2020 did not stop music in the world

Not everything was terrible for music in the year that will go down in history as its black beast in terms of business figures and paralysis of live activity, as the record harvest was unbeatable, with great artists who once again did what they did best. they know how to make and great albums that were born from the world closure.

“FOLKLORE” (Universal), by Taylor Swift: The American singer-songwriter left colorful productions for a more sober “art-folk” style that bridges with figures from the alternative world like Bon Iver to illuminate beauties like “Exile”. And he still had time to record a second part … “Evermore”.

“LETTER TO YOU” (Sony), de Bruce Springsteen: The shadow of death led the “Boss” to write an album that, paradoxically, is “a celebration of music, rock and roll and the experience of being part of a band”, all the more reason to record it with the E -Street Band six years after their last joint work and to recover a magic close to “Born In The USA” (1984).

“AFTER HOURS” (Universal), de The Weeknd: Inexplicably missed for the 2020 Grammys, the Canadian signs his best album with a darker and more melancholic spirituality and an r & b sound with eighties and electronic arrangements, especially with “Blinding Lights.”

“FUTURE NOSTALGIA” (Warner), by Dua Lipa: In the most raw of the confinement, only one album made the world dance with his nod to disco music, a style on which Kylie Minogue also made a great album. Between them, he wins this job of just over half an hour that has been the great contagious singles mine of the year, from “Don’t Start Now” to “Physical” through “Levitating” and “Break My Heart”.

“CHROMATICA” (Universal), by Lady Gaga: The pop diva returned to her origins embracing the “techno” of the 90s in the background and accompanied by Ariana Grande (“Rain On Me”), Elton John (“Sine From Above”) and BLACKPINK (“Sour Candy”).

“ROUGH AND ROWDY WAYS” (Sony), de Bob Dylan: Triumphal return after 8 years without an album of unreleased songs, ten tracks this time to reflect on life and death, to highlight its closing with the 17 minutes of “Murder Most Foul”, on US history in the 20th century.

“THE SLOW RUSH” (Caroline Records), de Tame Impala: The latest from Australian Kevin Parker is showy from the cover, a work that was about to be burned in the flames of the last fire in California but which, rescued “in extremis” by its author, is a virtuous approach to pop, rock and dance to the white disco-funk.

“A HERO’S DEATH” (Partisan), de Fontaines D.C.: The second album by these Brits sounds classic from the first listen. The secret? Bet on an intimate post-punk that looks at Joy Division, balanced with the urgency and punch of her fresh debut. The songs “I Don’t Belong” and “Love Is The Main Thing” stand out.

“SET MY HEART ON FIRE, IMMEDIATELY” (Matador Records), de Perfume Genius: Emotional fragility, pop melancholy, elegant and brittle, with slight electronic notes and dance as inspiration. This is the fifth work of this American who has given voice to the LGTBI collective with “Whole Life” or “Jason”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N09-KMAGLeE

“FETCH THE BOLT CUTTERS” (Sony), de Fiona Apple: After eight years of silence, his return has been described as a great work by critics, who have applauded the most experimental bet on this list, raw at times and with sudden tempo changes to synthesize the “painful and chaotic” relationship of its author with filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson and talk about a woman who no longer fears “anything”.

“PWR UP” (Sony), de AC/DC: The Australians re-ignited the batteries at full power with Malcolm Young in their prayers. His first album of unreleased material in six years sounds solid, energized and with Brian Johnson back on the mic.

“IMPLODING THE MIRAGE” (Universal), de The Killers: The Las Vegas group’s machine returns oiled as it has not been in years. There should be no journey behind the wheel without the background music of “Caution”, “My Own Soul’s Warning” or “Lightning Fields” (with kd lang as co-driver).

“RTJ4” (Warner), de Run The Jewels: “You’re so stunned that you see the cops suffocate a man like me / Until my voice goes from a scream to a whisper: ‘I can’t breathe’ / And you stay sitting on the couch at home watching it on TV,” he raps the revered hip hop duo on this album who, unwittingly, is the perfect soundtrack to the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

“RÓISÍN MACHINE” (BMG), by Róisín Murphy: Between disco music and experimental electronics, the Irishwoman refuses the hackneyed formulas and invoices something new, with hypnotic “beats” in songs like “Game Changer”.

“WITHOUT FEAR (OF LOVE AND OTHER DEMONS)” (Universal), by Kali Uchis: The dense voice of the American of Colombian origin fills everything in one of the surprises of the year, pairing the Latin tradition and the r & b. A treat for the ears and for the skin.

“YHLQMDLG” (Rimas Entertainment), de Bad Bunny: Not two, but three surprise albums made by the Puerto Rican in 2020. The first, an acronym for “Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana”, broke world records with 20 infectious songs such as “Yo perreo sola”, “La santa”, “If I see your mother” or “The difficult one”, taking the “urban Latino” to a prestigious place with its mergers and its respect for women and the LGTB public. This was followed by the albums “Those who were not going to leave and” The last tour of the world.

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