I was able to listen to more albums than ever this year. I would download new releases on Spotify then listen to them at work. I can't listen to music at my new job, so I thought I'd just give up on new music this year and publish the good ol' year-end list already. Only problem with the good ol' list this year...it isn't very "good."
I listen to all this new music, while I myself am trying to make music of my own. And the line has never been blurrier for me to distinguish between "good" and "bad." What does it even mean to have "good production" anyways? When is an artist giving me uninspired lyrics? Do I even give a crap about metal? Do I just enjoy "Old Town Road" ironically?
Also, I already made a decade-end list. If I could go back, I'd re-arrange some albums. But from this year, I think I'd still just keep my top 3 albums on this list on my decade list. Nothing more, nothing less.
It should be noted that I never listen to an album unless I find interest in it in the first place. I'm not trying to be the world's busiest music nerd. I just like music and I like lists. Keeping up with the music scene in general is a good way for me to hear a bunch of music and make a bunch of lists.
So does this list suck, or was it the year in music that sucked? I say both.
Anyways, here's the list. There's gonna be some pit-stops throughout. Enjoy.
Sunn O)))
Life Metal
Pyroclasts
Jessica Pratt
Quiet Signs
Uboa
The Origin Of My Depression
In a normal year, I don't think these albums would make my year-end list. If I had to score these, I'd give them a 79/100. By the way, Sunn O))) makes the list because I like how their 2 albums reflect each other. Big Theif did the same thing this year. I'll bring them up later.
Mannequin Pussy
Patience
JPEGMAFIA
All My Heroes Are Cornballs
Ariana Grande
thank u, next
Richard Dawson
2020
Jenny Hval
The Practice Of Love
Denzel Curry
ZUU
Danny Brown
uknowhatimsayin¿
Xiu Xiu
Girl With Basket Of Fruit
Tyler, The Creator
IGOR
While I think these albums are all great...or good...or okay...or whatever...I honestly haven't felt much of a desire to go back to them. This is the "back catalog" of 2019. I know I'm not really talking them up very well, but I'm just in a negative music mood today. I'd recommend a listen. 80/100.
Bill Callahan
Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest
Big Thief
U.F.O.F.
Two Hands
These are albums by artists who are doing their freaking job. Bill Callahan remains the wise songwriter who sounds better with age. Big Theif are selling their sound as the voice of modern indie folk. 81/100.
slowthai
Nothing Great About Britain
Sharon Van Etten
Remind Me Tomorrow
black midi
shlagenheim
Matana Roberts
COIN COIN Chapter Four: Memphis
It's really difficult for me to rank these 4 albums, because it meant 1 of them wouldn't make the top 10. My top 11 is where we really get to those albums that left me feeling like I just heard something significant. I would give all the above albums same score: 85/100.
7Little Simz
GREY Area
6
Lingua Ignota
Caligula
5Purple Mountains
Purple Mountains
4Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
Bandana
This is an odd batch of albums. Bandana gets the highest ranking because I can't really spot any flaws on it. These are all 86/100.
3Lana Del Rey
Norman Fucking Rockwell!
It finally happened. I finally liked an album produced by Jack Antanoff. I love the sad 70s California songwriter aesthetic of this album, tied together with modern pop nonsense. There's really nothing else like this. 87/100. I'd put this somewhere on the tail-end of my decade list.
2Angel Olsen
All Mirrors
I don't always like indie pop these days. Angel Olsen's MY WOMAN album sounds even better to me now than it did 3 years ago. It's a big act to follow up. She pulls through with some stunning string sections and powerful vocal performance. It was the perfect breakup album for autumn 2019. 90/100. I'd put this somewhere in the middle of my decade list.
1Weyes Blood
Titanic Rising
This is the only album from 2019 that I fell in love with. I re-visit it all the time. There are moments I anticipate every time. Such a unique concept and creative production idea. That heavenly light shining through at the bottom of the ocean...This is one of those "post-breakup" albums. Like Graceland. You're almost done with feeling sad about yourself, and you can see the elegant electric glow of your future when you look up. It's a wild time to be alive...but a lot's gonna change. This is among the top 25 albums of the decade. 99/100.
