Northern Transmissions Best Albums of 2020

Musically, Ultra Mono is as tight, ballistic, and in your face as IDLES have ever been ... Lyrically, Ultra Mono is louder – and prouder – than the band have ever been.

A Hero’s Death is a moodier, broodier pivot from their blustering 2019 debut, Dogrel. The band know the change might turn away some fans, and they’re okay with it; they’re okay being the hero in “A Hero’s Death.”

Despite the few moments where Bejar lulls the listener into an apathy paralysis, Have We Met is one of the strongest albums in Destroyer’s fruitful career.

Heaven To a Tortured Mind is as intoxicating, exhilarating, daring, and adventurous as fans have come to expect of Yves Tumor.

It’s a lovely collection of songs that should only enhance Allison’s standing as one of the premier talents of her generation, female or otherwise.

As surprising as the release of the record is, possibly more surprising will be seeing folklore become the record that turns a whole generation of dismissers into actual fans.

It’s exceedingly rare that a band’s third album is anything but fodder to keep the brand going, but Haim have exceeded expectations with Women In Music Pt. III. The record is a beautiful account of what it is to be young and sensitive in the world today.

On The New Abnormal, the Strokes sound more in sync than almost ever.

The entirety of Neon Skyline is so emotionally direct and engaging that the spoils are best left to discover on your own.

Despite its maximalist guitar texturing and extra-epic song lengths (half of its tracks sit above eight minutes), Inlet hardly wears out its welcome.

It’s easy and accurate to call Margolin a strong songwriter and performer. But what makes Every Bad special is the way in which it all sounds so familiar, like other bands and songs, but, as your ear tries to pin things down, ultimately like nothing else.

Shore is a bright, beguiling and hopeful statement that reflects on what has come before, where we find ourselves and leaves us anticipating the coming changing of the season in the most encouraging way possible.

Ugly yet beautiful ‘Atlas Vending’ just illustrates how METZ are the masters of their craft.

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately is attentively and intelligently constructed. At the same time, the album doesn’t feel overthought or overly intricate. It’s Hadreas’ personal, idiosyncratic take on pop music, but it’s also one that’s easy to appreciate.

Muzz may be saddled under the supergroup denomination but their genuine care to the craft of this record should hopefully allow them to have listeners treat this as its own thing; a beautifully made album from three very talented artists.

The entirety of the album is transportive. Even through the fragility of the songs and performance, it feels as if Lenker physically grabs you and places you directly in front of herself, singing these songs in a cabin in the woods.

It’s a staggering artistic statement, one that doesn’t come along often, straight from her head and into all of our hearts.

Punisher is a rare album. One that has been anxiously anticipated and also fulfills expectations on every level. There’s an understated charge that elevates every single moment in Bridger’s songs to the point where they are almost excruciatingly relatable.