2020 was indeed one hell of a year. Music helps everyone get through the challenges — be it the harsh realities of COVID-19, responding to systemic racism in society or enduring the surreal US election, you could count on discovering new sounds that lifted you through the fog and chaos. To make matters worse, for fans and everyone in the music business, the pandemic immediately shut down live performances, changing the way we listened to and shared our musical experiences. During lockdown, artists were either incredibly prolific, releasing multiple albums, EPs and singles at a rapid pace, or they hunkered down and focused on live-stream events and virtual collaboration where tracks could be remotely recorded and mixed down. All the more reason to support your local record shops, venues and artists in any way you can, so when things start to slowly return to normal, music will be there to welcome us all back!
OPEN THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST IN YOUR BROWSER >
Artist: Sault
Album: Untitled (Rise)
Track: Free
Twitter: @SaultGlobal
It is fitting that my top 2 albums of 2020 would be as elusive, visceral and urgent as the year itself, a band/collaboration/project that has no Instagram posts or promo band pictures to be found. What they do have, in return, are two albums released within the year that packed quite a punch, tackling real-life issues in a poignant and deeply affecting way. I do know that Sault features UK producer Inflo, R&B singer Cleo Sol, and Kid Sister, who hails from Chicago, but that’s about all anyone knows about this mysterious trio. Start with “Free” and “Wildfires” and segue to “Strong” and “Little Boy,” these soulful songs sum up a difficult year but leave you feeling hopeful, knowing that you’re not alone.
Top 10 Albums of 2020
1. SAULT – Untitled (Rise)
2. SAULT – Untiled (Black Is)
3. Arlo Parks – 6 Singles
4. Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
5. ford. – The Color of Nothing
6. Slow Pulp – Moveys
7. Jim-E Stack – EPHEMERA
8. Cape Francis – Plateaus
9. Simen Mitled – Birds; or, Stories From Charlie B’s Travels From Gronland to the Sun, and Back Again
10. Arms and Sleepers – Safe Area Earth
Very Cool. Happy Birthday Sven. 🎉🎂. I guess i can’t listen to this on Spotify tho. 😔