YEAR END MEGALIST 2019

Sanders' Top 10 Albums of 2019
1. O.R.k. - Ramagehead (15)
2. Blaqk Audio - Only Things We Love (15)
3. Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind (10)
4. Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (10)
5. Sturgill Simpson - Sound & Fury (8)
6. Korn - The Nothing (8)
7. Shura - Forevher (6)
8. Rammstein - Untitled (6)
9. Taylor Swift - Lover (6)
10. Crumb - Jinx (6)

Honorable Mentions
*Bring Me The Horizon - Amo (2)
*Lindemann - F & M (2)
*Cold - The Things We Can't Stop (2)
*Cigarettes After Sex - Cry (2)
*Death Therapy - Voices (2)

This was an interesting year for me, musically. I'll have some other year end thoughts to share soon (including a favorite songs list), but for now, I'll let this list speak for itself. Some of these albums really came out of nowhere and surprised me, and boy, am I glad they did. This has certainly been one of my favorite recent years musically, and the one where I've grown the most as a listener. Here's to the next decade! 🍻
 
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1. Black Marble - Bigger Than Life (20) - it's just a really beautiful post-punk/goth album that's heavy on the synths and drum machines. Probably his most uplifting and poppy album to date. It's one of those albums you so quickly consume that you wish there was a second album coming out in the same year.



2. DIIV - Deceiver (15) - this is the highlight song (for me) from an excellent album. It's warm and fuzzy.



3. The Claypool Lennon Delirium - South of Reality (15) - Claypool is one of my favorite musicians of all time. One of a kind. I have been to countless shows, whether it's Primus, the Frog Brigade, the Fancy Band, Col. Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, the CLD, or soon (come Feb. 2020) OYSTERHEAD! The tune linked below has an excellent jam section from an incredible sophomore album.



4. Whirr - Feels Like You (10) - dark shoegaze. I love that the tracks on this album bleed into each other. It calms me.



5. Com Truise - Persuasion System (10) - my favorite track from this one happens to be an ambient tune. Very unlike the rest of his mid-tempo synth funk.



6. American Football - LP3 (10) - I really got lost in this album while riding a train in Chicago. I grew up in SE Wisconsin when AF came onto the scene (and the whole Midwestern emo scene was exploding) . Nice to hear their twinkly guitars in 2019.


7. The National - I Am Easy to Find (5) - Love the female vocals. Made the album for me.


8. King Gizz - Infest the Rat's Nest (5) - Metal suits them. I appreciate the rare bass and guitar solos (so "un-Gizz" of them). Superbug. Sounds like SLEEP!


9. The Appleseed Cast - The Fleeting Light of Impermanence (5) - one of the most underrated bands in existence.


10. Khruangbin - 全てが君に微笑む (5) - technically a comp, but the LP came out in 2019. And I really love the artwork.

I refuse to listen to Whirr because the main dude is a bigot. However I am curious how the new album sounds. Is it more like “Sway” or “Pope Dreams”? It is unfortunate because their sound was amazing and I can’t listen to it.
 
Had to edit this to put Bad Bunny a little higher. I'm listening to his album again and it's brilliant. People think I joke whenever I say this, but his album is one of the most revolutionary recordings in recent mainstream latin music.

...which is not that hard because mainstream latin music has been terrible, horrible, not good, very bad for the last... ten, fifteen years?
 
