Listed below are the best albums of the 2020s (so far) as calculated from their overall rankings in over 59,000 greatest album charts. (Chart last updated: 1 hour ago).
"It is as if the limitations of the English language are a barrier on this album, because there is so much weight and significance put on every syllable of every word, and it still doesn't feel enough. You have to listen to this with the same intensity as Mike puts into it to get on the same wavel...""It is as if the limitations of the English language are a barrier on this album, because there is so much weight and significance put on every syllable of every word, and it still doesn't feel enough. You have to listen to this with the same intensity as Mike puts into it to get on the same wavelength.
This album just goes on to prove that Perfume Genius is one of the most important queer artists in music right now."[+]Reply
"This is insanely good, revelatory even. Black Thought at his best since early Roots, Danger Mouse providing a very clean and modern take on classic beats, and a star studded list of features, each proving why they need to be included rather than being shoved in with nothing to do. Aquamarine is t...""This is insanely good, revelatory even. Black Thought at his best since early Roots, Danger Mouse providing a very clean and modern take on classic beats, and a star studded list of features, each proving why they need to be included rather than being shoved in with nothing to do. Aquamarine is the key outstanding track, but Belize with the late MF Doom and Strangers with A$AP Rocky and Run the Jewels could just as easily hold that title."[+]Reply
"(Consistent and cohesive debut LP from Magdalena Bay. Some top-tier synthpop - creative, catchy and quite beautiful.) I am a fan of this album. The things I love about great synthpop are here in droves. Those being a charming childlike wonderousness that is infectious when you listen, lots of cat...""(Consistent and cohesive debut LP from Magdalena Bay. Some top-tier synthpop - creative, catchy and quite beautiful.)
I am a fan of this album. The things I love about great synthpop are here in droves. Those being a charming childlike wonderousness that is infectious when you listen, lots of catchy melodies, vocals that float along over the tracks like some sort of fairy spirit, and of course lots of tracks that can be danced around to like a wild person or can be enjoyed while sitting and dreaming about whatever it is you dream about. Synthpop isn't one of my go-to genres by any means, but this is being an exceptional version of the genre, I can say that I am enough of a fan of what this duo is doing with this style to consider this one of the better albums of the year.
The album is indeed pretty consistent. That said the opening run of tracks from the opener "The End" through track 7 "Chaeri" is a good deal more excellent and catchy to me than the last half. Note: This may be due to the simple fact that I listened to the first half of this 3 times and got interrupted each time, so I only have heard the album in its entirety twice, but that opening half 5 times. Idk, that is probably contributing to my current take that the first half is superior. Still, even now, I can say that the 1-2 punch that ends the album is just as good as anything at the start (except maybe "Secrets (Your Fire)" which is song of the year material to my ears).
The music here is dreamy and somewhat osychedelic, its got moments to inspire dancing and moments to inspire quasi-philosophical contemplation. And each track is stitched to the others in a smooth and seamless way. The album works really well as an album and not just a series of seperate tracks with occasional total standouts.
I don't have much of great intelligence to say about this one (go figure) but I think its really quite beautiful and its recommended to everyone but ESPECIALLY to those of you craving a great pop album. This is perhaps the best and most bubbly and gorgeous pop album of any variety I have heard this year. Stellar debut album as well. This is a super impressive way to start your LP career."[+]Reply
"The Smile return with a second offering that's even more interesting than "A Light for Attracting Attention". I was a very big fan of their debut. After all, Radiohead is my favorite band, so I was naturally drawn to this side project. Many people have argued that The Smile sounds exactly like Ra...""The Smile return with a second offering that's even more interesting than "A Light for Attracting Attention". I was a very big fan of their debut. After all, Radiohead is my favorite band, so I was naturally drawn to this side project. Many people have argued that The Smile sounds exactly like Radiohead, while others haven't been able to get too much into this band. What I'm going to say is that, while it obviously has many similarities, because Thom Yorke is the lyricist and together with Jonny Greenwood they compose the music (with Skinner, alright), this band is able to create and get deep into another sound *just* because they *are* another band with another name.
I loved every single song in "A Light for Attracting Attention", because, yes, they sound a lot like Radiohead (mainly, my favorite cut from that record: "Speech Bubbles"), and even, many could pass off as Thom Yorke solo creations (such as with "The Same"). Having said that, I can't imagine some of those cuts having been able to be recorded by Radiohead as an entity, such as "We Don't Know What Tomorrow Brings" or "Waving a White Flag"; I think they would've been too much out of the equation with the band's history, even taking into account the countless times they've hit a left turn in terms of what people expect from them. Just starting from "zero" with a flagship that doesn't have to specifically adhere to anything prior, can loosen up what they can do, not having to respect any history or live up to any expectations. If something goes bad, well, it was just a side project! With songs like "Thin Thing" or "The Opposite", the third element from The Smile comes to life. Tom Skinner is a perfect way to round up a project that delves, even slightly, into jazz and prog territory.
