SZA - "Good Days"

On Christmas, SZA dropped "Good Days," her second new song of 2020.

Darkside - "Liberty Bell"

The duo of Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington have resurrected their Darkside project with the announcement of a new record and a new song which is out now!

Burial - "Chemz"

Burial ends the year with a jaw-dropping 12 minute track called "Chemz." It's the A-side of an EP due in 2021.

Albums of 2020

Eddie Van Halen once said, "I don't love bands, I love songs." That stuck with me earlier this year after he passed and I thought a lot about the ways I process and discover music. I don't share the same sentiment as Eddie. I do love bands, but I also love songs. However, what I really love are albums. If 2020 gave us anything, it was the gift of time which has felt slow, rushed, and also suspended. However if anything, we certainly had a lot of it and I loved to spend the newfound time listening to albums. Still my favorite format of music, I love sitting down and listening to a work of art. This year I listened to over 100 new albums from 2020 alone, a lot of old Jazz (I listened to Coltrane's entire studio album discography in chronological order back in the early days of the pandemic), and finally understood Yo La Tengo. This year allowed me to push myself and make so many new musical discoveries, but I hope there is something here for everyone. The new standards in jazz from Jyoti, Nubya Garcia, Jeff Parker, and Moses Boyd, the rising hip-hop of Ka, Shabazz Palacs, and Freddie Gibbs, the return to rock of Bully, Gum Country, and Country Westerns, and the overall dominance from our reigning queens Phoebe Bridgers, Haim, Waxahatcee, and of course Fiona's modern day masterpiece. The commitment of sitting down and listening to an album is something I strive to do daily and gives me a comfort like no other. This year, that felt extra special. These are my favorite records from 2020.

Songs of 2020

At this point, there isn't much left to say about 2020 so I won't add more to what we all already know and are feeling, but will say that I am grateful that the year brought so much good music. When so much is wrong and feels hopeless, music is there to comfort and console. I appreciated all of the newfound time to discover more new music than ever this year and hope it also provided support to you as well. Here are 100 of my favorite songs from 2020.

Madlib and Four Tet - "Road of The Lonely Ones"

Madlib is no stranger to collaborations. For his latest output, he's teamed up with IDM icon Four Tet for a new record called Sound Ancestors which will see a release in January 2021.

Sun June - "Bad Girl"

Austin five-piece Sun June have shared another single from their upcoming record, Somewhere.

The Comet is Coming - "Imminent"

Following last year's Trust in The Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery, The Comet is Coming has returned with a new single to close out 2020.

Thom Yorke, Burial, Four Tet - "Her Revolution" / "His Ropes"

The iconic trio of Thom Yorke, Burial, and Four Tet have surprised released two brand new tracks only available on an extremely limited, 100 copies total, 12 inch. Luckily, the two tracks have made it to YouTube.

U.S. Girls - "Santa Stay Home"

U.S. Girls have thrown their hat in the ring for new holiday music emerging at the end of the year. "Santa Stay Home" is perfectly apt for 2020 and the bizarre holiday season we're about to embark upon in the next month.

Arlo Parks - "Caroline"

Arlo Parks has shared another single off her upcoming debut, Collapsed in Sunbeams, due next year.

Shameika - "Shameika Said" (ft. Fiona Apple)

On Fiona Apple's immaculate Fetch the Bolt Cutters, she name checks a girl from her past, Shameika, that told her she had potential and influenced her future. Well, Shameika has been rapping for decades and collaborated with her former childhood schoolmate on a brand new track.

Buck Meek - "Pareidolia"

Buck Meek is the guitarist in indie-folk sensations Big Thief and this coming winter he'll release his solo album Two Saviors. 

Kokoroko - "Baby Ayoola"

The British jazz ensemble Kokoroko have shared their second single of 2020. The exuberant "Baby Ayoola" is sublime celebration of life.

HAIM - "Feel the Thunder"

The Haim sisters are back! After releasing their excellent third album this summer, the band is back with another new track which will be on the soundtrack to the movie The Croods: A New Age.

Phoebe Bridgers - "Kyoto" (Copycat Killer Version)

Earlier this year, Phoebe Bridgers returned with her fantastic new album, Punisher. Now, she's announced a new EP called Copycat Killer which features new, orchestral arrangements of four tracks off the record.

Arcade Fire - "Generation A"

Arcade Fire were the musical guest with Stephen Colbert on Election Night this week and they performed a new song, "Generation A."

Busta Rhymes (ft. Kendrick Lamar) - "Look Over Your Shoulder"

Busta Rhymes and Kendrick Lamar and a Jackson 5 sample. Yes, it's as great as it sounds.

Mogwai - "Dry Fantasy"

Post-rock legends Mogwai will release their new record, As the Love Continues, on February 19, 2021. It comes exactly 25 years after the release of their debut single.

Adrianne Lenker - "zombie girl"

Adrianne Lenker's latest release, songs / instrumentals, is technically two records, but really feel like one definitive statement. "zombie girl" is one of the experience's highlights.

Nothing - "Famine Asylum"

Shoegaze revivalists Nothing are set to drop their new album, The Great Dismal, on October 30. Today they've shared one more single ahead of the record's release.

