Honorable Mentions
Madlib and Freddie Gibbs- Bandana
Bon Iver- i, i
Aldous Harding- Designer
Jenny Hval- The Practice of Love
Top Twenty
20. Solange- When I Get Home
Seems slight in comparison to A Seat at the Table but there are some really cool sounds/grooves on this album.
Seems slight in comparison to A Seat at the Table but there are some really cool sounds/grooves on this album.
19. (Sandy) Alex G- House of Sugar
This album is half weird lo-fi studio experiments and half extremely catchy earworms. His best album, I'd say.
This album is half weird lo-fi studio experiments and half extremely catchy earworms. His best album, I'd say.
18. Stella Donnelly- Beware of the Dogs
Nice debut album from an Australian singer-songwriter. Good variety of songs on this one, I have a feeling she has even better albums ahead of her.
Nice debut album from an Australian singer-songwriter. Good variety of songs on this one, I have a feeling she has even better albums ahead of her.
17. Sharon Van Etten- Remind Me Tomorrow
Sharon is happy and in love! Which is nice to see after her emotionally brutal prior album. But turns out happy people can still make excellent albums, and she might have written the best song of her career with Seventeen.
Sharon is happy and in love! Which is nice to see after her emotionally brutal prior album. But turns out happy people can still make excellent albums, and she might have written the best song of her career with Seventeen.
16. Danny Brown- uknowhatimsayin¿
One of the most consistently interesting artists of the last decade delivers another great rap album.
One of the most consistently interesting artists of the last decade delivers another great rap album.
15. Carly Rae Jepsen- Dedicated
I am incredibly embarrassed that I didn't put Emotion near the top of my 2015 Favorite Albums list. But I am rectifying that mistake by putting its not-quite-as-good but still delightful and highly entertaining follow-up on this list. Her concert at the Chicago Theatre was one of the more joyful concert experiences I had in 2019.
I am incredibly embarrassed that I didn't put Emotion near the top of my 2015 Favorite Albums list. But I am rectifying that mistake by putting its not-quite-as-good but still delightful and highly entertaining follow-up on this list. Her concert at the Chicago Theatre was one of the more joyful concert experiences I had in 2019.
14. Vampire Weekend- Father of the Bride
Vampire Weekend have settled into a jam band kind of thing with this collection of fun, breezy tunes.
Vampire Weekend have settled into a jam band kind of thing with this collection of fun, breezy tunes.
13. PUP- Morbid Things
If you are reading this list looking for a new album to rock out to, this is the one. Think my body is still recovering from their show at Metro I saw earlier this year, these guys know how to make a room full of people go absolutely insane. They also make fantastic music videos.
If you are reading this list looking for a new album to rock out to, this is the one. Think my body is still recovering from their show at Metro I saw earlier this year, these guys know how to make a room full of people go absolutely insane. They also make fantastic music videos.
12. Tyler, The Creator- Igor
Tyler has turned into an incredible producer. This a very well-constructed album that makes great use of synths. And Tyler sings a lot on it (and does so well!).
Tyler has turned into an incredible producer. This a very well-constructed album that makes great use of synths. And Tyler sings a lot on it (and does so well!).
11. Nilüfer Yanya- Miss Universe
A lot of people slept on this album, but it's great. A highly original debut from a songwriter with a lot of range. Heavyweight Champion of the World has been stuck in my head basically all year.
A lot of people slept on this album, but it's great. A highly original debut from a songwriter with a lot of range. Heavyweight Champion of the World has been stuck in my head basically all year.
10. Julia Jacklin- Crushing
After a solid debut a few years back Julia Jacklin took a huge step forward with Crushing, an endlessly replayable album about moving forward (and all the self-doubt and anxiety that comes with it) after the end of a relationship. As one would expect given the subject matter, there are some rather emotional moments but Jacklin throws in some catchy rockers (albeit with less than optimistic lyrics) for good measure.
9. Big Thief- UFOF
The first of two excellent albums Big Thief put out this year, UFOF is a strange, alluring collection of songs. Frontwoman and chief songwriter Adrienne Lenker's vocals are not for everyone but if you can get used to her singing style there is much to appreciate in the band's music. By the end of the decade they have taken the mantle from The National as indie music's biggest "grower" band- you won't necessarily love them immediately but keep listening and they could become one of your favorite bands, as they have for me.
After a solid debut a few years back Julia Jacklin took a huge step forward with Crushing, an endlessly replayable album about moving forward (and all the self-doubt and anxiety that comes with it) after the end of a relationship. As one would expect given the subject matter, there are some rather emotional moments but Jacklin throws in some catchy rockers (albeit with less than optimistic lyrics) for good measure.
9. Big Thief- UFOF
The first of two excellent albums Big Thief put out this year, UFOF is a strange, alluring collection of songs. Frontwoman and chief songwriter Adrienne Lenker's vocals are not for everyone but if you can get used to her singing style there is much to appreciate in the band's music. By the end of the decade they have taken the mantle from The National as indie music's biggest "grower" band- you won't necessarily love them immediately but keep listening and they could become one of your favorite bands, as they have for me.
8. Purple Mountains- Purple Mountains
A new project by longtime Silver Jews leader David Berman following a decade-long hiatus. Few albums outside of Jason Molina's catalog capture the feeling of someone in the throes of depression like Purple Mountains. It is impossible to listen to this album removed from its tragic context: weeks after its release, Berman died by suicide. I am grateful he left us a beautiful parting gift.
A new project by longtime Silver Jews leader David Berman following a decade-long hiatus. Few albums outside of Jason Molina's catalog capture the feeling of someone in the throes of depression like Purple Mountains. It is impossible to listen to this album removed from its tragic context: weeks after its release, Berman died by suicide. I am grateful he left us a beautiful parting gift.
