Top 20 Music Albums of 2020
by 
ForegroundNoise 
Had been playing on doing an in-depth dive on each of these (á la my 5 Best Short Releases of 2020 list), though inevitably life gets in the way. Might still jot some thoughts down here and there, but either way I thought it'd be nice to give these records their time in the sun however it comes. Also not sure where else to put it, but special mention needs to go to SOPHIE's HEAV3N SUSPENDED livestream. Despite being only being 20 minutes long, it might genuinely be my favourite DJ set of all time. Rest in peace.
Top 5 Short Releases of 2020
Read the list with descriptions on RYM here:
https://rateyourmusic.com/list/ForegroundNoise/foreground-noises-5-best-short-releases-of- 2020/
1. Mach-Hommy - Mach's Hard Lemonade (n/a, 22:07) [US]
hip hop - 8.5/10
2. Slauson Malone - Vergangenheitsbewältigung (Crater Speak) (n/a, 24:14) [US]
neo-soul • sound collage - 8/10
3. Jadasea & MIKE - Old Earth (n/a, 11:44) [GB/US]
experimental hip hop • abstract hip hop - 7.5/10
4. Serpent Column - Endless Detainment (Mystískaos, 21:58) [US]
black metal • mathcore - 7.5/10
5. Backxwash - STIGMATA EP (n/a, 13:47) [ZM]
industrial hip hop • horrorcore - 7/10
Retrospectival/Archical Releases:
Meredith Monk / Theo Bleckmann / Katie Geissinger / Allison Sniffin / Bang on a Can All-Stars - Memory Game (Cantaloupe, 50:20) [US]
post-minimalism - 8.5/10
青葉市子 [Ichiko Aoba] - "gift" at Sogetsu Hall (hermine, 78:35) [JP]
contemporary folk - 6.5/10
- Chart updated: 03/24/2026 22:45
- (Created: 02/07/2020 14:47).
- Chart size: 20 albums.
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1. (=)
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____________________________________________________________________________
avant-folk • chamber folk
(PAN, 46:31)
8/10
"Pulling the plug could be the ultimate anti-drug
But I'm addicted to this life"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/16/2020]
avant-folk • chamber folk
(PAN, 46:31)
8/10
"Pulling the plug could be the ultimate anti-drug
But I'm addicted to this life"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/16/2020]
____________________________________________________________________________
art pop
(Jagjaguwar, 65:44)
8/10
"Are you dancing with me?
Or just merely dancing?"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/20/2020]
art pop
(Jagjaguwar, 65:44)
8/10
"Are you dancing with me?
Or just merely dancing?"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/20/2020]
Year of Release:
2020
Appears in:
Rank Score:
660
Rank in 2020:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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jazz rap • abstract hip hop
(Ruby Yacht, 52:03)
8/10
"There was a time when peace was on the Earth
Joy and happiness did reign and each one knew their worth
In my heart how I yearn for the spirit's return
And I, and I cry as time flies, as time flies"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/21/2020]
jazz rap • abstract hip hop
(Ruby Yacht, 52:03)
8/10
"There was a time when peace was on the Earth
Joy and happiness did reign and each one knew their worth
In my heart how I yearn for the spirit's return
And I, and I cry as time flies, as time flies"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/21/2020]
Year of Release:
2020
Appears in:
Rank Score:
481
Rank in 2020:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
4. (=)
Safe Mode: On Certain images on this site may contain sensitive content and are flagged as 'unsafe'. BestEverAlbums.com does not display these images by default, but you may choose to show or hide these images from your profile page. If you choose to hide these images, you'll see an image with a warning message instead of the actual image. If you choose to show them, you'll see these images no differently than regular (safe) images.
