best of Wicked | 2020 Best Of... | 2020 EPs (sorta)

[Wicked]

Graphics might come later, might not. 

 

I will attempt:

Shows of the Decade

15 Shows - 2020

~10 albums - 2020

2020 Songs

2019 albums. 

 

Edited December 15, 2020 by Wicked

[mokitsu]

here for the shows lists

[madonnas]

always excited for your lists.

[Tom Vercetti]

Not I Will Attempt ? Idk how much longer we’ll be able to do this. Can’t wait ofc 

[Maddox]

The way i just know your deacde list is going to be IT Can't wait!!

[TRF.]

Yes.

[Pink Matter]

Always here for that Wicked taste  

[Wicked]

I'm watching and listening to a few more things before I really get started on the 2020\2019 stuff, but just as a bonus until I hopefully roll out my 2019 lists: (Some of) My favorite albums of the 00s,90s,80s & 70s. Unranked. 2021 I'm actually planning on taking a step back from trying to keep up with the new drops to listen to all the stuff clogging up my RYM wishlist. I already had this list saved somewhere for personal comparisons sake to see what changes after next year. 

 

 

2000s

D'Angelo // Voodoo

+This is kind of the best album ever, but also there's quite a bit of albums that can say the same. 

Beck // Sea Change

Jaheim // Still Ghetto

Jay Reatard // Blood Visions

Bon Iver // For Emma, Forever Ago

The Avalanches // Since I Left You 

Bjork // Vespertine 

Common // Like Water For Chocolate 

DJ Sprinkles // Midtown 120 Blues

Ghostface Killah // Supreme Clientele

MIA // Arular

Outkast // Stankonia 

+Thugger is on time out for those recent three stacks comment

Amerie // All I Have

The Diplomats // Diplomatic Immunity

+Spoiler for my 2010s list. 

Lupe Fiasco // The Cool

Sticky Fingaz // Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones

Tom Waits // Alice

Scott Walker // The Drift

Raphael Saadiq // Instant Vintage

Joanna Newsom // Ys

+the way y'all dropped this girl in favor of St Vincent and 'em is kinda wild. 

Arthur Russell // Calling Out of Context

Britney Spears // Blackout

Burial // Untrue

Moodymann // Black Mahogani

Various Artists // No Thanks! The 70s Punk Rebellion 

 

 

1990s (most likely, my 2nd favorite decade, and the one I have the most vinyls of!) 

Howlin' Wolf // The Chess Box

American Football // American Football 

DJ Shadow // Entroducing

Maxwell // Embrya

Jodeci // Diary of a Mad Band

+Kind of hilarious everyone talks about what's influencing present day R&B but never mentions this album. 

Beck // Midnite Vultures

Big Pun // Capital Punishment 

Vanessa Daou // Zipless 

PJ Harvey // Rid of Me

+I have completely flip flopped on her but it was for the best. 

Nick Cave // Murder Ballads 

+I actually love Let Love In as one of those Rock albums where it could've crossed over but I fancy these joints now. 

Janet // Velvet Rope

Massive Attack // Mezzanine 

Biggie // Ready 2 Die

Prince // The Gold Experience 

Some Wu Tang Clan Albums (Liquid Swords, Enter the, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Tical) 

Three 6 Mafia // Mystic Stylez

Elliott Smith // XO

A Tribe Called Quest // Midnight Marauders

Mary J. // My Life

Digable Planets // Blowout Comb

DMX // It's Dark And Hell Is Hot

Lil Kim // Hard Core

Liz Phair // Exile in Guyville

Outkast // Aquemini

UGK // Ridin Dirty

Bjork // Homogenic

+Her best album. 

Aphex Twin // Selected Ambient Works 85-92 

 

1980s

Muddy Waters // The Chess Box

+They really don't make compilations like they're supposed to anymore. 

Prince // Sign O The Times

+Another best album ever candidate. 

John Carpenter // Halloween 

Kate Bush // The Dreaming

Bob Marley // Legend

+the fact that this compilation is the biggest contributer to his legacy continuing to thrive is very cool. 

DeBarge // All This Love

+DeBarge, probably the most influential R&B act that doesn't get any credit for said influence, and sampled out the ass constantly is the saving grave of 1980s R&B. El DeBarge is one of my favorite songwriters/producers ever. ?

Iron Maiden // Killers 

Klaus Nomi // Klaus Nomi

Judas Priest // Defenders of the Faith

John Oswald // Plunderphonic

Slayer // Show No Mercy

Hithouse // Jack to the Sound of the Underground 

Bruce Springsteen // Nebraska

Madonna // Madonna

De La Soul // 3 Feet High and Rising 

Jason Becker // Perpetual Burn 

Guy // Guy 

Japan // Tin Drum 

Mercyful Fate //Don't Break the Oath 

Rudimentary Peni // Death Church 

Evelyn King - Get Loose 

 

1970s (For now, my favorite decade) 

Switch // Switch II

Marvin Gaye // Let's Get It On

+the shock, the horror, the controversy. What's Going On is still perfect, but if I have to choose between the two... 

