It's that time of year again. I'm scaling back to just 20 tracks this year, simply because 30 seemed too excessive last year. A tight 20 says more than a loose 30, am I right? This year, I'm going to have help in separate, bonus lists from my contributors below, but here are my favorite songs of 2019 in no particular order.
Kenixfan's Top 20 Tracks of 2019
1. "Now That I've Found You" by Liam Gallagher (from Why Me? Why Not.)
The second solo album from Liam Gallagher, Why Me? Why Not., didn't seem as entirely cohesive to me as I'd hoped it would be, but it at least yielded a bunch of good songs. "Now That I've Found You", a catchy singalong number, seems to me one of the very best things Liam's ever done. I like this one that much.
2. "Lark" by Angel Olsen (from All Mirrors)
Nearly any cut from All Mirrors could have made it onto this list, but the first track on the latest Angel Olsen record is so passionate and perfectly arranged, that listening to it is an emotional experience, and the kind that precious little other music gave in 2019. The video was excellent as well.
3. "Centre of My Universe" by Murray A. Lightburn (from Hear Me Out)
Nearly any cut on the solo album from Dears leader Murray A. Lightburn could have ended up here but I went with the yearning "Centre of My Universe", a Dusty Springfield-style throwback number. All of Hear Me Out is just as good. Believe me folks.
4. "Celebrate the Void" by Sebadoh (from Act Surprised)
One of the year's biggest surprises was not that the new Sebadoh record, Act Surprised, was so good, but that it was so energetic. Sounding positively refreshed, Lou Barlow and his crew delivered one of their best and most direct albums with this one, and lead single "Celebrate the Void" really charmed.
5. "Safety Valve" by Belle & Sebastian (from Days of the Bagnold Summer)
There's a lot of good stuff on the soundtrack Belle & Sebastian put out this year, but the yearning "Safety Valve" seemed the clear stand-out to me. I bet Stan Cierlitsky, author of the review here of Days of the Bagnold Summer, might feel the same way.
6. "Chasing That Feeling" by Business of Dreams (from Ripe for Anarchy)
The debut album from Business of Dreams, Ripe for Anarchy, is all good, but "Chasing That Feeling" is a real stand-out from this Slumberland Records band.
7. "Paper Girl" by Le SuperHomard (from Meadow Lane Park)
"Paper Girl" is a glorious blast of indie-pop. I mean, this one just absolutely pleases me as a music fan. Meadow Lane Park is a great record, but this single is perfection.
8. "Grown Nothing" by Stephen Malkmus (from Groove Denied)
The latest Stephen Malkmus album, Groove Denied, is an odd one in his output, but "Grown Nothing", the closer, is a wonderfully affecting ballad, and the sort of thing that sounds like the start of a new direction for the Pavement genius.
9. "The Seduction of Kansas" by Priests (from The Seduction of Kansas)
While The Seduction of Kansas got pegged as a detour for D.C.'s own Priests, to me it felt like the natural progression of the band's transgressive sound. This insinuating and sleek number benefited from a superb video too. As of yesterday, the band was going on some kind of indefinite hiatus so who knows what's next for this group.
10. "A Lot's Gonna Change" by Weyes Blood (from Titanic Rising)
The lead song on Titanic Rising by Weyes Blood, "A Lot's Gonna Change", absolutely floored me. The cut is breathtaking, and the sort of thing that mixes an ornate production with real emotion. Simply glorious.
11. "Sixteen Again" by The Catenary Wires (from Til The Morning)
All of the new album from Heavenly spin-off The Catenary Wires, Til The Morning, is good, but "Sixteen Again" is a catchy bit of business, and an effortlessly enjoyable slab of indie-pop.
12. "Either Way" by Jeanines (from Jeanines)
The self-titled debut from Jeanines, reviewed by me here, was another gem from Slumberland Records, so it's a bit of a struggle to pick out just one tune from Jeanines but "Either Way" is a real rush!
13. "Invisible Love" by Versus (from the Ex Nihilo EP)
"Invisible Love" is the first track from the comeback EP from Versus, and when it does that very Versus thing where it revs up and all the players kick things into the stratosphere, I want to flip my desk over and start the revolution. I'm so happy this band is back!
14. "Radical Love" by J. Robbins (from Un-becoming)
The debut solo album from Jawbox leader J. Robbins is a fantastic thing, full of complex post-punk and expertly performed, precise power-pop, but the Jon Brion-ish "Radical Love" is my fave track from the album.
15. "Supernatural Babe" by Nicole Yun (from Paper Suit)
Paper Suit from Nicole Yun reveals just how much can be done with the whole indie-pop template. While the Eternal Summers singer nods towards shoegaze stuff on other tracks here, "Supernatural Babe" is summery and catchy, like Juliana Hatfield's best numbers, or something from Belly.
