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Favorite Albums Released in 2019


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Seems like all the cool kids are making lists in December.  Here are my ten favorite albums of the year (in no particular order):

 

Better Oblivion Community Center -- ST

Mekons -- Deserted

Wilco -- Ode to Joy

Purple Mountains -- ST

Bill Callahan -- Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest

Viagra Boys -- Street Worms

Jeff Tweedy -- Warmer

Frankie & The Witch Fingers -- ZAM

Guided by Voices -- Zeppelin Over China

Big Thief -- Two Hands

 

And three phenomenal albums that I was way late to the party to and heard for the first time in 2019:

 

Songs: Ohia -- Magnolia Electric Company

Sun Kil Moon -- Ghosts of the Great Highway

The Dream Syndicate -- Days of Wine and Roses

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Spotify tells me I have listened to Bruce Springsteen’s Western Stars album more than anything else in 2019.  

 

I would also rate Jeff Tweedy’s Warmer, Wilco’s Ode to Joy and Calexico and Iron&Wine’s Years to Burn very highly.

 

edit:  And Purple Mountains!  I did not recall that came out this year.  For some reason (possibly David’s untimely death), that album feels like it’s from a long time in the past.  I have not been able to listen to it since he died. :(

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No particular order:
 

Joseph Arthur - Come Back World

Mdou Moctar - Ilana the Creator

Mark Knopfler - Down the Road Wherever
Trapper Schoepp - Primetime Illusion

Joan Shelley - Like the River Loves the Seas

Lana del Ray - Norman Fucking Rockwell
Wilco - Ode To Joy
The Who - WHO

Ohhme - Parts

 

Locally (Hudson Valley NY), I really enjoyed The Warp The Weft - "Dead Reckoning"

 

 

I haven't picked up Mark Lanegan's new album yet. Usually he's near the top of my lists. The brief samples I've heard haven't really been my thing. I'll probably pick it up soonish though.
 

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Ohhme - Parts

This came out in August of 2018.

 

 

 

Wilco-Ode to Joy

Sturgill Simpson-Sound & Fury

Glen Hansard-This Wild Willing

The Raconteurs-Help Us Stranger

Chance the Rapper-The Big Day

Orville Peck-Pony

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Here's a few (mostly) in order:

 

  1. Homer - Best New Music
  2. Pip Blom - Boat
  3. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
  4. Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains
  5. Fumaça Preta - Pepas
  6. Cate Le Bon - Reward
  7. Ana Frango Elétrico - Little Electric Chicken Heart
  8. Lizzo - Cuz I Love You
  9. Deerhunter - Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?
  10. Fruit Tones – Natural Selection
  11. Boogarins - Sombrou Dúvida
  12. Masaki Batoh - Nowhere
  13. The Sonic Dawn - Eclipse
  14. Kit Sebastian - Mantra Moderne
  15. Doug Tuttle - Dream Road
  16. The Darts – I Like You, But Not Like That
  17. Warp/The Weft - Dead Reckoning
  18. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - And Now for the Whatchamacallit
  19. Tropical Fuck Storm – Braindrops
  20. Modern Nature - How to Live

 

Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/129R0ovMODyeG9kQijjm3X

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  • 2 weeks later...

Been meaning to post my list. I thought 2019 was a very good year for new music!

 

  1. Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains

  2. Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars

  3. Mac DeMarco - Here Comes the Cowboy

  4. William Tyler - Goes West

  5. Sturgill Simpson - Sound & Fury

  6. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow

  7. Jeff Tweedy - Warmer

  8. Kevin Morby - Oh My God

  9. Wilco - Ode to Joy

  10. Rodrigo y Gabriela - Metavolution

  11. Local Natives - Violet Street

  12. Josh Ritter - Fever Breaks

  13. Twin Peaks - Lookout Low

  14. White Denim - Side Effects

  15. Son Volt - Union

  16. Cate Le Bon - Reward

  17. The Who - Who

  18. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising

  19. Steve Gunn - The Unseen in Between

  20. Jade Jackson - Wilderness

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And three phenomenal albums that I was way late to the party to and heard for the first time in 2019:

 

Songs: Ohia -- Magnolia Electric Company

Sun Kil Moon -- Ghosts of the Great Highway

The Dream Syndicate -- Days of Wine and Roses

Three fantastic discoveries!

