Metacritic Aggregate: 2020 Old Music: World

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

Reissues, compilations, vault music, etc. For new records, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Tony Allen/Hugh Masekela: Rejoice (World Circuit) {39}: A3:29, AM:*, Btz:25, Crz:48, DB:*, Dr:81, Gl:*, HuN:47, Mj:14*, Pf:*, PM:40*, Rdx:36, TS:+, U:57*, W:*; g_w:8, jel:+, jhs:8, jlbi:5, mj_w:4, pm_w:2, sl:+, sol_a:+, vbr:5, xde:1 -- A:78/3, M:82/8, TH:A-
  2. Sharhabil Ahmed: The King of Sudanese Jazz (Habibi Funk) {12}: Bc:+, Mj_r:17, PO:+, RC_v:9; vbz:10 -- TH:A-
  3. Oneness of Juju: African Rhythms 1970-1982 (Strut -2CD) {8}: AAJ:*, Mj_r:19, PO:+; jak:+, mm:+ -- TH:**
  4. Leve Leve: Sao Tome & Principe Sounds '70s-'80s (Bongo Joe) {8}: PO:+, YW_r:2 -- TH:***
  5. Ranil Y Su Conjunto Tropical: Limited Dance Edition (Analog Africa) {6}: Bc:*+ -- TH:A-
  6. Ebo Taylor: Palaver (BBE -19) {6}: -- RC:B+, TH:***
  7. Cadence Revolution: Disques Debs International Vol 2 (Disques Debs/Strut) {6}: RC_v:21; bc_r:* -- TH:A-
  8. London Is the Place for Me 8: Lord Kitchener in England 1948-1962 (Honest Jon's -19) {6}: g_w:1 -- TH:***
  9. Victor Chukwu: Akalaka/The Power (BBE) {5}: PO:+ -- TH:A-
  10. Jon Hassell/Farafina: Flash of the Spirit (1988, Tak:Til/Glitterbeat) {5}: AAJ:*; jml:+, jrw:+, sol_fu:+, tbm:+
  11. Kakai Kilonzo & Les Kilimambogo Brothers: Buffalo Mountain (No Wahala Sounds) {5}: YW_r:53 -- TH:A-
  12. Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80: Perambulator (1983, Knitting Factory) {5}: PO:+; bc_r:+ -- TH:***
  13. Pedro Lima: Maguidala (1985, Bongo Joe) {5}: YW_r:25 -- TH:A-
  14. Nkem Njoku & Ozzobia Brothers: Ozobia Special (BBE) {5}: bc_r:* -- TH:A-
  15. Prince Buster: Roll On Charles Street (Rock A Shacka) {5}: rc_r:1 -- TH:**
  16. Cool Cats Invasion (Highlife, Juju & Palm-Wine) (Moochin' About) {5}: xjc:7 -- TH:A-
  17. London Is the Place for Me 7: Calypso, Palm-Wine, Mento, Joropo, Steel & Stringband (Honest Jon's -19) {5}: g_w:1 -- TH:**
  18. Uzelli Elektro Saz (1976-1984) (Uzelli) {5}: YW_r:6 -- TH:**
  19. Dudu Pukwana: Dudu Phukwana and the "Spears" (1968-69, Matsuli Music) {4}: pg_rs:+ -- TH:***
  20. Ranil Y Su Conjunto Tropical: Stay Safe and Sound Ranil Selection!! (Analog Africa) {4}: PO:+ -- TH:***
  21. The Tabansi Studio Band: Vol 3: Wakar Alhazai Kano/Mus'en Sofoa (BBE) {4}: -- TH:A-
  22. Yabby You: King Tubby's Prophecies of Dub (1976, Pressure Sounds) {4}: PO:+ -- TH:***
  23. New Orleans Mambo: Cuba to NOLA (Putumayo) {4}: Rx:46 -- TH:***
  24. Junior Byles: Beat Down Babylon (Cherry Red) {3}: rc_r:2, sol_am:+
  25. Damily: Early Years: Madagascar Cassette Achives (1995-2002, Bongo Joe) {3}: YW_r:9
  26. The Disciples: For Those Who Understand (1995, Partial) {3}: YW_r:51 -- TH:**
  27. Ibrahim Ferrer: Buenos Hermanos (2003, World Circuit) {3}: DB:*; jmb:+, sol_am:+
  28. Hallelujah Chicken Run Band: Take One (1974-79, Analog Africa) {3}: PO:+, YW_r:36; yjsb:+ -- TH:[A-]
  29. Mighty Threes: Africa Shall Stretch Forth Her Hand (Jah Fingers Music) {3}: YW_r:62 -- TH:**
  30. Phelimuncasi: 2013-2019 (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {3}: PM_r:8
  31. Rustem Quliyev: Azerbaijani Gitara (Bongo Joe) {3}: Bc:+, TS:+; npr_x:+
  32. Tom Ze: Raridades (Warner Music Brasil) {3}: YW_r:18; xscw:+
  33. La Locura de Machuca 1975-1980 (Analog Africa) {3}: PO:+ -- TH:**
  34. Maghreb K7 Club: Synth Rai, Chaoui & Staifi (1985-1997) (Bongo Joe) {3}: PO:+ -- TH:**
  35. Scorcha! Skins, Suedes and Style From the Streets 1967-1973 (Trojan) {3}: rc_r:8 -- TH:*
  36. Sumer Is Icumen In: The Pagan Sound of British & Irish Folk 1966-1975 (Grapefruit -3CD) {3}: AM:*, PO:+; am_z:+
  37. Big Youth: DJing Live on the Radio (1981) () {2}: YW_r:16
  38. Alton Ellis: Mr Soul of Jamaica (Music on Vinyl -19) {2}: rc_r:3
