...and we're back. Hello Christopher. I should probably change my name because rock is no longer my favorite genre, but PopPaperCity makes little sense, but that's not important. Even thought I still kept in touch with the music landscape, 2020 was the first time in a long time where I made it my goal to listen to at least 100 albums in a year. That might sound basic, but I did lose my desire to seek out newer music. I no longer download music (thank god), but I use streaming services like a normal person. With the pandemic in full effect, I didn't have many opportunity to go on long drives or go to the gym. I consumed most of my music this year in my room. It's going to be interesting when they make movies about the pandemic era, just to see what kind of music they will use. But here, in my little bubble, these are the 25 albums that I keep coming back to.
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Honorable mention:
Red Velvet - The ReVe Festival: Finale (2019)
By the end of 2019, I was very familiar with the title tracks of the big 3 companies, but "Zimzalabim" really turned me off and I thought "Umpah Umpah" was good, but safe. I knew I wanted to listen to at least 100 albums this year, so when January rolled around, I kept going back to "Psycho," which led to the next song and the next song, and since the tracklist was in reverse order of the EP, I was revisiting songs that I somehow glossed over. How did I miss out on "Ladies Night" or "Sunny Side Up!"? Maybe because I technically heard these songs already, I was using my semantic memories to recall them, still, I know it's a compilation, but this album has so many good songs and it really helped unlocked some barriers I had towards the kpop scene.
Favorite song: Psycho
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25. Lady Gaga - Chromatica
I was a little monster back when The Fame Monster came out, but nothing she has done since has been able to match that album, but I think this is her most uniformly cohesive album to date. I can understand if someone were to describe it as one dimensional, but I can listen to it straight through like its one long dance mix. It's dumb and fun.
Favorite Song: Free Woman
24. Polo G - The Goat
I literally was searching twitter for new music and someone tweeted that this was the album of the year, and I know rap music is not my forte, but geez, the music itself is pretty bare, and then his lyrics are pretty reflective, like he has seen some fucked up shit. I will admit that there are some tracks that feel like your "typical" rap music, so time will tell how well this will age, but for my 2020, this album opened my ears to the more emo rap people are doing these days.
Favorite Song: No Matter What
23. I Love Your Lifestyle - No Driver
This album is a blast. I'll occasionally find an album that is heavily influenced by emo bands that I heard of, and I'll just cruise around while listening to them. I love that they quoted Taylor Swift's "I'm not asleep, my mind is still alive." It's an easy album that feels breezy and I like having it in the background while I explore whatever video game world I may be playing.
Favorite Song: Shilly-Shally
22. Porridge Radio - Every Bad
thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy thank you for making me happy
Favorite Song: Born Confused
21. Yaeji - What We Drew
I'm glad I gave this a second chance because my first few listening experience were filled with "what the heck is this bullshit?" but with patience, I learned to really adore her voice and yes, there's melodies and words and guest spots from rappers, but I just enjoy the vibe this entire album has because at times, the noise is buzzy and I like the way it feels.
Favorite Song: What We Drew
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20. Monsta X - All About Luv
This album is so inoffensive and I can't stop coming back to it. I was curious what a kpop album would sound like in English, and it's disappointing that there isn't that signature sound that boy groups tend to have, but for what it is, this album is the most pure, romantic, overgeneralized love album I ever heard. I was never a backstreet boys or nsync fan, but the team who made this album delivered an album from that era. I can't lie to myself, the melodies on this album are so cute, and I shouldn't make fun of their English, but some of their line deliveries are so cheesy, it even makes me blush.
Favorite Song: Middle of the Night
19. Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Seems like everyone has this on their list or they aren't valid. I liked Extraordinary Machine and The Idler Wheel [...] just fine, but this album sounds very Fiona Apple, but less appealing than her past records and I would say more cathartic due to her use of percussion and chants. It's not something I would choose to listen to, but when I do, I understand how good it is.
Favorite Song: Under The Table
18. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher
I felt like the critics got it wrong on "Stranger in the Alps" and this is their way of course correcting. Punisher is fine and it certainly feels more alive than her debut, but some of the songs' chorus is just her singing and I found it lacked something. Still, I love all the verses here and "This is the End" is the best "Sufjan Stevens" sounding song in a while.
Favorite Song: Chinese Satellite
17. Charli XCX - how i'm feeling now
The quarantine album. I wasn't sure why I didn't connect with "Charli" as much, but this album felt more like "Pop 2" where the music felt the right kind of glitchy. When she released "Forever," I thought it would be a song of the year contender, but the album has so much more catchy stuff. I love "party 4 u" and "c2.0," like it still feels electropop, but not the happy kind. There's a sense of loneliness with how she sings and the way she sounds (auto-tune).
