2020 Power Rankings

Albums


Ranked albums of 2020 as rated by the committee of one.
RANKARTISTALBUMGENREPOWER
INDEX
RATING
1
HAIMWomen In Music, Pt. 3Indie Poptimism88. 8
2
Dua LipaFuture NostalgiaPop87. 7
3
UltraístaSisterArt Rock86. 7
4
Lanterns On The LakeSpook The HerdDream Pop85. 9
5
Jarryd JamesP.M.Electro-R&B82. 7
6
Matt BerningerSerpentine PrisonIndie Rock82. 2
7
Delta SpiritWhat Is ThereIndie Rock81. 6
T8
Jessie WareWhat's Your Pleasure?Pop78. 1
T8
Tame ImpalaThe Slow RushNeo-Psychedelia78. 1
10
Laura MarlingSong For Our DaughterChamber Folk78. 0
11
Mighty OaksAll Things GoFolk-Pop77. 9
T12
Purity RingWOMBPoptron77. 8
T12
Novo AmorCannot Be, WhatsoeverAmbient Folk77. 8
T12
THEY.The Amanda TapeUrban77. 8
15
Max RichterVoicesClassical76. 8
16
Selena GomezRarePop75. 7
17
Another SkyI Slept On The FloorArt Rock75. 5
18
Sasha SloanOnly ChildPop74. 8
19
Katie PruittExpectationsPop74. 7
T20
Bombay Bicycle ClubEverything Else Has Gone WrongIndie Pop/Rock74. 5
T20
Phoebe BridgersPunisherIndie Rock74. 5
T20
Nothing But ThievesMoral PanicPost-Rock74. 5
23
COINDreamlandIndie Pop/Rock74. 2
T24
H.C. McEntireEno AxisAlt-Country73. 8
T24
Dirty Projectors5EPsProgressive Indie73. 8
T26
Luke Jamesto feel love/dAlternative R&B73. 6
T26
HowlingColureIDM73. 6
28
Nils FrahmEmptyClassical73. 4
T29
Ariana GrandePositionsPop73. 3
T29
Moses Sumneygræ, Pt. 1Psychedelic Soul73. 3
T31
Ray LaMontagneMonovisionFolk Singer73. 1
T31
BRONSONBRONSONProgressive House73. 1
T31
Kid CudiMan On The Moon III: The ChosenMelodic Rap73. 1
34
Lauv~how i'm feeling~Pop72. 9
35
Perfume GeniusSet My Heart On Fire ImmediatelyArt Pop72. 7
36
CubicolorHardly A Day, Hardly A NightArt Rock72. 3
37
Glass AnimalsDreamlandDark Pop72. 1
38
Foreign FieldsThe Beauty Of SurvivalAmbient Folk72. 0
T39
LogicNo PressureRap71. 8
T39
Fleet FoxesShoreChamber Folk71. 8
41
ÁsgeirBury The MoonAmbient Folk71. 6
42
Justin BieberChangesPop71. 5
T43
ShallouMagical ThinkingChillbeat71. 3
T43
Lianne La HavasLianne La HavasNeo-Soul71. 3
T43
Adrianne LenkersongsIndie Folk71. 3
T43
CreeperSex, Death, & The Infinite VoidPost-Emo71. 3
T43
Cleo SolRose In The DarkNeo-Soul71. 3
48
PhantogramCeremonyIndietronica71. 1
T49
HONNEno song without youPop70. 6
T49
Taylor SwiftfolklorePop70. 6
T49
Other LivesFor Their LoveArt Rock70. 6
T49
The BethsJump Rope GazersIndie Rock70. 6
T49
SAULTUNTITLED (Rise)Psychedelic Soul70. 6
54
Ruston KellyShape & DestroyFolk Singer70. 5
55
PhoriaCaught A Black RabbitClassical70. 1
56
Taylor SwiftevermorePop69. 6
57
SAULTUNTITLED (Black Is)Psychedelic Soul69. 4
58
Andy ShaufThe Neon SkylineChamber Pop69. 2
T59
UtahLong PlayChillbeat68. 9
T59
Jessie ReyezBEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL USAlternative R&B68. 9
T61
TychoSimulcastChillwave68. 8
T61
WaxahatcheeSaint CloudAlt-Country68. 8
T61
Empress OfI'm Your Empress OfIndie Poptimism68. 8
T61
The Kite String TangleC()D3XProgressive House68. 8
T61