Coming into "Wall of Eyes" I wasn't too sure what to expect. I saw the band live last year, and I was amazed at the way they are able to almost seeminly, communicate with their instruments. These musicians have reached a level of artistry that is hardly comparable to other rock acts. They are very technical, and also, you can feel a lot of energy and freedom in this sound. I was a pretty big fan of songs such as "Just Eyes and Mouth", that promised an even more radical direction and departure from Radiohead.
When "Bending Hectic" dropped, though, it wasn't what I was expecting. It's a hypnotizing journey that takes you into a very low point, before coming right back at you and ending on a very high note. I loved the song, but I was taken off by it at the same time. When "Wall of Eyes" was released as a single, I had a very similar reaction to it. It was good, though it mainly grew over time. My thought was "Well, I think they're going for a calmer sound and songs that take some time to get to you". And even though that's not a bad thing, I wasn't expecting too much from this album.
I was wrong!
This might be even better than "A Light For Attracting Attention". In retrospect, after talking with other fans of the band, it's true that their debut was somewhat all over the place (something I'm personally fond of). What remains in an album where 3 core members of Radiohead are absent? Some people have said it was lacking in some areas, and that it was too similar to that other main band we are all pretending doesn't exist. But "Wall of Eyes" isn't just a statement that it can do whatever it wants to, but that it can be *as* good as a Radiohead LP, *as* consistent, and even, the right amount of *different* to justify not being a Radiohead album.
"Teleharmonic" is a profoundly amazing song, that goes pretty deep into an electronic sound that doesn't sound nothing like Radiohead's past electronic endeavors, or even Thom Yorke's. "Read the Room" is a more raw and rock-ish cut that strays into post-rock, while keeping a stretched arm that manages to cohesively tie together an album that also features more calm songs such as "I Quit" or "You Know Me!".
Even though I've spent a lot of paragraph trying to argue that The Smile isn't anything like Radiohead, and I still stand by that, at the same time, I incorporate The Smile as part of the bigger Radiohead canon by saying that this might be one of the best albums ever put out by these group of people, in general. The way things blend together sonically and spiritually is *almost* as great as albums like "In Rainbows" or even "Kid A", and not because they sound the same; it's because this feels like an album that's more focused in what it's trying to do. "A Light For Attracting Attention" was testing the waters; it was a singles compilations, even, or just a traditional album in that sense. "Wall of Eyes", however, *is* more akin to what we think about as the *concept* album, or, at least, what Radiohead has delivered time and again.
The atmosphere here is dense, but at the same time, it breathes. An interesting emotion that may be derived from the fact, that for the first time in forever, Nigel Godrich isn't behind a Yorke-led project. This results in a sound that's obviously familiar, from the musicians at play, but feels somewhat different, thanks to a more "natural-sounding production".
In summary, "Wall of Eyes" is another great album from the gang, and I'm pretty excited for their unevitable third album, that's already shaping to be amazing (please, just let me listen to that studio version of "Just Eyes and Mouth"!). I talked about this on my review for the first album, but if Radiohead doesn't return with a tenth album, I'm pretty comfortable with having more albums by The Smile, even if they are the same... even if they *aren't* the same!
Favorite tracks: "Wall of Eyes", "Teleharmonic", "Read the Room", "Friend of a Friend", "I Quit", "Bending Hectic""[+]Reply
"Pretty easily Kendrick’s most fun and intentionally “messy” project. The common thought at the moment (a day after release) is it feels like a mixtape with the possibility of another, more conceptual album yet to come. Regardless of if that’s true, this does feel like a mixtape, especially given ...""Pretty easily Kendrick’s most fun and intentionally “messy” project. The common thought at the moment (a day after release) is it feels like a mixtape with the possibility of another, more conceptual album yet to come.
Regardless of if that’s true, this does feel like a mixtape, especially given the catalog of music GNX finds itself in. But just like Untitled Unmastered, Kenny’s first “victory lap” project, GNX is a more than worthy addition. Kendrick is able to feel free, be loose and experiment with all of the different tools in his verbal arsenal.
As great of an artist as Kendrick is, it’s taken him (by my estimation) a couple of project cycles to properly explore the more loose, fun, and pop-rap side of his artistry and of the rap game at large. I think he finally nails that pocket on this release (worth noting, the first on his own independent label).
And that should terrify every other rapper in the business. "[+]Reply
"“Dawn FM” really goes full in on the synthwave sound. Abel abandons the slow drifting electronics of “After hours” for more vibrant, energetic synths. This newfound energy gives his voice a welcome boost. The vigor of the tracks helps cover up odd moments like the strange English accent that appe...""“Dawn FM” really goes full in on the synthwave sound. Abel abandons the slow drifting electronics of “After hours” for more vibrant, energetic synths. This newfound energy gives his voice a welcome boost. The vigor of the tracks helps cover up odd moments like the strange English accent that appears. The purgatory concept is limited by songwriting crutches. Two thirds of the album can be summarized with our love is destructive but powerful and we have really great sex. This is significantly less interesting than the explorations of limbo given in Jim Carrey’s radio commercials. ““Dawn FM” has a more infectious sound that would have greatly benefited from a tighter concept. "[+]Reply
"Heard it 3 times here is my reaction after each listen: 1st- Nice heartland rock (its ok) 2nd- damn some of these tracks are getting me emotional. I think i understand the themes of the albums a bit more. 3rd- Give me War on Drugs music straight in my veins! Try not to get teary eyed! Favorite al...""Heard it 3 times here is my reaction after each listen:
1st- Nice heartland rock (its ok)
2nd- damn some of these tracks are getting me emotional. I think i understand the themes of the albums a bit more.
