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Reliving my Favorite Albums of 2019, after the break!
2024 Update:
Almost feels like everything that was small before the Pandemic has been forgotten. Hopefully, I'm not the only person who experiences that in 2024 on the regular. Cause if you confronted me about what originally made this list, I'd probably only be able to recall Noah Kahan & The Japanese House. Everything else on this list had me saying, "Oh yeah, I did listen to that!" Sad reality but truthful. Or maybe I deleted them while cleaning up our traumatic 2019 after Pa passed? Probably a little bit of both honestly.
So... let's remember what made That Buzzing Sound's first full year on WordPress dot org so damn cool once more! Still kinda happy with the countdown below. Especially the Top 10.
Original Words (From December 2019):
My Favorite Albums of 2019
#25 - 'Adventures On The Floating Island' by Monster Rally
Damn, y’all really got a lot of this author today. The gifts will continue like an advent calendar. Trust me.
But yeah… December tends to be an exciting autobiographical month in my music blogging calendar year. For I actually rant about / sorta review about the hottest records I’ve listen to these past 11 or so months. Don’t really hold any amount of praise back. Love being colorful and personal when it comes to why I fell in love with these 25 records.
That’s a big reason why I tend not to write formal album reviews because I don’t really care about the nuts and bolts of the process. Just the selfish impact listening to these LPs had on my life story. To make features – like this countdown – connect on a personal level. And this record from Monster Rally definitely did.
How so? Well… this was one of the two records I took with me.(in full) on our October trip to Mexico after Pa’s tragic departure. Was an escape to an escape that connected with me almost instantly as I left those pretaped Spotlight Weekend sessions for you. Think it was the last thing I remember hearing before I jumped on the plane. Made me feel like I was lounging on a peaceful island far far away with its lush electronic & instrumental soundscapes. Needed to keep it close as possible. Booking this amazing piece of art a ticket on my iPod was the easiest decision I made in these healing days.
Couldn’t help but smile when I discovered that ‘Adventures on the Floating Island’ was Monster Rally’s like 7th studio effort too. You know how much I love running through dusty digital racks like this! Ended up visiting a good chunk of their stellar discography to keep my musical vacation going in the days after we returned. All their “Island” efforts have a wonderful pace & flow that just sucks me in instantly. Every day in my life needs to sound like this.
Luckily this record will forever whistle to me (from the echos of my past) about how I began carving my new road (in the tearful aftermath) with such immense hopeful beauty. It all started on this magical floating island of chilling peacefulness..
#24 - 'Let's Rock' by The Black Keys
When one of your favorite bands of all time release another solid – near perfect – project… it’s extremely hard not to get obsessed with it immediately. Right?
That’s the case when I popped in The Black Keys’ 9th studio effort ‘Let’s Rock’ back in the summer. Set the mood immediately. Vividly recall the images of papa bobbing his head to Dan, Patrick, & Danger Mouse’s addictive & fluid rocking electric soundwaves (as we went to & from the chemo ward around that time). Has left a lasting impression on me. These are the kind of musical experiences that really bonded us on that two year ride. Cause I tried to make the final days of his musical life special.
Luckily magic shot from our stereos whenever I played this LP. Hoped it would make his corrupted blood bounce around in excitement as the world passed him by once last time. Can you picture it? That music lover & longtime rock-n-roller deserved to exit this plain the way always traveled it… riding the lighting.
‘Let’s Rock’ will remain my summertime motto for 2019. Because we did. Every second. And this was one of the soundtracks.
#23 - 'Rap Or Go To The League' by 2 Chainz
You gotta let me have one. Ya know? Because who doesn’t love 2 Chainz?
My friends still can’t believe he remains one of my go-to artists. Many of them know his fun-inventive lyrics due to me spitting them in the car like speaking typewriter. Hell he’s been a fixture on my Favorite Albums Countdown for almost the whole decade. Why wouldn’t he show up here? Tity boi continues to treat us longtime fans quite wonderfully with fantastic project after fantastic project. Wouldn’t be surprised if he carries this trend for another decade. He’s a smart cat. Knows exactly what the mainstream rap game wants. Honestly his musical mentality remains over 110%. Like he took the limitless pill.
‘Rap Or Go To The League’ started my 2019 on a great note. Sure it’s doesn’t compare to 2017’s ‘Pretty Girls Like Trap Music’, but acts like a great sequel to that project overall. Slows down the pace. Focused on some banger hooks. And added even more amazing features to 2 Chainz’s growing discography. We got Kendrick Lamar, Weezy + E-40, Travis Scott again, Chance, Ty Dolla Sign, Young Thug, and even his friend Ariana Grande. Provides a well-rounded listening experience that hooked me when I needed it.
Was afraid I would forget about this LP cause it dropped back in March. Glad I didn’t. Still brings back that hopeful soul who started off the year on his best foot. Big smile. A little disheveled. Rapping “They say life a bitch, we goin’ on a date (Tell ’em)…” every where I went. And we did. Good times.
#22 - 'On The Line' by Jenny Lewis
This spot is probably the most controversial inclusion of the 25 entries. For Jenny Lewis’ ‘On The Line’ should really be in the top 10 best albums of the year. No joke, The amount of personal **** she gets off her chest – from her estranged mother’s passing, past break up with Johnny, and her mental state over the past couple years away from the spotlight – is deeply touching. Each song comes expertly crafted to be revealing while being pleasing to the eardrums. Something this long time fan has grown accustomed from Jenny’s stellar songbook. Seems strange that I placed it so low. Right?