beabadoobeeFake It FlowersAlt-Rock68. 8
T61
Julianna BarwickHealing Is A MiracleAmbient68. 8
T61
Xavier Omärif You FeelUrban68. 8
68
SamiaThe BabyLo-Fi Indie68. 6
69
BrothertigerParadise LostChillwave68. 2
70
Lane 8Brightest LightsProgressive House68. 0
T71
Agnes ObelMyopiaAmbient67. 8
T71
TransvioletBorn To RulePop67. 8
T71
Joy Oladokunin defense of my own happiness, Vol. 1Pop67. 8
74
Chelsea CutlerHow To Be HumanPop67. 7
75
Kelly Lee OwensInner SongArt Pop67. 6
T76
POLIÇAWhen We Stay AliveArt Pop67. 5
T76
KhruangbinMordechaiNeo-Psychedelia67. 5
T76
SupercrushSODO PopIndie Rock67. 5
79
The Naked And FamousRecoverPoptron66. 7
80
WidowspeakPlumDream Pop66. 4
T81
Half WaifThe CaretakerMetropop66. 3
T81
Keaton HensonMonumentDream Pop66. 3
83
The Chain Gang Of 1974Honey Moon DripsIndie Poptimism65. 8
T84
D SmokeBlack HabitsRap65. 7
T84
Tom Misch & Yussef DayesWhat Kinda MusicNeo-R&B65. 7
86
Colours In The StreetAll The ColoursIndie Pop/Rock65. 6
T87
Lennon StellaThree. Two. One.Pop65. 4
T87
LomaDon't Shy AwayNeo-Psychedelia65. 4
T89
Soccer Mommycolor theoryIndie Rock65. 0
T89
Active ChildIn Another LifeIndie R&B65. 0
T89
Kota The FriendEverythingAlternative Rap65. 0
T89
Mura MasaR.Y.CIndie Electronic65. 0
T89
Freddie Gibbs & The AlchemistAlfredoRap65. 0
T89
The AvalanchesWe Will Always Love YouNeo-Psychedelia65. 0
95
Nathaniel RateliffAnd It’s Still AlrightFolk Singer64. 6
T96
GeorgiaSeeking ThrillsNew Rave64. 3
T96
Fiona AppleFetch The Bolt CuttersProgressive Indie64. 3
T96
My Morning JacketThe Waterfall IIIndie Rock64. 3
T96
All We AreProvidenceElectropop64. 3
T100
Astrid SLeave It BeautifulPop64. 2
T100
Big SeanDetroit 2Rap64. 2
102
Childish Gambino3.15.20Psychedelic Soul64. 1
T103
Elliot MossA Change In DietElectro-R&B64. 0
T103
CaribouSuddenlyMetropop64. 0
T103
AlgiersThere Is No YearPost-Hardcore64. 0
106
AmtracOddysseyProgressive House63. 8
T107
Sea WolfThrough A Dark WoodFolk-Rock63. 6
T107
The StrokesThe New AbnormalGarage Rock Revival63. 6
T107
Chloe x HalleUngodly HourUrban63. 6
T107
Angel OlsenWhole New MessExperimental63. 6
111
PVRISUse MePost-Rock63. 2
112
LANYmama's boyIndie Poptimism63. 0
113
AlunaRenaissanceNeo-R&B62. 8
114
Empty CountryEmpty CountryProgressive Indie62. 5
115
Benny The ButcherBurden Of ProofEast Coast Rap62. 3
T116
GrimesMiss AnthropoceneExperimental62. 0
T116
David RamirezMy Love Is A HurricaneFolk-Rock62. 0
T116
Ólafur Arnaldssome kind of peaceAmbient62. 0
T116
Slow Magicit's the end of the world, but it's okChillbeat62. 0
120
Alberta CrossWhat Are We Frightened Of?Indie Rock61. 9
121
Jhené AikoChilomboAlternative R&B61. 8
T122
Nadia ReidOut Of My ProvinceIndie Folk61. 5
T122
I Break HorsesWarningsPoptron61. 5
124
Helena DelandSomeone NewExperimental61. 3
T125
PoolsideLow SeasonAlternative Dance61. 2
T125
Thomas AzierLove, DisorderlyArt Pop61. 2
127
Megan Thee StallionGood NewsPop-Rap61. 0
T128
JoywavePossessionIndietronica60. 7
T128
