The NACC Community’s Top 10
Favorite Records of 2020
Benoit Poirier
CISM 89,3 FM
#1. Cindy Lee – What’s Tonight To Eternity? [W.25th]
#2. P’tit Belliveau – Greatest Hits Vol. 1 [Bonsound]
#3. Beaver Sheppard – Downtown [Joyful Noise]
#4. Magik Markers – 2020 [Drag City]
#5. Jonathan Personne – Disparitions [Michel]
#6. Chassepareil – Chicout
#7. Après l’Asphalte – Millepertuis
#8. Pantayo – Pantayo [Telephone Explosion]
#9. Military Genius – Deep Web [Unheard Of Hope]
#10. Melenas – Dias Raros [Trouble In Mind]
Nicole Rich
in2une Music
#1. Gus Dapperton “Orca”
#2. Two Feet “Think I’m Crazy”
#3. FINNEAS “Can’t Wait To Be Dead”
#4. Parson James “High Tide, Low Tide”
#5. FINNEAS “What They’ll Say About Us”
#6. YelloPain feat. Sevyn Streeter “My Vote Will Count”
#7. FINNEAS “Where The Poison Is”
#8. Gerry Cinnamon “The Bonny”
#9. FINNEAS “Another Year”
#10. TOBi “Elements Vol. 1”
Mathieu Aubre
CHOQ.ca
#1. Perfume Genius “Set My Heart on Fire Immediately”
#2. Backxwash “God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It”
#3. Moses Sumney “Grae”
#4. Jeremy Cunningham “The Weather Up There”
#5. Adrianne Lenker “Songs & Instrumentals”
#6. Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
#7. Cindy Lee “What’s Tonight to Eternity”
#8. Fleet Foxes “Shore”
#9. Yves Tumor “Heaven to a Tortured Mind”
#10. Liturgy “Origin of the Alimonies”
Doug Blake
Pirate!
#1. Beach Bunny–Honeymoon
#2. Hayley Williams–Petals for Armor
#3. Dogleg–Melee
#4. Ratboys–Printers Devil
#5. Run The Jewels–RTJ4
#6. Fiona Apple–Fetch the Bolt Cutters
#7. Phoebe Bridgers–Punisher
#8. Pottery– Welcome to Bobbys Motel
#9. Haim–Women in Music III
#10. Bully–Sugaregg
Bennett Rosner
WRSU/The Off Beat with Bennett Rosner
#1. Mac Miller “Circles”
#2. Andy Shauf “The Neon Skyline”
#3. Adrianne Lenker “Songs”
#4. The Strokes “The New Abnormal”
#5. Gorillaz “Song Machine”
#6. Freddie Gibbs/The Alchemist “Alfredo”
#7. Christine and the Queens “La Vita Nuova”
#8. Tame Impala “The Slow Rush”
#9. Thundercat “It Is What It Is”
#10. Jehnny Beth “Innocence”
Jonathan Bakken
Good Ol’ Jon Bakken, Skoogly Music
#1. Adrianne Lenker “Songs”
#2. Bartees Strange “Live Forever”
#3. Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
#4. Run The Jewels “RTJ4”
#5. Yves Tumer “Heaven To A Tortured Mind”
#6. Porridge Radio “Every Bad”
#7. Lomelda “Hannah”
#8. Bully “SUGAREGG”
#9. U.S. Girls “Heavy Light”
#10. Dua Lipa “Future Nostalgia”
Greg Wilson
DKFM Shoegaze Radio
“In a potentially bleak year for new music and recordings, some shone through.”
#1. Beabadooobee “Care”
#2. Airiel “Bloom”
#3. Nothing “Famine Asylum”
#4. Soft Blue Shimmer “Cherry-Cola Abyss”
#5. Jupiter Sprites “A Radiant Eclipse”
#6. Winter “Endless Space (Between You & I)
#7. Powder Pink & Sweet “Grey Day”
#8. Spirit System “Effrayant”
#9. Pale Shade “Speed Trials”
#10. Away Forward “Always”
Rami Even-Esh
Kosha Dillz
“Happy we all released music despite the situation”
#1. HomeBoy Sandman
#2. Fat Tony
#3. Open Mike Eagle
#4. Run The Jewels
#5. Kosha Dillz
Domenic Paolo
Pirate! Promotions
#1. PVRIS “Use Me”
#2. Beabadoobee “Fake It Flowers”
#3. The Aces “Under My Influence”
#4. Chloe Moriondo “Spirit Orb (EP)”
#5. Bloxx “Lie Out Loud”
#6. KIDS “Lost Cities”
#7. Hayley Williams “Petals For Armor”
#8. Love Fame Tragedy “Wherever I Go, I Want To Leave”
#9. Almost Monday “don’t say you’re ordinary (EP)”
#10. Fleet Foxes “Shore”
Jeremy Franklin
WLUR (Lexington, VA)
#1. Margo Price “That’s How Rumors Get Started”
#2. Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
#3. Yumi Zouma “Truth or Consequences”
#4. Fiona Apple “Fetch the Bolt Cutters”
#5. Buscabulla “Regresa”
#6. Waxahatchee “Saint Cloud”
#7. Snarls “Burst”
#8. Run The Jewels “RTJ4”
#9. Skylar Gudasz “Cinema”
#10. Jessie Ware “What’s Your Pleasure?”
Candy Pennetta
KVNF
“Thank Goodness for the music in 2020!”
#1. Jeff Beck & Johnny Depp “Isolation”
#2. Michael Franti “Work Hard & be Nice”
#3. War & Treaty “Hearts Town”
#4. Freetown Collective “Freetown the EP”
#5. NOLA Resistance ” There Is A Better Way”
#6. Pokey LaFarge “Rock Bottom Resistance”
#7. Maceo Parker “Soul Food”
#8. Bahamas “Own Alone”
#9. Cindy Blackman Santana “Give The Drummer Some”
#10. Khruangbin & Leon Bridges “Texas Sun”
Aaron solle
WRCU 90.1fm Colgate university
#1. Run the jewels 4
#2. Yves tumor heaven for a tortured mind
#3. Glass animals dreamland
#4. Fiona Apple fetch the bolt cutters
#5. Caribou suddenly
#6. Aesop rock spirit world field guide
#7. Chicano Batman
#8. Man man In the valley of the in between
#9. Thundercat It is what it is
#10. Alice ivy
Mark Nason
WHSN
“My 10 albums are my 10 personal favorites, not just the top 10 albums at WHSN. Still, I always love to share music that speaks to me…it’s why I got into radio in the first place! Music has been a Godsend this year. We all spent time at home and took an all new appreciation of the arts (you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone). I found myself excited with new released and was more than happy to shell out money for live-streamed at-home concerts.”
#1. Winnetka Bowling League – Congratulations EP
#2. Dawes – Good Luck With Whatever
#3. Kathleen Edwards – Total Freedom
#4. Secret Sisters – Saturn Return
#5. Run The Jewels – RTJ4
#6. Margaret Glaspy – Devotion
#7. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Reunions
#8. Brendan Benson – Dear Life
#9. Man Man – Dream Hunting In The Valley of the In-Between
#10. Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
michael bagley
wmnf 88.5fm
“the pandemic caused a lot of artists to not release music this year..hopefully a vaccine in 2021 will bring confidence back to the general public as well as the recording industry…”
#1. roisin murphy “murphy’s law”
#2. jessie ware “what’s your pleasure?”