Well… I’m mostly to blame. Didn’t spend much time with ‘On The Line’. Not sure why either. Could blame it on all the bad-real life shit I went through this year. Preferred something sugary & escapist like 2 Chainz more often than not.
However to be completely transparent, I kinda fell off the bandwagon back in 2015 when my old friend… who turned me into a Jenny Lewis fan… moved completely out of my life. She was the light that lead me to a decade of musical adventures that officially began at Jenny & Johnny’s Troubadour showcase on October 5th, 2010. Can’t help be grateful to her seeing how I found my life-long passion.. No matter how much times passes. But definitely wasn’t healthy to keep holding onto a dusty shoebox full of Rilo Kiley-Watson Twins-Jenny & Johnny mixtapes years after. Had to move on.
So when Jenny stepped away, I kinda did too.
Listening to this record now… fully transformed & happy with myself for the first time in like forever..was like when John Wick visited his burned down estate in the second film. No point in sticking around anymore. Kind of a similar feeling I felt when Jenny leaves this LP. She’s bared her soul, pointed out her demons, and proved to herself that she doesn’t need to visit the “Rabbit Hole” or wear that “Rabbit Fur Coat” anymore. She’s finally made her peace with it all. Fade to black.
Wouldn’t be surprised if this record really hits me down the line after all my on-gong panic attacks calm down. Maybe then this listener will be ready to accept all her truths a little bit better.
#21 - 'Katana ZERO Soundtrack' by Various Artists
One of the main reasons why ‘Katana ZERO’ became my favorite video game of 2019 is mostly because of this amazing soundtrack. Was sucked in immediately when Zero clicks play on “Sneaky Driver”. The hair on my arms raised up & the game was ON! Found myself pushing my Nintendo Switch to an empty charge every night while I listened to Pa snoring over my shoulder.
Kept coming back so I could hear the music Bill Kiley, LudoWic, DJ Electrohead, Tunç Çakır, & Justin Stander composed for each difficult complicated cyberpunk dystonia maze. Didn’t matter if my mistimed foresight got Zero killed multiple times. Each stupid mistake gave me more time with their bass bumping soundscapes. Turned out to be a powerful musical drug that allowed this sad boy to escape the many truths happening right next to him.
You remember I spoke about all my jubilant feelings back in June, right? Not much has change. Only the competition. Truly wish I had room in my Top 10 for this. Just means I got to gab about it earlier!
#20 - 'The Hurting Kind' by John Paul White
Have had trouble thinking of an inventive opening to this blurb for a few minutes now. Those of you – who have followed my journey so far – know how big a role John Paul White’s various musical projects have impacted this author for almost a decade. His ghostly / powerful (yet fragile) southern Americana vocals continue to gives me chills anytime I hit play. Side effects of being in the pit at the El Rey back in the day. My skin remembers absorbing those heavenly sounds. Probably.
‘The Hurting Kind’, John’s third solo effort, turned out to be a wonderfully balanced record that brought out all the best flavors of his heart-wrenching country folk storytelling. Great production. Meaningful & personal lyrical stories. A few surprising guest features. All grounded in his iconic southern soul. Left such a memorable taste. Like Nashville BBQ.
Hard not to love music that always strikes your core. Right? John Paul White remains one of those artists for me. Will always prefer his brand of country music over more mainstream stuff. Cause these are songs with feeling. Now go fall under its spell too…
#19 - 'Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Universe' by The Comet Is Coming
Won’t lie to you. This is one of these amazing records where words… mine especially…can’t really do it justice. You just gotta sit back, hit play, let London based Jazz trio (of Max Hallett, Shabaka Hutchings, & Dan Leavers) send you on a psychedelic comet into the musical unknown. Calm yourself. That way you can absorb every tone and tempo that blasts again your soul. Be the star child in the middle of a fiery meteor shower. That’s my recommendation.
Sure that’s easier said then done. I know. Especially cold sober. But The Comet Is Coming’s sophomore effort – ‘Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Universe’ – really is one fluid experience that will make you feel things if you let it in. Whatever happens is truly up to you listener. More passive your mind… the easier it will be to traverses these pools of soundwaves & bring light the record’s deepest abstract / political meanings. Your journey will hopefully completely unique to you.
Open your ears…
#18 - 'Cheap Queen' by King Princess
This author takes great pride in loving all the various shades of POP. Whether it be mainstream, glam, art, and even the dirty. So when King Princess came onto the scene a few years ago, her empowering, complex, & deep anthems really caught my eardrum. Making a song entitled “***** is God” not only welcomes attention, but leaves one hell of an impression. Don’t you think?
I loved what King Princess did with that buzzing gaze this year. For when she dropped her debut LP – ‘Cheap Queen’ – she kinda stuck with the soft-R&B themes her fans really dug on her ‘Make My Bed’ EP closer “1950”. This record isn’t about the Gaudi aspects of POP. But more the personal & broken side that gets bitten by the fame monster… who strikes ferociously fast. And I truly love that. Acts like a diary of “this is the picture of the woman I was in 2019”. Before the lights became too bright.
