While the impulse is to banish this year to the history books immediately… It is worth taking a moment and remembering that good things happened in 2020. LA erupted into joy when the Lakers won the NBA Championship, and the Dodgers finally won The World Series! And speaking of the world, we can’t discount the fact that the biggest cheering section by far spanned nations as countless hearts poured out in admiration for the health care workers who are working so hard to ease our collective pain.
So, thank goodness for all the stellar music in a year in which we really needed it.
And as our team of DJ’s began compiling this year’s KCRW’s Best Of 2020, we realized even more how much we were affected by the music and lyrics of these incredible artists. I heard music differently this year. Old songs sounded new and context changed everything.
Our Best Of Music 2020 list says a lot about everything that we’ve lived through in recent memory. From work built to further engage us in challenging conversations, to pure sonic euphoria, and everything in between. It is truly my honor to present you with KCRW’s Best Of Music, 2020 edition. — Anne Litt, KCRW Program Director of Music
Top 10 Albums – Top 15 Songs – Best New Artist – Best of Today's Top Tune – KCRW DJ Favorites
10 ALBUMS THAT SHINED IN A WTF YEAR
Intimate chamber pieces circle and spiral into majestic anthems. These albums found their way into our hearts and have permanently set up camp — so much so that we had no choice but to honor a tie at number 1.
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Sault - “Untitled (Rise)” and “Untitled (Black Is)”
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Fiona Apple - “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”
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Gabriel Garzón Montano - “Agüita”
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Run The Jewels - “RTJ4”
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Lianne La Havas - “Lianne La Havas”
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Mac Miller - “Circles”
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Tame Impala - “The Slow Rush”
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St. Panther - “These Days”
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Little Dragon - “New Me, Same Us”
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Peter CottonTale - “Catch”
Quick peek behind the curtain for you. Each KCRW DJ presented a list of the 10 Best Songs of the year. Out of all of them, these 15 came up the most often in equal numbers. So we present them here to you, alphabetically.
“Look Over Your Shoulder” - (Featuring Kendrick Lamar) - Busta Rhymes
“The Good Life” - Devon Gilfillian
“Brasil” - EOB
“Shameika” - Fiona Apple
“In Loving Memory” - Gabriels
“Love And Hate In A Different Time” - Gabriels
“SULA (Paperback)” - Jamila Woods
“Wolves” - Jensen McRae
“Remember Where You Are” - Jessie Ware
“Grey Skies” - Kate Bollinger
“Time (You and I)” - Khruangbin
“Good News” - Mac Miller
“Virile” - Moses Sumney
“Buenos Aires” - Nathy Peluso
“Real Magic” - Ricky Reed
YOU JUST COULDN’T GET ENOUGH OF THESE TOP TUNES
KCRW has shared and offered more than 250 free downloads as Today’s Top Tune this year and we are proud to spotlight the artists that YOU, our audience, have chosen as our collective top picks. Thank you for sharing your love of music (and good taste) with us. — Ariana Morgenstern, Curator, Today’s Top Tune.
“Stand With Each Other” - Nubya Garcia
“Shepherd Song” - Keleketla!
“Apart Together” - Tim Minchin
“Grey Skies” - Kate Bollinger
“Eso Que Tu Haces” - Lido Pimenta
“Look At Me Now” (Acoustic Version) - Emily King
“Power Is Taken” (Featuring D.H. Peligro) - Moby
“Saravá” - Seu Jorge & Rogê
