David Bash’s Best Of 2020 Lists
Hi Everyone,
Here are my lists of favorite albums of 2020. As is my usual custom, I’ve broken this down into several categories, as I’m just not comfortable ranking unlike entities on one list.
Those marked with an * are vinyl-only releases.
Those marked with an ** are cassette-only releases.
Contemporary Categories
Disclaimer alert: I heard A LOT of fine albums this year, despite COVID. From top to bottom this list is as solid as it’s been for several years. If your album doesn’t appear on the list, please trust me when I say that it in no way means I didn’t think it was good, so please don’t be hurt (assuming you even care what I think) if your album isn’t listed here (or, for that matter, if it received a lower ranking than you were hoping for/expecting). There were at least 50 more albums I could have included and still felt as if I enjoyed listening to everything on the list, but I wanted to keep it at no more than 125 so as not to overwhelm; with all the other lists I have here, there’s enough sensory overload happening!
There may be a handful of albums on this list which appear to be from 2019, or in fact were “released” at the tail end of last year. As anal as I am about my lists and about the year in which releases should be placed, I also try to be sensible about it and take into account the fact that one needs a bit of lag time to become aware of several releases, especially those indie releases which take up most of my list. If you have any complaints about this, please keep them to yourself-I’ve heard ‘em all. 😉
Lastly, I did not include digital-only releases on any of my lists. I know this might seem a bit churlish, especially during COVID, but 95% of what I liked this year was released on either CD or vinyl, so it was clear to me that, if one wanted to release a physical version of their album, they did. While I like some digital-only of these I heard in 2020, and even love some of them, I’m still old school and still believe in physical product. Don’t get me wrong: I have nothing against download releases, but I believe that there should also be options to obtain physical product. Yes, I understand that printing up CDs and (especially) vinyl is costly, but these days it really is doable for every band because manufacturing houses are all willing to do limited runs of product, particularly CDs, so that a band can do as few as 100, which should be easy to sell out of at shows, via boutique sites like Kool Kat and Jam, CD Baby, etc…I am very troubled by the possibility (some might say inevitability) of the CD going by way of the dinosaur, but I feel like I need to do my part, as little as that might be, to keep them alive. I will say I am encouraged by the number of bands who did release physical product in 2020, so hopefully all will continue to be well with the world. 🙂 Note: if any download-only releases I’ve heard see physical release in a future year, they will be eligible for ranking in that year. There you are, bands: a little incentive to keep the physical release alive and well. 🙂
Ok, without further ado, here you go!
I. Top 125 Albums
1. The Corner Laughers-Temescal Telegraph (Big Stir)
2. The Midnight Callers-Red Letter Glow (JEM)
3. Ken Sharp-1301 Highland Avenue (Jet Fighter)
