While 2020 is likely to be remembered for society screeching to a halt from the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot forget that many artists released wonderful music over the course of the year. McG’s Backroom offers its picks below for the best musical releases of the year and calls on its listeners to support artists any way they can — by buying their music, picking up their merch, and going to see them perform live.

McG’s Favorite Albums of 2020

1. Mr. Bungle – Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo (Ipecac)
2. Kutiman – Wachaga (Tanzania)
3. Doves – The Universal Want (Virgin)
4. Protomartyr – Ultimate Success Today (Domino Recording)
5. Wire – Mind Hive (Pinkflag)
6. Power Trip – Live in Seattle 05.28.2018 (Dark Operative)
7. Ride – Clouds in the Mirror (Wichita)
8. Mint Mile – Ambertron (Comed Minus One)
9. Roger Eno, Brian Eno – Mixing Colours, Luminous (Deutsche Grammophon)
10. The Psychedelic Furs – Made of Rain (Cooking Vinyl)

McG’s Favorite Reissues of 2020

1. Pylon – Box (New West)
2. Kraftwerk – The Catalogue, reissued on color vinyl (Kling Klang)
3. Circle Jerks – Group Sex 40th Anniversary edition (Trust)
4. Redd Kross – Red Kross EP (Merge)
5. Brian Eno / Jah Wobble – Spinner (Gyroscope)
6. No Trend – Too Many Humans / Teen Love (Drag City)
7. Greg Graffin – American Lesion (Epitaph)
8. Bob Mould – Distortion 1989-1995 LP Box Set (Demon)
9. Paul McCartney – Flaming Pie – Archive Edition (Capitol)
10. PJ Harvey – Rid Of Me (Island)

Eric Bensel’s Favorite Albums of 2020

1. Slift – Ummon (Vicious Circle / Stolen Body)
2. Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Viscerals (Rocket)
3. Carlton Melton – Where This Leads (Agitated)
4. Psychic Lemon – Studio Jams – Vol 1 and Vol 2 (Lemon)
5. Mugstar – GRAFT (Centripetal Force / Cardinal Fuzz)
6. Metz – Atlas Vending (Sub Pop)
7. Bob Mould – Blue Hearts (Merge)
8. Casual Nun – Resort for Dead Desires (Hominid Sounds)
9. No Age – Goons Be Gone (Drag City)
10. AN Object – Postmodernity (VL)

Mike Lenert’s Favorite Albums of 2020

1. Alex Mackay – Targazer (Forwind)
2. Slift – Ummon (Vicious Circle / Stolen Body)
3. Wire – 10:20 (Pinkflag)
4. Henrietta Goetz – Faustian S’more Bargain
5. Emma Swift – Blonde on the Tracks (Tiny Ghost)
6. Brian Eno / Jah Wobble – Spinner (Gyroscope)
7. Sonic Boom – All Things Being Equal (Carpark)
8. Twitcher – Life is Cheep (Twitcher)
9. Lazy Salon – Lazy Salon (LZY_SLN)
10. Bob Mould – Blue Hearts (Merge)

Andy Duvall’s Favorite Albums of 2020

1. Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways (Columbia)
2. Kings of the Fucking Sea – In Concert (Agitated)
3. Thelonious Monk – Palo Alto (Impulse!)
4. Rose City Band – Summerlong (Thrill Jockey)
5. White Manna – ARC (Cardinal Fuzz)