2019 Survey Results - Top 12 Albums

1. Lizzo - Cuz I Love You (10 votes)
“Hard not sing along with these bangers in the car, even if I look completely ridiculous.”

“Don't know how many times I've said "blame it on my juice" as an excuse this year. On heavy rotation every time we drive anywhere.”

“Proof that I live in my isolated cave of hate/despair is that I'd never heard of Lizzo before 2 weeks ago. I gave her a listen and GODDAMN, I shook my tiny anemic white boy ass until it was sore.”

“Big woman, big power, big personality. The best concert-going experience I had all year!”

2. Orville Peck - Pony (10 votes)

“Best video of 2019!!!”

“Hooked with the Hope to Die video. Love the combination of Roy Orbison and laconic shoegaze, or something.”

“This makes me want to drink whiskey” - Joline

“I was hooked the first moment he started singing on the first track of the album. Unforgettable and haunting vocals. I can definitely get behind an artist described by the NY times as a ‘masked gay country star.’”

“An answer to the extremely important question, ‘What would happen if Morrissey was outlaw country?’”

“A welcome discovery. This bastard son of Elvis makes me want to drink Pabst Blue Ribbon beneath the full David Lynch moon.”

3. Lana del Ray - Norman Fucking Rockwell (7 votes)
“I look forward to listening to the Doin' Time cover on repeat at BBQs next summer!”

“In 2010 I got black out drunk at a house party and told some poor girl who put her on that listening to Lana del Rey was "NOT cool". And now a decade later she's in my top 10 so I would like to formally admit I was very wrong about that. She's really cool, this album is really cool, the lyrics are lush and surprising after many listens and they (almost) make me want to move back to LA.”

“Banal. Catchy. Shallow. Earwormy. Possibly plagiarized. Good enough to play at a party. Here's a poem based on LDR's lyrics: Push up bra at the farm. Pink ladies a dozen soaked til dawn. Cocaine sunflowers makin baby hot. I can be your back room kit kat don't stop. Let's ride this wave hanging ten. California but near Wilbur's pen. Cider's sweet I said to him. We danced all night, summersend.”

4. Jenny Lewis - On the Line (6 votes)

“The best Jenny Lewis album since the Rilo Kiley days!”

“The production on this album is so good.”

“I love when I really like the song on the album that has the same name as the album... this is to say I really like the song "On The Line" (along with all the other ones).”

5. Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari (6 votes)

“Love at first listen.”

“I listened to ‘F Delano’ a ton this year. I recommend you do the same!”

“Listening to this album filled my mind with so much imagery. Let's all be more pro orchestral arrangements.”

6. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride (6 votes)
“Exhausting at times, but full of inventive sounds. A tighter single-disc album exists here, but it's tough to complain about so much new Vampire Weekend music. Also, the opening of Harmony Hall is my favorite piece of music for 2019.”

“Mmm, Harmony Hall”

“Thought this album came out ten years ago? Its still good.”

“‘Unbearably white’ is a song and also kind of how I felt after Spotify told me that all of my top 5 most listened to songs this year were off this album. But is an extremely listenable album! Everyone from my dad to my 1 year old likes it. I love that they decided to be a jam band on this album, and I don't like jam bands!”

7. Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet (5 votes)

8. Ages and Ages - Me You They We (4 votes)

9. Cool Original - I Never Said I Didn't Care (4 votes)

"A band named after Doritos shouldn't be this good. I love the mix of emotions."

10. Layperson - The Divide (4 votes)
“Oh man. So beautiful. Reminds me of the Pernice Brothers in the best way.”

“The is the type of music that I would listen to” - Joline

“This album was one I didn't know I was missing. Thanks to whoever added this!”

11. Strand of Oaks - Eraserland (4 votes)
“This album felt more relaxed that previous Strand Of Oaks stuff. The first time I heard "Weird Ways" I was floored.”

12. Westkust - Westkust (4 votes)
“Like a harder, but still just as catchy, Swedish Alvvays.”

“Sweden!!! I love the song ‘Daylight’”

Eric’s Favorite Albums from 2016

1.  Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack    

Love me some Frightened Rabbit. The National's Aaron Dessner's fingerprints are all over this album, and the partnership is a hauntingly beautiful one. Somehow, this album is both deeply sad and uplifting at the same time. Seeing this album performed live flawlessly was also an amazing experience.      

