There is no way I could have predicted the onslaught of amazing music that 2019 brought us. It’s not like I have 20/20 vision. Sorry, that’s my one 2020 joke for the year, but in all seriousness, 2019 was a banner year for new music. The year started out with album of the year entries from Maggie Rogers and Sharen Van Etten and ended with Harry Styles’ phenomenal sophomore album, Fine Line, in December. Whether you’re a lover of folk, hip-hop, metal or even jazz 2019 had something for everyone. Here’s a list of my favorite albums of 2019.
Favorite albums of 2019
Purple Mountains Purple Mountains
Summer Walker Over It
The Black Keys Let’s Rock
Our Native Daughters Songs of Our Native Daughters
The Highwomen The Highwomen
Brockhampton Ginger
Big Thief Two Hands
Megan Thee Stallion Fever
Yola Walk Through Fire
Charli XCX Charli
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Ghosteen
Free Nationals Free Nationals
Sleater-Kinney The Center Won’t Hold
Rapsody Eve
Julia Jacklin Crushing
Tegan and Sara Hey, I’m Just Like You
Jamila Woods LEGACY! LEGACY!
Jenny Lewis On The Line
Anderson .Paak Ventura
Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride
Sault 5
Ari Lennox Shea Butter Baby
Common Let Love
Solange When I Gert Home
Rico Nasty & Kenny Beats Anger Management
BJ the Chicago Kid 1123
Tyler, The Creator IGOR
Kris Davis Diatom Ribbons
Blood Orange Angel’s Pulse
Maggie Rogers Heard It In A Past Life
FEET What’s Inside Is More Than Just Ham
Karen O & Danger Mouse Lux Prima
Danny Brown uknowhatimsayin¿
Tanya Tucker While I’m Livin’
Sturgill Simpson Sound & Fury
Beck Hyperspace
Kim Gordon No Home Record
Harry Styles Fine Line
Lana Del Ray Norman Fucking Rockwell!
Sharon Van Etten Remind Me Tomorrow
10. Raphael Saadiq Jimmy Lee
9. Billie Eilish WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
8. Brittany Howard Jaime
7. Angel Olsen All Mirrors
6. Black Pumas Black Pumas
5. Miranda Lambert Wildcard
4. Lizzo Cuz I Love You
3. FKA Twigs MAGDALENE
2. King Princess Cheap Queen
- Stormzy Heavy Is The Head
2020 is shaping up to be a great year for new music and it starts with a bang in January. A spoken word poetry album from Lana Del Ray plus new albums from Echosmith, Poppy, Kesha, Halsey, Breaking Benjamin and Ozzy Ozbourne is just a sample of what the new year is set to bring. Join me each week as I bring you some of the new music of the week in New Music Friday.
Steven McCash is the Music Columnist for SoBros Network. He is the pioneer of New Music Friday, highlighting each week’s new releases in the world of music, in addition to the occasional live show review. Follow on Twitter: @MC_Cash75
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