As always my best of list contains a diverse variation of musical genres including jazz, blues, rock, electronic, experimental, country and Americana.
Scroll to the end of this blog post to see the links to my "Best Albums" posts from 2011 to 2018.
15. "What A Wonderful Industry" by M. Ward
I have long been a fan of Ward's lofi Alt-Country, indie folk sound. "What A Wonderful Industry" finds Ward dipping more into alt-rock guitar with "Sit Around The House" and "Return To Neptune" and hints of surf guitar in "Shark" and "Motorcycle Ride."
"Miracle Man" by M. Ward (2019)
14. "Help Us Stranger" by The Raconteurs
One name stands out here and that is of course Jack White. He is the star of the band. His distinctive voice is prominent throughout the album as well as his recognizable guitar work. But let's be certain Raconteurs is not a one-person show. Brendan Benson's contribution to this spotless garage rock album is just as important as White's. Benson's co-wrote all the songs with White (with the exception of the Donovan song). However much of the album does move like a followup to Jack White's 2018 masterpiece "Boarding House Reach," especially in the White's use of electronics and synthesizers and Vance Powell's and Joshua V. Smith's work in engineering and mixing both albums.
"Help Me Stranger" by Raconteurs (2019)
Willie treats us to his dry humor with "Seven Year Itch" while he and his sons Micah and Lukas join him on a great cover of Mac Davis.
"Seven Year Itch" by Willie Nelson (2019)
It was a long 13 year wait for this fifth studio album from Tool. It was well worth the wait. This album contains all the elements with love about Tool. The depth of musicianship - which borders on ethereal, experimental, progressive and all out rocking, intense dark lyrics and the intricate guitar work.
"Fear Inoculum" by TOOL (2019)
What captured me regarding this album is Gary Clark Jr's fearless ability to speak up on what he believes and has experienced in his life.
In the title track Clark clearly speaks out on racism in the United States as he poignantly sings, "This is where I come from. This land is mine." Clark continues this theme throughout the album calling out the plight of a government that works for some but not all. Thematically this is a tough album that is heavy with Clark's viewpoints shaped from his life experiences.
Beyond the lyrical themes of the album, the musicianship is tihht and Gary Clark Jr's guitar work once again proves he is amongst today's finest and most exciting guitarists.
One of the highlights of the album is the inclusion of Sheila E on drums. She plays on 6 of the 15 tracks.
"This Land" by Gary Clark, Jr.
This was one of the most exciting albums of 2019. This Finnish trio delivers an eight cut explosion of soulful and progressive jazz numbers with a heavy influence of 1960’s and 70’s aesthetic that tilts on the experimental side on occasion.
"Hanky Panky" by The Jukka Eskola Soul Trio (2019)
#jukkaeskola #steamy! #exciting
Carlos Santana and his band have been on a roll for the past 20 years. In 1999 he made a huge come back with his classic album "Supernatural," which has sold more than 30 million copies around the world. "Africa Speaks" follows suit reaching #3 in the US and Top 20 throughout the world.
"Africa Speaks" incorporates tribal rhythms and African choral vocals. Spanish singer Buika provided the lead vocals and co-wrote all the songs.
From the beginning of his career blues man Keb' Mo' has consistently released quality music filled with great vicals, guitars and insightful lyrics. "Oklahoma" follows that trend of great music. The album includes guest appearnces by Rosanne Cash and Taj Mahal. Mo' touches on his views on immigration and other current day political issues. (Take a good close look at the album cover - Keb included many of the things that are important to him)
"Oklahoma" by Keb' Mo' (2019)
“A Tuba To Cuba” is the identity of great jazz music in the modern age.
"Keep Your Head Up" by The Preservation Hall Jazz Band (2019)
Country music rebel, Sturgill Simpson, shook off his cowboy hat and country twang in favor of an edgy alt-rock essence with crisp guitar chords, sharp drum rhytms and synth vibes. Simpson has produced another winnig album.
Link to “Sound & Fury” by Sturgill Simpson:
The album was released along with an original Netflix dystopian anime film titled "Sturgill Simpson Presents Sound and Fury," written and produced by Simpson with Japanese director Junpei Mizusaki of the animation studio Kamikaze.
"Sing Along" by Sturgill Simpson (2019)
This release is a sampler of a much larger work spanning 6 unique discs recorded and originally released in 2018 and 2019.
Each track is beautifully produced with a discernible intention toward the arrangement of electronic layers to establish powerful, thematic settings.
Each song is layered with danceable beats, ambient moods and creative artistry designed to pull the listener in to listen to this entire sampler from start to finish.
Just as compelling as the music are the music videos. Each music video contains images that thrill as well as tell a story of each song.
"Listen To Their No" by Underworld (2019)
Fans waited ten long years for this album. Are we disappointed? Not in the least. They're back with hard rock guitars, grinding industrial synths and pounding drums. Let's hope the next one doesn't take 10 years.
"Radio" by Rammstein (2019)
#rammstein
The interesting fact of this album is the that all the sound originates from plastic objects. The album is intended to explore our relationship to plastic and how its qualities of "durability, portability, and longevity" are both useful for humans and harmful to the environment.
The plastic objects used as instruments include vinyl fragments, exercise ball, ATM card, DNA kit, pelican cases, plastic containers, billiard balls, bakelite dominoes, salad bowl, plastic flutes, PVC panflute, poker chips, riot shield, nurdles, toilet brushes, PVC pipes, LEGO bricks, whistles, plastic gloves, packing tape, plastic emergency stretcher and various plastic objects. The most interesting object is a silicone gel breast implant used in the song, "Silicone Gel Implant."
