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
8
Blush
SECRET ATTRACTION
It seems this one gets classified as chillwave and synthwave and even straight-up dance - and I can see how all this would apply. For me it's a cross of Neon Indian with My Bloody Valentine. Not particularly with either of their sounds, but more the overall vibe they project. Take the song 'Midnight Lover.' It's a nice little head-bopper that you can imagine being a good soundtrack for late night highway driving. But to me there is this one little sound that carries the song, this sort of swoony, breathy, sigh that brings the tone and sound of the song, and the album together. Sometimes it can be these small little details that pull everything together, and that was the moment for me that tells the tale of this lovely album.
Tracklist
All Night
Call Me Up
Midnight Lover
Figure It Out
Dance With You
Interlude
Next to You
Try Too
Take It Slow
Summer
So Cool
Into You
Label
Stratford Ct.
Released
15 March 2019
Running time
33:54