#some of these songs so indie they dont even have lyrics on spotify ugh

[ashton-ryder]

"I don't care if we're next in the morning Or the only thing left in the room 'Cause, I finally trust that you love me And I finally think I love you."

@jeremiah-rose

[patrickjonesblog]

Top Albums of 2019 #5 - #1

5. Ezra Furman - Twelve Nudes

Ezra is so prolific right now he’s appeared in 3 of my last 5 end of year lists. This is his punk album. But it’s not really punk in the traditional sense, just angrier Ezra Furman. It’s fantastic and honestly I need to listen to it more cos every time I hear it I find something new, whether it be in the lyrics or the melody which just makes me smile.

4. The National - I am Easy to Find

Oh dear, I think i’m having some kind of mental breakdown here. Im putting this at number four because.... I dont know.... it’s too long?!?.. and .... and.....there’s three better albums this year! Ugh. It doesn’t feel nice though. This album in some respects has some of The National’s best songs on it. Light Years, Rylan, Not in Kansas and Where is Her Head are all perfect. Then theres the usual brilliant album tracks - Oblivions, You Had your Soul with you, Hey Rosey. My problem with it is that it’s a little one dimensional, it stays at the same pace for most of the listen and from beginning to end it’s a long slog. However, pick out 7-8 of the tracks on their own and they would happily sit nicely on a best of.

3. Viagra Boys - Street Worms (Deluxe)

Total cheat of an entry, this was technically released in 2018 and I totally missed it, but early in 2019 I heard Sports and was immediately in love with its oddness and humor. After that tracks popularity they released this deluxe version in 2019, hence its eligibility for my list. Get past the dreadful band name and Viagra Boys are a brilliantly scuzzy post-punk marvel and Street Worms is a brilliant full length crammed with great tracks.

2. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride

EPIC is the word to describe the latest album from Vampire Weekend. 18 tracks, all killer, no filler. Some of Ezra K’s best songwriting on show. It’s certainly not as quirky as other VW albums now that Rostam left, and has more of a country / Paul Simon vibe running through it. But at the end of the day the quality of the songs shines through. Even a couple appearances from Haim can’t ruin the joyous summery mood.

1. Self Esteem - Compliments Please

Ahhh Rebecca Lucy Taylor, hilarious, Sheffield Wednesday fan, fit AF, and now fulfilling the potential she always showed in the indie-folk duo Slow Club on this, her first solo record. Teased for years through hilarious instagram posts this was one of my most anticipated albums of 2019 but I never thought it could be THIS good. Compliments Please is a perfect pop album, catchy sing-a-long tunes that deserve to be massive. She combines beautiful harmonies with dry wit, hung over sparse beats and synths. Its 16 tracks long and you could throw a dart in the track list and any of them would be hit singles for a major artist. Maybe like Lizzo, one day she’ll break through and you can say you were there from the start. For now, go and buy this album - I gifted it to three people this Christmas I like it that much!

That’s it! What a year! So many good songs, listen to my best of spotify playlist of 2019 here and sign up to my 2020 list as I add to it throughout the year.