4. Open Sound-Open Sound (Self-Released)
5. Nick Frater-Fast & Loose (Big Stir)
6. The Jayhawks-XOXO (Thirty Tigers)
7. The Resonars-Disappear* (Midnight Island)
8. Nada Surf-Never Not Together (Barsuk)
9. Joe Giddings-Better From Here (Kool Kat)
10. The Overtures-Once In A World (Self-Released)
11. The Explorers Club-The Explorers Club (Goldstar)
12. Coke Belda-4 (Rock Indiana & Kool Kat)
13. El Goodo-Zombie (Strangetown)
14. Ice Cream Hands-No Weapon But Love (Ice Cream Hands)
15. Groovy Uncle Featuring Miss Modus-The Man Who Calls The Shots (Trouserphonic)
16. Zack Jones-Be Nice (Pioneer)
17. The Hanging Stars-A New Kind of Sky-Crimson Crow)
18. John Howard-To The Left Of The Moon’s Reflection (Kool Kat)
19. Mothboxer-Accelerator (Self-Released)
20. Erk-When Night Meets Day (Kook Kat)
21. Rosie Abbott-Magnified (Self-Released)
22. Green Seagull-Cloud Cover (Mega Dodo)
23. Reno Bo-You Can See It All From Here (Electric Western)
24. Brian Bringelson/Gabe Dulek-Deperate Days (Futureman)
25. Graham Gouldman-Modesty Forbids (Rosala)
26. Dent May-Late Checkout (Carpark)
27. The Well Wishers-Shelf Life (That Was My Skull)
28. Sparks-A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (BMG)
29. The Rockyts-Come On And Dance (Self-Released)
30. Ex Norwegian-Hue Spotting (Beyond Before)
31. The Lemon Twigs-Songs For The General Public (4 AD)
32. The Yum Yums-For Those About To Pop (Rum Bar)
33. Kurt Baker-After Party (Wicked Cool)
34. Gordon Michaels-Tune Rider (Self-Released)
35. The Bye Bye Blackbirds-Boxer At Rest (Double Potions)
36. Petrifield Max-Charlie Drove North (Poison Summer)
37. Matt Tyson-That Awkward Age (Mai Tai Sun)
38. Rick Hromadka-Better Days (Sodastar)
39. The Beatophonics-Let’s Do This (Echophonic)
40. The Weeklings-3 (JEM)
41. Duncan Reid and The Big Heads-Don’t Blame Yourself (LBH)
42. Mo Troper-Natural Beauty (Tender Loving Empire)
43. The National Honor Society-To All The Glory We Never Had (Kocliko)
44. Moore Brothers-Autobiography* (Unavailable)
45. Kyle Vincent-Whatever It Takes (Songtree)
46. The Devonns-The Devonns (Record Kicks & P-Vine)
47. Natalie Sweet-Oh By The Way…It’s Natalie Sweet (Rum Bar)
48. Autos Detroit-Stop & Go* (Family Spree)
49. Kekker-Greatest Hits Volumes 1+2* (Self-Released)
50. Diamond Hands-Diamond Hands III (Kool Kat)
51. Cupid’s Carnival-Color Blind (Cherry)
52. Dana Countryman-Come Into My Studio (Sterling Swan)
53. The No Ones-The Great Lost No Ones Album (Yep Roc)
54. Bill Lloyd-Don’t Kill The Messenger (Whole In One)
55. The Blam Blams-Opening Night (Self-Released)
56. Joey Molland-Be True To Yourself (Omnivore)
57. The Sensible Gray Cells-Back Into The World (Damaged Goods)
58.Sunshine Boys-Work and Love (Pravda)
59. Vanilla-Limerence (Charlatan)
60. The Belmondos-Memory Lane* (Le Pop Club)
61. Brad Brooks-God Save The City (Mouth Magic)
62. Dolour-The Royal We (Self-Released)
63. Greg Pope-Wishing On A Dark Star (Octoborville)
64. Emperor Penguin-Soak Up The Gravy (Kool Kat)
65. Chris Church-Backwards Compatible (SypderPop)
66. The Suite Sixteen-Mine Would Be The Sun* (Self-Titled)
67. Lolas-Bulletproof (Kool Kat)
68. The Sunchymes-The Sands Of Time (Calliope)
69. Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men-Downtime (JEM)
