The Independent's 40 Best Albums of 2020

Despite the music industry being one of the worst-affected sectors during the pandemic, artists have gone above and beyond with albums to help us get through it. The Independent picks its 40 favourites

Published: December 22, 2020 16:34 Source

# 1

Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

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

# 2

Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa

Album • Mar 27 / 2020 Dance-Pop Nu-Disco

# 3

Saint Cloud by Waxahatchee

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

# 4

Song For Our Daughter by Laura Marling

Album • Apr 10 / 2020 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 5

græ by Moses Sumney

Album • May 15 / 2020 Art Pop

# 6

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately by Perfume Genius

Album • May 15 / 2020 Art Pop

# 7

Women In Music Pt. III by HAIM

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Indie Pop Soft Rock

# 8

The Ascension by Sufjan Stevens

Album • Sep 25 / 2020 Indietronica Art Pop

# 9

songs by Adrianne Lenker

Album • Oct 23 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 10

folklore by Taylor Swift

Album • Jul 24 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Folk Pop

# 11

YHLQMDLG by Bad Bunny

Album • Feb 29 / 2020

# 12

Circles by Mac Miller

Album • Jan 17 / 2020 Neo-Soul

# 13

RTJ4 by Run The Jewels

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

# 14

Gold Record by Bill Callahan

Album • Oct 21 / 2020 Americana Singer-Songwriter

# 15

Miss Anthropocene by Grimes

Album • Feb 21 / 2020 Art Pop Electronic

# 16

Róisín Machine by Róisín Murphy

Album • Oct 02 / 2020 Nu-Disco

# 17

Big Conspiracy by J Hus

Album • Jan 24 / 2020 UK Hip Hop

# 18

We Will Always Love You by The Avalanches

Album • Dec 11 / 2020 Neo-Psychedelia Electronic

# 19

A Hero's Death by Fontaines D.C.

Album • Jul 31 / 2020 Post-Punk

# 20

Good News by Megan Thee Stallion

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

# 21

Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers

Album • Jun 18 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 22

Letter To You by Bruce Springsteen

Album • Oct 23 / 2020 Heartland Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 23

I'm Your Empress Of by Empress Of

Album • Apr 03 / 2020 Synthpop Electropop

# 24

It Is What It Is by Thundercat

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

# 25

SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama

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

# 26

RE-ANIMATOR by Everything Everything

Album • Sep 11 / 2020 Art Pop Progressive Pop

# 27

What's Your Pleasure? by Jessie Ware

Album • Jun 26 / 2020 Dance-Pop Disco

# 28

Chromatica by Lady Gaga

Album • May 29 / 2020 Dance-Pop Euro House

# 29

Inner Song by Kelly Lee Owens

Album • Aug 28 / 2020 Tech House Art Pop

# 30

Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan

Album • Jun 19 / 2020 Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 31

Starting Over by Chris Stapleton

Album • Nov 13 / 2020 Contemporary Country

# 32

Walking Like We Do by The Big Moon

Album • Jan 10 / 2020 Indie Pop Pop Rock

# 33

Seeking Thrills by Georgia

Album • Jan 10 / 2020 Synthpop Electropop

# 34

Lianne La Havas by Lianne La Havas

Album • Jul 17 / 2020 Neo-Soul Singer-Songwriter

# 35

how i'm feeling now by Charli XCX

Album • May 15 / 2020 Hyperpop Electropop Bubblegum Bass

# 36

Kitchen Sink by Nadine Shah

Album • Jun 05 / 2020 Art Rock

# 37

Underneath by Code Orange

Album • Mar 13 / 2020 Metalcore Industrial Metal

# 38

Petals For Armor by Hayley Williams

Album • May 08 / 2020 Art Pop Alternative Dance

# 39

JAGUAR by Victoria Monét

Album • Aug 07 / 2020 Contemporary R&B

# 40

color theory by Soccer Mommy

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