Disorderly Top 10: Our picks for the best albums of 2019
Let me begin by saying this. By its very nature, this is a subjective list, right? People may try to act like they’re the smartest person in the room and that they know more about music than you do. But it’s all subjective, right?
One person’s Top Ten will rarely match someone else’s, especially with music. There’s too many genres, man. For example, I’ll have way more hip hop than Time Magazine and at least one more Balkan folk album than…. well, almost every other list out there.
So the point is this: be grateful there is such a variety of lists out there and add all these albums to your library. Give them a listen. If you hate what you hear, delete them. But maybe you’ll find a few new favorites as well. Ah, the beauty of the streaming era.
10. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – Watchmen Vol.1, 2 and 3
Now they won’t all be this weird, I promise. I understand why a 3-part film score may not crack into a lot of Top 10s. That’s fine. I also understand why most of you may assume I’m just using this to shoe-horn in another shoutout to Watchmen. Fair enough.
The truth is, even by the impossibly high standard that Reznor and Ross have set for themselves with their work on The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and everything else, this one stands out from the pack. It’s one of the most compelling and beautiful soundscapes they’ve ever created. From the synth-heavy Night Rider vibes of “NUN WITH A MOTHERF*&*ING GUN” to the world building songs like “The Way It Used To Be” and “Life on Mars,” this music had a huge effect on my feelings towards this show. Absolutely flawless.
9. Anderson .Paak – Ventura
Unlike the Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross offering, I wouldn’t be surprirsed to find Anderson .Paak’s Ventura higher than #9 on a lot of lists. But if I’m being totally honest, I’ve got a little Anderson .Paak fatigue. It’s similar to how I feel about Chance The Rapper these days. There’s been an overexposure of him being this cool underground drummer/soul-singer guy, at least from my perspective.
But Anderson .Paak is that guy and he’s still doing amazing work. Ventura was a beautiful album. Really pretty. And while it doesn’t hit the peaks that Malibu hit, or even some of the best songs on Oxnard, I think it’s a more complete project, top to bottom. It’s one of those albums that you can throw on your record player and just vibe out. Set the mood in a room.
8. YBN Cordae – Lost Boy
I almost feel bad about not bumping this one up higher. It was such a great debut album. Made even more amazing by how young he is – Cordae was only 21 when the album dropped – Lost Boy gave me some hope for the future of this genre. He’s a lyricist. Which feels like a very basic criteria for being a rapper, but I’m not so sure it is these days.
He dropped his debut on the same day as Chance’s The Big Day, which may not be as bold as it was a sharp marketing strategy, since Chance is a feature on Cordae’s album. Still, he bested one of the biggest name in the industries. Watch out for this kid. Oh and do yourself a favor and check out his live performance with H.E.R. at the BET Awards. Talent on talent on talent.
7. Kevin Abstract – Arizona Baby
For those unfamiliar with Kevin Abstract, you better get familiar fast. Yes, I understand the irony of that sentence given his name. But you should at least be familiar with his band, Brockhampton, who I have a feeling will be popping up again later in this list.
Arizona Baby is Kevin Abstract’s latest solo project and it is a great one. That patented raw, vulnerable approach he takes with all of his music is present in abundance. Oh, and for anyone looking for more insight into the whole Ameer – Brockhampton drama, he’s pretty open about all of that on this album. Give it a listen if it’s somehow slipped through the cracks for you.
6. Billie Eilish – When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Man, I loved this album. Plain and simple. It had such a unique… feel to it from the very beginning with the electronic elements mixed in with these heart-wrenching ballads. There are moments that’ll choke you up, moments that’ll make you dance – or in my case, subtly nod my head in the car – and it doesn’t take itself too seriously with humor sprinkled throughout.
And as good as this album was, Bille’s live performances really elevated it for me. Look them up. Any of them. This girl can sing her ass off and I can’t wait to see her continue to grow. Her brother, Finneas deserves a huge chunk of the credit as well. A great singer-songwriter in his own right, he’s had a huge hand in writing and producing this album. He’s also a huge part of the aforementioned live performances.
5. Beirut – Gallipoli
Okay so my story with this band is a bit unorthodox. I actually discovered them through a Tinder match. I matched with this girl, we started talking about music, and she said her favorite band was Beirut. Hand up, and I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I had never even heard of Beirut. So I looked up some of their music, fell in love with it, and I haven’t been able to stop listening since.
The tinder match fizzled out, but she introduced me to a great band, and for that I’m thankful. I went through their entire, extensive library and couldn’t find an album I didn’t enjoy; each with their own unique sound. Their 2019 offering, Gallipoli is certainly deserving of a top five finish this year, but it’s not even my favorite of their projects. So if you weren’t familiar with Beirut before reading this… do yourself a favor and dive in.
4. Boogie – Everything’s For Sale
This was another one that was brought to my attention from somebody else. I still don’t know how popular Boogie is, but I do know that every time I bring him up, the follow up question is inevitably, “you mean Boogie With Da Hoodie?” No. No, I mean regular old Boogie.
My friend Nate sent me his album because he’s not a big rap fan. Yet, he felt there was something unique there, particularly with the song “Skydive,” that I might be into. Well, he was 100% right. This thing hit me in all the right ways: great story telling and heart. And variety! There’s a ton of variety from song to song; lots of different styles of music all pieced together perfectly.
3. Foals – Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost
Foals continues to make some of the most interesting music out there right now. This is another band that has elevated themselves with their concert experience. If you get a chance to see them live, you better god damn do it. The singer is an absolute lunatic on stage… not quite as crazy as he used to be, but the right amount of crazy to make for an electrifying stage presence.
I get the impression that Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost isn’t getting the love or attention that What Went Down got. I don’t even know if that’s accurate. But regardless, it deserves all that love and attention. And it’s a two-parter which should be taken into consideration, as well. There’s even a ‘remixes’ album which even I’ll admit, I haven’t listened to. But I’m sure that’s great too. Because Foals put their name on it.
2. Brockhampton – Ginger
Ah, Brockhampton. I told you they’d be coming up again. Brockhampton is a force of creative energy and a huge endorsement for the power of collaboration. This was a particularly emotional album due to the exit of band member Ameer Vann. I mean, not only was Ameer a huge part of their previous projects, his face was literally on the cover of the three Saturation albums.
I saw Brockhampton at Boston Calling right after they lost Ameer. They stood in silence during his would-be verses… just let the beat play and consoled each other. You could see how broken up they were during that set and they canceled the rest of their tour shortly after. So to see them come back with a powerhouse project like Ginger. That’s a big statement. Great, great album.
`1. Earthgang – Mirrorland
I am a big Earthgang fan. Have been for years now. From that collective, most people know J.I.D and the explosion of success he’s had over the past couple years since the J. Cole signing. But I only knew him as a feature and touring partner of Earthgang, back in the Shallow Graves For Toys days. It was always Earthgang first, for me.
I’ve liked everything they’ve done. SGFT, Torba (the one with all the days of the week), Strays With Rabies, Royalty, and all the Eps and collaboration projects in between. Shout out to the Bears Like This series and the new Dreamville album which barely missed my top-ten this year. Everything Earthgang touches is unique and interesting and god damn addicting.
And with all that said, Mirrorland is their best work yet.
