• Menu
  • Menu
  • Entertainment
  • Subscribe
  • Logout
Trending
UAE holidays 2021 Coronavirus Special Reports Find Jobs in the UAE Travel
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
      • Young Editors
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health
      • Better Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Reader Complaint
    • Ask the Law
    • UAE's Hope Probe
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • Gulf
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Company Releases
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
    • Mena
    • Europe
      • Brexit
    • Africa
    • Americas
      • US Presidential Elections 2020
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Court and Crime
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Off the Cuff
    • Cartoons
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
      • ICC
    • Football
    • Motorsport
    • Tennis
      • Dubai Duty Free Tennis 2020
    • Golf
    • Rugby
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • Pinoy Celebs
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Going Out
    • Movie Reviews
    • Society
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
      • Beating Breast Cancer
    • Family
    • Community
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • #Pinoy
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Weekend Review
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
      • Gitex Shopper
    • Gaming
    • Trends
    • Fin-Tech
    • Media
  • How To
    • Employment
      • Jobs
    • Passports & Visas
    • Your Money
    • Legal
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • #Pinoy
    • Community
    • Travel
    • Technology
  • GN Focus
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Hotels
  • Gold-Forex
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    25 of the best and worst albums of 2020 (so far)

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Saturday, March 6, 2021
    Gold / Forex

    Photos Entertainment

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    25 of the best and worst albums of 2020 (so far)

    We look back at the first half of the year’s brightest and most disappointing releases