#3. sonsombre “one thousand graves”
#4. new haunts “cleanse”
#5. delphine coma “secondary eyes”
#6. clipping “visions of bodies being burned”
#7. bestial mouths “resurrected in black”
#8. special interest “the passion of..”
#9. death valley girls “under the spell of joy”
#10. gulf blvd “in praise of shadows”
John Diliberto
ECHOES
“Music was the only thing that made this shitty year tolerable. There was just so much great music out there..”
#1. Agnes Obel – Myopia
#2. AVAWaves – Waves
#3. Steve Roach – Tomorrow
#4. Digitonal – Set the Weather Fair
#5. Ane Brun – After the Great Storm
#6. Yppah – Sunset in the Deep End
#7. Michael Whalen – Sacred Spaces
#8. Ian Boddy – Axiom
#9. Jake Shimabukuro – Trio
#10. Aukai – Game Trails
Joe McGinnis
The Syndicate
#1. Nation of Language – Introduction/Presence
#2. Bambara – Stray
#3. 100 gecs – 1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues
#4. Beabadoobee – Fake It Flowers
#5. Hazel English – Wake Up!
#6. Devon Gilfillian – Black Hole Rainbow
#7. Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters
#8. Sports Team – Deep Down Happy
#9. Becca Mancari – The Greatest Part
#10. Angelica Garcia – Cha Cha Palace
Luke Phillips
Planetary Group
“the upside to this awful, terrible year was that quite a lot of excellent music came out – music was probably the only thing that truly kept me sane. My favorite records this year carry more of an emotional weight and sense memory since I could pour so much more energy into listening to new music in lieu of going out to shows every night. Each one feels like a signpost of different points in time this year. I’m glad they helped get me through it.”
#1. Soccer Mommy “color theory”
#2. 2nd Grade “Hit to Hit”
#3. X “Alphabetland”
#4. Bob Dylan “Rough & Rowdy Ways”
#5. Jessie Ware “What’s Your Pleasure?”
#6. Rina Sawayama “SAWAYAMA”
#7. The Flaming Lips “American Head”
#8. TOPS “I Feel Alive”
#9. Lydia Loveless “Daughter”
#10. Westside Gunn “Pray for Paris”
Andy Dunn
WCYT
#1. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters
#2. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
#3. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
#4. Perfume Genius – Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
#5. Fleet Foxes – Shore
#6. Run The Jewels – RTJ4
#7. Nation Of Language – Introduction, Presence
#8. DEHD – Flower of Devotion
#9. Haim – Women in Music pt. III
#10. Khruangbin – Mordechai
Michael McAllister
KSJD
“Great music this year. Artists got some time off from touring to write some great tunes about 2020 and more.”
#1. The Teskey Brothers “So Caught Up”
#2. Black Pumas “Fast Car”
#3. The Mastersons “Eyes Wide Open”
#4. Marcus King “Young Man’s Dream”
#5. Glass Animals “Your Love (Deja Vu)”
#6. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit “Dreamsicle”
#7. Margaret Glaspy “Stay With Me”
#8. The Wood Brothers “Little Bit Sweet”
#9. Cory Henry “Rise”
#10. Fantastic Negrito “Chocolate Samurai”
Bud Johnson
Acoustic Accents
“We really needed some great music to survive this dumpster fire of a year and we got it.”
#1. Sarah Jarosz “World On The Ground”
#2. Twisted Pine “Right Now”
#3. Watkins Family Hour “Brother Sister”
#4. Pharis & Jason Romero “Bet On Love”
#5. Sierra Hull “25 Trips”
#6. Bonny Light Horseman “Bonny Light Horseman”
#7. Molly Tuttle “…but I’d rather be with you”
#8. Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards “Bitter Better”
#9. Rose Cousins “LoveThe Return (Love Comes Back”
#10. Wes Corbett “Cascade”
Dominick Baglivo
WKDU Philadelphia 91.7FM
#1. The Garden – Kiss My Super Bowl Ring
#2. Yves Tumor – Heaven to a Tortured Mind
#3. Tiña – Positive Mental Health Music
#4. Mac Miller – Circles
#5. Jeff Rosenstock – N O D R E A M
#6. Soakie – Soakie
#7. Charli XCX – how i’m feeling now
#8. HMLTD – West of Eden
#9. Crack Cloud – Pain Olympics
#10. Silverbacks – Fad
Abbi A Allan
KFAI
“Punk – Australia, France, Spain and welcome back East Coast!”
#1. Cuir – Synthpunk Demo
#2. Faux Departs – ECHO
#3. Rotten Mind – Rat City Dog
#4. Private Function – Who’s Line is it anyway
#5. Abuse – Process of Stupidity
#6. Bleakness – A world to rebuild
#7. The Suttles – The Suttles
#8. Dead Cells – Dead Cells I
#9. Rocket Reducers – S/T
#10. Thee Evil Twin – 10 piece feed
Art Menius
WCOM
“Lots of political music”
#1. Raye Zaragoza “Woman in Charge”
#2. Scott Cook “Tangle of Souls”
#3. Joseph Martyn “Days of Decision”
#4. Frank & Allie Lee “Treat a Stranger Right”
#5. Tom Smith “Planting in a Drought”
#6. Adam Hurt “Back to the Earth”
#7. Mary Chapin Carpenter “The Dirt and the Stars”
#8. Joel Rafael “One Vote One Name”
#9. Mike Glick “Alternative Facts & Other White Lies”
#10. Emily Barker “A Dark Murmuration of Words”
Isha Del Valle
WMNF Tampa – LatinX
“A lot of artist outdid them selves creating music during the pandemic. Projects that should have been tour did not and that was a bummer. Looking forward to those creative tunes created in a year of chaos.”
#1. CENTAVRVS – Enloquecidos – Single
#2. RICHI ORIACH – Mi Deriengue – Album
#3. LIDO PIMIENTA – Miss Colombia – Album
#4. CHANGO MENAS – Dias Negros – Single
#5. ILE & NATALIA LAFOURCADE – En Cantos – Single
#6. MULA – Mundos – Album
#7. FUEL FANDANGO – Origen – Album
#8. Y LA BAMBA – Mariposa Coalcoman – Single
#9. LAS ABEJAS – Voz Callada – Album
#10. DEPRESION SONORA – Depresion Sonora – Album
Jenny Inzerillo
High Plains Public Radio
“There was too much great stuff to spin it all. Kept me sane, though!”
#1. Shabaka & the Ancestors -We Are Sent Here by History
#2. Colter Wall – Western Swing & Waltzes & Other Punchy Songs
#3. Bror Gunnar Jansson – They Found My Body in a Bag
#4. Khruangbin – Mordechai
#5. Jake Blount – Spider Tales
#6. Brent Cobb – Keep ‘Em on They Toes
#7. Samantha Crain – A Small Death
#8. The War & Treaty – Hearts Town
#9. Freddy & Francine – I Am Afraid to Die!
#10. Mossy Kilcher – Northwind Calling
David May
WHFC/Desert Island Jazz
“There were some great recordings released this year, in spite of the financial hardships imposed by the Covid restrictions. I, for one, am very grateful to all the musicians and producers involved!”
