Best Music of 2019

Not to isolate you personally but this is a typical list being bandied about that I just can’t get behind at all but am completely floored that SVE is in it. I believe it has to be a generational thing. I’ve heard 100% of that list and 90% I wouldn’t put on a top 100 or maybe even 200 for the year. It’s not bad but it sure does not grab me at all (except xiu xiu, that’s just straight wtf to me) but yet SVE is on my top 10 (or very close) so there is not a complete disconnect. It really fascinates me.
You've listened to 200 2019 albums already?
 
Here is my Top 10 AotY in rough order (certainly subject to change):

  1. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
  2. Kankyo Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990
  3. Tyler, the Creator - IGOR
  4. Quelle Chris - Guns
  5. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow
  6. PUP - Morbid Stuff
  7. Xiu Xiu - Girl With Basket of Fruit
  8. Ariana Grande - Thank u, Next
  9. The Comet is Coming - Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery
  10. Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
It's cool to see Xiu Xiu on someone else's list. If I'm taking into account what album has had the most staying power in terms of me listening to it. that might be my AOTY.
 
Big Thief - U.F.O.F.
Two People - First Body
The Flaming Lips - King's Mouth
Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow
DJ Yoda - Homecooking
Gavinco - Caravella EP
Wide Awake - Alienation Effects
Octo Octa - For Lovers
Kevin Morby - Oh My God
Danger Mouse & Karen O - Lux Prima
Apparat - LP5
Bibio - Ribbons
Julia Jacklin - Crushing
Aguila - The Club on 27th West
Corey Fuller - Break
Steve Gunn - The Unseen in Between
Shovels & Rope - By Blood
 
100's of albums come out everyday. Out of those dozens are what I am trying to hear. I am way behind the curve from where I want to be.

I can generally tell in the first 3 tracks if this is a thing I could like or want to continue listening to. I will generally finish something even if I don't like it but not always. For example, Jade Bird - Jade Bird, I got maybe 5 tracks in and had enough, definitely not for me. Igor, OTOH, I was unimpressed but finished it and then gave it two more spins just to see if I could figure out why I was missing all the hype. In the case of Igor I can say my estimation definitely improved but not to make a list or anything.

I will often respin due to less than conducive environments on the first listen. Stuff I really like definitely gets spun repeatedly. I average 10-12 albums a day I listen to. 1/3 is brand new. 1/3 is stuff I like so I am listening again. 1/3 is not brand new but it is stuff I have never heard before (i.e. anything from this and the last century that didn't occur in this year). Lately I've been participating in our listening club and so far that falls int he last category but is getting multiple spins to generate cohesive reviews so I would say it takes at least 2 full listens to fully form an opinion on something for me.

From the list above:
1. >12 times
2. 7 or 8 times
3. 3 times
4. 6 or 7 times
5. 5 or 6 times
6. 4 times
7. 5 times (this morning, even)
8. 5 or 7 times
9. 4 times
10. 2 times (on the relisten list)
11. 2 times
12. 2 times
13. 5 or 6 times
14. 4 times
15. 4 times
16. 4 times
17. 3 times
 
I should note I am actively tracking a top 20 of 2019 list and nothing else I've heard all year have I felt deserves to make the list. My most recent listen was the new Bill Callahan. I really liked it but it in no way makes a list. That said, MdCL made some recommendations in the AMA thread. Most I had already heard but some I had not so listened to those. The Innerzone Orchestra was fucking mind blowing but I'm not tracking cool shit I've heard this year that came out some other year.

I'm currently on the fence about Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari. I think that might make Top 20 but I need to give it another listen. It really grabbed me on the first spin, though.
 
But are you able to form substantial opinions after only one listen?
Yeah, I've actually tried this year to listen to *fewer* new albums because I've found that I became obsessed with trying to listen to so much to the detriment of actually giving things enough attention and time to grow on me. I can't give an opinion on an album after only one or two spins, and I listen to like ten hours of music a day.
 
Yeah, I've actually tried this year to listen to *fewer* new albums because I've found that I became obsessed with trying to listen to so much to the detriment of actually giving things enough attention and time to grow on me. I can't give an opinion on an album after only one or two spins, and I listen to like ten hours of music a day.
Same. I think it's more fun to get really into a smaller sample of albums than 50 or 100+. There's albums from years past that I listened to many times that remind me of experiences or places I've been. If I've listened to one album twice while browsing the internet or just working, basically doing mundane things and that's it, it's going to be forgettable. Multiple listens and making playlists of favorite songs, etc. helps personally attach the music to other things.
 
