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[honeyopinion]

20/20 Songs of the Year

“Lockdown” by Anderson .Paak and Jay Rock

“I’ve Been Down” by HAIM

“Time Alone With You” by Jacob Collier and Daniel Caesar

“I’m Warping Here” by Feng Suave

“Baby Little Tween” by Okay Kaya

“Super Stars” by Yves Tumor

“Garden Song” by Phoebe Bridgers

“Without You” by Perfume Genius

“Blue World” by Mac Miller

“Joey Blazey” by Dominic Fike

“Feelin’ Low (F*ckboy Blues)” by Peach Pit

“Confirmation (SSBD)” by Westerman

“Simmer” by Hayley Williams

“Money Dance” by Duckwrth and Jean Deaux

“Pressure in My Palms” by Aminé, slowthai, and Vince Staples

“don’t be afraid” by Knxwledge

“Surface, Dogma II” by LOMELI

“out of sight” by Run The Jewels and 2 Chainz

“Photo ID” by Remi Wolf

“Eternal Summer” by The Strokes

“So.Incredible.pkg” by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats

“Another Lover” by Little Dragon

“Pretty Please” by Dua Lipa

“The Alarmist” by Pinegrove

“Broom” by Holy Hive

“Can’t Help Myself” by Alexandra Savior

“Gatekeeper” by Pay for Pain

“Posthumous Forgiveness” by Tame Impala

“Want U Around” by Omar Apollo and Ruel

“Wack Jack” by Hamilton Leithauser

“C-Side” by Khruangbin and Leon Bridges 

“Can I Believe You” by Fleet Foxes

“BALENNCIES” by CHIKA

“Promises” by Beach Bunny 

“24.19” by Childish Gambino

“I Keep Calling” by James Blake

“Pink Elephant” by Chicano Batman

“Deadlines (Hostile)” by Car Seat Headrest

“I’ll Be Holding” by Miel

“Fire” by Waxahtchee

“Stoned Again” by King Krule

“ALL THESE CHANGES” by Nick Hakim

“Better Distractions” by Faye Webster

“Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don’t Leave Me)” by Orion Sun

“Freak Like Me” by Caroline Rose

“Look Alive” by Shakey Graves

“Cut Me” by Moses Sumney

“Window” by Still Woozy

“Grateful” by Zack Villere

“Ivy” by Taylor Swift

Listen to all of these songs together in our playlist.

[honeyopinion]

20/20 Albums of the Year

Circles by Mac Miller  |  Hip-Hop, Soul, Funk Released: January 17, 2020

Best Album For... Pouring One Out for Mac

I wrote a few different drafts of this album summary, and none of them felt like they really fit the impossibly large bill of accurately describing the posthumous importance or brilliance of this album. If you are a fan of hip-hop or soul music of any kind, try to give this piece of work a chance. I for one, used to judge Mac based on his early frat rap days in the late 2000s. But a decade later he came to leave the world with one of the most surprising and frankly impressive artistic evolutions that I’ve been able to witness in real time. RIP Mac. 

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora 

Start With: “Circles” or “Everybody”

Marigold by Pinegrove  |  Alternative Country and Folk Rock Released: January 17, 2020

Best Album For… Passing Through a Small Town on a Cloudy Winter Day 

Pinegrove was one of the last great concerts I got to experience before the pandemic. And it was my favorite performance of theirs from the last 6 years of seeing them play live. Is this my favorite album of theirs? Honestly, it’s not. But I still find it extremely enjoyable, and the memory of seeing these songs performed live, along with some of their classics, was enough for me to include it on this list. This is an album that marks Pinegrove’s exit from their pop punk roots. It’s still sentimental, but much more country and folk rock focused vs. anything trying to be associated with emo or punk. 

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora   Start With: “The Alarmist” or “No Drugs”

Watch This Liquid Pour Itself by Okay Kaya  |  Synth Pop, Art Rock, Folk Released: January 24, 2020

Best Album For… Crywanking at 3am, Bathed in The Dull Light of Your Overheating Laptop

What if Feist and Father John Misty had a secret love child? They might sound something like Okay Kaya. Self proclaimed “Singer ~ Crywanker,” Okay Kaya brings serious BDE to weirdo art pop that she seems like she could be a plant  from the mind of Nathan Fielder. Kaya delivers with such deadpan precision as she rolls out line after line of sarcastic joy, staring blankly at our dystopian reality. “Here I am, the whole world is my daddy,” “Netflix and yeast infection,” “Sex with me is mediocre,” “I just want us to do well like Jon Bon Jovi’s Rosê,” and, “My parasite and I are blushing / In the zero interaction ramen bar,” are just a few examples of some of her memorable and biting lyrics. The entire album is both a critique and nihilistic fondness for the absurdity of our lonely technological society, not quite sure how to deal with taboos like repressed female sexuality, depression, and codependency. 

