For the last Bonus Tracks post of 2020, we have compiled links to many of our writers’ individual year-end retrospectives and best-of lists. The Singles Jukebox is all about presenting multiple opinions rather than letting a single voice dictate something’s artistic merit, and sharing such a wide variety of personal, unique takes on the year in music (and other media!) seemed like the perfect way to wrap up 2020.
- Al Varela wrote at length about the Best Hit Songs of 2020 (part 1 and part 2). They also put together a Spotify playlist of their favorite songs of the year (sans hits).
- Dorian Sinclair shared his 20 favorite albums of 2020 and his 40 favorite books he read this year.
- John Seroff made a meticulous list of many of the things he watched, listened to, did, and enjoyed in 2020.
- Brendan Nagle listed his favorite albums of the year.
- David Cooper Moore shared his ballot for the 2020 Uproxx Music Critics Poll, as well as a Spotify playlist of his favorite songs of the year.
- Daniel Montesinos-Donaghy wrote about the films he really loved this year (from both 2020 and earlier) for his newsletter Illicit Film Club.
- Leonel Manzanares de la Rosa listed the best metal albums of 2020, both in English (for The Young Folks) and in Spanish (for Subnoise).
- Oliver Maier shared his favorite albums of 2020.
- Joshua Minsoo Kim’s newsletter Tone Glow published its collective writers’ and readers’ year-end lists, including an introduction from Kim. His personal list is available in this post.
- Thomas Inskeep shared his top ten albums of the year (along with another ten), as well as his top ten singles.
- Michael Hong listed the best Mandopop of the year (albums, music videos, and songs), as well as his favorite albums and songs of 2020.
- Juana Giaimo spent most of the last 12 months listening to music from previous years, so she made a list of all the albums that joined her throughout 2020.
- Jessica Doyle wrote about her best-liked songs of the year.
- Nortey Dowuona shared his Best of 2020.
- Jeffrey Brister wrote about four older books (two novels, two comics) that he read or reread this year and enjoyed.
- Rachel Bowles kept a ranked list of all the films released in 2020 that she watched.
- Asif Becher wrote about her ten favorite first watches and first listens of the year.
- Kayla Beardslee wrote at length about her 109 Favorite Songs and 50 Favorite Albums of 2020. You can read her posts from the beginning, look at the numbered text list of songs and albums, or go directly to the concluding post about her 15 favorite songs of 2020.
- Will Adams shared his top 25 albums of the year.