2020 has been a mess of a year on so many levels. For one, live music came to a total standstill. We are still standing still during this last week of the year.
Thankfully, when times get tough, artists get busy.
What did not stop this year is the writing and performing of music (in socially distanced studios). In fact, you could argue that 2020’s recorded music is truly outstanding by any measure. But why discuss such matters, when you can push play and listen?
The 21 songs in this playlist are standout tracks. Each track is also a signpost to the artist’s new album.
Laura Veirs, Jerry Joseph, Margo Price, Alicia Keys, Destroyer, Wolf Parade, Chuck Prophet, My Morning Jacket, and so many more musicians offered us songs of beauty and harmony in 2020—exactly what we need to shift from chaos to peace, and from collective despair to a new hopefulness.