  39. Max Romeo: Revelation Time (1975, 17 North Parade) {2}: YW_r:35 -- TH:*
  40. The Techniques: Little Did You Know (Doctor Bird) {2}: rc_r:5
  41. Luiz Carlos Vinhas: O Som Psicodelico de LCV (1968, Mad About) {2}: PO:+; bc_r:*
  42. Africa Airways Six: Mile High African Funk 1974-1981 (Africa Seven) {2}: RC_v:25, YW_r:30
  43. Apala: Apala Groups in Nigeria 1967-70 (Soul Jazz) {2}: tg:+ -- TH:*
  44. How the River Ganges Flows: Sublime Masterpieces of Indian Violin (1933-1952) (Third Man) {2}: PO:+; aqd:+
  45. Jamaican All Stars [Studio One] (1972-74, Studio One) {2}: PO:+ -- TH:*
  46. Stars on Parade (Rock A Shacka) {2}: rc_r:4
  47. Ahmed Ben Ali: Habibi Funk 012: Subhana (Habibi Funk) {1}: bc_r:*
  48. Tony Allen: No Accommodation for Lagos (Kindred Spirits) {1}: PO:+ -- [TH:**]
  49. Black Ark Players: Black Ark in Dub (17 North Parade) {1}: PO:+
  50. Dennis Brown: Dennis (Burning Sounds) {1}: rc_r:9
  51. Junior Byles: Beat Down Babylon [Deluxe Edition] (Cherry Red -2CD) {1}: PO:+
  52. Tino Contreras: Musica Infinita (Arc) {1}: bc_r:*
  53. Guilherme Coutinho E O Grupo Stalo: Guilherme Coutinho E O Grupo Stalo (Mad About) {1}: bc_r:*
  54. Edikanfo: The Pace Setters (1981, Glitterbeat) {1}: jml:+
  55. Frank and His Sisters: Frank and His Sisters (Mississippi) {1}: Bc:*
  56. Momoko Kikuchi: Adventure (1986, Ship to Shore PhonoCo) {1}: No_r:26
  57. Antoinette Konan: Antoinette Konan (1986, Awesome Tapes From Africa -19) {1}: -- TH:*
  58. Fela Ransome Kuti & His Highlife Rakers: Fela's First (Cadillac) {1}: AAJ:*
  59. Lord Invader & His Calypso Group: Calypso Travels (1959, Smithsonian Folkways) {1}: sol_am:+
  60. Lord Tanamo & Friends: Festival Jump-Up (1965, Doctor Bird -2CD -19) {1}: sol_am:+
  61. Bob Marley: The Complete Island Recordings (Tuff Gong -11CD) {1}: rs_x:18
  62. The Master Musicians of Jajouka: Apocalypse Across the Sky (1991, Zehra) {1}: sol_af:+
  63. Moondog: On the Streets of New York (1954-62, Mississippi -19) {1}:
  64. Milton Nascimento: Maria Maria (Far Out -19) {1}: PO:+
  65. Augustus Pablo: Ancient Harmonies (VP) {1}: U:*
  66. Lee Scratch Perry: Play On, Mr Music () {1}: PO:+
  67. Lee Scratch Perry With Seskain Molenga and Kalo Kawongolo: Roots From the Congo (Roots Vibration/Planet Ilunga) {1}: PO:+
  68. Prince Alla: Jah Give I Love (Tuff Scout -19) {1}: YW_r:57
  69. Sonya Spence: In the Dark/Sings Love (Doctor Bird) {1}: rc_r:6
  70. Raphael Toine: Ce Ta Ou/Sud Africa Revolution (Glossy Mistakes) {1}: bc_r:*
  71. Voz Di Sanicolau: Fundo De Mare Palinha (1976, Analog Africa -EP) {1}: xbf:+
  72. Zap Mama: Adventures in Afropea (1991, Crammed Discs) {1}: sol_fu:+
  73. A Guide to the Birdsong of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (Shika Shika) {1}: pm_w:6
  74. All Aboard! The CN Express: Rock Steady and Boss Reggae Sounds 1967-1968 (Doctor Bird) {1}: PO:+
  75. Alternate African Reality: Electronic, Electroacoustic and Experimental Music From Africa and the Diaspora (Syrphe) {1}: DW:75
  76. America Invertida (Vampisoul -19) {1}: sol_am:+
  77. A Stranger I May Be: Savoy Gospel 1954-1966 (Honest Jon's) {1}:
  78. Black Ark Vol 2 (17 North Parade) {1}: PO:+
  79. Burning Rockers 1: The 12" Mixes (Burning Sounds -2CD) {1}: rc_r:7
  80. Chalo (The Jazz Diaries) {1}: g_w:6
  81. Daora: Underground Sounds of Urban Brasil (Mais Um Discos) {1}: PO:+
  82. Down in Jamaica: 40 Years of VP Records (VP -19) {1}: sol_am:+
  83. Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World's Music (Dust to Digital) {1}: PO:+
  84. L'Amazone: Le Chant Des Fleuves (Accord Croises -19) {1}: sol_am:+
  85. Sahel Sounds Label Sampler 2 (Sahel Sound) {1}: PO:+
  86. Tabhair Mo Ghra Go Conamara [Bring My Love to Connemara] (Veteran -19) {1}: sol_eu:+
  87. Tuareg Music of the Southern Sahara (1960, Smithsonian Folkways) {1}: aqd:+