U92 Year-End Review: The Best Albums of 2020 (25-21)

25. Bright Eyes - Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was (Dead Oceans)

On “Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was,” Bright Eyes takes many sonic cues, including mid-2000s rock, the orchestral flourishes of power-pop, ragtime, and a hint of glam rock to top off the indie ballads for which the band is known. The result is a reflective album that feels both mature and fresh. There’s a nihilistic mention of some of the worst parts of life delivered through infectious melodies, yet there’s rarely a brooding moment. Instead there's often a determination to meet the challenges head on despite the cruelty of it all. This is perhaps best embodied in tracks like “Dance and Sing” and lead single “Mariana Trench." Overall this is a rather bombastic album from the veteran group with a Phil-Spector-like quality to it that often manages to be frivolous and fun to listen to despite the weight of its themes and lyricism. - Mason Lee

24. Open Mike Eagle - Anime, Trauma, and Divorce (Auto Reverse)

Open Mike Eagle has never been one to stray away from dark or personal topics, but the lyrics on the LA-by-way-of-Chicago rapper’s latest release read less like a hip-hop album and more like an unfinished diary entry, and it cannot be stressed enough that that is a compliment. On the bluntly titled “Anime, Trauma, and Divorce,” Eagle tears down all walls between himself and the listener, allowing them to be a part of his grieving process as he grapples with a crumbling marriage, uncertain financial and artistic future, anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and a generational trauma that stems from being black in America. Still, even as Mike seemingly enters some of his lowest lows, a consistent source of comfort for him here, as the title suggests, is the escapist fantasy of anime; and while specific references to Neon Genesis Evangelion or Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure may be lost on some listeners, that need for escapism is something I’m sure most folks who have dealt with dark times can relate. Tying all of this together we have the intro to lead single, “I’m a Joestar (Black Power Fantasy),” which begins with spoken word intro in which Eagle argues with his would be detractors: “This is what I need to do, I know I need to do something to feel better, this is it. So… stop asking me all these questions. Stop trying to take this away from me!” Listening to this album you truly feel like it was a necessary part of OME’s unique way of processing trauma, and now that it’s out there it feels like a blessing that it can be part of other folks' processes as well.

23. Against All Logic - 2017-2019 (Other People)

In early 2018, a house record dropped by the mysterious Against All Logic, an incredible album that seemingly came out of nowhere by a mysterious producer. It was soon discovered that A.A.L. was a new project alias for Chilean-American composer Nicolás Jaar. Almost exactly two years later, Jaar is back with a harder hitting house album, pulling more from industrial music while still incorporating bits of ambience. “2017-2019” runs almost like a DJ set with the only break before “If You Can’t Do It Good, Do It Hard” featuring no-wave legend Lydia Lunch. The story that Jaar is able to tell through the flow of the album is remarkable, chronicling a tale of love, fallout, despair and hope throughout its scant 9 tracks. Jaar’s transition into house seemed effortless on “2012-2017,” and his hot streak continues with “2017-2019” with a new sonic palette and a growth in overall vision. Despite the mantra repeated by Lydia Lunch on her feature, Nicolás Jaar proves that he can do it both good as well as hard on this latest installment in the Against All Logic catalogue. - Anthony Wells

With “RTJ4” hip hop maestros El-P and Killer Mike refine their signature hardcore sound for what is maybe their best and most consistent project yet. Released early in June in response to ongoing protests following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor; Run the Jewels uses the righteous indignation of hip-hops past to confront a combustible present, making for an album that will impress old-heads while exciting a modern crowd. The beats here, while subtly expanding RTJ’s standard sound, still lean into the classic boom bap sounds and grimy textures for which the duo is known; and the slew of collaborators ranges from the familiar (MCs like Zack de la Rocha make a triumphant return) to the unexpected (2 Chainz and Pharrel both make their exhilarating first appearance on any RTJ project). The Jewels here are as provocative as ever as they continue to take aim at societal leaders and those who profit off of exploitation. Take the hook of standout track “JU$T,” which repeats the line “look at all these slave masters posing on your dollar," a blunt but inflaming point that immediately sticks with the listener only to then realize that that is one single line on a ten track album full of moments like this. If this write-up feels a bit simple, it’s only because Run the Jewels is so forthrightly and obviously good that to put too many words explaining why feels counterproductive. This is undeniably one of the best rap projects of the year, but if you’re at all familiar with this duo, you knew that would be the case before it was even released. - Griffin McMorrow