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Best albums of 2019... so far

Billie Eilish - When we all fall asleep, where do we go?
Black Midi - Schlagenheim
Seed Ensemble - Driftglass (but their percussionist needs to calm down a bit, trying too hard at times)

Honorable mention for Bruce Springsteen too, though maybe just a bit too much sentimentality.
 
Fongola by Kokoko - extraordinary piece of work made with home-made instruments
Rodrigo y Gabriella - Metavolution
Snapped Ankles - Stunning Luxury
Anything by The Comet is Coming
 
Live in Tórshavn by Eivør for me. Disproving my normal theory that live albums are inferior cash-ins, she sounds born to perform on stage. (Her second best album is her previous live album and the studio albums sound somewhat closed-in.)

A couple of my favourite tracks, although there really isn't a duffer in there:
 
leroyd said:
Sounds pretty compressed on my set up. Another case of the music industry churning out another sonically compromised album. It is times like this I wonder why the hell I care so much about audio reproduction and spend considerable amounts of hard earned cash on hi fi kit, when the end listening experience is tosh.
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The excellant 'Big Little Lies' series turned me onto MK. I just love the full version of "Cold Little Heart" and it sounds sweet, fluid and open streamed via Qobuz.

 
Some of my favourites from this year, I think there's probably a couple more but I can't think what they are off the top of my head.

Sharon Van Etten - Remind me tomorrow
Omni - Networker
Aldous Harding - Designer
Kevin Morby - OMG
Possible Humans - Everybody split
Fontaines d.c - Dogrel
Thom Yorke - Anima
Julia Jacklin - Crushing
The Dove and The Wolf - Conversations
Richard Hawley - Further
 
Just on first listen through Billie Eilish - astonishing and brilliant.

Edit...definitely my album of 2019 up to now. And such astonishing sonics! Break-your-speakers dynamics, near-subsonic bass, huge soundstage, vocal presence.
 
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Played Billie Eilish album from Tidal and 40 seconds into the track Xanny there is a very strange bass effect that also effects the vocal. Thought there was something wrong with my speakers. Tried the same track on YouTube and heard it there too so guess it is intentional.
Will play the rest today.
 
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Few more I've enjoyed this year and forgot from my previous post:

A.A. Bondy - Enderness
Ex:Re - Ex:Re
The National - I Am Easy To Find
 
Fear Inoculum by Tool.

IMO, this is a great album, even when judged by the very high standards they have previously set.

Of course, when you wait 13 years between albums, it had better be worth the wait!
 
I reckon we’re close enough to the end of the year, so here’s mine, with a quick flavour of each one.

Vagabon - Vagabon


Big Thief - Two Hands


Solange - when I get home


Fazer - Nadi


Hayden Thorpe - Diviner


Vampire weekend - Father of the Bride

https://youtu.be/GwCRSMrPmpU

Kelsey Lu - Blood

https://youtu.be/3chc2npXSAY

Blood orange - Angels Pulse

https://youtu.be/C_weF3CN5I8

Lynda dawn - First Light

https://youtu.be/i6LmFJcYTzQ

Flying Lotus - Flamagra

https://youtu.be/i6LmFJcYTzQ

With double thumbs up to The Bon Iver, Young Flexico, Anna Meredith, Fontaines DC, Jenny Hval, Sampa The Great, Damon Locks and Injury Reserve cuts too.
 
My album of 2019 has to be This wonderful LP by Ese & The Vooduu People.
71wNO0hZ7HL._SS500_.jpg

The work that went into having nothing digital involoved in the production and pressing of this wonderful LP was a work of art.
Well done Kevin.
 
Fontaines D.C. 'Dogrel'

Steve Lamacq had them on on his 6 Music programme last night - Invigorating and totally essential they deserve every success.
 
This site contains affiliate links for which pink fish media may be compensated.
Given some of the indifferent reviews I was set up to be disappointed with this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaving_Meaning by Swans

However, Disc 1 was like 'oh OK this is better than I expected' but Disc 2 blew me away, in it's entirety.
It's more of a studio album and Gira has collaborated with 3rd parties (Ben Frost is obvious on a couple of tracks).

Great album to end the year on....
 
Hook said:
Fear Inoculum by Tool.

IMO, this is a great album, even when judged by the very high standards they have previously set.

Of course, when you wait 13 years between albums, it had better be worth the wait!
Click to expand...

It is a great album.. I like MJKs work with APC and Puscifer too. Especially ' Moma Sed'

Not 2019 but any excuse to post this great song:
 
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