Favorite Albums of 2019

It's that time of year again. It's time for me to reflect, and compile my favorite albums of the year list. 2019 started very slowly for me, but it finished insanely strong with some pretty great albums. And without a further ado, here now my favorite albums of 2019.

Honorable Mention




The Beatles: Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Edition
Giles Martin did an absolutely beautiful job remixing the final Beatles album. I teared up the first time I heard his mix of 'Here Comes the Sun'. Abbey Road sounds rich and full. This is a must have for the diehard Beatles fan in your life.



10. Sharon Van Etten: Remind Me Tomorrow
This is the first Sharon Van Etten album I've listened too, and boy is it a great introduction to her work. Her lyrics on emotional, relatable, and relvant. Her song Seventeen has a timeless quality to it. This is a great example of a singer/songwriter with her pulse on American society.




9. The National: I am Easy to Find
What a decade The National have had. They have easily released three of the best albums of the decade between High Violet, Sleep Well Beast, and now I am Easy to Find. What I love about this album is how different it is. The duets spread across this album give a great change of pace, and add another layer of greatness to some incredible songs.



8. Lana Del Rey: Norman F*cking Rockwell!
What an album. I listened to it three times in a row when we received this album at the radio station. Jenn Pelly from the website Pitchfork.com described this album perfect. " Norman F*cking Rockwell! is the apotheosis of Lana Del Rey, songs of curiosity and of consequence, darkness and light, a time capsule of 2019, proof that a person cannot escape herself but she can change."



7. Andrew Bird: My Finest Work Yet
The reason why this album isn't higher on my list is because it was released so early in 2019, and I forgot about it. You must be thinking "Must not be that good, if you forgot about it." Sadly you are mistaken. This album is terrific. I almost over-listened to it. Bird puts together a collection of songs that showcase his poetry and music at their utmost peak. Which is truly saying something.





6. Norah Jones: Begin Again
I really like this album, because it doesn't sound anything like a Norah Jones album. On Begin Again, Jones experiments. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not, but overall this album a great listen to.




5. Ringo Starr: What's My Name
Yet again, Ringo Starr puts together an incredibly fun album. The highlight of the album is the John Lennon song Grow Old with Me, which Lennon wrote for Starr around the time of his murder. Paul McCartney joins Starr on the track, and adds great presence to the track. I hope that one day, a larger audience will discover Ringo's solo catalog, and see just how great it is.




4. Hozier: Wasteland, Baby!
If you are looking for a great blues based rock/pop album, Wasteland, Baby! is your album. Hozier crafts a dark and complicated album, while at the same time highlight the joy music provide the world.

3. Hallways of Always: Invisible Light*
For the first time in almost a decade, William Elliott Whitmore and Jenny Hoysten re-visit their Hallways of Always project. Invisible Light is incredible. It features a great indie/alternative, almost New Order vibe to it. It shows Whitmore's experimental side, and the incredible voice of Hoysten. This is a truly special album. *Couldn't find a video from this album.




2. Brittany Howard: Jamie
What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said? This is a breakout album for Miss Howard. Like in the way of become a voice of a generation. Howard creates an experimental roots album with lyrics that explore relationships, drug use, love, and life as a whole. I think this album maybe evidence that Brittany Howard has outgrown Alabama Shakes, and about to embark on an incredible solo career.




1. Coldplay: Everyday Life
Wow!! That's all I can say about Coldplay's eighth album. It is by far their most experimental album. It explores politics, religion, police violence, and classical music. Yet all of this exploration is contained in the musical sound of their first two albums. If you prefer "old" Coldplay, this album is a must listen. It's incomplete, rough, and human. If this is signs of a direction for the band, I cannot wait to see where they go next!!