Album Reviews: The Music That Shaped 2020 (Part 2)
We’re heading back to the last couple of albums that made our soundtrack to 2020 so iconic and what kept us going through all the craziness.
I asked Jakob Brett; Sugar Storm team member, DJ and music enthusiast to review some of the most impactful albums of 2020, and of course we stuck to our alternative roots, looking at the best new music from pop punk, metal and rock. Turns out there was more than expected so it had to be a two-parter. If you haven’t read part one, you can find it here.
Did your favourite make it on the list? Let us know your highlight album of 2020 in the comments below.
You can also listen to the Sugar Storm Soundtrack of 2020 on Spotify now.
Reviews by Jakob Brett.
Heartwork
The Used
Released 24 April 2020
Emo/post-hardcore legends The Used have bought back their unmistakable sound yet still sound fresh for a band that's been releasing music on the regular since 2001. Being one of the many faces of emo since the early 2000’s, Utah's The Used are well ingrained in the scene. If you ever had an emo or scene kid phase, then you would have definitely heard songs such as “The Taste Of Ink, The Bird And The Worm and All That I’ve Got”.
This album opens on the track “Paradise Lost, a poem by John Milton”; with a catchy, clunky, distorted guitar riff that could easily become an ear-worm. A strong opening track that makes you think that you may be travelling back in time to heyday of emo around 06-07. The next track was something truly special; “Blow Me” featuring the badass vocals of Jason Aalon Butler of Letlive and Fever 333. This track has a brutal breakdown; the kind where the crowd would split and you’d find yourself on the borders of a wall of death if COVID didn’t ruin gigs this year. There are a number of complete ragers through this album that are sure to have you banging your head or doing that weird whisper scream thing when your can’t actual do screamo vocals.
This album is loud, noisy, angry and fast yet has the slow, sad and floaty breaks you would expect from any good emo album. There is plenty to be excited about with this album; it’s a great mix of traditional emo lyrics and vocals, heavy guitar and breakdowns, strings, piano and some surprisingly deep bass tones and trap beats.
A personal favourite is “The Lottery” which goes ridiculously hard and heavy; this track also feature Caleb Shomo of Attack Attack! and Beartooth.
8/10 - This album has everything that makes a classic emo album with some modern twists to keep things fresh and exciting. Turn up the breakdown in “The lottery” just because it’s great. I can’t stop listening to it!
Tickets To My Downfall (Sold Out Deluxe)
Machine Gun Kelly
Released 25 September 2020
Many people will know Machine Gun Kelly for his rap material or features in numerous other tracks. He’s also an accomplished actor starring in such films as NERVE and The Dirt. Being born in Texas to Christian missionaries, he moved around a lot as a youngster; which must have left him with some serious angst. After settling down in Cleveland, he started chasing the dream of being a rapper, released a number of mixtapes and eventually got signed.
On this album he has completely flipped genres on us and released a pop punk album. Machine Gun Kelly isn’t strictly new to the pop punk and the rock scene after performing shows on the Vans Warped Tour (you can’t get much more pop punk than that right?) and even played Download Festival in 2017. This album is all out pop punk; the kind of thing you’d expect to hear from Sum 41 or Blink-182. He even worked with the legendary drummer that is Travis Barker (of Blink-182) to produce and drum on the album. There are a number of other vocal features on this album including Blackbear, Halsey, YUNGBLUD, who all seem to work and fit seamlessly into the album.
The thundering guitar and drums really give this whole album a classic skater punk aesthetic but it also holds some of the tones and rolling high-hats you would hear in most rap or trap tracks. This album is so pop punk, the track “Bloody Valentine” features on the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 remake.This album is a great skating, driving, bbq soundtrack and instantly makes me remember messing around in the streets and at the park as a teenager. There are two or so slow and quiet tracks or interludes through the album, other than that it’s loud and fast throughout.
8/10 - A true summer skating, drinking and partying album and Machine Gun Kelly does pop punk well. Definitely bringing the genre to a new audience, which is always a good thing.
Thanks so much to Jakob Brett for reviewing the albums of 2020, and thank you all for reading! Join in the discussion of your top albums of 2020 in the comments below.