Just about every 2020 best album list features some variance of 2020 was a shitty year, but at least we had plenty of good music to help get us through. Let’s skip all of that, and get straight to the list of the 40 best protest albums of 2020. When putting the list together several notable releases deserved consideration but were technically EPs. A separate list of notable socially conscious EPs will be published as well. The albums are presented in alphabetical order.
Riz Ahmed – The Long Goodbye
The sophomore album by the British rapper and actor is an ambitious concept piece that depicts England as an abusive romantic partner. That is the ideal backdrop to explore the racism and anti-immigration rhetoric that led to Brexit.
Algiers – There Is No Year
The follow-up to the genre-defying rock band’s exceptional 2017 album, The Underside of Power, is the perfect summation of 2020. Many of us would like to pretend 2020 didn’t happen, that ‘there is no year.” Released back in January, the album now comes across as prophetic in retrospect.
Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Part of the reason why Apple’s critically acclaim masterpiece resonates is that it encapsulates the feelings of anxieties many are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. It deals with themes of empowerment, urging listeners to unleash their tools of liberation to free themselves from oppression.
Rich Aucoin – United States
The Canadian singer-songwriter has successfully crafted a shiny indie-pop gem that effortlessly marries insightful social commentary with infectious musical grooves. The album is full of galvanizing anthems that well articulates the current political climate.
Backxwash – God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It
This stunning rap-metal hybrid which features heavy horrorcore elements is a prime example of the intersecting of the personal and political. The songs address the personal trauma that the Zambian-Canadian rapper has experienced as a black trans woman. It also exposes the role that religion and other institutions have played in implementing the trauma.
Black Thought – Streams of Thought Vol. 3: Cane and Abel
The third installment of the Streams of Thought series by The Roots emcee showcases why he is respected as one of the best rappers of all-time. His impeccable flow is employed to provide timely social commentary on different aspects of the Black American experience.
clipping. – Visions of Bodies Being Burned
The sequel to the experimental hip-hop trio 2019 horrorcore masterpiece There Existed an Addiction to Blood (which was one of the best protest albums of 2019) might even be better than its predecessor. Once again, they succeed in employing horror movie themes to examine real-life socio-political issues.
Shemekia Copeland – Uncivil War
The latest album by the powerhouse blues vocalist is a potent album that links America’s history of race relations with what is currently taken place. The album strikes the right balance of mourning, with a sense of hope that things will eventually get better.
Dorian Electra – My Agenda
The hyperpop artist’s sophomore album is a genre-bending concept album that skillfully examines toxic masculinity and incels from a queer perspective. It accomplishes the rare feat of making serious points in a fun and irrelevant way.
Drive-By Truckers – The New OK
The second album released by the veteran southern rock band this year follows a similar vein to their January release The Unraveling. The album is even more relevant, and it includes songs that were directly influenced by Patterson Hood’s experiences of attending Black Lives Matter protests in Portland.
Steve Earle & The Dukes – Ghosts of West Virginia
The latest release by the renegade Americana artist is an exceptional concept album built around the Big Branch coal mine explosion which took place on April 5, 2010, and killed 29 people. The tunes were originally composed for the play “Coal Country” that was performed at the Public Theater in New York until the pandemic brought a premature end to its theatrical run. Without being preachy, Earle addresses the negligence and greed which contributed to the tragedy.
Grex – Everything You Said Was Wrong
The latest album by the art-rock duo is heavily influenced by their living in Oakland, California, a place that is adversely affected by economic and social inequality.
To read more about what made this album special, you can check out the album review. Also, had the opportunity to interview Karl Evangelista of the duo for episode 15 of the podcast.
Irreversible Entanglements – Who Sent You?
The sophomore album from the liberation-oriented free jazz collective is confrontational and provocative, both musically and lyrically. This stunning, boundary-pushing album, is just one of many 2020 musical projects involving the talented and prolific spoken-word artist Camae Ayewa (a.k.a. Moor Mother).
Previously featured album track “No Más” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
Ilsa – Preyer
The Washington D.C. death metal band’s latest release is a conceptual piece built around the real-life account of Sean Sellers, the Satanic murderer who was the only person under seventeen sentenced to death since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. This is not only the perfect backdrop for the band’s relentless musical attack, but it is also an effective outlet for exploring exploitative elements within religion, media, and government.
