Clarke's Favourite Music '19

Modern philosopher-king Nick Miller once opined thusly, “I like getting older. I feel like I’m finally aging into my personality.” I feel that more and more every year, but this year, I often found myself wondering if that meant the most important musicians to me would start disappointing more frequently.

I wrote about this last year and 2019 saw another batch of new releases from many artists that I have a deep affection for, and I’d say for as much as 75 percent of them, my reaction was, “This is fine.” That’s not to say that releases from favorites were out-and-out bad or anything – they just didn’t hit what I was hoping for. It’s entirely possible (a word here that means probable) that the problem is with me and not the musicians making them.

This seems like a fitting match for a year which was (by and large) deeply unsettling and infused with a sense of…off-kilterness that I had a hard time shaking. It wasn’t exactly a banner year for me, and I wasn’t the only one. People and countries still ignoring the dangers of climate change? Check. Children still being kept in cages in the southern border? Yep. Violence against minorities occurring with frightening frequency? So it seems.

I don’t want to appear like a complete downer or encourage anyone to give into despair. There are still so, so many beautiful things around us every day, and joy can still be found (my brother’s wedding day was one of the most fun days of my life, and I spent a good portion of it worrying about my best man speech). What I’m saying is, if you feel more adrift than normal, I know just how you feel. As Tolkien wrote, “The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater”

My favorite music of the year reminded me of the importance of connection and engagement with others, even when it’s difficult. People can disappoint you, break your heart and just plain confuse you, but as one of 2018’s best songs reminded me, we can’t do this all our own.

I hope the in the following lists you find something that moves you and provides you with a positive connection to your fellow humans. Because when you’re really able to connect with someone, that fucking rules.

Oh yeah, and don’t forget – fuck Donald Trump:

**AUTHOR'S NOTE - Throughout the page you'll find two Spotify links - one with all the albums and the songs I selected (minus one).

Happy listening**

Top 50 Albums

1. Thrashing Thru the Passion – The Hold Steady

2. American Love Call – Durand Jones and The Indications

3. Western Stars – Bruce Springsteen 

4. Bandana – Freddie Gibbs and Madlib 

5. Painted – Lucky Daye 

6. Father of the Bride – Vampire Weekend

7. i,i – Bon Iver

8. Dedicated – Carly Rae Jepsen 

9. Immunity – Clairo 

10. Hello Exile – The Menzingers  

11. Live in London – Flight of the Conchords

12. FOTO – Kota the Friend

13. Can You Really Find Me – Night Moves

14. Ventura – Anderson .Paak

15. Free Nationals – Free Nationals

16. CrasH Talk – ScHoolboy Q

17. Atlanta Millionaires Club – Faye Webster

18. Fine Line – Harry Styles

19. Chasing Summer – SiR

20. LIL BIG MAN – Maxo

21. basking in the glow – Oso Oso

22. Sucker Punch – Sigrid

23. thank u, next – Ariana Grande

24. I Love You. It's A Fever Dream – The Tallest Man on Earth

25. Free Spirit – Khalid

26. Lover – Taylor Swift

27. Head in the Clouds II – 88rising

28. i’ll show you stronger – Pronoun

29. Terms of Surrender – Hiss Golden Messenger

 

30. Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett

31. -Ugh, Those Feels Again – Snoh Aalegra

32. Altogether – Turnover

33. Let It Roll – Midland

34. I Am Easy to Find – The National

35. What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs

36. KIWANUKA – Michael Kiwanuka

37. III – Banks

38. Jaime – Brittany Howard

39. A Bath Full of Ecstasy – Hot Chip

40. Over It – Summer Walker 

41. Between the County – Ian Noe 

42. Rap Or Go To the League – 2 Chainz

43. Sweet Insomnia – Gallant

44. Wildcard – Miranda Lambert

45. Cuz I Love You – Lizzo

46. Norman Fucking Rockwell! – Lana Del Rey

47. All Mirrors – Angel Olsen

48. Hiding Places – Billy Woods and Kenny Segal

49. Everyday Life – Coldplay 

50. Young Enough – Charly Bliss

Top 100 Songs

1. "Jerusalem, New York, Berlin" – Father of the Bride – Vampire Weekend (Lyric of the year: "All I do is lose, but baby/All I want's to win")

2. "Seagull" – Live in London – Flight of the Conchords

3. "Sundown" – Western Stars – Bruce Springsteen

4. "RABi" – i,i – Bon Iver (Album closer of the year)/(Most life affirming lyric of the year: “Sun light feels good now don’t it?”)

