Platy's Top 40 of 2020
I did the worst already, and now it's on to the best! The year maybe wasn't the best, but this is the most actively involved I've been in music in my whole life. I heard a whopping 180+ albums from 2020, and these are the ones that stood out the most. |
| 40 |  | END (NJ)
Splinters From An Ever-Changing Face
One of the best and most hard-hitting hardcore releases from this year. |
| 39 |  | Hum
Inlet
It may not hold up to their classic albums from the 90's, but Hum put out one of the best comeback records of this year. |
| 38 |  | Svalbard
When I Die, Will I Get Better?
I usually don't like albums that have one consistent lyrical theme throughout them, but this is hard NOT to jam to. |
| 37 |  | Grimes
Miss Anthropocene
It may have been a slight disappointment when it came out, but Grimes remains as wonderfully weird as ever. |
| 36 |  | Blue Oyster Cult
The Symbol Remains
While everyone was hyped on new AC/DC, the REAL best dad rock album of the year got overlooked. |
| 35 |  | Static-X
Project Regeneration Vol. 1
Never thought I'd see Static-X in a best-of list past like 2005, but these songs are some of their best. Really too bad that Wayne isn't around anymore. |
| 34 |  | Ebonivory
The Long Dream I
I only started getting into more progressive metal albums this year, and this was one of my earliest surprises. |
| 33 |  | Satyr
Locus
It may have been better when I first heard it, but this is some damn impressive math rock. Can't wait to hear more. |
| 32 |  | The Ocean
Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic
God that album title pisses me off, but this was some damn good progressive metal. |
| 31 |  | Paradise Lost
Obsidian
Literally the first doom metal album I've ever heard (I know, I'm uncultured) and it makes me more interested in what else the genre has to offer. |
| 30 |  | Good Tiger
Raised in a Doomsday Cult
These guys were supposed to open at an I the Mighty concert once, and now I'm really wishing they had. |
| 29 |  | The Strokes
The New Abnormal
As someone who used to hate on The Strokes, this was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully they can stay more consistent. |
| 28 |  | Scarypoolparty
Doom Hologram
How do you even categorize this album? It's all over the damn place but in such a good way. |
| 27 |  | Trivium
What The Dead Men Say
Not much to say about this, it just rocks effing hard. |
| 26 |  | King Mothership
The Ritual
For those who are into theatrical emo/post-hardcore, then this is a must listen. |
| 25 |  | Protest the Hero
Palimpsest
My older brother used to be a huge fan of these guys, but this was my first exposure. |
| 24 |  | Make Them Suffer
How to Survive a Funeral
One of the more underrated metalcore releases of this year. |
| 23 |  | Fiona Apple
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
I may not think this is as much of a classic as some others do on this site, but some of the songs on this album are REALLY good and emotionally hard-hitting. |
| 22 |  | Jeff Rosenstock
NO DREAM
I may find Jeff just SLIGHTLY overrated, but this has to be one of the most energetic and catchy pop punk albums of the last few years. |
| 21 |  | PRIZM
All Night
They may be an unknown synthpop duo that has a whopping 2 ratings on this site, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for catchy pop. |
| 20 |  | Seahaven
Halo of Hurt
Definitely get some Brand New vibes from this group (minus the predatory behavior). |
| 19 |  | Bring Me the Horizon
Post Human: Survival Horror
I know, this is technically an EP (even though I don't get why; it's 9 songs and more than 30 minutes) but this is the best BMTH release since Sempiturnal. |
| 18 |  | The Ghost Inside
The Ghost Inside
After what this group had been through, I wasn't expecting any new music from them. It may be formulaic metalcore, but god damn is it good. |
| 17 |  | Carly Rae Jepsen
Dedicated Side B
How is it that even the B-sides this woman makes are goddamn amazing? She's one more solid album away from being the modern queen of pop music. |
| 16 |  | Crystal Lake
The Voyages
I don't know what the original recordings of these tracks are like, but I'm told this compilation improves on just about every aspect of them. Either way, this is hard hitting as hell. |
| 15 |  | Vennart
In The Dead, Dead Wood
Hands down the best post-rock album of 2020. |
| 14 |  | Rina Sawayama
Sawayama
Probably the best debut album of this year; I can't wait to hear what else she does. |
| 13 |  | Orbit Culture
Nija
This sounds like some weird blend between deathcore and Metallica, and I love it. |
| 12 |  | Poppy
I Disagree
Hot take, Poppy stole Babymetal's sound and made it way better. |
| 11 |  | Spanish Love Songs
Brave Faces Everyone
This is one of those albums that hit hard because of its themes (and also probably because of my age), and its only getting better with more listens. |
| 10 |  | Aesop Rock
Spirit World Field Guide
One of the most unconventional rap albums of this year, but I love it even more for that. No features too, which is incredibly rare for the genre. |
| 9 |  | Haken
Virus
The best progressive metal album of 2020 (at least out of all the ones with vocals). |
| 8 |  | Plini
Impulse Voices
One of the last albums I got around to from this year, but I'm very glad I did. This dude has unlimited potential, and it has given me a whole new respect for instrumental artists. |
| 7 |  | King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
K.G.
This is one of the weirdest damn bands I've ever heard, but goddamn they pull off just about every sound they go for. |
| 6 |  | Enter Shikari
Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible
My favorite genre mashing album of the year; Enter Shikari just keeps finding ways to improve with time. |
| 5 |  | Tallah
Matriphagy
It may not be a popular opinion on this site, but Tallah made the best metalcore album of the year, and the best nu metal album of the last ten. |
| 4 |  | clipping.
Visions of Bodies Being Burned
clipping. takes everything that made their last album great and improved upon it. The production is top notch, the hooks are catchy as hell, and they remain one of the most unique groups in the industrial hip-hop scene. |
| 3 |  | Devon Kay and The Solutions
Limited Joy
This is a band I've been known to rave about on this site, and for good reason. They made the best pop-punk album of the year. |
| 2 |  | Run the Jewels
RTJ4
This is easily the best rap album of 2020, and probably the hardest hitting album of any genre. RTJ walk a fine line between politically charged lyricism and music that is just plain fun, and they pull it off like no other hip-hop artist could. 'Walking in the Snow' is a serious contender for song of the year. |
| 1 |  | Deftones
Ohms
I know! The most typical album to say is the best of this year! But you know what, it's just that good. Deftones bounced back from their last disappointing album and have created one that rivals 'Diamond Eyes' and even 'White Pony' as their best work. Bravo to them. |
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