Ants Albums of the Year: 2020

No. Artist - Album (Original Points, Lists Appearing, Total Points) (#1) 20. Matt Berninger - Serpentine Prison (134, 4, 268) 19. Moses Sumney - Græ (137, 4, 274) 18. Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia (188.86, 3, 283.29) 17. Pinegrove - Marigold (239, 3, 358.5) 16. Mac Miller - Circles (248, 3, 372) 15. Owen - The Avalanche (228.73, 4, 457.45) 14. The War on Drugs - Live Drugs (242.67, 4, 485.33) 13. The 1975 - Notes on a Conditional Form (262.57, 4, 525.14) 12. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush (241.33, 5, 603.33) 11. Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters (314.78, 6, 944.35) (#1: Coldengrey12)  

No. Artist - Album (Original Points, Lists Appearing, Total Points) (#1) 30. Bonny Light Horseman - Bonny Light Horseman (148, 2, 148) 29. Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure? (107, 3, 160.5) 28. Hamilton Leithauser - The Loves of Your Life (172, 2, 72) (#1: Laura22) 27. Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats - Unlocked (118, 3, 177) 26. Yves Tumor - Heaven to a Tortured Mind (130, 3, 195) 25. Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension (98.1, 4, 196.18) 24. The Killers - Imploding the Mirage (105, 4, 210) 23. Bartees Strange - Live Forever (144, 3, 216) 22. Charli XCX - How I’m Feeling Now (148.73, 3, 223.1) 21. Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately (130.75, 4, 261.5)   

No. Artist - Album (Original Points, Lists Appearing, Total Points) (#1)   40. Sturgill Simpson - Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1 (79.29, 2, 79.29) 39. Angel Olsen - Whole New Mess (88, 2, 88) 38. Bruce Springsteen - Letter to You (91.43, 2, 91.43) 37. Real Estate - The Main Thing (99.33, 2, 99.33) 36. Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist - Alfredo (102, 2, 102) 35. Dehd - Flower of Devotion (107, 2, 107) 34. Car Seat Headrest - Making a Door Less Open (114, 2, 114) 33. Soccer Mommy - Color Theory (115.82, 2, 115.82) 32. The Microphones - Microphones in 2020 (116, 2, 116) (#1: lieinmygrave41) 30. Caribou - Suddenly (136.91, 2, 136.91)  

No. Artist - Album (Original Points, Lists Appearing, Total Points) (#1) 50. Chris Stapleton - Starting Over (46.29, 2, 46.29) 49. Tyler Childers - Long Violent History (92.86, 1, 46.43) 48. clipping. - Visions of Bodies Being Burned (94, 1, 47) 45 (tied). Nas - King’s Disease (100, 1, 50) (#1: BrewCrew15) 45 (tied). Chris Cornell - No One Sings Like You Anymore (100, 1, 50) (#1: ToySoldier#34) 45 (tied). American Aquarium - Lamentations (100, 1, 50) (#1: Foreverford05) 44. Pearl Jam - Gigaton (53, 2, 53) 43. Nathaniel Rateliff - And it’s Still Alright (62, 2, 62) 42. Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony (66, 2, 66) 41. The Avett Brothers - The Gleam III [EP] (68, 2, 68)

  "With Reunions , Isbell unites the disparate aspects of his craft — soothing acoustic and fiercely electric; Hemingway's word economy dashed with Oscar Wilde-worthy asides, relatable details and otherworldly allusions." — Exclaim! 441.74 raw points, 7 lists, 1,546.1 total points

  "It isn’t the weight of the subject matter alone that makes the album feel so vital—it’s the exemplary caliber of her writing. She may sing of wasted potential, but Folklore finds Swift living up to all of the praise she earned for her songwriting earlier in career." — Slant 1,072.3 raw points, 14 lists, 7,506.17 total points (#1: iMAC386, clayj41, dmbetc)

"The LA songwriter’s ability to paint this lingering feeling of dread so vividly is perhaps the biggest factor in her rapid rise to cultish indie household name; just look at the state of the world right now." — NME 932.81 raw points, 11 lists, 5,130.48 total points (#1: TwoStep2888, wvufan2010)

  "While keeping Folklore 's circle of collaborators close, Swift has expanded the minimal sonic palette they established on Evermore , while sharpening her narrative focus and proving herself a peerless songwriter and storyteller." — The Sydney Morning Herald 841.46 raw points, 12 lists, 5,048.74 total points (#1: herzag17)

  "On his fourth album, singer-songwriter Robin Pecknold refines and hones Fleet Foxes’ crisp folk-rock sound, crafting another musically adventurous album that is warm and newly full of grace." — Pitchfork   623.18 raw points, 11 lists, 3,427.5 total points (#1: BTCS_JTR)

  "RTJ4 is Killer Mike & El-P’s masterstroke. This is musical evolution for moral, social and political revolution, the group now creating anthems in the pursuit of tolerance, respect and unity." — The Line of Best Fit 581.77 raw points, 8 lists, 2,327.06 total points (#1: Route_2)

  "She embraces the messiness of growing up and taking responsibility for one’s actions and composes the apex of everything she’s accomplished thus far. Saint Cloud offers us the best possible version of Crutchfield she could possibly give us." — Consequence of Sound 482 raw points, 6 lists, 1,446 total points (#1: vkratliff)

  "By breaking from what the world might expect from them and letting themselves do whatever the hell they want, they have produced a record that’s experimental, soothing and vulnerable; it’s a thing of great beauty." — NME 411.85 raw points, 7 lists, 1,441.47 total points

  "It’s excruciating in its honesty – even for Lenker, who’s hardly known for shying away from her feelings. Now she bares her pain with complete abandon. It’s quite extraordinary." — The Independent 337 raw points, 6 lists, 1,011 total points

  "The Strokes seem to have finally remembered exactly how magical they can be." — DIY 288.25 raw points, 7 lists, 1,008.86 total points