The songs are all mixed and augmented with synthesized sounds and electronic sequencing and sampling..
The album is playful and experimentally poppy while conveying a very serious message on the darker implications of ignoring the havoc we are imposing on the earth all for the sake of convenience.
"Silicone Gel Implant" by Matmos (2019)
#mostoriginal #most creative #original #creative #matmos
There's a lot of connections here which make this album appealing to a wide range of people. There are connections to the Beatles, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Primus, Les Claypool, Cake and to a lesser degree Pink Floyd. Beyond these stellar connections it is the music first and foremost that propels this unit.
Sean Lennon and Les Claypool teamed again for their second album and gifted us with an album that far surpasses their debut album. That was a tall order to fill as their first album was above and beyond exceptional.
Sean Ono Lennon's influence is quite a bit more prevalent on this album which gives it more of a Beatlesque feel than their debut. Both Sean Lennon and Les Claypool produced the album, wrote all the songs and played several of the instruments.
The album makes good use of humor - not so much in a silly manner - but in a dark and dry manner. But to be certain they also touch on some important topics such as the levels of mercury found in fish and in the oceans of the world which makes its way into the stomachs and bodies of human beings. I will be so bold as to call this album a work of genius.
Those that have asked, "is possible for the offspring of a Beatle to produce an album as good as a Beatles album?" My answer is yes and Sean Lennon (with Les Claypool) has succeeded in accomplishing this.
This is the second time Esperanza Spalding has topped my Favorite Albums list. Her first list topper was 2016's "Emily's D+Evolution." She also made my list in 2012 with "Radio Music Society."
“12 Little Spells” finds Spalding conjuring in the medium of musical creation, through an exploration of the body, human energy and healing.
Esperanza does not write pop songs… so this is not for the one that wants pop hooks and catchy melodies. Esperanza is an artist of the utmost sense of experimentalism and eclecticism. She is not like anybody else out there. She records albums, not individual songs looking for that hit single. Her goal is to express her inner soul and create a work of art instead of a work of commercialism – I respect her for that. Now to be certain with the vocal ability Esperanza possesses and the musical talent with which she is gifted, she has the ability to produce the most polished pop music out there and make hits – but that is not who she is. She is an artist – not a product.
With this album, Esperanza calls her songs spells instead of songs. I am guessing because there’s a magical quality to each and every one of them. Each song (‘er spell) is about a body part.
There's a lot of connections here which make this album appealing to a wide range of people. There are connections to the Beatles, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Primus, Les Claypool, Cake and to a lesser degree Pink Floyd. Beyond these stellar connections it is the music first and foremost that propels this unit.
Sean Lennon and Les Claypool teamed again for their second album and gifted us with an album that far surpasses their debut album. That was a tall order to fill as their first album was above and beyond exceptional.
Sean Ono Lennon's influence is quite a bit more prevalent on this album which gives it more of a Beatlesque feel than their debut. Both Sean Lennon and Les Claypool produced the album, wrote all the songs and played several of the instruments.
The album makes good use of humor - not so much in a silly manner - but in a dark and dry manner. But to be certain they also touch on some important topics such as the levels of mercury found in fish and in the oceans of the world which makes its way into the stomachs and bodies of human beings. I will be so bold as to call this album a work of genius.
Those that have asked, "is possible for the offspring of a Beatle to produce an album as good as a Beatles album?" My answer is yes and Sean Lennon (with Les Claypool) has succeeded in accomplishing this.
"Love and Rockets/Saga of Jack/Too The Moon" by Claypool Lennon Delirium (2019)
“12 Little Spells” finds Spalding conjuring in the medium of musical creation, through an exploration of the body, human energy and healing.
Esperanza does not write pop songs… so this is not for the one that wants pop hooks and catchy melodies. Esperanza is an artist of the utmost sense of experimentalism and eclecticism. She is not like anybody else out there. She records albums, not individual songs looking for that hit single. Her goal is to express her inner soul and create a work of art instead of a work of commercialism – I respect her for that. Now to be certain with the vocal ability Esperanza possesses and the musical talent with which she is gifted, she has the ability to produce the most polished pop music out there and make hits – but that is not who she is. She is an artist – not a product.
With this album, Esperanza calls her songs spells instead of songs. I am guessing because there’s a magical quality to each and every one of them. Each song (‘er spell) is about a body part.
"Thing" by Esperanza Spalding (2019)
Worthy Mentions
These are the ones that did not make the Top 15 but are worth mentioning
"She Remembers Everything" by Rosanne Cash
"Look Alive" by Guster
"What's My Name" by Ringo Starr
"Rewind, Repeat, Rebound" by Volbeat
"Phase" by Jessy Wilson
"She Remembers Everything" by Rosanne Cash
"Look Alive" by Guster
"What's My Name" by Ringo Starr
"Rewind, Repeat, Rebound" by Volbeat
"Phase" by Jessy Wilson
Links to previous "Best Albums" posts:
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2014: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2014/12/rock-albums-xiv-my-favorite-albums-of.html
2015: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2015/12/rock-albums-post-xv-top-15-albums-of.html
2015: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2015/12/rock-albums-post-xv-top-15-albums-of.html
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