THE BEST SOUL ALBUMS 2020
The Wicked Sound favorite Soul, Neo-Soul and R'n'B albums of 2020:
1. SAULT Untitled (Black Is) (Forever Living Originals)
SAULT Untitled (Black Is) is an absolute classic. Released on Juneteenth during Black Lives Matter and Uprising movement. The perfect soundtrack to difficult times. 20 songs and no weak point. Psychedelic soul, electro-funk, jazz, Afrobeat, trip-hop, and poetry, all in one place. Beautiful music and an important message. 4 excellent albums released in 2 years. Anonymous band, no traditional promotion. Production from Inflo (Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka) and vocal from Cleo Sol (who also released her own solid album last year). Is there anything else should I add to it? Yes, If you haven't heard this album yet - do it now!
2. Black Pumas Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition), (ATO Records)
Black Pumas is a Texas-based duo of guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada and vocalist/guitarist Eric Burton. The unique voice of Eric and solid songwriting. A revelation. From busking on the streets to Grammy nominations. Phenomenal debut, the album came out originally in 2019, but Deluxe Edition, which we are talking about, was released last year. Their biggest hit Colors, has been viewed over 57 million times on YouTube. They took inspirations equally from Motown as from Wu-Tang Clan and the music sounds retro and modern at the same time.
From our Blog: Video of the Day: Black Pumas – Colors
3. Yazmin Lacey Morning Matters (Own Your Own Records)
Yazmin Lacey's new EP Morning Matters is her most accomplished offering yet. The album is inspired by new dawns and fresh starts, as artists described it: “The EP is dedicated to anyone that’s ever struggled with getting up and out in the morning, for everyone doing work on themselves and trying to live better”. And that's perfectly enough, listen to it once in the morning and you have your mood sorted, probably to the end of the week. Its soothing, intimate, and soulful collection of positive melodies to warm you up. Album also features strong instrumental contributions from Moses Boyd, Sarah Tandy, and Ezra Collective's Femi Koleoso and Ife Ogunjobi.
4. Lianne La Havas Lianne La Havas (Warner Records)
Lianne La Havas self-titled third release Lianne La Havas is a concept album inspired by the stages of a relationship, from early romance to demise. Lianne said: "While I didn’t expect this to be the direction of my new music, it’s my reality and it’s driven by emotion. I dare say that this is the closest I’ve gotten to a pure expression so far”. What can I say, that this is a perfect direction and wonderful album. Neo soul album with elements of jazz and folk. Musically inspired by Milton Nascimento, Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius, Al Green, and Destiny's Child.
5. Ego Ella May Honey For Wound (Upper Room Records)
Ego Ella May long-awaited debut album Honey For Wounds take on on jazz, r’n’b, and neo-soul featuring collaborations and production from artists including London's Jazz Scene dream team: Alfa Mist, Theo Croker, Ashley Henry, Andrew Ashong, Wu-Lu, Melo Zed, Joe Armon Jones (Ezra Collective), Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist), Wonky Logic (Steam Down), Oscar Jerome (Kokoroko), and Eddie Hick (Sons of Kemet). As the album title suggests, honey has been used for centuries as an effective remedy for wounds. Music on the other side is also perfect for healing, especially such a beautiful album like one from Ego Ella May.
From our Blog: Ego Ella May announced her debut album “Honey For Wounds” with two beautiful singles “Give A Little’” and “How Long ‘Til We’re Home”.
06. Zara McFarlane Songs Of An Unknown Tongue (Brownswood Records)
Zara McFarlane’s Songs of an Unknown Tongue is masterful work that underlines her continuous growth as an artist. Four years after her critically acclaimed, produced by Moses Boyd, reggae oriented third studio album “Arise”, she changed her musical direction into more heavy electro grooves of producers Kwake Bass and Wu-Lu. Zara’s fourth studio album pushes the boundaries of jazz adjacent music via an exploration into the folk and spiritual traditions of her ancestral motherland, Jamaica.
From our Blog: Zara McFarlane shared two new songs “Black Treasure” and “Future Echoes” from her forthcoming album “Songs of Unknown Tongue”.
07. Adeline Intérimes (Adeline / Unity Records)
Adeline's new EP Intérimes, is a genre-blending collection of 7 songs that give a future-facing nod to old school soul, funk and R&B. Rising singer, bassist and producer said about the album: “Producing my own music is when I feel most complete artistically. Everyone’s process is the best process as long as it’s true to them. Producing is just the way that I love to make music. And the biggest part of it is that it’s fun!” As a listener and a fan I can say that it also a great fun to listen to it, it's really enjoyable ride.
08. Oscar Jerome Breathe Deep (Oscar Jerome / Caroline Internbational)
Oscar Jerome Breathe Deep is South London's guitarist, singer, and composer's highly anticipated debut album. Oscar was previously collaborating with Afrobeat band KOKOROKO, Shabaka Hutchings, Moses Boyd, and Yussef Dayes. He has already in his discography a bunch of digital singles, two self-released EP, and a live album. His debut album takes us into a journey through jazz, neo-soul, funk, hip-hop, and indie rock, and features an army of collaborators: Lianne La Havas, Brother Portrait (Steam Down), Sheila Maurice Grey and Richie Sainwright (Kokoroko) andJoe Armon Jones (Ezra Collective).
09. The Dinner Party The Dinner Party (Sound Of Crenshaw / EMPIRE)
Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper and 9th Wonder have joined forces to create a new supergroup named Dinner Party. “Dinner Party is years of friendship, shows, dinners, conversations, laughs and life experience, all converging into one moment,” as band said. "Our chemistry is very strong. We all have a rapport with each other. It's like sitting down and having a conversation over drinks, and then we'll look up and be like, ‘Oh, we recorded something.’ You don't even realize it because it's literally just that simple. When you have the right chemistry with people, it's not hard." And we can feel and hear it, a relaxed atmosphere and a nice mix of nu-jazz, neo-soul, and hip-hop.
From our Blog: Terrace Martin shares his Three Part Music Series “Racism on Trial” Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper and Denzel Curry.
10. Jose James No Beginning No End 2 (Rainbow Blonde Records)
José James on his new album No Beginning No End 2 combines jazz, soul, drum’n’bass, and spoken word into his own unique brand of vocal jazz. It's a sequel to his 2013 Blue Note debut No Beginning No End. The album contains a huge list of special guests: Laura Mvula, Aloe Blacc, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Ledisi, Lizz Wright, Erik Truffaz, Hindi Zahra, and his partner Taali. As an artist said: This is a celebration of my artistic freedom and I want to invite the world. I’ve spent my entire career searching for a way to express what I love about music. This is Minneapolis Funk and me growing up as a child of the hip-hop generation. And it’s a tribute to the Jazz greats who weren’t able to own their own masters – Miles Davis, Nat Cole, Billie Holiday and John Coltrane.”
From our Blog: Jose James released “Nobody Knows My Name” with Laura Mvula and Kris Bowers.
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