The year in (Wil’s favorite) music: 2019
As I’ve done each year since 2012, I joined friends over MLK Weekend to reveal our respective favorite music released in the prior year in two forms: a mixtape of songs and a top 10 album list.
2019 went quick, some highlights: I got a grant from RACC to support post-production on my film Finding Groovopolis. I embarked on our biggest housing project yet — to transform a garage into studio space. My son Desmond, now 1½, grows like a weed. And I started a new job after 7 years at my last one.
As I reflected on the records from the year, it struck me that I wasn’t sure to what extent they would stand out compared to others released in the decade. Only time will tell… but there was no doubt that I loved a whole bunch of artists and look forward to hearing how 20s music evolves now that we’ve closed out the 10s. Enough words, let’s dig into the sounds.
wk19 mixtape
The wk19 mixtape— Magnificent Gestures — features 90 min of some favorite songs from 2019. For this year’s cover art, I used pictures of four artists lost in 2019 whose music has meant a lot to me (and to many):
Dr. John, 1941–2019
Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators), 1947–2019
Daniel Johnston, 1961–2019
David Berman (Sliver Jews, Purple Mountains), 1967–2019
wil’s top releases of 2019
Hear songs from my top 101 releases here. Meanwhile, these were my faves:
10. Helado Negro — This Is How You Smile
My travel companion record of the year. The first effort from Helado Negro that I paid close attention to, but it won’t be the last. This band continues to have interesting collaborations and remixes and I’d love to see them live!
9. Kevin Morby — Oh My God
Kevin Morby unabashedly reveals his influences, from Leonard Cohen to Tsegue Maryam Guebrou, and combines them in a playful soup of self-reflection on Oh My God. Producer and musician Sam Cohen (of childhood hero band Apollo Sunshine) brings a signature tight psychedelia that makes the album an easy one to play on repeat.
8. Daniel Norgren — Wooh Dang
I was in Malmö, Sweden looking for Daniel Norgren records when Trump got elected. Daniel kindly messaged me back and told me how I could order them, and subsequently his music laid a bittersweet soundtrack for a time I’ll never forget. The new album blends his masterful song craft with his welcome tendency to meander into the unknown.
7. Big Thief — Two Hands
Every single Big Thief release has shown up in my mixtape and/or top ten list, but after their first album of this year, UFOF, was released, I found myself at odds with the music world. It just wasn’t my favorite and I thought I’d probably skip them for the first time. Then they released Two Hands and I haven’t stopped listening.
6. A Winged Victory For the Sullen — The Undivided Five
Easily my favorite instrumental album of the year, I first heard it while listening to Pacific Notions on KEXP, an early Sunday morning show dedicated to ambient and instrumental music. Dustin O’Halloran and Adam Wiltzie combine their talents in a calming and endlessly beautiful batch of songs.
5. Preservation Hall Jazz Band — A Tuba to Cuba
Always intrigued by the famed Preservation Hall, I’d heard great recordings and collaborations but hadn’t found an end-to-end album that would go on repeat for me until 2019. Two infections sounds — cuban and New Orleans brass — combine to reveal an unexpected synergy. And they ruled Pickathon.
4. Julia Jacklin — Crushing
Australia’s Julia Jacklin offers contagious songwriting packaged in a familiar sound. I dare you to listen to “Body” while walking without finding yourself locked into it step by step. A few other gems lift this record to one that remained on heavy rotation throughout the year.
3. Purple Mountains— Purple Mountains
Pavement. Silver Jews. Woods. Kevin Morby. Drag City. These are all artistic endeavors that have meant a lot to me over the years. When Purple Mountains came out, I listened and enjoyed. Then when David Berman, the 52-year old leader died by suicide before embarking on a comeback tour, the album took on new weight. While I hope it never takes suicide to spark increased listener introspection, the year gave me a renewed appreciation for Berman’s canon.
2. Cate le Bon — Reward
Who the hell is Cate le Bon? Songs so unexpected, instrumentation so wild, production so tight. I listened to this over and over again trying to figure it all out, and along the way I got hooked. It doesn’t hurt that it’s the album that most sounds like The Slits since The Slits. Whenever I see Cate le Bon behind a remix or collaboration, I consider what I’m doing but instead decide to listen.
1. Juan Wauters — Introducing Juan Pablo
The benevolent troubadour Juan Wauters also released two albums in 2019. The first, La Onda de Juan Pablo, is a batch of songs created with musicians Juan encountered during a trip across Latin America. But it was the second, Introducing Juan Pablo, that gave me new favorite tracks with each listen. The Beets frontman made the album I needed, and I couldn’t resist thanking him after his equal parts endearing and impressive show at Portland’s Polaris Hall.
The full list of wil’s top releases of 2019:
2019’s Music Weekend took place near Forks, Washington on a river where Roosevelt Elk cross daily. Chester, Peter, and I took turns sharing our mixes and top 10 lists before venturing out to Ruby Beach alongside Olympic National Park. Our comrade Andrew shared his introduction by video from Birmingham, AL since he was on the cusp of welcoming a son — James — to the world.
On the way home, we stopped at Lake Crescent for a final moment of reflection before scurrying back to what seem like increasingly busy lives. While we may have drank more kombucha than whiskey this time, and we don’t stay up as late digging into “honorable listens” — songs that didn’t quite make our final lists — as we used to, Music Weekend remains a simple way to take space to honor artists and their craft. I hope it never ends.— WK
From the Archives
- the year in wil’s favorite music 2018: bit.ly/wk18review
- the year in wil’s favorite music 2017: bit.ly/wk17review
- the year in wil’s favorite music 2016: bit.ly/wk16review
- the year in wil’s favorite music 2015: bit.ly/wk15review
- the year in wil’s favorite music 2014: bit.ly/wk14review
- wil’s top releases of 2013 on Spotify
- wil’s top releases of 2012 on Spotify
