The Highest-Rated Releases of 2020

If we were forced to give 2020 a rating, we would rate it nothing higher than 1/5. Who wants to argue? Didn’t think so.

And the only reason it gets 1 and not 0 is because at least we had music to help us through. Praise sweet baby Prince — we still had the internet to deliver us rallying tunes, the ability to virtually rummage through our favorite record stores’ bins, and share our musical highlights with friends and fellow fans.

In a year where there was not a lot to like, we’re taking a closer look at the releases that you, the Discogs Community, not just liked, but awarded the highest ratings of all.

First, a quick word on how we calculate the highest-rated releases of 2020. To avoid giving a release with a single 5/5 rating more clout than, say, a release with several 5/5 and a one 4/5 rating, we’ve used some math wizardry to weigh the ratings based on how recent the release is and the total number of ratings per release.

Electronic was chief among all genres that the Community was digging this year, with 32 of the following 50 top releases being of the electronic persuasion. Am I picking up a chill-working-from-home-soundtrack vibe here? Possibly a dancing-alone-in-my-living-room type of thing? (Purists among you might have to take that with a grain of salt unless you truly consider ABBA electronic).

Beyond that, it’s an interesting genre split:

1) 32 electronic releases

2) 9 hip-hop releases

3) 5 jazz releases

4) 4 rock releases

Following last year, two Dream Dance compilations’ silver dolphins surface on the highest-rated list once again. Volumes 86 and 87 made the 2019 edition. Not to be overlooked in 2020, Volumes 88 and 89 have cracked the top 50 this year as well.

Without further ado, we give you the highest-rated releases by the Discogs community in 2020. May you use these powers for good and find a record you love.

Highest-Rated 2020 Releases on Discogs

50. Ulla Straus – Tumbling Towards A Wall

Rating: 4.883
- Ratings: 69
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Experiences Ltd.
- Minimum Price: $96.38
49. Voodoos And Taboos – Ancient Brothel EP

Rating: 4.883
- Ratings: 69
- Format: 12″, EP
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Voodoos And Taboos Records
- Minimum Price: $23.75
48. Kraftwerk – Die Mensch• Maschine

Rating: 4.884
- Ratings: 58
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, RE, RM, Tra
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Kling Klang, Parlophone
- Minimum Price: $35.62
47. Prince & The New Power Generation – One Nite Alone… Live!

Rating: 4.884
- Ratings: 83
- Format: 4xLP, Album, Ltd, Pur
- Genre: Funk / Soul
- Labels: NPG Records, Legacy, The Prince Estate
- Minimum Price: $50.00
46. Voyager – Possessions

Rating: 4.885
- Ratings: 41
- Format: 12″, Ltd, W/Lbl
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: OKBRON
- Minimum Price: $39.50
45. The John Coltrane Quartet – Ballads

Rating: 4.885
- Ratings: 134
- Format: LP, Album, RE, 180
- Genre: Jazz
- Labels: Impulse!, Verve Records, UMe, Impulse!
- Minimum Price: $43.50
44. Savage – Italodisco

Rating: 4.886
- Ratings: 49
- Format: 12″, Maxi
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: DWA (Dance World Attack)
- Minimum Price: $17.25
43. The Rolling Stones – Totally Stripped (Live At The Paradiso Amsterdam 1995)

Rating: 4.886
- Ratings: 49
- Format: 2xLP, Ltd, Ora
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Rolling Stones Records, Eagle Rock Entertainment, Universal Music Group
- Minimum Price: $131.00
42. Global Communication – Transmissions

Rating: 4.889
- Ratings: 63
- Format: 2xLP, RE, RM, Gat + 2xLP, RE, RM, Gat + 3xLP, Comp
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Evolution
- Minimum Price: $260.00
41. Joy Division – Atmosphere

Rating: 4.889
- Ratings: 152
- Format: 12″, Single, RE, RM, 180
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Factory, Factory
- Minimum Price: $10.63
40. Ilyes, Gauvain – Rixdorf EP

Rating: 4.89
- Ratings: 53
- Format: 12″, EP
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Kaizenrecordsberlin
- Minimum Price: $9.88
39. Machine Head – Burn My Eyes

Rating: 4.89
- Ratings: 47
- Format: 2xLP, Album, Ltd, Num, RE, Gol
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Run Out Groove, Roadrunner Records
- Minimum Price: $30.88
38. The Phantasy – Ibiza