1. Eraserland Strand of Oaks

2. Purple Mountains Purple Mountains

3. Spread the Feeling Pernice Brothers

4. Dogrel Fontaines D.C.

5. Sweating the Plague Guided By Voices

6. Peace in Restland Plains

7. Everybody Split Possible Humans

8. Wire Mountain Will Johnson

9. Whoosh The Stroppies

10. Guv I & II Young Guv

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  1. Jeff Tweedy - Warmer
  2. Wilco - Ode to Joy
  3. Dr. Dog - Oh My Christmas Tree
  4. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow 
  5. Michael Nau - Less Ready to Go
  6. Angel Olsen - All Mirrors 
  7. Scott McMicken - Go Ask Ali! 
  8. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen
  9. Leonard cohen – Thanks For the Dance
  10. Twain - Adventure 
  11. Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet 

 

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Songs: Ohia -- Magnolia Electric Company

Sun Kil Moon -- Ghosts of the Great Highway

The Dream Syndicate -- Days of Wine and Roses

 

The second two on here are two of my faves so I'm going to check out Songs: Ohia.

 

I don't have a whole list but I think my favorite album of the year is I'm You by Hallelujah the Hills.  I saw them the other night and they played everything from the album and it was really great.  

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The second two on here are two of my faves so I'm going to check out Songs: Ohia.

 

I don't have a whole list but I think my favorite album of the year is I'm You by Hallelujah the Hills.  I saw them the other night and they played everything from the album and it was really great.  

You're in for a treat.

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The second two on here are two of my faves so I'm going to check out Songs: Ohia.

 

I don't have a whole list but I think my favorite album of the year is I'm You by Hallelujah the Hills.  I saw them the other night and they played everything from the album and it was really great.  

i should have gone to that show.

 

did you catch Major Stars?

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I did.  I've seen them before but I'm not super-knowledgable about them.  They rocked.  Big riffs.  

they are always a great band to see live. been friends w/ Wayne and Kate for a good amount of time now, after they moved from CT to MA and opened the Twisted Village store that's now the location of Armageddon. 

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  • Orville Peck - Pony
  • Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains
  • Big Thief - Two Hands
  • Wilco - Ode To Joy
  • Calexico / Iron & Wine - Years To Burn
  • Better Oblivion Community Centre s/t
  • Whitney - Forever Turned Around
  • Big Thief - UFOF
  • Jeff Tweedy - Warmer
  • Sandy Alex G - House of Sugar
  • Kevin Morby - Oh My God
  • Steve Gunn - The Unseen In Between
  • Hand Habits - placeholder 
  • Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet
  • Strand of Oaks - Eraserland

Honourable mention to: 

Hiss Golden Messenger - Terms of Surrender

Bonnie Prince Billy - I Made A Place

The National - I Am Easy To Find

Mac DeMarco - Here Comes The Cowboy

Stephen Malkmus - Groove Denied

William Tyler - Goes West

Ty Segall - First Taste

Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow

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in no particular order -

 

1)  Brittney Howard - Jaime

2)  Freddie Gibbs and Madlib - Bandana

3)  Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow

4)  Big Thief - UFOF and Two Hands

5)  Bill Callahan - Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest

6)  William Tyler - Goes West

7)  Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride

8)  Jeff Tweedy - Warmer

9)  Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains

10)  Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Ghosteen

 

Reissues:

1)  REM - Monster

2)  Joe Henderson - State of the Tenor (and all of the Tone Poet reissues from Blue Note)

3)  Prince - 1999

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The ones I reached for most in 2019:

Purple Mountains | Purple Mountains
Weyes Blood | Titanic Rising
Fontaines D.C. | Dogrel
Pernice Brothers | Spread The Feeling
The Delines | The Imperial

Some others I enjoyed as well:

Aldous Harding | Designer
Bruce Springsteen | Western Stars
Deerhunter | Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared
Durand Jones & The Indications | American Love Call
Guided by Voices | Zeppelin Over China
Jessica Pratt | Quiet Signs
Joe Henry | The Gospel According to Water
Juliana Hatfield | Weird
Julie Jacklin | Crushing
Le SuperHomard | Meadow Lane Park
Lee Fields & the Expressions | It Rains Love
Nick Waterhouse | Nick Waterhouse
Peter Bruntnell | King of Madrid
Son Volt | Union
Steve Gunn | The Unseen in Between
The Cactus Blossoms | Easy Way
The Rubinoos | From Home
Tim Bluhm | Sorta Surviving
White Lies | Five
Wilco | Ode To Joy

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In no particular order (I'm probably forgetting some):

 

Jeff Tweedy - Warmer

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Ghosteen

Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow

Yola - Walk Through Fire

Charley Crockett - The Valley

Esther Rose - You Made It This Far

Dee White - Southern Gentleman

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It's amazing... Blue Note has been reissuing some of their best titles under their Tone Poet imprint.  Stunning quality and perfect pressings...all of them!

 

Just purchased Sam Rivers's Contours - it will be delivered tomorrow - looking forward to it. Haven't heard the record before, nor I have I purchased at Tone Poet release. 

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