Top Ten Albums of 2019

2019 was an amazing and interesting year for entertainment, particularly music. In the beginning of the year, I believed this to be one of the worst years of music we've seen since 2016. But slowly and surely I discovered some releases that flew under my radar initially that really define the year for me. During the fourth quarter of 2019 especially, I discovered some of the best projects of the entire year that really captured how sounds have evolved over the past few years. That being said, here are some of the albums that I loved from this year that I believe stand out from the crowd.

10. Happiness Begins - Jonas Brothers

There were two albums from this year that defined summer 2019 for me. This was absolutely one of them. Not only did I listen to this album all summer long, but this album just feels and sounds like summer to me. After a decade long hiatus filled with experimental solo projects and even a reality television show (I'm looking at you Kevin), the Jonas Brothers came back with a bang, reassuring their fans that they are indeed better together. This comeback is one of the brightest pop albums of recent memory and man is it fun as hell. As one of the highest selling albums of the year, it also does a good job of convincing the world that pop music without trap influence still works in 2019. Overall, this album is such an easy listen and it will certainly put a smile on your face. I suggest cranking it up on your speaker poolside with a beer in hand. You're sure to have a good time.

Stand Out Tracks: "Sucker", "I Believe", "Strangers"

9. Sucker Punch- Sigrid

This is one of those albums that really snuck up on me early on in the year and has stuck with me since. Norwegian alt pop artist Sigrid came into the scene in 2016, but this is her first full length album released after her initial EP Don't Kill My Vibe. Sigrid's blend of bright pop mixed with some alternative and electronic production really brings something fresh to the table that isn't necessarily revolutionary, but still enjoyable and stands out from the current radio hits. This LP is just fun from top to bottom. With upbeat hits like "Strangers" and slower jams like "In Vain", this album has something for all lovers of pop music. At only 23, I believe we are witnessing the start of a beautiful and long lasting career for Sigrid, and I look forward to hearing how she evolves from here on out.

Stand Out Tracks: "Sight of You", "Strangers", "Don't Kill My Vibe"

8. Fine Line- Harry Styles

When Harry Styles released his new single "Lights Up" in October, I was extremely excited for the new direction he was going in, and his highly anticipated sophomore album. Then he released two subsequent songs, "Watermelon Sugar" and "Adore You" which were equally as well written and exciting. After these amazing releases, I can gladly say that the full album does not disappoint. The singles released ahead of time, although amazing, do not quite give you a good look as to what this album has to offer. Styles definitely kept to what he does best and wrote songs that are really more aligned with his first self-titled project, but more mature than ever. He brings in elements of pop, rock, folk and even channels his inner Beatles for the track "Treat People With Kindness". All of these styles (pun intended) and genres blend together so effortlessly for a project that is both calming and exciting to listen to. Put this one on and have a dance party, a good cry, and a mellow afternoon; it has it all.

Stand Out Tracks: "Watermelon Sugar", "Adore You", "Falling"

7. Father of the Bride- Vampire Weekend

As a lover of many different musical genres and styles, I happen to be a big fan of rock and alternative rock. That being said, Vampire Weekend is one of those bands that I just could never get behind. Their sound was never very appealing to me despite their critical praise and success. However, after a 6 year hiatus, the follow up to their third studio album Modern Vampires of the City hit a home run for me. Father of the Bride is one of those rare albums that completely flipped my perspective on an artist. This album is smooth and summery, and vastly different from their previous albums that I believe focused too much on an aesthetic rather than creating good songs that actually make you feel something. This is such an easy listen, and it really helps you to put your faith back into music created from pure instruments. The instrumentation on this album is really what lands in my number 7 spot. I have never heard guitar riffs so smooth and effortless while still impressive and high in difficulty. Danielle Haim from the band HAIM (a personal favorite of mine) is also highly featured on this record, and she adds such beautiful harmonies and an added breeze of summer to this album. Sit back and enjoy a casual listen to this record, but after that, listen to it again and absorb yourself in the masterclass songwriting and producing this album has to offer, and realize for yourself that this is the standard that music in 2019 should be held to.