70. Pop Co Op-Factory Settings (Pinkfoot)
71. Custard Flux-Echo* (Friends of The Fish)
72. Paul Molloy-The Fifth Dandelion* (Spring Heeled)
73. Professor and The Madman-Séance (Fullertone)
74. Tom Curless & The 46%-Almost Ready For The Future (Self-Released)
75. Cleaners From Venus-Dolly Birds & Spies (Notting Hill Music)
76. The Vapour Trails-Golden Sunshine (Futureman)
77. The Vapors-Together (Self-Released)
78. The Speedways-Radio Sounds (Snap!! and Hurrah!)
79. Tame Impala-The Slow Rush (Interscope)
80. The Dowling Poole-See You See Me (Self-Released)
81. Marshall Holland-Paper Airplane (MLM)
82. Louise Goffin-Two Different Movies (Majority Of One)
83. Fireproof Sam and The Selfsame Four-To Keep You Vultures Happy (Self-Released)
84. Oyvind Holm-After The Bees (Crispin Glover)
85. Dave Caruso-Radiophonic Supersonic (Self-Released)
86. Blake-1971 (Subjangle)
87. Zac-Zac (Damaged Goods)
88. Young Guv-I & II (Run For Cover)
89. Honeywagen-Halfdog (Rock O Plane)
90. Miracle Glass Company-MGC² (Vox Box)
91. Guided By Voices-Mirrored Aztec (Guided By Voices)
92. The KIK-Jin (Excelsior)
93. Spygenius-Man On The Sea (Big Stir)
94. Leslie Pereira & The Lazy Heroes-Good Karma (Big Stir)
95. Dropkick-The Scenic Route (Sound Asleep)
96. The Nines-Reflections (TAS Gold)
97. Bubble-Other Broken Dreams (Self-Released)
98. The Bookends-Calliope (JEM)
99. Eyelids-The Accidental Falls (Jealous Butcher)
100. It’s Karma It’s Cool-Woke Up In Hollywood (Kool Kat)
101. mylittlebrother-Howl (Big Stir)
102. Ross-Interstellar (Rock Indiana)
103. Brendan Benson-Dear Life (Third Man)
104. The Viewers-Unstoppable (Self-Released)
105. Monogroove-There’s Something Here (Self-Released)
106. Lisa Mychols & Super 8-Lisa Mychols & Super 8 (The Beautiful Music)
107. Lane Steinberg, Steven Burdick-Wondertrack (Zalytron)
108. Warm Morning Brothers-Not Scared Anymore* (Other Eyes)
109. Nick Frater-59 Vignettes (Great Shieks)
110. The Dupont Circles-In Search Of The Family Gredunza (The Beautiful Music)
111. Gretchen’s Wheel-Such Open Sky (Futureman)
112. The Malibooz-QE2 (The Pier Group)
113. Simon Felton-The Cost Of Living (Pink Hedgehog)
114. More Kicks-More Kicks* (Wander & Beluga)
115. Exploring Flowers-Stumbling Blocks (The Beautiful Music)
116. Real Estate-The Main Thing (Domino)
117. Colonial Drug-Harvest Gold Days (New Atlas)
118. Allyson Seconds-Bag Of Kittens (Big Stir)
119. Anton Barbeau-Present Kenny vs. Thrust (Big Stir)
120. Captain Wilberforce-When The Dust Just Won’t Settle (Kool Kat)
121. Jeremy-Living The Dream (JAM)
122. Rookie-Rookie (Bloodshot)
123. Ryan Hamilton and The Harlequin Ghosts-Nowhere To Go But Everywhere (Wicked Cool)
124. The Lemon Clocks-Time To Wake Up (Rock Indiana)
125. Tommy Sistak-Music For Sale (Self-Released)
II. Top 13 EPs
Disclaimer alert: I’m not a big fan of EPs, as they always seem to leave me wanting more. For this reason, I never seek them out the way I do full-length albums, and 2020 was no exception. A few of them came my way, regardless, and I will list those I particularly enjoyed. 
1. Dear Stella-Time Zones (Time Capsule)
2. Mike Randle-Rough Mixes & Demo Pyxis Vol. 1 (Self-Released)
3. Geoff Palmer & Lucy Ellis-Your Face Is Weird (Rum Bar)
4. Dan Miraldi-More Mood Music (Self-Released)
5. The On and Ons-Menacing Smile (Citadel)
6. Dan Miraldi-Mood Music For Introverts (Self-Released)
7. Tom Alford-Moving Into Love (Self-Released)
8. The Persian Leaps-Smiling Lessons (Land Ski)
9. Mike Browning-Never Too Late (Loaded Goat)
10. The Lickerish Quartet-Threesome Vol. 1 (In Grooves)
11. Muck & The Mires-Take Me Back To Planet Earth (Rum Bar)
12. The Amplifier Heads-Music For Abandoned Amusement Parks (SweetBreadSongs)
13. Blake Jones-The Homebound Tapes (Big Stir)
III. Top 4 Compilations-Single Artist
1. The Best of Kimberley Rew and Lee Cave-Berry- Sunshine Walkers (Self-Released)
2. Phil Angotti-Top Tunes and Real Grooves: The Best of Phil Angotti* (Big Blast)
3. Shane Tutmarc-Written & Produced by Shane Tutmarc (Kool Kat)
4. Garfield’s Birthday-Typically Stereo (Pink Hedgehog)
IV. Top 7 Compilations-Various Artists
1. Pop Geek Heaven-The Best Power Pop of 2018! (Pop Geek Heaven)
2. Pop Geek Heaven-The Best Power Pop of 2019! (Pop Geek Heaven)
3. Big Stir Singles-The Fifth Through Eighth Wave (Big Stir)
4. Big Stir Singles-The Yuletide Wave (Big Stir)
5. The Psych Psyde of Big Stir Records (Big Stir)
6. Hit The Hay Vol. 11 (Sound Asleep)
7. Fruits De Mer Records Presents-The Half Time Orange (Fruits De Mer)
V. Top 4 Tribute Discs-Single Artist
1. The Explorers Club-To Sing And Be Born Again (Goldstar)
2. Ex-Norwegian-Spotting Hues (Beyond Before)
3. The Galileo 7-Decayed* (Fool’s Paradise)
4. Billie Joe Armstrong-No Fun Mondays (Reprise)
VII. Top 5 Tribute Discs-Various Artists
1. Garden Of Earthly Delights-An XTC Collection (Futureman)
2. JEM Records Celebrates John Lennon (JEM)
3. Fuzzy Patterns-A Tribute To Tages (Self-Released)
4. 20/20-Reenvisioned (Futureman/Big Stir)
5. For The Record-A Tribute To John Wicks (Kool Kat)
VIII. Top Box Set
1. A Band For All Seasons-Songs From The Four Seasons of Love 1966-1969 (Crustacean)
Reissue Categories
For this category, at least one of the following criteria must be met for the album to qualify:
a. those that are on CD or LP for the first time
b. those that had been previously issued, but are now out of print or difficult to find
c. those in whose current issue have lots of bonus tracks, or some other unique feature
d. those which were previously unreleased but are “old” enough to where they should be considered reissues.
What I did NOT include were “garden variety” reissues of popular albums.
A CD or LP which contains exclusively previously unreleased material which is not from current times is still considered a “reissue” in my ranking structure.
With the above in mind, while quality is the major factor in determining the rankings, other factors such as number and type of bonus tracks, presentation, liner notes, sound quality, etc…do come into play. So, if you see a classic album ranking lower than one with less of a rep (or one you know I like a bit less), it’s because of the other factors.
I. Top 40 Proper Albums
1. XTC-Oranges & Lemons* (Ape)
2. Los Shakers-Los Shakers/Break It All* (Guerssen)
3. Los Shakers-La Conferencia Secreta Del Toto’s Bar* (Guerssen)
4. The Bangles-Doll Revolution* (Real Gone)
5. Fountains of Wayne-Welcome Interstate Managers* (Real Gone)
6. The Turtles-Happy Together* (Manifesto)
7. XTC-Nonsuch* (Ape)
8. The Gripweeds-Giant On The Beach: Anniversary Release Remixed and Expanded (Ground Up and Sugarbush)
9. Redd Kross-Phase Shifter* (TMR)
10. The Orange Peels-Square* (MLM)
11. Brian Wilson & Van Dyke Parks-Orange Crate Art (Omnivore)
12. Dusty Springfield-Dusty In Memphis* (Run Out Groove)
13. Big Star-#1 Record* (Craft)
14. Bobbie Gentry-Presents The Delta Sweete (UMC Capitol)
15. Kara’s Flowers-The Fourth World* (Warner)
16. Los Shakers-Shakers For You* (Guerssen)
17. Redd Kross-Show World* (TMR)
18. The Turtles-Turtle Soup* (Manifesto)
19. The Idle Race-The Birthday Party (Grapefruit)
20. Makin’ Time-Rhythm and Soul* (54321 Countdown)
21. Big Star-Radio City* (Craft)
22. The Last-Look Again (Backlash)
23. Fitz and The Tantrums- Pickin’ Up The Pieces (Dangerbird)
24. Van Duren-Are You Serious? (Omnivore)
25. Wizzard-Introducing Eddy and The Falcons (Esoteric)
26. The Five Americans-Progressions (Sundazed)
27. Love-Forever Changes (Mono)* (Rhino Entertainment)
28. Apple-An Apple A Day… (Grapefruit)
29. The Turtles-Present The Battle of The Bands* (Manifesto)
30. Josie Cotton-Convertible Music (Bomp)
31. XTC-Drums and Wires* (Ape)
32. The Shivvers-The Shivvers (Rerun)
33. Pale Saints-The Comforts of Madness 30th Anniverary Remasters (4AD)
34. Laura Nyro-More Than A New Discovery* (Real Gone)
35. Bonnie Hayes-Good Clean Fun (Buxa Sounds)
36. The Chi-Lites-(For God’s Sake) Give More Power To The People* (Org)
37. The Decibels-Big Sounds Again (Kool Kat)
38. The Feminine Complex-Livin’ Love (Modern Harmonic)
39. Forever Amber-The Love Cycle* (Guerssen)
40. David Bowie-Metrobolist (Parlophone)
II. Top 20 Compilations, Single Artist
1. Game Theory-Across The Barrier of Sound: Postscript (Omnivore)
2. The Merrymakers-The Best Of The Merrymakers (Sony Japan)
3. Pugwash-Popularity Pending: 20 Years of Pugwash…The Greatest Hits Album (Sony Japan)
4. Ron Dante-Ron Dante’s Fun House (Sunset Blvd.)
5. Shape of The Rain-Riley Riley Wood & Waggett: Deluxe Edition (Grapefruit)
6. America-Heritage II: Demos/Alternate Takes 1971-1976 (Omnivore)
7. The Undertones-West Bank Songs: 1978-1983 A Best Of* (BMG)
8. The Scruffs-Teenage Tragedies 1974-1979 (Mono-Tone)
9. The Direct Hits-Lost And Found (Blaamm!)
10. Culpepper’s Orchard-Mountain Music: The Polydor Recordings 1971-1973 (Esoteric)
11. The Main Ingredient-Spinning Around: The Singles 1967-1975 (Kent)
12. The Mirage-You Can’t Be Serious: 1966-1968* (Guerssen)
13. The Everly Brothers-Down In The Bottom: The Country Rock Sessions 1966-1968 (RPM)
14. Bruce Moody-Forever Fresh! (Self-Released)
15. Jason Crest-A Place In The Sun: The Complete Jason Crest (Grapefruit)
16. Cliff Wade-Look At Me I’ve Fallen Into A Teapot (Morgan Blue Town)
17. Paul Collins and The Beat-Another World The Best of The Archives (Alive)
18. Little Ann-Detroit’s Secret Soul (Kent)
19. Dwayne & Gregg Allman-Allman (Allman Brothers)
20. Please-Circus Days (Acme)
III. Top 20 Compilations, Various Artists
1. Thom Bell-Ready Or Not Thom Bell Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978 (Kent)
2. Girls Go Power Pop! (Big Beat)
3. Behind The Dykes-Beat, Blues and Pyschedelic Nuggets From The Lowlands: 1964-1972*(Universal)
4. Good Weather Machine-Sunshine, Soft & Studio Pop 1966-1972 (Teensville)
5. The Love Revolution-Soft, Sunshine & Harmony Pop 1966-1971 (Teensville)
6. The Land of Sensations & Delights: The Psych Pop Sounds of White Whale Records 1965-1970 (Craft)
