turquoise dreams Playlist: Sionna's End of 2020 Albums

Before uni starts properly again I thought I'd list my favourite albums from 2020, even if it's a week late. The following are in no particular order, each 'Notable Track' is included on the 'turquoise dreams' Spotify playlist, and you can find the link to it at the end of the article.

1. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

Phoebe Bridgers album is one that everybody has been talking about, and has been chosen multiple times as top album of the year. Her songwriting skills with imagery are apparent in this project as she sings about the anxieties of the future and the lingering feeling of dread. Sung and composed beautifully, any given song makes a good fit for a sad/emotional playlist.

Notable Track: Kyoto.

2. Rina Sawayama - Sawayama

Perhaps my favourite album of the year, and a top album of all time, Rina's debut album mixes early-2000's teen pop with influences of nu-metal and R&B. Writing about intergenerational familial pain (Dynasty and Snakeskin) and racism/fetishism she's experienced in the music industry (STFU!), she's made a body of work important to women and people of colour, specifically those of Asian descent. 'STFU!' is the most heavy rock, 'Paradisin', 'XS' and 'Comme Des Garcons' are the most poppy, and 'Chosen Family' and 'Bad Friend' are the ballads of the album. The most impressive tracks to me are the ones which exude her insane vocals; 'Dynasty' and 'Who's Gonna Save U Now?'. This album is pop perfection and makes Rina a candidate for a top pop girl of the future.

Notable Track: Dynasty.

3. HAIM - Women In Music Part III

The winners of 'name a better trio' is the HAIM sisters Este, Danielle and Alana. Another acousticy album for the list, but this one is a different feel completely. The very indie-pop album is a very jolly, upbeat sounding one, matched with lyrics inspired by serious stuff. Kind of like music that lyrically makes you think it should be making you sad, but just makes you wanna dance instead, even managing to have a song which has screaming in it sound fun.

Notable Track: Up From A Dream.

4. Lady Gaga - Chromatica

The most imaginative and creative album of the year, the kind of pop made for club nights and raves and definitely not a pandemic. Gaga made her comeback to pop with a wholly curated imaginary world made up of her pain which she has turned into pop goodness; Chromatica. Touching on struggles from being a woman in the music industry (Free Woman and Plastic Doll) to coping with her anxieties and traumas (Rain On Me and Replay), she has outdone herself for hiding her real experiences inside pop club delicacy. If you want to experience this album to its fullest I definitely recommend listening to the 'Chromatica' interludes before their matching tracks.

Notable Track: 911.

5. Taylor Swift - folklore

This was a difficult decision since Taylor Swift has brought out two full albums in 2020 lockdown, but I think folklore is the fuller, more in depth album. This was her first step away from her traditional pop, not just in sound but in all the rules that come with being a big pop artist. This album was released as a surprise with no promotion or warning and is maybe her most successful. folklore is comprised of tracks written and produced in isolation and are all 'folk' songs as the title suggests. Lyrically this is her most creative endeavour, creating stories of made up characters, writing from perspectives of different people, making connections between them and her own life. From a 17-year-old boy trying to win back a girl he cheated on (betty), a rich widow named Rebekah Harkness who was demonised by her town (the last great american dynasty and mad woman), to her grandfather who suffered with PTSD from his time serving in WWII (epiphany).

Notable Track: august.

6. Chloe X Halle - Ungodly Hour

If what you want is R&B beats and insane harmonies, then Ungodly Hour is the one. Sisters Chloe and Halle have had a considerable amount of success for 22- and 20-year-olds; touring with Beyonce and Jay Z, starring in 3 seasons of Grown-ish, and getting two Grammy noms all since their last album 2 years ago. My favourite tracks on the album are their beautifully sung ballads like 'Wonder What She Thinks Of Me'. It's one thing to be successful at a young age in this industry, but it's another be so talented in singing, writing and even production the way that Chloe X Halle are.

Notable Track: Don't Make It Harder On Me.

7. Charli Xcx - how I'm feeling now

Now, the one album I think of when I think of 'lockdown album'. Charli Xcx spent just a month putting together this piece in isolation back at the start of lockdown where everything was very unsure and fragile. She collaborated on the album with the help of her fandom not only in the imagery and artwork, but lyrics, demos, and videos submitted for her 'forever' music video. Although having songs clearly about missing partying with her friends and the weirdness of a sudden lockdown (pink diamond and anthems), most of the tracks are about her relationship, which she had only recently became open about and suddenly found herself living in isolation with her boyfriend (7 years and enemy). She also reworked a song from her previous album (c2.0) and recorded an unreleased fan favourite (party 4 u) as a gift to her long term fans. And I can't talk about this album without mentioning the masterpiece that is 'claws', (thank you A.G.)

Notable Track: detonate.

8. Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?

Finally to finish off this list, Jessie Ware's summer-released album. I haven't actually known about Jessie Ware for as long as I should have, but this album will make you wonder why the hell you haven't before. While Chromatica is the most 'club, rave, charts dance-pop' album, this one is dancey for sure but makes more sense when you are inevitably dancing in your bedroom at night because there are no bars open. Inspired by the sound of the 70's discos and literally transports you to another time and place, something we all wanted in this pandemic.

Notable Track: Read My Lips.

Make sure to save the 'turquoise dreams' playlist on Spotify to add it to your playlist library.

'turquoise dreams' Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1qxQWE7IWbXeT0aDTT8XIO

- S.