MusicListsAreUs: Best Albums of the 2020s (so far)

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Last updated: Wednesday August 21st, 2024
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Best Albums of the 2020s

2029

2028

2027

2026

2025

2024

A Dream is All We Know by The Lemon Twigs

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again by The Decemberists

Visions by Norah Jones

Loss of Life by MGMT

Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves

Daniel by Real Estate

A Matter of Time by Shed Seven

One Deep River by Mark Knopfler

Receive Its Beauty, Acknowledge It's Grace by Shabaka

Be Right Here by Blackberry Smoke

Underdressed at the Symphony by Faye Webster

Liam Gallagher/John Squire by Liam Gallagher and John Squire

JPEG Raw by Gary Clark Jr.

Blu Wav by Grandaddy

Under the Light by San Cisco

Lovegaze by Nailah Hunter

El Viejo by Corb Lund

The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis by The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis

Blue Raspberry by Katy Kirby

The Way In by Mike Downes

Djesse 4 by Jacob Collier

Prelude to Ecstasy by The Last Dinner Party

Plunge by Sam Evian

American Primitive by the Old 97s

2023

Everything Harmony by The Lemon Twigs

Proof of Life by Joy Oladokun

Nothing Lasts Forever by Teenage Fanclub

Fine Tune by Terrace Martin

The Returner by Allison Russell

Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart by Lucinda Williams

Late Developers by Belle and Sebastian

Owl Song by Ambrose Akinmusire

Anarchist Gospel by Sunny War

The Record by Boygenius

What Matters Most by Ben Folds

I've Loved You for So Long by The Aces

Enigmatic Society by The Dinner Party

Folkocracy by Rufus Wainwright

Forever Means (EP) by Angel Olsen

Continue as a Guest by the New Pornographers

Alive at the Village Vanguard by Fred Hersch and Esperanza Spalding

I Don't Know a Thing About Love by Willie Nelson

Black Classical Music by Yussef Dayes

Spectra by Jenny O.

Wide Open Light by Ben Harper

You're the One by Rhiannon Giddens

Phone Orphans by Laura Veirs

Curly by Terrace Martin

Juliana Hatfield Sings E.L.O. by Juliana Hatfield

Little Bit of Sun by Semisonic

The Omnichord Real Book by Meshell Ndegeocello

Sweet Western Sound by Tanya Tucker

Melusine by Cecile McLoren Salvant

Salvage Enterprise by the Polyphonic Spree

Messy by Olivia Dean

World Music Radio by Jon Batiste

Joy'all by Jenny Lewis

Our Best Place by Shonen Knife

Carolyn's Boy by Darius Rucker

Norm by Andy Shauf

My Soft Machine by Arlo Parks

How Love Begins by Nicole Zuraitis

Hackney Diamonds by The Rolling Stones

Nova by Terrace Martin and James Fauntleroy

Shadow Kingdom by Bob Dylan

Angels and Queens by Gabriels

Shelter by Alice Phoebe Lou

2022

Moss by Maya Hawke

Lifted by Trombone Shorty

In the Canyon Haze by Brandi Carlile

Steady by Sloan

Big Time by Angel Olsen

Bloodline Maintenance by Ben Harper

SZNS: "Summer" (ep) by Weezer

Moacir de Todos os Santos by Letieres Leite and Orkestra Rumpilezz

A Beautiful Time by Willie Nelson

Home, Before and After by Regina Spektor

Unlimited Love by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Mahal by Toro y Moi

SZNS: "Autumn" (ep) by Weezer (though I don't like track 6)

Just Like That by Bonnie Raitt

Colder Streams by The Sadies

SZNS: "Spring" (ep) by Weezer (I always skip track 1, it's a terrible ear-worm, and my least favorite track anyway)

Emotional Creature by Beach Bunny

SZNS: "Winter" (ep) by Weezer (track 1 is a must-skip for me on this one, too)

Carry Me Home by Mavis Staples and Levon Helm

Cruel Country by Wilco

Expert in a Dying Field by The Beths

Backhand Deals by Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard

Linger Awhile by Samara Joy

Mercy by Trey Anastacio

Blue Rev by Alvvays

The Trouble with Fever by Michelle Branch

2021

Ok Human by Weezer

In Defense of My Own Happiness (Complete) by Joy Oladokun

Native Sons by Los Lobos

I Know I'm Funny haha by Faye Webster

Stand For Myself by Yola

In These Silent Days by Brandi Carlile

Mother Nature by Angelique Kidjo

Endless Arcade by Teenage Fanclub

outside Child by Allison Russell

If Words Were Flowers by Curtis Harding

Cooler Returns by Kiwi Jr.