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Baby Little Tween” or “Asexual Wellbeing”

UNLOCKED by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats  |  Hip-Hop Released: February 7, 2020

Best Album For... Nodding Your Damn Head To, Feeling Cooler Than You Actually Are

I had to double check that this was an album. Clocking in under 20 minutes, this collection of songs feels more like an EP, especially with the track titles that purposefully look like file names and placeholders. But for a short album, Denzel wastes no time, furiously zigging and zagging effortlessly over Kenny Beats’ 90s New York-indebted production (ad libs and all). Kenny pulls out samples of an array of pop culture references made by Denzel (like quotes from movies and weapon sound effects like a lightsaber) — as he rotates his flow between admirable impressions of DMX, Nas, and Joey Bada$$.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “So.Incredible.pkg” or “DIET_”

Cardboard City by Zack Villere  |  Pop, Electronic, R&B Released: February 14, 2020

Best Album For… Pal-ing Around With Your Friends From High School, Maybe Quoting Superbad At The Same Time

The first time I watched a music video from Zack Villere, I noticed the top comment said: “how did frank ocean get trapped in mark zuckerberg.” And while that definitely gets at the heart of how Zack Villere presents himself, he is not a phenomenal singer like Frank Ocean is, nor does he come off as an asshole like Mark Zuckerberg does. I would say that he is just a slightly awkward nerdy white guy who loves hip-hop production and R&B melodies. So the better question is really, “how did drake get trapped in michael cera?” This premise should not work at all, but somehow it does. This is only Villere’s second album, but he shows some serious production and songwriting chops, plus a commitment to his delivery that comes across as genuine, charming, and unique. 

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Grateful” or “Superhero Strength”

The Slow Rush by Tame Impala  |  Psych Rock, Synth Pop, Disco Released: February 14, 2020

Best Album For... Throwing a Silent Disco For One 

Tame Impala continues on their now 10 year streak of psych rock dominance. Along the way we’ve seen Kevin Parker master and stretch the boundaries of psychedelic production. This has resulted in his music coming as close to sounding like the best aspects of The Beatles, while also expanding into hip hop drums, R&B hooks, plus more and more electronic elements. This is an album that I was not super impressed with when it initially came out, but as we entered the pandemic and were tasked with finding small joys in staying at home all the time, I found myself going back to this album and appreciating the themes of solitude and self reflection that Parker has drawn from throughout his career.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Posthumous Forgiveness” or “One More Hour”

1988 by Knxwledge  |  Hip-Hop Released: March 27, 2020

Best Album For... Pumping Your Brakes and Driving Slow, Uh *Homie* Although this album is named after a year in the 80s, the sound here is a perfect portal back to 90s golden era hip-hop, with all the gospel, soul samples, and the kind of deep bass you want to feel in your chest. This is the rare, largely instrumental hip-hop album that I find myself going back to, other than works from the legendary J Dilla and MF Doom. Knxwledge is good friends and a frequent collaborator with Anderson .Paak (in the form of NxWorries). Here we get Anderson to grace us with his presence on the track “itkanbe[sonice]”, and of course it sounds just like an authentic vintage soul sample. When I hear this collection of songs it makes me wish I still had a car, so I could inevitably damage my speakers listening to this.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “dont be afraid” or “thats allwekando.”

Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa  |  Pop, R&B, Funk, Disco Released: March 27, 2020 Best Album For... Alarming Your Pet With Your Enthusiastic Lip Syncing

This album is a pure sugar rush. Like Bruno Mars with the help of Mark Ronson, or Calvin Harris a few years ago, Dua has harnessed a nostalgia (it’s even in the title, wink) for disco, funk and R&B, and is instantly a sexy, catchy, not-so-guilty pleasure. It’s sad that the majority of these songs are all bonafide club hits that didn’t have a proper home this year … except for my living room. And hopefully yours.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora 

Start With: “Pretty Please” or “Future Nostalgia”

Hold Space For Me by Orion Sun  |  Alternative R&B and Hip-Hop Released: March 27, 2020

Best Album For... Wishing Frank Ocean Was Your Dad

“Alternative R&B” is a contentious term, but what else would you call one of a few R&B singers cool enough to make it onto (NYC indie darlings) Mom+Pop Records?? On one hand, she brings the vulnerable and introverted lyrics of an indie singer songwriter like Tracey Chapman, crossed with the raw presence and sweet melodic delivery of a true R&B star like Aaliyah. I’d even go far enough to refer to her as the musical stepchild of Frank Ocean and SZA.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora

Start With: “Ne Me Quitte Pass (Don’t Leave Me)” or “Lightning”

You and Your Friends by Peach Pit  |  Indie Rock and Dream Pop Released: April 3, 2020

Best Album For... Going Back To Your College Town To Crash A Party

Peach Pit seem like they would be cool dudes to hang out with. You have no problem picturing them as the band playing a house show in an indie movie about college kids. And that’s because there’s a familiarity to the scenes that their songs portray, of stumbling through your 20s, either being too dumb or having too much fun to notice. It’s funny to refer to this as “Indie” rock since this is Peach Pit’s major label debut with Columbia Records. But It has all the trappings of Indie; sticky melodies, gentle reverb, an “I’m not trying that hard” vibe, and lyrics that are oddly specific enough to be interesting, but still vague enough to be relatable.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Feelin’ Low (Fuckboy Blues)” or “Shampoo Bottles”

Heaven To a Tortured Mind by Yves Tumor  |  Psych Rock, Indie Pop, Post-Punk, Alternative R&B, Experimental Electronic Released: April 3, 2020

Best Album For... Tearing Up The Fucking Dance Floor With Your Hot Robot Girlfriend

If Tyler the Creator, Alex G, King Krule, and Blood Orange all got into the studio together and dropped a shit ton of acid on Halloween, their recording session might sound something like Heaven To a Tortured Mind… And even then, you still might have trouble putting your finger on exactly what you’re hearing. “Dream Palette” is a good reference track for Tumor’s most wild and mesmerizing qualities. The biggest styles of the past half century of music have been loaded into this gleefully effective genre blender, with blades of dissonance slicing everything up, creating a surrealist sonic smoothie.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Super Stars” or “Dream Palette”

The New Abnormal by The Strokes  |  Indie Rock, Dirtbag Disco, Synth Pop Released: April 10, 2020

Best Album For... Mixing Yourself Another Drink This Saturday Night

Back from the dead, The Strokes return with their first album in 7 years to turn some heads and settle back into some old habits. The charming messy haired garage rock of the early 2000s still pops up here and there, but this is really a record where the group is mature enough to show you that they actually are trying, and are unafraid to take joyous swings for the fences. Julian Casablancas pushes his scratchy alley cat yelp of a voice into something more vulnerable, sunny, and sweet, like he asked for a piña colada (you know, with one of those little umbrellas) instead of a double shot of scotch before hopping up on stage… Or maybe he did both. But these days, everyone is looking for some sort of break from our groundhog day lives any way that we can. Sometimes that sounds like selling out, or depending on how you look at it, stepping up. This album is the result of a group of old friends who got together to make music they simply want to make for themselves. Now far removed from the 2000s New York scene where their younger selves were acting too cool and disaffected to care about having fun.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Eternal Summer” or “The Adults Are Talking”

The Loves of Your Life by Hamilton Leithauser  |  Indie Rock and Alternative Country Released: April 10, 2020

Best Album For... Drinking Down At The Docks, Watching The Sun Set

While I am a fan of The Walkmen, I have no idea what their frontman Hamilton Leithauser looks like or how he dresses. But hearing these songs off of his latest solo, I imagine the following: a member of Mumford and Sons if they were edgy and cooler, giving off a “cowboy rocker meets depression-era dock worker” aesthetic. That’s exactly how his music comes off to me. It’s a convincing blend of blues rock, Americana, and old timey country music. All expertly narrated by dusty country guitars and standup bass, tarnished horns and flutes, and what I imagine to be a restored saloon piano. The Loves of Your Life originally started as a collection of short stories, each about characters based on both people he knew and strangers. Leithauser then wrote the music separately, and finally came to mix and match their parts together in a surprisingly convincing fashion to create the album.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Wack Jack” or “Cross-Sound Ferry (Walk-On Ticket)”

What Kinda Music by Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes  |  Neo-Soul, Electronic, Hip-Hop

Released: April 24, 2020

Best Album For... Cooking For Someone You’re In Love With

Exactly what kind of music do Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes make? It’s orchestral, it’s jazz-infused, it’s hip-hop beats joined with gentle soul. It’s a little sexy, it’s a little mysterious, and you’re going to want to listen to it a whole lot. That’s it. That’s what kind of music it is! Send tweet. 