    Published:  June 29, 2020 14:32 Marwa Hamad, Assistant Editor

    1 of 25
    TAB 200408 Dua Lipa album cover-1586264124319
    Dua Lipa — Future Nostalgia: Compared to her inoffensive but forgettable debut, Dua Lipa’s sophomore effort ‘Future Nostalgia’ is a bold reawakening. Lipa is more confident and self-assured than ever. Her vocals are smoky rich but liable to breaking like a wafer at any moment in a bizarrely satisfying way. A cohesive, pulsating, disco-tinged dance-pop album that marks a second coming of a pop star who’s not afraid to broaden her horizons. Image Credit: AP
    2 of 25
    Fiona Apple — Fetch the Bolt Cutters
    Fiona Apple — Fetch the Bolt Cutters: Fiona Apple’s diary-like musings, pliable vocals and love of over-the-top theatrics give shape to humour and heartbreak on ‘Fetch the Bolt Cutters’. Using GarageBand and leaving in unedited, sprawling takes, the singer-songwriter wades through the good and bad. Bursting with first-hand accounts and everyday percussive sounds, ‘Fetch…’ is vivid enough to warrant an off-Broadway dramedy. Image Credit: Supplied
    3 of 25
    The Weeknd — After Hours
    The Weeknd — After Hours: Abel Tesfaye takes his usual brand of overindulgence and excess dressed up in a mould of alternative R’n’B and sprinkles it with electro-pop musings. While the mild reinvention of his sound swept in much praise at first, ‘After Hours’ leaves a lacklustre aftertaste and may not enjoy the memorability and longevity of some of The Weeknd’s previous efforts. Image Credit: Supplied
    4 of 25
    Lil Uzi Vert — Eternal Atake
    Lil Uzi Vert — Eternal Atake: ‘Eternal Atake’ is an 18-track galactic adventure grounded in Uzi’s eclectic brain. The 25-year-old artist comes in strong on his second album, energetic and impatient in one breath, before momentarily slowing down to soak in his own emotion on the next. One of the best-selling albums of the year in America, ‘Eternal Atake’ is ambitious, assertive and personal, as Uzi shows he’s unafraid to drop by different planets on his journey home. Image Credit: Supplied
    5 of 25
    TAB Selena Gomez  – Rare-1577770083813
    Selena Gomez — Rare: While Selena Gomez promised that ‘Rare’ would dive into her personal ups and downs over the past few years, ‘Rare’ leaves something to be desired as far as ‘baring it all’ goes. You get the feeling Gomez’s experiences have gone through several filters only to be wrapped up in gleaming production. Gomez undoubtedly delivers solid pop tracks, but they make for easy background listening, rather than the kind of gripping catharsis Gomez is no doubt capable of. Image Credit: Supplied
    6 of 25
    TAB Halsey – Manic-1577770069944
    Halsey — Manic: Halsey’s ‘Manic’ is an ode to the singer’s 2000 pop-rock influences, taking those chaotic, daring, ultra-personal, and sometimes self-pitying lyrical cues from contemporary pop-punk bands — think Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance — and delivering her own take. Some pop stars will offer a window into their lives, but Halsey breaks in the door. Managing to be both imaginative and stripped back, serious and fun, Halsey is a rare breed of pop-rocker in today’s carefully curated and over-produced radio feed. Image Credit: Supplied
    7 of 25
    Mac Miller — Circles
    Mac Miller — Circles: From the first note of Miller’s muddled delivery on opening track ‘Circles’, the pain of his loss lights up, like salt in a wound. The singer-songwriter’s sixth album, released posthumously, sees Miller reiterate his ability to hypnotise and mesmerise and bewitch with his heavy and unhurried vocal delivery, taking us on a meaningful journey that is as effortlessly vulnerable as it is sonically inventive. “I ain’t politicking, I ain’t kissing no babies,” Miller proclaims, making clear his position — not a public figure, but a private artist with a public platform. Image Credit: Supplied
    8 of 25
    Kesha — High Road
    Kesha — High Road: Kesha’s album feels a tad too ‘been there, heard that’. Sonically, it’s just a few years too late. But, there’s still a charm to its utter Kesha-ness. The pop star’s signature mix of spoken and sung lyrics combine to create a fun, high-energy and explicitly forthcoming album. Kesha’s candour on songs such as ‘High Road’ is appreciated. That being said, it would be more exciting to see Kesha reinvent pop, rather than revisit her tried-and-trusted version of it. Image Credit: Supplied
    9 of 25
    Lil Wayne — Funeral
