It’s beginning to feel a lot like listmas…(too early?). That’s right the major publications, media outlets and record stores are starting to publish their best of 2020 lists. Amongst the most prestigious is Rough Trade’s top 100 list, which was published today. One of the great things about the Rough Trade list is that it is always full of surprises and often throws up gems that you’ve missed throughout the year.

This year’s album of the year according to Rough Trade is ‘Untitled (Black IS)’ by Sault, with Phobe Bridgers taking the silver medal for ‘Punisher’, and Rina Sawayama the bronze for ‘Sawayama’. They are joined by albums from Laura Marling, JARV IS, Dream Wife, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Bdrmm, Porridge Radio, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, which complete the top ten albums of the year.

One notable omission from the list is Fiona Apple’s ‘Fetch The Bolt Cutters’ which received a rare perfect score from Pitchfork in 2020.

SAULT

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The list provides better news for 3 Irish acts Fontaines D.C, Brigid Mae Power and Pillow Queens, who land at number 23, 27 and 49 respectively. Meanwhile Kean Kavanagh and Maria Somerville can be proud of their contributions to ‘Friday Forever’ by Everything is Recorded, which placed at 60 on the list. Listen to the Irish albums below. See the full Rough Trade list – here

Fontaines D.C

Read our review – here

Brigid Mae Power

Read our review – here

Pillow Queens

Read our review – here.