Best Albums of March 2020

 

   March 2020 had these marvelous albums to offer and although the times were getting dark and uncertain, the music was a constant reminder of the hopeful days and these sets made it rather clear. 

1.  After Hours :  Canadian singer, The Weeknd, delivered this global masterpiece on March 20 via XO Records and Republic Records, his fifth studio effort, following 2016's Starboy. The album opened atop the US Billboard 200 charts, marking his fourth topper on the list. In the UK, the set became his second number one when it debuted on the Albums chart there, while topping in his native Canada as well and doing the same in Australia. It was a #1 shot in Ireland and a No.2 success in Scotland. The album features The Weeknd's latest US number-one singles "Heartless" and "Blinding Lights", the latter marked by Billboard as the Top Song on their 2020 Year-End chart. Blinding Lights along with "In Your Eyes" topped our Officio 100 list, while "Save Your Tears" peaked at No.4 right before the Holiday week's issue. The album has been branded the Best R&B Album of the Year, among other titles, despite not scoring a Grammy nod. 

2. Future Nostalgia :  Undoubtedly one of the most incredible albums released in 2020, Dua Lipa's sophomore came in on March 27, 2020, via Warner Records Inc. Debuting at No.2 in the UK, the set later rose to the top spot, marking the English songstress' first number-one peak on the chart, besting her self-titled debut album which reached No.3. The album topped charts in Australia, Ireland and Scotland, while peaking at No.2 in Canada and No.4 in the US, her best rank on the Billboard 200 charts. The album spawned such 80's inspired hits, from "Don't Start Now" (US No.2, AUS #2; IRE #1; SCO #2; UK #2; Officio 100 #1), "Physical" (AUS #9; IRE #2; SCO #3; UK #3; Officio 100 #1), "Break My Heart" (UK #6; AUS #7; IRE #3); "Levitating" (AUS #5; IRE #4; UK #5) and "Hallucinate". On the Officio 100, "Levitating" charted twice in the top-ten group with the DaBaby featured version debuting at No.1 and The Blessed Madonna version at No.3. Furthermore, the track "Cool" also debuted at No.1 on our list, giving the singer three number-one entries. The album was nominated several categories at the 63rd Grammy Awards.

3 .  Calm : Australian band, 5 Seconds of Summer, released their fourth studio album in late March, via Interscope Records, with the title as acronym of the first letters of the band's members: Calum, Ashton, Luke and Michael. In their home country, the album marked their fourth consecutive number-one on the ARIA Albums chart, while debuting at No.1 in the UK, making it their second topper there. Following a shipping error in the US, the album debuted at No.66 before rising to a No.2 high the second week, behind The Weeknd's album entry, while marking the band's fifth top-10 album in the US. The set featured the track "Easier" which had earlier reached No.10 on the Officio 100 run, having marked their first reach there, up until "Old Me" debuted at No.1 on the list, and later "Best Years" at No.4.  

4.  Heartbreak Weather : Irish singer, Niall Horan, gave us this wonderful sophomore set, released March 18, via Capitol and SBK Records. It debuted at No.1 on the Irish Albums Chart as well as the UK Albums Chart, while coming in at No.4 in the US, unlike his debut Flicker (2017) which had topped the list back then.  It produced the Officio 100 number-one single "Put a Little Love on Me", the No.2 titular track entry and the No.6 track "Bend the Rules, along with other fantastic songs.  

5.  Eternal Atake : The sophomore set from rapper Lil Uzi Vert, was released on March 6, via Atlantic Records, and the album proved successful as it debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart marking his second number-one reach there. A deluxe version was released the week after, earning the album a second week at the top of the charts. The track "Lo Mein" peaked at No.8 on the Hot 100 chart, while reaching No.6 on our Officio 100 list. 

6.  Lady Like : Country music songstress, Ingrid Andress, saw her debut studio effort out on March 27, via Warner Records Nashville, reaching No.9 on the US Top Country Albums. The set garnered the singer three nominations at the 63rd Grammy Awards as Best Country Album, Best New Artist and Best Country Song, the latter for the single "More Hearts Than Mine" which reached a No.4 high on our Officio 100 list. 

7.  Heaven or Hell : Don Toliver finally came through with his debut album released Mrch 13th via Cactus Jack and  Atlantic Records. The album marked his first US top-ten entry when it debuted at No.7 on the Billboard 200 chart, as well as in Canada, while reaching No.17 in the UK and No.20 in Australia. 