Stand Out Tracks: "Harmony Hall", "Sunflower", "Flower Moon"

6. Cuz I Love You- Lizzo

For some reason I spent the majority of 2019 ignoring Lizzo and her high energy, turn up the volume kind of music. My first encounter with this album was over the summer sometime in May. On that first listen, I completely overlooked Lizzo's talent and focused more on how that first title track sounded far too out of place in the 2019 soundscape. I dismissed her after that one listen and spent the rest of the year not understanding her popularity. Then I decided to give it another try in late November and wow was I wrong. The reason Lizzo is so great is BECAUSE she doesn't fit in with the 2019 soundscape. But also, she does? Her soulful tracks like "Cuz I Love You", and "Jerome" really stand out from what you hear on the radio these days, but tracks like "Juice" and "Truth Hurts" fit in very well. That's what makes this album so great. It is eclectic, fun, over the top, and ultimately just a hell of a jam. Lizzo has completely redefined the image of a pop artist and she does it with more confidence than anyone who has come before her. I am thrilled to be alive in the year that she made her mainstream debut, and I cannot wait to see her continue to grow in popularity and hear what she does next.

Stand Out Tracks: "Like a Girl", "Soulmate", "Exactly How I Feel" (other than "Truth Hurts" and "Juice" of course)

5. Free Spirit- Khalid

Khalid came into the world of music two years ago and made a big splash with his debut album American Teen. When I first heard this album my interest was peaked. He had such a fresh sound that brought something new to the R&B scene, and at such a young age of only 19. That album did not make my year end list because it definitely felt like Khalid still had some discovering to do, and by the time Free Spirit dropped, he must have made a lot of discoveries. This album is an aesthetic masterpiece. This was the other album that defined summer 2019 for me. The absolute best way to listen to this album is to take a long drive at night with the windows down and this album cranked all the way up. Beyond the fact that these songs are just that good and that well crafted, this entire album makes me feel something that I haven't felt from listening to an album before. To me, a good album is defined by how it makes me feel, and this album elicits so many different emotions from overjoyed to contemplative to moody to downright sad. The title track especially is an out of body experience that I can hardly put into words. I have never heard a song before that is so appropriately named in that it made me feel more free and lifted than I ever had before hearing that song. Khalid's sophomore album is one of those genre defining moments for R&B music, and I believe that the sounds Khalid makes throughout this record will be remembered for a long time.

Stand Out Tracks: "Hundred", "Free Spirit", "Talk"

4. Heard It In A Past Life- Maggie Rogers

If there is one artist to pay attention to from 2019, it's Maggie Rogers. Back in 2016, Rogers' video of an NYU masterclass with producer Pharrell Williams went viral and stunned fans all around the world. She was a music production major at New York University and was lucky enough to play one of her songs "Alaska" for Williams, to which he said that he had "zero notes" or advice for how to make the song better. Rogers' influence comes from her upbringing with folk and banjo music and her connection with the outdoors. In fact, she began her music journey at NYU playing banjo music. However, after a brief study abroad venture in Paris, Maggie saw herself having a "spiritual experience" with dance music in the beautiful city. This experience led her to rethink how she writes and produces music, and this is the debut album that so masterfully and cleverly combines her folk roots with electronic sounds and dance music. In this album, Rogers' is credited as a writer, performer and producer for all 12 amazing tracks. She really had a hand in every process of making this album exactly what she wanted, and she does so with such artistry and maturity. Her voice soars on every single song, giving a kind of indie pop inflection that doesn't ever seem forced or gimmicky. Her production is entrancing and inventive, providing us with sounds we've never heard before, including a loop of her tapping on her jeans and a dove's call that mimics the sound of a synth (Aramesh, 2019). This album is an alt pop masterpiece, and I have never felt more excited to watch an artist continue to grow and evolve as I am to see Maggie Rogers excel in the music industry.

Stand Out Tracks: "Light On", "Retrograde", "Burning"

3. thank u, next- Ariana Grande

After 6 years we have finally reached Ariana Grande's career defining album. 2018's Sweetener saw many mixed reactions and reviews and really seemed to polarize the fanbase, regardless of the fact that it won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Although I happened to love that particular effort from Grande, I never would have expected her to outdo herself only a few short months later. Thank u, next was written, recorded and released in just four months following the release of the title track as a single only two months after the release of Sweetener. Grande seems to have a problem with never letting herself rest from creating music, which can sometimes be a bad thing (looking at you "Boyfriend" and "Monopoly"), but in the case of her fifth studio album it is a very very good thing. The songs on this record are the most cohesive out of any of her albums and the production is out of this world. Songs like "Bloodline" feature roaring horns on the chorus that really carry the song, whereas songs like "Bad Idea" are completely electronic based. Although the instrumentation for these two tracks are very different, both of them are incredible songs and you can tell that they both definitely belong to the same album. In fact, every.single.song on this album is great. Not just good, great. Beyond that, Ariana has never sounded more comfortable in her own voice with her blend of soft, airy production, her usual pop star belt, and the return of her whistle tones (which we haven't heard so prominently since her debut album). This really feels like the album that critics and fans alike will reference when talking about the talent that is Ariana Grande, and I look forward to how she will try to top this one probably only a year from now.