‘Cheap Queen’ kinda plays like a call for help at times (IMO). All she wants to do is “be with you” and how difficult it is to be a “King”, when the “Princess” has all the fun. At least that’s how I hear it. This problem doesn’t appear to be going anywhere for King Princess made one hell of an impression on SNL this year.
Won’t be surprised if her sophomore effort dives even deeper. Oooh, can’t wait! Yeah… have a feeling King Princess’ roaring 20s is gonna be something really special. I’ll be staying tuned. .
#17 - 'Gravity' by Gryffin
Ugh… still get emotional whenever the selects from Gryffin’s ‘Gravity’ hits the eardrum. Especially Calle Lehmann’s powerful feature on “All You Need To Know” or Noah Kahan’s vulnerability on “Need Your Love”. Which happens a lot.
Mostly because this record has remained a staple on my iPhone (which is technically more a iPod than phone to me) since adding it back in October. Haven’t even considered exiling it back to the digital crate. I love the way these sounds makes me feel as my heart continues to heal itself. Whether I’m in the car or at the gym- ‘Gravity’ wraps me up in a safe blanket with its crisp electronic soundwaves & haunting stories.
Well… except “If I Left The World”. That just shatters me. Luckily you can chase it with Carly Rae’s addictingly chipper “OMG” lyrics. You try prying it from my hands. I dare you!
Doesn’t matter to this listener that Gryffin released a small chunk of the tracks in 2018. The plentiful 2019 additions & remixes brings such life into the project. Proving the point of “an EP”: to test the waters of the sound, subject matter, & audience expectations as you build towards your masterpiece. Rough drafts can work nowadays. It’s 2019 after all. Everything is acceptable.
Yeah this is a record that cures & poisons me all at once. Like getting a flu shot. Definitely a strange feeling to experience. Right? But I love it. Part of me might crown ‘Gravity’ my unofficial Favorite Album of the year the more I attach myself to it in the days & months to come. That’s okay. Will always paint the picture of this healing chapter in my life so brightly.
#16 - 'Brandon Banks' by Maxo Kream
Was caught by surprise when Maxo Kream’s ‘Brandon Banks’ dropped over the summer. “Was it my birthday?” I said to myself as I cranked the bass to max in my *cough* Toyota Prius. To think he jumped from the indie scene to the majors in little over a year. Sometimes all it takes to break barriers is one amazing debut, right? I got sucked into the hype upon hearing his debut LP – 2018’s ‘Punken’ – too. That record was so damn good… but ‘Brandon Banks’ took everything I loved & pushed it beyond 100% here.
Maxo didn’t play around on his debut major studio release. He stacked the 15 tracks with truthful lyrics, dynamite beats, & solid production that sounded great alongside some pricey features. Which looks like a dream team of hip hop’s modern day heavy hitters: Travis Scott, Meghan Thee Stallion, ScHoolboy Q, A$AP Ferg, etc. He didn’t need them though. Maxo hits every cut here like he’s grabbing five mics. Need proof? Visit “Spice Ln.”.
You can tell almost instantly that Maxo put all his chips in with this product. Probably had a clear vision for years. All he needed was the major platform to lift his talented soul above all the noise. This author hopes he keeps hustlin’ ’n hard in the next decade. Excited to hear what comes next. (In my Toyota Prius.)
#15 - 'Assume Form' by James Blake
Kidding! That phrase seems like an insult to James Blake, who continues to make complexly dense musical pieces that paints abstract images of his personal life & feelings. Something his album covers have symbolized over the years: distorted, from a distance, water colored, and now hiding in the shadows. Or how I like to see it… coming into the light for the first time.
For James has always been an enigma since the day he appeared on the scene. Made his unique form of classically trained electronica feel like it belonged in this future. We didn’t need a face or body, just the manipulated machine of the man. Cause what we heard was his inner-most desires & pain howling from an angelic organ. Providing all these listeners in the dark a major “contact high”.
What I really got from listening to “Assume Form” was that James done with being that past figure. He’s ready to accept the human side that has been hiding underneath the past abstraction. Takes almost the entire disc to fully materialize, but he gets there in the end. There isn’t anything to dissect or analyze for the most part. James lays everything down on the table. “This is me.” And he’s all in.
Does his partner & world feel the same way? Well… that’s the kind of insecurity we fall into as the record progresses as James keeps falling back on past traits. Letting the machine take control as he does his best to find balance with his chaotic self. Luckily his friends… Andre 3000, ROSALIA, Travis Scott, Moses Sumney, & Metro Boomin’… all came to help. (Seriously Andre’s verses are jaw dropping great!)
Or at least that’s how it spoke to me. I love dense gems like this. Speaks not only to the artist but to man behind the keys. James even sprinkled some of his recent hip hop / soul influences to give everything another fresh layer of complexity, which I totally dug as well.
#14 - 'Cuz I Love You' by Lizzo
There wasn’t many records this year… hell, probably the past decade… that were as welcoming as Lizzo’s ‘Cuz I Love You’. Didn’t find myself questioning anything the second I pressed play. You go on this crazy, sexy, cool ride that oozes female empowerment & raw sex appeal within catchy anthems & moving ballads. Lizzo literally tackled all the genres on her studio debut. And laid claim to them all. (Bonus points for bringing Missy & Gucci along too!)