Al Green // I'm Still In Love With You 

Kraftwerk // Trans Europa Express 

Iggy and The Stooges // Raw Power 

Curtis Mayfield // Superfly 

Stevie Wonder // Innervisions 

Baby Huey // The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend 

Fela Kuti // Roforofo Fight 

Aretha Franklin // Spirit in the Dark 

Funkadelic // Maggot Brain 

O'Jays // Back Stabbers 

Brian Eno // Before and After Science 

Smokey Robinson // A Quiet Storm 

Minnie Riperton // Come to My Garden 

Sly & The Family Stone // There's a Riot Goin' On 

Bill Withers // +'Justments 

+Bittersweet. We share a birthday & he's one of my favorite artists/discographies in music. 

Candi Staton // I'm Just a Prisoner 

Millie Jackson // Caught Up

Jorge Ben // Africa Brasil

Betty Davis // They Say I'm Different 

Donny Hathaway // Donny Hathaway 

Ohio Players // Ecstasy 

Joni Mitchell //Hejira 

Buddy Miles // Them Changes 

The Modern Lovers // The Modern Lovers 

Sister Sledge // We Are Family 

Donna Summer // Love To Love Me Baby

Roxy Music // For Your Pleasure 

Chic // C'est Chic

David Bowie // Station to Station 

Bruce Springsteen // Born to Run

Black Devil // Disco Club 

Sylvester // Step II

Martha and The Vandellas // Anthology 

 

Feel free to drag my lack of Electronic music, which is a main goal for next year. 

 

[Wicked]

I would have done 50s/60s but for some reason the file stopped at the 70s and I don't feel like typing that **** up. 

 

There's definitely a lot more great albums in every decade but that'd just be way too long. Lol. 

 

 

Edited December 6, 2020 by Wicked

[madonnas]

Japan // Tin Drum 

 

discovered this album this year.  SO SO SO SO SO good.

 

get loose is another album that i was really into this year.  heard it before but yeah

[madonnas]

hm, surprised to see your donna pick.  i luv luv luv luv the song (and the album...) but i found that 4sol/alt to be the albums that get more love from her early 5 track albums.

 

just disocvered guy earlier this year.  early new jack swing was the best. 

[TheWayWeWere]

46 minutes ago, Wicked said:

2000s

Bjork // Vespertine 

MIA // Arular

Amerie // All I Have

 

1990s (most likely, my 2nd favorite decade, and the one I have the most vinyls of!) 

Janet // Velvet Rope

Prince // The Gold Experience 

Mary J. // My Life

Liz Phair // Exile in Guyville

Bjork // Homogenic

 

1980s

Prince // Sign O The Times

Kate Bush // The Dreaming

Madonna // Madonna

 

1970s (For now, my favorite decade) 

Marvin Gaye // Let's Get It On

Aretha Franklin // Spirit in the Dark 

Donna Summer // Love To Love Me Baby

David Bowie // Station to Station 

one of my favorite albums from the batch  

[Tom Vercetti]

That's what I did for this year kind of. Spent more time listening to regional/non-english music than new music. That's another reason why I don't add anything on my wishlist anymore cuz I know it will be filled to the brim. 90s remains my clear favorite decade followed by 80s. A lot of highlights on your decade lists. Some I haven't listened to yet even but i'll get around to them sometime. 

 

2 hours ago, Madame X said:

just disocvered guy earlier this year.  early new jack swing was the best. 

yup 

[Ewan Chaos]

CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR LIST. Ooh an Ohio Players album in your best of 70's list  

[Bubble Tea]

Just here to be really gay and basic and say.... yass at Britney's Blackout. TASTE.

[Staryu]

Perched for the shows  

[Lee!!]

Bring on the shows!

[SLIME]

Some great flavor Wicked

 

Electronic music as a goal for next year should be a fun one

[Pink Matter]

Come through with the decade lists  Off topic but I've been thinking about making a RYM  

[Wicked]

On 12/6/2020 at 2:03 PM, Madame X said:

Japan // Tin Drum 

 

discovered this album this year.  SO SO SO SO SO good.

 

get loose is another album that i was really into this year.  heard it before but yeah

2 classics.

On 12/6/2020 at 2:09 PM, Madame X said:

hm, surprised to see your donna pick.  i luv luv luv luv the song (and the album...) but i found that 4sol/alt to be the albums that get more love from her early 5 track albums.

 

just disocvered guy earlier this year.  early new jack swing was the best. 

4SOL doesn't do it for me, it's alright. Yeah Guy is classic, Teddy Riley doesn't get the credit he should in regards to New Jack Swing. 

On 12/6/2020 at 2:48 PM, TheWayWeWere said:

one of my favorite albums from the batch  

Great picks!

On 12/6/2020 at 4:40 PM, Tom Vercetti said:

That's what I did for this year kind of. Spent more time listening to regional/non-english music than new music. That's another reason why I don't add anything on my wishlist anymore cuz I know it will be filled to the brim. 90s remains my clear favorite decade followed by 80s. A lot of highlights on your decade lists. Some I haven't listened to yet even but i'll get around to them sometime. 

