Best music of 2020... so far

Does anyone have an explanation for 2020? Anyone?

Yeah, neither do I.

In other years I've tried to say something wry and bleak but ultimately hopeful about the current state of affairs, but I really don't have anything. The best I can do is this: support Black Lives Matter and remember that your actions affect other people (so maybe wear a fucking mask, yeah?).

In other words, take Dr. Dreyfuss' advice from The Apartment: " Be a mensch! You know what that means? A human being."

Here's my list of 25 favorite albums from the first six months of the year, followed by 50 songs.

Albums

1. The New Abnormal – The Strokes 

2. Dedicated Side B – Carly Rae Jepsen 

3. SOUTHSIDE – Sam Hunt

4. Notes On A Conditional Form – The 1975

5. Alfredo – Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist 

6. Everything – Kota the Friend 

7. how i’m feeling now – Charli XCX 

8. It Is What It Is – Thundercat 

9. The Album – Teyana Taylor 

10. Rough and Rowdy Ways – Bob Dylan

11. Truth or Consequences – Yumi Zouma

12. Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa 

13. Local Honey – Brian Fallon 

14. Women In Music Pt. III – HAIM 

15. After Hours – The Weeknd 

16. It Was Good Until It Wasn’t – Kehlani

17. Introduction, Presence – Nation of Language 

18. The Slow Rush – Tame Impala

19. Printer’s Devil – Ratboys 

20. It Was Divine – Alina Baraz

21. Cold Water – Medhane 

22. Everything Is Beautiful – Princess Nokia 

23. RTJ4 – Run The Jewels 

24. Modus Vivendi – 070 Shake 

25. Bonny Light Horseman – Bonny Light Horseman

Songs

1. "Murder Most Fowl" – Rough and Rowdy Ways – Bob Dylan

2. "People, I’ve been sad" – La vita nuova – EP – Christine and the Queens

3. "Young Once" – SOUTHSIDE – Sam Hunt

4. "Hard Feelings" – Local Honey – Brian Fallon

5. "Texas Sun" – Texas Sun – EP – Khruangbin and Leon Bridges

6. "party 4 u" – how i’m feeling now – Charli XCX

7. "Circles" – Circles – Mac Miller

8. "Tomorrow’s Dust" – The Slow Rush – Tame Impala 

9. "Don’t’ Stop… Demo" – Single – Oasis

10. "Something to Rap About" feat. Tyler, The Creator – Alfredo – Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist

11. "JU$T" feat. Pharrell Williams and Zack de la Rocha – RTJ4 – Run The Jewels 

12. "Inside Friend" feat. John Mayer – Single – Leon Bridges 

13. "Fast Car" – Single – Black Pumas

14. "God Whispered Your Name" – Single – Keith Urban

15. "Martin " – Making a Door Less Open – Car Seat Headrest

16. "The Wall and I" – Introduction, Presence – Nation of Language

17. "Dear April" (Side A – Acoustic) – Single – Frank Ocean

18. "Southwark" – Truth or Consequences – Yumi Zouma

19. "Sweeter" feat. Terrace Martin – Single – Leon Bridges

20. "Cool" – Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa

21. "Stumble On My Way" – Pick Me Up off the Floor – Norah Jones

22. "Misunderstood" (Live in New Orleans) – Painted (Deluxe Edition) – Lucky Daye

23. "Endamame" – Single – Zacari

24. "Time Flies" – Dark Lane Demo Tapes – Drake

25. "Pretty Lady" – Single – Tash Sultana

26. "SAVAGE ANTHEM" – PARTYMOBILE – PARTYNEXTDOOR

27. "Bad Behaviour" – Single – Elli Ingram

28. "To Me" – It Was Divine – Alina Baraz

29. "Hate The Club" (feat. Masego) – It Was Good Until It Wasn’t – Kehlani

30. "King Prospero" – World As a Waiting Room – White Denim

31. "Rapper Weed" feat. Boogie – Single – SiR

32. "You Amaze Me" – Devotion – Margaret Glaspy

33. "Shawn vs. Flair" – Pray for Paris – Westside Gunn

34. "Fake Love" feat. Elcamino – No One Mourns the Wicked – Big Ghost Ltd and Conway the Machine

35. "Lockdown" – Single – Anderson .Paak

36. "Something Comforting" – Single – Porter Robinson

37. "Universal Soldier" – A Written Testimony – Jay Electronica

38. "sadder badder cooler" – Sunshine Kitty (Paw Prints Edition) – Tove Lo

39. "Dangerookipawaa Freestyle” – Single – Ab-Soul

40. "Magic Hour " – Chilombo – Jhené Aiko

41. "In A Good Way" – Single – Faye Webster

42. "Fall_Window" – Forever – Starchild and The New Romantic

43. "Strobe Lights" feat. Gallant – Produced By: Adrian Younge – Adrian Younge

44. "In the World" feat. Nick Hakim – Single – Lance Skiiiwalker

45. "Whiskey Regrets" – Single – Rationale & TS Graye

46. "More Than My Hometown" – Single – Morgan Wallen

47. "Stick That In Your Country Song" – Single – Eric Church

48. "Murphy’s Law" – Single – Róisín Murphy

49. "Headlights" – I Was Born Swimming – Squirrel Flower

50. "Chapter 319" – Chapter 319 – EP – clipping.

Missing from playlist:
50. "Chapter 319" – Chapter 319 – EP – clipping.