KCRW Reveals Best of 2020
Top 10 Albums, Best 15 Songs, Best New Artist and
Most Popular Today’s Top Tunes
Santa Monica, CA (December 17, 2020) – KCRW has revealed its Best of 2020, the coveted list of the year’s Top Ten Albums, Best 15 Songs, Best New Artist, and Most Popular Today’s Top Tunes. The annual Best Of recognizes the music that caught KCRW DJs’ attention throughout the year. These artists continually innovate and inspire, while pushing culture forward.
Thank goodness for all of the stellar music in a year in which we really needed it. As our team of DJ’s began compiling KCRW’s Best of 2020, we realized even more how much we were affected by the music and lyrics of these incredible artists. I heard music differently this year. Old songs sounded new and context changed everything. Our Best of 2020 says a lot about everything that we’ve lived through in recent memory – from work built to further engage us in challenging conversations, to pure sonic euphoria, and everything in between. It is truly my honor to present you with KCRW’s Best of 2020.
— Anne Litt, Program Director of Music and Host of Morning Becomes Eclectic
KCRW’s Top 10 Albums of 2020
Intimate chamber pieces circle and spiral into bombastic anthems. These albums found their way into our hearts and have permanently set-up camp — so much so that we had no choice but to honor a tie at #1.
- Sault – “Untitled (Rise)” and “Untitled (Black Is)”
- Fiona Apple – “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”
- Gabriel Garzón Montano – “Agüita”
- Run The Jewels – “RTJ4”
- Lianne La Havas – “Lianne La Havas”
- Mac Miller – “Circles”
- Tame Impala – “The Slow Rush”
- St. Panther – “These Days”
- Little Dragon – “New Me, Same Us”
- Peter CottonTale – “Catch”
KCRW’s Favorite Fifteen Songs of 2020 (listed alphabetically by artist)
Each KCRW DJ presented a list of their favorite songs of the year. Out of all of them, these were chosen in equal numbers.
- “Look Over Your Shoulder” – (Featuring Kendrick Lamar) – Busta Rhymes
- “The Good Life” – Devon Gilfillian
- “Brasil” – EOB
- “Shameika” – Fiona Apple
- “In Loving Memory” – Gabriels
- “Love And Hate In A Different Time” – Gabriels
- “SULA (Paperback)” – Jamila Woods
- “Wolves” – Jensen McRae
- “Remember Where You Are” – Jessie Ware
- “Grey Skies” – Kate Bollinger
- “Time (You and I)” – Khruangbin
- “Good News” – Mac Miller
- “Virile” – Moses Sumney
- “Buenos Aires” – Nathy Peluso
- “Real Magic” – Ricky Reed
KCRW’s Best New Artist of 2020 – St. Panther
As KCRW’s 2020 pick for Best New Artist, St. Panther joins Black Pumas, Rosalía, Anderson .Paak, and Tom Misch, who have also received this distinguished KCRW endorsement in recent years.
2020’s Most Popular Today’s Top Tunes
This year, KCRW has offered more than 250 free downloads as Today’s Top Tune, and we are proud to spotlight the artists that our audience has chosen as our collective top picks. Thank you for sharing your love of music (and good taste) with us.
— Ariana Morgenstern, Executive Producer, Music Department and Curator, Today’s Top Tune
- “Stand With Each Other” – Nubya Garcia
- “Shepherd Song” – Keleketla!
- “Apart Together” – Tim Minchin
- “Grey Skies” – Kate Bollinger
- “Eso Que Tu Haces” – Lido Pimenta
- “Look At Me Now” (Acoustic Version) – Emily King
- “Power Is Taken” (Featuring D.H. Peligro) – Moby
- “Sarava” – Seu Jorge & Rogê
- “Turn Me Up” (Featuring Aloe Blacc) – José James
- “Blue Comanche” – Westerman
Be sure to tune in tomorrow, Friday, December 18, at 9:00AM, to KCRW’s flagship music program Morning Becomes Eclectic, hosted by Anne Litt, for a three-hour special show highlighting KCRW’s favorite artists, albums and songs of the year. Personal picks from each individual KCRW DJ will also be revealed tomorrow morning, online at the Best of 2020 website.
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For more information please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com
About KCRW Music
KCRW’s hand-picked music programming is thoughtfully curated by actual people, not algorithms. It encourages real music discovery and delivers a truly eclectic listening experience. KCRW Music is helmed by Program Director of Music, industry veteran Anne Litt and a team of influential tastemaker DJs – Aaron Byrd, Anthony Valadez, Chris Douridas, Dan Wilcox, Garth Trinidad, Henry Rollins, Jason Bentley, Jason Kramer, Jeremy Sole, John Moses, José Galván, LeRoy Downs, Novena Carmel, Raul Campos, Scott Dallavo, Tom Schnabel, Travis Holcombe, and Valida. KCRW DJs are given one directive: “play what you love.” KCRW has hosted radio debuts and album celebrations for countless artists. Now household names, KCRW has been influential in helping launch the careers of such luminaries as Adele, Alabama Shakes, Anderson Paak, Angel Olsen, Beck, Billie Eilish, Brett Dennen, Coldplay, Eels, Fiona Apple, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Garbage, Gillian Welch, Janelle Monae, Jenny Lewis, Juana Molina, Kamasi Washington, Mac DeMarco, Natalie Lafourcade, Ray LaMontagne, Sofi Tukker, and Tame Impala, among many others. KCRW Music offers a robust array of music programming and content including nearly 100 hours of on-air music every week and a continuous curated stream of music, Eclectic24. In addition, KCRW is currently producing; a storytelling live session series In Residence that focuses on one artist via different platforms; Throwback Sessions that tap into the station’s vast archive of live performances exclusively available on YouTube; “Today’s Top Tune,” a free daily downloadable song; in-depth music reporting via the Lost Notes podcast; and Private Playlist which highlights local L.A. musicians and the music that’s moving them in the here and now.
About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of L.A. and deliver in innovative ways – on the radio, digitally and in person – to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world. A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW-developed smart phone app or online at kcrw.com.
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