EVEN THE STARS Top 25 Albums Of 2020 - 15 to 11

Today we reveal five more of our favourite albums of 2020, a strange year in pretty much every respect, but one that still managed to deliver some stunning new music to our ever-growing collections of albums. 

Doves - The Universal Want

When Doves went on an indefinite hiatus after their celebratory homecoming at Warehouse Project in Manchester in 2010 the omens for them coming back at all weren't great. Rumours abounded of a breakdown in communications, Jimi headed off to produce a solo album and Andy and Jez combined on their Black Rivers project. Whilst the internet head of steam slowly built demanding a reunion, they'd already got together behind closed doors, rekindled old flames and started work on what was to become The Universal Want. Whereas their last album Kingdom Of Rust was fraught with the sound of fractious relationships, there's a joyful undercurrent of warmth and love that runs through The Universal Want. 

Doves - Warrington Parr Hall - 28th March 2019

Doves marked their long-awaited return with their first show at Warrington Parr Hall, a warm-up for Friday's Teenage Cancer benefit show at London's Royal Albert Hall. Tickets sold out in minutes as people scrambled to catch one of Manchester's best-loved and often underrated bands return. And return they did in style.