STRFKRFuture Past LifeNeo-Psychedelia60. 7
T128
Fontaines D.C.A Hero's DeathPost-Hardcore60. 7
T128
Sufjan StevensThe AscensionArt Pop60. 7
132
Yves TumorHeaven To A Tortured MindExperimental60. 4
133
Sufjan Stevens & Lowell BramsAporiaExperimental60. 3
T134
ThundercatIt Is What It IsPsychedelic Soul60. 2
T134
Marcus KingEl DoradoPop60. 2
T134
Marika HackmanCoversArt Pop60. 2
137
Sara BareillesMore Love: Songs From Little Voice Season OnePop60. 0
138
SAINt JHNWhile The World Was BurningMelodic Rap59. 8
T139
BearcubsEarly HoursElectro-R&B59. 5
T139
Jadu HeartHyper RomanceNeo-Psychedelia59. 5
T141
Oh WonderNo One Else Can Wear Your CrownShimmer Pop59. 4
T141
Bonny Light HorsemanBonny Light HorsemanChamber Folk59. 4
T143
Theo KatzmanModern Johnny Sings: Songs In The Age Of VibePop59. 2
T143
Carly Rae JepsenDedicated Side BPop59. 2
T145
Best CoastAlways TomorrowLo-Fi Indie58. 9
T145
KlangstofThe Noise You Make Is SilentArt Rock58. 9
147
Son LuxTomorrows IArt Pop58. 8
148
TreasureseasonLife In ReverseDream Pop58. 6
149
Bear's Den & Paul FrithFragmentsFolk-Rock58. 4
150
Nine Inch NailsGhosts V: TogetherElectronic58. 1
151
The 1975Notes On A Conditional FormIndie Pop58. 0
152
clipping.Visions Of Bodies Being BurnedExperimental Hip-Hop57. 8
153
Son LuxTomorrows IIArt Pop56. 9
T154
KehlaniIt Was Good Until It Wasn'tUrban56. 8
T154
The WeekndAfter HoursPop56. 8
156
The Magic GangDeath Of The PartyIndie Rock56. 6
157
Spillage Village & MerebaSpilligionAlternative Rap56. 3
158
Moses Sumneygræ, Pt. 2Psychedelic Soul55. 5
159
EchosmithLonely GenerationPop54. 4
160
HalseyManicDark Pop53. 7
161
KhushiStrange SeasonsElectro-R&B53. 3
162
Jay ElectronicaA Written TestimonyRap53. 0
T163
Run The JewelsRTJ4Alternative Rap52. 0
T163
Don ToliverHeaven Or HellTrap Rap52. 0
165
Hayley WilliamsPetals For ArmorIndie Poptimism51. 5
166
Son LittleAlohaPop51. 4
T167
dvsnA Muse In Her FeelingsAlternative R&B50. 4
T167
The Dear HunterThe Fox And The HuntOriginal Score50. 4
T169
Duke DumontDualityProgressive House50. 3
T169
KidbugKidbugAlt-Rock50. 3
T171
Porridge RadioEvery BadIndie Rock49. 7
T171
DrakeDark Lane Demo TapesRap49. 7
T173
Dan CrollGrand PlanIndie Pop48. 9
T173
Jack GarrattLove, Death & DancingArt Rock48. 9
175
Charli XCXhow i'm feeling nowDark Pop46. 4
176
Jonathan WilsonDixie BlurIndie Folk46. 0
177
JónsiShiverMetropop45. 7
178
Sorry925Experimental45. 4
179
Róisín MurphyRóisín MachinePop42. 7
180
Washed OutPurple NoonChillwave39. 7
181
Josef Salvatmodern anxietyPop38. 6
182
Rina SawayamaSAWAYAMAPop28. 3
183
Rich AucoinUnited StatesElectropop21. 8
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SpotifyApple Music

The Fine Print

  • The aFIREintheattic Power Index formula is top secret… but here’s a frivolous hint since we like you: It’s sort of like a logarithmic function on the weighted mean of the committee’s song ratings, which is then standardized-ish and scaled from 0 to 100.   Talk nerdy to me.