#1. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers/Just Coolin’
#2. The TNEK Jazz Quintet/Plays the Music of Sam Jones
#3. Mike Melito & Dino Losito Quartet/You’re It!
#4. Tom Keenlyside/Fortune Teller
#5. 3D Jazz Trio/Christmas in 3D
#6. Alan Broadbent Trio/Trio in Motion
#7. Neil Swainson/49th Parallel
#8. Christian McBride Big Band/For Jimmy, Wes, and Oliver
#9. Roberto Magris/Suite!
#10. Billy Childs/Acceptance
Dan Yocom
Partisan Records
#1. Woods – Strange To Explain (Woodsist)
#2. Cut Worms – Nobody Lives Here Anymore (Jagjaguwar)
#3. Nap Eyes – Snapshot of a Beginner (Jagjaguwar)
#4. Jon McKiel – Bobby Joe Hope (You’ve Changed)
#5. Against All Logic – 2017 – 2019 (Other People)
#6. Caribou – Suddenly (Merge)
#7. Beatrice Dillon – Workaround (PAN)
#8. Perfume Genius – Set My Heart On Fire Immediately (Matador)
#9. Cindy Lee – What’s Tonight to Eternity (W.25TH / Superior Viaduct)
#10. Black Taffy – Opal Wand (Leaving)
Bill Lupoletti
WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Indepdent Radio/Global A Go-Go
“I thought 2020 was an excellent year for my branch of the recorded music world, vastly exceeding my expectations given the circumstances. I’m dazzled by the effort that artists, labels, distributors and promoters put in under the most difficult conditions of most of our lifetimes. I hope you’re all be rewarded with a much better 2021!”
#1. Bab L’Bluz “Nayda!”
#2. Fat Freddy’s Drop “Lock-In”
#3. Qwanqwa “Volume 3”
#4. Sahra Halgan Trio “Waa Dardaaran”
#5. Santrofi “Alewa”
#6. Antibalas “Fu Chronicles”
#7. Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn “Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn”
#8. Jaakko Laitinen and Vaara Raha “Borek”
#9. Bamba Wassoulou Groove “Dankele”
#10. Moonlight Benjamin “Simido”
Marissa Mele
Asheville FM – Not Your Mother’s Tongue
“So much amazing music came out this year, picking only 10 was really though”
#1. Numa Gama “Me Redesenho”
#2. Dumama + Kechou “Buffering Juju”
#3. Irreversible Entanglements “Who Sent You?”
#4. Hprizm “Loops Are a Form of Meditation”
#5. Sault “(Untitled) Rise”
#6. Mourning [A] BLKstar “The Cycle”
#7. SPAZA “Uprize!”
#8. Marlowe “Marlowe 2”
#9. Dua Saleh “Rosetta – EP”
#10. Nihiloxica “Kaloli”
Alberto Zordan
Hoodooh
“Tough, strange but we rediscovered ourselves as music community.”
#1. Bee Bee Sea – Day Ripper
#2. Metz – Atlas Vending
#3. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
#4. Run The Jewels – RTJ4
#5. Nothing – The Great Dismal
#6. Bob Mould – Blue Hearts
#7. Bruce Springsteen – Letter To You
#8. Protomartyr – Ultimate Success Today
#9. Fontaines DC – A Hero’s Death
#10. Osees – Protean Threat
Peter Chapman
Fallen Tree Records
#1. 100 mile house “Love and Leave You”
#2. Joe Nolan “Drifters”
#3. Ayla Brook & The Sound Men “Desolation Sounds”
#4. Vivienne Wilder “postromantic”
#5. Logan and Nathan “The Happening”
#6. Sylvan Esso “Free Love”
#7. Caribou “Suddenly”
#8. William Prince “Reliever”
#9. Michael Bernard Fitzgerald “Love Valley”
#10. Joe Nolan “Cry Baby: B-Sides”
D Major
The Urban Suite (KSYM 90.1 FM / San Antonio, TX)
“Historically, when there’s a lot of stress, strife and change in the world, those elements help fuel musical creativeness. 2020 has truly lived up to the billing! Whether made to address current issues or as an escape to this crapshoot of a year, I’ve been truly excited to listen to the vast musical landscape that artists brought forth this year. I’m looking forward to what happens in the next 365 days!”
#1. APOLLO BROWN AND CHE’ NOIR – As God Intended (Mello)
#2. SA-ROC – The Sharecropper’s Daughter (Rhymesayers)
#3. RUN THE JEWELS – RTJ4 (Jewel Runners/RBC/BMG)
#4. BLU AND EXILE – Miles (Dirty Science)
#5. OPEN MIKE EAGLE – Anime, Trauma And Divorce (Auto Reverse)
#6. DUELING EXPERTS – Dueling Experts (Mello)
#7. HOMEBOY SANDMAN – Don’t Feed The Monster (Mello)
#8. THIRD ROOT – Passion of the Poets (Self-Released)
#9. BUSTA RHYMES – Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God (The Conglomerate/EMPIRE)
#10. LIL’ YODAA, WORLDWIDE, AND SOSANANTONE – Manifest (Elder Entertainment)
Eric Funk
KRKQ – Mountain Chill®
“Music is what got us through 2020”
#1. DISCLOSURE – Energy
#2. EMANCIPATOR – Mountain of Memory
#3. FOUR TET – Sixteen Oceans
#4. YAEJI – What We Drew
#5. JULIANNA BARWICK – Healing Is A Miracle
#6. KAYTRANADA – Bubba
#7. BUSCABULLA – Regressa
#8. FORD – Color of Nothing, The
#9. LANE 8 – Brightest Lights
#10. TOKIMONSTA – Oasis Nocturno
Munsey Ricci
Skateboard Marketing Ltd.
“Stellar year for metal!”
#1. Killer Be Killed/Reluctant Hero
#2. Motorhead/Ace of Spades 40th Anniversary
#3. Dark Tranquillity/Moment
#4. Within The Ruins/Black heart
#5. Napalm Death/Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism
#6. Avatar/Hunter Gatherer
#7. DevilDriver/Dealing With Demons I
#8. Testament/Titans Of Creation
#9. Alpha Wolf/A Quiet Place To Die
#10. Kataklysm/Meditations
Rusty Roberts
The Planetary Group
#1. Haim “Women In Music Pt III”
#2. Fiona Apple “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”
#3. Jeff Rosenstock “NO DREAM”
#4. TOPS “I Feel Alive”
#5. Ratboys “Printer’s Devil”
#6. Muzz “Muzz”
#7. The Homesick “The Big Exercise”
#8. Hum “Inlet”
#9. Fontaines DC “A Hero’s Death”
#10. Criswell Brushes “Helicopter”
Lady Thomspon
SMCCD
#1. Everything Sucks by Princess Nokia
#2. Letter to You by Bruce Springsteen
#3. Walking Like We Do by The Big Moon
#4. Fetch the Boltcutters by Fiona Apple
#5. Folklore by Taylor Swift
#6. Shamir by Shamir
#7. Big Wheel by Samia
#8. Circle the Drain by Soccer Mommy
#9. bop it up! by The Marias
#10. Show Pony by Oroville Peck
CJ Simonson
Planetary Group
“Music… what can be said, really. It was released. Some of it I enjoyed, while some of it I did not. Seemed MOSTLY worthwhile though. I suppose we can try the whole thing again next year.”