5. "Roll Some Mo" – Painted – Lucky Day

6. “Blackout Sam” – Thrashing Thru the Passion – The Hold Steady

7. “Mexico” – Can You Really Find Me – Night Moves (Album opener of the year)

8. "Julien" – Dedicated – Carly Rae Jepsen (Best bass slap of the year)

9. "Alewife" – Immunity – Clairo

10. "August and Everything After" – Single – Counting Crows

11. “It’s Never Been A Fair Fight” (Acoustic Version) – Single – Craig Finn

12. "Paint It" – Painted – Lucky Day

13. “Orphans” – Everyday Life – Coldplay

14. "That’s Why I Love You" feat. Sabrina Claudio – Chasing Summer – SiR

15. "Intro" – Free Spirit – Khalid

16. “I Guess I Just Feel Like" – Single – John Mayer

17. “The Archer” – Lover – Taylor Swift

18. “Cheatin’ Songs” – Let It Roll – Midland

19. "I Wouldn’t Ask You" – Immunity – Clairo

20. “Young Enough” – Young Enough – Charly Bliss 

21. "Now That I Found You" – Dedicated – Carly Rae Jepsen

22. "Train Love'" – Transportation – Your Old Droog

23. “Beauty and Essex” feat. Daniel Caesar and Unknown Moral Orchestra – Free Nationals – Free Nationals

24. "Make It Better" feat. Smokey Robinson – Ventura – Anderson .Paak

25. “Tokyo” – Single – Julien Baker 

26. “One Night Standards” – Single – Ashley McBryde

27. “I Need A Teacher” – Terms of Surrender – Hiss Golden Messenger

28. “Strain Your Memory” – Hello Exile – The Menzingers  

29. “Crime Pays” – Bandana – Freddie Gibbs and Madlib

30. "Moonlight Motel" – Western Stars – Bruce Springsteen

31. "Harmony Hall" – Father of the Bride – Vampire Weekend (Favourite guitar work of the year)

32. "Money in the Way" – Rap Or Go To the League – 2 Chainz

33. “Backyard” – FOTO – Kota the Friend

34. "Up" – Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett

35. “All the Feels” – All the Feels – Fitz and the Tantrums

36. "Fire" – Chasing Summer – SiR

37. "5200" – CrasH Talk – ScHoolboy Q

38. "Carry Me Away" – Single – John Mayer

39. “Old Town Road” feat. Billy Ray Cyrus (Remix) – 7 EP – Lil Nas X

40. "Too Many Tears" – American Love Call – Durand Jones and The Indications

41. "Hey, Ma" – i,i – Bon Iver

42. “Speakeasy” – Stillwater – Frankie Lee

43. "This Modern Leper" – Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit's 'The Midnight Organ Fight' – Julien Baker

44. “High School Friend” – Hello Exile – The Menzingers

45. “NASA" – thank u, next – Ariana Grande

46. “Summer Girl” – Single – HAIM

47. “Juice” – Cuz I Love You – Lizzo

48. “She” – Fine Line – Harry Styles

49. “Light Years” – I Am Easy to Find – The National

50. "The Recipe"– Chasing Summer – SiR

51. “a morning song” – basking in the glow – Oso Oso

52. “Now I’m In It” – Single - HAIM

53. "Do You Love Her Now" – Single – Jai Paul

54. “DHL” – Single – Frank Ocean

55. “Calculator” – Head in the Clouds II – 88rising, AUGUST 08 and Barney Bones

56. “Hurt” – Sweet Insomnia – Gallant

57. "Donna" – III – The Lumineers

58. “Keep Me in Mind” – Can You Really Find Me – Night Moves

59. “America (You’re Freaking Me Out)” – Hello Exile – The Menzingers

60. “Hell N Back” – Will You Be My Yellow? – EP – Bakar

61. "Never in This House" feat. yMusic and The Staves – Absolute Zero – Bruce Hornsby

62. “Stay High” – Jaime – Brittany Howard

63. “Leader of the Landslide" – III – The Lumineers

64. “Dream Dream Dream” – Good Faith – Madeon

65. “Piano Joint (This Kind of Love)” – KIWANUKA – Michael Kiwanuka

66. “Roll Away” – Let It Roll – Midland

67. "Oh My God" – Oh My God – Kevin Morby

68. “yellow is the color of her eyes” – Single – Soccer Mommy

69. "Dreamin'" – City Pop – Benny Sings

70. “Hallelujah” – Single – HAIM

71. “Up On Broadway” – Three Chords and the Truth – Van Morrison

72. “Daddy” – Everyday Life – Coldplay

73. “Would That I” – Wasteland, Baby! – Hozier

74. "Tenderness" – Anak Ko – Jay Som

75. "Saint Honesty" – Amidst the Chaos – Sara Bareilles

76. "Mystery" – Turn Off the News, Build a Garden – Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