Saying that her hype is completely… hands down… REAL isn’t an understatement. More like DAMN REAL. Cause there’s nothing fake touching your eardrums here. Instead she makes a listener feel like the “GODDESS” they truly are. Have no shame saying ‘Cuz I Love You’ would probably be my #1 record if I was the intended core audience. Solid production all around that gave me chills multiple times.
So why is it at #14? Only because of lack of time on my part. Wouldn’t be surprised if you ranked it higher. You’d be right. I’m just excited talent like Lizzo exists. Can’t wait for her to smash more ceilings in the roaring 20s.
And that’s exactly how I feel…
#13 -'IGOR' by Tyler, The Creator
Out of all my favorite records of 2019, Tyler The Creator’s ‘IGOR’ is the one I know the most about: The subject, the style, and especially the genius. Was an album that brought out a lot of personal opinions / insights from a variety of viewpoints. Recommend you go check out Middle 8’s stellar video essay about it. Points out all the magic hiding within the subtext. Mirrors much of my feelings too. I really do love that he really embraced his love for Pharrell’s style.
Won’t dive much deeper for I’ve already ranted (multiple times) about this record over the summer. I’m still on the side of its brilliance here. Like deep into no man’s land . Sure it isn’t ‘Flower Boy’, nor do I want it to be. Yet you can’t deny Tyler’s “Odd Future” goal appears to be a reality as we enter the 2020s. Hope the wolf keeps howling fantastic art for the next decade in the most madding way possible.
#12 - 'The Highwomen' by The Highwomen
The super team-up between Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, & Amanda Shires (with friends Sheryl Crow & Yola joining their crew for a song or two) really made me shut up and listen. Something I don’t do enough. Vividly remember one of my ex flames… who probably can be considered the greatest teacher of my adult life… lay down that harsh fact to me while sitting on the park bench that changed my life. “Put yourself in my shoes…” Took me over a decade, but I’m starting to evolve into that saying.
For change takes time. Eventually though the rocks turn into sand. Yet… sometimes we need a harsh reminder to keep those ocean waves moving.
That’s kinda what I felt when listening to this extremely touching & revealing collaboration between four (or so) amazing artists who really want to be heard. With the hope of reshaping & modernizing the music industry just a little better. Especially the Country genre– in which continues to be the hardest “glass ceiling” to break. It’s 2019. Almost 2020. And “they” still are ignorant. Failing to promote many new indie female artists on the radio and/or at festivals. Doesn’t make any sense to this author.
So I totally understand why Amanda got fed up & made a call to arms that Brandi, Maren, and Natalie picked up– fists high in the air. ‘The Highwomen’ not only follows in the heels of The Pistol Annies, but snatches the cowboy boots off the OG The Highwaymen & covers them in more dirt. And a little broken glass. These are anthems for the next generation who will eventually redesign this old broken system for the better. Just you wait…
#11 - 'NFR!' by Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey has been making these fantastic psychedelic anthems for the past decade that pretty captures the distorted magic of living in SoCal. This musical “state of mind” has been a blessing for this author who loves to find himself sitting at the shores of the Pacific beneath a burning hot sunset listening to these rocking sounds (especially “Doin Time”). In the most cliché way possible. Yet I don’t think they ever got as fantastically blunt until ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell!’ arrived in our stereos.
Gone is her disguising abstract “patriotic salutes” that have turned more into rebellious middle fingers. Which is understandable cause it is 2019. But revolution is what this country was born out of. And Rebel Lana is a much more compelling storyteller then any of her past selves. Jack Antonoff really boiled down “Stargirl’s” core sound into its purest form and it works wonderfully. Probably her best version to date. Found myself adoring almost every ballad on this record. Owe to all to the stellar production around Lana’s fragility. Drew me in almost instantly. Then kept me swaying for the entire journey.
To think this artist who started off the decade as a meme continues to make American musical masterpieces. Proof that pressure continues to make diamonds. And ‘NFR’ sparkles so bright.
Again the problem was I didn’t spend much time with it. Don’t worry… plan on picking up the Vinyl the next time I’m at the store. Can’t wait to fill this office with Lana’s beautiful wax grooves in the magic hours of a SoCal night.
#10 - 'Finch' by Penny & Sparrow
Can vividly recall the moment I opened that PR blast about Penny & Sparrow’s new single – “Eloise” – that arrived in my email back in May and being instantly spellbound by what I heard. Even though I was listening to other requests… that was the song I couldn’t get outta of mind for days. Weeks. Months. Even now and it’s December mind you. Still wake up humming the harmonies from “Eloise”. Poorly, yes… but that hasn’t stopped this music lover.
Won’t go on very long here cause I spoke rather recently about how ‘Finch’ made me a fan of Penny & Sparrow’s decade long discography that I missed. No need to bore you about those feelings again. Rather stay focus on their stylistic “hatching” on my #10 favorite record of 2019.
Which remains a marvelously folksy soulful experience. Especially the more I learn about the growing Andy & Kyle made at this musical turning point in their lives. If you have a chance, go read the brilliant feature they did with Atwood Magazine earlier this year. Brings to light so many easily missed details behind the making of this record. I especially dug the story behind the creation of “Cult Classically”.
