“Got a job I gotta do. I get down and dirty too. What it is? What it do?”
I absolutely love doing this each year. I have been doing this for over a decade. I’m old! I hope people still enjoy it. Music is so unique because everything produced is new. Some people love movies for the same reason. I continue to be surprised by artists and get excited about new releases and discoveries. It is great.
This year was a great example of the “new” nature of music. You have artists doing things that I have never heard done before. Also, you had artists try something completely different from their norm. A great example of this is Tyler, The Creator. He has been making successful music for 10 years. This year he made something completely different and unique. As a rapper, he basically has no rap on the album. It works. It is a huge risk for an established artist. More of that is always welcome.
There were also new areas of the world to tap into. Three of my top five albums are artist from Australia (Stella Donnelly, Julia Jacklin, and Alex Cameron). Two of my favorite new rappers are from Britain (slowthai and Little Simz). I’m not sure where Brittany Howard comes from since her talent cannot be of this world. Holy shit she’s incredible. Alabama. I just looked it up.
More than half of the artists on my favorite albums list are new to me. Julia Jacklin, Stella Donnelly, and slowthai blew me away this year. I will be a fan of theirs for a long time and can’t wait to see where their creativity and sounds go.
Several of my favorite albums of the year are from artists who re-established themselves with either a new project or a completely new sound. Aesop Rock as Malibu Ken, Brittany Howard solo, Tyler, the Creator as IGOR, Sophie Bridges and Conner Oberst as Better Oblivion Community Center.
The new nature of music is what that keeps me interested in doing this list. I am inspired and forever eager to hear something new.
Music is subjective. That being said, I know all the best stuff. Everything you don’t like on my list is just your inability to enjoy good music. I am obviously serious and have never joked a day in my life. I just hope you find something here to love.
I have listed my:
35 favorite albums
100 Best Songs
Favorite live performance videos
Community list (This is New)
All of my previous lists (2009-2018)
…and much much more. Everything is listed on Spotify below.
As always, please let me know your favorites for the year. I can’t hear everything.
Of what I’ve heard, here are my lists.
Enjoy.
Top 35 Albums of 2019
- Alex Cameron – Miami Memory
- Local Natives – Violet Street
- Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs
- Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
- Julia Jacklin – Crushing
- slowthai – Nothing Great About Britain
- clipping – There Existed an Addiction to Blood
- Danny Brown – unknowhatimsayin?
- BROCKHAMPTON – GINGER
- Brittany Howard – Jaime
- Malibu Ken – Malibu Ken
- Tyler, The Creator – IGOR
- Bon Iver – i,i
- Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride
- Homeboy Sandman – Dusty
- Whitney – Forever Turned Around
- Bill Callahan – Shepard in a Sheepskin Vest
- Wiki – OOFIE
- Brother Ali – Secrets & Escapes
- Yeasayer – Erotic Reruns
- Anderson. Paak – Ventura
- billy woods & Kenny Segal – Hiding Places
- Denzel Curry – ZUU
- Big Thief – U.F.O.F.
- The National – I Am Easy to Find
- JPEGMAFIA – All My Heroes Are Cornballs
- EARTHGANG – Mirrorland
- Rapsody – Eve
- Better Oblivion Community Center – Better Oblivion Community Center
- Mac DeMarco – Here Comes the Cowboy
- Clairo – Immunity
- Blu – A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night
- YBN Cordae – The Lost Boy
- Earl Sweatshirt – Feet Of Clay
- Little Simz – GREY Area
100 Best Songs of 2019
(HERE IS THE LIST ON SPOTIFY)
1.Alex Cameron – “Divorce”
2. Stella Donnelly – “Tricks”
3. Local Natives – “When Am I Gonna Lose You”
4. Tierra Whack – “Unemployed”
5. Brittany Howard – “Stay High”
6. Julia Jacklin – “Body”
7. Tyler, The Creator – “EARFQUAKE”
8. Big Thief – “Cattails”
9. Bon Iver – “Hey, Ma”
10. BROCKHAMPTON – “BOY BYE”
11. clipping. – “Nothing is Safe”
12. Danny Brown – “Dirty Laundry”
13. Stella Donnelly – “Old Man”
14. Malibu Ken – “Corn Maze”
15. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Crime Pays”