“Turn Me Up” (Featuring Aloe Blacc) - José James
"Blue Comanche" - Westerman
Our intrepid DJs unearthed the best, most interesting gems the music world has to offer. Here are their picks of the year. Aaron Byrd – Anne Litt – Anthony Valadez – Chris Douridas – Dan Wilcox – Garth Trinidad – Jason Kramer – Jeremy Sole – John Moses – José Galván – Novena Carmel – Raul Campos – Scott Dallavo – Travis Holcombe – Valida
Songs
"Black 2" - Buddy
Albums
Favorite New Artist
Nané
Songs
"Brasil" - EOB
Angela Muñoz
THE YEAR’S BEST MUSIC PICKED BY OUR CRATE-DIGGING GENIUSES
"47.48" - Childish Gambino
"Angele Ni Fie" - Juls & Sango
"Miles" - Christelle Bofale
"Ooh LA LA" (featuring Greg Nice & DJ Premier) - Run the Jewels
"Blackbird" - Lady Blackbird
"Maan Mense" (Jota Karloza Remix) - DRUBON
"Remember Where You Are" - Jessie Ware
"Mecca" - Spillage Village, JID & EARTHGANG
"Young Man" - Alexander Mack
Lous and the Yakuza
Angela Muñoz
Jamael Dean
Lady Blackbird
"Love and Hate In A Different Time" - Gabriels
"Real Magic" - Ricky Reed
"Shameika" - Fiona Apple
"SULA (Paperback)" - Jamila Woods
"The Good Life" - Devon Gilfillian
"Wolves" - Jensen McRae
"Under Pressure" - Karen O & Willie Nelson
"Vanishing Twin" - Blake Mills
"Weird Fishes" - Lianne La Havas
"47.48" - Childish Gambino
“Shine” - Cleo Sol
“The End of the Affair” - Laura Marling
Albums
Favorite New Artist
Lady Blackbird
Songs
"Us (How Sweet It Was)" - Ricky Reed, Jim James & Duendita
"Comic Sans" - Okay Kaya
"Look Over Your Shoulder " (Featuring Kendrick Lamar) - Busta Rhymes
"Good News" - Mac Miller
"Buenos Aires" - Nathy Peluso
"A.P.I.D.T.A." - Jay Electronica
"I’m Amazing" - Omar Apollo
"Little Boy" - SAULT
"fue mejor" - Kali Uchis & PARTYNEXTDOOR
Albums
- Mac Miller - "Circles"
- Hanni El Khatib - "FLIGHT"
- Nathy Peluso - "Calambre"
- Gabriel Garzón-Montano - "Agüita"
- Omar Apollo - "Apolonio"
- St. Panther - "These Days"
- Jay Electronica - "A Written Testimony"
- Bad Bunny - "YHLQMDLG"
- Kali Uchis - "Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞ "
- Nick Hakim - "WILL THIS MAKE ME GOOD"
Favorite New Artist
St. Panther
Xinxin
Songs
"Shameika" - Fiona Apple
"Wolves" - Jensen McRae
"Dribble" - Sycco
"High Horse" - Early James
"Highway" - St. Panther
"i see america" - Joy Oladokun
"Things I Do" - Andy Shauf
Albums
- Andy Shauf - "The Neon Skyline"
- Burna Boy - "Twice as Tall"
- Early James - "Singing For My Supper"
- Fiona Apple - "Fetch The Bolt Cutters"
- Gregory Porter - "Revival"
- Joji - "Nectar"
- Keleketla! - "Keleketla!"
- Matthew Halsall - "Salute to the Sun"
- Peter CottonTale - "CATCH"
- Phoebe Bridgers - "Punisher"
- St. Panther - "These Days"
Songs
"Dreamers Change the World" - El Perro del Mar
"Time (You and I)" - Khruangbin
"Sacrifice" - Plants and Animals
"SULA (Paperback)" - Jamila Woods
"Virile" - Moses Sumney
"Music to Clean the House to" - Nick Leng
"I Worry Bout You" - Bombay Bicycle Club
"In Loving Memory" - Gabriels
"Home" - Caribou
"Don't Let Me Die In America" - of Montreal
Albums
- Fiona Apple - "Fetch The Bolt Cutters"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Black Is)"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Rise)"
- Fontaines D.C. - "A Hero's Death"
- Gabriel Garzón-Montano - "Agüita"
- Porridge Radio - "Every Bad"
- Run The Jewels - "RTJ4"
- Laura Marling - "Song For Our Daughter"
- Mac Miller - "Circles"
- Fleet Foxes - "Shore"
- Mamalarky - "Mamalarky"
Favorite New Artist
Lady Blackbird
Songs
"Grey Skies" - Kate Bollinger
"Better Than I Imagined" (Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello) - Robert Glasper
"Do You Ever" - James Blake
"See Me" - Emily King
"BIG MAN" (Featuring Shungudzo) - Captain Planet
"Vámono" - Buscabulla
"Bittersweet" - Lianne La Havas
"I Should Go" - James Vincent McMorrow & Kenny Beats