#1. Melee by Dogleg
#2. Country Westerns by Country Westerns
#3. Heaven To A Tortured Mind by Yves Tumor
#4. Empty Country by Empty Country
#5. Glory Glory! Apathy Took Helm! by Vile Creature
#6. Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
#7. Untitled (Rise) by SAULT
#8. Gathering Swans by Choir Boy
#9. Velvet Spirit by Cathedral Bells
#10. What’s Your Pleasure? by Jessie Ware
Bill Calderhead
WXPN
#1. Waxahatchee “Saint Cloud”
#2. Dizzy “The Sun and Her Scorch”
#3. Haley Blais “Below the Salt”
#4. Aubrey Sellers “Far From Home”
#5. Hazel English “Wake Up”
#6. St South “Get Well Soon”
#7. Jaguar Jonze “Diamonds and Liquid Gold”
#8. Matilda Mann “If That Makes Sense”
#9. Ray LaMontaigne “Monovision”
#10. Rina Sawayama “Sawayama “
Andrew Valenti
Dolly Valentine
“2020… As a manager – the word “frustrated” comes to mind, but also hope, awe, and wonder – wonder for the future of the glue that binds us all together for without music connecting us all, we are lost in a time that seems to be trying to pull us apart. I’m grateful that I could connect Dolly with radio shows across the world and have “face to face” interviews that might not have happened otherwise. I can’t wait to get the show back on the road though. Time and time again, we all need to thank the people sharing the voices that aren’t as loud as others – for we are all each others champions.”
#1. Dolly Valentine “How To Be Good”
#2. Field Medic “Floral Prince”
#3. Yves Jarvis “Sundry Rock Song Stock”
#4. The Weeknd “After Hours”
#5. Destroyer “Have We Met”
#6. Waxahatchee “Saint Cloud”
#7. Derek Ted “Otherwise”
#8. The Strokes “The New Abnormal”
#9. Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
#10. Dua Lipa “Future Nostalgia”
Maddie Jennette
WKNC 88.1 FM
“Fiona Apple saved the year, the rest of my list is honestly presented in no particular order. Also, female artists are like the only thing I listen to anymore”
#1. Fiona Apple- Fetch the Bolt Cutters
#2. Frances Quinlan- Likewise
#3. Retirement Party- Runaway Dog
#4. Arlo Parks- Black Dog
#5. Special Interest- The Passion Of
#6. Hayley Williams- Petals for Armor
#7. Mamalarky- Mamalarky
#8. Powerplant- A Spine/Evidence EP
#9. Yves Tumor- Heaven To A Tortured Mind
#10. The Beths- Jump Rope Gazers
Byron Gonzalez
Latin Alt HD3
“Latinx artists have really gone above and beyond this year!”
#1. Triste Pero Fresh – SImon Grossmann
#2. CARISMA – Salt Cathedral
#3. Everlasting – Los Retros
#4. Subcampeon – Dromedarios Magicos
#5. Ya Nos Comimos – Lorena Blume
#6. Quiero Cambiar – Carrot
#7. Five – Easy Easy
#8. Luna Completa – Caloncho
#9. Psilocibina – Vanessa Zamora
#10. La Zorra Zapata
Zeke Timen
WMUH Allentown
“2020 was a great year for music! Artists of all ages and genres put out some fantastic projects. Songs about love and loss, about isolation and connection, about the systemic injustices of the world and the deeply personal moments of beauty and joy. 2020 has been a hell of a year, to put it lightly, and the music of this year will be our time capsule for generations to come.”
#1. Gorillaz “Song Machine Season 1: Strange Timez”
#2. Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes “What Kinda Music”
#3. Mise En Scene “Winnipeg, California”
#4. Mac Miller “Circles”
#5. Lianne La Havas “Lianne La Havas”
#6. Run the Jewels “RTJ4”
#7. Tula Vera “Again and Again…”
#8. toasty digital “2049 (Deluxe Edition)”
#9. Anjimile “Giver Taker”
#10. Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
Nick Quebbeman
WDBM
#1. Slow Pulp – Moveys
#2. Jean Dawson – Pixel Bath
#3. Dorian Electra – My Agenda
#4. Yves Tumor – Heaven To A Tortured Mind
#5. Pottery – Welcome to Bobby’s Motel
#6. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
#7. King Krule – Man Alive!
#8. 100 gecs – 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues
#9. Oneohtrix Point Never – Magic Oneohtrix Point Never
#10. ARTHUR – Hair of the Dog
Jack Neal
Rider University 107.7 The Bronc WRRC FM
#1. Spanish Love Songs – Brave Faces Everyone
#2. Ichiko Aoba – Windswept Adan
#3. The Microphones – Microphones In 2020
#4. Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters
#5. Run The Jewels – RTJ4
#6. The Rockyts – Come Out And Dance
#7. Lianne La Havas – Lianne La Havas
#8. Mac Miller – Circles
#9. Jeff Rosenstock – NO DREAM
#10. Taylor Swift – Folklore
kaelah wilson
KSDT
“Serious ingenuity and inspiration happening with artists who managed to put music out this year”
#1. Moveys
#2. Color Theory
#3. circles
#4. supergood
#5. fetch the boltcutters
#6. either light
#7. snakes and birds
#8. insert delete
#9. deep divine
#10. it is what it is
Wes Flexner
wcrsfm.org 92.7/ 98.3 WesFlexner.com BSA Hip Hop
“Bands couldn’t play shows. Social revolution appeared in the midst of a plague. Community radio seemed to find its return in 2020 after blogs had diminished radio was relevant for music media because of the necessity of experiential communication.”
#1. Public Enemy – “State Of The Union”
#2. Curren$y – “Gold And Chrome”
#3. Jay Electronica – “Flux Capacitor”
#4. Blu + Exile – “Requiem Of Blue” feat. Fashawn
#5. RJD2- “A Salute To The Blood Bowl Legends”
#6. Black Thought ft. Pusha T, Killer Mike + Swizz Beats- “Good Morning”
#7. Lil Baby -“The Bigger Picture”
#8. Busta Rhymes – “Look Over Your Shoulder” ft. Kendrick Lamar
#9. Paris- “Walk Like A Panther”
#10. SaRoc –”rEvolution”
Ryan Rutz
WAWM-SD
“Here’s to hoping 2021 sucks less than 2020.”
#1. Fiona Apple “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”
#2. Steven Page “Isolation”
#3. Ben Folds “2020”
#4. Badflower – “30”
#5. Eric Hutchinson “Cooler Than You”
#6. Frank Turner “Bob”
#7. Yello “Waba Duba”
#8. Highly Suspect “These Days”
#9. Royal Bliss “Medication”
#10. JJ Wilde “The Rush”
Hobart Taylor
KUCI
“The paths diverged even further between drivel and high art in jazz. My list is alphabetical…rankings annoy me, these are ten releases I would consider essential to any stations library.”