____________________________________________________________________________
chamber folk
(hermine, 49:56)
8/10
"テリフリアメ あまねいて [Terifuriame]
砂にかがやく ひみつを 教えて [Tell me the secret that shines in the sand]
あなたの声が 響くと [When your voice echoes]
とおくの島で 芽吹くの" [Sprouting on the island of Toku]
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 12/02/2020]
chamber folk
(hermine, 49:56)
8/10
"テリフリアメ あまねいて [Terifuriame]
砂にかがやく ひみつを 教えて [Tell me the secret that shines in the sand]
あなたの声が 響くと [When your voice echoes]
とおくの島で 芽吹くの" [Sprouting on the island of Toku]
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 12/02/2020]
Year of Release:
2020
Appears in:
Rank Score:
882
Rank in 2020:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________
art pop • progressive pop
(Epic, 51:49)
8/10
"And I see that you keep trying to bait me
And I'd love to get up in your face
But I know if I hate you for hating me
I will have entered the endless race"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/15/2020]
art pop • progressive pop
(Epic, 51:49)
8/10
"And I see that you keep trying to bait me
And I'd love to get up in your face
But I know if I hate you for hating me
I will have entered the endless race"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/15/2020]
Year of Release:
2020
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,984
Rank in 2020:
Rank in 2020s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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abstract hip hop
(Iron Works, 32:55)
7.5/10
“They used to call us deviants
But if they was feedin’ us, mighta had obedience
You know my stock was only good as my ingredients
The system only leaned on us, never showed us lenience”
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/26/2020]
abstract hip hop
(Iron Works, 32:55)
7.5/10
“They used to call us deviants
But if they was feedin’ us, mighta had obedience
You know my stock was only good as my ingredients
The system only leaned on us, never showed us lenience”
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/26/2020]
____________________________________________________________________________
ambient • electronic
(Other People, 53:40)
7.5/10
"En las cenizas [In the ashes]
Vamos a armar [We will form]
No saber nada [Knowing nothing now]
Es mejor [Is better]
Ya no cabe nada [There’s no space for anything]
Pero estamos juntos [But we are together]
Sin noticias [Without news]
Del otro mundo [Of another world]
Y cada día [And everyday]
Nuestro mundo [Our world]
Se achica [Shrinks]
O se derrumba" [Or crumbles]
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 04/02/2020]
ambient • electronic
(Other People, 53:40)
7.5/10
"En las cenizas [In the ashes]
Vamos a armar [We will form]
No saber nada [Knowing nothing now]
Es mejor [Is better]
Ya no cabe nada [There’s no space for anything]
Pero estamos juntos [But we are together]
Sin noticias [Without news]
Del otro mundo [Of another world]
Y cada día [And everyday]
Nuestro mundo [Our world]
Se achica [Shrinks]
O se derrumba" [Or crumbles]
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 04/02/2020]
____________________________________________________________________________
abstract hip hop
(Backwoodz, 43:13)
7.5/10
"Some things you just can't leave in the past
They follow you home like skinny dogs separated from the pack"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 06/30/2020]
abstract hip hop
(Backwoodz, 43:13)
7.5/10
"Some things you just can't leave in the past
They follow you home like skinny dogs separated from the pack"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 06/30/2020]
____________________________________________________________________________
art rock • post-punk
(Matador, 41:45)
7.5/10
"She lays at night
(Right by the speeding light)
Seeping through the bolts and cogs
Of these machines of fog
That we sit inside
(They sit inside)
Young man turning in on himself
Felt the horror through her"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/20/2020]
art rock • post-punk
(Matador, 41:45)
7.5/10
"She lays at night
(Right by the speeding light)
Seeping through the bolts and cogs
Of these machines of fog
That we sit inside
(They sit inside)
Young man turning in on himself
Felt the horror through her"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/20/2020]
Year of Release:
2020
Appears in:
Rank Score:
263
Rank in 2020:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________
electroacoustic • modern classical
(Rvng, 44:07)
7.5/10
"I carved out the words I said
All over the tree trunks"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 11/24/2020]
electroacoustic • modern classical
(Rvng, 44:07)
7.5/10
"I carved out the words I said
All over the tree trunks"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 11/24/2020]
Total albums: 20. Page 1 of 2
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Top 20 Music Albums of 2020 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Sarah Davachi | 1 | 5% | |
| Ka | 1 | 5% | |
| Silvia Tarozzi | 1 | 5% | |
| Nicolas Jaar | 1 | 5% | |
| GBSR Duo | 1 | 5% | |
| Armand Hammer | 1 | 5% | |
| Boldy James & Sterling Toles | 1 | 5% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 20 Music Albums of 2020 chart changes
| Leavers |
|---|
| Placebo by 9T Antiope |
Top 20 Music Albums of 2020 similarity to your chart(s)
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Top 20 Music Albums of 2020 ratings
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Showing all 2 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/09/2020 23:02 | DJENNY | 4,336 | 100/100 | |
| 07/11/2020 23:14 |  mickilennial | 715 | 77/100 |
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