Yes, it is time to reflect about the year in music. Here are my favorites of the year.

Top 5 (in no particular order)

Lana Del Ray - Norman Fucking Rockwell

Prince - 1999 Super Deluxe - Best posthumous release yet by far!)

James Blake - Assume Form

Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka (wow, definitely recommend for R & B fans)

Patti Griffin - Patti Griffin

Honarable Mention

Britanny Howard - Jaime

Sara Bareilles - Amidst the Chaos

Prince - Originals

Angel Olsen - All Mirrors

Madonna - Madame X (I love the flow and the feeling it evokes, not the lyrics).

While it wasn't a good year musically IMO, I sure have enjoyed all of the above. What are your favorites from the year?

purplepolitician said:

I really didn't listen to too much new music this year (or any too recent year for that matter). Not really checking for too many people, I don't know. Closed minded yes 😀. The ones I did listen that came out this year were all kinda fire though. Prince - Originals n 1999 SDE Solange - When I Get Home (which I will continue to rave about until y'all r tired of hearing about it 😁). Btw, new demo of Dreams (plays during the credits of her movie for album which I have no other interest in oddly 😂) is amazeballs even though she just sings "a long way" throughout most of the song. Tyler the Creator - IGOR Beck - Hyperspace (which I will probably get back to when I tire of 2nd Prince album mentioned) Can't think of any others that got regular rotation. Oh yah, my boy Thom Yorke's Anima was o-k. 🤔😕 Edit to add: Billie English Eelish Eilish's jawn was decent too. Wasn't sure if that had come out this year or not initially, but I guess it makes sense she's nominated for like 100 Grammys n shit (no shade she ah ight) [Edited 12/14/19 22:19pm]

Your shout outs for Solange does add to my motivation to listen to it. I liked her previous release, so it is just about working her into the rotation. I am glad you mentioned Billy Ellish, which was a 2019 release. Yes, she is over-hped and not all that. Still, an interesting debut with some proimise. I appreciate anyone who expands what radio plays like she has.

Prince´s 1999 Deluxe and Originals were the only albums I actually bought this year. And it´s not because I´m stingy but there´s simply not much out there that makes me want to go and buy an album, and I am not really into streaming services.

If Abra had released a new album I would have bought it immediately. She´s the one newish artist I keep listening to almost every single day since I discovered her on Youtube.

Too bad her music is all over the place and difficult to obtain if one is still into CDs rather than streams and downloads. But I love, love , love her music.

KoolEaze said:

Prince´s 1999 Deluxe and Originals were the only albums I actually bought this year. And it´s not because I´m stingy but there´s simply not much out there that makes me want to go and buy an album, and I am not really into streaming services.

If Abra had released a new album I would have bought it immediately. She´s the one newish artist I keep listening to almost every single day since I discovered her on Youtube.

Too bad her music is all over the place and difficult to obtain if one is still into CDs rather than streams and downloads. But I love, love , love her music.

Same for me, although I will add that I also purchased the new Lenny Kravitz, Santana and Beck, otherwise, not much else that interested me.

New Album - I'd like to say Madonna - Madame X but I just can't get in to it. Props to her for finally offering something a bit different though.

Best for me then is Shura - Forevher. Fantastic album, can't wait to hear her third.

Re-Release - Prince 1999, couldn't be anything else.

DaveT said:

I'd like to say Madonna - Madame X but I just can't get in to it. Props to her for finally offering something a bit different though.

Exactly this. I even decided to not buy the CD after trying several passes with the iTunes deluxe.

Not enough time to compile a list, but off the top.

Ari Lennox - Shea Butter Baby

Rapsody - Eve

I'm not counting Originals and 1999: Super Deluxe Remaster. I understand why others will, but I digress.

Too much music for me to discern the best, but here are the best I've heard in 2019.

Raphael Saadiq -- Jimmy Ray
Madlib and Freddie Gibbs -- Bandana
Solange -- When I Get Home
Moonchild -- Little Ghost
Anderson .Paak -- Ventura

I also liked several songs from:

Sturgill Simpson -- SOUND & FURY
Flying Lotus -- Flamagra

Brittany Howard -- Jaime
E. Jones -- Deadstock, Vol. 3
Steve Lacy -- Apollp XXI

[Edited 12/16/19 13:14pm]

namepeace said:

I'm not counting Originals and 1999: Super Deluxe Remaster. I understand why others will, but I digress.