Jeremy Ivey – Waiting Out The Storm
The Nashville-based singer-songwriter follow-up his excellent 2019 debut The Dream And The Dreamer (which was one of the best protest albums of 2019) with an album that is even more politically direct. Considering much of the material was written before his debut, makes it standout as prescient in its timeliness.
Roy Kinsey – Kinsey: A Memoir
Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine – Tea Party Revenge Porn
The third album by this project of hardcore legend and former frontman of Dead Kennedys is as explicitly political as expected. The aggressive musical attack is well suited to Biafra’s ferocious verbal takedown of governmental corruption, conspiracy theories, and political apathy.
Jesse Jett – The Virus
The 90 minutes, 24 tracks debut album by the singer and rapper is a poignant time capsule of a two-month period between mid-March-May. The confrontational and honest album tackles the government’s failed COVID-19 response and how the virus exposed the failures of capitalism. Jett also denounces a two-party system that is failing to offer a real alternative.
Jett was also a guest on episode 30 of the podcast, where he discussed the album in more detail, and played an acoustic version of the album track “Speaker of the House.”
The Chicago rapper has masterfully crafted a compelling and frank collection of tunes. Kinsey effectively uses stripped down musical arrangement that allows him to lyrically tap into the personal trauma that he has experienced as a queer black man living in America.
Les Amazones d’ Afrique – Amazones Power
The second album by the pan-African female supergroup is an inspiring collection of women empowerment anthems. The album accomplishes the difficult task of blending infectious grooves with weighty issues such as global inequality, female genital mutilation, and lack of education. It is music that informs the mind, touches the heart, and moves the body.
Nana Grizol – South Somewhere Else
The latest album by the indie-folk-rock band deals with their experiences growing up in the American South. It exposes the culture of bigotry and homophobia that continues to be rampant. Change can only happen when uncomfortable realities are confronted, and this album boldly does that.
Moor Mother – Circuit City
The gifted spoken word artist and experimental musician have been so prolific in 2020, I probably could have done a top 10 year-end list of Moor Mother projects. Circuit City is her first theatrical work. The ambitious and compelling album’s four acts are set in a living room in a corporate-owned apartment complex. This provides the perfect backdrop to explore issues such as public/private ownership, housing, and technology.
Bob Mould – Blue Hearts
Between the climate and opioid crises, declining economic prospects, gentrification, late-stage capitalism, and growing divisions there is a lot to be pissed off about. On his latest album, the alt-rock elder statesman passionately expresses indignation at the current state of affairs.
Billy Nomates – Billy Nomates
The spectacular self-titled debut by the UK indie-rocker taps into Nomates personal experiences of working dead-end jobs and dealing with misogyny. She effectively employs her biting wit to decry capitalism, apathy, and hypocrisy. The album is also a stirring call for the forgotten masses to stand up and make the powers that be take notice.
Previously featured “FNP” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
Pink Siifu – NEGRO
Pink Siifu may be a rapper, but on his sophomore full-length he replaces most of the rapping with angry growls. The album is eclectic and confrontational, and he skillfully blends several genres including hardcore and free jazz. With 14 of the 20 tunes clocking in under two minutes, he doesn’t waste any time speaking out against police brutality and systemic racism.
Public Enemy – What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down
The iconic political rap group continues to make potent contributions to the canon of protest music. On their latest release, they make their long-awaited return to Def Jam, the home to their past classics. It would be a mistake to call it a return to form because Public Enemy never went anywhere, but the hard-hitting album holds up well with their past glories. The album is timely and much needed.
Salaam Remi – Black On Purpose
The successful veteran producer uses his skills and connections to curate a star-studded collection of black empowerment anthems. Along with originals, it also repurposes classic tunes which help emphasize that the current issues are nothing new, but it holds out optimism that change is still possible.
Resistance Revival Chorus – This Joy
Even though anger over injustices may be a catalyst within protest movements, it should also be noted that maintaining your joy can be a powerful act of resistance as well. The debut album by this collective of more than 70 women and non-binary singers is a joyful and powerful collection of resistance anthems.
Previously featured their reworking of Woody Guthrie’s “All You Fascists Bound To Lose” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
David Rovics – Say Their Name
The veteran singer-songwriter and activist continues to be prolific, releasing four albums in 2020. His latest album is a time capsule of the protests taking place in Portland during the period of June-September. Rovics appeared on episode 22 of the podcast, discussing the album and other topics.
