26. Stef Chura

26. Stef Chura - Midnight

Only her second album, produced by Will Toledo from Car Seat Headrest, the Detroit Rocker delivers a powerful grungy rock record. With more clarity than her first, Midnight gives us twelve songs somewhere between punk and garage rock finishing with an amazing Billy Idol cover.



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27. Joan Shelley

27. Joan Shelley - Like The River Loves The Sea

If I hadn't known better, I would have placed this album in the 60's folk movement. Kentucky resident, Joan Shelley, strips it all down to nothing but the basics for this album. I am super happy I came across this album this year, it is all kinds of fantastic.



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28. The Japanese House

28. The Japanese House - Good At Falling

Amber Bain from Buckinghamshire is The Japanese House. She has some help from her friend, George Daniel of The 1975. Named after a house she stayed in as a child owned by Kate Winslet, The Japanese House is shoegaze pop band reminding me of Everything But The Girl. Her dad taught her to play Stairway to Heaven when she was 11.



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29. Foals

29. Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1

Foals current lineup consists of lead vocalist and lead guitarist Yannis Philippakis, drummer and percussionist Jack Bevan, rhythm guitarist Jimmy Smith and keyboardist Edwin Congreave. This is the first half to two albums they released this year, Part 1 was released in March and Part 2 was released in October. I find Part 1 to be more coherent and Foals like. Part 2 takes on a different character, however I have had much more time to get into Part 1.



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30. Peter Perrett

30. Peter Perrett - Humanworld

Peter Perrett was the frontman for the early 80's band The Only Ones. He has emerged from retirement with his second solo album. I don't know what led him to seek this creative outlet in his late 60's, but I'm glad he did, it gives me hope.



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31. Angel Olsen

31. Angel Olsen - All Mirrors

Angel Olsen made the blog in both 2014 and 2016. Another prolific songstress, this album incorporates a 12 piece strings section. It adds power and beauty to her already compelling voice and music.



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32. Ezra Furman

32. Ezra Furman - Twelve Nudes

Ezra Furman made the list last year as well, here. The Chicago native has been prolific since his split with the Harpoons. A heavy punk, in your face album, this album doesn't ask your permission.



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33. Frankie Rose

33. Frankie Rose - Seventeen Seconds

If you have followed this blog at all over the years, it should come as no surprise that Frankie Rose made this list again, after making it in 2010, 2012 and 2017. This, of course, is a complete cover of The Cure's 1980 album and it is magnificent.



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34. Kishi Bashi

34. Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari

Omoiyari is like empathy, it translates roughly to creating compassion for other people by thinking about them. There are a lot of people in my life doing this for me right now, so I can appreciate an album created around this concept. Kishi Bashi is violinist/instrumentalist extraordinaire. This is his fourth album and is directed at the state of America right now in its current political disarray.



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35. half*alive

35. half*alive - Now, Not Yet

half*alive is a band from Long Beach, California and is comprised of lead singer Josh Taylor, drummer Brett Kramer and bassist J Tyler Johnson. Their genres collide with indie pop, the 60's and 70's, R&B and Jazz and funk.



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36. Sharon Van Etten

36. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow

Sharon Van Etten's fifth album is a powerful, piercing display of broken relationships and the joys of raising a child. She hails from New Jersey and has written one of her most cohesive albums to date.



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37. Boy Scouts

37. Boy Scouts - Free Company

Taylor Vick is Boy Scouts. Based out of Oakland, she's produced out of her bedroom for over a decade utilizing many instruments. She just signed to Anti Records and recorded this album in a shipping container converted to a studio.



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38. Dawn Richard

38. Dawn Richard - new breed

Dawn Richard has been in many projects and prior to the release of this album, completed a trilogy of solo album releases. What I like about this particular album is the heavy electronica influence while incorporating elements of r&b and rap. It tells a story of her growing up in New Orleans, it's a powerful statement.



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39. Black Pumas

39. Black Pumas - Black Pumas

An excellent addition to the year, Austin based Black Pumas eponymous debut album hits that soul/funk vibe this list needed. Comprised of Adrian Quesada, guitarist of Grupo Fantasma, and Eric Burton, found by busking his way through Central Texas. The duo put forth an aesthetic reminiscent of old town funk and underground rap. They won a Grammy for best new artist this year.



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40. Stella Donnelly

40. Stella Donnelly - Beware Of The Dogs

Stella is a Welsh-Australian and this is her debut album. She studied music at West Australia Academy of Music and has been acclaimed by critics. It's a pop masterpiece of soured relationships.



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41. Che Apalache

41. Che Apalache - Rearrange My Heart

Che Aplalache is two Americans and two Argentines makin South American Bluegrass music. The Latin influence on a traditional genre like bluegrass is amazing. Their songs speak to the populations of the South and they hope to mend fences with their music of inclusion.



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42. Velvet Negroni

42. Velvet Negroni - Neon Brown

How could I not like this album, the second I saw the name, I had to listen to it. A blend of R&B, funk, jazz and pop, Velvet Negroni is Jeremy Nutzman. After a drug fueled first couple albums, this one he sobered up for and it's reflected in his lyrics.



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43. Aldous Harding

43. Aldous Harding - Designer

This artist was born and bred in New Zealand. Her actual name is Hannah Sian Topp and she was discovered busking on a street corner by another musician. This is her third album and it is magical, I've actually been enjoying her catalog.



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44. Mikel

44. Mikel - Zelda and Chill

This album and several like it are produced by Game Chops. This is a lo fi hip hop remix of songs throughout the Zelda video game series by Nintendo. Relaxing and meditative, this album got lots of spins over the last twelve. He also just released a Poke and Chill album as well, if you're into it.



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45. Hand Habits

45. Hand Habits - placeholder

Hand Habits is Meg Duffy. They played with War on Drugs, Weyes Blood and for Kevin Morby's live band. This is their beautifully dark solo effort and was recorded at Justin Vernon's Wisconsin studio. Duffy is non-binary and uses the pronoun they/them.



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46. Juliana Hatfield

46. Juliana Hatfield - Weird

Juliana Hatfield has been extremely prolific over the last year plus. She's put out a covers album of Olivia-Newton John (which made the Top 50 last year here), released this album and just issued a Police covers album (which you should totally check out). She's a fantastic artist and I love her aesthetic.



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47. Marika Hackman

47. Marika Hackman - Any Human Friend

This 27 year old Londoner is already into her third and easily best album to date. Growing up learning music since the age of four, she is both an artistic and musical genius. Her dark, melancholy lyrics set the tone for this beautiful pop/folk record.



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48. The Strumbellas

48. The Strumbellas - Rattlesnake

Hailing from Toronto, Canada, this is a motley crew of musicians who cover about every genre of music imaginable. Quirky and fun, their fourth album does not disappoint.



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49. Steve Gunn

49. Steve Gunn - The Unseen In Between

A former member of Kurt Vile and the Violators, Steve Gunn currently resides in Brooklyn. This new solo effort from him is genius and I am remiss that I have not listened to him before.



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50. Cass McCombs

50. Cass McCombs - Tip Of The Sphere

No intro this year, off to a late start, but here we go with The Top 50 Albums of 2019! Cass McCombs is a native Californian and this is his 9th album. I saw him open for Andrew Bird a few years ago and fell in love with his intense lyrics. While this album has a long opener, settle in for the ride and definitely check out the video below.



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