HENDON’s Top 15 Albums of 2019
People love lists! Give them more lists! We went way more indie with our Top Albums this year — you might be surprised…
While you read, listen to our AOTY playlist here
Aaaaand we’re back! 2019 has been yet another massive year that has shifted the popular music landscape. So once again, let two 22-year-old white kids tell you what the best bits were. This years list is a bit of a shift from the themes of AOTY 2018. We broadened the scope a little, taking contributions from friends who have written articles for HENDON in the past. This made for a list that encompasses albums we didn’t have time to listen to or would usually lean away from. Remember, we try to be as objective as possible but we aren’t perfect so take it with a grain of salt.
We also have one IMPORTANT NOTE: You may notice a couple of EP’s in this list, so before you @ us on Twitter in a fit of rage, let us explain. As we close out a decade, the consumption and packaging of music has never been more different. Artists will often be intentionally dismissive of classing a release as an EP, album, record, whatever. And we’re seeing a lot of shorter releases that contain some of the best music. So, the projects you see below all deserve their spot — maybe next year we’ll call the article POTY…
1: Vampire Weekend — Father of the Bride
You may remember Vampire Weekend as the indie-pop group you listened to in your more angsty years. In the mid-2000’s they solidified their place in the hearts of middle-class suburban teenagers with their upbeat, American spin on Brit-pop.
While their musical talent has never been in doubt, Father of the Bride has proved their musical prowess to any nay-sayers who thought otherwise. The departure of musician and producer Rostam Batmanglij from the band seems to have opened lead singer Ezra Koenig’s musical scope and narrowed the band's vision to a concise, crisp and bubbly point. This album is a delight to listen to, despite your genre preference or mood, yet it carries profound meaning and powerful emotion.
2: Bon Iver — i,i
Completing a cycle of four albums inspired by each season, i,i is Bon Iver’s takes on the emotions conjured up in Autumn. Feelings of melancholy, nostalgia, decay and forest critters settling in for hibernation, the album is an emotional journey for the listener that delivers feelings you forgot you had. Cryptic lyrics and obscure instruments manage to convey feelings rarely explored by traditional methods making this album a cut above.
3: BENEE — Fire on Marzz
2019 has been massive for BENEE. From the radio smash Soaked, to her four Tui’s and the recent Tik Tok popularity of Glitter, BENEE has had success commercially, critically, and virally. FIRE ON MARZZ wraps all this success up into one tidy project that will have an awesome legacy of creative production and inspired lyrical imagery.
4: Tyler, The Creator — IGOR
Did anybody see this album coming back when Tyler, the Creator was rapping “Rape a pregnant bitch and tell my friends I had a threesome” — ‘coz we definitely didn’t? IGOR is a huge step away from Tyler’s early 2010’s work, and it has placed him much better in the current musical landscape. Next level production, an overwhelming amount of singing and very little bars make IGOR a drastic masterstroke for Tyler, the Creator. I’d like to see this man’s #10yearchallenge.
5: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — Ghosteen
Following the dark and foreboding album Skeleton Tree, Ghosteen is a sonic trip into a lush and haunting manger. It’s an incredible musical achievement that shows significant growth from the already highly accomplished Australian band plagued with misfortune. The albums emotional weight successfully translates the bands tragic yet persistent journey. Ghosteen received widespread acclaim and numerous 5-star ratings from critics, a totally justified evaluation.
6: IDK — Is He Real?
In the same year as Kanye West’s underwhelming Jesus is King, Is He Real? explores religion, existentialism and theology with a critical eye. It shows what Hip-Hop can achieve with strong creative direction and discipline. It’s a thematically complete album with immense attention to detail. Each listen offers more to the listener thanks to its insight, intertextuality and authenticity.
7: FKA Twigs — Magdalene
Magdalene is an art-pop album inspired by heartbreak, physical expression and FKA Twig’s research into the life of Mary Magdalene. It examines the prevalence of female stories that are overshadowed by, and reliant on male characters. These themes are explored with authenticity, artistry and diversity making it a standalone masterpiece that doesn’t ask for validation.
8: Slowthai — Nothing Great About Britain
“FUCK THE GOVERNMENT AND FUCK BORIS!”
British rapper Slowthai wanted to make a statement with his album Nothing Great About Britain, and boy did he achieve that goal. The UK scene that has been dominated by Grime in recent years and Slowthai has been a wonderful breath of fresh air. His unique vocal delivery and unapologetic approach to his message make him a compelling artist — and it shines beautifully on this record.
9: Aldous Harding — Designer
There’s nothing more captivating than watching an Aldous Harding music video. The otherworldly costumes, sets, cinematography and music hypnotises you into a trance, but with the visuals stripped away, this album encourages you to feel that peculiar attraction within yourself. The soothing guitar, melodic vocals and symphonic touches carry you like away from stress and your busy mind like a rhythmic lullaby for grown-ups.
10: Allday — Starry Night Over The Phone
The crown prince of Aussie rap crooning adds another fantastic album to his discography. From bringing The Veronicas back on the opening track Restless, to the weighty self-loathing on Atmosphere, this record has MOMENTS. Sonically, it’s also incredibly concise. Musical themes run throughout and connect tracks on opposite ends of the record with ease. Listen to this album after you have a late-night phone fight with your S.O.
11: Church & AP — TEETH
2019 was a year of growth for Church & AP. After the success of Ready or Not, they had to continue pushing their creativity. Linking up with producer Dera Meelan on TEETH gave the album a strong musical theme that sits it as one of the most consistent records on this list. Tracks Dandelion, Roulette and Hello Hello are standouts — keep YKK on your radar in 2020.
12: choicevaughan — DEUCE
His name is choicevaughan. He’s one of New Zealand’s hottest producers, and this is his project. With unmistakable vocals lent from all-time Top 5 (no cap) MC Tom Scott across DEUCE, this is a record for the working class of NZ. Guest spots from veterans INF and Melodownz lend a spot of authority. Verses from young stalwarts Dharmarat and Diggy Dupé on Dead Air are a clear passing of the torch to a new generation of voices in Aotearoa hip-hop.
13: Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
Lana Del Ray has held a precious position in the music industry, drawing attention as a musical oxymoron where traditional beauty clashes with raw authenticity. Past projects have struggled to balance this mix but Norman Fucking Rockwell has mastered it and walks the tightrope like its an expansive field built for exploration.
14: Tiny Ruins — Olympic Girls
Our folk singer/songwriter scene is exploding in NZ at the moment, and Olympic Girls might be the best example of that. The record is initially underwhelming and is one you need to sit with. But give it time and you’ll appreciate the mostly quiet, subtly wistful and hauntingly dreamy world Hollie Fulbrook AKA Tiny Ruins has created. If you’d like to dip your toes in, try tracks Cold Enough to Climb, Sparklers, and School of Design.
15: YBN Cordae — The Lost Boy
Nipping at the heels of our top 15 list, YBN Cordae makes for the final entry with a powerful contribution to the culture. One listen to the album will tell you what it carries over the average hip-hop mixtape released in 2019. Conscious lyricism, fresh production, approachable consistency and powerful meaning leaves The Lost Boy dripping with soul and rich character.
