Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Seven
And here’s the 25 in some sort of vague order. However, the numbers are mostly arbitrary and just helping me to count to 25 with mu limited math skills. It might make just as much as sense after a vertical flip. Music is love, not a competition.
25. Kacy & Clayton – Carrying On (New West Records, 2019)
The journey starts from Wood Mountain Uplands, Saskatoon with the new beautiful and timeles folk, psych folk record from Kacy & Clayton.
Kacy & Clayton at Facebook
Kacy & Clayton Website
24. TK & The Holy Know-Nothings – Arguably OK (Mama Bird Recording Co, 2019)
Again this year-end review finds its home in Portland, Oregon. This time enjoying the debut album from Taylor Kingman’s new band TK & The Holy Know-Nothings. Rowdy rock’n’roll, Gritty boogie and captivating storytelling.
TK & The Holy Know-Nothings at Facebook
TK & The Holy-Know Nothings Website
23. Yola – Walk Through Fire (Easy Eye Sound, 2019)
Heading over to Europe and more precisely Bristol, UK. Yola Carter released an album full of extremely enjoyable country soul songs and carries them into your heart with outstanding vocal delivery.
22. Kassi Valazza – Dear Dead Days (independent, 2019)
Kassi Valazza from Portland, Oregon is one of my big new favorites. This is such a magnificent album. Country, psych, folk and Hazlewoodism. Who wouldn’t love that.
21. Jason Hawk Harris – Love & The Dark (Bloodshot Records, 2019)
Off to Los Angeless via Houston. Very fond of this powerful debut album from americana/country songwriter Jason Hawk Harris. A fair bit of rock’n’roll here too. Dark but also really enjoyable.
Jason Hawk Harris at Facebook
Jason Hawk Harris Website
20. Damien Jurado – In The Shape of a Storm (Mama Bird Recording Co / Loose Music, 2019)
Just the fact that new Damien Jurado’s new album came out on Mama Bird Recording Co was pretty damn cool on its own, but even more important is that it’s again a really beautiful record. This time a sparse solo acoustic kind of beauty.
19. Shane Leonard – Strange Forms (Wayward Chicken, 2019)
Shane Leonard had a big part on at least five albums that I really enjoyed during 2019. One of them is this wonderful solo album that he released under his own name this time. If you remember seeing the name Kalispell here or elsewhere, this is the same man. An excellent songwriter and one of my favorite producers too.
Shane Leonard at Facebook
Shane Leonard Website
18. Will Johnson – Wire Mountain (Keeled Scales, 2019)
Again in Austin, Texas and this time for the wonderful new Will Johnson album. Need of Trust and Thunder is one of my songs of the year and the rest of the album is almost equally amazing.
17. Julia Jacklin – Crushing (Transgressive Records, 2019)
One more from Australia too. After hearing the stunning single Body in 2018, the expectations were almost unfair but somehow Julia Jacklin managed to meet them. An incredible record. Body and Don’t Know How to Keep Loving You standout, but the rest of is also magical.
16. John Calvin Abney – Safe Passage (Black Mesa Records, 2019)
Next we are back in Oklahoma for the beautiful, hopeful and kindhearted album from long time favorite John Calvin Abney.
John Calvin Abney at Facebook
John Calvin Abney Website
15. Sidney Lindner & Silver Wilderness Collective – Summer Ghosts / Night Falls (Burst & Bloom Records / Broken Sparrow, 2019)
Getting a new album from Sidney Lindner was one of the best surprises of the year. Long time readers might remember my love for The Hotel Alexis and it turns out that I still love his songwriting just as much.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OssSQfkge1Y
Sidney Lindner & The Silver Wilderness Collective at Facebook
Sidney Lindner & The Silver Wilderness Collective Website
14. Ian Noe – Between the Country (National Treasury Recordings, 2019)
This Ian Noe album was one of the most anticipated releases of the year. The EP was already wonderful and a couple of those songs reappear on the album too. Along with a whole lot of new exceptional ones. Strong, heavy and captivating songwriting.
Ian Noe at Facebook
Ian Noe Website
13. Erin Durant – Islands (Keeled Scales, 2019)
Back to the Keeled Scales treasure vaults, but this time to Brooklyn, NY instead of Austin, TX. Songwriter Erin Durant has written such a compelling and heavenly beautiful album.
Erin Durant at Facebook
Erin Durant Website
12. Joanna Sternberg – Then I Try Some More (Team Love Records, 2019)
The most moving album of the year on a personal level. This resonates deep within my soul, because I’m shy man with a low self-esteem. This beautiful and courageous album fills my heart with warmth and hope.
Joanna Sternberg at Facebook
Joanna Sternberg Website
11. Micah Schnabel – The Teenage Years Of The 21st Century (independent, 2019)
Wrapping this second to last entry in this year end story with a new album from long time favorite Micah Schnabel. This one probably doesn’t appear on many of these EOTY lists because it came just a while ago in December 2019. Thankfully I’m making mine a bit later this time, because it would have hurted to miss this one. A really powerful album that tries to find ways to cope in this messed up world. There’s anger and frustration, but also hope and empathy. It encourages to be resilient instead of silent.