Modern philosopher-king Nick Miller once opined thusly, “I like getting older. I feel like I’m finally aging into my personality.” I feel that more and more every year, but this year, I often found myself wondering if that meant the most important musicians to me would start disappointing more frequently.
I wrote about this last year and 2019 saw another batch of new releases from many artists that I have a deep affection for, and I’d say for as much as 75 percent of them, my reaction was, “This is fine.” That’s not to say that releases from favorites were out-and-out bad or anything – they just didn’t hit what I was hoping for. It’s entirely possible (a word here that means probable) that the problem is with me and not the musicians making them.
This seems like a fitting match for a year which was (by and large) deeply unsettling and infused with a sense of…off-kilterness that I had a hard time shaking. It wasn’t exactly a banner year for me, and I wasn’t the only one. People and countries still ignoring the dangers of climate change? Check. Children still being kept in cages in the southern border? Yep. Violence against minorities occurring with frightening frequency? So it seems.
I don’t want to appear like a complete downer or encourage anyone to give into despair. There are still so, so many beautiful things around us every day, and joy can still be found (my brother’s wedding day was one of the most fun days of my life, even if I spent a good portion of it worrying about my best man speech). What I’m saying is, if you feel more adrift than normal, I know just how you feel. As Tolkien wrote, “The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”
My favorite music of the year reminded me of the importance of connection and engagement with others, even when it’s difficult. People can disappoint you, break your heart and just plain confuse you, but as one of 2018’s best songs reminded me, we can’t do this all on our own.
I hope the in the following lists you find something that moves you and provides you with a positive connection to your fellow humans. Because when you’re really able to connect with someone, that fucking rules.
Oh yeah, and before I forget – fuck Donald Trump:
**AUTHOR’S NOTE – Throughout the page you’ll find two Spotify links – one with all the albums and the songs I selected (minus one). Happy listening**
Top 50 Albums
1. Thrashing Thru the Passion – The Hold Steady
2. American Love Call – Durand Jones & The Indications
3. Western Stars – Bruce Springsteen
4. Bandana – Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
5. Painted – Lucky Daye
6. Father of the Bride – Vampire Weekend
7. i,i – Bon Iver
8. Dedicated – Carly Rae Jepsen
9. Immunity – Clairo
10. Hello Exile – The Menzingers
11. Live In London – Flight of the Conchords
12. FOTO – Kota the Friend
13. Can You Really Find Me – Night Moves
14. Ventura – Anderson .Paak
15. Free Nationals – Free Nationals
16. CrasH Talk – ScHoolboy Q
17. Atlanta Millionaires Club – Faye Webster
18. Fine Line – Harry Styles
19. Chasing Summer – SiR
20. LIL BIG MAN – Maxo
21. basking in the glow – Oso Oso
22. Sucker Punch – Sigrid
23. thank u, next – Ariana Grande
24. I Love You. It’s A Fever Dream – The Tallest Man on Earth
25. Free Spirit – Khalid
26. Lover – Taylor Swift
27. Head in the Clouds II – 88rising
28. i’ll show you stronger – Pronoun
29. Terms of Surrender – Hiss Golden Messenger
30. Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
31. -Ugh, Those Feels Again – Snoh Aalegra
32. Altogether – Turnover
33. Let It Roll – Midland
34. I Am Easy to Find – The National
35. What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs
36. KIWANUKA – Michael Kiwanuka
37. III – Banks
38. Jaime – Brittany Howard
39. A Bath Full of Ecstasy – Hot Chip
40. Over It – Summer Walker
41. Between the County – Ian Noe
42. Rap Or Go To the League – 2 Chainz
43. Sweet Insomnia – Gallant
44. Wildcard – Miranda Lambert
45. Cuz I Love You – Lizzo
46. Norman Fucking Rockwell! – Lana Del Rey
47. All Mirrors – Angel Olsen
48. Hiding Places – Billy Woods & Kenny Segal
49. Everyday Life – Coldplay
50. Young Enough – Charly Bliss
Top 100 Songs
1. “Jerusalem, New York, Berlin” – Father of the Bride – Vampire Weekend
(Lyric of the year: “All I do is lose, but baby/All I want’s to win”)
2. “Seagull” – Live In London – Flight of the Conchords
3. “Sundown” – Western Stars – Bruce Springsteen
4. “RABi” – i,i – Bon Iver
(Album closer of the year)/(Most life affirming lyric of the year: “Sun light feels good now don’t it?”)
