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

This year has been incredible for new music compared to 2018. albums 11-15 were in my top 10 at one point and it was painful trying to think of what makes the top 10. There isn't significant drop off until around 22~ or so.
  1. The National - I Am Easy to Find
  2. Hatchie - Keepsake
  3. Julia Jacklin - Crushing
  4. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
  5. Bodywash - Comforter
  6. White Reaper - You Deserve Love
  7. Angel Olsen - All Mirrors
  8. The Tallest Man on Earth - I Love You. It's a Fever Dream.
  9. DIIV - Deceiver
  10. Big Thief - Two Hands
  11. The Mountain Goats - In League With Dragons
  12. Beirut - Gallipoli
  13. Eluvium - Pianoworks
  14. Better Oblivion Community Center - Better Oblivion Community Center
  15. Titus Andronicus - An Obelisk
  16. Jay Som - Anak Ko
  17. Long Beard - Means to Me
  18. Celer - Xièxie
  19. Wallows - Nothing Happens
  20. Hovvdy - Heavy Lifter
  21. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Ghosteen
  22. Lady Lamb - Even in the Tremor
  23. Mannequin Pussy - Patience
  24. Beduine - Bird Songs of a Killjoy
  25. Mike Krol - Power Chords
  26. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow
  27. Jenny Lewis - On the Line
  28. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride
  29. Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet
  30. Black Belt Eagle Scout - At the Party with My Brown Friends
  31. Pup - Morbid Stuff
  32. The Drums - Brutalism
  33. Sheer Mag - A Distant Call
  34. Florist - Emily Alone
  35. Big Thief - U.F.O.F.
  36. Vagabon - Vagabon
  37. American Football - LP3
  38. Girlpool - What Chaos Is Imaginary
  39. Frankie Cosmos - Close it Quietly
  40. Jess Ribeiro - Love Hate
  41. Cherry Glazerr - Stuffed & Ready
  42. Fawns of Love - Permanent
  43. Ride - This Is Not A Safe Place
  44. Cate Le Bon - Reward
  45. Tamaryn - Dreaming in the Dark
  46. Cigarettes After Sex - Cry
  47. Deerhunter - Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?
  48. Bon Iver - i,i
  49. Bob Mould - Sunshine Rock
  50. The Caretaker - Everywhere at the End of Time, Stage 6
  51. Sleater-Kinney - The Center Won't Hold
 
Bennnnn said:
What am I missing from this Weyes Blood album? Back when it came out, I gave it a shot but just couldn't get into it. Which is crazy cause on paper it sounds like I'd be super into it. I don't the hype. But I'm willing to bet it'll pretty high on many, many lists this year.
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Something to Believe is my SOTY

Unrelated to the above, but this Julia Jacklin album is VERY similar to the last Wxahatchee album Out in the Storm. They're both break up albums have a definite theme and story/loose timeline over the course of the albums. And to cap it off the albums end on a very personal somber quiet songs.
 
Bennnnn said:
What am I missing from this Weyes Blood album? Back when it came out, I gave it a shot but just couldn't get into it. Which is crazy cause on paper it sounds like I'd be super into it. I don't the hype. But I'm willing to bet it'll pretty high on many, many lists this year.
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Same boat. I've given it multiple tries now and it just doesnt click for me. It's fine, but it's nothing special imo, and I dont understand how it's so high on so many year end lists.
 
Still doing arranging, but here's what I have right now. I have this separated into three tiers, with only Tier 1 (top 10) being in order. Admittedly, I haven't been keeping up on listening in the past few months.

TopAlbumsOf2019 (2).jpg

Tier 1 (Top 10)
  1. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow
  2. The Comet is Coming - Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery
  3. Lingua Ignota - Caligula
  4. Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari
  5. Julia Jacklin - Crushing
  6. Angel Olsen - All Mirrors
  7. Otoboke Beaver - Itekoma Hits
  8. Black Midi - Schlagenheim
  9. Sunn O))) - Life Metal
  10. clipping. - There Existed an Addiction to Blood
Tier 2
  • Hatchie - Keepsake
  • PUP - Morbid Stuff
  • Jamila Woods - Legacy! Legacy!
  • Little Simz - Grey Area
  • Durand Jones & the Indications - American Love Call
  • Caroline Polachek - Pang
  • Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  • Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
  • Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
  • Injury Reserve - Injury Reserve
  • W. H. Lung - Incidental Music
  • Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Ghosteen
Tier 3
  • Celer - Xiexie
  • Meitei - Komachi
  • Quelle Chris - Guns
  • Charli XCX - Charli
  • Lizzo - Cuz I Love You
  • Benny the Butcher - The Plugs I Met
  • RAP - Export
  • Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana
  • Stella Donnelly - Beware of the Dogs
  • Xiu Xiu - Girl With Basket of Fruit
  • Mannequin Pussy - Patience
  • Kelsey Lu - Blood
  • CRIMEAPPLE - Wet Dirt
  • FKA Twigs - magdalene
  • Better Oblivion Community Center - Better Oblviion Community Center
  • Malibu Ken - Malibu Ken
  • Eluvium - Pianoworks
  • Megan Thee Stallion - Fever
  • Ariana Grande - thank u, next
  • Florist - Emily Alone
 
Hollywood said:
Very good list. My top 3 may end up being the same.
Paste's 50 Best Albums of 2019
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Paste is usually pretty on point. Their end of the decade list has a ton in common with my own.

Bennnnn said:
What am I missing from this Weyes Blood album? Back when it came out, I gave it a shot but just couldn't get into it. Which is crazy cause on paper it sounds like I'd be super into it. I don't the hype. But I'm willing to bet it'll pretty high on many, many lists this year.
Click to expand...

Same. The first time I heard it, I was in the middle of an acupuncture session- and it was perfect for that moment. But upon subsequent listens, it has failed to hook me. I feel like it's an album that has to have 1000% of my attention or it sort of just fades into the background.
 
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wokeupnew said:
Why are so many people/publications' best of lists sleeping on this new National album?
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I think this one will go down as one of those critically underrated in the moment albums that is later revisited as one of their strongest works retrospectively. I could be wrong. I often am. I do agree with your sentiment though. If I could swap the placement of The National with Weyes Blood on many of these lists, they would closely reflect my own opinions.
 
sjaygray said:
I think this one will go down as one of those critically underrated in the moment albums that is later revisited as one of their strongest works retrospectively. I could be wrong. I often am. I do agree with your sentiment though.
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I think Sleep Well Beast was more critically acclaimed because the first half (System, Day I Die) are very radio/single friendly, even though I don't really like those songs as much as everyone else does. Whereas this new album has a lot of different vocals/textures and is not structured like an easy to digest album.
 
wokeupnew said:
I think Sleep Well Beast was more critically acclaimed because the first half (System, Day I Die) are very radio/single friendly, even though I don't really like those songs as much as everyone else does. Whereas this new album has a lot of different vocals/textures and is not structured like an easy to digest album.
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You could be right. They have put out nothing but stellar albums, and I loved SWB nearly as much as the new one. but I give the edge to IAETF overall if we're comparing the two. I haven't formulated a list yet, but it's a safe assumption it's top 5, probably top 3.
 
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