The Guardian's 50 Best Albums of 2020

Our countdown is complete, topped by a mercurial work of sprawling invention by a woman who has dug deep to survive. Taken as a whole, these choices contain drama, solace, poetry and fire, a fitting selection for a turbulent year

Published: December 18, 2020 08:07 Source

# 1
Album • Apr 17 / 2020 Art Pop Singer-Songwriter Progressive Pop
# 2
Album • Mar 27 / 2020 Dance-Pop Nu-Disco
# 3
Album • Apr 17 / 2020 Dance-Pop Contemporary R&B
# 4
Album • May 15 / 2020 Art Pop
# 5
Album • Jun 19 / 2020 Neo-Soul
# 6
Album • Mar 27 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Alt-Country
# 7
Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Indie Pop Soft Rock
# 8
Album • Jan 24 / 2020 UK Hip Hop
# 9
Album • Jul 24 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Folk Pop
# 10
Album • May 15 / 2020 Art Pop
# 11
Album • Oct 02 / 2020 Nu-Disco
# 12
Album • Jun 12 / 2020 Contemporary R&B
# 13
Album • Jun 19 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Americana
# 14
Album • Jun 26 / 2020 Dance-Pop Disco
# 15
Album • Mar 13 / 2020 Conscious Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop
# 16
Album • Jun 18 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk
# 17
Album • Jul 31 / 2020 Post-Punk
# 18
Album • Jun 03 / 2020 Hardcore Hip Hop Political Hip Hop
# 19
Album • May 29 / 2020 Dance-Pop Euro House
# 20
Album • Feb 21 / 2020 Art Pop Electronic
# 21
Album • Apr 03 / 2020 Neo-Psychedelia Art Rock
# 22
Album • Feb 07 / 2020 Electroacoustic IDM
# 23
Album • Feb 28 / 2020 Indietronica
# 24
Album • Aug 28 / 2020 Tech House Art Pop
# 25
Album • Sep 18 / 2020 Neo-Soul
# 26
Album • Oct 21 / 2020 Americana Singer-Songwriter
# 27
Album • Apr 10 / 2020 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
# 28
Album • Apr 03 / 2020 Psychedelic Soul Neo-Soul Jazz-Funk
# 29
Album • Jan 17 / 2020 Neo-Soul
# 30
Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Indie Folk Chamber Pop
# 31
Album • Mar 06 / 2020 Art Pop Pop Soul
# 32
Album • Mar 27 / 2020 Neo-Soul
# 33
Album • May 15 / 2020 Hyperpop Electropop Bubblegum Bass
# 34
Album • May 29 / 2020 Gangsta Rap
# 35
Album • Oct 02 / 2020 Synthpop Dance-Punk New Rave
# 36
Album • May 22 / 2020 Electronic Art Pop Pop Rock
# 37
Album • Oct 02 / 2020 Trap Gangsta Rap Southern Hip Hop
# 38
Album • Feb 28 / 2020 Alternative R&B Nu Jazz
# 39
Album • Jan 24 / 2020 Jazz Fusion
# 40
Album • Oct 30 / 2020 Contemporary R&B Pop
# 41
Album • Oct 23 / 2020 Microhouse Ambient
# 42
Album • Nov 06 / 2020 Dance-Pop Disco
# 43
Album • Oct 29 / 2020 Afrobeats
# 44
Album • Jul 24 / 2020 Alternative R&B Synthpop UK Bass
# 45
Album • Jan 10 / 2020 Contemporary R&B Dance-Pop Electropop
# 46
Album • Mar 27 / 2020 Avant-Garde Jazz
# 47
Album • Jun 19 / 2020 Contemporary R&B
# 48
Album • Feb 28 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Indie Pop Bedroom Pop
# 49
Album • Jan 31 / 2020 Art Pop Synthpop
# 50
Album • Oct 23 / 2020 Horrorcore Industrial Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop