Dec 23 - Top 10 Albums of 2019

So this may be my last blog post. At least until this time next year. I'll keep doing this one. But I'm just gonna start adding songs I like to a playlist next year instead of putting them onto a blog. So expect the music to keep going, but you'll just have to follow me on Spotify. So until next year, enjoy these 10 albums! Which are also on Spotify on a playlist, along with a bunch of other albums that I left on the playlist that I was also considering putting into my top 10.

I feel like a few of these surprised me. I do always like to add in something nobody has ever heard of that I fell in love with (see #6). And There's a couple of surprises for me since they're artists I thought were just ok until this newest album (see #8 and #5). But then there's also just some great albums that were either incredible, or which I just couldn't stop listening to, or both. Generally both, if you ask me.

10. Thom Yorke - Anima

Favorite Tracks: Traffic, Dawn Chorus

9. Kelsey Lu - Blood

Favorite Tracks: Due West, Atlantic

8. Toro y Moi - Outer Peace

Favorite Tracks: Ordinary Pleasure, Who I Am

7. Michael Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA

Favorite Tracks: You Ain't The Problem, Solid Ground

6. Fell Runner - Talking

Favorite Tracks: Talking, Same Way

5. Angel Olsen - All Mirrors

Favorite Tracks: Lark, All Mirrors

4. FKA Twigs - MAGDALENE

Favorite Tracks: Sad Day, Cellophane

3. The National - I Am Easy To Find

Favorite Tracks: Oblivions, Where Is Her Head

2. Bon Iver - i,i

Favorite Tracks: iMi, Jelmore

1. Brittany Howard - Jaime

Favorite Tracks: Georgia, Stay High

Dec 19 - KAYTRANADA / Free Nationals

There are two albums that came out last week that I did not realize were on their way, but both of which made me very happy. The first one is Bubba, the new album from KAYTRANADA. He's been releasing singles, so I knew something was coming from him, but I didn't realize it was just going to drop. I had read nothing about an album, just heard singles, and I guess just didn't expect it. Anyway, he saved the best single for last (well, last before the actual album), and that is 10%, with Kali Uchis on vocals. Great track.





Overall, I like the general sound and feel of the album, but what I really don't like about it is that it feels like one giant mix tape. The tracks don't feel like individual songs, they just sort of blend one right into the next. I'm sure that was intentional, and it's fine, but I'm just not crazy about it. But having said that, you can't deny the wonderful beats that this man produces. Another case in point, Go DJ, this time with SiR on the vocals.





I've always loved the beats that KAYTRANADA produces, and there are some fantastic instrumental tracks on the album, with pretty wonderful beats. But again, they just act as sort of interludes, and are very short. There's a lot of very short songs on the album actually. But that doesn't make them any less good. One of my favorite beats on the album is Puff Lah, which isn't even 2 minutes, but just so great.

Then the other album that came out was the debut by the Free Nationals. This one was totally off my radar. The Free Nationals are Anderson .Paak's band, and I knew they were making their own music because when I saw Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals back in January, he had them play one of their own songs. But that was all I ever heard. They never showed up anywhere after that, until all of a sudden an album came out. It wasn't really all of a sudden, there were plenty of singles, I just never heard them. I think my favorite track on the album is On Sight. It kind of reminds me of a classic Snoop Dogg-style hip-hop track. But what I kind of really love about it is Kadhja Bonet. She's pretty fantastic, and her vocals on this track are excellent.





It's a great album, and exactly what you'd expect if you're a fan of Anderson .Paak already. More on the soulful side of his music rather the the more hip-hoppy side. I'm pretty sure the song they sang back in January was Beauty & Essex, so I'll just throw that in here as well.

Dec 17 - Black Pumas

Keeping on the theme of finding bands I may have missed, today I'm sharing Black Pumas. Again, I had heard them previously, but just never really paid attention. But then they were listed as Best New Artist by one of my favorite music sources (not the Grammys, although they are also nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys). So then I obviously had to go and listen to the album, and it is wonderful. Think a more soulful version of The Black Keys. First up off of that album is Colors.

Now, it was a bit of a challenge to pick the second song. There are some really great ones. It was basically down to either Confines or Touch The Sky, but I think I'm going to go with Touch The Sky because I really like how it builds. But seriously just go listen to the whole album, cause it is a wonderful one. They are in good company for that Best New Artist award at the Grammys. I'm not sure if I think Billy Eilish or Lizzo will win, but I know it won't be Black Pumas. And while I'm totally cool with Lizzo winning (Billy Eilish not so much, although I wouldn't be mad about it), I think that Rosalía should win. But then, Yola and Maggie Rogers and Tank and the Bangas are also on there. Really the only person who shouldn't win is Lil Nas X. Anyway, now that I've digressed way too much and listened to both Confines and Touch The Sky while doing so, I've decided I can't decide so here are both of those songs.

Dec 16 - Sault

So I've pretty much got my best albums of the year picked out, but before I put it out I always like to see what some of my favorite sources end up picking to see if I missed anything great. And there was something really great I missed this year: Sault.

I actually didn't miss it, I had heard them a few times, just never really paid attention. But from the first note on their debut album 5, I was hooked. The opening track Up All Night, is probably their best song, but these guys really do nothing bad.





So basically they have this amazing, throwback, funk-soul sound. And they made 2 albums of music this year. First was 5, and then was 7. No idea why they named them that, but both albums are great (although 5 is better). Seems to be a trend these days. Foals did it, Y La Bamba did it, Broken Social Scene did it (well, EPs), Moses Sumney is doing it next year. No idea why, but I won't be complaining about new music from bands I love.

I can find next to no information on this band. No idea who is in it, where they're from, or anything about them at all, really. Except that they make great music. I want to share a bunch of songs with you (Don't Waste My Time, We Are The Sun, No Bullshit....) but I need to just pick one more. So that one more is going to be Waterfalls, the closing track on 7. Much more chill, but also a great song. So now you've heard the first and last song, and it's up to you to go listen to everything in between. And make sure you do.

Dec 13 - Maren Morris

So we all know how I feel about pop music and country music. Not generally a big fan. But sometimes, I do like a song or two. And I found one I like very much. It's The Bones, by Maren Morris. I knew of her because of pop culture, and also because she's a member of The Highwomen. Which I guess does give her some musical cred. But not enough to make me want to go listen to her solo stuff. But then I heard this song for the first time yesterday cause it's on Spotify's best of the decade playlist. And then I listened to it a bunch of times. And there's even a version with Hozier! More musical cred. But still not enough for me to go listen to anything else by her. But enough to make the blog. So enjoy.

Dec 9 - Jon Hopkins & Kelly Lee Owens / Ludo Pimenta / Khruangbin & Leon Bridges

I don't know what's going on with me today, but I am exhausted. I didn't sleep that well, and I just can't get my head right. Total case of the Mondays. Which is not so common for me. But I'll just leave the office a bit early, I guess. And put off work as much as possible. And one way to do that is to share the new songs I heard over the weekend that I really liked.

First is THE song of the weekend, Luminous Spaces by Jon Hopkins & Kelly Lee Owens. I quite like Kelly Lee Owens, and Jon Hopkins is alright, but teamed up, they're great. So the song actually started out on Jon Hopkins's album 2018 album Singularity as a song called Luminous Beings. But it's now been shorted (from 12 minutes to 7), vocals by Kelly Lee Owens were added, and it got renamed. And I think they did a bit with the bassline and beats as well. And I love it. I listened to it so many times this weekend.





Then there's Lido Pimienta, who I actually heard on Friday before the weekend actually got started, and the only reason I didn't listen to her over the weekend is because I couldn't remember her name. She's put out her "first" single No Pude. Well, first single I know. She had an EP back in like 2016, which apparently won some Canadian music prizes, but now she's got this single that's fantastic. Much like Tei Shi or Daniela Andrade, she was born in South America (Colombia) and is now based in North America (Toronto) making Spanish indietronica (a term I learned from my Spotify 2019 wrapped summary, and which I apparently listen to a lot of. But if it sounds like this, then I want to listen to more).





And last up is another collaboration between two greats. But this time from very different genres. It's Khruangbin and Leon Bridges. The connection here is Texas, where they're all from. So they decided to make an EP together, and have released the first track called Texas Sun, which kind of perfectly blends Leon Bridges's smooth, soulful sound, with the chill funk of Khruangbin. Never would have put these two together, but I'm feeling it.