The Century So Far in Music Part V

The Best Albums of 2020 through 2024

Here it is the last list of the best albums of the century. This one, as the subtitle says, covers albums that were released between 2020 and 2024. There are 22 of these so it’s another long one.

22. Tarantula Heart - Melvins

Melvins are not a band for everybody. Personally, I like them a lot. I’ve never seen them live which is unfortunate. This album of theirs was released by Ipecac in April 2024. It is their 27th studio album.

21. The Good Ship Lollipop - Venomous Concept

This band was formed in 2004 by members of Napalm Death and Brutal Truth. With that in mind, you might have a certain perception of what this band sounds like but, for the most part, you would be wrong. Although there are a few bits of grindcore mixed into this album, there is much more to this album. This LP is their 5th and was released in February 2023 by Extrinsic Records. My favorite songs from this one are “The Good Ship Lollipop,” “Can’t Lose,” “Fractured,” “Voices,” “Clinical,” and “Flowers Bloom.”

20. Hidden Vigorish - Nightmarathons

This one was released in October 2022 via A-F Records. My personal favorites form Hidden Vigorish are “Better,” “Complicated,” “Deadline,” “Not the End,” “Enough,” and “Senseless. It was #7 on my best of 2022 list that I wrote for Bad Copy.

19. Bet a Promise - New Junk City

Also an entry on the aforementioned best of list for Bad Copy, this one was #6 and was released in October of 2022. Favorite songs from this one include “High Contrast,” “Rosey,” and “Sold in Bunches.”

18. Letter to Self - Sprints

This one was released by this Irish outfit in January 2024 by City Slang.

17. A Good Year to Forget - Joey Cape

This solo album, released by the Lagwagon frontman in August 2021 by Fat Wreck Chords. Stand out tracks include the opening title track, “The Poetry In Our Mistakes,” “Saturday Night Fever,” “Under the Doormat,” and “Come Home.”

16. No Obligation - The Linda Lindas

This all girl rock band from Los Angeles released this album in October 2024 with Epitaph Records. It is the 2nd LP from the band.

15. To All Trains - Shellac

Unfortunately, this is the last album that the band will have put out, I’m assuming. This is because frontman Steve Albini passed away before it was released in May 2024 by Touch and Go Records. It was also the first LP of their in a decade. Their previous release, Dude Incredible, was released in 2014. My favorites on the album are “Days Are Dogs,” “Scabby the Rat,” and “Chick New Wave.”

14. EP IV - Cables and Arms

This EP was released in August 2020 by Wiretap Records.

13. Drive It Like It’s Stolen - Dave Hause

Big surprise here. Dave Hause releases in an album in this time period and it ends up on the list. This one was released in April 2023 by Blood Harmony Records. Drive It Like It’s Stolen is Dave’s 6th solo LP and favorites of mine include “Pedal Down,” “Damn Personal,” “chainsaweyes,” “lashingout,” and “Hazard Lights.”

12. Rebel Songs - Nathan Gray

This is the first of two albums that will appear on this list by the former Boysetsfire vocalist. t was released on December 2021 via End Hits Records. It is his 3rd solo effort. My favorite songs on this album are the title track (which includes guest vocals by Rise Against vocalist Tim McIlrath, “Radio Silence, “Million,” “Lost,” and “Don’t Wait Up.”

11. Le Feu Et Le Sable - Airstream Futures

Another entry on the overall list from this band was released in February 2020. It is their 2nd full length album. Some of my favorites from it are “King of Prussia,” “Stubborn Bones,” “Brighter Blue,” “My Moral Line,” and “Faster Than You Know.”

10. Don’t Wanna Dance Because I’m Told To - The Roxies

This album, released in January 2022 via Dirt Cult Records, is the band’s debut album. Taking inspiration from Garage Rock, Post-Punk and Indie Rock, it was hard not to recognize the influence from The Thermals that is prevalent from this German-based band. My favorite songs from this album are “Underdog” and “Lovedrunk.”

9. Free LSD - Off!

Another album released in 2022, this one came out in September of this year. This album was #1 on my best albums list of that year. If you aren’t familiar with the band, this is a project that was put together by Circle Jerks vocalist Keith Morris. Favorite tracks from this one include “Slice Up the Pie,” “Circuitry’s God,” “Peace or Conquest,” “War Above Los Angeles,” “Kill To Be Heard,” “Smoking Gun,” “Murder Corporation,” and the title track.

8. There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive - Bayside

This one was released in April of last year (2024) by Hopeless Records by the Queens, New York punk band. Favorite tracks on this one of mine include “The Devils,” “Castaway,” “Strangest Face,” and “I’m So Happy I Could Die.”

7. Working Title - Nathan Gray

Here’s the 2nd Nathan Gray entry on this list. It was the #1 album on my 2022 list. It was released in January of that year by End Hits Records. My favorites from this album are the title track, “In My Defense,” “Refrain,” “I’m A Lot,” and “Never Alone.”

6. Some Of It Was True - The Menzingers

Yeah, The Menzingers again. Sue me. Well, actually don’t. That would be the very definition of a frivolous lawsuit. I like this band so there. This one came out in October 2023 and was released by Epitaph Records. It was #2 on my best of 2023 list. Favorite songs from this album include “Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing,” “There’s No Place in This World For Me,” “Come on Heartache,” “Ultraviolet,” “Try,” and “High Low.”

5. When God Was Great - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

I can’t really say with all honesty that I am a huge fan of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. But this album…it was just great (pun intended). The LP was #2 on my best albums of 2021 list. It was released in May 2021 by Hellcat Records. It turns out that this was to be their final release because the band split up after almost 40 years of being a band. Stand out tracks on this album include “The Final Parade,” “Bruised,” “I Don’t Believe in Anything,” “Certain Things,” and “Lonely Boy.”

4. Love & Lore - Chuck Ragan

This one by the Hot Water Music frontman was my #1 pick of 2024. It was released in October of that year by Rise Records. Favorite tracks included “Northern World,” “Aching Hour,” “Reel My Heart,” and, quite possibly my favorite song of that year, “One More Shot.”

3. What Still Gets Me - Shit Present

This one was released in May 2023 by Specialist Subject Records. Shit Present is a trio based out of the UK. Lyrically, the album touches on struggling with sanity and mental health in general, something, I’m sure we can all relate to these days. It was the #1 album on my best of list for that year. There isn’t a bad song on this album but if I had to pick my favorites, they would be “Cram the Page,” “Voice in Your Head,” “Unraveling,” “Fuck It,” “Beyond Tonight,” “Too Into It,” and “Talking About the Rain.”

2. Blood Harmony - Dave Hause

Released in October 2021, this final album to be featured by the artist on this list was my pick for #1 album on that year’s list. Highlights on this album include “Sandy Sheets,” “Carry the Lantern,” “Surfboard,” “Gary,” “Northstar,” and “Hanalei.”

1. Sleepville - F.O.D.

This album by the Belgian punk band was released in March 2020. Strangely, although it was on my best of 2020 list, it was not in the #1 spot. In fact, it was #4. But as I continued to listen to the album, the more and more I liked it. This album mixed punk rock with progressive and orchestral elements! My favorite songs on this album include “Days of Future Passed,” the aforementioned “Thirtysomething and Counting,” and “On an Island.”

Well that’s it for this final list in my The Century So Far in Music series. I have to thank (or blame) Dave of Oklahoma Lefty for giving me the idea for doing this list. I’m thinking of doing a Century So Far in Movies list too so be on the lookout for that one.