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Entries categorized as “Best Albums of the Year” 481 results
Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2020: Tyler Clark
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2020. Our next list is from DJ and Programming Committee member Tyler Clark.
On January 1st, I set myself a single New Year's Resolution: over the course of the year, I would listen to an average of one 2020 album a day, for a total of 366 records by the next New Year's Day. Currently, my total sits at 373. Even taking into account slight errors in counting, I did it.
Hooray.
We didn't have much to celebrate in 2020. I won't belabor that point, mainly because I don't want to reread said belaboring in years to come. Looking back on my year-end lists for CHIRP since 2014, I've spent most of every introductory essay doom-and-glooming my way to a justification for putting so much thought into these half-arbitrary and wholly changeable lists, as if nodding to the "real world" might make up for all the hours spent under headphones.
Anyway, 2020 makes those years look like your best-remembered childhood birthday party, so you probably get my meaning. Music in 2020 provided a balm, a mirror, a reason to get up in the morning. It got us through quarantine and helped us rage at injustice, made the loneliness seem a little less lonely and the Zoom dance parties seem a little less pathetic.
Some of the best was produced by artists living through the same lockdowns we were, at home with nothing more than a Tascam and a guitar and a few obsessive thoughts. So anyway. Here are my favorite albums of 2020, the year I listened to enough albums to kill a horse and lived to tell the tale. I hope you'll find a new favorite, too.
subtextclapper writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2020: Subtext Clapper
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2020. Our next list is from volunteer Subtext Clapper.
Everything sucked.
Mike Scales writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2020: Mike Scales
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2020. Our next list is from CHIRP Metal Detector Mike Scales.
10 Favorites of 2020 and Some Honorable Mentions in No Particular Order
Andy Weber writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2020: Andy Weber
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2020. Our next list is from DJ Andy Weber.
This year I have ranked a Top 25 this year and they are (almost) all LOCAL RELEASES....
Tony Breed writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2020: Tony Breed
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2020. Our next list is from DJ and Board Member Emeritus Tony Breed.
2020 was a year like nothing I’ve ever experienced—a total upending of our way of life. Fortunately there has been some amazing music to keep me company while I stay home every day.
It’s also been the year of the single—more and more artists are releasing singles that are not tied to any albums, in a return to the early days of rock n roll. So for the first time, my Top Track of 2020 is a single, by Chicago’s own SuperKnova: SuperKnova / “LSD Heartbreak” / single / self-released
Some runner-up tracks of the year that I also loved:
Serengeti / “Field of Fire” / Discoken / Fake Hour Inc.
U.S. Girls / “$ American Dollars” / Heavy Light / 4AD
Emily Edrosa / “Drinking During the Day” / Another Wave Is Coming / Park the Van