the Top 10 Pop Albums of 2020

Pop speaks for itself. There is some hip hop woven in because it is basically pop. Experimental hi hop go put on the electronic list as well as some of the more avant garde pop artists. Ok now that that is out of the way, much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes there more new bands on this list than most. 

 The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite artist  not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Pop albums of 2020.

 

10-the Weeknd- "After Hours"

It was not too long ago he would have been taking the top spot. When he finds his footing on this album, he returns to his magic. I could stand for him to be a little more depressed and drugged out. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-weeknd-after-hours.html

9 Shabazz Palaces- "the Don of Diamond Dreams"

Where the Weeknd sounded to be slightly more sober, this album proved that drugs still do some wonderful things. Perhaps not as catchy as it could be , but instead takes you on a more surreal journey than expected . 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/shabazz-palaces-don-of-diamond-dreams.html  

8 Poppy- "I Disagree" 

Granted the novelty of this album wore off after a while for me, but I still think this album was well done for what it is. If you see this on anyone's metal list rest assured they do not know what metal is and let me know so I can shame them to death.  

Abysmal Hymns: Poppy : " I Disagree"

7-Eminem- "Music to Be Murdered By" 

I like how this album almost feels more like a mix tape. He feels like he  has regained some of the edge getting sober took away first. The first album in a minute from him that I have felt compelled to listen to more than a couple time. His flow is almost immaculate. 

Abysmal Hymns: Eminem : "Music to Be Murdered By "

6- Taylor Swift- "evermore" 

A late entry that came out while I was making this list. Songs that are left over from the "Folklore" sessions. Her left overs are better than most can muster normally .  It is still growing on me, more sedate than "Folklore" which was a more introspective album to begin with. Subtle hooks and delicate songwriting.

Abysmal Hymns: Taylor Swift : "Evermore"

5- Run the Jewels- "RTJ4"

Some might expect this to be number one since it was on other lists. While it is obviously a great album as it edged out Taylor Swift's leftovers, if  lyrically it was not so topical given the current climate do you think it would be as big of a deal. Really it is just a matter of these guys know how to read the room.

  https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/run-jewels-rtj4.html

  4-Joji- "Nectar" 

This highest placing male on this year's pop list is nothing to sneeze at . This album is not dark, but moody, with emotions bared in shades of gray. He has a really interesting take on pop and I am looking forward to hearing where he does from here. He stole 4th place due to me just listening to him more. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/joji-nectar.html

4- Miley Cyrus - " Plastic Hearts" 

 Yeah last year she took the number one spot, but competition is tough this year and this is not as big of a banger, but Miley is only competing with Miley at this point , this album just came out on Black Friday, where the ones that beat her for the top 3 have stood the test of time over the year.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/12/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts.html

 

3-HAIM- "Women in Music Part 3" 

This could have been the number one album any other year. But it was a real tough call. They certainly belong at the top and number 3 is nothing to be ashamed of this and the other two albums that placed higher will be in the top 10 of the year for sure. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/haim-women-in-music-pt-3.html

2- Charli XCX- "How I'm feeling now" 

How did Charli beat out HAIM? After all they are playing instruments and everything. It came down to the fact I listened to this album more. This album is going down as being under rated, just like Charli herself. I mean she is gaining some steam in the states , but when it comes to hot pop chicks she has Selena Gomez and the like not even coming close. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/charli-xcx-how-im-felling-now.html

1- Taylor Swift- "Folklore" 

Pop was the easiest place to put this album as it was not quite folk , the pop sensibilities of her songwriting are intact, just very matured. She has proven herself a song writer to be taken as seriously as the National or Bon Iver. Not that I have not been taking her that seriously since I came across 1989.But not the rest of the world is catching up with the Swifties . 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/taylor-swift-folk-lore.html

Run the Jewels : "RTJ4"

Timing is everything. Especially when it comes to releasing what is the perfect sound track for the public consciousness right now. They released it for free on their website and it still clocked in on the Billboard Top...less impressive than it sounds as record labels have been holding back big releases due to Corona. Intellegent and aggressive in a manner than is not unlike Jurassic 5.  They have something to say and know how to say it. 2 Chainz has a hard time keeping up on "Out of Sight" . Killer Mike on the other hand has now had three albums before this one to acclimate to the more East Coast feel of the backing tracks.  The first three songs are pretty slamming then they lose momentum only by a few degrees on " Holy Calamafuck". Lyrically when they take shots at trap rap it is a strong moment, so the song grows on me , but lacks the groove.

"Goonies VS ET" find them continuing to cruise with the brakes on. They are becoming more experimental as the album progresses. This doesn't always play into the favor of their song writing. Not as dense in this department as Dalek. They recapture the spark of their song writing on "Walking in the Snow". "Jus$t" has Pharrell Williams and Zach De La Rocha. The propaganda is dialed up here in a manner not unlike that used by Rage Against the Machine. Yeah Zach's partner Tom Morello likes to use the fact he has a master's in politcal science to defend some of his shit, but I have masters in bi-polar, but I am still bi-polar, not to mention the fact you are basically saying "Yeah I raged with the machine and swallowed everything my liberal professors told me" ...but wait what does that have to do with this album, when it comes to that song everything. Normally I give some leeway when it comes to lyrics , but take away the lyrics from rap and what do you have ? Nothing.

"Never Look Back" your typical thinking man's hipster rap. I dod not envision this being a hit in the hood. The first few listens I was more sold on this album than when I sat down to analyze what is really going on here. "Ground Below" has politics up front and the groove not as urgent. "Pulling the Pin " with Mavis Staples and Josh Homme adding his trademark guitar does work pretty well. It gives the song a more organic feel despite the futuristic sounds that swirl around it. The rapped section come across more like spoken word than riding the beat. The last song is more about sound than song. I will round this up to a 9 as it is growing on me. It is not the best album of the year so far , not even in the top 10 , but as far as what we have gotten in terms of hip hop this year it's at the head of the class.