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.

There were so many other newcomers like Denzel Curry, Clairo, YBN Cordae, Faye Webster, Susto, and Little Simz, each of whom sound NOTHING like the other, whether they’re rappers or indie artists.

There were also some artists who have been around for a while who are still making great music. Friendly Fires, Bibio, and Holy Ghost! made arguably their best albums yet, and Harry Styles has shown he's not just flash in the pan.

Both Brittany Howard and Thom Yorke showed their range and talent with their solo albums, Howard’s first and Yorke’s third (not counting the Suspiria soundtrack which he scored), and I think it was Yorke’s best solo work yet, and the most accessible (aka least weird).

Golden Daze get the crown for best Real Estate-sounding album of the year, i.e. the best chill background music that couldn’t be offensive to anyone but puts me in a good state of mind.

Gender Roles and Susto released awesome rock records, and both billy woods and Little Simz created rap albums that are really out there on the production front but also super unique and interesting.

Overall, 2019 was more about quantity than quality, as nothing really completely blew me away, but there was so much solid stuff to listen to that it kept me entertained for countless hours. Now we’re onto 2020.

Enjoy!

Top 25 Albums of 2019

PUP - Morbid Stuff
Rex Orange County - Pony
Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride
Denzel Curry - ZUU
Clairo - Immunity
Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell!
Friendly Fires - Inflorescent
Holy Ghost! - Work
Bibio - Ribbons
YBN Cordae - The Lost Boy
(Sandy) Alex G - House of Sugar
Oso Oso - basking in the glow
Jay Som - Anak Ko
Faye Webster - Atlanta Millionaires Club
Brittany Howard - Jaime
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Thom Yorke - ANIMA
Golden Daze - Simpatico
Toro y Moi - Outer Peace
Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet
Susto - Ever Since I Lost My Mind
Hot Chip - A Bath Full of Ecstasy
billy woods - Hiding Places
Gender Roles - PRANG
Little Simz - GREY Area