SOUND BITES 2019 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR!

Ashley’s Pick: Dedicated by Carly Rae Jepsen

Trading in subdued disco, shimmering synths and soaring choruses, Dedicated is a portrait of pop perfected.

Grounded in love, lust and loss, the latest release by Carly Rae Jepsen—Canada’s greatest export—imbues the sweet and simple with something much more like wonder and whimsy. From the disco-infused album opener, “Julien,” to the feverishly fun ska found on “I’ll Be Your Girl;” from the 80’s nostalgia of “Want You In My Room” and “Happy Not Knowing,” to the infectious “Now That I Found You,” a song oft-dedicated to her cat when performing live, Jepsen’s fourth studio album is a gift that dares to be vulnerable.

A collection of songs as earnest as they are effervescent—a winning combination that has endeared Jepsen to scores of devout fans—Dedicated is a gentle reminder that, when you’ve found the right one, there’s no such thing as too much.

Claire’s Pick: Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, Part 2. by Foals

The musicians from Oxford, UK released a powerful double album in 2019. It reached its summit in the second part, released in October, that contains 10 brilliant tracks. It was an audacious gamble from the band to release two albums in 2019, even more when the first part was so successful. When October came, this follow-up gathered more expectations and pressure than any other previous Foals records.

Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, part.2, is a Foals musical universe condensed to the extreme. It is feral, urgent, and makes you travel through all kind of atmospheres with an incredible intensity. It ranges from the dreamy yet eerie “Into the Surf” to the banger “The Runner”. Climate crisis, over-consumption, and ecology are recurrent themes of the lyrics throughout the record. After having seen Foals live at Rock en Seine in August -and being completely blown away by their performance (check it out) - this album became THE album I was expecting the most of 2019. It safe to say that it didn’t disappoint. The record is even more that what I could have imagined.

Becca’s Pick: Father of the Bride by Vampire Weekend

I’ve been a casual fan of Vampire Weekend for years, but Father of the Bride really drew me in and I found myself listening to it all the time: as driving music, study music, chilling by the pool music, whatever. This album and the current era of Vampire Weekend that surrounds it - with their die-hard fan base (filled with very nice people I must say) and 2 to 3-hour long headlining shows where the set list changes every night - has escalated them to being one of my absolute favorite bands. Some of my favorite tracks from Father of the Bride are “Sunflower”, “Bambina”, and “This Life”, but there really isn’t a track on the 18-song album that I don’t like. One of my favorite parts of this album, and most of Vampire Weekend’s catalog, is that you can listen to it and just enjoy it mindlessly, but if you care to take a deeper look at the lyrics, there’s a lot to analyze and a deeper meaning behind almost every song. I think Father of the Bride was the perfect addition to their catalog coming back from a 6-year break, and I’ll be rooting for it to win the Album of the Year Grammy that it’s nominated for.

Kody’s Pick: You and Everything Blue by Sullii

Sullii might be one of the most underrated artists when it comes to the lo-fi hip-hop genre. Joshua Rogers (former vocalist of UK-based post-hardcore band Crooks) employs his melancholic writing style that was familiar to listeners of Crooks and uses it instead to create beautiful melody and catchy hooks over dream-like soundscapes and intricate high-hat patterns. The point where I realized how much this album meant to me was during the track “You and Everything” that details the writing process of this album in a voicemail left to someone else. He details how he wanted to write about the experience of feeling everything and also feeling nothing at all at the same time. During my struggles with depression and anxiety, there are so many times when it's so easy to feel exactly like that and this album allows me to find a moment of solace and understanding.

Jake’s Pick: The Language of Injury by Ithaca

When Sound Bites asked us to choose a favorite album of 2019, the usual current of anxiety coursed through my veins. This is an impossible task. I try to listen to as wide a range of music as possible and what I like and what I don’t like seems to constantly be in flux. Regardless, the deadline to choose is upon us and I must make a decision.

For my favorite album of 2019, I am selecting “The Language of Injury” by the U.K. band Ithaca. I discovered this band randomly on a hardcore “must listen” list, and immediately became enamored. Instrumentally, their sound is a brutal blend of hardcore, post-hardcore, punk, and metal. I grew up when post-hardcore and metalcore were really starting to gain traction, and this album feels familiar in an old-school post-hardcore sense while also feeling very contemporary and unique. Like heavy-as-shit breakdowns? They got you. Like blast beats and furiously fast verses? They got you there, too. Vocally, I tend to be picky when it comes to a screamer’s timbre, but Ithaca’s vocalist Djamilia Azzouz is incredible, with a voice that is punishing, angry, beautiful, and catchy. The band sounds underground and raw, yet extremely put-together, full, and powerful. When listening to this album, Ithaca consistently surprise you with parts that leave your head nodding and your upper lip snarled. My favorite thing in the world is discovering new bands that both remind me of my favorite bands/sounds in the past while adding something new; pushing the genre and the music forward in a creative and unique way. Without a doubt, Ithaca delivers.