Run The Jewels – RTJ4
If you have to choose one album to represent the political climate of 2020, this may be the album. Considering it has only been out since June, it might be premature to declare it an all-time classic, but it certainly felt immediately momentous. The duo of Killer Mike and El-P accomplishes the difficult feat of creating something that feels both timely and timeless.
Previously featured “walking in the snow” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
SAULT – UNTITLED (Black Is) & UNTITLED (Rise)
Cheating a bit since this is two separate albums, but it was impossible to choose just one, and thematically it could easily work as a double album. The first of the two UNTITLED (Black Is) from the mysterious and prolific collective was appropriately released on Juneteenth. The celebration of black excellence and insightful social commentary is further developed on the equally exceptional UNTITLED (Rise).
Naima Shalhoub – Siphr
The debut album by the Lebanese-American singer-songwriter is a captivating conceptual piece dealing with the significance of numbers 1-9 that are contained in the mystical siphr. The nine tunes are an exploration of her Arab American heritage, which touches upon several political and spiritual themes.
BL Shirelle – Assata Troi
This is the first full-length release from Die Jim Crow, a non-profit record label for current and formerly incarcerated musicians. It is also an outstanding debut for Shirelle, which was fittingly released on Juneteenth. Shirelle candidly relates her personal experience which provides valuable insights into systemic failures that have led to the oppressive cycles.
Shirelle was also a guest on episode 11 of the podcast where she discussed the album and her role as deputy director of Die Jim Crow.
Songhoy Blues – Optimisme
Sometimes the simple act of making music can be a statement of protest. That is definitely the case for the desert rock band from Mali who comes from a place where their music is considered illegal. They tap into their experiences to confront issues of universal injustices. Their latest album is an empowering collection of tunes that transcends cultural and language barriers.
Spaza – UPRIZE! (Music from the Original Motion Picture)
The South African musical collective with a rotating roster composed the soundtrack to the film UPRIZE! which deals with the June 16, 1976, anti-apartheid protests of high school students in Soweto. This album is an example of the important educational role that music can play, exposing listeners to a cultural history they may know little about. But it is more than just history, it contains relevant lessons. It is music that engages the mind and touches the heart.
Special Interest – The Passion Of
The sophomore album from the New Orleans anarcho-glam band succeeds in creating apocalyptic soundscapes. It is an intense listening experience that well articulates the anxieties that many are feeling.
Previously featured “All Tomorrow’s Carry” as a Daily Dose of Protest.
David Strickland – Spirit Of Hip-Hop
The spectacular debut by the sought after producer and engineer taps into his indigenous heritage to create a potent album that simultaneously informs the mind and shakes the body.
For more on why the album is worth the listen you can check out the review. Strickland and Canadian Hip-Hop pioneer Maestro Fresh Wes (who appears on the album), also appear on episode 6 of the podcast.
Toots and the Maytals – Got To Be Tough
Released on August 28, it was released just before the death of legendary frontman Toots Hibbert on September 11 due to complications from COVID-19 at the age of 77. This album of energetic resistance tunes is a fitting farewell to one of the pioneers of reggae.
U.S. Girls – Heavy Light
Experimental pop artist Meg Remy is skilled at weaving an insightful social message with catchy dance beats. Those gifts are on fine display on Heavy Light, a timely album that you can also get your groove on to.
War On Women – Wonderful Hell
When I had the privilege to interview frontwoman Shawna Potter for episode 10 of the podcast she revealed that the recording of their new album was completed and they were hoping to release it just before the US presidential election. Thankfully they accomplished that objective and the album was released right on time. The album is full of righteous rage, but that anger is channeled into a positive direction, urging listeners to take concrete action to bring about change.
Raye Zaragoza – Woman in Color
The second album by the socially conscious singer-songwriter taps into her experience as a descendent of Japanese and Indigenous parents. She uses her heritage to explore issues of inequality and injustices. She also dedicates the album to murdered and missing Indigenous women. Emotionally powerful listening experience which draws attention to important issues.
Also, check out the ongoing (at least for a bit longer) playlist of 2020 protest songs featuring music featured on the website, including songs from the albums on this list.