Stand Out Tracks: "Bloodline", "Bad Idea", "Thank U, Next"

2. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?- Billie Eilish

Bille motherf*****g Eilish. If you haven't heard of her by now you are surely living underneath three boulders in a bomb bunker 100 feet underground. This is the breakout star of 2019 and the person that I believe should win Best New Artist at the Grammys. Every generation has that one moody and grungy female singer who defines your middle school scene years like Avril Lavigne or Alanis Morissette, and Billie seems to be that artist for Gen Z. But this time it feels different, because at the age of 23 and far away from my scene years, I am extremely obsessed with Billie Eilish. Her music transcends age and genre. It blends pop, rock, alternative and singer-songwriter music. Her music can be listened to by middle schoolers and adults in their 40s+. Eilish made her first big splash in 2016 with her debut EP don't smile at me and critics and her small fanbase at the time ate it up. Slowly but surely, Eilish climbed her way to the top inch by inch instead of instantly blowing up like most new artists do nowadays. Her debut album released earlier this year was the moment that everything changed for the then 17 year old singer. This album was written entirely by Eilish herself and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the entire album singlehandedly. The reason this album works is because of O'Connell's masterful and inventive production that samples things such as taking out an Invisalign retainer and the crosswalk sounds in Australia. Each track feels entirely new and unlike anything you've ever heard before. In a past interview with Vanity Fair, Eilish stated that it was her goal to create something that no one has ever heard before, and in the same interview conducted a year later, she stated how foolish of a sentiment that was, and that that was no longer her goal. In no longer attempting to create something new, Billie did precisely that. This album is macabre and almost frightening while somehow still being fun and dancey. Eilish's soft vocal that sometimes feels almost like whispering is absolutely entrancing to listen to, even if her voice isn't the most conventionally powerful. Each song on this album transports you to a new world and covers extremely mature topics such as drug use and suicide, which, unfortunately are also topics that teens and preteens can relate to. If you haven't heard this album yet, do yourself a favor and put on some really nice headphones, shut your eyes and just immerse yourself in the genius that is Eilish's nuanced vocal and O'Connell's masterful production.

Stand Out Tracks: "Xanny", "When The Party's Over", "Bury A Friend" (and of course breakout hit "Bad Guy")

Before we get to my number one pick of the year, here are some honorable mentions that just barely missed my list.

Pony- Rex Orange County

Immunity- Clairo

Inspired By True Events- Tori Kelly

Hollywood's Bleeding- Post Malone

1. Lover- Taylor Swift

We have reached my number one pick for 2019, Taylor Swift's seventh studio album, Lover. This album has captured me in a way that few albums have done before. It is by far Taylor's most mature album to date, and in my opinion, it really solidifies her as one of the greats among songwriters. This album is pop, country, r&b, and unlike her fourth studio album Red, it all blends together cohesively. Much like John Mayer's The Search For Everything, this album is a showcase of all of Swift's greatest songwriting moments throughout her career consolidated into one body of work. The sounds are oh so familiar, yet so unique to this album. She figured out a way to create a collection of songs that not only demonstrates where she's been, but also where she is headed. Like Red, this album feels like a very transitional moment, but at the same time it feels like the capstone to a successful career. It's almost as if this album is the end of Side A of her discography and we are getting ready to experience Side B as she enters her 30's. Each and every song on this album is meaningful and there is no track that I would consider a filler (okay, except for maybe "ME!"). It is emotional, fun, uplifting, and heartbreaking all at the same time. Swift has really demonstrated that she knows how to curate an album that feels like a complete thought, and does so masterfully. Of course I am more than disappointed that this album was shut out of the Grammy nominations, but her fans know that this album is a masterpiece and a career defining moment for Swift. If you haven't taken the time to listen to this album yet, hurry up, because I know that this is going to be one of the greatest albums of the decade.

Stand Out Tracks: "Lover", "Cornelia Street", "Death By A Thousand Cuts"