Antara's Best Albums of 2020
By Antara Singh-Ghai '22
As we've all well established by now, 2020 has been an interesting year for a variety of reasons. From the new schedule at GFA to a whole election occurring, it's been easy to forget about everything else happening in the world. However, an incredible amount of new music has come out this year, from around the world to right here in the United States. Here are some of my favourites from 2020.
High Risk Behaviour-The Chats
Source: The Guardian
Release Date: 27 March 2020
This is probably the best punk album to come out in years. At least, it’s the best one I’ve heard. None of the songs are over three minutes long, which isn't necessary for a great punk album but is always appreciated. Brevity certainly suits this album, however, with roaring guitars and Eamon Sandwith somehow taking himself less seriously than on their previous EPs Get This in Ya! and the eponymous The Chats. The guitar and drums on these songs are just as important as the vocals, something drummer Matt Boggis and guitarist Pricey (sadly, this is his last album with them, having left under mysterious circumstances) prove on every song, but especially on "Identity Theft," with its roaring solo at the end. Best tracks? Well, pretty much all of them, but "Ross River," the aforementioned "Identity Theft," "4573," and "Billy Backwash's Day" are standouts on an already fantastic album.
A Hero's Death-Fontaines D.C
Source: Wikipedia
Release Date: July 31, 2020
It's hard not to compare this to Dogrel, the first album of this Irish group, because Dogrel was just so good, but it'd be very unfair: A Hero's Death is a fantastic standalone work, especially as it came out just a year after the first. On account of not being an actual music critic, and listening to relatively few genres, I can't exactly tell you what genre this album is, but it marks an expansion both musically and geographically from Dogrel's laser-point post-punk focus on Dublin with an intensity that left non-locals slightly confused and very intrigued. A Hero's Death is more welcoming and more global. It's happier and yet more pessimistic than Dogrel, and it manages to be all of those things while still being good, which is an achievement in itself. Best tracks are "No,” “You Said,” and “Living in America.” I'd actually count singles “A Televised Mind” and titular “A Hero's Death” as the weaker songs here, on the other hand.
Party Favors-Sir Chloe
Source: sirchloe.bandcamp.com
Release Date: 23 October 2020
Only two new songs were released on this record, with the others already having come out as singles, but even with that in mind, this record is incredible. Frontwoman Dana Blatte's voice is at the forefront of every song, looming large as guitars play more quietly in the background (in stark contrast to the Chats). That's not to say the other instruments don't hold their ground, but the focus is more on Blatte's voice and the lyrics than anything else. The beauty of Sir Chloe is the simplicity, and that shines through strongly on this record. My favourites are “Squaring Up,” “Too Close,” ‘Sedona,” and “Untie You,” although I've heard a variety of opinions on favourite tracks.
Wachito Rico-boy pablo
Source: Pitchfork
Release Date: 28 October 2020
I'm adding this one with the caveat that I don't think it's particularly good; I've just listened to boy pablo for years and this happens to slot well into the rest of his discography. Muñez (frontman of the group) sticks to what he knows best here, which is pretty standard indie rock. There is a marked increase in the amount of Spanish spoken on the album, owing to the singer and drummer of the Norwegian group being of Chilean heritage, but other than that, it sounds very similar (and I would argue slightly worse) than their previous EPs. Standouts include singles "honey" and the titular "wachito rico," which somewhat reminds me of Cobra Starship's "Guilty Pleasure" from over a decade ago. The other tracks are somewhat indistinguishable from one another. It's a good album, but worse than his other ones, and doesn't push the envelope at all.