#1. Ambrose Akinmusire on the tender spot of every calloused moment”
#2. Nduduzo Makhathini “Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworlds”
#3. Joey Alexander “Warna”
#4. Lakecia Benjamin “Pursuance: The Coltranes”
#5. Carla Bley “Life Goes On”
#6. Terri Lyne Carrington “Waiting Game”
#7. Gerald Clayton “Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard”
#8. Wayne Escoffery “The Humble Warrior”
#9. Maria Schneider “Data Lords”
#10. Arturo O’farrill “Four Questions”
Ed Zeitz
WRUW Cleveland/Chasing Infinity
“no music year is a bad music year, and even though this year was horrible it was an excellent music year”
#1. The Beths – Jump Rope Gazers
#2. Bad Moves – Untenable
#3. Gladie – Safe Sins
#4. Ratboys – Printers Devil
#5. Oceanator – Things I Never Said
#6. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
#7. illuminati hotties – Free IH This Is Not The One You’ve Been Waiting For
#8. En Attendant Ana – Juillet
#9. The High Water Marks – Ecstacy Rhymes
#10. Maxwell Stern – Impossible Sum
Erin Wolf
91.7 FM, WMSE
#1. Dehd “Flower Of Devotion”
#2. Coriky “Coriky”
#3. Run The Jewels “RTJ4”
#4. Space Raft “Positively Space Raft”
#5. Deerhoof “Future Teenage Cave Artists”
#6. Joe Wong “Nite Creatures”
#7. Khruangbin “Mordechai”
#8. Dana Gavanski “Yesterday Is Gone”
#9. Sault “Untitled (Rise)”
#10. Field Report “Brake Light Red Tide”
Mattu Findlater
CJAM
“I really miss live music… 2020 sucks. *also these are in no particular order. as an a n a r c h i s t™©®, how could I possible ranks these in good conscience!”
#1. Vile Creature – Glory! Glory! Apathy Took Helm
#2. Starchild & the New Romantic – Forever
#3. Rudy De Anda – Tender Epoch
#4. David Strickland – Spirit of Hip Hop
#5. Mulatu Astatke and the Black Jesus Experience – To Know Without Knowing
#6. Emma Ruth Rundle and Thou – May Our Chambers Be Full
#7. Denge Denge Denge – Continentes Perdidos
#8. Sa-Roc – the Sharecroppers Daughter
#9. Jeff Rosestock – No Dream (but also all the “2020DUMP” stuff he’s been uploading to bandcamp)
#10. Self-Cut Bangs – self-titled
Jerry Steller
Vitriol Radio Promo
“2020 was one of the worst years of my life… maybe THE worst. I’m not gonna pretend to have listened to every release (even all the most critically acclaimed ones) to make a truly representative best-of list. But these are 10 releases I personally enjoyed and that gave me some moments of joy in a very sad year.”
#1. PERFUME GENIUS Set My Heart Of Fire Immediately
#2. ROISIN MURPHY Róisín Machine
#3. TAME IMPALA The Slow Rush
#4. WINNETKA BOWLING LEAGUE Congratulations
#5. DUA LIPA Future Nostalgia
#6. BONIFACE Boniface
#7. TOURIST COMPANY St. Helens
#8. BOAT Tread Lightly
#9. SECRET SUN Winter Love
#10. LADY GAGA Chromatica
Ronald Wesley
Jazz Workshop USA
“Jazz is alive and well, thanks to the All-time greats and the youngsters coming up!”
#1. Chick Corea – Trilogy 2
#2. Corey Weeds – Day by Day
#3. Loren Henderson – The Song Book Session
#4. Steve Davis – Live at Smalls
#5. Joshua Redman – Round Again
#6. Eddie Henderson – Shuffle & Deal
#7. Bobby Watson – Keepin’ it Real
#8. TNEK Jazz Quintet – Plays Sam Jones
#9. Zen Zadravec – Human Revolution
#10. Teodross Avery – Harlem Stories
Al Crisafulli
WFDU-FM
“Music definitely got me through this year, and thankfully, there were TONS of great records that came out. Special recognition to those artists that released music before the pandemic shut the country down, wiping away tours and promotional opportunities.”
#1. Quin Kirchner – “The Shadows and the Light” (Astral Spirits)
#2. Protomartyr – “Ultimate Success Today” (Domino)
#3. Chronophage – “The Pig Kiss’d” (Cleta Patra)
#4. Mini Skirt – “Casino” (S/R)
#5. Bailterspace – “Concret” (S/R)
#6. Groupe RTD – “The Dancing Devils of Djibouti” (Ostinato)
#7. Alan Braufman – “The Fire Still Burns (Valley of Search)
#8. E – “Complications” (S/R)
#9. Horse Lords – “The Common Task” (Northern Spy)
#10. Sault – “Untitled (Black Is)” (Forever Living Originals)
Dave Stroud
Blue Moon Americana
#1. Rough and Rowdy Ways/Bob Dylan
#2. Logan Ledger/Logan Ledger
#3. Good Souls Better Angels/Lucinda Williams
#4. Welcome to Hard Times/Charley Crockett
#5. That’s How Rumors Get Started/Margo Price
#6. The Land That Time Forgot/Chuck Prophet
#7. Cuttin’ Grass/Sturgill Simpson
#8. Starting Over/Chris Stapleton
#9. Self Made Man/Larkin Poe
#10. Hoosier National/Otis Gibbs
Chris “Roin Dig” DeRoin
Forces Of Obvious Luck [KRBX Radio Boise]
#1. Aesop Rock “Spirit World Field Guide” [Rhymesayers Entertainment]
#2. L.Teez “The Index to My Inner Thoughts” [Hydrophonik Records]
#3. Sa-Roc “The Sharecropper’s Daughter” [Rhymesayers Entertainment]
#4. Googie & Henry Canyons “Hijinx” [Backwoodz Studios]
#5. R.A.P. Ferreira “purple moonlight pages” [Ruby Yacht]
#6. Deca “Snakes and Birds” [Beulah Records]
#7. Marlowe “Marlowe 2” [Mello Music Group]
#8. Andy Cooper “L.I.S.T.E.N.” [Unique Records]
#9. Illogic “Autopilot” [Illogistics, LLC]
#10. Open Mike Eagle “Anime, Trauma and Divorce” [Auto Reverse]
Wanda Fischer
WAMC-FM/Hudson River Sampler
“I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of music that came my way, given the fact that musicians weren’t allowed to tour due to the pandemic.”
#1. JAKE BLOUNT Spider Tales
#2. REGGIE HARRIS & GREG GREENWAY Deeper Than the Skin
#3. CONNIE KALDOR Everyday Moments
#4. BROOKS WILLIAMS Work My Claim
#5. JOHN DOYLE The Path of Stones
#6. JOHN MCCUTCHEON Cabin Fever: Songs from the Quarantine
#7. ANDY BAKER North Country Sky
#8. DANNY O’KEEFE Looking Glass and the Dreamers
#9. SHIRLEY COLLINS Heart’s Ease
#10. MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER The Dirt and the Stars
Dave Blevins
WODU
“When I was officially named the Music Director for WODU in March, I was really excited to continue the work I started as an assistant. I was really looking forward to the many bands that were coming to Norfolk, VA this year, unfortunately a week after the promotion, COVID-19 hit and shut everything down. However, this has led to some brilliant albums this year. I was stoked to see albums from Throwing Muses, Psychedelic Furs, Tonya Donnelly, and Paris – artists that I grew up on as a teenager in the 90s. I wish I could do a Top 10 for each genre.”