"Spitting Image" - Wye Oak
"If Love Is Overrated" - Gregory Porter
Albums
- Khruangbin - "Mordechai"
- Róisín Murphy - "Róisín Machine"
- Little Dragon - "New Me, Same Us"
- Jungle Fire - "Jungle Fire"
- Onipa - "We No Be Machine"
- Run The Jewels - "RTJ4"
- Chip Wickham - "Blue to Red"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Black Is)"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Rise)"
- Machinedrum - "A View of U"
- A Certain Ratio - "ACR Loco"
Albums
- The 1975 - "Notes On A Conditional Form"
- Fiona Apple - "Fetch The Bolt Cutters"
- Jack Garratt - "Love, Death & Dancing"
- Jean Dawson - "Pixel Bath"
- Jónsi - "Shiver"
- Lianne La Havas - "Lianne La Havas"
- Moses Sumney - "græ"
- Perfume Genius - "Set My Heart on Fire Immediately"
- Phoebe Bridgers - "Punisher"
- The Neighbourhood - "Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones"
Favorite New Artist
Jean Dawson
Songs
"Cut Me" - Moses Sumney
"Black Rabbit" - Prince Fatty & Shniece Mcmenamin
"Invisible People" - Chicano Batman
"FATHER FIGURE" (Featuring Royce Da 5'9" & Black Thought) - Tobe Nwigwe
"Bad News" - Aaron Frazer
"Grow Forever" - Lizette & Quevin
"Good News" - Mac Miller
"Give Us Justice" - Thee Sacred Souls
Albums
- Surprise Chef - "Daylight Savings"
- Gabriel Garzón-Montano - "Agüita"
- El Michels Affair - "Adult Themes"
- The Gaslamp Killer - "Heart Math"
- Tobe Nwigwe - "THE PANDEMIC PROJECT"
- Run The Jewels - "RTJ4"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Rise)"
- Mac Miller - "Circles"
- Lido Pimienta - "Miss Colombia"
- Son Little - "Aloha"
Songs
"Acid" - Jockstrap
"96 Neve Campbell" (Featuring Cam and China) - clipping.
"Porque " - Rheinzand
"Fast Learner" (Featuring Purple Tape Nate) - Shabazz Palaces
"Blinding Lights " - The Weeknd
"Rocketship " - 070 Shake
"Savage " - Megan Thee Stallion
"Violent Flowers " - Zoe Polanski
"Cool and Bendable " - Kalbells
"Freeze Tag" (Featuring Phoelix) - Terrace Martin,
Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder & Kamasi Washington
Albums
- Jaunt - "All In One"
- Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin - "FlySiifu’s"
- A. G. Cook - "7G"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Rise)"
- Vex Ruffin - "LiteAce Frequency"
- Very Nice Massage - "Based on the Data"
- Discovery Zone - "Remote Control"
- The Garden - "Kiss My Super Bowl Ring "
- Doctor Fluorescent - "Doctor Fluorescent "
- Whitmer Thomas - "Songs from the Golden One"
Favorite New Artist
070 Shake
Discovery Zone
Jaunt
Whitmer Thomas
Songs
"Always on my Mind" - Nané
"Cumbia del Monte Fuji" - Frente Cumbiero & Minyo Crusaders
"Apricots" - Bicep
"Si Te Portas Mal (Be Bad)" - Loyal Lobos
"Quema" - Sotomayor
"Asc. Scorpio" - Oracle Sisters
"Take Two (featuring Hollis)" - Chong The Nomad
"You Know It Ain’t" - SAULT
"Alexa!" - The Cool Greenhouse
Albums
- Lido Pimienta - "Miss Colombia"
- IDLES - "Ultra Mono"
- Angelica Garcia - "Cha Cha Palace"
- Chicano Batman - "Invisible People"
- Cut Worms - "Nobody Lives Here Anymore"
- Fontaines D.C. - "A Hero’s Death"
- Big Gigantic - "Free Your Mind"
- Omar Apollo - "Apolonio"
- Run The Jewels - "RTJ4"
- Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - "Temple"
Favorite New Artist
BIIANCO
Chong the Nomad
The Cool Greenhouse
Songs
"NTE" - Buscabulla
"Color my life" - Chicano Batman
"Why Don’t You" - Cleo Sol
"Heat Waves" - Glass Animals
"Leimert Day" - Katalyst
"Champion" - Liam Bailey
"Virile" - Moses Sumney
"Crash" - Nilüfer Yanya
"The Cure" - Oddisee
"Real Magic" - Ricky Reed
Albums
- Beverly Glenn-Copeland - "Transmissions: The Music of Beverly Glenn-Copeland"
- Gabriel Garzón-Montano - "Agüita"
- IDLES - "Ultra Mono"
- Lianne La Havas - "Lianne La Havas"
- Little Dragon - "New Me, Same Us"
- Liv.e - "Couldn’t Wait to Tell You..."
