Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Best Albums Of 2019

2019 made me re-think what I look for in an album. But not in a good way.
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.


25 
Sunn O))) 
Life Metal 
Pyroclasts

24 
Jessica Pratt 
Quiet Signs

23 
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.

22 
Mannequin Pussy 
Patience

21 
JPEGMAFIA 
All My Heroes Are Cornballs

20 
Ariana Grande 
thank u, next

19 
Richard Dawson 
2020

18 
Jenny Hval 
The Practice Of Love

17 
Denzel Curry 
ZUU

16 
Danny Brown 
uknowhatimsayin¿

15 
Xiu Xiu 
Girl With Basket Of Fruit

14 
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.

13 
Bill Callahan 
Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest
12 
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.

11 
slowthai 
Nothing Great About Britain

10 
Sharon Van Etten 
Remind Me Tomorrow

9 
black midi 
shlagenheim
8 
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.

7
Little Simz
GREY Area









6
Lingua Ignota
Caligula








5
Purple Mountains
Purple Mountains









4
Freddie 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.

3
Lana 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.

2
Angel 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.

1
Weyes 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.

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