10 More Records You Should Hear From Apr-June 2019
Every three months I put together a top 10 list of the best records I've heard in that quarter of the year. Back in March I made my Top 10 Records Of 2019 So Far list, and now there are ten more records released since that list that are more than worth your time.
10. Anoyo - Tim Hecker
Tim Hecker returned after a solid record in 2018 with yet another solid record in 2019 pulling from some vast and earthly soundscapes to create a record that is consistently as engaging and touching as it is ambient an abstract,
Best Tracks: That World, In A Simulated Blur
Review
9. Social Cues - Cage The Elephant
Cage The Elephant return with an album that I admittedly may have underrated in my initial review. While the album does have a handful of tracks that are a little bit underwhelming the top end of this thing is full of fantastic tunes. With sharp songwriting the band trades out enthusiasm for some simple but impossibly catchy rock tunes that have already managed to work their way into modern rock canon.
Best Tracks: House Of Glass, Black Madonna
Review
8. Arizona Baby - Kevin Abstract
While the album got off to a somewhat rough start when its initial EP was released once the full roster of songs were with us this thing felt like a much sharper and coherent listen. The songs blend together genres much like Brockhampton did the past two years and presents a more mellow and personal approach to rap music that Kevin as well as guest singers like bearface, JOBA, and Diminic Fike deliver with a sweet edge that makes the songs feel complete.
Best Tracks: Baby Boy, Use Me
Review
7. Titanic Rising - Weyes Blood
Weyes Blood drops what is by far the best album of her career by pulling from contemporaries like Julia Holter and Jenny Hval to assemble one of the most instrumentally dense records all year. Johnathan Rado of Foxygen handled part of the arrangements here and his prowess shows on an album that rewards detailed listens over and over again.
Best Tracks: Movies, Andromeda
Review
6. I Love You, It's A Fever Dream - The Tallest Man On Earth
The Swedish folk singer and part time Bob Dylan impressionist returns with yet another release in a line of incredibly consistent folk tunes. Fever Dream doesn't rewrite the rules of folk but it does adhere tightly to what makes them so successful and includes a number of the most engaging raw performances you'll hear anywhere this year.
Best Tracks: What I've Been Kicking Around, The Running Styles Of New York
Review
5. Ventura - Anderson .Paak
Anderson .Paak returns off of a short album turnaround with the project he was working on before Dr. Dre recruited him for Oxnard. Ventura on the other hand is far more indebted to classic soul and funk music and the consistently fantastic instrumentals that allow .Paak to shine become the true personality of this fantastic record.
Best Tracks: King James, Make It Better
Review
4. Brutalism - The Drums
The Drums, now delegated to a one man Johnny Pierce led group has dropped their sharpest and most consistent record yet. Brutalism is a summery and pristine indie pop album that features intrepid vocalizing, nifty guitar work and song-writing that is effortlessly catchy and breezy. With bright indie pop being one of the "In" genres right now The Drums ability to separate themselves from the pack is both extraordinary and makes for a killer listen.
Best Tracks: Body Chemistry, 626 Bedford Avenue
Review
3. Father Of The Bride - Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend returned after a 6 year studio album gap and made every moment of waiting worth it with a long and very consistent series of tracks that blends together the classically posh indie pop they made their name off of and the the grander touch of songwriting and instrumentation the group has learned since then. With a handful of killers singles and some more patient and passionate songwriting spilled over the deep cuts Father has something for every Vampire Weekend fan and something for every devoted music listener.
Best Tracks: Harmony Hall, This Life
Review
2. Bandana - Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
Freddie Gibbs pairs his lyrical and cutthroat bars with Madlib's jazzy and low-fi beats once again on the sequel to their legendary collaboration Pinata. Bandana hits consistently one track after another and has some killer features from the likes of Anderson .Paak, Pusha-T, Mos Def, Black Thought and Killer Mike. The tracks here deliver on the high expectations for the project and feature both artists once again working at their peaks for what will likely be the runaway best rap album of the year.
Best Tracks: Crime Pays, Palmolive
1. Dedicated - Carly Rae Jepsen
Quarter two of 2019's true album of the year contender comes in the form of the long awaited follow-up to Carly Rae Jepsen's cult classic Emotion. Dedicated sees the Canadian pop princess getting even sharper in her songwriting, more fiery in her performances and more classic in her execution. With one of the most consistent tracklists of any album released all year Carly clearly took her time and the finished product shows with nearly an hour of the best pop music you will hear all year, all centered around a personality that is impossible not to fall in love with.