77. "Next Level Charli" – Charli – Charli XCX

78. "Let It Roll” – Let It Roll – Midland

79. “Sociopath” feat. Kash Doll – Single – Pusha T

80. “Heaven” – TIM – Avicii

81. “Saint-Tropez” – Hollywood’s Bleeding – Post Malone

82. "Never Stop” – Future Hndrxx Presents: THE WIZRD – Future

83. “10,000 Acres” – The Valley – Charley Crockett

84. “On the Wall” – Closer to Grey – Chromatics

85. "Before I Let Go" (Homecoming Live Bonus Track) – HOMECOMING: THE LIVE ALBUM – Beyoncé

86. “The Who” feat. Eyas – Single - JPEGMAFIA

87. “Use This Gospel” feat. Clipse and Kenny G – JESUS IS KING – Kanye West

88. "Old Soul" – The Highwomen – The Highwomen

89. “Father Stretch” – Jesus Is Born – Sunday Service Choir

90. “If I Can’t Have You” – Single – Shawn Mendes

91. “Kinfolks” – Single – Sam Hunt

92. “Mountains” – Lost Girls – Bat for Lashes

93. “I Want to Live with You” – The Best of Luck Club – Alex Lahey

94. “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” – Single – Travis Scott

95. “That Was Yesterday” – Single – Leon Bridges

96. “War & Famine” – Superbloom – Ra Ra Riot

97. “Running” – This Is How You Smile – Helado Negro

98. “All Your’n” – Country Squire – Tyler Childers

99. “Mornings in Memphis” – The Saint of Lost Causes – Justin Townes Earle

100. “bad guy” – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? – Billie Eilish

EPs

1. LIL BIG MAN – Maxo

2. Beneath the Reservoir – Gordi

3. In Real Life: Live at Spacebomb Studios – Fruit Bats and Vetiver

4. Nostalgia – Michael Seyer

5. The Plugs I Met – Benny the Butcher

6. Black Moses – Channel Tres

7. Crying in the Prettiest Places – No Rome

8. Vol. 2 – Pink Sweat$

9. The Blue EP – Death Cab for Cutie

10. FEET OF CLAY – Earl Sweatshirt

Reissues

1. Travelin' Thru, 1967 - 1969: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 15 – Bob Dylan

2. The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings – Bob Dylan

3. The Healing Game – Van Morrison  

4. The Band (50^th Anniversary Super Deluxe) – The Band

5. Laid Back (Deluxe) – Gregg Allman

6. Ágætis byrjun (A Good Beginning) [20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] - Sigur Rós

7. Abbey Road (Anniversary Super Deluxe) – The Beatles

8. Let It Bleed (Deluxe Edition) – The Rolling Stones

9. The Tennessee Fire: 20^th Anniversary Edition – My Morning Jacket

10. Our Endless Numbered Days (Deluxe Edition) – Iron & Wine

Live Albums

1. The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings – Bob Dylan

2. Live in London – Flight of the Conchords

3. In Real Life: Live at Spacebomb Studios – Fruit Bats and Vetiver

4. Live at Montreux 19 July, 1997 – Van Morrison

5. MTV Unplugged – DMA’s

6. HOMECOMING – Beyoncé

7. Live Trax Vol. 49: Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center – Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds

8. Commit Yourself Completely – Car Seat Headrest

9. ‘What’s Going On’ Live – Marvin Gaye

10. MTV Unplugged (Live in Melbourne) – Courtney Barnett

Music Films

1. Rolling Thunder Revue

2. Western Stars

3. The Two Killings of Sam Cooke

4. Echo in the Canyon

5. Amazing Grace

6. Ken Burns: Country Music

7. HOMECOMING

8. The Quiet One

9. Look Mom I Can Fly

10. Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration

Soundtracks

1. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood – Various Artists

2. Western Stars – Bruce Springsteen

3. Queen and Slim: The Soundtrack – Various Artists

4. Big Little Lies: Music from Season 2 – Various Artists

5. Stranger Things: Music from Season 3 – Various Artists

6. 1917 – Thomas Newman

7. Wild Rose – Various Artists

8. Teen Spirit – Various Artists

9. The Lion King: The Gift – Beyoncé

10. Ken Burns: Country Music – Various Artists

Box sets

1. The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings – Bob Dylan

2. Dead Man’s Pop – The Replacements

3. The Band (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe) – The Band

4. Ágætis byrjun (A Good Beginning) [20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] - Sigur Rós

5. MINIDISCS [HACKED] - Radiohead

6. The Warner Bros. Albums: 1970-1976 – James Taylor

7. Abbey Road (Anniversary Super Deluxe) – The Beatles

8. Let It Bleed (Deluxe Edition) – The Rolling Stones

9. Songs for Groovy Children: The Fillmore East Concerts – Jimi Hendrix

10. Live 1969 – Elvis Presley