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “What Kinda Music” or “Storm Before The Calm”

Petals For Armor by Hayley Williams  |  Electronic Pop and Art Rock Released: May 8, 2020

Best Album For... Browsing Depop for Your Next 80s Normcore ‘Fit

Hayley, Hayley, Hayley. You are too good for this wretched world!! After exploring more adventurous sounds and genre hopping over the last few Paramore records, Hayley decided to go out on her own. This really frees herself from the expectations that come along with being the face and heart of a wildly popular band for the last 15+ years. Thom Yorke fans rejoice, because Hayley Williams has a clear admiration for Radiohead’s haunting indie electronic vibe, while emoting some pain and darkness atop her love for 80s pop and art rock (think Genesis, Devo, The Talking Heads). This is a promising new avenue for Hayley to explore herself and process her pain and desire completely on her own. I see this new project of hers only blooming further from here.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora 

Start With: “Simmer” or “Sudden Desire” 

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately by Perfume Genius  |  Indie Pop and Art Rock Released: May 15, 2020

Best Album For... Daydreaming That You Were Somewhere Else

For his 5th studio album, Perfume Genius enlists production wizard and guitar god Blake Mills, along with Grammy Award-winning arranger and multi-instrumentalist Rob Moose to create a beautiful swirling mosaic of 80s pastel pop that also packs serious classic rock grandeur. Bass guitar dances between satin smooth lines on one song to churning distorted currents on the next. Sparkling string arrangements and organs bleed together to expose a fading sunset that you’ll want to try and hold in your hands to keep it in sight. Perfume Genius is unafraid to challenge traditional masculinity, packing a 21st century queer machismo into both the quiet moments and jubilant explosions.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora 

Start With: “Without You” or “Describe”

græ by Moses Sumney  |  Indie Pop, Art Rock, Neo-Soul, Psychic Folk Released: May 15, 2020

Best Album For... Astral Projection 101 

I mean this in the best way possible, but I think that Moses Sumney is a witch. Or maybe a wizard? There’s no other reasonable explanation for the level of creativity and wonder that he summons. This album feels like a private concert by a waterfall (similar to one on the cover), with ethereal pleas, and heavy ideas—like meditating on what lies beyond the constraints of the physical self and reconsidering how well we can actually trust memory and the mind. Sumney layers his voice to create the effect of a ghostly choir, accented by a stark intimidating falsetto that reverberates through the ruins of an abandoned temple where Sumney is the only one in attendance.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Cut Me” or “Polly”

WILL THIS MAKE ME GOOD by Nick Hakim  |  Psychedelic Neo-Soul Released: May 15, 2020

Best Album For... Playing Pool in a Hazy Dive Bar

Nick Hakim is a silky smooth smokey crooner who paints with warbly piano loops, dreamy reverb-heavy guitar, boom bap beats—not to mention a falsetto that would make Smokey Robinson jealous. Clearly a fan of Motown and 60s jazz, Hakim could be considered a peer of Thunder Cat and Anderson .Paak’s to a degree. I remember seeing him perform at Music Hall of Williamsburg a few years ago. The performance ended with him falling down on stage (presumably from being under the influence of multiple substances). But while the song continued he popped back up and belted an impressive high note like it was nothing, drink in hand. And it’s that kind of messy beauty that also makes this album so engrossing. Like watching the eye of the storm get closer and closer, but unable to look away from the sheer magnetism that nature can wield.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  Start With: “All THESE CHANGES” or “ALL THESE INSTRUMENTS”

RTJ4 by Run The Jewels  |  Hip-Hop Released: June 3, 2020

Best Album For... Making Your Next Protest Sign

Run The Jewels’ fourth outing might be the most unapologetically angry rap album in the “fuck this” year of 2020. And it reminded me that I should absolutely still be furious about everything that happened during this groundbreaking yet terrifyingly familiar year: country wide protests over the continued murder of innocent black people at the hands of the police, government drone strikes and detaining kids in cages, the state of our environment worsening—and that’s not even addressing the pandemic or election. Killer Mike and El-P are here to scream from the rooftops that our current system of cutthroat capitalism and white supremacy is killing the planet and its inhabitants, and I’m glad that they’re using their platform to continue to sound the alarm.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “out of sight” or “ooh la la”

Your Hero Is Not Dead by Westerman  |  New Wave Revival and Indie Pop Released: June 5, 2020 Best Album For... Wanting Your Old School MTV

The cover of Westerman’s first proper album is mostly black and white, except for the title, which is scrawled out in lettering which spans the Crayola color spectrum. It’s an album that on the surface is cold and buttoned up, but when these choruses open up, the maximalist 80s power pop bursts like the bulbs of a neon sign. There’s a level of even-keeled cool and confidence in small moments on display here that makes this relatively new artist seem well beyond his years. Having seen him play at Rough Trade a few years ago (opening up for the stellar Puma Blue), the songwriting growth on display on this record is impressive. I’m only sad that there wasn’t an opportunity to have seen him play these new songs live.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora 

Start With: “Easy Money” or “Confirmation (SSBD)” 

Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers  |  Indie Rock and Alternative Country Released: June 18, 2020

Best Album For... Burning Incense and Breaking Out a Ouija Board to Talk to The Ghost of Your Former Self

This is without a doubt, a career defining release for Phoebe. Taking everything she’s learned from writing, performing, and touring with the likes of Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker (in boygenius), and Conor Oberst (in Better Oblivion Community Center), Bridgers levels up to become the truly prolific singer-songwriter she’s been telling us she would always be. Bridgers has explained her personal definition of “a punisher” as a well meaning person who’s, “just talking to you and they don’t realize that your eyes are glazed over and you’re trying to escape.” Vital to understanding this album and its central message is that Phoebe finds herself caught between the contradiction of falling victim to this phenomenon while also doing it herself, especially if she ever met her musical idol, Elliott Smith. Punisher serves as a warning to her audience that if you focus too much on trying to find yourself through other people (via escaping through fandom, drugs, toxic relationships), you’ll always feel lost and dissatisfied, without the proper self awareness to ever quite know why. 

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Garden Song” or “ICU”

Women In Music Pt. III by HAIM  |  Rock, Pop, Folk, R&B Released: June 26, 2020

Best Album For... Preparing For A Better 2021, lol 

With this album, HAIM skyrocketed to the #1 position of family bands that start with an “H.” Sorry, Hanson! But seriously, HAIM has outdone themselves on this one. If there was one album from this list that I would dub my personal AOTY, this would be it. You might wince at any tracklist longer than 10-12 songs these days (I know I usually do), but almost every song proves itself worthy, pulling at a different thread of my heart until there’s nothing left. Sunshine State Beach Pop? Check. Blues Tinged Dad Rock? Yup! Dive Bar Country? Mmhmm! No, wait, what’s that you say, Glitched-Out R&B? Yes, yes, and yes. You can have it all, sister! ‘Cause when you’re Haim, you’re family! ;) And these three “women in music” continue to prove that they are just about the best Assorted Pop Rocks(™) act in the world right now.

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “I’ve Been Down” or “Don’t Wanna”

Lianne La Havas by Lianne La Havas  |  Neo-Soul and Indie Pop Released: July 17, 2020

Best Album For... Sipping Coffee and Journaling on a Weekend Morning

This album exudes a warm vulnerability, like a comforting hug we all needed this year. On her third album, Lianne La Havas makes the risky decision to self title it, a move that artists make when they believe that it is the piece of work that they most want most directly associated with their name. It’s one thing to name your first album after yourself if you can’t think of anything else at the time, but to make a self titled album in the middle of your career, it means that you are sure about having captured who you really are and who you want people to remember you as. “If I love myself, I know I can't be no one else,” La Havas admits on the standout track, “Paper Thin.” She knows that she will meet her destiny and reach self actualization, but only through self love. And finally, I cannot overstate how breathtaking La Havas’s voice comes across on this album. The strength and control on display in her vocal tone and vibrato is quite a spectacle. 

Spotify      Apple Music     YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Paper Thin” or “Sour Flower”

Limbo by Aminé  |  Hip-Hop and R&B Released: August 7, 2020

Best Album For... Trying and Get Over Kanye With

On Limbo, Aminé establishes himself as one of the torchbearers of soul-sampling, lyrics-driven hip-hop that still cares about storytelling, skits, and presenting vocals clearly. Kanye West, Drake, and J. Cole all paved the way for someone from the next generation like Aminé to keep the dream alive and avoid succumbing to the “feel good, don’t think” form of passive listening that mumble rap has made the standard for mainstream hip-hop.

Spotify      Apple Music     YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Pressure In My Palms” or “My Reality”

Shore by Fleet Foxes  |  Folk and Indie Rock Released: September 22, 2020

Best Album For... Running Along The Beach With Your Arms Stretched Out

It was really kind of Robin Pecknold and co. to have released an album this triumphant, calming, and awe-inspiring during the year of our Lorde 2020. On behalf of myself and anyone else who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, the SAD people of the world really needed this, man. And to anyone who is quick to judge these beard-o’s of being boring, you’re simply not using your ears properly. Yeah, you know those two things on either side of your head? Get the gunk out of them! That way you’ll hear the choir of angels with acoustic guitars who are here to guide us through quarantine and beyond. 

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora 

Start With: “Can I Believe You” or “A Long Way Past The Past” 

Listen to all of these albums together in our playlist.