Favorite Song: c2.0
16. Blu & Exile - Miles
This album is a lot, 95 minutes. Truthfully, it's a lot to take in and I would have given up on it on any other year, but I slowly chipped away at it. I mostly enjoy his flow and the beats take me back to your standard conscious hip hop. But i get the feeling that these two arent looking for fame because these songs are unnecessarily long, but I love how specific the lyrics are, like his love for "Wild Wild West," not eating meat, and this one song where he name drops a bunch of famous people that died. I obviously don't have the same life experience as them, but I like viewing the world from another person's perspective.
Favorite Song: The Feeling
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15. Told Slant - Point The Flashlight and Walk
This album feels like it was a time relic of mid 2000s indie rock and I love it. There's a lot of banjo and soft singing and this might be recency bias, but at the moment, i just liked the way it sounded.
Favorite Song: Family Still
14. Oh My Girl - Nonstop
YouTube kept recommending "Nonstop" and I thought it was ridiculously catchy, but the singing style on "Dolphin" just drove me nuts. The last 2 songs are catchy in their own right, with "Flower Tea" being the only speed bump. Keep in mind, I only started paying attention to kpop this year, so hearing an album that is more than just its title track was a game changer. I think this EP is very accessible to non kpop listeners.
Favorite Song: Dolphin
13. Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure
I'm so happy for her because I was a big fan of her first two albums and I just figured the 3rd album was her running out of ideas, but man, this album is sexy. This album is groovy. This album makes me want to fuck. But really now, I'm not a social person, dancing isn't my thing, but I love dance music you can listen to at home.
Favorite Song: Ooh La La
12. The Beths - Jump Rope Gazers
During the period where I stopped looking for new music, the ones that captured my attention immediately are the female fronted indie rock bands. There's nothing on this album that is revolutionary, but they fill in that niche for me where the guitars are crunchy and the lyrics are easy to memorized. Compared to their debut, there are a few slow ballads on here that really hit home for me and that's why I keep coming back.
Favorite Song: Do You Want Me Now
11. Beach Bunny - Honeymoon
I was really upset when this album ended because I didn't know it was just 25 minutes. She reminds me of the girl from Alvvays, but I somehow never got into that band. I didn't think I would be into Beach Bunny either since "Prom Date" did nothing for me, but as I let the album play out and got to "Rearview," I was like, "holy shit." I'm not a teenager, but her lyrics just captures that magic of being young and dumb and overthinking everything.
Favorite Song: Ms. California
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10. Frances Quinlan - Likewise
By the end of the 2010s, I had established in my head that Hop Along were in my top 5 favorite bands, and so I was really looking forward to this one. It's very good, I just wish it were longer. I didn't care much for the cover song, but of the 8 originals, it's like she doesn't need her band. I know her voice is not for everyone, but her raspy voice is an acquired taste and I never get tired of her sing because I keep expecting her voice to crack, but it never does.
Favorite Song: A Secret
09. Twice - Eyes Wide Open
These 9 girls changed my life. I was a big fan of their song, "What is Love?", and I became familiar with all their title tracks by the end of 2019, but in late April, I kept seeing updates about a youtube documentary, Seize The Light, which led me to watch a lot of their content like Time to Twice, Sixteen, and various variety show appearances. Normally, I let the music speak for itself, but I think I'm too invested in these girls because they have such a strong bond with one another, it makes me want to root for them. By the time Eyes Wide Open came out, there had already been a few 80s inspired kpop songs. Still, I don't want to think too deep, these songs are fun, yet you can feel that the music has grown up too. Songs like "Queen" and "Go Hard" are such a powerful runway anthem.
Favorite Song: Go Hard
08. Weeekly - We Are/We Can
As soon as I saw Jiyoon holding that Tuba, I just knew they were going to be fun. But I kept my distance and when I got around to listening to their debut, that 43 second intro song made me want more. And then "Hello" had to be ridiculously catchy. Their 2nd ep basically sealed the deal that they were here to stay. Most of the kpop groups I follow already have established fanbases so there's also an excitement I have towards Weeekly because they have so much potential and I want to see them grow in popularity.
Favorite Song: Hello
07. Fleet Foxes - Shore
I loved their first two albums, not so much their 3rd, so when this album came out, I was expecting it to sound like your standard indie folk record and I wasn't going to like it because it wasn't what I look for anymore, but I ended up loving it. There's 15 songs here and I will admit, I haven't really processed the lyrics, but I just love they go all Beach Boys on us. At the same time, songs like "I'm Not My Season" are so minimum, the melody lingers in my head days later.
Favorite Song: For A Week Or Two
06. Laura Marling - Song For Our Daughter
I was a huge fan of her debut, and I tried to keep up with her, but she leaned less pop and more folk to the point where she just became another indie folk girl with a guitar. I mostly gave this a listen because it was my resolution to listen to at least 100 albums. It's interesting how this is a conceptual album based on her hypothetical daughter. The guitar playing is on point, and I understand there are so many people that is doing what she's doing, but this album just resonates with me.