#1. Caroline Rose – “Feel The Way I Want” (Single) – the feel good song of the year, it got me through
this year
#2. Caribou – “Home” (Single) – my girlfriend (now wife) was working in Maryland before COVID-19, I
would play this song on the way to pick her up from the train station earlier this year.
#3. METZ – “Atlas Vending” LP – so much energy in this one!
#4. Washed Out – “Purple Noon” LP – It’s a great album has a whole, but “Too Late” has this special
Sade vibe.
#5. Frances Quinlan – “Likewise” LP – my teenage daughter introduced me to Hop Along, her voice
reminds of Juliana Hatfield a little.
#6. Narrow Head – “12th House Rock” – they reminded of the post-hardcore and emo bands of the 90s like Split Lip, Gameface, and Jawbox. I especially love that there’s a Jawbox shirt in the
“Stuttering Stanley” video.
#7. Shehehe – “Pet Songs” – yet another albums that takes me back to the 80s and 90s punk rock and power pop.
#8. Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats – “Unlocked” – Denzel Curry is always ferocious on the mic but he
ramps it into overdrive on this album.
#9. Bully – “Sugaregg” – if I made a Top 10 list of just albums that Sub Pop released this year, this
would be at the top!
#10. Don Paul – “The Time We Have – Meld 1” – jazz vocals on a few tracks and spoken word – this is
a great album that once can relax too and imagine the stories as vocalized by Don Paul
Kim Tracy
WHPC/High Fidelity
“The following list is in no particular order.”
#1. Idles – Ultra Mono
#2. Jeff Rosenstock – No Dream
#3. The Mountain Goats – Songs for Pierre Chuvin
#4. Dehd – Flower of Devotion
#5. Bruce Springsteen – Letter to You
#6. Laura Jane Grace – Stay Alive
#7. The Frights – Everything Seems Like Yesterday
#8. Fontaines D.C. – A Hero’s Death
#9. Stephen Malkmus – Traditional Techniques
#10. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
Trevor Morrison
co-sign
#1. Cindy Lee – What’s Tonight To Eternity?
#2. Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?
#3. TOPS – I Feel Alive
#4. Yves Tumor – Heaven To A Tortured Mind
#5. SAULT – Untitled (Black Is)
#6. Charli XCX – how i’m feeling now
#7. The Microphones – The Microphones in 2020
#8. Lianne La Havas – Lianne La Havas
#9. Shabason, Krgovich & Harris – Philadelphia
#10. Sea Oleena – Weaving A Basket
Rupam Sofsky
Shine On
“If there’s one thing that got me through 2020…”
#1. Destroyer “Have We Met?”
#2. Owen Pallett “Island”
#3. Perfume Genius “Set My Heart On Fire Immediately”
#4. Le Couleur “Concorde”
#5. Of Montreal “UR FUN”
#6. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever “Sideways To New Italy”
#7. OSees “Protean Threat”
#8. Stephen Malkmus “Traditional Techniques”
#9. Adrianne Lenker “Songs”
#10. Arca “KiCk i”
Terence Praet
Distiller Promo
#1. Arlo Parks “Hurt”
#2. Ohmme “Ghost”
#3. The Beths “Dying to Believe”
#4. Destroyer “Crimson Tide”
#5. Céu “Forçar o Verão”
#6. Wolf Parade “Forest Green”
#7. Waxahatchee “Can’t Do Much”
#8. Fleet Foxes “Maestranza”
#9. DABDA “Journey”
#10. Emma Swift “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”
the Ozzy Freak of Boulder Creek
KBCZ/Metal from the Mountains, Hardrock for the Humpday
“Glad to be a part of the Heavy music community. It was hard this year to appreciate the releases, without being able to see any live performances after March. Unleash the Archers in San Francisco was my last live show, and they killed it! I also enjoy the fact that promoters throw all kinds of heavy music at us DJ’s. Some bands are too extreme, too grindcore, too metalcore, too death metal, too brutal, too hardcore, to grab my interests at first. BUT, I’d rather be exposed to all of that, so those artists that play all of those heavy sounds can have an opportunity to be heard. I’ll keep sharing the tunes that come from the world of heavy music, as it deserves to be played, on the airwaves. My speech is over, “keep bangin’ those heads”!”
#1. Testament “Titans of Creation”
#2. Havok “V”
#3. The Black Dahlia Murder “Verminous”
#4. Ozzy Osbourne “Under the Graveyard”
#5. Armored Saint “Punching the Sky”
#6. Lamb of God “Lamb of God”
#7. Devilskin “Red”
#8. Sons of Apollo “MMXX”
#9. Fates Warning “Long Day Good Night”
#10. Unleash the Archers “Abyss”
Joe Black
KRBX 89.9FM / Sonic Mushroom Cloud
“Lots of covers, still some great original content as well. Cant wait for more regular releases and live shows.”
#1. Run The Jewels “RTJ4”
#2. Deafkids & Petbrick “Deafbrick”
#3. Death Valley Girls “Under The Spell Of Joy“
#4. The Paranoyds “Pet Cemetery”
#5. Sun Blood Stories “I Miss You”
#6. Illuminati hotties “FREE I.H: This Is Not the One You’ve Been Waiting For“
#7. Rodeo Screams “Rodeo Screams”
#8. Liar, Flower “Geiger Counter”
#9. Zombi “2020“
#10. The Gods Themselves “New Excuse“
Rinatt Montoya
WVCW
“A really solid year for music, lots of variety.”
#1. Yves Tumor “Heaven to a tortured mind”
#2. Thundercat “It Is What It Is”
#3. clipping. “Visions of Bodies Being Burned”
#4. The Strokes “The New Abnormal”
#5. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist “Alfredo”
#6. Oneohtrix Point Never “Magic Oneohtrix Point Never”
#7. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard “KG”
#8. Butcher Brown “#KingButch”
#9. Fleet Foxes “Shore”
#10. Fiona Apple “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”
Lisa Uber
WRSU-FM / Machine Age Voodoo
“pretty good, especially during a pandemic!”
#1. Linea Aspera – LP II
#2. I Break Horses – Warnings
#3. Grimes – Miss Anthropocene
#4. Orville Peck – Show Pony
#5. Purity Ring – Womb
#6. The Birthday Massacre – Diamonds
#7. Then Comes Silence – Machine
#8. Ela Minus – Acts Of Rebellion
#9. Clan Of Xymox – Spider On The Wall
#10. Nicolas Bougaïeff – The Upward Spiral
Russ Slaten
KRUA 88.1FM Loud Rock Director in Anchorage, Alaska
“Top 10 Metal Albums of 2020”
#1. Ocean, The “Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic”
#2. Black Dahlia Murder, The “Verminous”
#3. Killer Be Killed “Reluctant Hero”
#4. Viscera “Obsidian”
#5. Code Orange “Underneath”
#6. Carach Angren “Franckensteina Strataemontanus”
#7. Ensiferum “Thalassic”
#8. Abysmal Dawn “Phylogenesis”
#9. Within The Ruins “Black Heart”
#10. Victorius “Space Ninjas From Hell”
Brian Robb
AM1700
“It was a long, terrible year that couldn’t be saved by rock n roll.”