2. Paul Cauthen - My Gospel     

Great throwback country album; cut from the same cloth as Merle and Waylon. This album probably benefitted the most from being released late in the year, because its been front of mind for the last few weeks, and I can't stop listening.   

          

3. Augustines - This is Your Life

Of course, by now I'm super predictable with my Augustines love, but even after nearly a decade of Augustines/Pela fandom, I still find the passion and emotion in their songs to be nothing short of addicting. If they are truly calling it quits for good, I will forever miss putting their albums in my top ten lists.              

4. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor’s Guide to Earth    

 

Another country throwback who can channel the great ones with his own creativity. Clearly, the album is revered in and out of the country music scene and its really not surprising why. 

      

5. Photo Ops - Vacation

I think most people needed a good feel-good album during this rather dark 2016, and Vacation was that album for me. Echoing the harmonies and patience of Pet Sounds, this album washes over you like a warm summer day and lifts the spirits like an ice cold High Life.

6. Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate        

One of the more thought-provoking and emotional albums of the year for me. Kiwanuka gives his powerful tracks time to develop, which may turn some people off, but damn does he do a good job of capturing the mood. This is a brilliant album. 

7. Lake Jons - Explore EP              

I don't usually put EPs on my top ten albums list, but this one did an exception job of winning me over with just six stellar tracks. Watch out world, Finland's coming!     

        

8. The Record Company - Give It Back To You    

Rock and roll, people, doesn't lie. The Record Company gets down to business with some bluesy, rockin' tracks that come straight at you like some of the best bands from the 70s.  

9. Kings of Leon - WALLS             

KoL bounces back from the mailed-in Mechanical Bull album with WALLS. Do I love WALLS beginning to end? No. However, the 7 or 8 tracks that I do like are good enough to carry this album into the Top 10 for me. What can I say, I just like Kings of Leon.  

10. The Bones of J.R. Jones - Spirit’s Furnace      

Folksy, bluesy, and catchy... you put this on, and people will want to know who it is, how you found him, and when he's coming to town.     

11. Pete Yorn - ArrangingTime  

"She Was Weird" was my favorite track, but there are a lot of memorable songs packed into this album. A very pleasant collection of organized, multifaceted tracks.     

12. The Cave Signers - Banchee

One of favorite "acquired taste" bands. I kept forgetting about and then remembering this album, and listened to it a ton at work. The Cave Signers are certainly not for everyone, but this album works for me.           

13. Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes - Bemidji     

        

Another EP! "Always/Never" is the track that drew me end, but the rest of the album makes you want to stay. I definitely over-listened to this album.    

14. Kishi Bashi - Sonderlust        

I am a huge Kishi Bashi fan and love his live show. This album dropped off a little bit for me from his prior releases, but his talent and songwriting are still astounding.   

15. Kaleo - A/B 

The best tracks off this album have been out as singles for quite some time, so I didn't feel as excited by the full album when it dropped. With a little more polish, this band should be able to do amazing things in the upcoming years.

Nesto’s Favorite Albums from 2016

1. Islands - Taste   

                          

2. Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack 

      

On heavy rotation.         

3. Kishi Bashi - Sonderlust          

Everybody wants a honeybody someday.        

     

4. The Dandy Warhols - Distortland     

   

Dandy's still rule, ok?     

5. Miike Snow - iii           

More i's please!

6. Lost Dawn - Fever

     

For those about to rock, we salute you. 

7. Radical Face - The Family Tree: The Leaves    

A second "d" is optional.              

8. Paul Cauthen - My Gospel     

Is most listened to in Houston, Stockholm, Manhattan, and Austin. Win.

9. The Lumineers - Cleopatra                     

10. Augustines - This is Your Life              

An appropriate finale scene.      

11. Peter, Bjorn, and John - Breakin' Point      

    

*umlaut              

12. Blind Pilot - And Then Like Lions        

               

13. Steve Mason - Meet the Humans

NightraiN's Ridiculous End-of-Summer Shortlist

Augustines - Augustines
Ridiculously good overall.

Thumpers - Galore
Ridiculously hipster fun.

Chuck Ragan - Till Midnight
Ridiculously stellar songwriting.

Kishi Bashi - "Carry on Phenomenon"from Lighght
Ridiculously talented.

Jungle - Jungle
Ridiculously funky fresh dance jams.