Favorite Song: Only The Strong
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05. Dreamcatcher - Dystopia: The Tree of Language
Once I got over the babymetal comparison, I feel like this album was lighting in a bottle. I tried listening to their other stuff and it hasn't clicked with me, but this album, every song is distinct. Every song has a hook, and I feel like they complement each other well. Tension pairs with Full Moon, Jazz Bar makes Daybreak better. and I understand why Scream was the title track, but In The Frozen is so epic. Also, their rapper has such a cool voice.
Favorite Song: Red Sun
04. Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud
I've been following her progression since her debut and as much as I loved Cerulean Salt for it's intimacy and low-key catchiness, this album isn't much of a departure and the Americana style fits her southern voice. I go back and forth between this and Cerulean Salt, but in the end, her music just grows on me the more I give it a listen. Like her music isn't that impressive, but the way she sings, she creates melodies with her words, I just find them enjoyable.
Favorite Song: The Eye
03. Haim - Women in Music Pt. III
I loved Days Are Gone, and Something to Tell You was fine. In the lead up to this album, I thought all of the prerelease singles were fine. But the actual album blows everything they've done out of the water. Yes, they still sorta sound like Wilson Phillips, but their harmonizing and melodies are so good, it still feels bright and catchy, and there's enough curveballs that make the album not feel repetitive.
Favorite Song: Don't Wanna
02. Iz*One - Bloom*Iz
12 girls become one, 12*one, Iz*one. It's interesting because I gave this album a listen because it was February and I had a goal of listening to 100 albums this year and on first listen, from "Ayayaya" to "You & I," I thought it was pop perfection, but I didn't think much of it. I liked the sugary sound of it and it was enjoyable, but it didn't mean anything. So I moved on. But during the summer, I stumble on a video where Yuri was giving feedback to her members on how to sing "Someday" and that enticed me to watch Produce 48, and I eventually learned all the girls' names as well as understanding the whole IZONE PERMANENT spam on YouTube comments.
In the end, this album is awesome because it's in your face catchy, but it also taught me the word "hamkke" which means "together." "Destiny" was a song that made me feel like I was flying and the way that song climax felt like such a release. I also kept going back to "So Curious" because it almost sounds illegal for how cute it is. they also done performances for Ayayaya and spaceship so i would just watch those and be mesmerized. I don't think this album is perfect, (sorry Pink Blusher), but it has been my default album for most of 2020. I use to have such a barrier for kpop, but certain things needed to happen to me to unlock those barriers, and I know they'll be albums on my list that I won't bring into the new year, but I feel that Bloom*Iz is something I'll continue to listen to in years to come.
Favorite Song: Dreamlike
01. Taylor Swift - folklore/evermore
I discovered The National in 2007 and I started becoming a fan of Taylor Swift in 2008. Music comes and goes, but in terms of quantity, these two artist have taken up the most space in my library. Occasionally Taylor would make a playlist and she'll show love to The National, but I don't think anyone would have known that The National were some of Taylor's musical heroes. So when the announcement was made, I knew this album couldn't be bad. Even the worst tracks from The National, I guess you can say I tolerated it. Even thought I considered Taylor to be my number 2, I never felt she made a perfect album. There were always tracks that were clearly marketed for radio. I also felt like she wasn't the most original and tended to make songs that were trendy. Based on interviews, I knew The National operated by making instrumental sketches and Matt would write lyrics on whichever instrumental connected with him.
And so, I just wanted that for Taylor, and that's exactly what we got for Folklore. Aaron loves to fingerpick the guitar and there's so much of that shit, but lyrically, Taylor Swift proves that she is one of our generations greatest songwriters. I never cared about who the songs were about, I just love how specific she can go while the feelings we get are universal. How the heck did she write a full biography about the person who used to live in her house? How did she write a trilogy of a love triangle and the listener can sympathized with all three perspectives? Is Mad Woman about Daenerys? Is My Tears Ricochet about her old record label? Who cares, those songs make me feel.
I've long considered Fearless to be my favorite Taylor Swift album because it was lyrically dense and it transported me to a place that I didn't know, but could apply to my life. With folklore, the stories are fictional, but she somehow is able to capture those universal feelings that everyone can relate to. Like, I obviously don't know what's it like to say no to a marriage proposal, but I can definitely relate to the line "sometimes you don't know the answer til someone's on their knees and asks you." and its stuff like that where I keep finding things to hit me. On first listen, I probably would have said this album was an 8, but with the addition of evermore, I'm just happy that Taylor can tell stories without it having it be a tabloid bait. Despite her being famous and a main pop girl act, I've always saw her as a songwriter first. And so, this is the album I always wanted Taylor to make, a singer-songwriter album.
Favorite Song: Mirrorball
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