2020 - The Top 10 Songs

I must have typed out the beginning of this post a dozen times, trying to decide how to begin a recap of music for the year that was 2020. It feels necessary to mention how different and difficult this year has been, to acknowledge that. How it altered everything, but especially music - the way we consume it, view it, interact with it. Concerts were gone, removing a shared sense of community and that unique experience of seeing the artists we love live. Bands and musicians have struggled to adapt, being forced to completely alter the way that they approach their jobs.

Despite the darkness, however, there has been light. We've seen a number of albums come out, as artists have had more time than expected to write and record. It's lead to new sounds and ideas, and pushed bands and musicians to expand their capabilities. The fans have been able to interact with their favorite artists in more intimate settings, thanks to live streams and streaming services.

Besides, we got some really stellar music from bands this year. Some of it inspired by 2020, some not, but a number of great tracks graced our ears over the last 12 months. Without further ado, here are my top 10:

10. "Crooked Ways" - Motion City Soundtrack

• There's always an alternative rock song that catches my ear in a certain way that, despite writing a music blog for eight years, I have yet to find the proper words to explain. The song reminded me at first of "Drive" by The Cars, but it soon became its own, definitive sound. I have not kept up on Motion City Soundtrack since the late 2000's, but this song popped up in a weekly playlist on Spotify and I immediately knew I was hooked. I just went to look up some of the lyrics to include my favorites, and discovered that this song was originally written and submitted for the Twilight movie soundtrack. A younger me would have had some disdain for the song with that knowledge, but I have matured beyond that (okay, maybe a hint of disdain). That actually puts the lyrics into a much better perspective, as it's supposed to encapsulate Edward's feelings when meeting Bella. Did I expect my post to include Twilight? No. But hey, it's 2020 - this is the year of surprises.

9. "Eventful Horizons" - Anchor & Braille

• Anchor & Braille is a project I've greatly enjoyed since college, and I was very excited to see new music coming out. This song was one of the singles, and I immediately loved the sci-fi/space vibes. Setting a love song within this frame really gives it a feeling of being bigger than life, of pushing beyond the realms of the everyday into something galactic and universally defining. I also really enjoy that while the subject matter is a relationship, the instrumental and vocals don't give the normal indications of that. It's got an eerie feeling to it that most definitely does not bring love to mind. The play on expectations is an unusual move, but works out well in strengthening the song.

8. "12.38 (feat. 21 Savage, Ink, & Kadhja Bonet)" - Childish Gambino

• Childish Gambino is an artist I've continued to gain respect for over the years, and his latest album was no exception. The fourth track, titled by its start time, has a groove to it that caught my ear early on in my listens through the album. Gambino brings the listener into a story with his verse, playing both rolls of two lovers as they prepare for an evening together. I also thoroughly enjoyed 21 Savage's verse - his flow is catchy, and he has some excellent lines ("the police keep harassin' cause I'm rich and I'm black, They mad 'cause I made myself a boss without crack"). It's a bit of an odd song, but I think it's uniqueness is what really kept me listening again and again.

7. "BOP" - DaBaby

• I normally don't listen to songs like this a lot, but man did DaBaby really put out a hit with this song. If this year had gone differently, I could have easily seen this song being my most played song on Spotify (it was number two, behind a song further down this list). It's got a swagger that gets me going every single time, and the video is such a blast to watch (it features the Jabbawockeez, that's all I'll say). My favorite memory of this was hearing it play at the bar I was at for a friend's birthday the night before everything in LA shut down back in March. It felt like the last night of the world, and when the opening notes of this came over the loudspeakers, everyone in my friend group started yelling out the lyrics with such excitement. While a lot of DaBaby's songs sound very similar, this was the first of his that I heard and is going to be one I continue to listen to when the world reopens and we can all party it up again.

6. "Simmer" - Hayley Williams

• The first solo release from Hayley Williams started with this song, and boy was it an eye-opener. No pop-punk guitars or rock-driving drums, Williams stripped away layers upon layers to present a vulnerable side that the fans had never really seen before. "Simmer" was the first taste of that, and it took some acclimating to get used to. I could talk about about the instrumentation, or the shift in genres, or even the line that got a lot of buzz (it still gives me chills now). But I am very impressed with the way Williams put herself out there with this song, and the rest of the album, and I tip my hat to her efforts with this project.

5. "Step Up" - Linkin Park

• I didn't really know where to put this on the list, partially because it's technically not a new song and it's one I've been familiar with for many, many years. But with the 20th anniversary of Linkin Park's debut album, Hybrid Theory, they released a monster of an album full of rare tracks, b-sides, and live recordings. This song, from their Hybrid Theory EP, has always been a standout to me. It has some of Mike's best verses, and the instrumental switches between sparse verses and huge choruses. It amps me up every time I hear it, which was much needed in this year of more downs than ups.