16. BROCKHAMPTON – “NO HALO”
17. Bill Callahan – “The Ballad of the Hulk”
18. Clairo – “Bags”
19. Tierra Whack – “Wasteland”
20. Sufjan Stevens – “Love Yourself”
21. Julia Jacklin – “Don’t Know How to Keep Loving You”
22. Tyler, The Creator – “A BOY IS A GUN”
23. Vampire Weekend – “How Long?”
24. Denzel Curry – “SPEEDBOAT”
25. Whitney – “Giving Up”
26. Better Oblivion Community Center – “Dylan Thomas”
27. Kevin Abstract – “Georgia”
28. Alex Cameron – “Miami Memory”
29. Brother Ali – “Father Figures”
30. Mac DeMarco – “All Of Our Yesterdays”
31. The National – “Light Years”
32. Brittany Howard – “He Loves Me”
33. Schoolboy Q – “Numb Numb Juice”
34. Vampire Weekend – “Unbearably White”
35. Spoon – “No Bullets Spent”
36. JPEGMAFIA – “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am A Thot”
37. Alex Cameron – Bad For the Boys”
38. YBN Cordae – “RNP” Ft. Anderson. Paak
39. BROCKHAMPTON – “HEAVEN BELONGS TO YOU”
40. Danny Brown – “Best Life”
41. Denzel Curry – “ZUU”
42. James Blake – “Where’s The Catch?” ft. Andre 3000
43. YBN Cordae – “We Gon Make It” ft. Meek Mill
44. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Giannis” ft. Anderson. Paak
45. Vampire Weekend – “Sympathy”
46. Anderson. Paak – “Jet Black” ft. Brandy
47. clipping. – “Blood of the Fang”
48. Local Natives – “Cafe Amarillo”
49. Stella Donnelly – “Beware of the Dogs”
50. The National – “You Had Your Soul With You”
51. clipping. – “He Dead” ft. Ed Balloon
52. Mac DeMarco – “Nobody”
53. Yeasayer – “Let Me Listen In On You”
54. Big Thief – “UFOF”
55. Local Natives – “Megaton Mile”
56. Sharon Van Etten – “Comeback Kid”
57. BROCKHAMPTON – “SUGAR”
58. Bon Iver – “We”
59. Rapsody – “Oprah” ft. Leikeli47
60. Alex Cameron – “Stepdad”
61. American Football – “Uncomfortably Numb” ft. Hayley Williams
62. Brother Ali – “Situated” ft. Pharoahe Monch
63. slowthai – “Doorman”
64. DaBaby – “Suge”
65. Purple Mountains – “Snow is Falling in Manhattan”
66. Denzel Curry – “RICKY”
67. EARTHGANG – “UP”
68. Anderson. Paak – “Come Home” ft. Andre 3000
69. Weyes Blood – “Andromeda”
70. Yeasayer – “Fluttering In The Floodlights”
71. Wiki – “Grim” ft. Lil Ugly Mane & Denzel Curry
72. Faye Webster – “Room Temperature”
73. Belle & Sebastian – “I Know Where The Summer Goes”
74. EARTHGANG – “Top Down”
75. Sharon Van Etten – “Seventeen”
76. Maxo Kream – “Meet Again”
77. Wiki – “Pesto”
78. Little Simz – “Selfish”
79. Tyler, The Creator – “I THINK”
80. Yeasayer – “Crack A Smile”
81. Weyes Blood – “Everyday”
82. Little Simz – “Offence”
83. billy woods – “Spongebob”
84. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Palmolive” ft. Pusha T & Killer Mike
85. Malibu Ken – “Tuesday”
86. Rapsody – “Ibtihaj” ft. D’Angelo & GZA
87. Jenny Lewis – “Red Bull & Hennessy”
88. Alex Cameron – “Far From Born Again”
89. Lizzo – “Truth Hurts”
90. Little Simz – “101FM”
91. Tyler, The Creator – “PUPPET”
92. black midi – “953”
93. Quelle Chris – “Obamacare”
94. Bill Callahan – “Black Dog on the Beach”
95. Chance the Rapper – “Do You Remember” ft. Ben Gibbard
96. Better Oblivion Community Center – “Didn’t Know What I Was in For”
97. slowthai – “Nothing Great About Britain”
98. Earl Sweatshirt – “74”
99. slowthai – “Dead Leaves”
100. Danny Brown – “Combat” ft. Q-Tip
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
My #1 Album of the Year comes from Australian singer-songwriter Alex Cameron with his 3rd great album in a row, Miami Memory. This album, like his others, is catchy, smart, and hilarious. Each time I listen to the album I feel like I find different song that to love. Alex Cameron’s strength is his ability to write honestly about a subject with a humorous twist. The delivery of this music is not Weird Al. It’s not hokey. It is very catchy indie pop.