Rating: 4.891
- Ratings: 122
- Format: 2×12″, EP
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: The Phantasy
- Minimum Price: $58.38
37. Flemming Dalum – Italo Edits Vol 7

Rating: 4.892
- Ratings: 42
- Format: 12″, Ltd, Num, W/Lbl
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Centre Neptune
- Minimum Price: $236.88
36. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Piñata ’74

Rating: 4.892
- Ratings: 93
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, RE
- Genre: Hip Hop
- Labels: Madlib Invazion
- Minimum Price: $39.00
35. Sepultura – Beneath The Remains

Rating: 4.895
- Ratings: 79
- Format: 2xLP, Album, RE, RM
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Roadracer Records, Roadrunner Records
- Minimum Price: $13.00
34. ABBA – The Studio Albums

Rating: 4.896
- Ratings: 91
- Format: Box, Comp, Ltd, RM + LP, Album, RE, RM, Red + LP,
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Polar
- Minimum Price: $148.25
33. Stan Getz / João Gilberto Featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim – Getz / Gilberto

Rating: 4.896
- Ratings: 169
- Format: LP, Album, RE, 180
- Genre: Jazz
- Labels: Verve Records, Verve Records
- Minimum Price: $25.75
32. Leafar Legov – Mirror

Rating: 4.898
- Ratings: 92
- Format: 2×12″, Album, W/Lbl
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Giegling
- Minimum Price: $44.37
31. Pole – 1 2 2003

Rating: 4.899
- Ratings: 52
- Format: 2×12″, Album, RE, Blu + 2×12″, Album, RE, Red + 2x
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Mute, Mute
- Minimum Price: $123.00
30. The Rolling Stones – Living In A Ghost Town

Rating: 4.9
- Ratings: 77
- Format: 10″, S/Sided, Single, Ltd, Pur
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Rolling Stones Records, Polydor, Rolling Stones Records, Polydor
- Minimum Price: $22.62
29. Abfahrt Hinwil – Links Berge Rechts Seen (Deluxe Edition)

Rating: 4.902
- Ratings: 41
- Format: 2xLP, Comp, Dlx, Mar
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Lapsus Records
- Minimum Price: $30.00
28. Tom Petty – Wildflowers & All The Rest

Rating: 4.903
- Ratings: 361
- Format: 2xLP, Album, RE, RM + LP
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Warner Records
- Minimum Price: $35.50
27. Christopher Ledger – Deceptive Afterglow EP

Rating: 4.904
- Ratings: 50
- Format: 12″, EP
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Amphia
- Minimum Price: $14.00
26. Talla 2XLC & Alex M.O.R.P.H. – Techno Club Vol.58

Rating: 4.904
- Ratings: 44
- Format: 2xCD, Comp, Mixed
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: ZYX Music
- Minimum Price: $19.25
25. Various – Dream Dance Vol.88

Rating: 4.904
- Ratings: 44
- Format: 2xCD, Comp + CD, Mixed
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Sony Music
- Minimum Price: $26.00
24. The Primitive Painter – The Primitive Painter

Rating: 4.905
- Ratings: 61
- Format: 2×12″, Album, RE, RM
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Apollo
- Minimum Price: $21.88
23. Various – Other Times E.P. Vol. 3

Rating: 4.907
- Ratings: 54
- Format: 12″, Ltd, 200
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Other Times Records
- Minimum Price: $14.25
22. Trent Reznor And Atticus Ross – The Social Network

Rating: 4.908
- Ratings: 58
- Format: 2xLP, Album, RE, Def
- Genre: Stage & Screen
- Labels: The Null Corporation, UMe
- Minimum Price: $37.00
21. Various – Dream Dance Vol.89

Rating: 4.909
- Ratings: 42
- Format: 2xCD, Comp + CD, Comp, Mixed
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Sony Music
- Minimum Price: $26.37
20. Paul McCartney – Flaming Pie

Rating: 4.909
- Ratings: 77
- Format: Box + 2xLP, Album, RE, RM, 180 + LP, 180
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: MPL, Capitol Records, Universal Music Group
- Minimum Price: $45.00
19. MF Doom And Madlib – Madvillain – Madvillainy

