best of Claw's thread | AOTY posted

[Tom Vercetti]

honestly just dump it all, lmao. And carti is coming as you know already. 

[SLIME]

Dropping in a few short doses. Yeah Playboi Carti is coming to disrupt my rankings somewhat hard, so at the very end of the year I'll probably just posted an updated top100 or something.

 

Best albums (continued)

 

 

 

70. Chance デラソウル [Chance de la Soul] - Besides

(future funk)

highlight: "Three Songs in Under Three Minutes"

 

Basically an Avalanches - Since I Left You tribute album and I love that.

 

69. Disclosure - Energy

(house, UK garage)

highlight: "Watch Your Step"

 

Yeah their last album long ago was mediocre-ish, but they regained steam with their following EPs, and Energy ending up having a lot of super fun tracks. Kelis track is obviously the standout.

 

68. Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony

(conscious hip hop, abstract hip hop)

highlights: the track with The-Dream

 

He finally released an album after all this time. Turns out it's basically a Watch the Throne-style Jay Z collaborative effort. But I thought it was polished/timely for what it was. I haven't gotten to his new one yet.

 

67. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush

(psychedelic pop, synthpop)

highlight: "Is It True"

 

Yeah this was a decline compared to previous albums, but eh the core material is still pretty good. There are some highlights and some mids. Good enough to make my list.

 

66. Four Tet - Sixteen Oceans

(microhouse, ambient)

highlight: "Baby"

 

The most melodically memorable cut to me was the Ellie Goulding track. But there's cute/great production all over. Excited for the new project with Madlib we'll get in the new year.

[SLIME]

 

65. Sufjan Stevens - The Ascencion

(art pop, indietronica )

highlights:"Sugar," "America," probably more tracks I haven't uncovered yet

 

64. Fleet Foxes - Shore

(indie folk, chamber pop)

highlight: "Quiet Air / Gioia"

 

These two are linked in my mind still because same release week. A lot of pretty stuff on both that I'll have to come back to once I'm in a more indie mood.

 

63. 100 gecs - 1000 Gecs and the Tree of Clues

(electropop / hyperpop / bubblegum bass / pop rap / remixes)

highlights: "Ringtone" remix with KKB/Charli/Rico; "Gec 2 u" with Dorian Electra; the Hannah Diamond/Tommy Cash remix

 

Definitely some of the most hyperactive hyper-pop yet, and to me, higher grade than most of the main album.

 

62. Victoria Monét - Jaguar

(r&b/pop/soul/funk)

highlight: "Experience"

 

Maybe it's the 2 interludes on an already short project that makes me feel like I'm missing something. However the material itself is pretty top-shelf and I would love to "experience" more from her.

 

61. Boldy James & The Alchemist - The Price of Tea in China

(gangsta rap)

 

To think that The Alchemist just spits these out.

[SLIME]

 

60. Autechre - Sign

(ambient, electronic)

highlight: "r cazt"

Ok gonna get quicker with writeups. Electronic innovators, much soundscapes. They gave us a lot of tracks to work with this year. Very texture. Kinda psych-y and g-ood for zoning out.

 

59. Kate NV - Room for the Moon

(art pop, progressive pop)

highlight: "Not Not Not"

 

This feels like it pulls influences from a lot of different cultures / pockets of sound, and stands out in the art pop realm for that. Quirky and uplifting.

 

58. Megan thee Stallion - Good News

(pop trap, Southern hip hop)

highlights: the singles, "Shots Fired," "Freaky Girls"

 

Just like with Nicki's debut album 10 years prior - I think that Good News could have been more than it is, artistically, but I still understand why Megan made the moves she did on here. With her amazing singles run throughout the year tacked on at the end here, overall this contains hits on hits.

 

57. SALEM - Fires in Heaven

(witch house)

highlight: "Starfall"

 

The genre of witch house was nearly synonymous with the band Salem, which is what made their comeback (with 2/3 members at least) surprising after so many years gone. Fires in Heaven was only slightly a mixed bag to me; mostly it plays to their strengths.