16. "All My Happiness is Gone" by Purple Mountains (from Purple Mountains)
The late David Berman's death was devastating to fans of the Silver Jews front-man. That it came so soon after the release of his superb Purple Mountains album, was all the more depressing. "All My Happiness is Gone" is one of the standouts on this album.
17. "Chlorine" by Penelope Isles (from Until The Tide Creeps In)
The debut album from Penelope Isles, Until The Tide Creeps In, is full of lovely shoegaze-y stuff, but "Chlorine" is the clear highlight here.
18. "The Bottom of It" by Fruit Bats (from Gold Past Life)
"The Bottom of It", the lead track from the latest Fruit Bats album, Gold Past Life, is elegant and languid, the sort of cut that recalls George Harrison and other Seventies singers. It's also the kind of track that's darn near impossible to get out of your head once you've heard it.
19. "Reach Out" by Sleater-Kinney (from The Center Won't Hold)
While there's a good argument to be made that the new St. Vincent-produced direction Sleater-Kinney went in on The Center Won't Hold was a big mistake, some of the tracks were quite good. "Reach Out" might sound like Pat Benatar but that's not necessarily a bad thing, I guess.
20. "Riding Solo" by Hinds (from Riding Solo single)
I wasn't expecting Hinds to be back in 2019 but only a few weeks ago the band dropped a new single from the album they'll likely be dropping in 2019. "Riding Solo" is more "produced" than some of their other tracks but, dammit, if this isn't the catchiest hook I've heard all year.
Stan Cierlitksy's Top 20 Tracks of 2019
1. "All My Happiness is Gone" by Purple Mountains (from Purple Mountains)
2. "Not" by Big Thief (from Two Hands)
3. "Everything for You" by Lambchop (from This [Is What I Wanted To Tell You])
4. "10 Good Reasons for Modern Drugs" by The Twilight Sad (from It Won/t Be Like This All the Time)
5. "Grown Nothing" by Stephen Malkmus (from Groove Denied)
6. "Hey Ma" by Bon Iver (from i,i)
7. "Daniel Boone" by The Pixies (from Beneath the Eyrie)
8. "Future Love" by Ride (from This is Not a Safe Place)
9. "The Modern Leper" by Julien Baker (from Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit's 'The Midnight Organ Fight')
10. "Soniamode (Aditya Game Version)" by Underworld (from DRIFT Series 1)
11. "Traffic" by Thom Yorke (from Anima)
12. "Poison the Well" by Modest Mouse (from the "Poison the Well" single)
13. "I Found You" by Passion Pit and Galantis (from the "I Found You" single)
14. "Safety Valve" by Belle & Sebastian (from Days of the Bagnold Summer)
15. "Gut Feeling" by Malcolm Middleton (from Bananas)
16. "Where is Her Head" by The National (from I Am Easy to Find)
17. "Like Before You Were Born" by DIIV (from Deceiver)
18. "I Miss You" by Josh Rouse (from the "I Miss You" single)
19. "Days" by Operators (from Radiant Dawn)
20. "Pantomima" by Greg Dulli (from the upcoming Random Desire)
Jay Mukherjee's Top 20 Tracks of 2019
1."These Old Wounds" by Black Swan Lane (from Vita Eterna)
2. "Mid 8Ts" by Comet Gain (from Fireraisers Forever!)
3. "Go (But Not Too Far)" by Film School (from "Go [But Not Too Far]" single)
4. "Young Dreams" by Duncan Lloyd (from Outside Notion)
5. "You're Not Always On My Mind" by Quivers (from "You're Not Always On My Mind" single)
6. "Future Love" by Ride (from This is Not a Safe Place)
7. "One Bird In The Sky" by Robert Forster (from Inferno)
8. "Read My Mind" by Rolling Blackout C.F. (from "In The Capital" single)
9. "Chasing a Disaster" by Shambolics (from "Chasing A Disaster" single)
10. "When You Come Up To Me" by Sleaford Mods (from Eton Alive)
11. "Never Be Without You" by The Soft Cavalry (from The Soft Cavalry)
12. "Baby Green" by Versus (from Ex Voto)
13. "Rush" by Westkust (from Westkust)
14. "Hello" by Parekh & Singh (from Science City)
15. "Mad" by The Black Watch (from Magic Johnson)
16. "Just Reflecting" by Maps (from Colours. Reflect. Time. Loss.)
17. "All Compasses Go Wild" by Close Lobsters (From "All Compasses Go Wild" single)
18. "Tide" by Pure Moods (from "Tide" single)
19. "All My Happiness is Gone" by Purple Mountains (from Purple Mountains)
20. "Life Is Full Of Endless Possibilities" by Useless Cities (from "Life Is Full Of Endless Possibilities" single)
[Photo of Liam Gallagher: Tom Beard]