Another fine year of music (isn’t it always?!) and one where we found ourselves heading in multiple directions with the kind of things we were seeking out and listening to. From metal to ambient, electronic to country music – there were aural gems to be discovered across the musical spectrum in 2019. Here then are 50 of our favourite albums from the year. The ones that we returned to the most, the ones that made us think, shake our heads to in physical release, or records that cut deeply and wisely, in a lyrical sense.

50. Pitch Black – Third Light
49. Tyler, The Creator – IGOR
48. J Majik – Full Circle
47. Sunn O))) – Life Metal
46. Lankum – The Livelong Day
45. Caterina Barbieri – Ecstatic Computation
44. Amyl & The Sniffers – Amyl & The Sniffers
43. Ryley Walker & Charles Rumjack – Little Common Twist
42. Moon Duo – Stars Are The Light
41. Warmduscher – Tainted Lunch
40. Baroness – Gold & Grey
39. Pixies – Beneath The Eyrie
38. Lambchop – This (Is what I wanted To Tell You)
37. HTRK – Venus In Leo
36. Cass McCombs – Tip Of The Sphere
35. Tony Molina – Songs From San Mateo County
34. Beastwars – IV
33. David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights – Bobbie’s A Girl
32. Underground Lovers – A Left Turn
31. Mannequin – Pussy Patience
30. Big Thief – Two Hands
29. Underworld – DRIFT Series 1
28. Earth – Full Upon Her Burning Lips
27. Tool – Fear Inoculum
26. The Chemical Brothers – No Geography
25. Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury
24. Jamie Hutchings – King Hits & Goldfish Memories
23. Chris Forsyth – All Time Present
22. Orville Peck – Pony
21. Sean McMahon – You Will Know When You’re There
20. Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars
19. Justin Townes Earle – The Saint Of Lost Causes
18. Lost Ragas – This Is Not A Dream
17. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Ghosteen
16. Tindersticks – No Treasure But Hope
15. Big Thief – U.F.O.F.
14. Aldous Harding – Designer
13. Mark Moldre – Fever Dreams
12. Bill Callahan – Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest
11. Eilen Jewell – Gypsy

10. Leonard Cohen – Thanks For The Dance
9. Neil Young with Crazy Horse – Colorado
8. Skyscraper Stan – Golden Boy Vol. I & II
7. Jake Xerxes Fussell – Out Of Sight
6. Omni – Networker
5. The Felice Brothers – Undress
4. The Delines – The Imperial
3. Ian Noe – Between The Country
2. Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel

1. Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains

An exercise in arch self-analysis, Purple Mountains poses as many questions as it answers. It’s both universal and nakedly personal. It’s funny and entertaining too. It’s also a faultless and highly compelling record and the towering pinnacle of Berman’s work.