Written by Astrid Elstrom
Nearing the end of 2020, some of the members of the Legends of Tomorrow writers' team put together lists of their favorite releases of the year. Up first is Astrid with their picks!
5. "Evermore" by Taylor Swift
Released: December 11th, 2020
Favorite Tracks: "No Body, No Crime (ft. HAIM)", "Happiness", "Champagne Problems"
How to Support: Merch via Official Artist Store, @TaylorSwift13 on Twitter
2020 has proven that Taylor Swift is the gift that keeps on giving. Her second surprise album of the year, just in time for the singer’s 31st birthday, "Evermore" is the sister album to her July release "Folklore."
There are definitely some connections between the two albums, with “Champagne Problems” serving as a potential continuation of “The Last Great American Dynasty” or “Willow” being another part of “August.” There are also references to Swift's 2019 album "Lover" in a few tracks.
One of my favorite songs on this record, “Happiness” is a beautifully deceptive song title, acknowledging a relationship that has run its course and is coming to an end. The chorus is bittersweet, as the pop star sings, “There’ll be happiness after you / But there was happiness because of you / Both of these things can be true”, making peace with the good times and trying to move on.
4. "Tickets to My Downfall" by Machine Gun Kelly
Released: September 25th, 2020
Favorite Tracks: "Bloody Valentine", "Forget Me Too (ft. Halsey)", "Play This When I'm Gone"
How to support: Merch via Official Artist Store, @MachineGunKelly on Twitter
Only a short time after Machine Gun Kelly’s 2019 release "Hotel Diablo", he put out his fifth studio album, "Tickets to My Downfall." This record was his first time experimenting with pop-punk, as his previous music could best be described as rap.
This album has stuck with me since its release because of the nostalgia that it brings me as someone who grew up on 2000s-2010s alternative and rock music. "Forget Me Too" is filled with energy and Halsey's appearance makes it a dream collaboration, while "Bloody Valentine" draws from early 2000s rock and has a great music video.
3. "Folklore" by Taylor Swift
Released: July 24th, 2020
Favorite Tracks: "Hoax", "Exile (ft. Bon Iver)", "Illicit Affairs"
How to Support: Merch via Official Artist Store, @TaylorSwift13 on Twitter
2020 was full of surprises, and Taylor Swift releasing an album out of nowhere was definitely one of the more pleasant ones. "Folklore" is such a fantastic mixture between Swift's old sound and the newer sound that she is growing into, with aspects of country and pop blending incredibly well together.
While some of us picked up "quarantine hobbies", this singer molded the concepts for this album while she was stuck inside due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The story from "The Last Great American Dynasty" centers around the former owner of her home in Rhode Island, a woman named Rebekah Harkness, drawing similarities between herself and Harkness and how they were viewed by others.
Tracks like “Hoax” and “Exile” show that she can still pull off those classic breakup songs. This is one of my favorite Taylor Swift albums, by far.
2. "If Only" by Lilac Queen
Released: April 10th, 2020
Favorite Track: "Cemetery Sounds"
How to Support: Merch via Bandcamp, Vinyl and Merch via No Sleep Records, @LilacQueenTV on Twitter
"If Only" by Lilac Queen is one of those albums that is best listened to in one sitting, from start to finish, with no interruptions. The haunting vocals and echoing guitar riffs make this album feel like an immersion into the depths of repressed memories.
“Cemetery Sounds” describes finally deciding to not be limited by past trauma and coping with those memories and is definitely the standout track on this release. This EP is cathartic, a journey into the healing process and wondering what comes next.
The Massachusetts shoegaze band originally released their debut EP in February. It was later reissued in April on No Sleep Records when the band signed to the label.
Though this is only Lilac Queen’s first release, I am beyond excited to hear more from this band. I can’t wait to see what next year holds for them!
1. "Petals For Armor" by Hayley Williams
Released: May 8th, 2020
Favorite Tracks: "Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris", "Crystal Clear"
"Petals For Armor" takes the cake as the album of the year for me for its variety in pop styles and lyricism. 2020 has not been easy for anyone; this album, however, has felt like a perfect escape from the noise going on in the outside world.
With an ethereal track like “Crystal Clear”, it’s hard not to escape into a bliss state. “Pure Love” has a lively 80s pop style that makes it almost impossible to not want to get up and dance.
One song that continues to stick out from the rest of this album is “Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris”, which seems to be a callback to "26", a track from Williams' band Paramore’s album "After Laughter." Here, Williams explores the concept of femininity and how often it is overlooked or taken for granted, becoming an anthem of self-discovery for many searching for their identity.
Do you agree with Astrid's picks? Let us know by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!
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