Arlo Parks - "Green Eyes"

This coming January, Arlo Parks will release her debut album entitled Collapsed in Sunbeams. The latest single, featuring Clairo, is out now and not something to miss.

Julien Baker - "Faith Healer"

Julien Baker has announced her new album, Little Oblivions. It's her first solo record since 2017 and it's out February 26, 2021.

Neil Young - "Come Along and Say You Will"

After years of rumors, Neil Young's elaborate archives series will finally see the release of Archives Volume II 1972-1976 in November. "Come Along and Say You Will" is the first unreleased track he's shared from the collection.

Sun June - "Karen O"

Sun June are readying their new album, Somewhere, for February 2021 and have shared another single ahead its release.

Resistance Revival Chorus - "All You Fascists Bound to Lose"

Formed after the 2016 US Presidential Election, Resistance Revival Chorus is set to release their debut album This Joy on October 16 via Righteous Babe Records. Today, they've shared a cover of Woody Guthrie's timeless classic "All You Fascists Bound To Lose."

Songs of 2020: Q3

A weird and terrifying summer is behind us and with that, I've compiled my favorite songs from the past three months.

Romy - "Lifetime"

Romy Madley Croft of the xx has shared "Lifetime," her debut solo single.

Fleet Foxes - 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙚

Fleet Foxes have shared Shore, their first new album since 2017's Crack-Up and another incredible chapter in their pristine discography.

Blitzen Trapper - "Hazy Morning"

Blitzen Trapper will release their new record Holy Smokes Future Jokes on September 25 and have shared yet another single from the album.

Jeff Tweedy - "Love Is The King"

Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy has announced Love Is The King, his third solo record in as many years, due in October.

James Blake - "Godspeed" [Frank Ocean cover]

James Blake has shared an official studio version of his cover of Frank Ocean's "Godspeed."

Nothing - "Say Less"

Nothing have announced a new record and the follow-up to 2018's Dance on the Blacktop. It's called The Great Dismal and it's out on October 30.

Bruce Springsteen - "Letter to You"

The boss is back! Following last year's Western Stars, Bruce Springsteen has announced a new album with the E Street Band called Letter to You, out October 23.

New Order - "Be a Rebel"

New Order have shared their first new song in five years. "Be a Rebel" is out now.

SZA - "Hit Different"

SZA has shared her first single since her fantastic 2017 album, CTRL and it features Ty Dolla $ign and was produced by the Neptunes.

Adrianne Lenker - "anything"

Following up an epic year where her band Big Thief released not one, but two stunning albums, Adrianne Lenker has announced not one, but two solo records of her own, due in October.

Kelly Lee Owens - "Wake Up"

 

Yesterday, Kelly Lee Owens released her excellent sophomore record Inner Song. The closing track "Wake Up" is a stunning finisher worthy of your attention.

There's No Leaving New York — OMGNYC at 14!

New York, I love you and you're not bringing me down. This week marks fourteen years since I moved to New York, a city I do not intend to leave.

Keep Shelly in Athens - "Neon Glare"

Athens dream-pop act Keep Shelly in Athens have shared a new single called "Neon Glare." It follows numerous tracks they've been dropping throughout the year.

Carly Rae Jepsen - "Me And The Boys In The Band"

Carly Rae Jepsen has shared a new song called "Me And The Boys In The Band." It's her first new song since this year's Dedicated Side B.

Jónsi - "Cannibal" (ft. Elizabeth Fraser)

Sigur Rós' Jónsi is set to release a solo album this coming October and has shared a new single from the record featuring Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins.

Sufjan Stevens - "Video Game"

Sufjan's new record The Ascension is due on September 25 and today he has shared the second single from the album, "Video Game."

Widowspeak - "Even True Love"

Widowspeak have shared "Even True Love," the fourth single from their upcoming record, Plum, due August 28 via Captured Tracks.

Fabiana Palladino - "Waiting"

Jai Paul and A.K. Paul have returned to share an EP called Summer 2020, a collection of tracks from their Paul Institute collective including this banger from Fabiana Palladino.

Bill Callahan - "Let's Move to the Country"

Bill Callahan is set to release his new album, Gold Record, on September 4 and is sharing a new song each week until its release date. Today, he's shared a new take on his Smog classic "Let's Move to the Country."

Neil Young - "Lookin' for a Leader - 2020"

Neil Young has shared an updated version of his song "Lookin for a Leader."

Angel Olsen - "Whole New Mess"

Angel Olsen is set to release her new record, Whole New Mess, this August. It's her first solo record, without a backing band, since 2012.

The Rolling Stones - "Scarlet" (ft. Jimmy Page)

The Rolling Stones are set to reissue their underrated 1973 album Goat's Head Soup on September 4 and it will feature a classic rock holy grail featuring another living legend, Mr. Jimmy Page.

The Avalanches - "Wherever You Go" / "Reflecting Light"

The Avalanches have shared a pair of new songs featuring some pretty stellar guests including Jaime xx, Neneh Cherry, and a Vashti Bunyan sample.