#1. Fontaines D.C. “A Hero’s Death”
#2. Run The Jewels “RTJ4”
#3. Sports Team “Deep Down Happy”
#4. Dogleg “Melee”
#5. Protomartyr “Ultimate Success Today”
#6. Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
#7. Fiona Apple “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”
#8. Porridge Radio “Every Bad”
#9. Soccer Mommy “Color Theory”
#10. Dream Wife “So When You Gonna”
Mike Saffran
WGSU-FM
“‘We waited until the world hit a misery level.’ I think AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson said it best about the timing of the band’s latest release. But anytime AC/DC fans get new music — even in the most bleak of times — it’s a happy moment. So, thank goodness for them … along with many of the other artists with new music (including at least a couple listed here who, in 2020, released songs specifically about the pandemic) … for offering bright spots during a sometimes grim year. AC/DC’s been around for 40-plus years; it also was nice to again hear new music this year by Michael Stipe. But there’s still no better source than college and community radio for new-music (and artist) discovery (much of it “radio-friendly” — decidedly not a “dirty phrase” around here). I’m especially grateful to have discovered a couple great bands that a little more than a year or so ago I hadn’t yet
heard of … in Paragon Cause and Transviolet. So, thank you to the artists, labels and promoters for keeping the great new music coming!”
#1. AC/DC | Power Up
#2. Transviolet | Born To Rule
#3. Allison Leah | “We Can Still Sing”
#4. Paragon Cause | What We Started
#5. Michael Stipe & Big Red Machine | “No Time For Love Like Now”
#6. Various Artists | The Turning Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
#7. Grimes | Miss Anthropocene
#8. Sylvan Esso | Free Love
#9. Purity Ring | Womb
#10. TOPS | I Feel Alive
David Jacobsohn
WRTC
“I listened to more music this year than ever before!”
#1. Nada Surf – Never Not Together
#2. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Reunions
#3. Sparks – A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
#4. John Wesley Harding – Man With No Shadow
#5. Ben Gibbard – Proxima B (single)
#6. Pokey Lafarge – Rock Bottom Rhapsody
#7. Chuck Prophet – The Land That Time Forgot
#8. Blitzen Trapper – Holy Smokes, Future Jokes
#9. Kathleen Edwards – Total Freedom
#10. The Pretenders – Hate For Sale
daniel “kid” yoshida
KRBX Radio Boise/Country Jesus
“I have never seen such quantity of recorded music, even multiple releases from each artists. It’s been harder than ever to keep track and listen to as much as I would like. And then the conditions have been such that it all sounds perfect and takes me to all the different places that these artists have been. Impossible to stop at even 100, but here’s the 10 best things I can add to the mix.”
#1. Human Impact “Human Impact” (Ipecac)
#2. BlackLab “Abyss” (New Heavy Sounds)
#3. Rodeo Screams “Rodeo Screams” (self-released)
#4. Death Valley Girls “Under The Spell of Joy” (Suicide Squeeze)
#5. Charlie Sutton “Primitive Songs for Modern Times” (Junkerdash)
#6. The Bobby Lees “Skin Suit” (Alive Naturalsound)
#7. I Know I’m An Alien “Do You Work Here?” (Crass Lips)
#8. Moor Mother “Circuit City” (Don Giovanni)
#9. Household Gods “Palace Intrigue” (Greyday)
#10. Suzanne Ciani “Improvisation on Four Sequences at Festival Antigel” (Atmospheric)
Matt Mommaerts
WORT / The Mosh Pit
“pretty good stuff from a lot of new bands as well as some great new material from established bands… Definitely miss seeing live shows!”
#1. Sons of Apollo — MMXX — InsideOut
#2. Testament — Titans of Creation — Nuclear Blast
#3. Mr. Bungle — Raging Wrath of Easter Bunny — Ipecac
#4. John Petrucci – Terminal Velocity – Sound Mind
#5. Judicator — Let There Be Nothing — Prosthetic
#6. Fates Warning — Long Day Good Night — Metal Blade
#7. Haken — Virus — InsideOut
#8. Mors Principium Est — Seven — AFM
#9. Dark Tranquillity — Moment — Century Media
#10. Carcass — Despicable — Nuclear Blast
Lawrence Lui
Bampire Music Marketing
“100% underground electronic music from black artists this year:”
#1. dumama + kechou ‘buffering juju’
#2. Loraine James ‘Hmm’
#3. AceMoMa, AceMo, MoMa Ready ‘A New Dawn (HOA007)’
#4. Nidia ’Nao Fales Nela Que A Mentes’
#5. DJ Mephorisa, Kabza The Small ‘Once Upon A Time In Lockdown’
#6. Terence Dixon ‘From The Far Future, Part 3’
#7. Ase Manual ‘Black Liquid Electronics’
#8. Gaika ‘Seguridad’
#9. Tygapaw ‘GET FREE’
#10. Griffit Vigo ‘I Am Gqom’
Robb Haagsman
Shine On
“2020 has been a difficult year on many fronts, but it’s been inspiring to see the college radio community adapt and continue to champion new music every week!”
#1. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher – Dead Oceans
#2. Bully – Sugaregg – Sub Pop
#3. Brooke Bentham – Everyday Nothing – Allpoints
#4. of Montreal – UR FUN – Polyvinyl
#5. Death Valley Girls – Under the Spell of Joy – Suicide Squeeze
#6. Protomartyr – Ultimate Success Today – Domino
#7. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Sideways to New Italy – Sub Pop
#8. RVG – Feral – Fire
#9. Michael Nau – Demo Versions 2014-2017 – Suicide Squeeze
#10. The Know – wearetheknow – 45Percenter
Jesse Stensby
Vitriol Radio Promotion
“In a year where we were all at home for much more than we thought we’d be, it’s still amazing how many releases I didn’t get to. But 2020 brought some amazing artists (including many of those below) into the Vitriol fold alongside some of the work I’ve been very proud and maniacally busy doing, so it can’t be all bad. I’m excited about what 2021 might hold, where I can stop watching news coverage like it’s sports and take some time to dive into new albums and ones I may have missed this year.”
#1. Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
#2. Helena Deland “Someone New”
#3. Run the Jewels “RTJ4”
#4. BOAT “Tread Lightly”
#5. Winnetka Bowling League “Congratulations”
#6. The 1975 “Notes on a Conditional Form”
#7. HAIM “Women in Music Pt. III”
#8. Perfume Genius “Set My Heart on Fire Immediately”
#9. Grimes “Miss Anthropocene”
#10. Taylor Swift “Folklore”
Mark Michaelis
WGDR/WGDH
“So many wonderful new folk/americana releases this year, impossible to limit to top 10!”
#1. Eliza Gilkyson – “2020”
#2. Gillian Welch – “Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs”
#3. Pharis & Jason Romero – “Bet On Love”
#4. Bonny Light Horseman – “Bonny Light Horseman”
#5. Jenny Reynolds – “Any Kind Of Angel”
#6. James Lee Baker – “100 Summers”
#7. Lori McKenna – “The Balladeer”
#8. Kris Delmhorst – “Long Day in the Milky Way”
#9. John Doyle – “The Path Of Stones “
#10. Mary Chapin Carpenter – “The Dirt And The Stars”
Miranda L. Tarrow
Freeform Portland MD/Heavy MD/Spider in the Ear
“There were so many releases I loved this year that I needed to give myself a limiter, so I’m just focusing on the “heavy” ones – but to be fair, it was a heavy year, wasn’t it? A relentlessly heartbreaking, absurdly grotesque year. A year where you could find appropriate catharsis in antifascist, feminist black metal songs celebrating decay, and protest music that imagines African-American liberation through Satanism instead of Christianity. On other days, it was the Castlevania soundtrack-esque black metal song with the trombone solo, or the nihilist barbershop quartet. Any little bit of joy, no?”
