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Top 50 Songs of the 2020s (so far)

Just my opinions, of course. There have been many, many great songs released from 2020 to now. 2021 in particular was a very strong year for music.

I'm limiting this list to one per album to keep things interesting. I'll list the artist, song name, album the song is from, genre, release year, and a couple of appropriate descriptors.

Hope you find something intriguing from this list!

(Note: Ökenpromenad by lilla gubben is not available on topsters, and so the above image is one album cover off.)


50. Arca - Fireprayer  ||  kiCK iiiii  ||  Track 11  ||  Ambient  ||  Released 2021  ||  dark, meditative

49. Black Wing - Bollywood Apologetics  ||  No Moon  ||  Track 1  ||  Darkwave  ||  Released 2020  ||  depressive, dark

48. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine - Cimmerian Shade  ||  A Beginner's Mind  ||  Track 13  ||  Indie Folk  ||  Released 2021  ||  warm, bittersweet

47. Silvana Estrada - Sabré olvidar  ||  Marchita  ||  Track 5  ||  Contemporary Folk  ||  Released 2022  ||  poetic, soft

46. Beach House - Superstar  ||  Once Twice Melody  ||  Track 2  ||  Dream Pop  ||  Released 2022  ||  uplifting, lush

45. Jessie Ware - Spotlight  ||  What's Your Pleasure?  ||  Track 1  ||  Nu-Disco  ||  Released 2020  ||  romantic, passionate

44. АИГЕЛ [Aigel] - Топи (High)  ||  OST Топи  ||  Track 3  ||  Trip Hop  ||  Released 2021  ||  cold, ethereal

43. Julien Baker - Hardline  ||  Little Oblivions  ||  Track 1  ||  Indie Rock  ||  Released 2021  ||  bittersweet, introspective

42. Kendrick Lamar - Mother I Sober  ||  Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers  ||  Track 17  ||  West Coast Hip Hop  ||  Released 2022  ||  introspective, meditative

41. Injury Reserve - Knees  ||  By the Time I Get to Phoenix  ||  Track 10  ||  Experimental Hip Hop  ||  Released 2021  ||  somber, lonely

40. Xiu Xiu - One Hundred Years  ||  OH NO  ||  Track 9  ||  Experimental Rock  ||  Released 2021  ||  disturbing, dark

39. Ghais Guevara - I Personally Wouldn't Have Released John McCain  ||  There Will Be No Super-Slave  ||  Track 12  ||  Political Hip Hop  ||  Released 2022  ||  conscious, angry

38. Sufjan Stevens - Make Me an Offer I Cannot Refuse  ||  The Ascension  ||  Track 1  ||  Indietronica  ||  Released 2020  ||  psychedelic, lush

37. Anna von Hausswolff - Sacro Bosco  ||  All Thoughts Fly  ||  Track 3  ||  Drone  ||  Released 2020  ||  minimal, abstract

36. clipping. - '96 Neve Campbell  ||  Visions of Bodies Being Burned  ||  Track 4  ||  Horrorcore Hip Hop  ||  Released 2020  ||  scary, death

35. Black Midi - Welcome to Hell  ||  Hellfire  ||  Track 4  ||  Brutal Prog  ||  Released 2022  ||  infernal, cryptic

34. shrieking violet - purgatorial bloodlust  ||  dead things with teeth  ||  Track 2  ||  Post-Industrial  ||  Released 2022  ||  apocalyptic, dark

33. Juçara Marçal - Iyalode Mbé Mbé  ||  Delta Estácio blues  ||  Track 11  ||  Experimental  ||  Released 2021  ||  avant-garde, playful

32. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - OUR SIDE HAS TO WIN (For D.H.)  ||  G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END!  ||  Track 4  ||  Post-Rock  ||  Released 2021  ||  hypnotic, existential

31. Low - White Horses  ||  HEY WHAT  ||  Track 1  ||  Post-Industrial  ||  Released 2021  ||  abstract, dark

30. Black Dresses - PEACESIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ||  Forever in Your Heart  ||  Track 1  ||  Industrial Rock  ||  Released 2021  ||  aggressive, dense

29. Katie Gately - Waltz  ||  Loom  ||  Track 3  ||  Neoclassical Darkwave  ||  Released 2020  ||  eerie, atmospheric

28. Rina Sawayama - STFU!  ||  SAWAYAMA  ||  Track 3  ||  Alternative Metal  ||  Released 2020  ||  energetic, hateful

27. The Joy Formidable - Sevier  ||  Into the Blue  ||  Track 3  ||  Indie Rock  ||  Released 2021  ||  heavy, triumphant

