Voicecoil « Blair Scott: Synthentral

There was so much amazing music in 2020. 2020 saw more singles/EP’s than albums. In 2019 I had 612 albums and this year I only had 447. I narrowed that down to the Top 100, then Top 50, and now it’s the Top 30 albums of 2020!

I have several rules I work with when getting to my Top 30 list:

In order for an album to qualify, the album must be in my library, either through purchasing it on my own or given to me by the band or label. There were quite a few albums released in 2020 that were not provided to me by the band/label or I was not able to purchase.
To qualify it must be an album. There are plenty of lists out there for “top songs” that cover singles and EPs.
To qualify as an album it must have at least seven original songs. Remixes, new versions, cover albums, compilations, and “best of” do not qualify. Intro and outro songs as well as brief intermission style songs do not count toward the total of original songs. This year instrumentals no longer counted since I stopped playing instrumentals on the show.
All albums are weighted so that an album with 7 songs has the same point system as an album with 12 songs.
I judge each song individually. Then rate the album overall based on the individual song scores, the listenability of the entire album, etc.
I post the lists alphabetically and do not list or post them in a “countdown” style.

I fully recognize that my list is subjective and that others will have different lists or disagree with my choices. I love that others have different lists and are passionate about different bands and albums! Regardless, listen to the music and give it all a chance. I have “LISTEN HERE” links next to each album title, so give each band and album a chance and listen and support the bands you like!

While I don’t list the albums in a 30 to 1 list, I think the highest rated album deserves to be recognized: my Number One Album of 2020 is “Singularity” by Voicecoil.

The Synthentral Top 30 Albums of 2020 (in alphabetical order):

11Grams - Humanicide — 11Grams – Humanicide: LISTEN HERE

Alanas Chosnau & Mark Reeder - Children Of Nature — Alanas Chosnau & Mark Reeder – Children Of Nature: LISTEN HERE

Alphamay - Conformity — Alphamay – Conformity: LISTEN HERE

Ashes 'N' Android - Razors Edge — Ashes ‘N’ Android – Razors Edge: LISTEN HERE

Assemblage 23 - Mourn — Assemblage 23 – Mourn: LISTEN HERE

BlakLight - Music In A Time Of Uncertainty — BlakLight – Music In A Time Of Uncertainty: LISTEN HERE

Brutalist Architecture In The Sun - Sadness Between Cities, The — Brutalist Architecture In The Sun – The Sadness Between Cities: LISTEN HERE

A Covenant Of Thorns - Black — A Covenant Of Thorns – Black: LISTEN HERE

Croona - Nobody Loves You — Croona – Nobody Loves You: LISTEN HERE

Daniel Hall - Dark Horse — Daniel Hall – Dark Horse: LISTEN HERE

Ego Bliss - What The Future Holds — Ego Bliss – What The Future Holds: LISTEN HERE

ES23 - Only Melodies Remain — ES23 – Only Melodies Remain: LISTEN HERE

FCH - Synaesthesia — FCH – Synaesthesia: LISTEN HERE

Frozen Plasma - Gezeiten — Frozen Plasma – Gezeiten: LISTEN HERE

Kim Lunner - This Is Me — Kim Lunner – This Is Me: LISTEN HERE

Kiss Of The Whip - We're Not Here — Kiss Of The Whip – We’re Not Here: LISTEN HERE

Klonavenus - Motion:Less — Klonavenus – Motion:Less: LISTEN HERE

Klutæ - Queer For Satan — Klutæ – Queer For Satan: LISTEN HERE

Korine - The Night We Raise — Korine – The Night We Raise: LISTEN HERE

N-Frequency - Signs Of Evolution — N-Frequency – Signs Of Evolution: LISTEN HERE

Neuroactive - Minor Side-Effects — Neuroactive – Minor Side-Effects: LISTEN HERE

The New Division - Hidden Memories — The New Division – Hidden Memories: LISTEN HERE

Noise Resistance - Insights Of Ego — Noise Resistance – Insights Of Ego: LISTEN HERE

Pandoria - Clean — Pandoria – Clean: LISTEN HERE

Pitch Yarn Of Matter - Legacy — Pitch Yarn Of Matter – Legacy: LISTEN HERE

Provision - Hearts Turn Dark — Provision – Hearts Turn Dark: LISTEN HERE

Technophobia - Some Of Us Are Looking At The Stars — Technophobia – Some Of Us Are Looking At The Stars: LISTEN HERE

Vandal Moon - Black Kiss — Vandal Moon – Black Kiss: LISTEN HERE

Vaylon - Legacy — Vaylon – Legacy: LISTEN HERE

Voicecoil - Singularity — Voicecoil – Singularity: LISTEN HERE

My theme this time is “2016 New Music!” I put all the music released in 2016 and sorted it alphabetically by album. This is Volume 2, with album titles F through O. Some bands put out more than one album in 2016, so you may see them twice in different volumes. 2016 was a fantastic music year if you like synth-based music! It was also a phenomenal year for concerts for me. I got to see some amazing artists in concert, from Assemblage 23 to the Pet Shop Boys. Here’s hoping 2017 is just as magical!

It’s music time again! Why do I do this? Well, in the hopes of introducing people to new synth-based music (EBM, Futurepop, Synthpop, Synthwave, Darkwave, Industrial, Industrial Dance, Electro, etc). So give the bands a listen and if you like what you hear, then go and pay for their album and support the bands!

NOTE: I own (as in paid for, or was gifted) all of the music that I feature. I also attend as many local shows that I can to support bands when they’re on tour. Please do the same and support music!

ARTIST: Sin.Sin
SONG: Moving Sands
ALBUM: Fairytronics EP
YEAR: 2016