- Nick Hakim - "WILL THIS MAKE ME GOOD"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Black Is)"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Rise)"
- Wilma Archer - "A Western Circular"
Favorite New Artist
Liv.e
St. Panther
Songs
"Touch" - Big Wild
"Brasil" - EOB
"The Valley Of The Pagans" (Featuring Beck) - Gorillaz
"Hold On" - DRAMA
"Running Red Lights" (Featuring Rivers Cuomo & Pink Siifu) - The Avalanches
"Woods" - Mac Miller
"Texas Sun" - Khruangbin & Leon Bridges
"Weekends" - Classixx & Local Natives
"Desire" - Bob Moses & ZHU
"Eternal Summer" - The Strokes
Albums
- Tame Impala - "The Slow Rush"
- Natalia Lafourcade - "Un Canto por México, Vol. 1"
- Little Dragon - "New Me, Same Us"
- Khruangbin - "Mordechai"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Rise)"
- Moby - "All Visible Objects [Quarantine DJ Set]"
- Wajatta - "Don’t Let Get You Down"
- Future Islands - "As Long As You Are"
- Gabriel Garzón-Montano - "Agüita"
- Poolside - "Low Season"
Favorite New Artist
St. Panther
Songs
"The Good Life" - Devon Gilfillian
"The Higher Love" (Featuring Raashan Ahmad, Carolina Bubbico, Magnus Lindgren & Tommaso Cappellato) - Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella
"Feel Good" - Polo & Pan
"Washed in You" - Andrew Ashong & Kaidi Tatham
"Cheesin'" (Featuring Still Woozy, Claud, Melanie Faye & HXNS) - Cautious Clay, Remi Wolf & sophie meiers
"Air 공기 (Featuring Chaanill and Yella) - Blackdoe
"Time (You and I)" - Khruangbin
"Remember Where You Are" - Jessie Ware
"Buenos Aires" - Nathy Peluso
"Mulholland (featuring Sky)" - Hope Tala
Albums
- Luciano - "The Answer"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Black Is)"
SAULT - "Untitled (Rise)" - Hope Tala - "Girl Eats Sun"
- Devon Gilfillian - "Black Hole Rainbow"
- Peter CottonTale - "CATCH"
- St. Panther - "These Days"
- Buscabulla - "Regresa"
- Wajatta - "Don't Let Get You Down"
- Mr. President - "One Night"
- Ego Ella May - "Honey For Wounds"
Favorite New Artist
Angela Muñoz
Devon Gilfillian
Lady Blackbird
St. Panther
Songs
"In Loving Memory" - Gabriels
"The Wall & I" - Nation Of Language
"Kane Train" (Featuring Freddie Gibbs) - Machinedrum
"Second Life" (Featuring John FM) - Omar S
"Love And Hate In A Different Time" - Gabriels
"Primavera" - Páula, Povoa & Jerge
"Cumbia Del Pichamán" - Meridian Brothers
"Never Let Me Go" - Cindy
"Look Over Your Shoulder " (Featuring Kendrick Lamar)
- Busta Rhymes
"Potions" - Day Wave
Albums
- Nation of Language - "Introduction, Presence"
- Fiona Apple - "Fetch The Bolt Cutters"
- Alexandra Savior - "The Archer"
- 070 Shake - "Modus Vivendi"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Rise)"
- Childish Gambino - "3.15.20"
- Tame Impala - "The Slow Rush"
- Girls of the Internet - "Girls FM"
- Popcaan - "FIXTAPE"
- Liv.e - "Couldn’t Wait to Tell You..."
Favorite New Artist
Gabriels
Liv.e
Nation of Language
Sirens of Lesbos
Songs
"Grey Skies" - Kate Bollinger
"Come Over" (Featuring Popcaan) - Jorja Smith
"Don’t Turn Around" - Biig Piig
"Free" - SAULT
"Freeway" - Daniel Blake
"Head Down" - Ambar Lucid
"How Many Miles" - Sirens of Lesbos
"Lucky Sue" - Men I Trust
"Paraíso" - Monogem
"SUNRISE" (Featuring Arlo Parks) - MICHELLE
Albums
- Tame Impala - "The Slow Rush"
- Sirens of Lesbos - "Sol"
- SAULT - "Untitled (Rise)"
- Moodymann - "Taken Away"
- Kate Bollinger - "A word becomes a sound"
- Kllo - "Maybe We Could"
- Benny Yurco - "You Are My Dreams"
- Wholesome Fun - "Sunset Boulevard"
- The Growth Eternal - "Bass Tone Paintings"
- Lianne La Havas - "Lianne La Havas"
Favorite New Artist
Ambar Lucid
SAULT
Sirens of Lesbos