Top 10 Albums of 2019

10. "Laughing Matter" - Wand

2019 saw the California-based garage-rock band release their most cohesive record to date with "Laughing Matter". Breaking free from the genre confines that seemed to hold them in place before, Wand crafted a more polished sounding version of psychedelic rock, tinged with a newfound tenderness. "Wonder" knocked me off my feet the first time I heard it; what a damn song. "Let me put my hand on yours, love/Walk us down the razor wire/All the world's afraid of you, honey/Don't you wonder why?" vocalist Cory Hanson asks. Although I'm far from a Dead Head, I would assume that if you loved the Grateful Dead, you are definitely going to dig this record.

Notable Tracks: "Wonder", "Walkie Talkie", "Rio Grande", "Thin Air"

9. "Two Hands"- Big Thief

The critically acclaimed indie outfit scored big this year with two successful album releases, "U.F.O.F", which got nominated for a Grammy, and "Two Hands", released later on in the year. They work well as a pair of sibling albums in my opinion, but even parents secretly have a favorite child. "Two Hands" walks a fine line, balancing between goosebump inducing intensity and paper-thin frailty. Songwriter and vocalist Adrianne Lenker is best known for her starkly honest lyrics and intense stage presence. "I don't want to pretend because I think it just directly counteracts the whole purpose of the music, which, for me, is just getting closer to the core of myself and of our points of intersection as people gathering." she told NPR. "Not" is easily the most ambitious and potent song Big Thief have released to date and the track plays a pivotal role in elevating the band to new heights.

Notable Tracks: "Not", "Forgotten Eyes", "Shoulders"

8. "Good At Falling" - The Japanese House

Signed to The 1975's record label, Dirty Hit, 24 year old Amber Bain of The Japanese House drew influences from her mentors in her first full length release. The album actually features Matty Healy on some background vocals and George Daniels assisted in production. Bright, jangly guitars weave in and out of soft dance floor synth beats, painting a color scenery to compliment Bain's rather monotone vocal delivery. This record excels at pairing lush soundscapes and soaring melodies to the feeling of hopeless romanticism and heartache. Bain had previously kept her identity a secret, preferring that her music transcend gender and any specific image. 2019 found her stepping out into the light to become an unlikely (but immensely refreshing) modern pop star.

Notable Tracks: "We Talk All The Time", "Lilo", "Follow My Girl"

7. "Hypersonic Missiles" - Sam Fender

The UK's up and coming superstar released his debut album and proved that despite his age, Sam Fender has got a lot to say. Fender gained early comparisons to Bruce Springsteen with his front-and-center politics and mid-song saxophone solos. The title track "Hypersonic Missiles" calls upon the ills of the world: "I am so blissfully unaware of everything/Kids in Gaza are bombed, and I'm just out of it/The tensions of the world are rising higher/We're probably due another war with all this ire." On "Dead Boys", Fender empathizes with toxic masculinity and its harm on teenage boys in his hometown. His fast rise in popularity is a no-brainer as Sam Fender is simply voicing the thoughts, fears, and desires of an entire generation.

Notable Tracks: "Hypersonic Missiles", "Play God", "Dead Boys", "Saturday"

6. "i,i" - Bon Iver

I had big expectations for this album after Justin Vernon, better known as Bon Iver, released "22, A Million" in 2016, which was in my top 3 records from that year. Luckily, I was not disappointed. Bon Iver is doing something really special and I feel for those who have yet to discover the stark beauty of his work. Coupling aesthetic uses of autotune with innovative arrangements including booming horns, acoustic guitars, gospel choirs, and a collection of erratic synth melodies, "i,i" somehow still manages to be a more stripped down album than "22, A Million". This record finds Vernon opening up more than he ever has before, writing from an introspective headspace; questioning his faith, and rooting himself in family. Bon Iver continues to quietly lead the way as one of the most unique and influential artists of the decade.

Notable Tracks: "Naeem", "U (Man Like), "Salem", "Faith"

5. "I Am Easy to Find" - The National

Rock titans The National released their longest and most ambitious record to date. Coming in at over an hour long, "I Am Easy To Find" features a plethora of female vocalists including Lisa Hannigan, Mina Tindle, Kat Stables, Sharon Van Etten, and Gail Dorsey (who famously worked alongside David Bowie). For the first time ever in the band's history, their charmingly dark baritone vocalist, Matt Berninger is not the constant focal point. The band explained their reasoning for this, stating that they wanted to create a record that highlighted the successes and struggles unique to women. How could they do that in a non-patronizing way, but by letting their female friends and collaborators use their own voices to tell a different side of the story present in the songs.