2019 started off pretty strong for me, and then kind of faded a bit as the year went on. My list of favorites is pretty Austin heavy this year. Normally I would try and balance that out a bit more, but, honestly, a lot of Austin artists put out exceptional albums this year, so I'm just going to go with it.
  1. Moving Panoramas - "In Two" (20 points)
  2. Black Pumas - "Black Pumas" (10 points)
  3. Bayonne - "Drastic Measures" (10 points)
  4. Jenny Lewis - "On The Line" (10 points)
  5. Sharon Van Etten - "Remind Me Tomorrow" (10 points)
  6. Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis - "Beautiful Lie" (10 points)
  7. Angel Olsen - "All Mirrors" (5 points)
  8. Bob Mould - "Sunshine Rock" (5 points)
  9. Better Oblivion Community Center - "Better Oblivion Community Center" (5 points)
  10. Lizzo - "Cuz I Love You" (5 points)
  11. The Highwomen - "The Highwomen" (5 points)
  12. Will Johnson - "Wire Mountain" (5 points)
I had Sturgill Simpson's "Sound & Fury" just missing the cut, and if it were LP length, I would have made room for Lucy Dacus' "2019" EP. I did enjoy albums from Big Thief, Julia Jacklin and Weyes Blood as well, and some of those would probably work their way in to an expanded list if I had spent more time with them. The latter two, in particular.
 
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Updating with points because I didn't read the first post (facepalm)

  • Angel Olsen - All Mirrors (15 points)
  • Black Mountain - Destroyer (15 points)
  • Cage The Elephant - Social Cues (5 points)
  • Chelsea Wolfe - Birth Of Violence (5 points)
  • Feels - Post Earth (5 points)
  • Kadavar - For The Dead Travel Fast (8 points)
  • Lightning Dust - Spectre (8 points)
  • Russian Circles - Blood Year (12 points)
  • Tool - Fear Inoculum (15 points)
  • White Reaper - You Deserve Love (12 points)
 
HERE WE GO!

1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen [13]
2. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana [12]
3. black midi - schlagenheim [9]
4. Uboa - The Origin of My Depression [7]
5. American Football - American Football (LP3) [7]
6. Swans - Leaving Meaning [7]
7. Billy Woods & Kenny Segal - Hiding Places [5]
8. FKA Twigs - Magdalene [5]
9. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising [5]
10. PUP - Morbid Stuff [4]
11. Malibu Ken - Malibu Ken [4]
12. Slauson Malone - A Quiet Farewell, 2016-2018 [3]
13. Xiu Xiu - Girl with Basket of Fruit [3]
14. Lingua Ignota - Caligula [3]
15. Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka [2]
16. Angel Olsen - All Mirrors [2]
17. clipping. - There Existed an Addiction to Blood [1]
18. Blanck Mass - Animated Violence Mild [1]
19. SeeYouSpaceCowboy - Songs for the Firing Squad [1]
20. The Comet is Coming - Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery [1]
 
The Divine Comedy - Office Politics (20)
Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell (20)
Jamie Cullum - Taller (15)
Lamb - The Secret Of Letting Go (15)
Rex Orange County - Pony (10)
Weezer - Weezer (teal album) (10)
Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated (10)



Something like that.
edit. ok, let's hope I don't have to change it again.
Nice to see some Rex Orange County on here!
 
1. Black Marble - Bigger Than Life (20) - it's just a really beautiful post-punk/goth album that's heavy on the synths and drum machines. Probably his most uplifting and poppy album to date. It's one of those albums you so quickly consume that you wish there was a second album coming out in the same year.



2. DIIV - Deceiver (15) - this is the highlight song (for me) from an excellent album. It's warm and fuzzy.



3. The Claypool Lennon Delirium - South of Reality (15) - Claypool is one of my favorite musicians of all time. One of a kind. I have been to countless shows, whether it's Primus, the Frog Brigade, the Fancy Band, Col. Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, the CLD, or soon (come Feb. 2020) OYSTERHEAD! The tune linked below has an excellent jam section from an incredible sophomore album.



4. Whirr - Feels Like You (10) - dark shoegaze. I love that the tracks on this album bleed into each other. It calms me.



5. Com Truise - Persuasion System (10) - my favorite track from this one happens to be an ambient tune. Very unlike the rest of his mid-tempo synth funk.



6. American Football - LP3 (10) - I really got lost in this album while riding a train in Chicago. I grew up in SE Wisconsin when AF came onto the scene (and the whole Midwestern emo scene was exploding) . Nice to hear their twinkly guitars in 2019.


