Best Music of 2019

wokeupnew said:
First update in like 3 months :eek:

  1. The National - I Am Easy to Find
  2. Hatchie - Keepsake
  3. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
  4. Julia Jacklin - Crushing
  5. Eluvium - Pianoworks
  6. Bodywash - Comforter
  7. The Mountain Goats - In League With Dragons
  8. The Tallest Man on Earth - I Love You. It's a Fever Dream.
  9. Beirut - Gallipoli
  10. Titus Andronicus - An Obelisk
  11. Celer - Xièxie
  12. Wallows - Nothing Happens
  13. Better Oblivion Community Center - Better Oblivion Community Center
  14. Jay Som - Anak Ko
  15. Mannequin Pussy - Patience
  16. Beduine - Bird Songs of a Killjoy
  17. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow
  18. Jenny Lewis - On the Line
  19. Black Belt Eagle Scout - At the Party with My Brown Friends
  20. Pup - Morbid Stuff
  21. Long Beard - Means to Me
  22. The Drums - Brutalism
  23. Sheer Mag - A Distant Call
  24. Florist - Emily Alone
  25. Big Thief - U.F.O.F.
  26. American Football - LP3
  27. Girlpool - What Chaos Is Imaginary
  28. Frankie Cosmos - Close it Quietly
  29. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride
  30. Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet
  31. Mike Krol - Power Chords
  32. Jess Ribeiro - Love Hate
  33. Cherry Glazerr - Stuffed & Ready
  34. Lady Lamb - Even in the Tremor
  35. Fawns of Love - Permanent
  36. Ride - This Is Not A Safe Place
  37. Cate Le Bon - Reward
  38. Tamaryn - Dreaming in the Dark
  39. Deerhunter - Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?
  40. Bon Iver - i,i
  41. Bob Mould - Sunshine Rock
  42. The Caretaker - Everywhere at the End of Time, Stage 6
  43. Sleater-Kinney - The Center Won't Hold


Anticipated albums:
  • Angel Olsen
  • A Winged Victory for the Sullen
  • White Reaper
  • Big Thief
  • DIIV
  • Vagabon
  • Pinegrove
  • Cigarettes After Sex
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Rough Trade still has signed copies of Keepsake.

Jake! said:
I've been super behind on new music this year, but these are my top 5 as of now in no order:

1. Laura Stevenson - The Big Freeze
2. State Faults - Clairvoyant
3. Mannequin Pussy - Patience
4. Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari
5. The Tallest Man On Earth - I Love You. It's A Fever Dream.

Also, thanks @wokeupnew for recommending Bodywash, I've been listening to that the last few days! It's really fantastic.
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That Mannequin Pussy album is extremely good. And I just gave Laura Stevenson a spin, really enjoyed it!
 
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I update my list every two months. Here's where it was at the end of August. I suspect the end of October will see some substantial shifts with the release of new ones from Nick Cave, Elbow, Wilco, et. al.

1. Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel
2. Charly Bliss – Young Enough
3. Kate Tempest – The Book of Traps and Lessons
4. The National – I Am Easy to Find
5. Tallies – Self-titled
6. The Twilight Sad - It Won/t Be Like This All the Time
7. Cherry Glazerr – Stuffed & Ready
8. Snapped Ankles – Stunning Luxury
9. Idlewild – Interview Music
10. Martha – Love Keeps Kicking
11. Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs
12. The Hold Steady – Thrashing Thru the Passion
13. The Murder Capital – When I Have Fears
14. Steve Mason – About the Light
15. Ride – This Is Not a Safe Place
16. Foals – Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost (Part 1)
17. The Chemical Brothers – No Geography
18. Sacred Paws – Run Around the Sun
19. Drab Majesty – Modern Mirror
20. Deerhunter – Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared?
21. Marika Hackman – Any Human Friend
22. Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
23. Business of Dreams – Ripe for Anarchy
24. Frank Turner – No Man’s Land
25. Hatchie – Keepsake
 
wokeupnew said:
Anyone listened to the new Angel Olsen want to comment on the sound quality? Or at least the two new singles?

“Lark” for instance seems like its mixed poorly. The higher ends of the mix sound muddled and staticky. It’s like you’re blowing out a poor set of speakers. Not sure if this is on purpose or what. I’ve heard it on my computer, my phone speakers and now my headphones and each time is sounds the same. “Impasse” off the second half of the album has the same effect. It’s a very strange choice if that was done consciously.
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I do think it's on purpose, and a good number of the songs sound that way too. It takes a bit to get used to, but I've found this album totally winning me over the more I listen to it. I love it a lot. I can see why it could be too much for some people, and to an extent I wish the acoustic based album was mixed into this one to give it some more variety. But at the same time, its commitment to being so huge (mostly) works so well. I keep wanting to listen to it again.
 
sorcerer said:
New Isaiah Rashad album supposed to be coming either this month or in November. More than likely getting a Skiiwalker-produced single in a few weeks.

