THE ULTIMATE PLAYLIST OF 2020

ICONS & A-LISTERS

Big hitters from rock’s big cheeses.

AC/DC

In an unsettling world, the return of AC/DC felt like an arm around the shoulder. Nobody wanted curve balls, and Realize broke negligible new ground, sticking with the stomp-’n’-chant template and a vintage shriek from Brian Johnson.

DEEP PURPLE

No Need To Shout

Ian Gillan has never sounded snarkier than on this “broad pop at politicians”, and the music seethed too, with Steve Morse driving a snakey riff that you couldn’t believe Jimmy Page hadn’t already written.

PEARL JAM

Dance Of The Clairvoyants

‘Save your predictions, and burn your assumptions’ sings a David Byrnechannelling Eddie Vedder over a naggingly funky bass line punctuated by vicious guitar stabs. Never truer words sung as PJ surprised us with this itchy pop groove.

FISH

Weltschmerz

The optimistic chimed verse of Weltschmerz clouded over into a distinctly stormier chorus. Saluting the next generation as humanity’s best shot at salvation, and closing what could be Fish’s final album, it’s hard to imagine a better full stop.

ALTER BRIDGE

Last Rites

Written over lockdown, Last Rites finds Myles Kennedy raging about saying ‘goodbye to the only way of life you’ve known’ while Mark Tremonti’s guitar is more brutal than it’s been in a long time.

FOO FIGHTERS

Shame Shame

Dave Grohl has teased  as “our Saturday night party album”, but is no standardissue mosher, coming out of left field with twitchy beats and Bowie-ish judders.