That 2020 was a rough year is an uncontroversial point to make, but as we enter the first weeks of 2021 with the whole of the year now in the rear view at least one thing was made clear: music can still thrive, even in the most desperate times. As an international pandemic halted most of the world music industry notwithstanding, these artists still found ways to create and share their art; and in a year where we spent months trapped in doors, these were the records that acted as empathetic companions throughout our day to day. Whether years in the making or crafted during a moment of quarantine inspired inspiration, whether trying to comment on the whirlwind times in which we live or merely provide a brief escape from them, whether from artists with major label backing or from DIY upstarts taking advantage of this uniquely equal playing field -- these are the records that made 2020 a bit more bearable.
35. Penelope Scott - Public Void (Tesla's Pigeon) 
If you’re as obsessed with Tik Tok as I am, you might already be familiar with Penelope Scott even if you don’t yet realize it. The playfully spiteful bedroom synth track “Rät” from this record proved mildly viral following the album’s release in late September of this year. It has since become one of my personal favorites, even managing to make it into my Spotify Wrapped for 2020. “Public Void” manages to mix 1980's synthwave with today’s indie pop/rock and the recent lo-fi wave that’s become more and more mainstream to create this unique sound with lyrics and themes that a lot of millennials and Gen Z kids can surely relate to; like failing healthcare and idolizing people who in the end, kinda suck. Standout tracks like “Cigarettes Ahegao” and the previously mentioned “Rät” really tied this whole album together. Overall, this record’s unique sound and lyrical content make it a worthy listen and shows much potential for this up-and-coming indie pop artist. - Maggie Robertson
34. Soccer Mommy - Color Theory (Loma Vista)
On “Color Theory,” the follow up to her 2018 breakthrough “Clean,” Soccer Mommy (real name Sophia Allison) croons her way through loss, depression, demons and disease; though you’d be forgiven for missing those darker elements on first brush with a breezy single like “Circle the Drain,” or any of the other light and instantly infectious indie rock tracks on here. This dissonance was intended. When asked about the familiar 1990’s alt sound that underpins nearly all of this record, Allison told Pitchfork, “[the instrumentals] lend a sense of comic relief [...] like when you joke with your friend about your unhealthy habits.” The veiled detachment from these deeply personal, honest, and vulnerable tracks continues with Allison’s vocal performance, which, while well done, does also often read as dreary and sardonic; matching the 90’s influence to a tee. All this to say, that even without the heartwrenching lyrical content this record could have easily been one of the best indie rock or jangle pop projects of the year, but thanks to Allison’s songwriting and expert craftsmanship, it’s also one of the years most emotionally prescient releases; and one that is sure to have fans re-listening for years to come. - Griffin McMorrow
33. P.E. - Person (Wharf Cat Records)
The best album that for some reason nobody has talked about this year? It’s this one. P.E. is the combination of the (now defunct) band Pill and experimental duo Eaters, and the mixture is deadly. The opening notes hit like a punch to the jaw, and it doesn’t let up until the midway mark. The second half of this dark yet dance worthy project lightens the tone and opens up the sound, allowing for more traditional grooves to shine past the extraordinarily dense synthesizers. Despite the apocalyptic vibes that this album tends to give off both in content and tone, it’s not hard to see that both groups had an immense amount of fun while recording this short, 34-minute LP. The artwork hints at the fact that the band wants you to have fun while listening too, and it has absolutely been the soundtrack to many-a solo dance session in my bedroom. Dense, dark, and disparate yet dance-y, I hope that “Person” points towards a long and fruitful future for P.E. because I am dying for more. - Anthony Wells
32. Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately (Matador)
“Set My Heart on Fire Immediately,” Mike Hadreas’ fifth LP under the Perfume Genius guise is his most aesthetically diverse work yet. The record glides between sublime melodies and grimy, guttural dissonance -- embracing a consistent 1950’s and 1960’s rock influence that can be felt no matter how modern or experimental these tracks threaten to become. Of that old-school inspiration, Hadreas told Apple Music that while crafting the record, “I was thinking about songs I’ve listened to my whole life, not ones that I've become obsessed over for a little while or that are just kind of like soundtrack moments for a summer or something.” He goes on to say that with this album he attempted to recreate that same sort of timelessness. With that influence comes a kind of warmth and simplicity that, while not necessarily altogether new to Hadreas’ work, seems to take on some kind of new form here. Hadreas himself has stated that this is an album about connection and the music here serves as the perfect sonic backdrop for lyricism about embracing those joys and burdens such connection brings. More specifically, Hadreas here tackles topics of inner dissociation and dysphoria, and how a strong connection -- even one as simple and surface level as dancing with someone in a club -- can blow up boundaries between one's inner self and the world at large. All in all, the songs here are more immediate and less ethereal than those of Hadreas’ previous work, but that doesn’t take any of the emotional complexity of this newest addition to Perfume Genius’ consistently stunning body of work. - Griffin McMorrow
31. Iceblink - Carpet Cocoon (Moon Glyph)
In all this year’s tumult, I’ve often sought relaxation in Iceblink’s “Carpet Cocoon." The project of Minneapolis-based musician Lynn Avery, Iceblink delivers a sound that is broadly experimental in a way that is uniquely not abrasive or confrontational, weaving together acoustic and electronic instrumentation into a tapestry that is as soothing as it is idiosyncratic. The opening track, “Healer,” seems to offer just that: the gentle nylon string guitars and saxophone create an atmosphere designed to undo harm. In the tracks that follow, new sounds and textures pop in, and the straightforward, jazzy sounds of the first track dissolve into something flutterier and more playful. This process reverses and repeats throughout the record as melodic lines fade away into gently pulsing psychedelic ambience and then reform. Recordings of voices, as if coming from another room, add to this dreamy effect on tracks like “The Old Tape” and the closer, “Collette.” The meditative new age music of Carpet Cocoon invites the listener to let go and simply exist alongside it, but the delicate beauty of each sound will also reward those who pursue a more focused listen. - Noah Spencer
This is the first in a series of seven posts counting down U92's 35 favorite albums of the year as reviewed by some of the DJ's at U92 the Moose, including Griffin McMorrow, Noah Spencer, Anthony Wells, and Maggie Robertson. The reviews coincide with the beginning of the Spring 2021 semester on January 19, 2021. Check back at noon each day for the next week to see the countdown.