9
9
"All My Happiness Is Gone"
Purple Mountains
"All My Happiness Is Gone"
Purple Mountains
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HONORABLE MENTIONS: SONGS
2019 was such a great year for music, I couldn't leave some of the albums I listened to with no mention. While they didn't make my favorites list, here are 18 more songs I think you should also listen to.
Blarf
"Badass Bullshit Benjamin Button Butthole Assassin"
The title alone should make you want to check this out. As a song, it's a collage of so many samples it isn't worth keeping track of how many there are. Humorous noises are spread throughout, but the underlying rhythm is actually pretty good. Of course it's weird, but what more do you want from an Eric Andre- I mean Blarf album?
Bruce Springsteen
"Sundown"
On "Sundown", The Boss' golden pipes show no age. The vocal climax at the end is magnificent over a sweeping combination of pianos, strings and drums. It's as vivid a portrait of the West as any other song from Western Stars, and Springsteen's Americana roots mix with this country influence like they were meant to be.
Chromatics
"On The Wall"
Both of the cover songs on Closer To Grey are fantastic, but "On The Wall" is the more unique of the two. Unlike most Chromatics songs, the guitars are strung out like a Beach House track. The rhythm drifts along over 8 minutes, carrying you alongside Ruth Radalet's always mesmerizing vocals. It's the most immediate instrumental on Closer To Grey, but one that still allows you to kick back and take in the whole experience.
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Coldplay
"Champion Of The World"
"Champion Of The World" has the same ambitions of some past arena-sized Coldplay songs, but everything about it works better. The rich sound comes across as much more authentic, and Chris Martin's penchant for melody is ever present. The lyrics are a bit vapid, but the overall soaring choruses and message of the song are impossibly bright. It's also a great closer for an album I didn't expect to enjoy this much.
Dillon Francis, T-Pain, That Girl Lay Lay
"Catchy Song"
Hard to believe this was written by the same guy who made "Show Me Your Genitals". It's a clever riff on repetitive pop music that's built to numb your mind, simplifying the formula even more than The Lego Movie's "Everything Is Awesome. And of course, it is a catchy song, one that remains in your brain while you have a smile on your face.
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FKA twigs
"mary magdalene"
One of the many stunning moments on MAGDALENE is the chorus of "mary magdalene". It's a simple line, but FKA twigs' haunting voice comparing herself "like Mary Magdalane" is matched only by the eccentric production swell that follows it. The climax of the song is a swirling mix of eccentric art pop wonder, like an art film you don't quite understand but you can't help but love it anyway.
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Flying Lotus
"Spontaneous" (feat.
Little Dragon)
Across Flamagra, Flying Lotus' gargantuan new album, no song blended electronic and organic bliss like "Spontaneous". With a great feature from Little Dragon (the same little dragon of "Empire Ants" fame), the landscape FlyLo takes you across is groovy and always engaging. Flamagra is a record where you have to looks for many big moments, but it's the little moments in the cracks like "Spontaneous" that are the best.
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Jai Paul
"Do You Love Her Now"
Despite years of musical inactivity, Jai Paul hasn't lost his unique sense of creativity. His return singles are proof of this, and the smooth R&B jam "Do You Love Her Now" will make you wish he had come back sooner. It's a pastiche of multiple genres, like many of Jain Paul's past songs, and it flows along like a lazy river. Hopefully he doesn't stay away for six more years, as his brand of music is a breath of fresh air for the industry.
Kesha
"Raising Hell" (feat. Big Freedia)
She's been through hell in her personal life and in court, so Kesha's not gonna lay down without sending it right back. "Raising Hell" is a fun, gospel inspired pop song with an always welcome Big Freedia feature. Inspired a bit by Freedia's New Orleans bounce style, the track has a great drop and some great vocals from Kesha. Her voice was always great but hidden behind layers of Autotune, and now she's able to unleash it at her will.
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Kim Petras
"There Will Be Blood"
Of all the spooky bangers on her Halloween party album, the first is the most memorable. With sharp, glossy synths as the track's backbone, Kim belts life after line that could make for a classic slasher film. Her dedication to this style of pop music is a treat to listen to, and I hope she makes this kind of music a Halloween tradition.