Vicki’s Pick: Morbid Stuff by PUP

Canadian punk band PUP continues to climb the ladder of success with their third LP "Morbid Stuff" that came out April 5th of 2019. Following up their beloved 2016 sophomore album "The Dream Is Over", the band stayed consistent with their themes of depression, sarcasm, apathy, and stories from growing up in Ontario with family and friends. However there is a light hearted tone to this album where the band seems more relaxed and fun than their previous two records. PUP are also wonderfully consistent with their sound of this album with a sliver of folk. It plays excellently with the rest of their discography. Talk about an evolution in rock that finally works. Throughout the year, tracks like "Scorpion Hill", "Sibling Rivalry", and "Free At Last" have become staples when playing live; "Scorpion Hill" in particular being a fan favourite to open a circle pit to. It's refreshing to have a band like PUP receive success in this moment in time as most of us thought in the beginning of the decade "is rock music dead?" Nope, it was just brewing.

Laura’s Pick: Cuz I Love You by Lizzo

This spring, Lizzo shook shit up with her third studio album and major label debut, Cuz I Love You. Shocking you with her pipes right out of the gate with the evocative album opener “Cuz I Love You”, up-beat anthems like “Juice”, certified ear-worms like “Soulmate”, and all the soul-tinged songs in-between Cuz I Love You is a smorgasbord of tasty tracks.

This year I loved fiercely to “Lingerie”, I cried to “Cuz I Love You”, I reminisced girl’s night at Magic City to “Like a Girl”, and I spent my summer fully engulfed in “Truth Hurts”.

Mat’s Pick: CONSUME by Guerrilla Warfare

Loud and in-your-face; Louisville, Kentucky's very own nu metal/ rap metal group released their 2nd EP this past May which lead the trio to new heights such as a full U.S. tour and the recognition from Fever 333 ‘Jason Aalon Butler,’ who later went on to sign the group to his new found label “333 Wreckords.” The EP revolves around the topics of current american politics and mental health. With notable songs “Nu.Wav” which has a nostalgic feeling of hearing an unreleased ‘Limp Bizkit’ track and “Haze (HVN)” which has Garret Hood discussing his struggle with depression and the fight to get out of that flow.

If you haven't checked out the group yet then now would be the time, with the promise of new music on the way, the trio is certainly about to become the face of a new generation of Nu Metal.

Heidi’s Pick: Betty by Betty Who

At the beginning of 2019 Betty Who released her self titled album, “Betty”. This album makes the top of my list for several reasons but most of all it’s just plain fun to listen to. I was first introduced to Betty Who when she opened for Panic at the Disco for the ‘Pray for the Wicked’ tour in 2019. Betty is such a fun artist to watch perform and she definitely won me over that night. Since then she’s been one of my top played artists on Spotify - her synth-funky-pop sound is infectious. The album focuses around various relationship ups and downs but also has some sexy, flirty songs thrown into the bunch. For me, listening to this collection is like freshly shaven legs and clean bed sheets (my ladies especially will understand). I said what I said, be sure to give it a listen for an overall feel good experience. 

Nathan’s Pick: Unfortunately Terror Jr by Terror Jr and Animated Violence Mild by Blanck Mass

I know I was only supposed to pick one favorite album of the year, but there was a lot that struck a chord with me in 2019 so I’ve got two LPs. *shrug emoji* Tied for my top LPs of the year are Terror Jr’s Unfortunately, Terror Jr and Blanck Mass’s Animated Violence Mild. Terror Jr is fun synth pop music with a little social justice intertwined with some real emotional bops, both forcing you to look into yourself and to shine a light on problems we as a society are all facing. Blanck Mass just really fine tuned a way to perfectly mesh industrial beats with hard techno and Euro trance where the listener isn’t worried about how they can dance to it but how HARD they’re going to do dance to it. Check both out imo tbh.

Sara’s Pick: You Are OK by The Maine

After thinking long and hard about my album of the year choice, my decision became quite obvious to me when I looked down at the tattoo on my arm (who knew some decisions could be the simple)! I chose You Are OK by The Maine. The album takes listeners on an adventure that most albums can’t - an adventure full of love and positivity. It makes you want to grab your partner and dance in the streets of your favorite city, or find a partner and fake it for those of us who are perpetually single. I saw The Maine not once but twice after they released this album and it was an experience both times. The second time was at their most recent US tour, the Mirror Tour. They really played into the theme of You Are OK by putting mantras such as “You are enough,” and “You are loved,” on the screen, as well as stating encouraging words to their fans all evening. This album is jam packed full of these words, as well as fun jams that make you want to dance and cry all at the same time. So, after long consideration, I’m going with the album that made me feel okay during a really hard year. The Maine’s songs about growth, being okay, and love are constant reminders that life is good despite what’s happening. I will leave you all with my favorite lyrics from the album (also my tattoo), “Daylight isn’t far away my friend,” as a reminder that You Are OK. Runners up (because I listen to too much music and I’m an indecisive gal): Hallucinations by PVRIS, tryhard by The Band CAMINO, Peach Club by Emarosa, When We Were in Love (Deluxe Edition) by Mike Mains & The Branches, The Big Day by Chance The Rapper, amo by Bring Me The Horizon, Sanctuary by Aly & AJ, and A Different Shade of Blue by Knocked Loose.