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).
"If you’re expecting an album of ABBA similar to their mid 70s imperial phase you will be disappointed. However if you are familiar with their later albums, particularly The Visitors there is plenty to love here. This is not just the return of ABBA, it’s the return of mature ABBA. That’s not to sa...""If you’re expecting an album of ABBA similar to their mid 70s imperial phase you will be disappointed. However if you are familiar with their later albums, particularly The Visitors there is plenty to love here. This is not just the return of ABBA, it’s the return of mature ABBA.
That’s not to say there are no upbeat tunes here, there are, Don’t Shut Me Down, Just a Notion, Keep an Eye on Dan and No Doubt About It are waiting to be blasted out of radio’s worldwide.
But there’s more, there classical touches (Ode To Freedom), Irish jigs (When You Danced With Me), Christmas (Little Things), marital strife and custody problems (I Can Be That Woman and Keep an Eye on Dan).
Bizarrely, most of the songs lack choruses, preferring to climax on the last line of the verse and left turns aplenty are taken within ABBA’s pop universe. For instance I Sill Have Faith In You’s delivery is as wordy and literal as the Manic Street Preachers at their best. There are hooks aplenty for sure but when a chorus does crop up, often than not, they’re understated giving the songs an elusive, hard to pin down nature. For a pop album it’s certainly the most awkward and uncompromising I’ve yet to hear- make of that what you will. So it’s not Little Mix.
On a final note, this album has taken 40 years to arrive, it’d be more than a little over-hasty to dismiss it after a cursory listen as I suspect much of its charms will reveal itself over time particularly as it is designed for repeat listening. Disposable pop it is not. 9/10"[+]Reply
"I love the song "Ms. California," I think it's one of my favorite songs of the year so far -- insanely catchy but still very felt. I couldn't get as into the rest of the record, though that's not to say the rest is bad, I just didn't find it as striking. The lead singer, Lili Trifilio, has a real...""I love the song "Ms. California," I think it's one of my favorite songs of the year so far -- insanely catchy but still very felt. I couldn't get as into the rest of the record, though that's not to say the rest is bad, I just didn't find it as striking. The lead singer, Lili Trifilio, has a really nice voice, and she does a great job of conveying a lot of emotion in each song. The lyrics aren't incredibly interesting, but in songs as catchy as "Ms. California," it almost helps in terms of focusing. I really like this band, and am excited for more of their stuff!"[+]Reply
"I was genuinely pleasantly surprised by Zach Bryan on ‘American Heartbreak’ after a first listen, with its’ extensive range of songs, emotive lyrics and heartfelt performances. Reminded me of Ryan Adams mixed with country era John Mayer and mostly in a good way!"Reply
"Honestly it’s surprisingly good for what it is. It’s has some really solid high points- Kiss Me More, Ain’t Shit, Get Into It, You Right, Need to Know. However everything else is pretty forgettable. The project lacks focus, it seems like more a vessel to hold the singles and the couple of other r...""Honestly it’s surprisingly good for what it is. It’s has some really solid high points- Kiss Me More, Ain’t Shit, Get Into It, You Right, Need to Know. However everything else is pretty forgettable. The project lacks focus, it seems like more a vessel to hold the singles and the couple of other radio digestible songs instead of a full body of work but that’s sort of to be expected for the mainstream at this point isn’t it? Maybe it’s because I went into this project with my expectations on the floor it kind of took me by surprise that there are moments on this album that are really good. You just never know what you’re gonna get from Doja she’s pretty unpredictable. Between this and Sour by Olivia Rodrigo as well as potential Adele, Rihanna, and Billie Eilish on the horizon there maybe be some hope that mainstream music is starting to make an upward climb out of the absolutely dreadful slump it went through for the past decade or two. In conclusion it’s not great but it definitely exceeded my expectations 6.5/10"[+]Reply
"Man, Death's Dynamic Shroud is amazing! I have never ever heard anything like it before. I can't put it in a single genre either it's just a strong force standing there by it's own. The first half of this thing is really strong, especially songs like See Me, Someone in the Room AND FAITH IN PERSO...""Man, Death's Dynamic Shroud is amazing! I have never ever heard anything like it before. I can't put it in a single genre either it's just a strong force standing there by it's own. The first half of this thing is really strong, especially songs like See Me, Someone in the Room AND FAITH IN PERSONA easily the best track on the album, so innovative, strange and dancy. Unfortunately Just To Be Needed and Last Minutes Of the Memory don't hold up to the other tracks, they are okay, but I think they try to be more than what they are and that takes away more than it gives to me. Three dots and RIP were a breath of fresh air, a rest from the monstrous beats that have been playing until this point, RIP also reminds me of Unravel by Bjork a bit. If this dude/s continue down this path the next album is going to hold a defining role in the future of music. I see a lot of potential that shows throughout most of the first half. I guess a 8.5/10, but the title tracks breaks that scale alone :D"[+]Reply
"Home Is Where are an emo band out of Florida. Their 18-minute debut from 2021 had its moments – "Assisted Harakiri" was particularly great – but even then, they sounded like a band doing a competent job of recreating a well-trodden strand of emo. I didn't have big expectations for their follow-up...""Home Is Where are an emo band out of Florida. Their 18-minute debut from 2021 had its moments – "Assisted Harakiri" was particularly great – but even then, they sounded like a band doing a competent job of recreating a well-trodden strand of emo. I didn't have big expectations for their follow-up, but The Whaler self-describes as a "concept record about getting used to things getting worse", that hinges on the imagery of the titular whaler navigating a post-9/11 dystopia. If that wasn't enough, the band also incorporate the country influence of their home state with lyrics that pull from lead singer Brandon MacDonald's experiences with gender dysphoria. It's not often ambition like this pays off; I can't wait to hear what's next in store for this band.
From my Top 20 Albums of 2023: https://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=74659"[+]Reply
"A decent debut on Epitaph Records from a band who is hardly into their teenage years. I will eagerly await how the band matures over the next decade but right now they are reminiscent of The Go-Go's. Recommended. Condensed to a 7" Single: A-Side: Growin' Up B-Side: Talkin' to Myself"Reply