50 just wasn’t a big enough number to contain all the music that deserved serious attention and acclaim at the end of this interminable year. It’s a nice, round number and makes for a substantial but not overwhelming list. But I think 100 is also a nice, round number, so here we are: 50 more albums that absolutely deserve a close listen in 2020 and beyond. Please excuse the awkward title.

I’ve already gone over why this year was particularly hard for me – beyond the pandemic – in the 50 best albums of 2020 post, so I’ll just keep it brief now: I heard a LOT of music this year, as always, and I fell in love with so much of it. So many artists made a positive impact on my headspace, my disposition, my life during this trying year. This music helped me keep my head above water, helped me center myself and find little moments of grace to take a breath, step back, and start again. These albums were the soundtrack to my days, working at home, raising my son, navigating the world with a mask on and sanitizer in my pocket, six-plus feet from everyone else at all times. They filled my home while I helped homeschool my son, focused on repairs and cleanup and all sorts of things I suddenly had more time for, with nowhere to go and no friends to see for the majority of the time. They were there with me in the dark nights alone while everyone else slept, trying not to let the despair inside. This music is all meaningful and powerful and deserves to be heard by as many people as possible.

(I’ll be adding blurbs for each of these as the holidays go on, but for now I just wanted to get it out there so everyone can check out this music while they’ve hopefully got a little free time. Just picture me like this by the end)

I hope you find joy in here just as I have.

•  •  •

Ulla – Tumbling Towards a Wall

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Bergsonist – Middle Ouest

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

K Henry Dunham – Sol Evocations

Listen and buy through Soundcloud.

•  •  •

The Necks – Three

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Shabazz Palaces – The Don of Diamonds

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Roedelius – Wahre Liebe

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Midori Hirano – Invisible Island

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Soela – Genuine Silk

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Andrea – Ritorno

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Jo Johnson – Knowledge of the Possible

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Jose Orozco Mora – Formas Aparentes

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Bufiman – Albumsi

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Okkyung Lee – Yeo-Neun

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Patricia Kokett – Bizarr

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Elysia Crampton – Orcorara 2010

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Frederik Valentin & Loke Rahbek – Elephant

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Jay Glass Dubs – Soma

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Sign Libra – Sea to Sea

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Linkwood & Foat – Linkwood & Foat

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

dgoHn – Undesignated Proximate

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Hodge – Shadows in Blue

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Tengger – Nomad

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Nazar – Guerilla

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

Nihiloxica – Kaloli

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

TALsounds – Acquiesce

Listen and buy on Bandcamp.

•  •  •

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