This was a strange year, in the sense that without even planning it I ended up listening to more new releases than any past year. I think it was a subconscious thing, being in the middle of a "oh yeah I'll just build my own house and it will go perfectly with no hiccups whatsoever" type of situation. I was looking for something new and perfect to replace the new home which has yet to arrive. Luckily all this listening paid off as there were some really excellent albums this year. It started off slowly, only for some of the best output to come out towards the end. Killer climax, man.
This year I have not put together a playlist, but instead included a song or video for each review as a taste for the rest. And even though these are numbered as you can see, they are not in any order whatsoever. Except for #1 - that one truly rises above all else this year.
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
2019
5
It's Real
EX HEX
This band is brilliant. Perhaps my bias is strong, led by guitar god Mary Timony and all, but how could one listen to this record and not feel time-warped by these earworms to a late 70s/early 80s era of power pop, when bands like The Go-Go's, Heart, The Runaways, The Bangles ruled the airwaves? Each track a killer tune, by women who grew up with these styles in their blood, just waiting to get out. Seeing them live was like seeing a reunion tour of one of these groundbreaking bands, playing all their top hits. It just turns out their top hits are their two albums so far. This is rock.
Tracklist
Tough Enough
Rainbow Shiner
Good Times
Want It To Be True
Diamond Drive
No Reflection
Another Dimension
Cosmic Cave
Radiate
Talk To Me
Label
Merge Records
Released
22 March 2019
Running time
39:15