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Red Velvet
"Umpah Umpah"
With the chunkiest beat on any of the 'ReVe Festival" EPs (and the weirdest name too!), "Umpah Umpah" chugs along. As usual, the five girls' chemistry is off the charts, as are the hooks. The overall melody is great, very groovy underneath all the loud beats. It's one of the best songs from the group this year, and a good sign they're not slowing down any time soon.
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Superorganism
"Hello Me & You"
The final song from The Lego Movie 2 that I couldn't get enough of this year. Superorganism's usual quirks fit right in with the colorful world of Bricksville, and the multitude of vocalists keep the energy of the song high. More kids movies could benefit from songs from a band like Superorgansim, one that's a little out there but marketable enough to still make a great and fitting song.
T-Pain
"Getcha Roll on" (feat. Torey Lanez)
He's not the first name you think of when it comes to hip hop, but T-Pain is capable of dropping bangers at any time. His surprise album 1UP had a couple, and "Getcha Roll On" was my favorite. It's certainly dated in both style and mentality, but it's a fun bop nonetheless. There's also not a lot of music like this anymore, so it's a nice break from the general trap that dominates modern rap.
Tame Impala
"It Might Be Time"
The stress of fame might've finally gotten to Kevin Parker. "It Might Be Time" sees him at his most insecure, especially with lines like "You're not as cool as you used to be." But in reality, his sound and his style are just as cool as they've always been. The disco-inspired synth-rock is firing on all cylinders, and I picture many of the synths being fired out of cannons rather than loudspeakers. Most likely it's tongue in check, but Kevin's doing a marvelous job of hiding his fears behind great music.
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Thom Yorke
"Dawn Chorus"
Thom's music is aesthetically bleak but can be beautiful at times. The light synth that permeates "Dawn Chorus" is like a fond memory being brought back in musical form. Thom's voice is longing, pained by the terrors of his music and real life. It's touch to find serenity in dystopia, yet "Dawn Chorus" finds a bleak but beautiful slice of it.
Travis Scott
"HIGHEST IN THE ROOM"
Travis has us flying high with his latest single. It's admittedly a little similar to everything from ASTROWORLD, but that's not a bad thing. This kind of psychedelic trap is still pretty unique to him, and he makes it work wonders. Wavy vocals and a guitar over the trap beat make the song jittery fun, and a good appetizer to whatever Travis is cooking up next.
Tyler, the Creator
"I THINK"
When Tyler's obsession with his relationship begins to waver, it happens in gorgeous fashion. From the crisp drum beats to its bouncy synth lines to Solange's backing vocals to Tyler's lyrical wizardry, "I THINK" is a beautiful portrait on the uncertainty of love. This was the song I had the hardest time leaving out of my Top 100 if that tells you how much I like it!
Vampire Weekend
"Harmony Hall"
Like a ray of sunlight in the early morning, "Harmony Hall" opens up Vampire Weekend's excellent new album with a perfect intro to the album's overall style. Classic Ezra lyrics are abound, and I love the interpolation of the chorus from MVOTC cut "Finger Back". As the lead single, it set a high standard for FOTB to live up to, and thankfully, the album delivered.
Wax Charmer
"Emblem"
The debut single from this new group out of California, "Emblem" embodies the sound of Cali indie pop to a T. Not many other indie singles went down this smooth in 2019, with its sun-licked guitars and lazy yet upbeat melody. They're definitely a group to watch, and I hope their future endeavors continue to make me want to slack off and vibe to their tunes.
Weezer
"No Scrubs"
Your average covers album sees a band picking songs in their wheelhouse to use. For the most part, the Teal Album falls in those parameters, but one song sticks out above the rest. "No Scrubs", the legendary TLC R&B hit, is that song, but Weezer's version is surprisingly fun. Rivers delivers one his better vocals on the album, and the Weezer-fied instrumental is fitting. It's overall a charming, silly cover, much more than the rest of Teal.