    Lil Wayne — Funeral: Lil Wayne’s ‘Funeral’ is a hard-hitter but falls at the wayside when it comes to overall coherence. If you’re looking for smooth transitions and strong thematic cohesion, this might be a jarring listen, but if you take it for what it is — unreleased emotion and artistic expression spread out over 24 tracks more akin to a mixtape than an album — then you’ll enjoy Wayne’s usual bouts of urgency. Image Credit: Supplied
    10 of 25
    TAB Louis Tomlinson album Walls-1580292298407
    Louis Tomlinson — Walls: Louis Tomlinson is the last of his One Direction members to release a solo album, but the Britpop-inspired ‘Walls’ proves to be worth the wait. A pop-rock effort that leans further towards the latter, Tomlinson finds his voice in this Oasis-tinged, indie wonderland. Following a difficult few years of personal loss and public scrutiny for Tomlinson, ‘Walls’ is an honest, warmly sung and guitar-driven window into the kind of genre-straddling music Tomlinson excels at. Image Credit: Supplied
    11 of 25
    1.2126305-384933146
    Green Day — Father of All [Expletive]: At only 10 tracks and 26 minutes long, ‘Father of All [Expletive]’ still manages to be all over the place. Despite our love for Green Day, the listenability of this upbeat album as a whole is supremely limited — especially that it starts off with two tracks that sound strikingly and bafflingly similar. Image Credit: AP
    12 of 25
    Justin Bieber Changes-1581744615611
    Justin Bieber — Changes: There was so much potential for Justin Bieber to give us something memorable; this is his first album in five (pretty eventful) years. But, while 2015’s ‘Purpose’ altered the route of pop music and set the bar for Bieber’s peers, the bar drops right back down with ‘Changes’, a watery, mediocre offering that sounds more like a collection of B-sides than it does a new phase of a formidable pop star. Image Credit: Supplied
    13 of 25
    Map of the Soul 7 cover-1582354586862
    BTS — Map of the Soul: 7: BTS’ fourth consecutive album to go to No 1 in America, ‘Map of the Soul: 7’ is irrevocably fun and masterfully curated. BTS have proven themselves kings of fresh and catchy pop, hitting the genre from every angle. Here, the South Korean group foray into a variety of sonic soundscapes from doors that are no doubt familiar, yet somehow, feel like they’d never been opened before. Image Credit:
    14 of 25
    Megan Thee Stallion — Suga
    Megan Thee Stallion — Suga (EP): At nine songs long, Suga seems long for an EP, short for an album. But really ‘Suga’ says exactly what it needs to say in under 30 minutes — Thee Stallion is a law unto herself here, unbothered, unfiltered, unstoppable. Her flow is cold and hard, her lyricism forthright and unambiguous as she explores her sensuality. Plus, she delivers gems that even her detractors can learn from, like: “Another [expletive] shining ain’t gonna dim my light.” Image Credit: Supplied
    15 of 25
    Niall Horan
    Niall Horan — Heartbreak Weather: Niall Horan’s feel-good album mixes notes of joy and nostalgia to create a sensory experience that feels both like falling in love and out of it. Horan breaks up his upbeat, full-bodied tracks with piano-led ballads like ‘Put A Little Love On Me’, which hold their own in the midst of a pop-heavy body of work. Image Credit: Supplied
    16 of 25
    Hayley Williams — Petal for Armor
    Hayley Williams — Petal for Armor: Split into three sections of five songs each, ‘Petal For Armor’ is Hayley Williams’ first solo album, away from the pop-punk Paramore. Williams bares herself at her quietest, most restrained, possibly most vulnerable; the album is a spacious canvas for Williams to travel across, flicking a speck of calm blue paint in one corner and smearing a handful of angry red in another. A bravely stripped back yet rich effort from one of the generations most energetic songstresses. Image Credit: Supplied
    17 of 25
    Kehlani It Was Good Until It Wasn’t
    Kehlani — It Was Good Until It Wasn’t: Cohesive and with a strong point of view, Kehlani is at her most compelling on her alt-R‘n’B offering ‘It Was Good Until It Wasn’t’. Using candour and her smoggy vocals to track the gritty breakdown of a relationship, Kehlani dives right in and holds back nothing with album-opener ‘Toxic’, then traverses the dips and peaks of a lost love. Image Credit: Supplied
    18 of 25
    Charli XCX — How I’m Feeling Now
    Charli XCX — How I’m Feeling Now: In case you missed it, Charli XCX made ‘quarantine album’ a thing. The singer-songwriter decided to put out an 11-track pop album tracking her lockdown feelings; but, don’t let that fool you. There’s nothing quiet or subtle about ‘How I’m Feeling Now’; if anything, it uses distortion, electronic chaos and blaring melodic declarations to pulls us right out of the monotony we’re stuck in. Image Credit: Supplied