7. The National - I Am Easy to Find (5) - Love the female vocals. Made the album for me.


8. King Gizz - Infest the Rat's Nest (5) - Metal suits them. I appreciate the rare bass and guitar solos (so "un-Gizz" of them). Superbug. Sounds like SLEEP!


9. The Appleseed Cast - The Fleeting Light of Impermanence (5) - one of the most underrated bands in existence.


10. Khruangbin - 全てが君に微笑む (5) - technically a comp, but the LP came out in 2019. And I really love the artwork.


Props on the Claypool/Lennon addition. I saw them a few months ago and it was insane. This second album, IMHO, is so much better than the first. Love nearly everything Les touches!
 
  1. Lana Del Rey - NFR (10)
  2. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride (10)
  3. The National - IAETF (10)
  4. Thom Yorke - Anima (10)
  5. Julia Jacklin - Crushing (10)
  6. James Blake - Assume Form (8)
  7. Chromatics - Closer to Grey (7)
  8. (Sandy) Alex G - House of Sugar (6)
  9. Big Thief - UFOF (5)
  10. Tyler, The Creator - Igor (5)
  11. FKA Twigs - Madgalene (4)
  12. clipping. - There Existed an Addiction to Blood (4)
  13. American Football - LP3 (4)
  14. Big Thief - Two Hands (1)
  15. DIIV - Deceiver (1)
  16. Kevin Abstract - Arizona Baby (1)
  17. Jay Som - Anak Ko (1)
  18. Fonatines D.C - Dogrel (1)
  19. Kevin Morby - Oh My God (1)
  20. Jamila Woods - LEGACY! LEGACY! (1)
 
10 Albums I Really Loved This Year (10 points each):
  • Lankum – The Livelong Day
  • Fly Pan Am - C’est ça
  • Biosphere - The Senja Recordings
  • 75 Dollar Bill - I Was Real
  • Föllakzoid - I
  • Resavoir – Resavoir
  • Altın Gün – Gece
  • Caterina Barbieri - Ecstatic Computation
  • Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - And Now for the Whatchamacallit
  • Dhidalah - Threshold 発端
5 Metal Albums I Really Loved This Year:
  • Crypt Sermon – The Ruins Of Fading Light
  • Opeth – In Cauda Venenum
  • Astronoid - Astronoid
  • Nebula - Holy Shit
  • Darkthrone - Old Star
3 (New) Albums of Older Music I Really Loved This Year That I'm Not Sure Qualify For The Megalist:
  • Inoyama Land – Commissions: 1977-2000
  • Various Artists - Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990
  • Orior – Still Strange
1 Unexpected Album Reissue That Brought Me A Lot Of Joy This Year:
  • Mort Garson - Mother Earth's Plantasia
1 Album I Really Loved This Year But Have No Desire To Ever Listen To Again:
  • Lingua Ignota ‎– Caligula
My Favorite Live Music Show This Year:
  • Kikagaku Moyo on 11/9/19 in Austin, Texas at Mohawk
 
Best Albums of 2019

Understandably, Country music will likely be underrepresented on the list so while there were some pretty great albums in Hip-Hop (Brandon Banks, Escape From New York); Pop (NFR!) and Indie (I Am Easy To Find), I felt like I needed to allocate my points towards some brilliant Country albums. It was a banner year for Country that stretches well beyond Tyler Childers.

There were A LOT of amazing County albums released . Here are a few I enjoyed.

15 Orville Peck - Pony

15 Mike and The Moonpies - Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold

15 Vincent Neil Emerson - Fried Chicken & Evil Women

10 Charley Crockett - The Valley

10 Bruce Robinson and Kelly Willis - Beautiful Lies

05 Gabe Lee - farmland

05 Paul Cauthen - Room 41

05 Dori Freeman - Every Single Star

05 Emily Scott Robinson - Traveling Mercies

05 Jon Pardi - Heartache Medication

05 Midland - Let It Roll

05 Ian Noe - Between The Country
 
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Here's my draft rating. Points to follow (and maybe a new order) after I re-listen to them all