[honeyopinion]

20/20 Honorable Mentions

The Archer by Alexandra Savior  |  Desert Rock and Indie Pop Released: January 10, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Can’t Help Myself”

Invisible People by Chicano Batman  |  Indie Rock, Psych Pop, R&B Released: May 1, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Pink Elephant”

Making a Door Less Open by Car Seat Headrest | Indie Electronic Rock Released: May 1, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Deadlines (Hostile)”

Float Back To You by Holy Hive  |  Vintage Pop and Folk Released: May 28, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Broom”

Djesse Vol. 3 by Jacob Collier  |  Electronic, Pop, R&B Released: August 14, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora  

Start With: “Time Alone With You”

Listen to all of these albums together in our playlist.

[honeyopinion]

20/20 EPs of the Year

Texas Sun by Khruangbin and Leon Bridges  |  Neo-Soul Released: February 7, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora     

Start With: “C-Side”

all for this strange baptism by Saint Mela  |  Electronic Pop and Neo-Soul Released: March 19, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube

Start With: “tamagotchi”

Look Alive by Shakey Graves  |  Alternative Country Released: May 4, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora

Start With: “Look Alive”

Pain by Pay for Pain  |  Emo Rock and Vintage Folk Released: June 12, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube

Start With: “Gatekeeper”

I’m Allergic To Dogs! by Remi Wolf  |  Electronic Pop, Disco, Funk Released: June 24, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora

Start With: “Photo ID”

Flight Tower by Dirty Projectors  |  Indie Pop and Folk Released: June 25, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora

Start With: “Self Design”

Warping Youth by Feng Suave  |  Vintage Pop and R&B Released: June 26, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora

Start With: “I’m Warping Here”

Nothing Much Has Changed, I Don’t Feel The Same by Daniela Andrade |  R&B

Released: September 30, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music     Pandora   

Start With: “K.L.F.G.”

Before by James Blake  |  Electronic Neo-Soul Released: October 14, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora

Start With: “I Keep Calling”

Sour Lemon by Local Natives  |  Indie Rock, Folk, Electronic Pop Released: October 23, 2020

Spotify      Apple Music      YouTube      Pandora

Start With: “Lemon”

Listen to all of these EPs together in our playlist.

[honeyopinion]

Apollo 11, a playlist

Omar Apollo's music is out of this world.

Combining elements of vintage soul with R&B, hip-hop, and psychedelic pop—Apollo is the special type of artist who can instantly appeal to almost anyone with ears. When you hear him sing for the first time, it's hard not to get carried away by the sound of his honeycomb sweet voice weaving together beautifully raw and lovelorn melodies. If pop music still revolved around boy bands, I could easily see him as the front man of one. But luckily Apollo leans more singer-songwriter than lead singer.

Our playlist highlights the best of this bedroom crooner's current catalog. Without a proper full-length album, we hope this collection can serve as a proper introduction to an undeniably bright rising star. I for one, can't wait for his inevitable NPR Tiny Desk Concert one day. Until then, check out a live performance video below, as well as an interview he did with Complex from this year's SXSW.

Omar Apollo - Live in Phoenix

Omar Apollo Goes Go-Kart Racing at SXSW

[honeyopinion]

Assume Form, a review

On his latest album, James Blake adds some brighter hues to his washed-out sonic color palette in an attempt to paint a fuller portrait of his life. Sure, there’s still the familiar gospel harmonies and sparse, vulnerable piano chords. You'll also recognize the dark metallic synths and industrial trap beats that usually provide his most well known work with a sort of a cinematic sci-fi propulsion. But with his latest release, Blake seems to be enjoying himself by mixing things up a bit more this time around. We are treated to Metro Boomin' production, slow-burning Spanish rhythm sections, and swooning pastel love songs built around glitched-out vocal loops and orchestral swells sampled from 60′s lounge and 70′s soul.

Assume Form also marks relatively new territory for Blake in terms of more direct and personal lyrics. This album as a whole speaks to me as a sort of reckoning with depression and an attempt to take a step outside of one’s self to process the shedding of emotional weight and make meaningful strides to deal with it.

On the album opener and title track, we hear a newfound hopeful optimism:

“Now I'm confiding, know I may have Gone through the motions my whole life I hope this is the first day That I connect motion to feeling”

This gives him the opportunity front and center to let listeners know that he’s opening himself up on this album, in hopes that he can move through life being more present, conscious, and alive.

Something else worth noting is the inclusion of four features on Assume Form. Appearances from Travis Scott, Moses Sumney, Rosalía, and André 3000 serve as well-crafted and meaningful additions. Although this is the first time Blake has featured more than one fellow artist on an album, when you look at this lineup and hear the results, it makes complete sense.

