December 30, 2020 Music, normally one of America’s biggest, splashiest productions, took on a strangely sedate tone in 2020. Big artists were largely silent, and when they weren’t, their work was often more subdued, introspective and even meaningful. It’s probably not surprising that being trapped inside leads to some more interesting art, but what is surprising was how good it was. Many artists discovered previously unexplored depths and showed a willingness to try new things that might have felt strange in any other year except this one. So, in a very different kind of year, our favorite albums feel different than in years past.