My favorite albums of 2019 so far (alphabetical order)
  1. Avey Tare - Cows on Hourglass Pond
  2. Beirut - Gallipoli
  3. Better Oblivion Community Center- BOCC
  4. Billy Woods - Hiding Places
  5. The Comet is Coming - Trust in The Lifeforce of Deep Mystery
  6. Crimeapple- Wet Dirt
  7. Dave - Psychodrama
  8. Empath - Active Listening: Night on Earth
  9. Flee Lord - Gets Greater Later
  10. Jamila Woods - Legacy! Legacy!
  11. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Fishing for Fishies
  12. Little Simz - Grey Area
  13. Lizzo - Cuz I Love You
  14. Panda Bear - Buoys
  15. Pivot Gang - You Cant Sit With Us
  16. Pup - Morbid Stuff
  17. Rap - Export
  18. Spelling - Mazy Fly
  19. Theon Cross - Fyah
  20. White Denim - Side Effects
  21. Yugen Blakrok - Anima Mysterium
Updates in Bold, Alphabetical order

  1. Avey Tare - Cows on Hourglass Pond
  2. Beirut - Gallipoli
  3. Better Oblivion Community Center- BOCC
  4. Billy Woods - Hiding Places
  5. Bill Callahan- Sheppard in a Sheep Skin Vest
  6. Chris Crack - Never Hated I Just Waited
  7. The Comet is Coming - Trust in The Lifeforce of Deep Mystery
  8. Crimeapple- Wet Dirt
  9. Dave - Psychodrama
  10. Empath - Active Listening: Night on Earth
  11. Flee Lord - Gets Greater Later
  12. Flying Lotus - Flamagra
  13. Jamila Woods - Legacy! Legacy!
  14. Kate Tempest -The Book of Traps and Lessons
  15. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Fishing for Fishies
  16. Little Simz - Grey Area
  17. Lizzo - Cuz I Love You
  18. Megan Thee Stallion- Fever
  19. Panda Bear - Buoys
  20. Pivot Gang - You Cant Sit With Us
  21. Pup - Morbid Stuff
  22. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets- And Now For The Whatchamacallit
  23. Rap - Export
  24. Spelling - Mazy Fly
  25. Theon Cross - Fyah
  26. Wand - Laughing Matter
  27. White Denim - Side Effects
  28. Yugen Blakrok - Anima Mysterium
 
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This new Titus Andronicus album is the best thing they've done since The Monitor. I'd love it if they redid all their albums with Bob Mould producing. It sounds like if The Replacements put out anything after that EP they released in 2013.
Is it streaming somewhere or your record arrive early?

I'm excited to see them next month at a super tiny venue. Show sold out in minutes. Never seen them live.
 
Is it streaming somewhere or your record arrive early?

I'm excited to see them next month at a super tiny venue. Show sold out in minutes. Never seen them live.
it leaked a few days ago I believe.

Also I'm super bummed I can't see them this year. My city NEVER has overlapping shows that I want to see. However their show is the same day as I have tickets for Nick Offerman so I'm going to see Offerman because I've never seen him before. I've seen Titus 4 times so I don't mind too much missing them. Their show I went to in 2011 was one of the best shows I've ever seen, and they were only the opener! (for Okkervil River). Everyone was going insane, they played 6 songs off The Monitor and it was incredible.
 
4 albums that dropped Friday that I highly recommend checking out (I don't know if they are BNM or anything, but they caught my attention and I'm excited to sit with them more!)

Julia Shapiro (of Chastity Belt) - Perfect Vision
Jeanies - Jeanies
A Beacon School - Cola
Mattiel - Satis Factory
 
4 albums that dropped Friday that I highly recommend checking out (I don't know if they are BNM or anything, but they caught my attention and I'm excited to sit with them more!)

Julia Shapiro (of Chastity Belt) - Perfect Vision
Jeanies - Jeanies
A Beacon School - Cola
Mattiel - Satis Factory

Nice, I haven't heard of any of these bands, save your reference to Chastity Belt. Out of curiosity, do you have a go to spot to get good recs on lesser known upcoming albums? I've been checking out Line Of Best Fit recently and that's put me in better touch with new stuff out of Europe, but looks like all these artists are American.
 
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