AP's top albums of 2020: Toni Braxton, Teyana Taylor, JoJo
NEW YORK (AP) - The top 10 albums of the year by Associated Press Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu (a playlist of the albums can be found here ):
1. Toni Braxton, 'œSpell My Name": I can breathe again, thanks in part to the living legend Toni Braxton. 2020 was a hot mess, and one way to escape the madness was through music. 'œSpell My Name,'ť her 10th album, was released in August while we were in the thick of pandemic woes and other worldly issues. To this album I say: You mean the world to me. In my home, it's been playing seven whole days a week since its release. I don't want to turn it off. Listen up, and just let it flow.
With guest appearances from rap genius Missy Elliott, songwriting saint Babyface and guitar slayer H.E.R., let Toni un-break your heart with another sad love song after another sad love song on this epic 10-track set - but don't worry, it's not a depressing album that will make an already sad year sadder. Instead, it's classic R&B music led by a veteran singer who knows how to beautifully emote direct and strong lyrics on her songs. On 'œDo It,'ť she sings about how he wasn't man enough. On past hits she sang about why love shoulda brought you home, but now - on songs like 'œSaturday Night" and 'œGotta Move On'ť - she's the one calling the shots and breaking free from the bad guys. And on 'œDance,'ť she brings the heat with a song so perfect for BBQs and family reunions (wait till social distancing is over people!!!!)
How many ways can I say it? It's no secret, 'œSpell My Name'ť is the No. 1 of the year.
2. Teyana Taylor, 'œThe Album'ť: R&B princess Teyana Taylor boldly named her latest release 'œThe Album" and she has reason to. The project, her third, is a groovy and heartfelt 23-song adventure through the mind of a woman experiencing life's highs and lows. Her voice is piercing, her lyrics are striking, and the beats are both familiar and refreshing. With a heavy hand for sampling first-class R&B jams, Taylor has perfectly learned how to borrow from a song but still stand in front of it.
3. Ingrid Andress, 'œLady Like": A breakthrough country singer with a sharp pen, Ingrid Andress' 'œLady Like" will give you all the feels - much like Kacey Musgraves' groundbreaking 'œGolden Hour."
4. Chloe x Halle, 'œUngodly Hour'ť: From 'œDo It" to 'œBusy Boy," Chloe x Halle let their hair down on their sophomore album, taking us from the lounge to the club.
5. JoJo, 'œgood to know": Vocal beast JoJo pours all of her emotions on 'œgood to know," making a superb album that's good to listen to now, and later.
6. Bruce Springsteen, 'œLetter to You": Opening up about his friends who have died, Springsteen's voice is beautifully aching and gritty on this excellent rock album that screams PLAY ME LIVE!
7. Tiwa Savage, 'œCelia": Nigerian superstar Tiwa Savage proves why she's the Queen of Afrobeats on 'œCelia," a daredevil album with addictive tracks like 'œKoroba," 'œAttention," 'œDangerous Love,'ť 'œOle," 'œPark Well" and 'œTemptation," which features Sam Smith. Savage moves to the beat of her own drum, and listening to this batch of bops will induce your body to do the same.
8. Taylor Swift, 'œfolklore'ť: A fearless album from a five-star songwriter.
9. Victoria Monét, 'œJAGUAR": Victoria Monét has helped everyone from Ariana Grande to Chloe x Halle with her songwriting skills, but it's time the attention turns to her own albums. Monét's 2018 EP, 'œLife After Love, Pt. 2," was a masterpiece, and she followed it up this year with another knockout. 'œJAGUAR" is a contemporary R&B showpiece and proves there's more to come from Monét.
10. Ellie Goulding, 'œBrightest Blue": Ellie Goulding's first three albums explored different sounds but none of them missed a beat, and her fourth release is no different. Dripping with emotion, the tracks that make up 'œBrightest Blue" are bold and brave, and anchored by Goulding's breathtaking, airy vocal style. Singing the blues never sounded so good.