#1. Oranssi Pazuzu “Mestarin kynsi”
#2. Feminazgul “No Dawn for Men”
#3. Imperial Triumphant “Alphaville”
#4. Zeal and Ardor “Wake of a Nation”
#5. Vile Creature “Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!”
#6. Necrot “Mortal”
#7. Duma “Duma”
#8. Creature “Ex Cathedra”
#9. Neptunian Maximalism “Éons”
#10. Emma Ruth Rundle and Thou “May Our Chambers Be Full”
tori benes
tiger bomb promo
“all i did this year was go on walks while listening to waxahatchee :’) here are some of my other (non tiger bomb) favorites”
#1. Waxahatchee “St. Cloud”
#2. Eartheater “Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin”
#3. Bullion “We Had A Good Time”
#4. Juliana Barwick “Healing Is A Miracle”
#5. Cabane “grande est la maison”
#6. Thanya Iyer “KIND”
#7. Dehd “Flowers of Devotion”
#8. Adrianne Lenkers “songs”
#9. Melody English “Melody”
#10. Soakie “Soakie”
Andrew Wieler
CJLO 1690AM
#1. 16 – Dream Squasher
#2. Clipping. – Visions of Bodies Being Burned
#3. Protest the Hero – Palimpsest
#4. Zebadiah Crowe – Host Rider
#5. Nite – Darkness Silence Mirror Flame
#6. Bones UK – Unplugged
#7. Muffler Crunch – Proof is in the Pudding
#8. Melted Bodies – Enjoy Yourself
#9. Dead Quiet – Truth and Ruin
#10. Ghostkid – Ghostkid
Jenn Misko
The Band Mom
“This is the roughest of rough early drafts for me – I never *really* have these lists finished until several beats past the end of the year. I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve been listening to music for pleasure less than usual this year, as my primary listening time is via commute and I haven’t worked out of my home or really gone anywhere since March. I have a feeling I haven’t yet given full listens to, and possibly haven’t even yet heard of, several of what will become my very favorite albums to have been released in 2020. When I’m really finished with my list, I’ll eventually publish it on thebandmom.com , but here’s where I’m at for now!”
#1. Anjimile “Giver Taker”
#2. Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
#3. The Beths “Jump Rope Gazers”
#4. NNAMDÏ “BRAT”
#5. Car Seat Headrest “Making a Door Less Open”
#6. Frances Quinlan “Likewise”
#7. Bully “Sugaregg”
#8. Waxahatchee “Saint Cloud”
#9. Matt Berninger “Serpentine Prison”
#10. The Mountain Goats “Getting Into Knives”
Nelson Wells
Team Clermont
“No matter how whacked a year we may have there are always some amazing creatives putting out quality, smart, sensitive music and art.”
#1. Radical Face “Sunlight”
#2. Tummyache “Humpday”
#3. Pinewood “All Things With Symmetry”
#4. Sea Wolf “Through A Dark Wood”
#5. Routine, Annie Truscott & Jay Som “And Other Things”
#6. Gracie Abrams “Minor”
#7. Claire Rosinkranz “Beverly Hills Boyfriend”
#8. Benee “Hey u x”
#9. Death Cab For Cutie “The Georgia EP”
#10. Waxahatchee “Saint Cloud”
Bill Benson
Team Clermont
“Goodbye 2020; Hello more great music.”
#1. Waxahatchee “Saint Cloud”
#2. Bruce Springsteen “Letter To You”
#3. Various Artists “Going to Georgia”
#4. H.C. McEntire “Eno Axis”
#5. Nick Cave “Idiot Prayer”
#6. The Chicks “Gaslighter”
#7. Gord Downie “Away is Mine”
#8. Lilly Hiatt “Walking Proof”
#9. illuminati hotties “FREE I.H: This Is Not The One You’ve Been Waiting For”
#10. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit “Reunions”
Adam Tercyak-Morgan
Team Clermont
#1. Selena Gomez “Rare”
#2. Yelle “L’ere Du Verseau”
#3. Destroyer “Have We Met”
#4. Taylor Swift “Folklore”
#5. Aesop Rock “Spirit World Field Guide”
#6. Megan Thee Stallion “Good News”
#7. Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
#8. Run the Jewels “RTJ4”
#9. Mary Lattimore “A Written Testimony”
#10. Bob Dylan “Rough and Rowdy Ways”
Travis Bartosh
Chapman Radio
“COVID obviously hurt shows/events, but it still seemed good in terms of artists producing music.”
#1. Bad Cop/Bad Cop- The Ride
#2. Run the Jewels- RTJ4
#3. Get Dead- Dancing with the Curse
#4. Super Whatevr- Don’t you Want to be Glad
#5. Gorillaz- Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
#6. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard- K.G.
#7. Fleet Foxes- Shore
#8. HAIM- Women in Music Pt. III
#9. Tame Impala- The Slow Rush
#10. Julianna Barwick- Healing is a Miracle
Michael Roark
WXNA, The Friday Afternoon Club
“There was a lot of music this year.”
#1. Yo La Tengo – Sleepless Nights – EP (Matador)
#2. Bill Callahan – Gold Record (Drag City)
#3. Cass McCombs & Steve Gunn – Sweet Lucy b/w Wild Mountain Thyme (Anti-)
#4. John Prine – I Remember Everything – Single (Oh Boy)
#5. Nick Cave – Idiot Prayer (Nick Cave Alone At Alexandra Palace) – Bad Seed Ltd./AWAL
#6. Rose City Band – Summering (Thrill Jockey)
#7. Kurt Vile – Speed, Sound, Lonely KV (Matador)
#8. Lucinda Williams – Runnin’ Down A Dream: The Songs of Tom Petty (Highway 20)
#9. Shopping – All Or Nothing (FatCat)
#10. Heather Trost – Petrichor (Third Man)
Lottie Leymarie (Music Director, BTRtoday)
BTRtoday
#1. Sarah Mary Chadwick “Please Daddy”
#2. Son Little “Aloha”
#3. Frazey Ford “U kin B the Sun”
#4. Waxahatchee “St Cloud”
#5. Young Jesus “Welcome to Conceptual Beach”
#6. Anjimile “Giver Taker”
#7. Lanterns On The Lake “Spook The Herd”
#8. Andy Shauf “Neon Skyline”
#9. Bartees Strange “Live Forever”
#10. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down “Temple”
John D.
The Deathray Davies
“off the top of my head, also I couldn’t help but throw CLIFFFS in there”
#1. Jeff Tweedy- Love is the king
#2. Guided by Voices- surrender your poppy field
#3. Margaret Chavez- Into an Atmosphere
#4. Real Estate- the main thing
#5. Salim Nourallah- somewhere south of sane
#6. CLIFFFS- PANIC ATTACK
#7. the Chats- high risk behaviour
#8. Fleet Foxes- Shore
#9. Will Johnson- El Capitan
#10. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever- Sideways to new Italy
NACC WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS :