Far Out Magazine's 50 Best Albums of 2020

As the end of 2020 beckons, we're looking back at the 50 best albums of the year including entries from The Strokes, Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers, and more

Published: December 16, 2020 09:00 Source

# 1

A Hero's Death by Fontaines D.C.

Album • Jul 31 / 2020 Post-Punk

# 2

Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers

Album • Jun 18 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 3

RTJ4 by Run The Jewels

Album • Jun 03 / 2020 Hardcore Hip Hop Political Hip Hop

# 4

Shore by Fleet Foxes

Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Indie Folk Chamber Pop

# 5

Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee

Album • Mar 27 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Alt-Country

# 6

Untitled (Black Is) by Sault

Album • Jun 19 / 2020 Neo-Soul

# 7

Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

Album • Apr 17 / 2020 Art Pop Singer-Songwriter Progressive Pop

# 8

Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan

Album • Jun 19 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 9

The Slow Rush by Tame Impala

Album • Feb 14 / 2020 Psychedelic Pop Neo-Psychedelia Synthpop

# 10

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately by Perfume Genius

Album • May 15 / 2020 Art Pop

# 11

Ultra Mono by IDLES

Album • Sep 25 / 2020 Post-Punk Art Punk

# 12

Song For Our Daughter by Laura Marling

Album • Apr 10 / 2020 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 13

Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs + The Alchemist

Album • May 29 / 2020 Gangsta Rap

# 14

songs by Adrianne Lenker

Album • Oct 23 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 15

color theory by Soccer Mommy

Album • Feb 28 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Indie Pop Bedroom Pop

# 16

Free Love by Sylvan Esso

Album • Sep 25 / 2020 Electropop Indietronica

# 17

Man Alive! by King Krule

Album • Feb 21 / 2020 Art Rock Post-Punk Neo-Psychedelia

# 18

Fake It Flowers by beabadoobee

Album • Oct 16 / 2020 Alternative Rock

# 19

SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama

Album • Apr 17 / 2020 Dance-Pop Contemporary R&B

# 20

Sideways to New Italy by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

Album • Jun 05 / 2020 Jangle Pop Indie Rock

# 21

Eternal Atake by Lil Uzi Vert

Album • Mar 06 / 2020 Trap Pop Rap

# 22

The Ascension by Sufjan Stevens

Album • Sep 25 / 2020 Indietronica Art Pop

# 23

It Is What It Is by Thundercat

Album • Apr 03 / 2020 Psychedelic Soul Neo-Soul Jazz-Funk

# 24

The Neon Skyline by Andy Shauf

Album • Jan 24 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Pop

# 25

Snapshot of a Beginner by Nap Eyes

Album • Mar 27 / 2020 Indie Rock

# 26

Gigaton by Pearl Jam

Album • Mar 27 / 2020 Alternative Rock

# 27

After Hours by The Weeknd

Album • Mar 20 / 2020 Alternative R&B Synthpop

# 28

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never by Oneohtrix Point Never

Album • Oct 30 / 2020 Progressive Electronic Neo-Psychedelia

# 29

Petals For Armor by Hayley Williams

Album • May 08 / 2020 Art Pop Alternative Dance

# 30

Inner Song by Kelly Lee Owens

Album • Aug 28 / 2020 Tech House Art Pop

# 31

Death of the Party (Bonus Track Version) by The Magic Gang

Album • Aug 28 / 2020

# 32

The Universal Want by Doves

Album • Sep 11 / 2020 Indie Rock Alternative Rock

# 33

Good News by Megan Thee Stallion

Album • Nov 20 / 2020 Southern Hip Hop Trap Pop Rap

# 34

Honeymoon by Beach Bunny

Album • Feb 14 / 2020 Indie Rock Power Pop Indie Pop

# 35

Mordechai by Khruangbin

Album • Jun 26 / 2020 Psychedelic Rock

# 36

Walking Like We Do by The Big Moon

Album • Jan 10 / 2020 Indie Pop Pop Rock

# 37

The New Abnormal by The Strokes

Album • Apr 10 / 2020 Indie Rock

# 38

Miss Anthropocene by Grimes

Album • Feb 21 / 2020 Art Pop Electronic

# 39

Letter To You by Bruce Springsteen

Album • Oct 23 / 2020 Heartland Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 40

Notes On A Conditional Form by The 1975

Album • May 22 / 2020 Electronic Art Pop Pop Rock

# 41

Untitled (Rise) by Sault

Album • Sep 18 / 2020 Neo-Soul

# 42

Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon by Pop Smoke

Album • Jul 03 / 2020 Trap Pop Rap East Coast Hip Hop

# 43

Night Network by The Cribs

Album • Nov 20 / 2020 Post-Punk Revival Indie Rock

# 44

Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez (Deluxe) by Gorillaz

Album • Oct 23 / 2020 Art Pop Synthpop

# 45

ENERGY by Disclosure

Album • Aug 28 / 2020 House UK Garage

# 46

Zeros by Declan McKenna

Album • Sep 04 / 2020 Glam Rock Indie Rock

# 47

YHLQMDLG by Bad Bunny

Album • Feb 29 / 2020

# 48

Foolish Loving Spaces by Blossoms

Album • Jan 31 / 2020 Indie Pop Synthpop

# 49

Women In Music Pt. III by HAIM

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Indie Pop Soft Rock

# 50

Ohms by Deftones

Album • Sep 25 / 2020 Alternative Metal