Knowing all this really changed my listening experience. Part of my created this cinematic narrative that starts with R&B heavy “Long Gone” being the aftermath of a broken relationship… leads the author to a sophisticated museum full of life moments on “Eloise”… then each song becomes a different portal to new journeys… ending in the final one with absolute transformation on Noir themed “Gumshoe”. The author had finally solved the key to his happiness. And it’s love. In every sense.
Am I projecting? Most likely. Cause I’ve been through something similar. That’s why I love travelling. Continues to be a catalyst for personal growth & change. Sure, Airports & Hotel Rooms can be crummy. But sharing the journey with someone you care for always finds a way to leave a mark like a passport stamp.
Think the biggest takeaway from this listener is how Penny & Sparrow can really milk the hell out of elegance. This a remarkable gorgeous experience. Pulls at my emotional strings like a puppet as their romantic life anthems ignites the bonfire deep within like gasoline. Fueling my feet down this new road full of adventure.
And I don’t want to be without it…
#09 - 'Hadestown (Original Broadway Cast Recording)' by Various Artists
Found some irony in enjoying ‘Hadestown’ during my father’s final days. The Tony Award Winning Broadway musical about the classic Greek tale of Hades’ strange twisted love affair with Persephone, the love between Orpheus and Eurydice, and his journey to the underworld to save her really gave me chills upon discovery during the summer. Spoke to my hopeful soul who did everything in his power to keep our spirits up. Even if he lost… part of me felt like I could go get him back whenever his spirit roamed. That’s my ego for you.
Cause that’s who the main character of Orpheus is in Greek mythos & this Broadway adaptation. He’d sneak into hell, persuade Hades through his beautiful song, and bring Eurydice back to their home. Love drove him and doubt made it tragically end. Always poetic, right?
What I loved was the musical genres that told this particular story of love, lost, and failure. ‘Hadestown’ is full of old southern Americana, folk, blues, jazz, R&B, you name it… wrapped in a perfectly executed Broadway musical choral package. Hell… pun intended…Hades personifies those deep rockers we all love like Tom Waits & Leonard Cohen. Sure he represents the modern day Hades who loves the idea of building walls. *wink* But Patrick pulls it off wonderfully. As does almost every cast member. It may be hell… but they sound like they are having so much damn fun.
This is one soulful journey. Greece can be in a post-apocalyptic Louisiana too. Being tempted by Andre’s cheeky narration to keep riding this train also helped. Ended up seeing myself in these deep characters. Enthralled with everything I heard. You don’t know how excited I am to go see the touring production once it arrives in LA in the years to come.
Most of the credit should go to singer/songwriter/playwright Anaïs Mitchell, who is the mastermind behind everything. She spent over a decade pushing Hadestown from a musical collective, into a rough 2010 concept record (featuring her talented friends like Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon), until the Broadway stage eventually painted the ultimate form of her mythological operatic folk vision. I for one agree that our Greek ancestors would prefer to have a production like this on the most supreme societal stage. For they loved the theatrics. And spectacle. That’s something that Broadway street is known for. And you can hear it once you start the ride down.
Hope you join me way down in Hadestown. Cause this EPIC… three times over… record has chained my musical soul for the rest of eternity.
#08 - 'Father of the Bride' by Vampire Weekend
Good morning! A whole album? Such a strange 1st Song blurb, right? Unprecedented I know! Expect two of my favorite albums of 2019 each day this week until we hit #1 on New Music Friday. Should be a nice change of pace. Let’s begin!
Much like my #22 artist this year, one of my old friends always comes to mind whenever Ezra’s vocals hits my eardrum nowadays. Making it hard to separate the two. For the start of our very strange relationship began soundtracked Vampire Weekend’s last record – 2013’s ‘Modern Vampires of the City’ (which also clocked in at #8) – & Fall Out Boy’s ‘Save Rock and Roll’ (my favorite album of that year). Me representing the later and her the former. Does she think of me when a Fall Out Boy anthem comes on? Probably not. Keen to believe it happens more often whenever she has do something Nicolas Cage. That’s my actual guess.
(Cause I have similar facial features but you probably don’t know that. I keep my face hidden mostly. Has been haunting me since College. Glad he’s a fantastic actor. Makes it easy to admit.)
Spoke much about this phenomenon when we got really close in 2013. Found it quite funny rereading that post for it kinda sums up my points about ‘Father of the Bride’ strangely enough. Like “It’s a fantastic record. Quirky & catchy to say the least…” Yeah that’s still very true. Except this record… cause it was recorded here in California instead of the east coast… feels so damn SoCal. And this lifetime CaliBoy loves that aspect. Feels like it was made for us. Perfect for sunny summertime walks on the beach and the long drives home.
Ezra change in scenery and leaving the bachelor life for a formal union brings such beauty to ‘Father of the Bride’. He sounds happy as hell as he cheats his way through “This Life” with a band as big as Arcade Fire’s & some friends (like former core member Rostam, Danielle Haim, & Steve Lacy- who appear to be their first official guest stars ever). You can listen to the selects or input a love story like a concept record. It’s really your choice.
I don’t consider ‘Father of the Bride’ perfect for I tend to jump every other track nowadays. Can’t keep away from Ezra & Danielle’s musical chemistry for long. Love the first batch of tracks & the last bit. Still growing to like the middle. Listening to it on Vinyl has helped. Such a fantastic purchase I’d say. So much ALT Pop meat on the bone. Leaves me chopping for hours.