  • All songs on an album or EP are rated and contribute to its Power Index.   As a result, releases that are cohesive and consistently good, with fewer filler tracks, will invariably score higher than those with only a handful of great songs and a bunch of throwaways. Here, a release cannot be greater than the sum of its parts. For rankings that take that phenomenon into account, look to the aFIREintheattic Awards at the end of each year.
  • Note that EPs can tend toward higher scores than albums because sometimes an EP is a precursor to a full album and that album will contain the songs from the EP but with the addition of filler tracks that drag the Power Index score down.
  • Albums with a Power Index of 80 or higher and EPs with a Power Index of 70 or higher are a solid bet for a top 10 finish. The two highest scoring albums of all-time are Radiohead’s Kid A at 100.0 and OK Computer at 99.9 and the highest scoring EPs are Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s Winter at 96.7 and James Bay’s The Dark Of The Morning at 94.7. And we’ll be forthright: they probably always will be.
  • If a release is in the power rankings but is not in the playlist above, it’s not available on Spotify. The playlist is made up of the most popular song from each album in order based on its current power ranking.

EPs


Ranked EPs of 2020 as rated by the committee of one.
RANKARTISTEPGENREPOWER
INDEX
RATING
1
Jon BryantHalf BadIndie Poptimism93. 6
2
Victoria MonétJAGUARUrban83. 4
3
The Japanese HouseChewing Cotton WoolIndie Poptimism81. 6
4
Julia ChurchTo Have, Not Just To HoldPop81. 3
5
Dustin TebbuttLast LineAmbient Folk79. 9
6
Sylvan EssoFree LoveIndie Electronic77. 8
7
ColouringFluxNeo Mellow72. 4
8
Julia ChurchCups And BalloonsPop71. 7
9
HighasakiteThe Bare Romantic, Pt. 2Indie Poptimism71. 2
T10
6LACK6pc HotAlternative R&B70. 8
T10
AUGUST 08EMOTIONAL CUHAlternative R&B70. 8
T12
Kevin GarrettMade Up Lost TimePop70. 2
T12
EbenezerBad Romantic IIMelodic Rap70. 2
14
Wye OakNo HorizonMetropop69. 6
T15
Wye OakWalk SoftArt Rock69. 0
T15
PalaceSomeday, SomewhereIndie Rock69. 0
17
Gia MargaretMia GargaretAmbient68. 8
T18
LightsHow To Sleep When You're On FireChillwave67. 8
T18
BrothertigerFundamentals, Vol. IChillwave67. 8
T18
Destiny RogersGreat EscapePop67. 8
21
Looteheart eyesPop65. 3
22
Christine And The QueensLa Vita NuovaIndie Poptimism65. 2
23
Vic MensaV TAPERap64. 0
T24
Day WaveCrushLo-Fi Indie63. 4
T24
i_o & LightsAM 444Electro House63. 4
T24
AquiloSoberAmbient Folk63. 4
T24
EbenezerBad Romantic 2.5Melodic Rap63. 4
T24
Local NativesSour LemonIndie Rock63. 4
T24
BAYNKA Study In MovementShimmer Pop63. 4
T24
EMBRZSpirit ResetProgressive House63. 4
T31
YosteA Few Brief MomentsShimmer Pop62. 2
T31
Patrick DroneyState Of The HeartPop62. 2
T31
Bay LedgesNew DazeIndie Pop/Rock62. 2
T34
Lane 8 & OTRCross PollinationProgressive House59. 9
T34
BrothertigerFundamentals, Vol. IIChillwave59. 9
T36
Wild NothingLaughing GasMetropop59. 8
T36
Flock Of DimesLike So Much DesireMetropop59. 8
T36
Tiny DeathsIf I'm DreamingPoptron59. 8
T36
Lanterns On The LakeThe RealistDream Pop59. 8
T36
XYLØOutsiders ClubDark Pop59. 8
41
Damien JuradoWhat's New, Tomboy?Chamber Folk59. 4
42