 

yup 

Any recs?

On 12/6/2020 at 11:06 PM, Ewan Chaos said:

CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR LIST. Ooh an Ohio Players album in your best of 70's list  

Ohio Players are dope with some of the best album covers.

On 12/7/2020 at 4:32 AM, Reinvention said:

Just here to be really gay and basic and say.... yass at Britney's Blackout. TASTE.

Blackout is a classic. Hopefully more critics come around to it and stop letting their bias (misogyny) guide their reviews.

On 12/7/2020 at 9:44 AM, Staryu said:

Perched for the shows  

 

12 hours ago, Lee!! said:

Bring on the shows!

I got y'all.

10 hours ago, Claw said:

Some great flavor Wicked

 

Electronic music as a goal for next year should be a fun one

Hope so, although I've already been disappointed by some "essentials".

4 hours ago, Pink Matter said:

Come through with the decade lists  Off topic but I've been thinking about making a RYM  

You should do it. I'd be lost without one and it gives the best recs. Very important tool in regards to music for me.

Comments-

[Wicked]

2019 Shows of the Year

 

I could rank this but it'd take forever, I'd rather appreciate that year with a mostly unranked list.

Top tier of 2019

Snowfall
David Makes Man

Succession

When They See Us

Mr. Inbetween
Corporate

The Boys

Chernobyl

On Becoming A God In Central Florida

Other good/great shows
I Think You Should Leave
Fleabag
BoJack Horseman
The Righteous Gemstones
You
Watchmen
Queen Sugar
Unbelievable
South Side
Claws
Baskets
You’re The Worst
Wayne
The Good Fight
Brockmire
Santa Clarita Diet

 

Pose had a good season, but for me the bad outweighed the good a little bit.

[Wicked]

 2019 Albums

I didn't feel that strongly about most 2019 albums, so rather than do arbitrary ranking I ranked the albums I felt most strongly about. 

1. Ari Lennox - Shea Butter Baby (Neo-Soul)

 

    I think half of the complaints that R&B has lost its way are true, and the other half is a bit overblown. I’m not the biggest fan of the direction of soulless projects with less varied vocals, but it can produce some good stuff (Over It). Ari Lennox should make everyone happy. The most confident R&B debut in a while, I still don’t know how it went so under the radar. Every single song hits, the production, vocals & overall songwriting is everything people have been saying is currently missing.

 

    The first lady of Dreamville Records really did her thing here. No skips, no trash bin classics. While it’s clear she’s influenced by Neo-Soul pioneers (more evident on her EP ‘PHO’), she is her own artist here. Not sure what else to say actually, this is just a great album. I’m convinced it went underappreciated because it doesn’t even sound like a debut, sounds like she’s been making music for years. It is pretty funny that on her first try, she already had an album better than all of J. Cole’s (her boss).

 

 

2. Lana Del Rey - Norman ****ing Rockwell (Singer/Songwriter, Art Pop)

    I’m actually not a big Lana fan. I found most of her music boring and rather pretentious. NFR however, is a great record. It’s the perfected execution of all the things that make Lana, Lana but actually sounds good? I think it should’ve won AOTY out of the nominees, I consider it a robbery. Everything's firing on all cylinders here, while I found her previous albums inconsistent I’m not sure what happened with this one. I also have to appreciate that as an artist she has a fully curated image. Something that is becoming more and more rare. That being said, she can't follow up with something that sounds the same, at this point NFR is the best she's going to do with those same themes, vibes and tropes. Time for something new Lizzy.

 

 

Other dope albums
Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains
Erika de Casier - Essentials
Solange - When I Get Home 
100 Gecs - 1000 Gecs 
Summer Walker - Over It 
Danny Brown - uknowhatimsayin¿ 
clipping. - There Existed an Addiction to Blood 
JPEGMAFIA - All My Heroes Are Cornballs
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen
Saba Alizadeh - Scattered Memories 
Orville Peck - Pony
Jessica Pratt - Quiet Signs 
R. Stevie Moore - Afterlife 
Devin Morrison - Bussin' 
Jamila Woods - Legacy! Legacy!
Raphael Saadiq - Jimmy Lee 
Tanya Tagaq - Toothsayer 
 

[Staryu]

3 hours ago, Wicked said:

I’m actually not a big Lana fan. I found most of her music boring and rather pretentious.

This is how I've always felt too  but NFR is probably her best album and Cinnamon Girl is amazing  one of my faves from Lana

 

Also your shows list top tier  Succession  also On Becoming A God In Central Florida has been on my watchlist forever, I really need to watch it already. 

[TheWayWeWere]

NFR  

When I Get Home is masterpiece  

[mokitsu]

Ari's record was so ****ing underrated, it made my top 5 as well. Everyone i show it to loves it, but for some reason ppl just dont know about it / her.   Over it is so good too

 

Succession S3 coming to stomp