1. Muriel Grossmann - Reverence
2. Theon Cross - Fyah
3. Dave - Psychodrama
4. Cykada - Cykada
5. Tyler Childers - Country Squire
6. Dona Onete - Rebujo
7. Joel Ross - Kingmaker
8. Compro Oro - Suburban Exotica
9. Songs of Our Native Daughters
10. Blow 3.0 - Equality
Updated, with points

Muriel Grossmann - Reverence 20
Dave - Psychodrama 16
Theon Cross - Fyah 16
Cykada - Cykada 12
Tyler Childers - Country Squire 10
Dona Onete - Rebujo 8
Joel Ross - Kingmaker 8
Compro Oro - Suburban Exotica 5
Our Native Daughters 5
 
As per usual, my new album listening is more diligent in the first half of the year and usually dies down as football season approaches. So, I apologize if I’m missing anything obvious.

A lot of solid music this year, but only a few really hit me hard which were mostly BOCC and Littlte Simz. It wasn’t a top-heavy year for me, but it was a deep list for consideration.

Big shout out to @Joe Mac for The Gloaming which I may not have listened to other than for his consistent recommendation on the forum. This album spoke very deeply like something from a past life calling out to me. I can’t even articulate it properly, but definitely a cathartic experience each time I tap into this one.

Better Oblivion Community Center (20)
Little Simz - Grey Area (20)

Frances Cone - Late Riser (10)
The National - I Am Easy to Find (10)

Maggie Rogers - Heard It in a Past Life (5)
Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari (5)
Bon Iver - i,i (5)
The Gloaming - The Gloaming 3 (5)

Bassekou Kouyate - Miri (2)
Durand Jones and the Indications - American Love Call (2)
Charlie Collins - Snowpine (2)
Daniel Norgren - Wooh Dang (2)
Rose Droll - Your Dog (2)
Black Pumas - S/T (2)
The Tallest Man on Earth - I Love You, It’s a Fever Dream (2)
Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising (2)

Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet (1)
Liz Brasher - Painted Image (1)
Emily Scott Robinson - Traveling Mercies (1)
Lizzo - Cuz I Love You (1)
 
I think I finally got the points down for this list:

2019 - Top Albums:

Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell (15 pts)
FKA Twigs - Magdalene (15 pts)

Billie Eilish - When We Fall… (12 pts)
Solange - When I Get Home (12 pts)

Chai - Punk (10 pts)

Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated (5 pts)
JPEGMAFIA - All My Friends Are Cornballs (5 pts)
Purple Mountains - S/T (5 pts)
Charli XCX - Charli (5 pts)

Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising (3 pts)
Cate Le Bon - Reward (3 pts)
Tyler, The Creator ‎– Igor (3 pts)
Thom Yorke - Anima (3 pts)

Vampire Weekend - Father Of The Bride (2 pts)
Jay Som - Anak Ko (2 pts)

I also made a playlist of my top 100 songs (which is still very much under construction):

 
Best Albums of 2019

Understandably, Country music will likely be underrepresented on the list so while there were some pretty great albums in Hip-Hop (Brandon Banks, Escape From New York); Pop (NFR!) and Indie (I Am Easy To Find), I felt like I needed to allocate my points towards some brilliant Country albums. It was a banner year for Country that stretches well beyond Tyler Childers.

There were A LOT of amazing County albums released . Here are a few I enjoyed.

15 Orville Peck - Pony

15 Mike and The Moonpies - Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold

15 Vincent Neil Emerson - Fried Chicken & Evil Women

10 Charley Crockett - The Valley

10 Bruce Robinson and Kelly Willis - Beautiful Lies

05 Gabe Lee - farmland

05 Paul Cauthen - Room 41

05 Dori Freeman - Every Single Star

05 Emily Scott Robinson - Traveling Mercies

05 Jon Pardi - Heartache Medication

05 Midland - Let It Roll

05 Ian Noe - Between The Country
Love to see that Mike and the Moonpies up there, it'll be on mine too. Looking forward to that on vinyl when they get it.
 
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