This is better than what I usually would play on Sundays so you folks better listen to it
Tag Archives: Best of
Best of 2019: Hozier “Almost (Sweet Music)”
More often than not, Hozier hits the sweet spot for me.
Angélique Kidjo – Afirika
Angélique Kidjo‘s Celia, a contemplation of Celia Cruz’s African roots, might be my favorite album of the year. Maybe I should’ve chosen a video of her singing “La Vida es un Carnaval” or “Bemba Colorá” or “Sahara” for this, but I wanted to showcase Kidjo’s interaction with her audience at her BBC Proms debut this year. I can’t help but smile every time I watch it. This music, this kind of performance draws hearts together. In the weeks to come, I think we could all use a good reason to smile together.
Nots – “Half Painted House”
I’m pretty glad that 2019 is finally coming to an end. I don’t feel like recapping in here (gotta save some material for Festivus eh?), but I will say that the events of the year made it really hard for me to really connect to a lot of music.
Music has been a huge part of my life for 25 years. The last few years, I can easily think of 50 albums I enjoyed. This year it’s honestly hard for me to identify 10 things I listened to that were new. I desperately needed normalcy and spent a lot of time revisiting the same things over and over, mostly albums I loved from a dozen years ago and that last Lil Peep album.
Anyway, the new Nots record, 3, was the closest to that kind of thing out of new stuff I heard this year. I love this kind of raw, urgent, punk. I liked the other Nots records but this one really sank its hooks into me. Given how damn hard that was this year, it says a lot about this record.
Also, I’m going to cheat and add a second, totally unrelated, song here. I couldn’t find a live video of it (which is super unfortunate, I saw her last year and she was incredible!), but it’s my favorite song of the year so you’re welcome.
Friction Quartet & Jenny Chai – The War Below
Best of 2019: Gary Clark Jr. – When I’m Gone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1pVNs3jAjg
The first time I heard this song I knew it was going to feature in a prime spot on my summer list. Sure enough.
Tame Impala – Patience
YAAAAAACHT RAWWWWWWWK \m/
Best of 2019: Vagabon – Flood
I've only recently started listening to Vagabon's new album, but I like what I'm hearing so far!
Book pairing: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell
Best of 2019: Denzel Curry – Bulls on Parade (cover)
Best of 2019: JS Ondara – Torch Song
https://youtu.be/6CH9BBuqyYY
I have a feeling we’ll be hearing more from J.S. Ondara in 2020 and beyond.