The Best Albums of 2019

By Jim DeRogatis, Greg Kot, Alex Claiborne, Ayana Contreras, Andrew Gill

The Best Albums of 2019

By Jim DeRogatis, Greg Kot, Alex Claiborne, Ayana Contreras, Andrew Gill

As 2019 comes to a close, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot reflect on the best albums of the year. They also hear from Sound Opinions producers and listeners about their favorites.

Jim’s Picks

  1. Lizzo, Cuz I Love You
  2. Sturgill Simpson, Sound & Fury
  3. Tacocat}, This Mess Is a Place
  4. Grlwood, I Sold My Soul to the Devil When I Was 12
  5. Kills Birds, Kills Birds
  6. Ex Hex, It's Real
  7. The Regrettes, How Do You Love?
  8. Lana Del Rey, Norman F*#$%&$ Rockwell!
  9. Sharon Van Etten, Remind Me Tomorrow
  10. Michael Kiwanuka, Kiwanuka

Greg’s Picks

  1. Jamila Woods, Legacy! Legacy!
  2. Raphael Saadiq, Jimmy Lee
  3. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Ghosteen
  4. Michael Kiwanuka, Kiwanuka
  5. Sharon Van Etten, Remind Me Tomorrow
  6. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal, Hiding Places
  7. Sturgill Simpson, Sound & Fury
  8. Kills Birds, Kills Birds
  9. Yugen Blakrok, Anima Mysterium
  10. Shana Cleveland, Night of the Worm Moon

Producers’ Picks

  • Alex Claiborne: Taylor Swift, Lover
  • Andrew Gill: Sharon Van Etten}, Remind Me Tomorrow
  • Ayana Contreras: Emily King, Scenery

Listeners’ Picks

  • Sharon from Willowbrook: The Highwomen, The Highwomen
  • Bill from Nashville: Tomb Mold, Planetary Clairvoyance
  • Mike from Charlotte: Ex Hex, It's Real
  • Jeremy from New York City: Ocean Music, Troubadour No. 1


Featured Songs

Billy Woods & Kenny Segal, “Spider Hole,” Hiding Places, Backwoodz Studioz, 2019
Kills Birds, “Worthy Girl,” Kills Birds, KRO, 2019
Yugen Blakrok, “Picture Box,” Anima Mysterium, I.O.T., 2019
The Highwomen, “Redesigning Women,” The Highwomen, Elektra, 2019
Tomb Mould, “Beg for Life,” Planetary Clairvoyance, 20 Buck Spin, 2019
Michael Kiwanuka, “You Ain’t the Problem,” Kiwanuka, Polydor and Interscope, 2019
Taylor Swift, “Lover,” Lover, Republic, 2019
Sharon Van Etten, “Seventeen,” Remind Me Tomorrow, Jagjaguwar, 2019
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “Ghosteen Speaks,” Ghosteen, Ghosteen Ltd and Bad Seed Ltd, 2019
Sturgill Simpson, “Make Art Not Friends,” Sound & Fury, Elektra, 2019
Ex Hex, “Cosmic Cave,” It’s Real, Merge, 2019
Ocean Music, “Paris,” Troubadour No. 1, King of Truth, 2019
The Regrettes, “California Friends,” How Do You Love?, Warner, 2019
Emily King, “Caliche,” Scenery, ATO, 2019
Raphael Saadiq, “Rikers Island,” Jimmy Lee, Columbia, 2019
Lizzo, “Like A Girl,” Cuz I Love You, Atlantic, 2019
Jamila Woods, “Muddy,” Legacy! Legacy!, Jagjaguwar, 2019
Lenny Dee, “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” Happy Holi-Dee, Decca, 1961
Frank Zappa, “You Didn’t Try To Call Me,” Freak Out, Verve, 1966
Cat Stevens, “Father and Son,” Tea for the Tillerman, A&M, 1970
Johnny Cash, “Father and Son (feat. Fiona Apple),” Unearthed 3: Redemption Songs, American, 2003
Saba, “Busy / Sirens (feat. theMind),” Care For Me, Saba Pivot, 2018
DJ Shadow, “Rocket Fuel (feat. De La Soul),” Our Pathetic Age, Mass Appeal, 2019