 

56. The Microphones - Microphones in 2020

(indie/experimental folk, singer/songwriter, drone)

highlight: sweetie there's 1 song

 

Um yea this was a fascinating listen, very personal and the storytelling kept me engaged so long as I was reading along on a lyrics sheet. Not something I would play that often, but not everything has to be.

[SLIME]

 

55. Nicolás Jaar - Telas

(Glitch, ambient)

 

I do what my man wants (even listen to 15 minute songs)

 

54. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - K.G.

(psychedelic rock)

highlights: "Automation," "Minimum Brain Size," "Honey"

 

This is a band that moves too fast for me to keep up with. I almost always end up liking what I hear for what it's worth. Pretty straightforward psych-rock journey that's easy to strap into. Idk why their music sometimes reminds me of mine-cart levels in video games.

 

53. れをる [Reol] - 金字塔 (Kinjitō)

(electropop, Japanese hip hop, future bass)

highlight: "Grimoire"

 

Don't ask me where this came from but it's up my alley for sure. Frantic electronic modern pop. Need to listen more.

 

52. The Strokes - The New Abnormal

(indie rock)

highlight: "At the Door"

 

Ok so they were one of my favorite bands off the strength of their initial run. It felt good to see them release an album that was immediately well-received by fans – sort of twisting their usual press narrative that was reminiscent of a certain Ciara gif. This is mostly packed with songs that execute their standard formula well, with a few moments that go beyond that sound and maybe hint at some Voidz-influenced growth.

 

51. Moses Sumney - græ

(art pop)

highlights: "Virile," "In Bloom"

 

I guess my biggest complaint besides the off-puttingly (imo)asymmetrical release strategy is that there's a lot here for me to digest. Not a very substantial complaint, and in fact a lot of these tracks are just gorjiss when the arrangements meet the voice.

[TheWayWeWere]

Jaguar should've been full album it's full of gems

[SLIME]

 

50. SahBabii - Barnacles

(barnacle-trap)

highlight: "Purple Umbrella"

 

Recommend this for fans of Young Thug and Playboi Carti. Maybe also fans of Ween's The Mollusk, or anime, or Spongebob. This is a pretty silly trap album with some banging and aesthetically pleasing production. Lots of personality from Sahbabii.

 

49. Actress - Karma & Desire

(microhouse, ambient, IDM)

highlights: "Leaves Against the Sky," "Loveless," "Walking Flames"

 

This is how I imagine someone trying to make a classic-sounding IDM album in 2020 would sound. There are parts of it that sound peaceful, and some that sound unsettling.

 

48. Sevdaliza - Shabrang

(art pop, trip hop)

highlight: "Rhode"

 

So yeah this is a very bleak listen, or at least I found it that way. The musicianship is impressive and an atmosphere is sustained. Rhode is a huge highlight.

 

47. Flo Milli - Ho, Why Is You Here?

(pop trap, flo milli ****)

highlight: "In the Party"

 

So much charisma that leaves a lasting mark. I think when she said "dicks up when I step in the party" she said it all.

 

46. Gorillaz - Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez

(synthpop, "art pop")

highlights: "Aries"

 

Maybe this project was ill-defined, but it worked as far as it gave Damon Albarn an excuse to collaborate with mad artists. Deluxe version is a plus.

[SLIME]

 

45. Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song

(tech house, art pop)

highlights: "On," "Night"

 

Builds on the sound of her debut nicely. Aesthetically pleasing bleeps and bloops all around.

 

44. Dan Deacon - Mystic Familiar

(neo-psych, indietronica)

highlights: the Arp tetralogy tbh

 

A quirky, psychedelic lil' odyssey of sorts that caught my attention earlt in the year and managed to stick with me.

 

43. Juliana Barwick - Healing Is a Miracle

(ambient, new age)

highlights: "Safe," "Nod"

 

This is just so calming idk. When I'd go out walking in nature, I'd think of this and the feeling of peace it gave me.