8.  Suga (EP) : Meghan Thee Stallion's third extended play, was released on March 6 and was a No.7 reach on the Billboard 200 list. It produced the Officio 100 No.10 track "B.I.T.C.H". 

9.  Trolls World Tour : Original Motion Picture Soundtrack : The sooundtrack to the film Trolls World Tour, this was releases on March 13 via RCA Records, and reached No.2 on the US Soundtracks Albums while reaching No.15 on the Billboard 200 charts and No.33 in Canada. 

10.  Chilombo : Jhene Aiko's third studio effort was released March 6 via Def Jam, and debuted at No.2 on the Billboard 200 charts, marking it her best ranking record on the list so far, while debuting at No.7 in Canada. The set has earned the R&B singer Grammy nods at the 63rd Grammy Awards. 

11.  Colores : Colombian singer J Balvin delivered his fifth album via Universal Latin, released March 19th. It later won the Latin Grammy for Best Urban Album. It peaked at No.2 on the US Top Latin Albums while reaching No,15 on the equivalent Billboard 200 list and No.2 on the Spanish Albums chart. 

12. Before Love Came to Kill Us ; A debut studio album from Canadian singer/songwriter Jessie Reyez, it was released March 27 via Island Records, and peaked at No.13 on the Billboard 200 list, while reaching No.5 on the US Top Album Sales and No.17 in Canada. 

13.  Nicotine : Trevor Daniel's debut studio effort was released March 26 via Interscope Records and ranked outside the top-50 on the Billboard 200 charts. It however features the awesome tracks "Falling" - his first charting single in the US reaching No.17 and No.14 in the UK, as well as "Past Life" (with Selena Gomez). 

14.  Levon James : This retail mixtape came from the now late rapper, King Von, released March 6 via Only the Family. The project peaked at No.40 on the US Billboard 200. It was later followed by his debut, Welcome to O'Block, released at the end of October 2020. 

15.  Boss Man : The third studio album by rapper Rich the Kid, was released March 13 via Republic Records and No.24 in the US and No.28 in Canada. 

Other Notable March Releases :

 > how i'm feeling : March saw American singer Lauv deliver his debut studio album in March 6 via AWAL. The album was a No.5 success in Australia, reaching No.9 in the UK, No.11 in Canada and No.16 in the US.  

> Getting Good : Lauren Alaina's third EP was released on March 6, 2020, reaching No.28 on the US Top Country Albums.It was followed by another EP, Getting Over Him released on Sept. 4, 2020. 

> Find the Beat : Blueface's debut album saw the light of day on March 13 via Cash Money and Republic Records after several delays. It peaked at No.64 in the US.

> I''ll Say It For You : Dax's third album was released in March on 13th with 7 tracks which saw the rapper express his opinions in rap verses that were everything awesome. 

> ADHD : Joyner Lucas added to the list of artists with debuts this year when ADHD dropped on March 27th. The album was a No.10 peak in the US, reaching No.9 in Australia, and Canada, while No.16 in the UK. 

> Velvet : Singer Adam Lambert's fourth studio album came on March 20, via Empire Records, a followup to 2015's The Original High. It reached No.8 in Australia and No.19 in Scotland. 

> Kelsea : Kelsea Ballerini's third studio album was out March 20 and hit No.2 on the US Top Country Albums, UK Country Albums and US Independent Albums charts while reaching No.16 on the Billboard 200 charts and No.14 in Scotland. A follow-up fourth album, Ballerini, was released later on Sept. 11 and reached No.9 on the US Top Country Albums. 

> Plead the 5th : Released on March 20th via Black Butter Records, British hip hop duo, Young T & Bugsey, released their first mixtape, which features their first UK top-ten "Strike a Pose" (feat. Aitch) and the UK top-20 "Don't Rush" (feat. Headie One).  

> Nights Like This (EP) : Loud Luxury released this cool EDM list on March 27 via Armanda Music, a four piece set which proved worth it. 

> Sadboi : Bars and Melody, that lovely duo delivered this pop cool set on March 27, via Better Now Records. 

> Insomnia : Chip, Skepta & Young Adz had this collaborative studio effort released on March 27, debuting at No.3 on the UK Albums Chart. 

> PartyMobile : Canadian singer PartyNextDoor had his fourth album released on March 27 via OVO Sound and Warner Records, debuting at No.8 on the US Billboard 200 chart, No.3 in Canada and No.7 in the UK. 

> Find Another Way (EP) : Seven Lions - EDM tracklist released March 27.