    19 of 25
    The Used — Heartwork
    The Used — Heartwork: The Used are back in top form on the heavy-hitting rock record ‘Heartwork’, marking their eighth studio album. Despite a rich discography, The Used have managed to hold onto their edge and the unsettling sincerity of their screeching rock sonics and confrontational lyrics. On ‘Heartwork’, they’re just as emotionally purging to listen to as they’ve always been. Image Credit: Supplied
    20 of 25
    PartyNextDoor — Partymobile
    PartyNextDoor — Partymobile: A laid-back, stretched-out and low-key third album from Canadian alt-R‘n’B singer-songwriter PartyNextDoor, ‘PartyMobile’ is a slow-wandering album about love and lust that, in the style of Party’s fellow Canadian Abel Tesfaye, juxtaposes blunt lyricism with doughy delivery, and in the style of mentor Drake, takes a page out of ‘Marvins Room’ on the diaristic track ‘Split Decision’. Image Credit: Supplied
    21 of 25
    KSI — Dissimulation
    KSI — Dissimulation: Sonically diverse and lyrically tight, KSI’s debut album ‘Dissimulation’ is a massive step forward for the UK rapper’s credibility. A member of the comedic YouTube crew ‘Sidemen’, KSI first gained celeb status as a vlogger. He’s become known as the guy who boxed Logan Paul. But the rapper has always had his head in the rap game and has now evolved his antagonising flow to a new degree on ‘Dissimulation’, showcasing his own growth and confidence. With features from heavy-hitters such as Offset, Rick Ross, Jeremih and Lil Pump, it’s no wonder ‘Dissimulation’ debuted at No 2 on the UK album charts. Image Credit: Supplied
    22 of 25
    Lady Gaga Chromatica
    Lady Gaga — Chromatica: If there was any doubt that disco-pop is making a comeback, Lady Gaga puts it to rest with ‘Chromatica’ — a fully nostalgic, yet totally inventive synth-infused album that lyrically encompasses Gaga’s search for freedom, and melodically, her desire to always reinvent her sound. The album is cohesive, fun and danceable, which for Gaga, tends to be a killer combo. Image Credit: Supplied
    23 of 25
    Chloe x Halle — Ungodly Hour
    Chloe x Halle — Ungodly Hour: The 28-second intro sets the mood for the rest of the album, featuring the opening lyrics: “Don’t ever ask for permission, ask for forgiveness,” against an angelic chorus of oohs. The R‘n’B album explores spirituality and sin and marks a new phase for sisters Chloe and Halle (it’s their second album) as they explore a more mature sound and subject matter. One thing remains: their voices are as chillingly captivating as ever. Image Credit: Supplied
    24 of 25
    Rough and Rowdy Ways
    Bob Dylan — Rough and Rowdy Ways: Bob Dylan’s croaky, fragile and delightfully matured voice is a salve for the soul at a time when very little feels solid and absolutely nothing feels whimsical. There’s a transportive quality to Dylan’s blues and folk offerings — whether you’re a diehard or casual admirer, maybe even a nonbeliever, the 79-year-old singer-songwriter finds a way to anchor you to him. Releasing his first album in eight years, Dylan makes up for lost time with single track runtimes as long as 17 minutes. Image Credit: Supplied
    25 of 25
    John Legend — Bigger Love
    John Legend — Bigger Love: ‘Bigger Love’ is exactly what it says — an all-encompassing album where Legend’s versatile vocal performance is backed with upbeat and uplifting sonics that spell out love without having to say it out loud. Image Credit: Supplied

    Trending

    • Al Ain Zoo celebrates World Wildlife Day

      Al Ain Zoo celebrates World Wildlife Day


    • Gift for Francis: Shawl tells story of Iraqi Christians

      Gift for Francis: Shawl tells story of Iraqi Christians


    • Sheikh Hamdan marks 13 years as Crown Prince of Dubai

      Sheikh Hamdan marks 13 years as Crown Prince of Dubai


    • Look: Emirati women at Fazza Championship for Shooting

      Look: Emirati women at Fazza Championship for Shooting


    • Dubai among world’s friendliest cities

      Dubai among world’s friendliest cities

    Latest In

    • Oops! Granit Xhaka gaffe gifts Burnley a point in EPL

      18 minutes ago

    • Air France flight makes emergency landing in Bulgaria

      19 minutes ago

    • COVID-19: Shopping centre in Ajman shut

      21 minutes ago

    • Readers' photos: Jebel Jais mountains

      45 minutes ago

    • Photos: Mars rover Perseverance goes for a 'spin'

      57 minutes ago

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Baby & Child
    • Friday
    • Inside Out
    • Watch Time
    • Wheels
    • getthat
    • GN Tech
    • Jobs
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or