Too much music for me to discern the best, but here are the best I've heard in 2019.

Raphael Saadiq -- Jimmy Ray
Madlib and Freddie Gibbs -- Bandana
Solange -- When I Get Home
Moonchild -- Little Ghost
Anderson .Paak -- Ventura

I also liked several songs from:

Sturgill Simpson -- SOUND & FURY
Flying Lotus -- Flamagra

Brittany Howard -- Jaime
E. Jones -- Deadstock, Vol. 3
Steve Lacy -- Apollp XXI

[Edited 12/16/19 13:14pm]

Very interested in the Saadiq album. I am still adjusting to the new Sturgill album. Loved his previous one, but despite all the acclaim he clearly wanted to go a different direction. In that sense, kind of like Prince.

A bunch, mostly indie artists (at this point everyone is) only a few even charted.

Sturgil Simpson - Sound and Fury

LUCETTE - Deluxe Hotel Room (album produced by Sturgil)

Johnnyswim - Moonlight (most overlooked duo over the last decade)

Corey Hart - Dreaming Time Again (5 song EP)

Lauren Jenkins - No Saint

Tony Glausi - Exclusively Trumpet Volume 1

Joseph - Good Luck Kid

Trigger Hippy - Full Circle and Then Some

The HighWomen- The HighWomen

A bunch of others too, but overall the best for me this year is Haley Johnson "Golden Days" this album is perfect start to finish, she has been around pretty much since 2012 released a few ep's this is her first full length, she writes plays etc..has her own band and also has traveled and played bass with others. She did actually get to the final 24 of American Idol in 2012, till Randy Jackson most notably called her version of "Sweet Dreams" a nightmare. He is a dick basically as we know. But it also should be noted vocally she is totally on point with annie Lennox that is one of her idols and why she did that song, but the AI producers, who orchestrate how you will perform it had her do a very vegas-like rendition, but on her current album she does a cover of Annie's "COLD" that Randy Jackson should listen too and learn about growing artists.

Looking forward to some early 2020 releases from Aubrie Sellers, first four songs from this already released are kick ass, and also Alexz Johnson who is my artist of the decade, mainly because she has done more in the decade as an indie artist, for getting her stuff out there than anyone out now. Her new album is due early 2020 and it will contain songs from an album she was working on in 2008 when she was signed by a major label, when the label shifted 40% of the artists were dropped and their work was kept, luckily she was the writer with her brother so she could go back and re-do the work now. Interesting fact is AMANDA GHOST who was given power at that label (why i do not know) but she was one of the people that decided Alexz should be cut, rumor is that she was not keen on female artists that could do their own thing.

Pete Rock - Return Of The SP1200


Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana


Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated


Raphael Saadiq - Jimmy Lee


Prince - Originals

gandorb said:

namepeace said:

I'm not counting Originals and 1999: Super Deluxe Remaster. I understand why others will, but I digress.

Too much music for me to discern the best, but here are the best I've heard in 2019.

Raphael Saadiq -- Jimmy Ray
Madlib and Freddie Gibbs -- Bandana
Solange -- When I Get Home
Moonchild -- Little Ghost
Anderson .Paak -- Ventura

I also liked several songs from:

Sturgill Simpson -- SOUND & FURY
Flying Lotus -- Flamagra

Brittany Howard -- Jaime
E. Jones -- Deadstock, Vol. 3
Steve Lacy -- Apollp XXI

[Edited 12/16/19 13:14pm]

Very interested in the Saadiq album. I am still adjusting to the new Sturgill album. Loved his previous one, but despite all the acclaim he clearly wanted to go a different direction. In that sense, kind of like Prince.

I really only liked a few tracks from that album but I could benefit from spinning it on vinyl.

Saadiq's album is deeply personal and evolutionary.

namepeace said:

gandorb said:

Very interested in the Saadiq album. I am still adjusting to the new Sturgill album. Loved his previous one, but despite all the acclaim he clearly wanted to go a different direction. In that sense, kind of like Prince.

I really only liked a few tracks from that album but I could benefit from spinning it on vinyl.

Saadiq's album is deeply personal and evolutionary.