7. Angel Olsen- All Mirrors
One of my favorite musicians of the decade, Olsen's sound has grown in a way fans who have been following her since her early self-recordings (humblebrag, myself) would have never anticipated. Olsen really went for it on All Mirrors, employing lush orchestral production that increases the power of her songwriting.
6. Big Thief- Two Hands
My favorite of Big Thief's two albums this year, Two Hands finds the band adopting a raw, live-in-studio approach which suits them well. The album also includes my favorite song of the year, the absolutely immense Not.
One of my favorite musicians of the decade, Olsen's sound has grown in a way fans who have been following her since her early self-recordings (humblebrag, myself) would have never anticipated. Olsen really went for it on All Mirrors, employing lush orchestral production that increases the power of her songwriting.
6. Big Thief- Two Hands
My favorite of Big Thief's two albums this year, Two Hands finds the band adopting a raw, live-in-studio approach which suits them well. The album also includes my favorite song of the year, the absolutely immense Not.
5. Weyes Blood- Titanic Rising
The flat out prettiest album you'll hear this year, the 70s-indebted Titanic Rising already sounds timeless. Show it to your parents, they'll like it!
4. FKA Twigs- Magdalene
Magdalene feels like an extension of the weirdo art pop artists like Kate Bush were making in the 70s and 80s. FKA Twigs's vocals are incredible throughout, especially on the gorgeous ballad Cellophane. Also, I guess I like Skrillex now because he helped write and produce two of the songs on the album (Sad Day and Holy Terrain).
The flat out prettiest album you'll hear this year, the 70s-indebted Titanic Rising already sounds timeless. Show it to your parents, they'll like it!
4. FKA Twigs- Magdalene
Magdalene feels like an extension of the weirdo art pop artists like Kate Bush were making in the 70s and 80s. FKA Twigs's vocals are incredible throughout, especially on the gorgeous ballad Cellophane. Also, I guess I like Skrillex now because he helped write and produce two of the songs on the album (Sad Day and Holy Terrain).
3. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Ghosteen
The first album Cave wrote entirely after the death of his son, Ghosteen finds him figuring out how to move on with his life. A beautiful and deeply moving album of piano and synth ballads that invites repeated listens.
The first album Cave wrote entirely after the death of his son, Ghosteen finds him figuring out how to move on with his life. A beautiful and deeply moving album of piano and synth ballads that invites repeated listens.
2. Lana Del Rey- Norman Fucking Rockwell!
I'd never been compelled to listen to Lana Del Rey until this year but Norman Fucking Rockwell! won me over initially with its title (I'm a sucker for an amusing album title) and then with the music, which is impeccably produced (how did the guy from fun. get so good at this?) and performed. These songs really tug at your heartstrings, which I guess I knew was Del Rey's schtick, but she delivers these songs genuinely. She convincingly shows she's a true talent and not a gimmicky music industry plant which was my previous ill-informed impression of her. Moreover, somehow a 70-minute album made up almost entirely of piano ballads isn't a slog at all- the songwriting is that good here (plus, there's a Sublime cover thrown in for good measure). If you are like me and had dismissed Del Rey previously I strongly encourage you to check out this album, it will likely change your mind about her.
I'd never been compelled to listen to Lana Del Rey until this year but Norman Fucking Rockwell! won me over initially with its title (I'm a sucker for an amusing album title) and then with the music, which is impeccably produced (how did the guy from fun. get so good at this?) and performed. These songs really tug at your heartstrings, which I guess I knew was Del Rey's schtick, but she delivers these songs genuinely. She convincingly shows she's a true talent and not a gimmicky music industry plant which was my previous ill-informed impression of her. Moreover, somehow a 70-minute album made up almost entirely of piano ballads isn't a slog at all- the songwriting is that good here (plus, there's a Sublime cover thrown in for good measure). If you are like me and had dismissed Del Rey previously I strongly encourage you to check out this album, it will likely change your mind about her.
Clearly I have a strong Chicago bias because a local artist has now topped my list three out of the last four years (though lol at me ranking Chance's Coloring Book over Frank Ocean's Blonde in 2016). But Legacy! Legacy! was the album I most frequently returned to this year. Each song is inspired by a different Black and Brown luminary from the past century- people like Zora Neale Hurston, Frida Kahlo, Jean-Michel Basquiat, James Baldwin, and Octavia Butler. Back in November, I saw Woods perform the album in a VH1 Storytellers-type setting where she spoke about each song on the album along with audio clips and visuals by the various song inspirations. It was breathtaking hearing her explain in detail how she melded these inspirations into a cohesive album. The album works quite well on a purely musical level (there are many wonderful grooves throughout), but taking the time to dig into the lyrics and the musicians, writers, and artists who inspired them makes for an even more rewarding listen. Woods is a poet by trade, so its no surprise that the wordplay is outstanding. Woods's memorable lyrics are accented by a killer band that deftly incorporates elements of R&B, jazz, rock, hip hop, and house music into a consistently exciting listen. With Legacy! Legacy!, Woods has put herself on a path towards perhaps one day being mentioned beside the legends who inspired the album. Regardless of what Woods's own legacy will be, no album gave me more joy to listen to in 2019.
Best of 2019 Playlist
Here are some of my favorite songs of the year. Per usual, I spent some time sequencing it so I will be VERY offended if you listen to it on shuffle.
Best of the 2010s Playlist
Look, sometimes you get bored and you make a nearly 16 hour, 210 song playlist. Totally normal. But I think this is a pretty fun listen. And definitely do listen to this one on shuffle.
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