My favourite music of 2019: The Albums
Best Albums:
- Fruit Bats — Gold Past Life
Eric D. Johnson has been slogging at the Fruit Bats for almost 20 years. And, with Gold Past Life he has found a sound that is airy, progressive, traditional, and beautiful. Although it would be easy to hear the slide guitar on tracks like “A Lingering Love” and typecast The Fruit Bats as folk-country, the grooviness comes out in the albums first two songs “The Bottom of It” and the Bee-Gees/ELO-like “Gold Past Life”. Yet, when Johnson plunges the darkness on the emotional draining “Barely Living Room” and the reflective “Ocean” he is at his best. If you like this record be sure to check out his newest side project Bonny Light Horseman (see favourite singles).
2. Fontaines DC — Dogrel
ROCK N’ ROLL! Fontaines DC’s Dogrel is as gritty and authentic as the city they take their name from. Sounding like The Clash, The Joy Division, The Libertines, and just about every other great rock act you can think of, Fontaines DC are real and exactly what we need right now! The rock comes out perfectly in tracks like “The Boys in the Better Land” and the ironically short “Big”, yet the traditional sound of Dublin is not binned out, but is center stage in “Dublin City Sky”
3. Tallies — Tallies
Listening to Toronto’s Tallies will make you think it is 1990 again! Sarah Cogan’s voice is engrained in Harriet Wheeler and The Sundays, yet — as if on brand — Tallies’ production and guitar sound also emulate the Dream Pop style of The Sundays and The Smiths. Whether it is “Easy Enough” or “Midnight” let Cogan’s voice and Dylan Frankland’s Johnny Marr-like guitar wash over you, and bring you back to a day when not only did music have guitars, but they actually worked on a particular guitar sound.
4. Lizzo — Cuz, I Love You
Way back in 2013 I rated Lizzo’s debut album Lizzobangers as my tenth favourite album of the year. In that review, I noted that she has all the skills needed to be the future of hip hop. Well, here we are in 2019 and Lizzo has just been voted as Time’s artist of the year. It was obvious when I first heard “Juice” on January 5th of 2019 that she was about to break. The song is a perfect balance of humour and serious reflection. This has always been Lizzo’s brand and on Cuz, I Love You she nails it perfectly!
5. Hobo Johnson — The Fall of Hobo Johnson
Is he a slam poet, a hip hop artist, or just an oddly-dressed dude getting high in his friend’s backyard? Whatever it is, it works. Hobo “Frank” Johnson goes from silly to serious in seconds. Whether it’s an ode to Justin Bieber’s fame or lamenting his own life — post break up — on tracks like “Happiness” or “Mover Awayer” Johnson is truly authentic, and that — in a time of musical inauthenticity — is gold!
6. Kaytranada — Bubba
My top ten album list was done. Finished. Complete. Then, Montreal’s Kaytranada dropped Bubba and turned my list on its ear. From the opening notes when he purposeful repurposes a split second sample of the famed Apache drum loop, Kaytranada makes it known that Bubba will pay homage to the sounds of the past, while at the same time being completely modern. Forget the boring beats and samples that have made radio hip-hop boring. Kaytranada’s soulful balance on tracks like “Do It” has a 70’s funky warmth, while the instrumental “Puff Lah” brings you back to the house music of the late 1990s. Meanwhile, his inclusion of Iman Omari on “The Music”, SiR on “Go DJ”, and Kali Uchis on “10%” make Bubba a stunning addition to modern hip hop sound.
7. Strand of Oak — Eraserland
Given the popularity of bands like The War on Drugs, Phosphorescent, and even he whose name we do not speak (Ryan Adams), it seems like Timothy Showalter’s Stand of Oaks should be bigger than they are. Eraserland is easily his most complete album to date. Anthemic guitar pours from the speakers on tracks like “Forever Chords”, while “Weird Ways” might be one of the most perfectly crafted songs of the year.
8. Julia Jacklin — Crushing
There is something in the Aussie water! Sydney/Melbourne singer Julia Jacklin gave us a versatile album that went from purely cathartic on tracks like “Don’t know how to keep loving you” to the upbeat jangle rock of “Pressure to Party”. But, don’t like the jangly guitars fool you, there is a lot of darkness beneath the surface. Reminiscent of Kathleen Edwards, Jacklin’s lyrics scurry into the darkness of the human soul.
9. Josephine Wiggs — We Fall
You may remember Josephine Wiggs as the bassist for The Breeders, but now she is an NYC-based composer. This year’s We Fall is a beautiful record full of lovely instrumentation, and lovely production. At points, it is reminiscent of Brian Eno’s ambient style. This atmosphere is evident in songs like “Time Does Not Bring Relief”. Put this on, go for a walk, and allow yourself to get lost for a while.
10. Ian Blurton’s Future Now — Signals through the Flames
You had to know that Toronto producer and former Change of Heart frontman Ian Blurton’s newest project Future Now was going to make this list. Employing some of the best musicians in Toronto Glenn Milchem (Blue Rodeo) on drums, Anna Ruddick on bass and Aaron Goldstein on guitar Future Now taps into Thin Lizzy-like guitar rock with just enough Hawkwind and Sabbath to help you break your neck headbanging. Check out “Into Dust” and “ICQ” as a sign of what you’re missing!
10. Aldous Harding — Designer
New Zealand’s Aldous Harding has a haunting voice. Harding’s subtle and beautiful music harkens back to Nick Drake. The instrumentation balances perfectly between minimal and bombastic. Stand out tracks like “The Barrel” and “Fixture Picture” also come with stunning videos that transfix the viewer.