Yet I fell for most of this LP while driving Pa & Ma back and forth from Kaiser in Panorama City for Father’s many X-Ray appointments. Remember her loving what she was hearing. Especially “Stranger”, “2021”, “This Life”, and “Harmony Hall”. I’m sure he did too. Vampire Weekend was really up their rock pop alley. A final happy family memory made.
Sadly it didn’t fully erase my old friend’s essence. Just added more emotional energy to each listening experience. Which sucks for me. Just know I’m a bottle of emotions whenever Vampire Weekend smacks me upside the head. Reminds me of being left brushed aside on the streets of Santa Monica… and now medical cures that didn’t work for long. (Ugh!)
At least I feel something with ‘Father of the Bride’. That makes all the difference in the end. Don’t mind a little pain with some amazing tunes. Makes life fun ya know?
#07 - 'LEGACY! LEGACY!' by Jamila Woods
I don’t have a personal memory tied to Jamila Woods’ well thought out & researched sophomore effort – ‘LEGACY! LEGACY!’. My love for her artistic vision on these tracks surpasses any preconceived notion I want to place upon these marvelous pieces. For Jamila decided not only to wear the shoes of her legendary ancestors & life long influences, but lock herself away in a museum with there spirits.
Consider ‘LEGACY! LEGACY!’ like her empowering version of ‘A Night at the Museum’ or ‘Midnight In Paris’. Could also be seen as the most soulful musical exorcism every laid to wax. Each song here is a modern examination of her favorite singers, songwriters, poets, etc. who laid the ground work for the ongoing cultural revolutions that still are raging today. Jamila has done the homework by creating 13 distinct profiles & portraits of these artistic pioneers, channeled through her cleverly educated mind & powerfully soulful voice.
She becomes Betty Davis, Miles Davis, Frida Kahlo, Jean-Michel Basquiat, among other influencers as their style, vision, swagger, and even heartbreak are all brought to the surface once more. Allowing Jamila to dissect their legacy through her own. For we are the carries of their spiritual torch into the future. Not only is she changed by becoming these legends, but allows us listeners to reminded of the flames of revolutionary change we’re still fighting for. In our culture, at work, and in our homes.
It’s important to never forget. For that’s when “death” truly sets in. Change can happen as along as we keep moving forward holding tight the past. Let their passion become yours. Just like Ms. Woods did. A true testament to the legacy we must make.
(Yeah… hard facts this author must come to terms with as he remembers the legacy of a man who not only created me… but saved me from the brink multiple times. Gotta remember my job now is to keep his flame burning. That’s the biggest mountain to climb for sure. Cause it still hurts. I must’n run away. Let it burn me as I hold it tighter than I ever had before. That’s the start.)
#06 - 'Charli' by Charli XCX
Always felt, since I first heard Charli XCX, that her musical IQ was “over 9000”. She just gets the modern musical formula. Even though you may have not noticed it, Charlotte has been the mastermind of so many hugely popular radio anthems that got stuck to your eardrums during this decade. All with a resounding “FANCY” “BOOM! CLAP!”. Quite glad her popularity continues to provide mainstream success & creative freedom that blazes such brash yet vulnerable, innovation.
On her semi-self titled 2019 junior effort– Charli started to lay the ground work for the future of pop. The definitive blueprint as we enter a new decade of artistic style. Sadly Charli has already left us behind in her White Mercedes musical Time Machine. Shaking “it” for everyone who follows. She & her squad (Christine, Lizzo, Troye, HAIM, Sky, CupcaKKe, and everyone else) left the first mark. Touching the next generation of FutureSex/LoveSounds that feels less like one man’s revolution and more like an oasis metropolis of neon lights overseen by electronic angels.
By looking at her past nostalgia (“1999”) she was able to figure out the next steps of evolution as her love affair with pop music mirrors the stability of a growing marriage. In which Charli brings all of her self… the good, the bad, even the freaky… to stellar music & lyrics. They are really i-nsync (pun intended). She really doesn’t hold back the emotions either, which makes everything sound so relatable.
Especially the middle portion of the project with my favorite song – “Silver Cross”. A song about comforting a friend at club who’s going through a tough night. Instead of calling them out of being down… all the narrator wants to do is hold them close. Hoping to put a smile on their face. Found it funny listening to the lyrics after Pa’s passing. Makes it sound like Charli is playing the friend I needed during this tragic period of my history. Strangely enough. Our pain is her pain. Exactly what we all need to hear. Right? Yeah that’s a feeling I never imagined I’d have while listening to a Charli XCX record. Kinda awesome.
There’s plenty more moments from Next Level Charli. But you should totally go experience them yourself. Otherwise… I’ll be keep pointing back at this record a decade later saying (hopefully) “Charli Did It First”.
#05 - 'The Lost Boy' by YBN Cordae
Actually the rain has stopped when this post went up. Can’t be said when I was putting fingers to keyboard though. Don’t worry about that…
Look! My favorite hip hop album of 2019!