7. Bob Stanley Presents: 76 In The Shade (Ace)
8. Strum & Thrum-The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987 (Captured Tracks)
9. A Cellarfull of Motown! Volume 5 (Universal Motown)
10. Fading Yellow Volume 17-20 Timeless Gems of U.S. Pop/Psych & Other Delights (Flower Machine)
11. Looking Through A Glass Onion-The Beatles Psychedelic Songbook 1966-72 (Grapefruit)
12. Tea & Symphony-The English Baroque Sound 1968-1974 (Ace)
13. Hard To Find Jukebox Classics 1960-65: 29 More Amazing Stereo Hits (Eric)
14. The Girls’ Scene* (Decca)
15. The Beat Scene* (Decca)
16. Spring NYC Soul (Kent)
17. Double Whammy!-A 1960s Garage Rock Rave Up* (Craft)
18. Lazy Day-The Pop Songs of Tony Powers & George Fischoff: 1995-1968 (Teensville)
19. Soul Voices-60s Big Ballads (Kent)
20. 17 From Morden (Top Sounds)
IV. Top 30 Box Sets: Single Artist
1. Elton John-Jewel Box (EMI)
2. Supergrass-The Strange Ones 1994-2008: Superdeluxe Box (BMG)
3. The Kinks-Lola vs. Powerman and The Moneygoround Part. 1: 50th Anniversary Deluxe (BMG)
4. America-Half Century (Gonzo Import)
5. John Lennon-Give Me Some Truth (Universal)
6. Bob Mould-Distortion: 1989-2019 (Edsel)
7. Tom Petty-Wildflowers & All The Rest: 9 LP (Warner)
8. Paul McCartney-Flaming Pie: Superdeluxe Box (Universal)
9. Richard & Linda Thompson-Hard Luck Stories 1972-1982 (Universal)
10. Labi Siffre-My Song (Edsel)
11. Fleetwood Mac-1969 to 1974 (Warner Bros.)
12. Shakin’ Stevens-Fire In The Blood: The Definitive Collection (BMG)
13. Elvis Presley-The American Sound 1969 (Follow That Dream)
14. Shoes-Elektrafied: The Elektra Years 1979-1982 (Cherry Red)
15. The Tremeloes-The Complete CBS Recordings 1966-72 (Grapefruit)
16. Unicorn-Slow Dancing: The Recordings 1974-1979 (Esoteric)
17. Brian Protheroe-The Albums 1974-76 (7T’s)
18. Kiki Dee-The Fontana & Motown Years (Edsel)
19. Pilot-The Albums (7T’s)
20. July-The Complete Recordings (Grapefruit)
21. The Free Design-Butterflies Are Free: The Original Recordings 1967-72 (Cherry Red)
22. Andrew Gold-Lonely Boy: The Asylum Years Anthology (Esoteric)
23. The Primitives-Bloom!: The Full Story 1985-1992 (Cherry Red)
24. The Honeycombs-Have I The Right?: The Complete 60s Albums & Singles (RPM)
25. Eric Burdon and The Animals-When I Was Young: The MGM Recordings 1967-1968 (Esoteric)
26. Barbara Lewis-Don’t Forget About Me: The Atlantic & Reprise Recordings (Soul Music)
27. Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels-Sockin’ It To You: The Complete Dynovoice/New Voice Records (RPM)
28. The Boys-…On Safari (Captain Oi)
29. The Doors-Morrison Hotel: 50th Anniversary Box (Elektra)
30. Bruise-Bruise Complete (Pop La Disque)
V. Top 10 Box Sets: Various Artists
1. Peephole In My Brain-The British Progressive Sounds of 1971 (Grapefruit)
2. A Slight Disturbance In My Mind-The British Proto Psychedelic Sounds of 1966 (Grapefruit)
3. Magic In The Air Two: 1965-1971 The Birth of Cool Britannia (Rubble)
4. Bubblerock Is Here To Stay!-The British Pop Explosion 1970-73 (Grapefruit)
5. Right Back Where We Started From-Female Pop and Soul in ‘70s Britain (RPM)
6. 1978: The Year The UK Turned Day-Glo (Cherry Red)
7. Crawling Up A Hill-A Journey Through The British Blues Boom 1966-71 (Grapefruit)
8. Make More Noise!-Women In Independent UK Music 1977-1987 (Cherry Red)
9. Eddie Piller Presents The Mod Revival (Edsel)
10. Summer Is Icumen In-The Pagan Sound of British and Irish Folk 1966-75 (Grapefruit)