The 2019 Albums Of The Year

Despite everything, there's a temptation to call the 2010's (or the 'teens' if we must) a wonderful decade for music. 2019 has been another vintage year with a swathe of full length statements flying in the face of the notion that the streaming age has made the format redundant. We may now consume them in different ways, and have more choice than ever, but today's artists are still operating with utmost respect to the form not just in terms of the music itself, but also the artwork, tours and accompanying accoutrements.

These lists and guides are built for fun, reflection and reminiscence, not as a definitive 'Best Of' as one person's opinion can never truly be. Hopefully, you'll discover something new, revisit something you wrote off or disagree completely and engage in interesting debate.

There's been some great moments this year, particularly in the live arena where I've been fortunate enough to see some of the best and most important artists operating today. Topping the list this year was Nick Cave's incredible 'Conversations with...' speaking tour where he offset his worldly wisdom and wit with jaw dropping solo versions of some of his music. He's followed on the list by arguably the most important band operating at the moment: The 1975 whose current tour is a feast of visuals. Third is the band I believe to have released the most consistently brilliant music of this decade: The National who remain an incredible live proposition, imbuing their haunting and seemingly built-for-headphones-and-solitude music with blistering musicality and the physicality of frontman Matt Berninger.

Filling out the rest of the Top 10 live shows of the year: Billie Eilish, Nilufer Yanya, Childish Gambino, Don Broco, Tame Impala, Loyle Carner and Royal Blood.

There's also been tragedy: Mark Hollis, Scott Walker, Roky Erickson, Keith Flint, Dick Dale, Philippe Zdar, Daniel Johnston, Ric Ocasek, Juice WRLD and Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading of Her's will be sorely missed and remembered through great music.

After squabbles, in-fighting and more shuffling than a Vegas casino I present the best albums of 2019:

25. Marika Hackman - Any Human Friend

24. Boy Scouts - Free Company

23. Matt Maltese - Krystal

22. Tyler, The Creator - IGOR

21. Better Oblivion Community Center - Better Oblivion Community Center

20. Jenny Lewis - On The Line

19. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising

18. Clairo - Immunity

17. Du Blonde - Lung Bread For Daddy

16. Hayden Thorpe - Diviner

15. W.H. Lung - Incidental Music

14. 100 gecs - 1000 gecs

100 gecs is Europop, Skrillex, Phantogram, Grimes and Crystal Castles as played by Ross doing his 'sound collages' on Friends.

13. Ariana Grande - thank u, next

12. Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Parts 1 & 2

11. Wallows - Nothing Happens

10. Mini Mansions - Guy Walks Into A Bar

9. Bon Iver - i,i

8. Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

7. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen

6. The National - I Am Easy To Find

5. Fidlar - Almost Free

4. Bring Me The Horizon - Amo

3. Nilufer Yanya - Miss Universe

2. Lana Del Rey - Norman F***ing Rockwell

1. Vampire Weekend - Father Of The Bride

Gotta mention the beautiful tribute album to Scott Hutchison and Frightened Rabbit: Tiny Changes: A Celebration Of The Midnight Organ Fight and also Josh Homme's latest iteration of The Desert Sessions which is a lot of fun as always.

Lots of albums and artists hard done by not to have made the top 25. Huge shout outs to great releases by: James Blake, Sharon Van Etten, Dave, Ohtis, Fontaines DC, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Kevin Abstract, Mac DeMarco, Blaenavon, Yonaka, Little Simz, Brockhampton, Taylor Swift, Whitney, Metronomy, Diiv, Djo and a certain Kanye West.

There's also been stonking EP's from Dirty Hit alumni No Rome and Beabadoobee worthy of mention which should be followed up next year by 2020 Album of the Year contenders.