Unfortunately, this record was met with some confusion from long-time fans who were hoping to hear a 12 or so track album solely featuring the Sad Dads they know and love. I, however, thought it was a perfectly experimental release for a band reaching middle-age, and aging quite well at that. This one is meant to be listened to with headphones on and a bottle of wine for a good cathartic cry!

Notable Tracks: "I Am Easy To Find", "Rylan", "Where Is Her Head", "You Had Your Soul With You"

4. "Dogrel" - Fontaines D.C.

Emerging from the resurgent northern European post-punk scene, Fontaines D.C. dropped one of the most successful debut albums of the year. The Irish 5-piece gained popularity while opening for modern punk icons Idles, but could now easily be considered contemporaries. Frontman Grian Chatten is an easy comparison to Ian Curtis with his intimidatingly stern stage presence and his tendency to shout more than he sings. "Dogrel" is a triumphant ode to the band's home town of Dublin; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Chatten declares,"Dublin in the rain is mine/A pregnant city with a Catholic mind," and he's right. Fontaines D.C. are currently changing the very idea of modern Irish music from the ground up.

Notable Tracks: "Liberty Belle", "Boys In The Better Land", "Television Screens"

3. "Part 1 Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost" - Foals

Part 1 of Foal's double album, "Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost" launched the band into the biggest year of their career, finding them with their first #1 album and a sold out world tour. Foals is what I would call a word-of-mouth band, creating a reputation starting with their presence in the live music scene. I only got into them because a friend told me that if you liked live music, you'd be a fool not to go see them. That being said, Foals has got quite a knack for making fantastic studio records as well!

Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost part 1 is a proper riff heavy rock record. Along with many other albums that came out this year, the frantic underlying theme of social and political anxiety exists at the heart of most of lyricist Yannis Philippakis' songs. Yannis and lead guitarist Jimmy Smith play dueling guitar melodies that seem to melt into each other, especially in the song "Syrups". The band is held down by Jack Bevan, who is one of the tightest drummers in the game right now. Foals are on their way to becoming one of the biggest bands on the planet, so hop on now or you'll look like a poser later.

Notable Tracks: "In Degrees", "On The Luna", "Syrups"

2. "It Won/t Be Like This All The Time" - The Twilight Sad

It's 2019 and you still want to wear your The Cure shirt and sport some dark eyeliner? Fear not! The Twilight Sad are your new favorite band. The post-punk Scottish group have made a name for themselves amongst indie rock and emo fans, playing into the nostalgic sounds of some of our favorite synth heavy 80's bands. For a band with dark lyrical tones, "It Won/t Be Like This All The Time" is bursting with life, and even hints of what seems like hope. James Graham is the emotional focal point of the band, steering their live shows with his shockingly vulnerable and impassioned stage presence. The Twilight Sad is painting with new colors and I am looking forward to see what they can achieve in the next decade.

Notable Tracks: "I/m Not Here", "VTr", "Let's Get Lost", "[10 Good Reasons for Modern Drugs]"

1. "My Finest Work" - Andrew Bird

The album that stuck in my brain on loop and will be taking my #1 spot is Andrew Bird's 12th studio album,"My Finest Work Yet". The rather pretentious seeming album title and cover are a tongue-and-cheek jab from the veteran musician, but the implied irony is veiled with truth. The multi-instrumentalist has reached the pinnacle of his career, expertly weaving his earnest vocals through soundscapes highlighted by his fiddle playing and alarmingly great whistling skills.

Not usually one for being overtly political, Bird tackles issues of political unrest, climate change, and apathy in his songwriting; drawing from history to poke holes in modernity. "You know it's hard to be an optimist/When you trust least the ones who have the answer/It's an uncivil war", Bird cries out in "Bloodless". "My Finest Work Yet" stands as a piece of current-day Americana, slyly taking aim at the outdated powers that be, while saluting the very last of the Western cowboys and the America dream.

Notable Tracks: "Bloodless", "Manifest", "Bellevue Bridge Club", "Olympians"