The best albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Sufjan Stevens, Jehnny Beth, John Frusciante, METZ, Pearl Jam, clipping., Hailey Whitters, Black Thought, Throwing Muses and Phoebe Bridgers. We’re starting to get into the nitty gritty of our list of the best albums of the year. These next…

It’s hard to imagine anyone would need extra stress in times like these. Yet it’s a gamble METZ is willing to take. Since 2008, the noise-punk trio has honed its high-pressure sound to a serrated edge. The band’s guitar-driven compositions have existed at the margins of meltdown, filled with…