With the idea of change being so central to both the lyrics and sound of the album, this shift may come off as inauthentic or unnecessary to some who preferred his previously bleaker and more isolated approach. But what I think this album does exceptionally well is that it takes the pioneering style that we have all come to intimately know and cherish, and improves upon the recipe. Finding love, for both himself and the others closest to him has allowed for more personality, depth, and ultimately, a greater sense of maturity to rise to the surface of his music.

Favorite Tracks:

"Assume Form" “Can’t Believe The Way We Flow” “Are You In Love?”

Spotify     Apple Music     YouTube     Pandora

[honeyopinion]

Gary Clark Jr. Explains How He Wrote New Single ‘This Land‘ in Rolling Stone Video

How I Wrote This is a new performance video series from Rolling Stone in which musicians describe the creative process and inspiration of their songs. For the first installment in the series, rock musician Gary Clark Jr. gets emotional discussing the deeply personal meaning behind his new single, “This Land.” From dealing with racism throughout his life living in the American South, to processing the social consequences of Trump’s presidency and the heightened political unrest that has followed, Clark explains why he came to write the lines, “Fuck you, I’m America’s son / This is where I come from.” Hear the full story in the video above, which also features an incredible live performance of the song. Clark's new album This Land comes out March 1st.

[honeyopinion]

too cool for pop, a playlist

“Don't you get sick of this? My life's so repetitive Well, I guess I think I could quit No, I can't, they would never let me” — Jackie Hayes on "headache"

Jackie Hayes is sick of pop music's expectations, especially of young women. And she’s definitely not alone.

Jackie Hayes, along with MICHELLE, Madi Sipes and The Painted Blue, Orion Sun, and Remi Wolf all loosely comprise a new wave of indie acts crafting fearless, genre-blurring music with a defiant DIY mindset. Impassioned layered vocals combine with an unapologetic approach to portraying the many sides of sexuality, to deliver confident songwriting that is honest and self-reflective of what it’s like to be young and lost in our modern technological society.

If you find yourself getting sick of your regular rotation, I highly recommend checking out the beautifully anxious harmonies and glossy swirling textures of these new cool kids of indie. Expect songs that explore themes of infatuation, promiscuity, unrequited love, detached attraction, otherness, and refusing to accept being told how to act.

All this presented by a creative pooling of shared influences that effortlessly blends surf rock, soul, doo-wop, hip-hop, and even 80’s inspired synthwave. And while these addictive melodies are sure to get stuck in your head for days, make no mistake—you're not listening to pop.

Hear more from Jackie Hayes

Hear more from MICHELLE

Hear more from Madi Sipes and The Painted Blue

Hear more from Orion Sun

Hear more from Remi Wolf

[honeyopinion]