Best Tracks: Julien, No Drug Like Me
Review
Thanks for reading, for some tunes that could end up on the next quarter's list follow the Candle Cove Singles Chart Spotify playlist here.
Tim Hecker returned after a solid record in 2018 with yet another solid record in 2019 pulling from some vast and earthly soundscapes to create a record that is consistently as engaging and touching as it is ambient an abstract,
Best Tracks: That World, In A Simulated Blur
Review
9. Social Cues - Cage The Elephant
Cage The Elephant return with an album that I admittedly may have underrated in my initial review. While the album does have a handful of tracks that are a little bit underwhelming the top end of this thing is full of fantastic tunes. With sharp songwriting the band trades out enthusiasm for some simple but impossibly catchy rock tunes that have already managed to work their way into modern rock canon.
Best Tracks: House Of Glass, Black Madonna
Review
8. Arizona Baby - Kevin Abstract
While the album got off to a somewhat rough start when its initial EP was released once the full roster of songs were with us this thing felt like a much sharper and coherent listen. The songs blend together genres much like Brockhampton did the past two years and presents a more mellow and personal approach to rap music that Kevin as well as guest singers like bearface, JOBA, and Diminic Fike deliver with a sweet edge that makes the songs feel complete.
Best Tracks: Baby Boy, Use Me
Review
7. Titanic Rising - Weyes Blood
Weyes Blood drops what is by far the best album of her career by pulling from contemporaries like Julia Holter and Jenny Hval to assemble one of the most instrumentally dense records all year. Johnathan Rado of Foxygen handled part of the arrangements here and his prowess shows on an album that rewards detailed listens over and over again.
Best Tracks: Movies, Andromeda
Review
6. I Love You, It's A Fever Dream - The Tallest Man On Earth
The Swedish folk singer and part time Bob Dylan impressionist returns with yet another release in a line of incredibly consistent folk tunes. Fever Dream doesn't rewrite the rules of folk but it does adhere tightly to what makes them so successful and includes a number of the most engaging raw performances you'll hear anywhere this year.
Best Tracks: What I've Been Kicking Around, The Running Styles Of New York
Review
5. Ventura - Anderson .Paak
Anderson .Paak returns off of a short album turnaround with the project he was working on before Dr. Dre recruited him for Oxnard. Ventura on the other hand is far more indebted to classic soul and funk music and the consistently fantastic instrumentals that allow .Paak to shine become the true personality of this fantastic record.
Best Tracks: King James, Make It Better
Review
4. Brutalism - The Drums
The Drums, now delegated to a one man Johnny Pierce led group has dropped their sharpest and most consistent record yet. Brutalism is a summery and pristine indie pop album that features intrepid vocalizing, nifty guitar work and song-writing that is effortlessly catchy and breezy. With bright indie pop being one of the "In" genres right now The Drums ability to separate themselves from the pack is both extraordinary and makes for a killer listen.
Best Tracks: Body Chemistry, 626 Bedford Avenue
Review
3. Father Of The Bride - Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend returned after a 6 year studio album gap and made every moment of waiting worth it with a long and very consistent series of tracks that blends together the classically posh indie pop they made their name off of and the the grander touch of songwriting and instrumentation the group has learned since then. With a handful of killers singles and some more patient and passionate songwriting spilled over the deep cuts Father has something for every Vampire Weekend fan and something for every devoted music listener.
Best Tracks: Harmony Hall, This Life
Review
2. Bandana - Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
Freddie Gibbs pairs his lyrical and cutthroat bars with Madlib's jazzy and low-fi beats once again on the sequel to their legendary collaboration Pinata. Bandana hits consistently one track after another and has some killer features from the likes of Anderson .Paak, Pusha-T, Mos Def, Black Thought and Killer Mike. The tracks here deliver on the high expectations for the project and feature both artists once again working at their peaks for what will likely be the runaway best rap album of the year.
Best Tracks: Crime Pays, Palmolive
1. Dedicated - Carly Rae Jepsen
Quarter two of 2019's true album of the year contender comes in the form of the long awaited follow-up to Carly Rae Jepsen's cult classic Emotion. Dedicated sees the Canadian pop princess getting even sharper in her songwriting, more fiery in her performances and more classic in her execution. With one of the most consistent tracklists of any album released all year Carly clearly took her time and the finished product shows with nearly an hour of the best pop music you will hear all year, all centered around a personality that is impossible not to fall in love with.
Best Tracks: Julien, No Drug Like Me
Review
Thanks for reading, for some tunes that could end up on the next quarter's list follow the Candle Cove Singles Chart Spotify playlist here.
