM tune Come & Go, this may be due to his recent passing and likely may not have been completely part of the artistic planning. But Juice WRLD always threaded close to pop and though that may be present in this album more than ever he still expresses a relatively versatile selection of songs all ranging from EDM, pop to trap with occasions of punk. The trap drums can occasionally get a bit stale, but the aesthetic changes that occur later in album keep things interesting. Juice show's himself to be a competent songwriter and rapper as shown in highlights Conversations, Righteous, Wishing Well, Up Up And Away. 




Emo Rap/Pop/Trap

Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding (1967) (Country,Folk)

In a year that was largely defined by psychedelic rock and innovations to electric guitar music, Dylan countered the prevailing trend by reverted to a folkier more rustic sound. Though it is not completely akin to the work that made him the singer-songwriter darling of the era. Instead, Dylan invokes lyrics of folk tales, myth, legend, spirituality often in an ambiguous and self meditative state. Though very earthy, there is something very ghostly and mystic, a masterpiece of an album for the Fall.




Country/Folk

Bladee: Exeter (2020) (Hip-hop,Pop)

"Spring is never far" Bladee sings which is a good descriptor for EXETER, a mini album at on 18 minutes in length vaguely bright quirky and blissful. Not as overtly sombre as previous works, there is a stronger sense of playfulness on EXTER, though often leaving much to be wanted in terms of a fully fleshed-out song, the intriguing aesthetics of Draingang remain, crossing trap, art-pop and electronic music but never truly realized. Bladee's performances remain for the most part expressionless chants and autocroning. Highlights include RAIN3OW STAR (LOVE IS ALL), DNA RAIN, LOVESTORY

Art-Pop/Electronic/Experimental Rap

Perfume Genius: Set My Heart on Fire Immediately (Pop) (2020)

Some sentimental romantic tunes with melancholic taint. Though some ballads may be a bit melodramatic and skeletal, tending to float in the ether (Leave, Moonbend), Perfume Genius succeeds in crafting a fruitful collection of art-pop tunes while maintaining intimacy. The singing, though often wispy can be very soulful and slightly desolate. While instrumentally the album can quickly change allowing for versatility through merging an array of indie sounds, synths, classical music, quirky and more rock-oriented tunes, while still maintaining the cohesion of the album. Worth listening to for pop fans. Highlights include Describe, Jason, On the Floor, Your Body Changes Everything, Some Dream.

Art Pop/ Chamber Pop/ Indie Pop

Jeff Rosenstock: NO DREAM (Punk, Rock) (2020)

The scrappy punk energy is effectively encapsulated in intimate, angsty tunes that foray into power pop even if many of the songs may seem short the performances explosive. Sonically NO DREAM may not be too elaborate or novel, but Jeff's performances are for the most part explosive, emotive and compelling enough to connect with most punk, rock, pop fans (in that order). Favourite tracks include Nikes (Alt), Scram!, N O D R E A M, State Line, The Beauty of Breathing, Honeymoon Ashtray.




Indie Rock/Power Pop/Punk Rock

Skinshape: Umoja (Funk,Soul) (2020)

Very breezy and summerlike in all. It does get too diluted and safe even with the obvious ethnic pull from guest features, but overall the music is chill and warm with some nice background funky tunes. Sue Alma, Sudan, Dourlé are highlights.






Ethnic Psychadelic/Funk/Neo-Soul/West African Funk Fusion

Jay Electronica: A Written Testimony (2020) (Hip-hop)

Rarely as epic or profound as it may believe to be. Production is largely unrefined but occasionally decent with interesting choices that touch on industrial. Much of the album is full of vignettes of religious allusions with little worth than to show that they read some parts of the Quran and the Bible and are truly woke such as the likes of Louis Farrakhan, however never nearly as outrageous or offensive as him. By they I mean Jay#1 and Jay#2 (Jay Electronica and Jay-Z) as they are both equally featured on the album leading to free but almost indistinct mixtape like feel. It quickly becomes apparent which Jay is the more compelling one... A few decent production choices and compelling verses and highlights include The Blinding and Universal Soldier. 





Conscious Hip-hop/Islamic Hip-hop

Kyuss: Welcome to Sky Valley (1994) (Metal,Rock)

The high-intensity hellish energy of their previous albums becomes much more condensed. Though not as experimental as Blues For The Red Sun, Welcome to Sky Valley refines the stoner metal genre through more intricate and filling, lengthy compositions. The guitars and drums remain monstrous crushing and intense, but this time there is a bit more composure, they sound sharper, but at the same time the production feels open like you are listening to a band play in the stary nights of California. A real gem in the genre and should be listened to even if you are not a fan of the genre.







Heavy Psych/Stoner Metal/Stoner Rock