My favourite music of 2019: The Singles
Just last week I posted my favourite albums of 2019. The thing is 2019 offered up a plethora of amazing songs that either hint at a future album or that stood out on their own as an amazing piece of music. So, here is a list of some of my favourite songs of 2019.
You Seemed so Happy — The Japanese House
From the opening guitar and lovely open E bassline, this song is a lovely little ditty. When Amber Bain’s lovely voice comes in the paradox of subtle groove and arresting sadness combine perfectly. The melodic chorus immediately squirrels itself into your cranium. And, then, it’s sadly done. A brief 2 minutes and 42 seconds of sheer loveliness.
One of the first great songs I heard in 2019, I think I managed to get through the year without my kids hearing it! Good parenting Tom! Seriously though, these Austin producers have written a stellar synth-pop song that sounds like The Limousines have stepped away from the internet and started doing drugs!
When I am old and the long warm days of summer start to fall away, and the leaves start to fall, I will hum this song from Norway’s Konradsen. The Oslo duo’s minimalism is evident in this beautiful stripped-down version of this song, but the studio version has some amazing production from Tom Carmichael. Looking forward to this album in 2020.
Toronto collective BBRC brings together intricate beats and furious cadence in their hip hop style. The fact that Canada isn’t talking about these guys is yet again, another hip hop travesty.
This is a masterpiece of modern pop music. Seriously? Who writes a pop song about Sisyphus? The lyrics and mix are masterful!
The sound of summer. The easy-breezy drums and driving bass. But, then when the harmonies come in at the end of the second chorus the song lifts to a higher dimension!
Church — Samm Henshaw featuring EARTHGANG
My daughter loves telling me a song is a “bop”. It is a word I feel should be used for a particularly poppy, danceable track, that has a driving beat and addictive groovability. Well, England’s Samm Henshaw’s “Church” is a serious bop. Catching, dancey, groovy, and when EARTHGANG shows up you can’t help but reflect on Arrested Development.
British rapper Stormzy released this powerful and uplifting track in the summer. Self-aware lyrics that show a responsible voice that is fresh and positive. Crown is everything that hip hop rarely is. On top of that, his cadence is clean and precise, and the production simply perfect.
Boujee Natives — Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Vancouver’s Snotty Nose Rez Kids found themselves shortlisted for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize and it was a well-deserved nomination. On “Boujee Natives” Darren “Young D” Metz and Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce deliver a hip-hop track that pays tribute to their Haisla tradition and also mocks many of the stereotypes that exist in our culture.
Africa Express’ website states that it is a non-profit organization that promotes “musical collaboration that breaks down boundaries and borders”. These boundaries are broken down with this gem that features the Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys, Lesotho’s Morena Leraba, and Cape Town DJ Sibot creating a laid-back vibe that sounds like a Peter Gabriel remix.
Sakla Beni — Kutiman, Melike Sahin
If you’d have told me in 2018 that I would have gone down a worm-hole of Turkish psychedelia in 2019, I would have called you a liar. Yet, Israel’s Kutiman did that when he introduced me to Istanbul’s Melike Şahin and her transfixing vocals. Kutiman’s psychedelic bassline and 60-inspired drums lift this to a Khruangbin-like psychedelic-jam.
I annoyed my kids something fierce with this one! Parquet Courts, XTC, Cake, Pere Ubu, The Clash, Squid are a truly English LCD Soundsystem. The trumpet and keyboard are hilariously fun! What an entertaining song! 2019 needs this!
How is this song not on every radio station? With strong production from Hawksley Workman and a gorgeous 1980s inspired radio-friendly rock sound I am flabbergasted that Jackie Mohr is not a household name. Go on. Listen to it and see if you aren’t singing along in no time.
I’m going to go ahead and call Dan Boeckner Canada’s indie God. Building on the success of Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs, and his Divine Fits, Boeckner started Operators back in 2014 and released this synth-driven pop gem on his third album Radiant Dawn. The ending of this beauty blows up into an anthemic new-wave-masterpiece!
The 1990s are alive and well in Kate Davis’ “Daisy”. Immediately as catchy as a cold! Great stuff from this NYC songwriter!
Malmo, Sweden’s The Few released this aggressive post-punk beauty in March of this year. The chucking guitar, lifting to a Constantines-like chorus and at times sounds like Metz. If you are looking for a little more rock in your life this is definitely one to start with!
FKA Twigs should have been the pop star we were all talking about this year. Breaking all of the rules of pop music, she released this layered, and classically-inspired song as her leadoff single. Add to that a powerfully artistic video and this amazing performance on Jimmy Kimmel. It seems a travesty that every Billie Eilish-addicted emo-wannabee is not playing “Cellophane” on repeat!
Love Yourself — Sufjan Stevens
I love Sufjan Stevens. I don’t always love what I hear (Seriously, what was The Age of Adz?). But, I love that Sufjan Stevens has made a career of doing whatever he wants. Whether it be concept albums about Illinois or this little gem. Based on a demo from 1996 Stevens’ released this single “in celebration” of Pride Month. The triumphant horns are almost angelic in the background of the rising chorus calling on us to “love yourself”.
Love this bassline! Love the minimalist percussions (complete with handclaps and snapping fingers)! And, finally, love the haters-gonna-hate vibe that K Flay kicks out here. The thing is that I think K Flay (unlike many of her more poppy contemporaries honestly doesn’t care about what others think. Such a fun song!
Deep in Love — Bonny Light Horseman
Bonny Light Horseman is Josh Kaufman (The National, Hiss Golden Messenger), Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats), and folk-singer turned Broadway playwright Anaïs Mitchell. If their debut single is anything to go by, Bonny Light Horseman’s debut album will be a gentle flow of acoustic wonderment!