In case you want a taste of what's to come from the best artist in TDE (hot-take alert,) here are some links to the snippets.
90% of these won't end up on the album, in case you're worried about spoiling yourself.

(if that first snippet doesn't end up on the album then i'm genuinely gonna cry)




Also, here's a bonus freestyle about him not dropping shit. It'd make for a great bonus track / outro

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He is most certainly not the best TDE artist. But he is probably the second best. Cilvia Demo might be the most underrated mix-tape of the entire decade.



 
Bennnnn said:
I do think it's on purpose, and a good number of the songs sound that way too. It takes a bit to get used to, but I've found this album totally winning me over the more I listen to it. I love it a lot. I can see why it could be too much for some people, and to an extent I wish the acoustic based album was mixed into this one to give it some more variety. But at the same time, its commitment to being so huge (mostly) works so well. I keep wanting to listen to it again.
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It’s actually grown on me a little/I forgot about it because I’ve gotten used to it. It also doesn’t sound so bad on vinyl. Especially “Impasse” that sounds a lot better with more room to work with.
 
I liked Capacity. U.F.O.F. I didn't understand the hype with.

Two Hands is fucking fire though.

Edit: It's actually causing me to re-examine U.F.O.F. which I hadn't touched since shortly after it came out, and it's growing on me. I just like them a bit fuzzier I guess ala "Not" or "Shark Smile". The melodies on U.F.O.F. are wonderful... but they also kind of melt together upon first impression if that makes sense.
 
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Here's a playlist I made that samples 50+ albums that I've enjoyed this year. I'm gonna keep updating it into January so maybe give it a follow?

*** = still absorbing

Tier 1:
1) JpegMafia: All My Heroes are Cornballs (experimental rap)
2) Angel Olsen: All Mirrors (indie rock)***
3) Jai: Paul: Leak 04-13 (art pop)
4) Sharon Van Etten- Remind Me Tomorrow (indie rock)
5) FKA Twigs: Magdalene (Art Pop)
6) Little Simz- Grey Arena (hip-hop)
7) The Comet Is Coming: Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery (jazz / electronica)
8) Michael Kiwanuka: Kiwanuka (Modern Soul)
9) Kelsey Lu: Blood (art pop, classical)
10) Jamila Woods: Legacy! Legacy! (r&b)
11) Tool: Fear Inoculum (alt-metal, prog rock)
12) Big Thief: Two Hands (indie rock)
13) Freddie Gibbs: Bandana (rap)

Tier II:
14) Brittany Howard: Jaime (rock, soul)
15) Danny Brown: uknowwhatimsayinn? (rap)***
16) Nilfer Yanya- Miss Universe (indie rock)
17) Jay Som: Anak Ko (indie rock)
18) Mannequin Pussy: Patience (indie rock /pop-punk)
19) Floating Points: Crush (IDM, techno)***
20) Thom Yorke: Anima (indie electronica)
21) Blood Incantation: Hidden History of the Human Race (death metal)
22) Billy Woods: Hiding Places (underground hip-hop)
23) H.E.R: I Used to Know Her (r&b, hip-hop)***
24) Rapsody: Eve (underground hip-hop)
25) (Sandy) Alex G: House of Sugar (experimental folk)***
26) Tyler the Creator: Igor (experimental r&b)
27) Julia Jacklin- Crushing (singer/songwriter, indie rock)

Tier 3:
28) Chemical Brothers- No Geography (house)
29) Baroness: Gold and Grey (alt-metal)
30) Anna Mieke- Idle Mind (folk)
31) Yugen Blakrok: Anima Mysterium (underground hip-hop)
32) DJ Yoda: Homecooking (underground hip-hop)
33) Black Midi: Schlagenheim (art rock)
34) Blood Orange: Angels Pulse (R&B)
35) Solange: When I Get Home (R&B)
36) Karen O & Danger Mouse: Lux Prima (alt rock)
37) Local Natives: Violet Street (Indie Rock)
38) Steve Gunn: The Unseen In Between (singer/songwriter)
39) Octo Octa: Resonant Body (house)

Tier IV:
40) Chris Crack: Never Hated I Just Waited (rap)
41) Lana Del Rey: Norman Fucking! Rockwell (indie rock)***
42) Craig Finn: I Need A New War (folk rock)
43) Big Thief: U.F.O.F. (indie folk)
44) These New Puritans- Inside the Rose (new wave, art rock)
45) Blood Red Shoes: Get Tragic! (alt rock)
46) Foals: Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1 (alt rock)
47) Kano: Hoodies All Summer (electronic, hip-hop)
48) Kedr Livanskiy- Your Need (house)
49) Cate le Bon: Reward (indie/art rock)
50) Stella Donnelly- Beware of the Dogs (singer/songwriter)