They're Calling Me Home by Rhiannon Giddens

Catspaw by Matthew Sweet

Songwrites Apothecary Lab by Esperanza Spalding

Into the Blue by The Joy Formidable

We Are by Jon Batiste

That's Life by Willie Nelson

Obviously by Lake Street Dive

Cory and the Wongnotes by Cory Wong

Consequences by Joan Armatrading

Pebblehouse, vol.1 by Ben&Ben

2020

Holy Smokes Future Jokes by Blitzen Trapper

Unfollow the Rules by Rufus Wainwright

Aloha by Son Little

American Head by Flaming Lips

Look Long by Indigo Girls

Honeymoon by Beach Bunny

You Make Me Feel by Don Bryant

On Sunset by Paul Weller

It Is What It Is by Thundercat

XOXO by The Jayhawks

Devastator by Phantom Planet

Acoustic by Oumou Sangare

Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan

Jump Rope Gazers by The Beths

Tailwinds by Fearless Flyer

Always Tomorrow by Best Coast

Pick Me Up Off the Ground by Norah Jones

Twelfth by Old 97s

Winter is for Lovers (instrumental) by Ben Harper

The Striped Album by Cory Wong

19 Comments

Level 68

Jan 15, 2023

I’m obsessed with Blue Rev, and Expert in a Dying Field. They’re so good!

Level 68

Jan 15, 2023

2020:

-Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

-Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters

-Madeline Kenney - Sucker’s Lunch (this one’s super underrated!)

-Taylor Swift - Folklore & Evermore (Taylor’s storytelling on these are actually really good.)

-HAIM - Women in Music Part III

2021

-Magdalena Bay - Mercurial World (This one is an incredibly layered synthpop album!)

-Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams

-Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee

I also loved Madeline Kenney’s Summer Quarter EP, which is only four songs but they’re great.

2022

-Alvvays - Blue Rev

-The Beths - Expert in a Dying Field

-Weyes Blood - In the Darkness, Hearts Aglow

-The 1975 - Being Funny in a Foreign Language

(I don’t exactly keep up with all new releases, but I’m slowly discovering new music and these are albums I’m really liking. My tastes lean pop and indie rock.)

Level 62

Jan 15, 2023

Thank you so much for the kind response. We do have some overlap in our interests and I intend to check out items in your list (as I hope you do with my list). Keeping up with the new music is almost a full time job now especially since there is so much music these days (with all the indie releases). Also, I feel like so much current music doesn't resonate with me anymore, I guess I'm getting old and set in my ways.

Level 74

Jan 16, 2023

Great list. Going to have to check out more of these. My top three so far are:

- I Am the Moon - Tedeschi Trucks Band

- five seconds flat - Lizzy McAlpine

- Faster - Samantha Fish

Level 62

Jan 16, 2023

I'm not up to date on all of those artists' latest recordings. I appreciate the recommendations and I thank you for your kind words.

Level 78

Jan 16, 2023

Only heard of a few of these, being 60 I tend to listen to music from pre 2000, but I really should try out some newer stuff.

Is there any you could recommend on this list, my tastes are pretty eclectic but I usually listen to country and rock, or even a combination of the two. If I like something I'll listen to it, if you know what I mean.

Level 62

Jan 16, 2023

I am 57 so we're not so different. As far as newer artists I'd recommend Angel Olsen and The Sadies. But you'd probably like some of the older artists as much or more. Old 97's is a great band I suspect you'd love if you don't already. You are most likely already aware of other bands and singers that have been around a while from my list, but if not, check out The Jayhawks, Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, Wilco, Sloan, Weezer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Indigo Girls. Just because they've been around doesn't mean they aren't still putting out excellent work today.

Level 78

Jan 19, 2023

Thanks for the recommendations, yes I have heard of some of them, Red Hot Chilis is the obvious one, along with Weezer, Ms Raitt and Los Lobos. I will certainly be checking out the others.

Thanks again, and glad I'm not the only non-teenager on JetPunk !

Level 62

Apr 30, 2024

Since we last communicated I have discovered a few more newer artists (or older artists with newer recordings) that I think may interest you. The Lemon Twigs, Joy Oladokun, Lucinda Williams, Boygenius, Ben Harper, Tanya Tucker and Liam Gallagher/John Squire (a collab between them). These artists all have works from 2023 or 2024 that are worth checking out.

Level 74

Jan 19, 2023

You should check out Out of Body by NEEDTOBREATHE, a 2020 album and its already my favorite album of all time

Level 62

Jan 19, 2023

I'll do it right now

Level 62

Feb 18, 2023

Ok, that is really good. Thanks

Level 68

Apr 29, 2024

My favorite albums of the year so far are from Faye Webster, Waxahatchee, Vampire Weekend, and Adrianne Lenker!

Level 62

Apr 30, 2024

Thanks, Lenker wasn't on my radar yet; I have been intending to check out the other three soon.

Level 62

May 18, 2024

Yeah, Faye Webster is on my list now

Level 68

Jun 21, 2024

Lol sounds about right! Though, it’s UNDERDRESSED not UNDRESSED - probably a good distinction😭

Level 62

Jun 21, 2024

Thanks for catching that.

Level 68

Jun 21, 2024

also, it might not be up your alley but have you heard Charli XCX’s new album Brat?

Level 62

Jun 23, 2024

There are 3 songs I really liked (I Might Say Something Stupid, So I, and 360), about 3 I really disliked and the rest was okay. I doubt this would ever make my favorite albums but it might get into my favorite songs.