Just played it and really thought it was a good. A true album rather than just a collection of singles and filler. I will definitely stream it again, and imagine buying it.

lastdecember said:

A bunch, mostly indie artists (at this point everyone is) only a few even charted.

Sturgil Simpson - Sound and Fury

LUCETTE - Deluxe Hotel Room (album produced by Sturgil)

Johnnyswim - Moonlight (most overlooked duo over the last decade)

Corey Hart - Dreaming Time Again (5 song EP)

Lauren Jenkins - No Saint

Tony Glausi - Exclusively Trumpet Volume 1

Joseph - Good Luck Kid

Trigger Hippy - Full Circle and Then Some

The HighWomen- The HighWomen

A bunch of others too, but overall the best for me this year is Haley Johnson "Golden Days" this album is perfect start to finish, she has been around pretty much since 2012 released a few ep's this is her first full length, she writes plays etc..has her own band and also has traveled and played bass with others. She did actually get to the final 24 of American Idol in 2012, till Randy Jackson most notably called her version of "Sweet Dreams" a nightmare. He is a dick basically as we know. But it also should be noted vocally she is totally on point with annie Lennox that is one of her idols and why she did that song, but the AI producers, who orchestrate how you will perform it had her do a very vegas-like rendition, but on her current album she does a cover of Annie's "COLD" that Randy Jackson should listen too and learn about growing artists.

Looking forward to some early 2020 releases from Aubrie Sellers, first four songs from this already released are kick ass, and also Alexz Johnson who is my artist of the decade, mainly because she has done more in the decade as an indie artist, for getting her stuff out there than anyone out now. Her new album is due early 2020 and it will contain songs from an album she was working on in 2008 when she was signed by a major label, when the label shifted 40% of the artists were dropped and their work was kept, luckily she was the writer with her brother so she could go back and re-do the work now. Interesting fact is AMANDA GHOST who was given power at that label (why i do not know) but she was one of the people that decided Alexz should be cut, rumor is that she was not keen on female artists that could do their own thing.

Good to see someone here has found a lot to enjoy this year. I don't most of your selections, but have enjoyed the Highwaywomen.

gandorb said:

lastdecember said:

A bunch, mostly indie artists (at this point everyone is) only a few even charted.

Sturgil Simpson - Sound and Fury

LUCETTE - Deluxe Hotel Room (album produced by Sturgil)

Johnnyswim - Moonlight (most overlooked duo over the last decade)

Corey Hart - Dreaming Time Again (5 song EP)

Lauren Jenkins - No Saint

Tony Glausi - Exclusively Trumpet Volume 1

Joseph - Good Luck Kid

Trigger Hippy - Full Circle and Then Some

The HighWomen- The HighWomen

A bunch of others too, but overall the best for me this year is Haley Johnson "Golden Days" this album is perfect start to finish, she has been around pretty much since 2012 released a few ep's this is her first full length, she writes plays etc..has her own band and also has traveled and played bass with others. She did actually get to the final 24 of American Idol in 2012, till Randy Jackson most notably called her version of "Sweet Dreams" a nightmare. He is a dick basically as we know. But it also should be noted vocally she is totally on point with annie Lennox that is one of her idols and why she did that song, but the AI producers, who orchestrate how you will perform it had her do a very vegas-like rendition, but on her current album she does a cover of Annie's "COLD" that Randy Jackson should listen too and learn about growing artists.

Looking forward to some early 2020 releases from Aubrie Sellers, first four songs from this already released are kick ass, and also Alexz Johnson who is my artist of the decade, mainly because she has done more in the decade as an indie artist, for getting her stuff out there than anyone out now. Her new album is due early 2020 and it will contain songs from an album she was working on in 2008 when she was signed by a major label, when the label shifted 40% of the artists were dropped and their work was kept, luckily she was the writer with her brother so she could go back and re-do the work now. Interesting fact is AMANDA GHOST who was given power at that label (why i do not know) but she was one of the people that decided Alexz should be cut, rumor is that she was not keen on female artists that could do their own thing.

Good to see someone here has found a lot to enjoy this year. I don't most of your selections, but have enjoyed the Highwaywomen.

The Highwomen got on alot of lists for best albums of the year, their harmonies on the record and LIVE are incredible, clearly showing that no longer is LA and NYC the music scene to be, its clearly Nashville and Also Portland is killing it.