 

42. Chloe x Halle - Ungodly Hour

(contemporary R&B)

highlights: "Do It," title track, "Wonder What She Thinks of Me"

 

I wasn't sure prior to this year, but these 2 proved themselves to me with this album and their rollout for it. If the Pop Beyoncé of the 2000s was still doing her thing amid the modern  production soundscape (and there were 2 of her), it'd prob sound a lot like this.

 

41. Osees (FKA Thee Oh Sees) - Protean Threat

(psychedelic rock, garage rock)

highlight: "If I Had My Way"

 

These songs just rip.

[TRF.]

KLO, CxH and Flo Milli

[pearlmercury]

i like flo milli, kelly clarkson owen and dan deacon 

[Lazuli]

ungodly hour  

nice to see aries as a highlight for gorillaz  

[TheWayWeWere]

Ungodly Hour deserved top 40 spot, but welp it's flawless

[Into The Void]

Ungodly Hour being the only thing I know in the last 3 updates but a hell of an album 

[SLIME]

I bought a new computer guys some energy has been restored. Let's go

[SLIME]

 

40. Black Noi$e - Oblivion

(experimental hip hop)

highlight: the tracks with Bbymutha and Danny Brown

 

Short album. Guest list here is alternative hip hop royalty.

 

39. Ichiko Aoba 青葉市子 - Adan no kaze アダンの風

(chamber folk, singer/songwriter)

highlight: I haven't rated all the tracks yet, but I mean I enjoyed all of this.

 

I don't know yet what Ichiko sings about, but her music conveys a sincere sense of serenity always.

 

38. Eartheater - Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin

(avant- / chamber folk)

highlights: obvious picks, but the 2 singles "Below the Clavicle" + "Volcano" for me

 

Not the type of record I expected from her, so in that sense here she broadened my expectations of what she can do as an artist. I think the blend of acoustics and electronics on this record fits really seamlessly.

 

37. Thundercat - It Is What It Is

(psychedelic soul, neo-soul, jazz-funk)

highlight: "Fair Chance," "Dragonball Durag"

 

Thundy's genre-blending potion continues to grow on on me. The musicianship. "Fair Chance" Floating Points remix also hits at the spot.

 

36. Grimes - Miss Anthropocene

(art pop, electronic)

highlight: "My Name Is Dark"

 

Yeah this concept was underbaked and we'd had most of the best songs already way before the album drop. I still bumped this super hard all around Q1, so points were earned. A few of her best moments are here.

[TheWayWeWere]

Miss Anthropocene was step down after Visions/Art Angels, but welp, she still SERVED

[Sunderland 4ever]

On 12/23/2020 at 1:18 AM, Claw said:

52. The Strokes - The New Abnormal

My 2020 AOTY!

 

Also, Kelly Lee Owens, Tame Impala, King Gizzard and Victoria Monét

[Pink Matter]

Haven't seen anyone that ****ed with the Gorillaz album so glad it made an appearance here  

Thundercat, CxH, Flo, Moses, and Victoria  

[TRF.]

Eartheater and Ichiko Aoba talent period

[Mr. Blue_Shirt]

Positions, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately, Ohms, Heaven & Hell, Dedicated Side B & Punisher made it into HM list 

 

yes i agree that Kelis collab is the highlight of the album. the duo match in heaven and also Tame & Megan were playing really safe in their albums. But hey, at least Megan having fun on her debut album. Can't wait for her future release.

 

Jaguar, Kinjitō, The New Abnormal, græ, Ho, Why Is You Here? & Song Machine  Also no wonder Beyoncé had no notes when CxH finished their album, Ungodly Hour is just THAT good.

[mokitsu]

reveal the rest f*g

 

hopefully cenizas is higher than the other NJ album that eartheater cover is giving me life let me listen

[SLIME]

AND BITCH I'M BACK OUT MY COMA!

[World Eater]

i wanted to leave a somewhat of an in-depth comment but imma wait until you're done since i don't wanna spoil the remaining albums to other little clawsters (or bother with commenting twice)

[SLIME]

 

[pearlmercury]