Rina Sawayama’s debut record, Sawayama, is a really solid start to her career. Like her previous Rina EP, she goes for a fun and unique electropop direction and succeeds. The vocals are stunning, the instrumentation is flashy and sometimes even metal influenced. Definitely a great album I will be coming back to throughout the year and it’s also one of my favorite albums of the year.

Favorite Tracks: Dynasty, XS, Comme Des Garçons (Like The Boys), Akaska Sad, ... read more

Itekoma Hits is a short, but energetic and enjoyable hardcore punk album. Otoboke Beaver packs fast and loud instrumentation and aggressive vocals into a 26 minute listen. It’s a really satisfying album that is essentially an onslaught of raw aggression that I can’t help but enjoy. It is also one of my favorite albums favorite of 2019.

Favorite Tracks: Almost All

Least Favorite Track: I’m Tired of Your Repeating Story (decent, but almost overly aggressive to be enjoyable)

There Existed an Addiction to Blood is an impressive showcase of experimental hip hop from clipping. Like previous works, it’s gritty, but is arguably darker than those albums because of its horror themes. The production is heavy (like previous albums), but with an almost harrowing aesthetic to it, and Daveed’s straightforward and quick rapping delivery fits perfectly over it, making many tracks very impactful and memorable. A really great horrorcore album that is one of my favorite ... read more

Though Magdalene may be weaker than LP1, it’s still a remarkable art pop album that is inventive. The instrumentation is beautiful, as well for the vocals. There are some absolutely beautiful tracks like Cellophane, which is hard-hitting emotionally and the closing track, and Thousand Eyes, an attractive opener. Overall, Magdalene is a really enjoyable art pop project that contains some of FKA Twigs’ best work.

Favorite Tracks: Thousand Eyes, Sad Day, Holy Terrain, Mary Magdalene, ... read more

Despite Injury Reserve’s eponymous debut record not being perfect and not as great as previous works, it still manages to be an enjoyable hip hop album that is really unique and creatively fun. It also features some of the best rap production I have heard in 2019.

Favorite Tracks: Koruna & Lime, Jawbreaker, Jailbreak the Tesla, Gravy n’ Biscuits, Rap Song Tutorial, Wax On, What a Year It’s Been, Three Man Weave

Least Favorite Track: New Hawaii (slightly underwhelming)

Anima is an admirable and immersive glitch pop record. The production has a futuristic feel and Thom’s always beautiful vocals sound fantastic over it. Anima is one of my favorite electronic albums of 2019.

Favorite Tracks: Traffic, Last I Heard (...He Was Circling the Drain), Twist, Dawn Chorus, I Am a Very Rude Person, The Axe

Least Favorite Track: Not The News (the electronic bloops(?) feel like white noise after some time)

環境音楽 Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980–1990 is a peaceful and calming ambient/new age compilation by the Light in the Attic record label. The compilation is absolutely beautiful and I would certainly recommend if you are not familiar with the new age genre.

Favorite Tracks: Still Space, Glass Chattering, Ear Dreamin’, Blink, See The Light (Abridged), Praying For Mother / Earth, Pt. 1

Least Favorite Track: Ishiura (Abridged), ... read more

On Song For Our Daughter, Laura Marling goes for a more laid back approach to chamber folk. The instrumentation may not be very inventive, but it is still attractive, the vocals are great and they make the fantastic lyrics even more impactful. A really great chamber folk album that will definitely be an album of the year contender.

Favorite Tracks: Almost All

Least Favorite Track: Blow By Blow (slowly fizzles out with some strings, a weak closing)

A Quiet Farwell, 2016-18 is an atmospheric and beautiful sound collage/plunderphonics/abstract hip hop record that is the epitome of ethereal. It’s a transcendent experience and one of the best albums of 2019 as well.

