It's no secret that I love singles. A big hook and two minutes to make your point. Albums have more to live up to. The ones below have met that bar. Listen to each of them from start to finish. Then do it again. Good tracks to be sure, but also a cohesiveness that tells you this is a real band with something to offer. My list is ordered, but otherwise presented without commentary.
50. No Thank You Embroidered Foliage (Lame-O Records)
49. Supercrush Sodo Pop (Don Giovanni Records)
48. Fake Names Fake Names (Epitaph)
47. The Beths Jump Rope Gazers (Carpark Records)
46. Nick Frater Fast & Loose (Big Stir Records)
45. Rookie Rookie (Bloodshot Records)
44. The Movement Future Freedom Time (Concrete Jungle Records)
43. William Elliott Whitmore I'm with You (Bloodshot Records)
42. Death Valley Girls Under the Spell of Joy (Suicide Squeeze)
41. Lunchbox After School Special (Slumberland)
40. Blackstarkids Whatever, Man (Dirty Hit)
39. Worriers You or Someone You Know (6131 Records)
38. Beach Slang The Deadbeat Bang Of Heartbreak City (Bridge Nine)
37. Damien Jurado What's New, Tomboy? (Mama Bird Recording Co.)
36. Daniel Romano's Outfit Content To Point The Way (You've Changed Records)
35. Darren Hayman Home Time (Fika Recordings)
34. Daniel Romano's Outfit Visions Of The Higher Dream (You've Changed Records)
33. The Budweisers Lords of Budtown (Monster Zero/Family Spree Recordings)
32. Cold Years Paradise (eOne Music)
31. Duncan Reid and the Big Heads Don't Blame Yourself (self-released)
30. The Empty Hearts The Second Album (Wicked Cool Records)
29. The Putz Rise and Shine (OUTLOUD! Records)
28. The Chats High Risk Behaviour (Bargain Bin Records)
27. Bully Sugaregg (Sub Pop)
26. Heart Bones Hot Dish (self-released)
25. Cocktails Catastrophic Entertainment (Father/Daughter)
24. Torres Silver Tongue (Merge Records)
23. The High Water Marks Ecstasy Rhymes (Minty Fresh)
22. Helen Love Power On (Jigsaw Records)
21. Wyldlife Year of the Snake (Wicked Cool Records)
20. Darren Hayman I Can Travel Through Time (self-released)
19. Attic Salt Get Wise (Jump Start Records)
18. The Just Joans The Private Memoirs and Confessions of... (Fika Recordings)
17. Hazel English Wake UP! (Polydor)
16. Mom Pleasure Island (self-released)
15. Bill Callahan Gold Record (Drag City)
14. The Lemon Drop Gang I'm Not The One! (Rum Bar Records)
13. Jeff Rosenstock NO DREAM (Polyvinyl Record Co.)
12. Illuminati Hotties FREE I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For (self-released)
11. Ryan Allen Song Snacks Vol. 1 (self-released)
10. Church Girls The Haunt (Anchor Eighty Four Records)
9. The Speedways Radio Sounds (Beluga Records)
8. Outtacontroller Sure Thing (Alien Snatch Records )
7. Harrisonics Love Songs for All Occasions (Fabcom! Records)
6. The Bombpops Death in Venice Beach (Fat Wreck Chords)
5. The Exbats Kicks, Hits and Fits (Burger Records)
4. The Magnetic Fields Quickies (Nonesuch)
3. Vintage Crop Serve To Serve Again (Upset The Rhythm)
2. Daniel Gum Thirteen (Manor Records)
1. Yum Yums For Those About To Pop! (Rum Bar Records)
And that's it. If you're curious about my criteria, this year I added a record-setting 304 releases. Of those, 201 were full-length albums released in 2020 eligible to appear on this list. You think I should limit this to albums that were physically released, or should I keep digital-only albums in the mix? Weigh in!
For a run down of my favorite songs of 2020 visit Top Songs of 2020.