A Year In Review: Album Edition

Like Spotify Wrapped, But Different?

2020 has been a year of many things. A year of polarizing, stress-inducing political divides. A year of hibernating at home, attempting to avoid a rampant and unforgiving global pandemic. A year of many, many zoom calls. Far too many zoom calls. I cannot emphasize enough the absurd number of zoom calls that took place.

But, if you ask me, 2020 has also been a year of fantastic new music.

I started writing these brief articles with the intention of writing about music. In the springtime, when quarantine was in full swing, all I did was listen to music. This was around the same time I began to write for leisure. Once I began writing, I quickly discovered that I’m lucky enough to have many different inspirations — my experience at college, my family, my friends, and so on. So, the intended music focus of my writing was put on the back burner.

I am happy to announce that Spotify-loving Julia is back and better than ever, here to review my top album picks of 2020. I know all my dedicated fans must’ve missed me dearly. I’d hate to disappoint.

Upon entering my junior year of college, I decided I was going to create an album collage for the wall space above my bed. Although printing 30 separate albums on card stock certainly pissed off the dude at Staples, it made me very happy to dress up my walls with the music that defined my life at the time. I did the same going into my senior year, with updated album covers, of course. The joy of choosing and organizing my favorite music really never gets old.

So, I’ve decided to write an album countdown of sorts, ranking my top 10 favorite album releases of this year. I’m no music expert. I don’t professionally review anything. I’m not even sure my opinion matters in the slightest. But here are my thoughts, whether you asked for them or not!

And yes, the majority of these 2020 picks did in fact make the album wall.

10. Louis The Child, “Here For Now”

They’ve given us many EDM staples over the years, but this album is different. Each individual track offers something unique, with the majority embodying what it is to be “chill EDM,” a personal preference of mine. My favorites, courtesy of this DJ-producer duo, include “La La La (Everything’s Okay),” which delivers a vibey, nighttime aesthetic, as well as “The Little Things” featuring vocals from Chelsea Cutler and Quinn XCII.

9. Selena Gomez, “Rare”

In all honesty, this album came into my life at the exact right time, and that’s likely why I fell in love with it. Upbeat, confidence-boosting hits like “Look At Her Now” made me want to get up and dance out all the toxins weighing me down. Mellow, chilled-out ballads like “Vulnerable” (my top pick off the album) left me feeling understood in a time of many personal doubts. When concerts start back up again, you can bet I’ll be at this one.

8. Mac Miller, “Circles”

This review is not without a few tears, as I know it will be the last Mac Miller album to grace the world of music. I’ve never been much of a rap music advocate myself, but Mac’s take on it certainly changed my mind. This album celebrates his amazing career and raw talent, with personal favorites including “Bad News” and “Blue World.” Placed alongside his earlier albums, this collection of songs acts as the perfect time capsule.

7. Tame Impala, “The Slow Rush”

When I first listened to Tame Impala’s music, which was actually not too long ago, my first thought was that I had never heard something quite like it before. The band’s sound is a delicious cocktail of rock, disco, and funk beats, every sip with a surprising aftertaste. If you haven’t heard this album, “It Might Be Time” to do that. Otherwise, you’ll remain “Lost In Yesterday.” Ha. You’ll get it when you listen.

6. Quinn XCII, “A Letter To My Younger Self”

There is no voice quite like Quinn’s. His sound just screams “sunny day vibes” and instantly transports me to the beach so, naturally, this album is so easy to love. He’s also the king of collaborations, bringing big names including Logic, Marc E. Bassy, and Blackbear into the album. “Stacy,” an early favorite of mine, captures Quinn’s lyrical genius, while upbeat tracks including “Meeting Strangers” and “Coffee” give fans a daily dose of blue skies and sunshine.

5. Shallou, “Magical Thinking”

I once tried to describe Shallou’s music to a friend, equating it to the feeling of standing on the edge of a cliff on a dark night, staring up at a million stars above you. Weird, I know. But Shallou has dominated my nighttime driving playlist ever since I discovered his sound a few years ago. This album is somehow beautifully calming and wonderfully exciting at the same time. My advice: listen to “Silhouettes” when you close your eyes to sleep at night. Instant ethereal dreamworld.

4. LANY, “Mama’s Boy”

I have a playlist called “songs to watch the sunset to” that I’m quite proud of. Shameless plug, but this is by far my favorite playlist I’ve created, as the vibe I’ve captured is like no other. LANY’s “Mama’s Boy” is the final touch my playlist never knew it needed. Lead singer Paul Klein’s angelic voice, coupled with the dreamy, alternative rock sounds of the band, simply cannot be improved upon. Their concert is #1 on my must see list… so COVID, kindly get the hell out of my way. Please and thank you.

3. Ariana Grande, “Positions”

I know, I know, how basic of me. Truth be told, I have always been a huge Ariana fan, and I’ve listened to this album nonstop for the past month of my life. Her sixth studio album is just what I would’ve hoped for: unapologetically sexy. Favorites include “Love Language” and “My Hair.” This is the type of stuff I’ll blast and dance to in the shower, pretending I have even a fraction of the vocal range that Ariana does.

2. Lauv, “How I’m Feeling”

Ah, we arrive at Lauv. Where to begin? With masterful tracks including “Sims,” “Feelings,” and “Invisible Things,” Lauv offers a sincere look at youth angst in an age of internet domination. Although it is a pop album by definition, this unique collection gives fans a taste of the singer’s microcosm of experiences with love and life, all the while filling their heads with the most beautiful, mellowed beats. There really isn’t a single song on this album of 21 that falls short.

1. Dua Lipa, “Future Nostalgia”

A breath of fresh air. That’s the best way I can describe my #1 album pick of 2020. When this album was released in March, I had just been booted from my study abroad program and sent back home for a painfully long quarantine. Dua somehow manages to blend pop music with disco and funk influences, giving many of us exactly what we needed during this hard time — a little confidence boost. Stand-out tracks, including “Levitating” and “Hallucinate,” describe a butterflies-in-your-stomach, head-in-the-clouds, can’t-stop-smiling kind of love. She borrows from the sounds of the past to create something entirely new and exciting. If that doesn’t deserve the #1 spot, I don’t know what does.

So, there you have it. Julia’s top picks of the year. While I might have used the word “vibe” a lot, I’d like to think that I know good music when I hear it, and these are all worth a listen. Or, you know, about 5 million listens, if you’re anything like me.

Some honorable mentions include Troye Sivan’s “In A Dream,” Justin Bieber’s “Changes,” and The 1975’s “Notes On A Conditional Form.” While these didn’t quite make the list of 10, they were definitely the soundtrack to many Julia singalongs over these 12 months. Scratch that — 11 months, as we still haven’t seen what December has to offer musically. Exciting stuff.

As always, happy listening!