PassengerPatchworkFolk Singer58. 1
43
The Lighthouse And The WhalerBrothers (B-Sides)Indie Pop/Rock56. 6
44
Bree Runway2000AND4EVAPop-Rap56. 0
45
Sabrina ClaudioChristmas BluesContemporary R&B55. 2
T46
florreimaginedIndie Pop/Rock54. 3
T46
LauvWithout YouPop54. 3
48
Henry JamisonTourismFolk Singer54. 0
49
Petit BiscuitParachuteFuture Bass53. 6
50
CHIKAINDUSTRY GAMESAlternative Rap52. 2
T51
Field ReportBrake Light Red TideFolk-Rock51. 4
T51
Valleysucks to see you doing betterIndie Poptimism51. 4
53
CayucasBlue SummerIndie Pop50. 4
T54
Father John MistyAnthem +3Chamber Pop49. 2
T54
James BlakeBeforeElectro-R&B49. 2
56
COINIndigo VioletIndie Pop/Rock49. 0
T57
Aero FlynnMadelineArt Rock47. 0
T57
BIAFOR CERTAINTrap Rap47. 0
59
HONNEnswy: dream editsPop46. 7
60
San HoloStay VibrantFuture Bass46. 4
61
The Mowgli'sDizzyonatightropeIndie Pop44. 7
62
Little SimzDrop 6Alternative Rap43. 3
63
Denzel Curry & Kenny BeatsUNLOCKEDHardcore Rap42. 5
64
XYLØThe Ganglands Of My HeartDark Pop41. 6
T65
Hayley KiyokoI'm Too Sensitive For This ShitPop40. 9
T65
JosephTrio Sessions: Vol.1Folk-Pop40. 9
67
Phoebe BridgersIf We Make It Through DecemberIndie Rock40. 8
T68
DotanNumbFolk-Pop40. 7
T68
Sure SureReceiveIndie Pop40. 7
T70
Bear's DenChristmas, HopefullyFolk-Rock40. 5
T70
Hayden ThorpeAerial SongsArt Pop40. 5
T70
Nilüfer YanyaFeeling Lucky?Art Pop40. 5
73
SwitchfootCoversAlternative Pop/Rock35. 2
74
IncubusTrust Fall (Side B)Alt-Rock34. 5
75
PUPThis Place Sucks AssPost-Emo33. 9
76
Lights & MYTHDead EndElectro House33. 1
77
Kota The FriendLyrics To Go, Vol. 1Rap26. 6
SCROLL →
SpotifyApple Music

The Fine Print

  • The aFIREintheattic Power Index formula is top secret… but here’s a frivolous hint since we like you: It’s sort of like a logarithmic function on the weighted mean of the committee’s song ratings, which is then standardized-ish and scaled from 0 to 100.   Talk nerdy to me.
  • All songs on an album or EP are rated and contribute to its Power Index.   As a result, releases that are cohesive and consistently good, with fewer filler tracks, will invariably score higher than those with only a handful of great songs and a bunch of throwaways. Here, a release cannot be greater than the sum of its parts. For rankings that take that phenomenon into account, look to the aFIREintheattic Awards at the end of each year.
  • Note that EPs can tend toward higher scores than albums because sometimes an EP is a precursor to a full album and that album will contain the songs from the EP but with the addition of filler tracks that drag the Power Index score down.
  • Albums with a Power Index of 80 or higher and EPs with a Power Index of 70 or higher are a solid bet for a top 10 finish. The two highest scoring albums of all-time are Radiohead’s Kid A at 100.0 and OK Computer at 99.9 and the highest scoring EPs are Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s Winter at 96.7 and James Bay’s The Dark Of The Morning at 94.7. And we’ll be forthright: they probably always will be.
  • If a release is in the power rankings but is not in the playlist above, it’s not available on Spotify. The playlist is made up of the most popular song from each album in order based on its current power ranking.