Sure YBN Cordae comes off quite assertive (or a bit corny as Pitchfork pointed out) on his debut studio project ‘The Lost Boy’. He made an album that utilizes a variety of styles (including a little bit of grime) wonderfully. Captures Cordae’s love for hip hop alongside some of his legendary idols. He still makes it his own swiftly, matches then surpassing their energy, thus stealing every track as it should be.
Sure it isn’t perfect in the formal sense. Cordae does sound like he has something to prove by the end of the LP. But this listener loved how he swung for the fences. You want to make a skillful opening statement. Every time.
And it bangs. Everywhere I played it: in the car, at the gym, at this desk, around the house, working in the garage, you name it. Loved everything I heard. Hard. Soulful. Religious. With fun rapport between Cordae & his guests. Paced wonderfully too. I don’t get bored or stale by hearing the similar execution delivered cause the package all feels quite different from the other tracks. If that makes sense? Don’t believe me… put on “Broke A** ****”. So much fire spewing from the speakers.
Yeah… exactly the well rounded record I wanted from a lot of artists this year. (*cough* Chance *cough*)
Sad truth is not everyone can start off like a modern day Kendrick Lamar. ‘Section.80’ seeds must be planted. And ‘The Lost Boy’ does that. Even got nominated for a few Grammys after popping out the soil. (How’s that critics?) Probably a better comparison in this sense is ‘Cole World: Sideline Story’ to ‘2014 Forest Hill Drive’. Seeing how J. Cole did help with some of the production here. Plus they have a similar stylistic flow. I can only imagine how awesome YBN Cordae’s next few solo projects are about to be if he follows that evolutionary trend. Gives me chills.
‘The Lost Boy’ proves you can spread your wings and touch the sky musically. Allowed me to sail over all the bullshit too. Grateful for all the time I spent with it. Now go…
#04 - 'Pressure' by Wage War
Merry Christmas! Now for something that will make your eardrums bleed… in the best way possible. Think of the headache some you may receive from this my ultimate holiday present.
Wage War’s junior effort – ‘Pressure’ – was my first experience with their metalcore sounds which I grew to love quite quickly. Having been recruited by Fearless Records a few years ago appears to have helped add some roundness to their rough hard rocking production. For this record, the guys left Florida for sunny Los Angeles and made this record together under one roof. It was a 24-hour work progress in hopes of turning their powerfully high octane musical style into a finely tuned diamond. Full of beautiful clarity. Thus financing a lasting career in pursuit of their dreams.
Some didn’t like this evolution, but I dig Wage War’s new art immensely. Reminded me of all the aspects I love from Breaking Benjamin’s songbook. Similar fluid switch from hard & soft alongside meaningful personal cries. Plus ‘Pressure’ appeared in my life when I truly needed it.
You see… I tried desperately to keep showing a brave face to my family & friends during Pa’s rough Cancer battle. Little did they know, I was angry. Mostly at myself. Was doing everything to make him feel better and none of it was having a lasting effect. The hidden rage I felt only showed when I couldn’t pick him up on the first attempts. Found myself screaming out of truthful hurt as he looked up at me. Pushing my muscles to their limits wasn’t enough. Nothing was. Took every ounce of me to get him up.
To feel that powerless really can’t be described. So I put all my pain onto this record. In the car. At the gym. Every chance I could. Was therapy for my ocean of rage each time I hit play. Then and now. Think I broke down more writing these words then any other on this countdown. But that’s okay. I never want to forget everything I felt during his battle. And I never will as long as keep applying Wage War’s ‘Pressure’.
This record will forever be a musical time capsule of my heroic plead to myself to keep going… for him. No matter how much it shattered me. My fury is right here.
#03 - 'WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?' by Billie Eilish
Of course ‘WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?’ made the top 3. Duh! Hinted at it long ago. You may love, hate, hate to love, or feel indifferent about the much talked about debut studio effort of Ms. Billie Eilish. I personally love how clever & perfectly execution it is. Can’t help but smile cause one of the year’s best records was made in a simple bedroom.
Really think about that for a second. No fancy studio off Sunset BLVD. Gone are fifteen producers, dressed in suits, separated by glass. Just four walls in the California Suburbs, a few instruments by the bed, and a family of intelligent musical minds. That’s all it took.
Hitting play literally welcomes you into Billie & FINNEAS’ house. Like you were invited to stay the night and when the moon rises these two musical devils began to pray to the alter of bass. Electronic fire pulsating all around. Enticing you join them on FINNEAS bed. The journey only pauses to watch an episode of The Office on Netflix. At least for awhile until Billie’s angelic side (equipped with a ukulele) really mesmerizes. That’s what really won me over. The romantic side of a seventeen year old girl who… at that specific moment…wanted the world.
This record kinda also proves “the machine” should only really be needed to promote art. Not make it. Billie did the early groundwork. Making herself into a brand (whether she liked it or not). Then when the time came… her first finalized piece of art had word of mouth already gabby about it. Becoming our strange addiction for the year.
Could go on. Last thing I’d say however is a song like “i love you” would’ve been so influential to my brooding high school day screenplays if this album dropped over a decade ago or I was in School now. Could build an entire mixtape around it. Guess I’ll have to keep it attached to those many nights Pa & had silently watching TV at night. When his snores making me smile. Now that memory will shed a tear…or one hundred.
#02 - 'Busyhead' by Noah Kahan
I’m a mess...
