Best Albums of 2019
I already ran down my favorites of the decade, but I didn’t want 2019 to feel left out.
10) CJ Run, Here for Now – Chicago-based rapper CJ Run has a unique voice – literally, as they were born of Afro-Caribbean parentage in Germany but raised in the UK. The 7 tracks on Here for Now are a beautiful and energetic depiction of life as a non-binary voice in Chicago’s hip-hop community.
9) Guster, Look Alive – One of the big reasons Guster continues to thrive after 20-some-odd years is their willingness to adapt and evolve. 2019’s Look Alive is easily their poppiest record, but this sleeker production does not so much totally reinvent their sound as it adds yet another perspective on their musical identity.
8) Blood Orange, Angel’s Pulse – With his third release since 2016, Blood Orange has emerged as one of the most prolific and reliable voices in today’s R&B scene. More subdued and with more compact writing than last year’s Negro Swan, Angel’s Pulse is still brimming with warmth and a unique amalgamation of soul, hip-hop, and jazz.
7) Brittany Howard, Jaime – With help from hired guns Robert Glasper (keyboards) and Nate Smith (drums), Howard concocts an eclectic and highly personal set of tunes with Jaime. The sound is clearly rooted in the grungy Americana of Alabama Shakes (Howard’s band), but it is seamlessly infused with elements of R&B and jazz.
6) Jacob Collier, Djesse Vol. 2 – Jazz wunderkind Jacob Collier (his being only 25 is equal parts amazing and depressing) flexes his performance and writing chops in this second of four Djesse releases. His mic-dropping arrangement of “Moon River” features 5,000 different recordings of his voice and microtonal modulations, but it also all melds together into one highly listenable piece of music.
5) Vampire Weekend, Father of the Bride – After the departure of guitarist and co-songwriter Rostam Batmanglij, it was fair to wonder if Vampire Weekend would be a shell of their former selves. Bride emphatically declares that, while changed, the band continues to stay vibrant. Combining elements of folk, pop, and classical, this latest release is eclectic and energetic.
4) Tool, Fear Inoculum – It’s been 13 years since Tool’s last studio release, but judging by the sound of their latest, they haven’t missed a beat. Inoculum is clearly kin to Lateralus and 10,000 Days, but dalliances in Middle Eastern drumming and electronic grooves add welcome shades that demonstrate a nice balance of growth and nostalgia.
3) Wing Walker Orchestra, Hazel – This New York-based jazz large ensemble combines a feverish juxtaposition of rock and jazz music with succinct and expertly constructed forms to boldly show that jazz can stay obstinately forward-thinking into the next decade.
2) Shout House, Shout House – In different ways, Shout House simultaneously sound like everything and nothing else. By daftly melding elements of classical, jazz, rock, and hip-hop, this New York-based collective creates a rich musical universe that is endlessly inventive.
1) Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science, Waiting Game – Drummer, composer, and bandleader Carrington crafts an album that is vital for 2019. Featuring responses to and reflections on the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements, Waiting Game juxtaposes insightful and necessary social commentary with a propulsive and gorgeous fusion of jazz and R&B music.