Favorite Tracks: N/A (this section would be really long)

Less Favorite Track: N/A

All My Heroes Are Cornballs is not as harsh as Veteran, but it manages to be better than that record. It is still very ambitious, implementing auto-tune that works well for a majority the album. The production is often slightly RnB inspired, which works surprisingly well with Peggy’s sometimes vulnerable, yet compelling vocals. I should also note that there is still raw and aggressive tracks to make the tracklist more diverse, like Prone! and Post Verified Lifestyle. A slight improvement ... read more

This album is amazing. Fiona Apple’s vocals are so passionate and beautiful, the instrumentation is usually upbeat or light and perfectly accompanies some of Fiona’s epic vocal performances, and the songwriting is really strong as well. Fetch the Bolt Cutters is definitely one of my favorite albums of the year.

Favorite Tracks: I Want You To Love Me, Shameika, Fetch The Bolt Cutters, Under The Table, Relay, Rack Of His, Newspaper, Heavy Balloon, Cosmonauts

Least Favorite Track: ... read more

WWAFAWDWG is a really polarizing album and it’s not hard to see why. Some people dislike Billie Eilish’s soft delivery, others enjoy it. For me, I think her delivery fits the production of the album very well. The production is really unique and incorporates elements of electro-pop and indie pop. Many tracks have a somewhat ominous tone and her vulnerable vocals add to the beautiful ambience. Whether the track is aggressive or sentimental, Billie manages to make either work ... read more

While it may not be as stunning as Ta13oo, it is still a really enjoyable, energetic, and in-your-face hip hop record. Zuu is basically just another really solid showing from Denzel Curry.

Favorite Tracks: Zuu, Ricky, Wish, Birdz, Automatic, Speedboat, P.A.T.

Least Favorite Track: Shake 88 (slightly obnoxious)

I can’t stand Kanye’s egotism on this record and it weighs the album down immensely, but some good production partially makes up for that.

Favorite Tracks: Selah, Follow God

Least Favorite Track: Water (Kanye’s vocals are uninspired)

Though not as strong as previous works, Feet Of Clay is a respectable EP from Earl Sweatshirt that shows some more of his dark hip hop aesthetic.

Favorite Tracks: East, Od, Tisk Tisk / Cookies

Least Favorite Track: 4n (intro is long-winded)

At least with Kirk, the album wasn’t trying to go mainstream, though DaBaby’s style was repetitive, it had a few good moments. With Blame It On Baby, DaBaby tries to appeal to a more mainstream audience by being much more melodic than Kirk. The final result is not only disappointing, but bland and tiresome, even though it is only 30 minutes long. Many of the melodic hooks are cringe-inducing and many verses are just generic. Much like Kirk, DaBaby’s style is repetitive, yet it ... read more

Veteran is one of the first experimental hip hop albums I was introduced to and I grateful for that because it has become one of my favorite experimental rap records ever. The production is harsh and hard-hitting and Jpegmafia’s aggressive personality and vocals match it perfectly. Veteran is without a doubt one of my favorite experimental hip hop albums ever.

Favorite Tracks: Almost All

Least Favorite Track: Williamsburg if I had to choose (slightly uneventful, though not bad)

Despite being their debut record, This Is It is the best The Strokes album. Julian Casablancas’ vocals are to where they have a lo-fidelity aesthetic to them, which adds immensely to the aggressively fun instrumentation and to the garage rock feel of the project. Overall, a near-perfect post-punk revival record that is absolutely phenomenal

Favorite Tracks: All

Least Favorite Track: Is This It if I had to choose (the tone is different from every other track, but it’s still great)

OK Computer is not only best album in Radiohead’s discography, but one of the greatest albums of all time. Thom Yorke’s vocals are some of the most passionate, expressive, and attractive that show up on any Radiohead record. Specifically, Paranoid Android has some absolutely epic vocals during the choruses. The instrumentation is some of the best in their career and its often beautiful and atmospheric. Multiple themes are touched upon, but fear is a theme that is very prominent ... read more

Cortex Rampage is an experimental instrumental album that is harsh, loud, chaotic, and often distorted, yet it is such an entertaining listen. All of the tracks seem to use a sample and the way the sample is built upon is truly remarkable. A somewhat innocent clip can be changed into a disturbing and hectic track, but it is undeniably enthralling. Overall, an extremely unique album that is different than anything else I have ever heard.

Favorite Tracks: Better, Greed Zone, Psneakysys, KFC Y2k, ... read more