5. “Roll Some Mo” – Painted – Lucky Daye
6. “Blackout Sam” – Thrashing Thru the Passion– The Hold Steady
7. “Mexico” – Can You Really Find Me – Night Moves
(Album opener of the year)
8. “Julien” – Dedicated – Carly Rae Jepsen
(Best bass slap of the year)
9. “Alewife” – Immunity – Clairo
10. “August and Everything After” – Single – Counting Crows
11. “It’s Never Been A Fair Fight” (Acoustic Version) – Single – Craig Finn
12. “Paint It” – Painted – Lucky Day
13. “Orphans” – Everyday Life – Coldplay
14. “That’s Why I Love You” feat. Sabrina Claudio – Chasing Summer – SiR
15. “Intro” – Free Spirit – Khalid
16. “I Guess I Just Feel Like” – Single – John Mayer
17. “The Archer” – Lover – Taylor Swift
18. “Cheatin’ Songs” – Let It Roll – Midland
19. “I Wouldn’t Ask You” – Immunity – Clairo
20. “Young Enough” – Young Enough – Charly Bliss
21. “Now That I Found You” – Dedicated – Carly Rae Jepsen
22. “Train Love” – Transportation – Your Old Droog
23. “Beauty and Essex” feat. Daniel Caesar and Unknown Moral Orchestra – Free Nationals – Free Nationals
24. “Make It Better” feat. Smokey Robinson – Ventura – Anderson .Paak
25. “Tokyo” – Single – Julien Baker
26. “One Night Standards” – Single – Ashley McBryde
27. “I Need A Teacher” – Terms of Surrender – Hiss Golden Messenger
28. “Strain Your Memory” – Hello Exile – The Menzingers
29. “Crime Pays” – Bandana – Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
30. “Moonlight Motel” – Western Stars – Bruce Springsteen
31. “Harmony Hall” – Father of the Bride – Vampire Weekend
(Favourite guitar work of the year)
32. “Money in the Way” – Rap Or Go To the League – 2 Chainz
33. “Backyard” – FOTO – Kota the Friend
34. “Up” – Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
35. “All the Feels” – All the Feels – Fitz and the Tantrums
36. “Fire” – Chasing Summer – SiR
37. “5200” – CrasH Talk – ScHoolboy Q
38. “Carry Me Away” – Single – John Mayer
39. “Old Town Road” feat. Billy Ray Cyrus – 7 – EP – Lil Nas X
40. “Too Many Tears” – American Love Call – Durand Jones and The Indications
41. “Hey, Ma” – i,i – Bon Iver
42. “Speakeasy” – Stillwater – Frankie Lee
43. “This Modern Leper” – Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit’s ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ – Julien Baker
44. “High School Friend” – Hello Exile – The Menzingers
45. “NASA” – thank u, next – Ariana Grande
46. “Summer Girl” – Single – HAIM
47. “Juice” – Cuz I Love You – Lizzo
48. “She” – Fine Line – Harry Styles
49. “Light Years” – I Am Easy to Find – The National
50. “The Recipe”– Chasing Summer – SiR
51. “a morning song” – basking in the glow – Oso Oso
52. “Now I’m In It” – Single – HAIM
53. “Do You Love Her Now” – Single – Jai Paul
54. “DHL” – Single – Frank Ocean
55. “Calculator” – Head in the Clouds II – 88rising, AUGUST 08 and Barney Bones
56. “Hurt” – Sweet Insomnia – Gallant
57. “Donna” – III – The Lumineers
58. “Keep Me in Mind” – Can You Really Find Me – Night Moves
59. “America (You’re Freaking Me Out)” – Hello Exile – The Menzingers
60. “Hell N Back” – Will You Be My Yellow? – EP – Bakar
61. “Never in This House” feat. yMusic and The Staves – Absolute Zero – Bruce Hornsby
62. “Stay High” – Jaime – Brittany Howard
63. “Leader of the Landslide” – III – The Lumineers
64. “Dream Dream Dream” – Good Faith – Madeon
65. “Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)” – KIWANUKA – Michael Kiwanuka
66. “Roll Away” – Let It Roll – Midland
67. “Oh My God” – Oh My God – Kevin Morby
68. “yellow is the color of her eyes” – Single – Soccer Mommy
69. “Dreamin'” – City Pop – Benny Sings
70. “Hallelujah” – Single – HAIM
71. “Up On Broadway” – Three Chords and the Truth – Van Morrison
72. “Daddy” – Everyday Life – Coldplay
73. “Would That I” – Wasteland, Baby! – Hozier
74. “Tenderness” – Anak Ko – Jay Som
75. “Saint Honesty” – Amidst the Chaos – Sara Bareilles
76. “Mystery” – Turn Off the News, Build a Garden – Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
77. “Next Level Charli” – Charli – Charli XCX
78. “Let It Roll” – Let It Roll – Midland
79. “Sociopath” feat. Kash Doll – Single – Pusha T
80. “Heaven” – TIM – Avicii
81. “Saint-Tropez” – Hollywood’s Bleeding – Post Malone