He has played characters on his first two albums, Jumping the Shark (A washed-up musician) and Forced Witness (An uber-masculine womanizer). Alex Cameron has grown his cult following into a horde of die-hard fans by using these personas. When I saw him live this year, he plays a character in his performance. He has learned how to balance his persona and a tongue-in-cheek realness. On Miami Memory he tackles some serious topics but still makes them enjoyable, while being himself. Much of this record is about love and womens’ empowerment. “Divorce” Stepdad” and “Miami Memory” are all about his relationship with his girlfriend. They are personal and vulnerable.
I got friends in Kansas City with a motherfucking futon couch
If that’s how you want to play it
I’m drinking in the dark because my battery’s all ran out
All you got to do is say it
Divorce
“Far From Born Again” and “Bad For The Boys” are both about women who are in very powerful places. The former is about making money and living while having no regard for what others think. The latter, about being fed up with toxic-masculinity.
Poor Jack, that was slack
He took the bait and hit his girl back
And here comes Mike with the motorbike
Guess he’ll never get to see that little tyke
And handsome Cory with his high school glory
Yeah, no one wants to hear those fucking stories
And here come the grammar police
Here comes the PC brigade
And here comes a mattress on the floor
From the bed you tried to get her to make
And now you’re living little lives without women
And blaming them for all the change
You thought the boys were gonna to stay the same
But no one cares about your good old days
It is amazing to see the growth in his songwriting. The lyrics are meaningful on this album without being pretentious.
I highly suggest Alex Cameron’s entire catalog. This is my favorite album of 2019.
Pleasant Surprises
Brother Ali – Secrets & Escapes – He’s a great lyricist and the production from Evidence is perfect for him.
Stella Donnelly – Beware of Dogs – Smart, catchy, and makes me want more.
Julia Jacklin – Crushing – Personal, smart, and emotional. She has a voice that cuts through your heart. It is beautiful.
slowthai – Nothing Great About Britain – This is the most interesting rap to come out of Britain since The Streets.
Underrated/Overlooked Albums: Albums critics/people did not give enough love to.
Local Natives – Violet Street – This is their best album since Gorilla Manor. They are not new, therefore are getting overlooked. This album is great.
Homeboy Sandman – Dusty – Consistently overlooked. His delivery is both part of his brilliance and reason he stays overlooked. Cop Dusty, it’s a wonderful album.
Friends/Community Favorites: New section this year. Shout out to everyone that contributed.
Rodney Waxton – Tyler, the Creator – IGOR, Westside Gun – Hitler Wears Hermes 7, Rapsody – Eve
Jaime Elder – Tool – Fear Inoculum, James Blake – Assume Form
Michael Szewka – MF Grimm – American Rebirth Vol. 2, Gang Starr – One of the Best Yet
Virtina Valdez – Solange
Jelena Byers – Weezer – Teal Album
Alec Boyd – Tyler, the Creator – IGOR, Julia Jacklin – Crushing, Cochemea – All My Relations
Jason McCauley – The Avett Brothers – Closer Together, Wilco – Ode to Joy
Steve Wilson – Kanye West – Jesus is King
Nikki Geron – Bad Wolves – N.A.T.I.O.N.
Bradley Daniel – KidzBop 40
Tyler Reinsma – Post Malone – Hollywood Bleeding, Pouya – South Has Something to Say
Marcia Neeko – Beck – Hyperspace
Nicole Autumn – The National – I Am Easy to Find
@cody_griz – Bon Iver- i,i
@austin_eiland – Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
@kmadderom – Lizzo
@jonwithoutthe_H – Kota the Friend – Foto
@raphsmodernlife – Gunna – Drip or Drown, Young Thug – So Much Fun
@sretenj78 – RubbleBucket – Sun Machine
@autumn_nic – Rex Orange County – Pony, Dennis Lloyd – Exident
@outofconjoel – King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Fishing for Fishes
@pjbraso – Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble – Where Future Unfolds , Sult 5
@cynotavailable – Mac Ayers – Juicebox
Albums and Artists that didn’t come out in 2019 that I listened to a lot:
IDLES – Joy As An Act of Resistance (2018)
Tierra Whack – Whack World (2018)
Live Shows I saw this Year
Death Cab for Cutie (The Metro)
Bill Callahan (Thalia Hall)
Alex Cameron (Thalia Hall)
Anderson. Paak (Northerly Island)
The Roots (Festival of the Lakes)
Most Watched Live Performance Videos
IDLES – Glastonbury
Freddie Gibbs and Mablib Tiny Desk
Brittany Howard Tony Desk
IDELS Tiny Desk
Albums I look forward to coming out in 2020
IDLES – Toneland
The Professionals (Oh No and Madlib) – The Professionals (1/17/20)
Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 4 (TBA)
Broken Bells – TBA
Tierra Whack – TBA
Tame Impala – The Slow Rush (2/14/20)
Jugo + Rada Records 