And this author is quite fine with that fact. You’d be surprise how much my own insecurities revealed themselves on ‘Busyhead’. Spoke about that fact back in June. Didn’t I? Well hasn’t changed since. Actually got stronger. Cause I still see myself in these lovely lyrics.
Noah Kahan’s very personal album about his chaotic thoughts and feelings (that had been boiling under the surface for almost five years prior) speaks to that moment when the dream starts to overwhelm. You should be happy. But then the doubts and exhaustion kick in. All you want to do is run. Where to? Back home. To love. Anywhere where the bright spotlight can’t burn the skin. For there’s never enough sunscreen. Right? Made him an absolute mess.
Seems strange. I know. Noah’s feeling this right before his breakthrough too. Cause life on the road, in countless hotels, entertaining others, among other things can be a lot to carry. And lonely. Takes its told. Track 4 – “Young Blood” – captures this beautifully. He’s apologizing for all the regrets he’s having while travelling towards his dream. Spending a fortune for the long roads to empty seats. Hoping it will all be worth it one day. The instrumentals doesn’t convey any fear however. Instead transforming the pressure he’s feeling into a rockin’ anthemic battle cry. Tomorrow morning he’ll be bulletproof. A promise he probably made every night while writing in that snowstorm.
Said the same thing during Pa’s cancer fight. It’s okay to be sad while in bed. But that next morning… I gladly put on that armor. For him. By the end. The dream I’d been chasing since the age of 13 didn’t matter as much. Just wanted to enjoy the ride. And lost pretty much everything I ever worked for. So what? I had him. Still do. He’s even closer now technically.
Hearing a song like “Save Me” and looking at it from Pa’s point of view really made me smile back then. Sure he felt kinda the same way Noah does. He… The Logical Doctor… wanted us to let him go back in 2017. Knowing there’s was a less than 10% chance of survival. But we were the stubborn loves who kept reaching for his hand. Especially me. Who doesn’t want to be the 10%. Phuck the odds. Or as Peter Capaldi says in ‘Death In Heaven’: “Love Is Not A Emotion…Love Is A Promise”. Right?
(Have that hanging on the wall behind me BTW…)
‘Busyhead’ gave me strength by pointing out those constant fears, pressures, and insecurities floating around behind my eyes. Noah turned them into anthems that allowed me to keep my mental health afloat while surrounded by an ocean of tears. His experiences helped me when I needed them the most. Maybe they can assist in your life too…
#01 - 'Good At Falling' by The Japanese House
My favorite album of 2019...FINALLY!
That intro line sums it up… thanks for reading my 25 picks! Bye!
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Oh, I wish every one of these Favorite Album posts could be that simple. Which would be quite strange seeing how The Japanese House’s debut ‘Good At Falling’ is far more complex than just a line or two. Amber brings everything she learned & mastered from her critically acclaimed four previous EPs to her first ever full length studio production. Creating an experience that continues to fill my life with musical magic. Grateful that this record painted wide open spaces on the same white walls that trapped me within. For whenever I played this record… I was (and am) completely free.
Remember feeling a similar entranced state when I first heard The Japanese House’s ‘Clean’ EP back in 2015. Listening to it now brings back memories of driving around the roads of my hometown on a bright sunny SoCal afternoon. Remains overtly delicate vibes that seem far too expensive for your eardrums to touch. Like that living room your mother doesn’t allows you to play in. This author is far too clumsy to even be invited to such a place honestly. Making each The Japanese House visit always so special.
Amber continues to master the same electronic soulful style that I loved hearing from Imogen Heap (or Frou Frou) back during my teens. Still believe she has done a FAR better job moving the fragmented / somewhat abstract electronic pop soul style forward than her friends, The 1975. ‘Good at Falling’ kinda proves my belief. For the record excels in fluidity while being a revealing & personal look at Amber’s concepts of love, heartbreak, and sexuality.
By tip toeing the line between artful pop and smooth R&B, The Japanese House is able to convey the reality of the story within the details of mysterious fabric. Thus allowing this listener the choice to interrupted it how’d I like to see fit. Ultimately Amber’s passionate revelations might be yours. As she wrote when “Lilo” / The Album was announced: “It is a reminder to me that I am good at falling in love and I can survive falling out of it. I’m good at falling.” So am I. Probably will be forever actually.
I survived the fall on this project too. Tend to listen to it front to back without hitting skip. Doing otherwise does it such an injustice. Always get the feeling I’m swimming in an Olympic size swimming pool or sailing through the heavenly blue sky. No joke. If there’s one aspect that I will fight the critics on about my #1 Album of 2019… it’s how well ‘Good at Falling’ is paced. Just blooms man…which is fun to point out because Amber has slowly started to become less mysterious under the spotlight.
Plus when you have been waiting on pins and needles for a buzzworthy debut like this for years, doesn’t it feel amazing when the artist knocks it out of the park? Amber sent hers straight outta of the stratosphere. Bravo.
What more can I say? This is how futuristic 2019 is suppose to sound. Absolutely beautiful. Hope you get swept away in it like I did all those months ago. Because this is one record that speaks more then any of the tragic moments this year brought to my musical journey. And that’s truly wonderful. All that’s left is to hand Amber the #1 crown…congratulations to her & all my 25 picks for stealing the show over these 12 months!