Best New Albums of 2019

Dirty Heads - SuperMoon
Recorded at the old Johnny Cash & Elvis RCA Tennessee studio on Tape.

 

I just listened to this again the other night. Fantastic album, almost as good as 2010's Ironbound, and head and shoulders better than anything the Big 4 has put out in the last several years - and I say that as a fan.

 

First thing I did after listening was to check if they were touring. Saw that gig in the old listings and thought 'I bet that was good'. Doesn't look like they'll be nearby for a while but I'll be keeping an eye out.

 

Weyes Blood's Titanic Rising is definitely in my top 5 albums of the year.
There's just something magical about it.

 

I mean, this is top notch songwriting right here (with a distinct, almost nostalgic 60-70s classic pop vibe and melodicism), and yet it doesn't feel derivative, not in the slightest. It's its own thing. It's not rock, pop, indie - it's just good music.

 

Tyler Childers - Country Squire!

 

The Coolies (5) - Uh Oh! It's...The Coolies

 

I'm with people on the Weyes Blood greatness.. maybe my most played album of 2019... perhaps only Ex Hex has been played more because my kids will not stop listening to that record (that or the Beatles).

But I want to go on record - the new Big Thief record "Two Hands" will be in the top five AOTY... they have been amazing... already released UFOF from May is fantastic.. but I have a feeling the new one is even better.

Exhibit A, the first single: "Not":

 

Out today...When I Have Fears by the quite magnificent Murder Capital.

 

Yes!

I'm really looking forward to that one. The single was great.

It could have been a fantastic weekend for releases if the Oh Sees hadn't been held back for a week or two in the UK. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to hearing the new Blanck Mass and Connan Mockasin's ep, but went straight for the Hold Steady today:

It's like a Greatest Hits album - very good indeed.

 

I like the Hold Steady LP more than I expected to. I’ve been keeping up on their digital singles over the last couple years and I thought they left some of the stronger songs off of the album in favor of some least favorites of mine. But it all works really well as a full package. The new new songs on side A are great.

 

David Sanchez - Carib

 

I came in late on this one, but crikey - this is a BEAUTIFUL record. The arrangements are so lush and magical - like Bacharach and 70s Joni smashed up with some dream pop, or something (Roy Orbison too?). Stunning.

 

Thanks a lot for this! This is beautiful.

 

Strange Ranger - Remembering The Rockets

 

Karine Polwart - Laws Of Motion

 

Tyler Childers - Country Squire is a very close second for me, but this album, Ian Noe - Between The Country, is hands down, the best new album of 2019 for me. The song writing and musicianship are top notch, and there isn't one song that's skippable on the entire album. The fact that this is a debut album blows me away. I know it's a lot to try to listen to all the suggestions in this thread, but you will be glad you gave this one a listen.

 

This is terrific. And I love the George Harrison's guitar solo. Not so sure about the name of the band though. Couldn't they just have called themselves the Mudlarks or something?

 

Two in one year?! I don't think I'm worthy but will try to deserve it. When's it due?

Edit- October 11

 

Look at the albums reviewed by Pitchfork today.

 

why?

 

I think "i,i" is great, too. I especially agree on the R&B influences, which took me by surprise. I think that's the aspect of the album that really makes the record. It reminded me a little of TV on the Radio, in that shattered-and-put-back-together approach to R&B. I think it also references the more stripped-down, improvisational-sounding R&B of this decade, that of Frank Ocean or Sampha or the early Weekend albums, some of the most interesting pop music in recent years.