It's not a fair assessment because there's a lot more on Aquarium Drunkard's top of 2019, and most of that I've never heard of, but for me, there was still more of what I loved on that list. Not a complaint towards Chorus at all, there's good stuff to love everywhere for different people and there's plenty to love on the Chorus list. I just lean more indie a lot of the times. There's only one that I found shocking it made any best of 2019 lists, but to each their own.
Definitely a few things on this year's list I'll need to check out - as I haven't been as proactive about finding new music this year (or probably the past few). The album that topped my 2019 list, and would encourage others to listen to, even if they are familiar with their older stuff, was The Appleseed Cast's The Fleeting Light of Impermanence. I've always liked their music, but this was their first release to truly blow me away!
That record really is pretty great. Didn’t spend enough time with it to feel like I needed to represent it on my list, but I agree that it went a little overlooked this year!
Really hope people listen to Clairo because it's been widely underrepresented on lists that aren't Pitchfork or here edit: also Orville Peck, which, yes, I wrote about both. Greet Death while you're at it lmao
I'm always shocked how much stuff the AD lists have that I just haven't ever heard of. They're definitely the pub that makes me feel the most out of touch. I don't usually delve very deep on those lists, though, because the stuff I do recognize tends to be mostly indie stuff that I'm not super into. Which four are overlaps for you here?
I am now convinced Hello Exile is super underrated. It's fantastic. Glad to see Mother Nature so high up though. Those two, Oso Oso (well represented) and Vampire Weekend (seems like it's been forgotten but I really dig it) would be my favourite albums of the year for sure. NF so high up is definitely... something
I didn't listen to much hip-hop at all this year. Felt the pull in a bunch of other directions. But, if anyone has great hip-hop albums from the year, drop 'um in the thread, always looking to check out great new music.
I had it at 22 on my list, so I think it's just about right. It's a good album, some of the songs are great, but my biggest takeaway from it was just how desperately they need to work with a new producer. I almost think it's imperative for the band's continuation at this point.
Tyler, The Creator's IGOR was flawed, but definitely one I came back to often. I also dug Boogie's "Everything for Sale," DaBaby's "KIRK," Rapsody's "Eve" and Meghan Thee Stallion's "Fever" mixtape. Those are the kind of Pitchfork-approved albums that I got around (I admit I didn't dive as deep this year into hip-hop as other years. I just have a bad reaction to NF because he's definitely an artist people cite him as a "rapper for people who don't listen to rap." And his flow bites Eminem's real hard.)
These lists are great! I look forward to this each year. Happy to see JEW make it but was actually surprised, as I didn't know other folks thought of it so highly as well. I noticed Cape Francis hasn't been talked about, neither has Tora or Guster. I highly recommend to check these out...they all made it onto my list (see below or read full thoughts on each via the link under my avatar). Can't wait to check out Big Thief and Clairo, plus giving a bit more attention to Copeland. Here's my list: 1. Guster - Look Alive 2. Liam Gallagher - Why Me? Why Not. 3. Tora - Can't Buy the Mood 4. Noah Gunderson - Lover 5. Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost [Part 2] 6. Jimmy Eat World - Surviving 7. Thrice - Palms 8. The Japanese House - Good at Falling 9. The Black Keys - Let's Rock 10. Cape Francis - Deep Water
Anderson Paak, Boogie, Big K.R.I.T., Tyler, and Flying Lotus were all at various spots in my personal list, but yeah other than those I wasn’t taken with a ton of hip hop this year. Earl woulda been on there but I was trying to avoid EPs. Gunna, YBN Cordae, and Goldlink didn’t really stick with me much but listened to them a ton during their release weeks
Better Off - Reap What You Sow Grayscale - Nella Vita Crown Vic - Life Saver EP sleep in. - The Stars on Your Ceiling Origami Angel - Somewhere City Origami Button - Button Season EP Heart Attack Man - Fake Blood Sleep Talk - Everything in Colour Crafter - Lasting Efforts In Her Own Words - Steady Glow Honorable Mentions: Free Throw Bilmuri Counterparts Bayside Microwave Comrades Gideon
I should have included a *note for Palms — it didn’t click with me in 2018 (so didn’t make my list last year) but has become a huge part of my life this year. I’ve been such a big fan of Thrice for the last 15 years so I couldn’t leave it out.
Oh my god, this Sigrid album is so good! Pop perfection. Really love ‘In Vain’. Sad to see the Menzingers so low.
That sucks, I finally get to see them in South Australia in March, hoping for a great show (and enthusiastic crowd).