Top 25 Albums of 2019

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My favorite albums of 2019 are here! As happened with the Top 100 Songs of 2019, there really wasn’t a clear cut winner for me. I almost wanted to give it to Vampire Weekend for being so damn consistent, but their album was too long with a few weak tracks that kept them out of the #1 ranking.

After some debate, I realized the album that I enjoyed the most was PUP’s Morbid Stuff. It’s one of those great rock albums, and PUP is such a fun and loud band that loves being loud. They’re the musical man child of Japandroids and New Found Glory. Their live shows must be nuts.

As for the remainder of albums, there’s a number of notables, including my favorite newcomer (for me), Rex Orange County, a singer/songwriter without a great voice or much notable traits that I can point to other than the fact that he sounds like his own. It’s not always about some amazing voice or guitar licks, sometimes it’s just being yourself that makes music so great.

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Monday Mixtape, Vol. 139

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Whole lotta great stuff starting with the sisters of rock (and you may say pop, but if you haven’t seen them live, they rock), Haim! The beat and the “doo-doo-do-do-doos” have to be a direct homage to this classic:

Anyways, great song. On to Clairo, the next pop sensation. Speaking of beats, I love the drums that groove this song to her sweet siren. Love it.

I heard Bleached on Sirius XMU, and I thought this song was a catchy, 80s-ish track with a beach vibe. Different meld of sounds. The chorus crushes.

Surfer Blood must be doing a covers album because I’ve heard a few, and I thought this cover of “I Melt With You” by Modern English. I actually always thought this song was by The Cure! Whoops.

And a little rap for those who need an inkling. I have to say Anderson Paak has blown up. He’s on every rap track now, and you can see why because he' kills this one. I will take credit for talking about that guy way early. My first mention of him was back on February 1, 2016! It was only 103 Monday Mixtapes ago, Volume 36! Pretty wild. (I’m patting myself on the shoulder btw).

So Morabeza Tobacco are really out there, but it’s chill synth and I think I dig it. Wonder what you think? Too weird, maybe.

Happy Monday all!