10. The Underrated
Youth-YUNGBLOOD
This is something that I never expected to like, but “Hope
For The Underrated Youth” may be one of my favorite songs of 2019, along with
the unexpected combination on “Original Me” with Dan Reynolds of Imagine
Dragons showing YUNGBLOOD’s unexpected greatness.
9. Neotheater- AJR
This album took a long time to grow on me, but songs like
“Don’t Throw Out My Legos”, “Next Up Forever” and “100 Bad Days” are good
enough that they overpower the few songs I don’t like on the album (“Birthday
Party” mainly).
8. Hey I’m Just Like
You- Tegan and Sara
“I’ll Be Back Someday” is one of the biggest ear worms of
2019 and the chorus is still stuck in my head since the first time I heard it.
7. You Are OK- The Maine
The Maine might be one of my
biggest guilty pleasure bands, as I would call them one of the best bands of
all time, but I’m not sure that anyone else would return that sentiment. Everything on this album is super catchy and
just pure pop punk joy, please give them a chance.
6. Widows Weeds-
Silversun Pickups
This could be biased because I saw Silversun over the summer
and they were great. Give this album a listen and you’ll see that I’m not wrong
though about its placement on this list.
5. Social Cues-
Cage The Elephant
This also might be biased because I saw them over the summer
and they put on an amazing show, but songs like “Social Cues”, “Ready To Let
Go” and especially the duet with Beck on “Night Running” show that Cage still
knows how to write hits and write some great music.
4. Morbid Stuff-
PUP
PUP is one of the best alt rock bands of this era, and they don’t
get enough recognition or radio play or anything like that, but they deserve
all that and more. “Morbid Stuff” shows PUP’s ability to write tight
instrumentals for their songs that somehow sound like they could fall apart at
any second, but they just don’t.
3. Weezer (The Black
Album)- Weezer
I honestly forgot this album came out in 2019. It is one of
the best albums Weezer has ever done, including “Can’t Knock The Hustle” that
got some radio play and was a big hit, and “Zombie Bastards” that really should
have been a hit.
2. Routine Maintenance-Aaron
West and The Roaring Twenties
The conclusion to the story of Aaron West, a character
created by Dan Campbell of The Wonder Years, is one of the most touching
stories of the year. This is one of those albums where words can barely do it
justice, and you must listen to it to understand its greatness.
1. Father of the Bride-Vampire
Weekend
After 6 long years, Vampire Weekend return with the best
album they have ever written, and the best album of 2019. Between the story
that runs through the album on the duets with Danielle Haim, the soft melody of
“Harmony Hall”, and songs like “Stranger” that could be referring to the album
as a whole, as it is very different to previous Vampire Weekend music, this
album is something you will want to keep on repeat through 2020 and beyond.