3rd- Give me War on Drugs music straight in my veins! Try not to get teary eyed! Favorite album of the year so far
Let me just listen to the first track, change and I dont live here anymore for the tenth time"[+]Reply
"I have been in awe of this album this past week. I don't think its on the level of Illinois but I also think its unreasonable to always compare an artist's output with their opus. As a piece of music in the grand design of Sufjan's world though, this album has delivered spectacularly. The way you...""I have been in awe of this album this past week. I don't think its on the level of Illinois but I also think its unreasonable to always compare an artist's output with their opus. As a piece of music in the grand design of Sufjan's world though, this album has delivered spectacularly. The way you can draw a thematic line between Carrie and Lowell and this album through everything he released between them is, I believe, the most underappreciated thing about Sufjan's discography. Its just sooo delicate, almost surgically precise.. and it has landed so beautifully, so theatrically on this excellent album. Its masterful. A fulfilled vision of an artist in complete control of his art.
There is no one making music right now, who is in the same league as Sufjan. I don't mean that he's that good that no one can touch him (though he makes a solid case for it), but the way he has a handle on his career and his sound and the unhinged, unrestricted creative vision he displays. Its a treat to be witnessing his music career in real time. "[+]Reply
"Well, Bob's back for the first time since 2012 (excluding three covers releases) and while this album features some of Dylan's finest work in years it is, as often with Dylan, being completely overrated by critics. Yes, it does feature some lovely songs (and a sublime epic) but it also includes t...""Well, Bob's back for the first time since 2012 (excluding three covers releases) and while this album features some of Dylan's finest work in years it is, as often with Dylan, being completely overrated by critics. Yes, it does feature some lovely songs (and a sublime epic) but it also includes the usual generic blues rockers which have been filling up Dylan albums for decades. Anyway, opener 'I contain multitudes' is a fairly harmless introduction, a fair track to be honest and featuring predictable generic rhymes (another latter day Dylan habit) but it's okay. 'False prophet' is a bluesy rocker but it never really picks up and just goes round and round without anything approaching a chorus in sight. Things improve with the acoustic based 'My own version of you' and hit a tremendous high with the beautiful 'I've made up my mind to give myself to you'. Absolutely lovely. 'Black rider' is another strong and atmospheric cut. 'Goodbye Jimmy Reed' is enjoyable enough but it's a just an average twelve bar blues. Dylan has thousands of these. 'Mother of muses' though is wonderful, one of Dylan's best songs since 'Mississippi' back in 2001. 'Crossing the rubicon' is another twelve bar blues. A bit dull. Then we get the superb 'Key west (philosopher pirate) probably the best track on the album. Excellent stuff. Then, on a second disc for some reason, we get the epic 'Murder most foul'. It's a brooding masterpiece and will undoubtedly become a Dylan classic. A review of the Kennedy assassination featuring a wealth of cultural references from Queen to Nat King Cole And there we have it. Altogether 'Rough and Rowdy ways' is a very good record. Two thirds of it is great but it's just let down by three average blues tracks. So, will it be Dylan's final album? Who knows. But if it is it's a decent lp to end his stunning career on. Just not as great as the usual over praising critics tell you."[+]Reply
"(Cool alt/indie rock album. Ellie on the vocals is the star, but the band is solid throughout.) I say this a lot but it’s particularly true here: I don’t have much to say about this. It’s a very solid and at times gorgeous indie rock album. It bounces so often from one sound to another, I can’t p...""(Cool alt/indie rock album. Ellie on the vocals is the star, but the band is solid throughout.)
I say this a lot but it’s particularly true here: I don’t have much to say about this. It’s a very solid and at times gorgeous indie rock album. It bounces so often from one sound to another, I can’t pin down what Wolf Alice’s sound or distinctive quality is based off this mostly very good batch of songs.
The heavy rocking tracks few but they sound cool as hell. The more somber and introspective tracks also work really well. This comes down I think to the vocalist, Ellie Rowsell. She totally kicks ass on most of these tracks (not a fan of the corny kinda sorta rapping on “Smile” but the heavy track saves that song) and I just really love her style.
The album is a solid one start to finish. I can’t say I am blown away by it, but I enjoy the hell out of it. Very memorable melodies and some really dope tracks litter this one. Glad I listened that is for sure. "[+]Reply
Vatsal | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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Arthurknight | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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Mercury | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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lleon79 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (4 helpful | 2 unhelpful)
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AAL2014 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (4 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
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