As we say goodbye to this decade, it’s time to acknowledge some great albums from 2019. Here are some of my top picks, in no particular order:
Blushing - Copeland*
Music Genre: Indie / Neo-Folk
Best Track: “On Your Worst Day”
Why The Album is Important: Blushing deals with wanting to be wanted, love, and loss.
Enjoy Whilst: on a long nighttime drive, a night in, or cuddling with your shawty
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Zeal - Kings Kaleidoscope
Music Genre: Indie / Chamber-Pop
Best Track: “Breathing Infinity (The Rush, Pt. 1)” / “Jumping from Jaded Heights (The Rush, Pt. 2)” / “On to the Light (The Rush, Pt. 3)” (yes that’s 3 tracks but they all seamlessly go together and I’m the one writing this blog so get off my back about it)
Why The Album is Important: Zeal is a story about feeling lost, apathetic towards God, spiritual emptiness, and a renewed sense of faith.
Enjoy Whilst: doing your devotionals, hanging out with friends, going on a nighttime drive
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Violet Street - Local Natives
Music Genre: Indie Rock
Best Track: “Megaton Mile”
Why The Album is Important: Violet Street is another excellent album from Local Natives. This album deals with fear of losing a loved one, being shy, and the apocalypse—all with a smile on their face.
Enjoy Whilst: out on a sunny day, kicking it with your S/O, on a long drive
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
The Big Day - Chance the Rapper*
Music Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap
Best Track: “Let’s Go On The Run”
Why The Album is Important: The Big Day is a love letter to Chance’s wife, with awesome “bops” as the kids say.
Enjoy Whilst: on a road trip with friends, or kicking it with your S.O.
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Heard It In A Past Life - Maggie Rogers
Music Genre: Pop
Best Track: “Burning”
Why The Album is Important: Heard It In A Past Life is all about the weirdness of your 20s, heartbreak, and moving on.
Enjoy Whilst: spending time with friends, on a night drive
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
tryhard - The Band CAMINO
Music Genre: Alternative / Indie
Best Track: “Honest”
Why The Album is Important: tryhard is about getting over heartbreak, or at least trying to get over it, empowered with synthesizer, excellent guitar riffs, and killer drums.
Enjoy Whilst: screaming along to the album on a long drive (crying optional), your morning commute
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
New Age Norms 1 - Cold War Kids
Music Genre: Indie Rock / Blue-Eyed Soul
Best Track: “Complainer”
Why The Album is Important: New Age Norms 1 wants you to be the change in the world you want to see, tells tales of being in love, and speaks to seeing the hypocrisy in yourself.
Enjoy Whilst: going for a run, on a road trip
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Work in Progress - Andy Mineo
Music Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap
Best Track: “Reflections rough w_horns & break.mp3”
Why The Album is Important: Work in Progress is an awesome hip-hop album that wrestles with faith, loving country music, married life, and feeling washed up.
Enjoy Whilst: working out, going on a run, or getting hyped
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Dusk and Summer (Now Is Then Is Now) - Dashboard Confessional
Music Genre: Emo / Rock
Best Track: “Don’t Wait - Re-Record” (really all of them)
Why The Album is Important: Dusk and Summer (Now Is Then Is Now) is a new take on a classic Dashboard Confessional album. More acoustic, slowed down, and much more emotional. Yes, it’s 2019 and I’m still loving Dashboard Confessional. It really isn’t a phase, mom.
Enjoy Whilst: reading a book, having a night in
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Penny and Sparrow - Finch
Music Genre: Folk
Best Track: “Stockholm”
Why The Album is Important: Finch is a story of an evolution of a faith that doesn’t come to a firm conclusion, but seems to ask the listener where they are at on their journey.
Enjoy Whilst: reading a book, contemplating life, having a night in
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Texas Piano Man - Robert Ellis*
Music Genre: Folk / Country / Bluegrass
Best Track: “Passive Aggressive”
Why The Album is Important: Texas Piano Man speaks to unhealthy relationships, the pain created by absentee fathers, and how hard it is to quit smoking cigarettes (yes really). It’s got it all: heartbreak, silliness, and fun.
Enjoy Whilst: getting ready for a night out, dancing around in your kitchen cooking a meal
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Demo Love - Bootstraps
Music Genre: Alternative / Indie
Best Track: “Whenever You’re Around”
Why The Album is Important: Demo Love deals with lost love, grief, and coping with change.
Enjoy Whilst: having a night in / reading a book
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
A Pill for Loneliness - City and Colour*
Music Genre: Folk / Post-Hardcore / Alternative
Best Track: “Strangers”
Why The Album is Important: A Pill For Loneliness wrestles with loneliness, the importance of friendship, and loss.
Enjoy Whilst: having a night in / reading a book
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
3.0 - Big Data
Music Genre: Electronic / Dance
Best Track: “Slay (feat. L1ZY)”
Why The Album is Important: 3.0 makes you want to dance, run, and crush it (whatever “it” may be).
Enjoy Whilst: on a run / dancing with friends
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Side Effects - White Denim
Music Genre: Rock & Roll / Blues
Best Track: “Shanalala”
Why The Album is Important: Side Effects takes rock & roll to a new level with killer guitar riffs and bass lines, along with fun lyrics.
Enjoy Whilst: pretending to be in a buddy cop movie with your best friend sliding across your car’s hood / road-tripping
Links: Spotify / Apple Music
Honorable Mentions:
Father of the Bride - Vampire Weekend
Lover - Noah Gundersen*
Free Nationals - Free Nationals*
*there is explicit language or content on this album