Favorite Albums & EPs of 2018

As our first official post, we’re proud to share 50 of our favorite albums and EPs of 2018. There will definitely be some familiar names on here, but hopefully there are a few new artists that you can discover and fall in love with. The order is based solely on release date. We applied genre labels in an attempt to make this list easier to navigate, based on your musical interests. We also took the time to find the links for each release on both Spotify and YouTube. Plus, here’s a Spotify playlist with everything together. Please keep in mind that this list was thrown together in the last few weeks, so we didn’t have time to review each album or EP individually. For 2019 we plan on reviewing albums as they come out, along with a whole lot more. Sweet dreams and happy listening, Honey Opinion P.S. This is not meant to be an objective “best of” list. There are other excellently crafted 2018 releases we didn’t include. These are simply the ones from this year that stuck with us the most. Black Panther The Album by Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Hip-Hop and R&B Released‎: ‎February 9, 2018 Stone Woman by Charlotte Day Wilson Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Neo-Soul, Jazz, and Electronic Released: February 23, 2018 Historian by Lucy Dacus Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock and Folk Released: March 2, 2018 Superorganism by Superorganism Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Psychedelic Pop and Electronic Released: March 2, 2018 Cocoa Sugar by Young Fathers Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul, and Electronic Released: March 9, 2018 Cold Heart by Thirdstory Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Pop and R&B Released: March 9, 2018 Care for Me by Saba Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Hip-Hop and R&B Released: April 5, 2018 Bark Your Head Off, Dog by Hop Along Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock and Pop Punk Released: April 6, 2018 Isolation by Kali Uchis Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Soul, Funk, Reggaeton, and Bossa Nova Released: April 6, 2018 Sex & Food by Unknown Mortal Orchestra Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Psychedelic Rock, Folk, R&B, Disco, and Funk Released: April 6, 2018 KOD by J. Cole Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Hip-Hop and R&B Released‎: ‎April 20, 2018 Privacy by Madi Sipes & The Painted Blue Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock, R&B, and Soul Released: April 20, 2018 Vide Noir by Lord Huron Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock, Country, and Folk Released: April 20, 2018 Caer by Twin Shadow Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Pop, Electronic, New Wave, and Disco Released: April 27, 2018 Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Pop Rock, Electronic, Funk, and Neo-Soul Released: April 27, 2018 Free Yourself Up by Lake Street Dive Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Soul, Funk, and Rock Released: May 4, 2018 Good Thing by Leon Bridges Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Soul, R&B, and Jazz Released: May 4, 2018 diary 001 by Clairo Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Bedroom Pop and Electronic Released: May 25, 2018 Testing by A$AP Rocky Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genre: Experimental Hip-Hop Released: May 25, 2018 Stereo by Omar Apollo Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Soul, and Bedroom Pop Released: May 30, 2018 Both by Okay Kaya Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Bedroom Pop, R&B, and Electronic Released: June 1, 2018 God’s Favorite Customer by Father John Misty Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock and Folk Released: June 1, 2018 KIDS SEE GHOSTS by KIDS SEE GHOSTS Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genre: Experimental Hip-Hop Released: June 8, 2018 Lost & Found by Jorja Smith Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Soul Released‎: ‎June 8, 2018 EVERYTHING IS LOVE by The Carters Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Hip-Hop, R&B, and Soul Released: June 16, 2018 The Now Now by Gorillaz Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Psychedelic Pop, Electronic, Hip-Hop, Funk, and Disco Released: June 29, 2018 Scorpion by Drake Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Hip-Hop, R&B, and Pop Released: June 29, 2018 Boy in Jeans by Ryan Beatty Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop Released: July 20, 2018 Hive Mind by The Internet Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Soul, and Funk Released: July 20, 2018 I Used to Know Her: The Prelude by H.E.R. Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Soul, and Hip-Hop Released: August 3, 2018 Swimming by Mac Miller Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Hip-Hop and Jazz Released: August 3, 2018 Nearer My God by Foxing Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock, Emo, and Experimental Electronic Released: August 10, 2018 Inside Voice by Joey Dosik Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Soul and R&B Released: August 24, 2018 Invitation to Her’s by Her’s Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genre: Indie/Alternative Rock Released: August 24, 2018 Negro Swan by Blood Orange Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Indie/Alternative Pop, Jazz, and Neo-Soul Released: August 24, 2018 Big Red Machine by Big Red Machine Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock, Folk, and Electronic Released: August 31, 2018 Lady Lady by Masego Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Soul, and Jazz Released: September 7, 2018 For Ever by Jungle Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Electronic, Disco, and Funk Released: September 14, 2018 The Hex by Richard Swift Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock, Soul, and Folk Released: September 21, 2018 Iridescence by BROCKHAMPTON Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Hip-Hop, Pop, and R&B Released: September 21, 2018 Tha Carter V by Lil Wayne Listen on Spotify Genres: Hip-Hop and R&B Released: September 28, 2018 Skylight by Pinegrove Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock, Folk, Alternative Country, and Emo Released: September 28, 2018 Jassbusters by Connan Mockasin Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Experimental Electronic and Indie/Alternative Pop Released: October 12, 2018 Saturn by Nao Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Hip-Hop, Soul, and Pop Released: October 26, 2018 Blood Loss by Puma Blue Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Bedroom Pop and Jazz Released: November 2, 2018 boygenius by boygenius Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Rock and Folk Released: November 9, 2018 I by Lucky Daye Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: R&B, Soul, and Funk Released: November 9, 2018 Oxnard by Anderson .Paak Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Hip-Hop, R&B, Funk, and Soul Released: November 16, 2018 First Bloom by Saint Mela Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Indie/Alternative Pop, Electronic, Neo-Soul, and R&B Released: November 30, 2018 Some Rap Songs by Earl Sweatshirt Listen on Spotify Listen on YouTube Genres: Experimental Hip-Hop and Jazz Released: November 30, 2018

[honeyopinion]

A note from the editor.

Greetings, Thanks for taking some time out of your busy online consumption schedule to come visit our humble website. Here you will find reviews, shout-outs, shares, playlists, and opinion pieces regarding all things music. But here’s the catch- we plan on exclusively discussing music that we appreciate and enjoy. There will be no rating system. No “2.3″ scores. No hit pieces on up-and-coming jackasses or condemnations of washed up artists who have fallen from grace.

We created this site to share our sweet sweet thoughts on music that we love. Our goal is to provide a stream of sounds that might just help you forget about that near constant ache to “fill the void” that we all feel. If you already hear enough static between your ears, you may not want another music aggregator in your life! And if that’s the case, then good luck to you on your journey. But if you want to kick back, relax, and treat yourself to new music that has “been sonically designed to make you feel fucking incredible”- then we might just have what you’re looking for. Sweet dreams, Honey Opinion

[honeyopinion]

“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” – Dale Carnegie