4. "Texas Sun" - Khruangbin & Leon Bridges

• I LOVE LOVE LOVE Leon Bridges. His music is truely incredible, and I am always on the watch for his latest releases. So when I saw that he had done an EP with a band that I had never heard of, I had to check it out. I was most definitely not disappointed. The title track was the first I heard, and it has stayed as my favorite. It's laidback, with Khruangbin providing an instrumental that's both cool and intriguing while Leon lays down smooth and soulful vocals. As always. There's an obvious Southern feeling, but it doesn't alienate listeners - I've been driving many a times and felt like a scene out of a movie with this song playing in the background. Leon has a timeless voice, and this song is just another gem to add to his catalogue.

3. "*Equip Sunglasses*" - Hot Mulligan

• This was not a band I was familiar with before I discovered their second album, you'll be fine, which was released earlier this year. I saw this song, and decided to listen solely because of the song name and the band name. One thing I didn't expect from 2020 was getting into Magic the Gathering (let's not talk about how much i've spent on this game), and both names of the song and band referenced aspects of the game. I was surprised to find a sound that resembled the pop-punk I used to listen to in college, but didn't feel like something I would necessarily grow out of too quickly. I love the back and forth of the vocals, switching between moments of throaty screams and clean melodies. The energy of the song is stellar, and it quickly got me hooked on the rest of the album.

2. Woods - Mac Miller

• While I have been a big fan of Mac Miller in the past few years, I've been more of a casual fan than I realized - I didn't know he had recorded another album, "Circles" before his untimely passing. While "Complicated" and the title track were heavy favorites, "Woods" ultimately became the song I returned to again and again. It has a moodiness that resonated heavily this year, an almost alternative acoustic feeling that always gets me. The lyrics also were heavy, filled with moments that still make me mourn Miller's absence.

1. "¿ (feat. Halsey) - Bring Me The Horizon

• Even though this EP technically came out in 2019, it was so late in the year that I consider it part of 2020. While Bring Me The Horizon put out another EP just last month full of incredible songs, this was the song I loved the most from them this year. It was my most played song on Spotify, clocking in 45 spins (which honestly surprised me, I expected it to be a little higher). The whole EP was so different and unexpected, and the collaboration with Halsey was a perfect fit. It's got the edge of a rock song, but with beats and synths that give it the energy of a hip-hop record. Despite being excited to see BMTH return to some of their metal roots on their latest release, I absolutely loved their exploration into more electronic sounds, and am pleased that they are continuing to experiment and expand their sound.

Honorable Mentions:

El Rey Demonio - Mike Shinoda

• It's been really cool seeing how Mike shifted to doing livestreams this year, and the resulting three albums of mostly instrumental songs has shown just how versatile he is with songwriting. There were several songs I kept coming back to, but this one was my favorite. The combination of the brass section with the trap instrumental creates a cool vibe that I dig immensely. I've always enjoyed instrumentals for the freedom they allow the listener. They require less attentive listening, but reward those who listen closely. I've always enjoyed creating my own vocals for track like this - I did it a lot with Linkin Park demos from the Linkin Park Underground.

Kingslayer (feat. Babymetal) - Bring Me The Horizon

• The whole album/EP was a wild ride, and this song was the freefall from the peak of the rollercoaster into a series of loops and gravity-defying turns. The contrast of Oli Sykes' insane screams with the almost innocent-sounding vocals from Babymetal help create one of the best songs they've ever put out. The breakdowns are absolutely incredible, bringing to mind the early days of BMTH - it's one of the heaviest songs they've done in years. I can't get enough of it.

Can I - Kehlani

• I ended up checking out Kehlani's latest album just from all the buzz I had heard online, and was deeply impressed with the album. This song was one of the clear stand outs for me. I love the melody, which is was a little surprising to me given it's simple and repetitive nature. Combined with the beat, it creates a song that's both sexy and smooth.

2019 Mentions:

There were several songs from 2019 that I didn't discover until this year (apart from the two I included in my top 10) that I felt worthy of mentioning.

"Middle Child" - J. Cole

• J. Cole has been one of my favorite rappers for a few years now, and this is one of his best tracks that both allow him to flex his bars but also relate some really relevant and poignant ideas through the lyrics. Cole has done a great job of having fun while still reminding the listener that there's something to continue working towards. The concept of the song is fascinating as well - being in a position where you're looked up to, but also still looking up to others in your line of work.

"Mile High (feat. Travis Scott & Metro Boomin)" - James Blake

• James Blake is an artist I've only briefly dived into, and I was a bit bummed when I discovered how good his 2019 album, Assume Form, is. Happy to have found it when I did, but sad I missed out on more time that I could have been listening to it. "Mile High" has a moodiness that can fit both contemplative moods late at night or car rides with the windows down. Travis Scott's vocals fit exceptionally well, and Metro Boomin's production help is seemlessly blended with Blake's own work to create a meeting point where all three artists seem right at home.

RNP (feat. Anderson .Paak) - Cordae

• I was introduced to this song through the video, and was hooked immediately. The back and forth between Cordae and .Paak is flawless, and the beat is perfect for kicking it with friends and vibing out. You can't help but bob along as the track plays out.

2020 was a year to remember, if more for all the hardships, but this list reminds me that there were some bright spots. I'm glad they'll carry with me into a new year that is sure to be fraught with more difficulties, but also more things to look forward to.