82. “Never Stop” – Future Hndrxx Presents: THE WIZRD – Future
83. “10,000 Acres” – The Valley – Charley Crockett
84. “On the Wall” – Closer to Grey – Chromatics
85. “Before I Let Go” (Homecoming Live Bonus Track) – HOMECOMING: THE LIVE ALBUM – Beyoncé
86. “The Who” feat. Eyas – Single – JPEGMAFIA
87. “Use This Gospel” feat. Clipse and Kenny G – JESUS IS KING – Kanye West
88. “Old Soul” – The Highwomen – The Highwomen
89. “Father Stretch” – Jesus Is Born – Sunday Service Choir
90. “If I Can’t Have You” – Single – Shawn Mendes
91. “Kinfolks” – Single – Sam Hunt
92. “Mountains” – Lost Girls – Bat for Lashes
93. “I Want to Live with You” – The Best of Luck Club – Alex Lahey
94. “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” – Single – Travis Scott
95. “That Was Yesterday” – Single – Leon Bridges
96. “War & Famine” – Superbloom – Ra Ra Riot
97. “Running” – This Is How You Smile – Helado Negro
98. “All Your’n” – Country Squire – Tyler Childers
99. “Mornings in Memphis” – The Saint of Lost Causes – Justin Townes Earle
100. “bad guy” – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? – Billie Eilish
Missing from playlist:
10. “August and Everything After” – Single – Counting Crows
EPs
1. LIL BIG MAN – Maxo
2. Beneath the Reservoir – Gordi
3. In Real Life: Live at Spacebomb Studios – Fruit Bats and Vetiver
4. Nostalgia – Michael Seyer
5. The Plugs I Met – Benny the Butcher
6. Black Moses – Channel Tres
7. Crying in the Prettiest Places – No Rome
8. Vol. 2 – Pink Sweat$
9. The Blue EP – Death Cab for Cutie
10. FEET OF CLAY – Earl Sweatshirt
Reissues
1. Travelin’ Thru, 1967 – 1969: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 15 – Bob Dylan
2. The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings – Bob Dylan
3. The Healing Game – Van Morrison
4. The Band (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe) – The Band
5. Laid Back (Deluxe) – Gregg Allman
6. Ágætis byrjun (A Good Beginning) [20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] – Sigur Rós
7. Abbey Road (Anniversary Super Deluxe) – The Beatles
8. Let It Bleed (Deluxe Edition) – The Rolling Stones
9. The Tennessee Fire: 20th Anniversary Edition – My Morning Jacket
10. Our Endless Numbered Days (Deluxe Edition) – Iron & Wine
Live Albums
1. The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings – Bob Dylan
2. Live in London – Flight of the Conchords
3. In Real Life: Live at Spacebomb Studios – Fruit Bats and Vetiver
4. Live at Montreux 19 July, 1997 – Van Morrison
5. MTV Unplugged – DMA’s
6. HOMECOMING – Beyoncé
7. Live Trax Vol. 49: Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center – Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds
8. Commit Yourself Completely – Car Seat Headrest
9. ‘What’s Going On’ Live – Marvin Gaye
10. MTV Unplugged (Live in Melbourne) – Courtney Barnett
Music Films
1. Rolling Thunder Revue
2. Western Stars
3. The Two Killings of Sam Cooke
4. Echo in the Canyon
5. Amazing Grace
6. Ken Burns: Country Music
7. HOMECOMING
8. The Quiet One
9. Look Mom I Can Fly
10. Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration
Soundtracks
1. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood – Various Artists
2. Western Stars – Bruce Springsteen
3. Queen and Slim: The Soundtrack – Various Artists
4. Big Little Lies: Music from Season 2 – Various Artists
5. Stranger Things: Music from Season 3 – Various Artists
6. 1917 – Thomas Newman
7. Wild Rose – Various Artists
8. Teen Spirit – Various Artists
9. The Lion King: The Gift – Beyoncé
10. Ken Burns: Country Music – Various Artists
Box sets
1. The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings – Bob Dylan
2. Dead Man’s Pop – The Replacements
3. The Band (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe) – The Band
4. Ágætis byrjun (A Good Beginning) [20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] – Sigur Rós
5. MINIDISCS [HACKED] – Radiohead
6. The Warner Bros. Albums: 1970-1976 – James Taylor
7. Abbey Road (Anniversary Super Deluxe) – The Beatles
8. Let It Bleed (Deluxe Edition) – The Rolling Stones
9. Songs for Groovy Children: The Fillmore East Concerts – Jimi Hendrix
10. Live 1969 – Elvis Presley