Honorable Mentions:
51) DIIV: Deciever (shoegaze)***
52) Bill Callahan: Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest (folk)
53) Foals: Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2 (alt rock)***
54) Slipknot: We Are Not Your Kind (alt-metal)
55) Karyyn: The Quanta Series (ambient, art pop)***
56) Jenny Hval: The Practice of Love (indie electronic)
57) Florist: Emily Alone (folk)***
58) Weyes Blood- Titanic Rising (art folk)
59) 3Teeth: Metawar (industrial)
60) Fontaines D.C: Dogrel (punk)

DISCLAIMER: There is more hard rock among this year's list than usual. Blame Trump (or Biden).

open.spotify.com

2019 Jams

Playlist · Casey Black · 227 songs · 18 likes
open.spotify.com open.spotify.com
 
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I’m finding it terribly difficult to craft a top 10 list for this year.

Here’s, like...a draft? I guess...ugh and it’s only October! (This is not in any ranking order)

Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
Nilufer Yanya - Miss Universe
Babymetal - Metal Galaxy
Little Simz - Grey Area
Mark de Clive-Lowe - Heritage Vol. 1
Billie Eilish - When we fall asleep, where do we go?
Charly Bliss - Young Enough
The Comet is Coming - Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery
Charli XCX - Charli

It’s gonna take a lot to knock any of those out. I’ve listened to them all many times and haven’t gotten bored yet. The following might have what it takes, and one will maybe snag the 10th spot, barring other releases or me remembering something else that came out this year.

Need more listens:
Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride
Flying Lotus - Flamagra
Mountain Goats - In league with dragons
Freddie Gibbs - Bandana
Angel Olsen
Thom Yorke
Lana del Rey
Paul Cauthen - Room 41
American Football - LP3
Ariana Grande - thank you, next
 
UPDATE

Current Top 11:
1. Big Thief - Two Hands
2. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
3. Big Thief - UFOF
4. Nulifer Yanya - Miss Universe
5. Helado Negro - This Is How You Smile
6. Bon Iver - i,i
7. The National - I Am Easy To Find
8. Julia Jacklin - Crushing
9. Black Pumas - Black Pumas
10. Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari
11. Clairo - Immunity

Honorable Mentions
12 Angel Olsen - All Mirrors
13 The Highwomen - The Highwomen
14 Paul Cauthen - Room 41
15 Jay Som - Anak Ko
16 Josh Ritter - Fever Breaks
17 Joy Williams - Front Porch
18 Sasami - Sasami
19 Hand Habits - Placeholder
20 Kevin Morby - OMG
 
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Memo said:
UPDATE

Current Top 11:
1. Big Thief - Two Hands
2. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
3. Big Thief - UFOF
4. Nulifer Yanya - Miss Universe
5. Helado Negro - This Is How You Smile
6. Bon Iver - i,i
7. The National - I Am Easy To Find
8. Julia Jacklin - Crushing
9. Black Pumas - Black Pumas
10. Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari
11. Clairo - Immunity

Honorable Mentions
12 Angel Olsen - All Mirrors
13 The Highwomen - The Highwomen
14 Paul Cauthen - Room 41
15 Jay Som - Anak Ko
16 Josh Ritter - Fever Breaks
17 Joy Williams - Front Porch
18 Sasami - Sasami
19 Hand Habits - Placeholder
20 Kevin Morby - OMG
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Man, when I agree with you it is strongly and when I disagree with you it is also strongly. Josh Ritter being the most egregious; that album made me hate music.
 
Memo said:
Why tho? Josh Ritter backed by Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires is wonderful!
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Mainly the songwriting, it’s like a 12 year old did the lyrics. But the presentation too, but mainly the writing. I guess I could try it again but damn, I remember getting aggravated that anyone would give this guy a contract over literally anyone else. Someone recently posted how they hated something and tried it later and loved it. I can’t say I’ve ever capitulated on something I felt this strongly against, though.

To be clear I wouldn’t argue with any of your other picks although I wouldn’t rank some of them so highly. I think that is to be expected. I’ve seen others praising Ritter and coming back from shows not angry about wasting money so I must be missing something,
 
So it’s around the time of the year when not much new stuff is coming out and I’m relistening to everything to help solidify my final list.

I’ve never really acknowledged this before but there’s albums that I end up “taking with me” from each calendar year. What I mean is I’ll listen to it loads in the current year, and just know that I’ll listen to it plenty years from now. The opposite of that is albums from this year that have a lot of hype so I check them out, enjoy them a little bit but will likely listen to them sparingly in future years from now. For example the new Vampire Weekend and Bon Iver are two examples I probably won’t “take with me”.

does anyone think like this or do this?
 
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