26. Billy Woods - Sauvage  ||  Aethiopes  ||  Track 4  ||  Abstract Hip Hop  ||  Released 2022  ||  ominous, anxious

25. Archive - Shouting Within  ||  Call to Arms & Angels  ||  Track 5  ||  Art Rock  ||  Released 2022  ||  atmospheric, calm

24. The Microphones - Microphones in 2020  ||  Microphones in 2020  ||  Track 1  ||  Avant-Folk  ||  Released 2020  ||  meditative, introspective

23. 야야 킴 [YAYA Kim]  - 타인의 자격 (The Qualifications of Others.)  ||  a.k.a YAYA  ||  Track 4  ||  Jazz Pop  ||  Released 2022  ||  nocturnal, eclectic

22. Tropical Fuck Storm - G.A.A.F  ||  Deep States  ||  Track 2  ||  Punk Blues  ||  Released 2021  ||  sarcastic, dissonant

21. Backxwash - Burn to Ashes  ||  I Lie Here Buried With My Rings and My Dresses  ||  Track 10  ||  Horrorcore Hip Hop  ||  Released 2021  ||  energetic, hateful

20. Black Midi - John L  ||  Cavalcade  ||  Track 1  ||  Avant-Prog  ||  Released 2021  ||  chaotic, progressive

19. Big Thief - Change  ||  Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You  ||  Track 1  ||  Indie Folk  ||  Released 2022  ||  poetic, melodic

18. lilla gubben - Jag Ser Dig  ||  Ökenpromenad  ||  Track 5  ||  Trip Hop  ||  Released 2022  ||  psychedelic, introspective

17. Converge & Chelsea Wolfe - Crimson Stone  ||  Bloodmoon: I  ||  Track 10  ||  Atmospheric Sludge Metal  ||  Released 2021  ||  dark, heavy

16. Adrianne Lenker - Anything  ||  Songs  ||  Track 3  ||  Singer/Songwriter  ||  Released 2020  ||  poetic, soft

15. Sa-Roc - Gold Leaf  ||  The Share-Cropper's Daughter  ||  Track 2  ||  East Coast Hip Hop  ||  Released 2020  ||  rhythmic, urban

14. Fiona Apple - Heavy Balloon  ||  Fetch the Bolt Cutters  ||  Track 9  ||  Singer/Songwriter  ||  Released 2020  ||  raw, playful

13. Gazelle Twin & NYX - Fire Leap  ||  Deep England  ||  Track 3  ||  Dark Ambient  ||  Released 2021  ||  pagan, pastoral

12. Daniel Rossen - It's a Passage  ||  You Belong There  ||  Track 1  ||  Chamber Folk  ||  Released 2022  ||  mysterious, melodic

11. Little Simz - Introvert  ||  Sometimes I Might Be Introvert  ||  Track 1  ||  Conscious Hip Hop  ||  Released 2021  ||  protest, triumphant

10. Black Country, New Road - Bread Song  ||  Ants From Up There  ||  Track 4  ||  Post-Rock  ||  Released 2022  ||  melancholic, poetic

9. Silk Sonic - Leave the Door Open  ||  An Evening With Silk Sonic  ||  Track 2  ||  Smooth Soul  ||  Released 2021  ||  sensual, happy

8. The Smile - The Same  ||  A Light for Attracting Attention  ||  Track 1  ||  Art Rock  ||  Released 2022  ||  abstract, ominous

7. Bo Burnham - All Eyes on Me  ||  Inside  ||  Track 18  ||  Alt-Pop  ||  Released 2021  ||  nihilistic, sarcastic

6. Klô Pelgag - Rémora  ||  Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs  ||  Track 2  ||  Art Pop  ||  Released 2020  ||  lush, melodic

5. Anna von Hausswolff - Ugly and Vengeful  ||  Live at Montreux Jazz Festival  ||  Track 4  ||  Neoclassical Darkwave  ||  Released 2022  ||  occult, mysterious

4. Lingua Ignota - Many Hands  ||  Sinner Get Ready  ||  Track 3  ||  Neoclassical Darkwave  ||  Released 2021  ||  dark, infernal 

3. SPELLLING - Boys At School  ||  The Turning Wheel  ||  Track 7  ||  Progressive Pop  ||  Released 2021  ||  epic, passionate

2. Black Country, New Road - Opus  ||  For the First Time  ||  Track 6  ||  Experimental Rock  ||  Released 2021  ||  complex, dark

1. The Avalanches - The Divine Chord  ||  We Will Always Love You  ||  Track 4  ||  Neo-Psychedelia  ||  Released 2020  ||  uplifting, surreal

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