favorite music of 2019

This year marks the first time that some end-of-year favorite albums were enjoyed on streaming platforms only. That probably tells you all you need to know about my old-man embrace of the contemporary listening experience.

Cate Le Bon – Reward

The daffy “it girl” from Wales finally recorded an album with deep emotional resonance, and the effect was as impressive as I could have hoped for.

Helado Negro – This is How You Smile

In the brutal year of 2019, it was very, very hard to resist the easy-listening charms of this 1.5-gen musician.

Waste of Space Orchestra – Syntheosis

This Tampere, Finland supergroup created an album that teases a musical future that, in its finest moments, extreme metal has always promised.

Hand Habits – Placeholder

Lonesome, country-flecked indie rock need never die.

The Dream Syndicate – These Times

I’m stunned that this is the best album these Paisley Underground legends have recorded since 1985.

Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury

The sound of 1970s boogie-rockers exploring 1980s synth-and-gated-drums production values has always intrigued me. Throw in Simpson’s thick drawl and album-length anime video, and I’m in.

Raphael Saadiq – Jimmy Lee

Another fantastic solo album from the former Tony! Toni! Toné! Frontman. (Now reunite Lucy Pearl!)

Big ‡ Brave – A Gaze Among Them

Montreal always holds the flag for dramatic, goth-y rock. This minimalist trio upholds the city’s tradition with a pounding, cavernous sound.

Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains

R.I.P. David Berman.

Steve Gunn – The Unseen In Between

Because I’m a sad dad, right?

Blacks’ Myths – II

Scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. Experimental album of the year.

Blacks’ Myths II by Blacks’ Myths

Kim Gordon – No Home Record

But of course, we should’ve known she’d turn out the best post-Sonic Youth album.

Lizzo – Cuz I Love You

Yeah, I gave in.

Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising

Far her left-field beginnings, Natalie Mering finally honed her soft-rock aesthetic to perfection.

Oceans of the Moon – Oceans of the Moon

Dude from Six Finger Satellite formed a new group and successfully revived their deathless synth-punk sound.

Unloved – Heartbreak

90s electronica that swipes that Swinging London vibe need never die.

Black Mountain – Destroyer

I miss Amber Webber and Joshua Wells (whose latest album as Lightning Dust was quite worthy), but the reconstituted Black Mountain hardly missed a sinister boogie-rock beat.

BONUS METAL

At age 51, I listened to more metal than ever before. Some world, huh? I’d sound ridiculous if I tried to parse all the sub-genre classifications here.

Blut Aus Nord – Hallucinogen