Rating: 4.91
- Ratings: 45
- Format: 2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, Yel
- Genre: Hip Hop
- Labels: Stones Throw Records
- Minimum Price: $89.25
18. Kraftwerk – Computerwelt

Rating: 4.913
- Ratings: 52
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, RE, RM, RP, Yel
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Kling Klang, Parlophone
- Minimum Price: $29.50
17. Parcels – Live Vol.1

Rating: 4.916
- Ratings: 65
- Format: 2xLP, Album
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Because Music, Kitsuné Musique
- Minimum Price: $33.38
16. Hiroshi Yoshimura – Green

Rating: 4.917
- Ratings: 61
- Format: LP, Album, RE, RM
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Light In The Attic
- Minimum Price: $29.00
15. Lovebirds Featuring Stee Downes – Want You In My Soul

Rating: 4.92
- Ratings: 58
- Format: 12″, RE
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: South Street
- Minimum Price: $10.13
14. Tom Petty – Wildflowers & All The Rest

Rating: 4.92
- Ratings: 47
- Format: Box, Dlx + 2xLP, Album, RE, RM, 140 + LP, Album, 1
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Warner Records
- Minimum Price: $135.00
13. DJ Metatron – Loops Of Infinity (A Rave Loveletter)

Rating: 4.924
- Ratings: 157
- Format: 4×12″, Album
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: All Possible Worlds
- Minimum Price: $150.00
12. Pellegrino S. Snichelotto Pres. Zodyaco – Caucciù

Rating: 4.924
- Ratings: 55
- Format: 7″, Single, RP, Lar
- Genre: Jazz
- Labels: Early Sounds Recordings
- Minimum Price: $15.13
11. Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart

Rating: 4.925
- Ratings: 169
- Format: 12″, Single, RE, RM, 180
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Factory
- Minimum Price: $10.63
10. Loefah / D1 – Natural Charge / Crack Bong (Loefah RMX)

Rating: 4.927
- Ratings: 56
- Format: 12″, 180
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Version
- Minimum Price: $9.88
9. Various – SODOM Anthology (Keep Hardcore Alive)

Rating: 4.93
- Ratings: 53
- Format: 2×12″, Comp, Ltd, RM
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Slaves Of Devil Our Master
- Minimum Price: $95.25
8. New Order – Blue Monday

Rating: 4.933
- Ratings: 137
- Format: 12″, Single, RE, RM, 180
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Factory
- Minimum Price: $13.38
7. Prince – Sign “O” The Times

Rating: 4.933
- Ratings: 81
- Format: 2xLP, Album, RE, RM, 180 + 2xLP, Comp, RM, 180 + 6
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Warner Records, NPG Records, Paisley Park, The Prince Estate
- Minimum Price: $248.00
6. PFM & Tayla / PFM – Submarine Tune / Living Without You

Rating: 4.946
- Ratings: 54
- Format: 12″, Ltd, W/Lbl
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: OKBRON
- Minimum Price: $47.62
5. Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucía – Friday Night In San Francisco

Rating: 4.949
- Ratings: 60
- Format: 2xLP, Ltd, Num, RE, RM
- Genre: Jazz
- Labels: Impex Records
- Minimum Price: $90.87
4. Depeche Mode – Songs Of Faith And Devotion | The 12″ Singles

Rating: 4.954
- Ratings: 69
- Format: Box, Comp, Ltd, Num, RM + 12″, Single, RE + 12″, S
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Mute, Columbia, Sony Music
- Minimum Price: $172.63
3. Metallica & The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M2

Rating: 4.957
- Ratings: 64
- Format: Box, Dlx, Ltd + 4xLP, Album, Dlx, Ltd + 2xCD, Albu
- Genre: Rock
- Labels: Blackened Recordings
- Minimum Price: $190.00
2. Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um

Rating: 4.963
- Ratings: 117
- Format: 2×12″, Album, Ltd, Num, RE, RM, 180 + Box
- Genre: Jazz
- Labels: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Columbia, Sony Music Commercial Music Group
- Minimum Price: $180.00
1. Depeche Mode – Violator | The 12″ Singles

Rating: 4.969
- Ratings: 114
- Format: Box, Comp, Ltd, Num, RM + 12″, Single, RE + 12″, S
- Genre: Electronic
- Labels: Mute, Columbia, Sony Music
- Minimum Price: $269.00