Best Music of 2019... So Far

When it comes to music, one of the big stories of the year has to be the story of Lil Nas X. He was born Montero Lamar Hill. He just turned 20 years old in April. He's from Atlanta and he's a rap artist. He's been interested in music since the fourth grade. He dropped out of college to pursue an entertainment career. He became an Internet celebrity, posting on Twitter things that became viral. A couple of years ago, Lil Nas X became inspired when he heard rap artists infusing country music into their songs. He wrote and produced the track "Old Town Road," which is comprised of beats from a Dutch musician named YoungKio and a sample from Nine Inch Nails. Lil Nas X is also a part of what's been dubbed the "Yeehaw Agenda," which is a movement online of people embracing cowboy fashion and culture.

Lil Nas X released "Old Town Road" in December 2018 and promoted it using a smartphone app called TikTok. The song became successful enough that radio stations picked it up. It also led to Columbia Records signing Lil Nas X. His song charted on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Country Songs. However, controversy erupted when the magazine removed it from its country charts, which ignited criticism from Elias Leight, a writer for Rolling Stone magazine. The criticism was about how black artists have recently not been recognized or denied in certain music categories or genres like country. Lil Nas X also faced backlash when on the last day of Pride Month of 2019, he came out as gay.

However, "Old Town Road" made it to number-one on Billboard magazine's Hot 100. In April, Lil Nas X released a remix version of the song featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, which also became number-one on the Hot 100. In fact, it currently has spent 14 weeks at the very top, breaking several records by artists, such as Whitney Houston, Eminem and Drake. Lil Nas X performed the song live with Billy Ray Cyrus at the BET Awards (pictured above).

Another big story in music this past year would have to be Ariana Grande and her song "Thank U, Next" as well as its same-titled album. The song was Grande's first number-one on the Hot 100 chart. The song also broke several records, including most plays in a single day by a female artist on Spotify, most watched music video on YouTube in 24 hours and fastest Vevo video to reach 100 million views. Her second single from Thank U, Next was "7 Rings" and it too hit number-one when it was released in January. Her third single was "Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" and it debuted at number-two. Her previous two songs were still in the Top Three, making her the first artist to have the Top Three since 1964 when The Beatles did it.

This year saw the return of two boy bands. The first was the Backstreet Boys. The group first debuted in 1996 with five members. One of those members was Kevin Richardson who left the group after their 2005 album. Richardson returned for their 2013 album, which was independently released and didn't do as well as hoped on the charts. However, their album this year called DNA did chart as number-one back in February. Yet, the second boy band to make a comeback was the Jonas Brothers. The group had been on hiatus for a decade, but they're back together with probably their best work in their album Happiness Begins, which also hit number-one on the charts.

Checking with Metacritic, the consensus over which album is in the early running to be best of the year is Titantic Rising by Weyes Blood. There are plenty of reviews that point out how beautiful the record is. One in particular is Katie Rife's review for The A.V. Club. Rife makes comparisons with Carole King and The Beatles. She takes particular note of the orchestral sound and use of strings. Another glowing review comes from Ed Cunningham writing for The 405. He says, "An ambitious, varied and ardently rewarding listen, Titanic Rising is pop music for ages and worlds far beyond our own, and an emphatic show of prowess from one who is sure to be one of indie’s new radiant lights."

So far, I think I might be most partial to Weyes Blood's second single off that album called "Everyday." Yet, it ultimately didn't make my cut. There are so many songs and so many albums that it's difficult for one person to assess it all. I recognize that my list here isn't based on a full, comprehensive look at all the music that has come and possibly gone in 2019. However, I do my best to list what I think is the best music of the year, so far. I ranked it according to the five genres that I use. Of them all, I think Lizzo (pictured to the left), the amazing female rapper from Detroit, has probably the best album overall. A very close second would have to be the latest album from Shamir Bailey, which is probably one of the most incredible things I've heard all year.

Best Music of 2019... So Far

Best Folk / Country

TEXAS PIANO MAN by Robert Ellis
SIGNS by Tedeschi Truck Band
THE HURTING KIND by John Paul White
GIRL by Maren Morris
HEARD IT IN A PAST LIFE by Maggie Rogers
FRONT PORCH by Joy Williams

Best Rock / Alternative

FATHER OF THE BRIDE by Vampire Weekend
VIOLET STREET by Local Natives
SIDE EFFECTS by White Denim
LET'S ROCK by The Black Keys
A BATH FULL OF ECSTASY by Hot Chip
EFFLUXION by Telekinesis
REMIND ME TOMORROW by Sharon Van Etten
WASTELAND, BABY! by Hozier

Best Pop / Electronic

HAPPINESS BEGINS by Jonas Brothers
DEDICATED by Carly Rae Jepsen
HURTS 2B HUMAN by Pink
COMPLIMENTS PLEASE by Self Esteem
LATE NIGHT TALES by Floating Points
DELUXE HOTEL ROOM by Lucette
SHE IS COMING by Miley Cyrus

Best R&B / Soul

BE THE YEE, HERE COMES THE HAW by Shamir
WALK THROUGH FIRE by Yola
YOU WILL NOT DIE by Nakhane
VENTURA by Anderson .Paak
APOLLO XXI by Steve Lacy
THIS LAND by Gary Clark Jr.
SAMSARA by Los Coast
ORIGIN by Jordan Rakei

Best Rap / Hip Hop

CUZ I LOVE YOU by Lizzo
IGOR by Tyler, the Creator

Best Individual Songs from Non-Listed Albums

"Way to the Show" by Solange
"Batuka" & "Come Alive" by Madonna
"Before I Let Go" by Beyoncé
"Yeah I Care" by Nick Murphy aka Chet Faker
"Tobacco Road" by Mercury Rev f/ Susanne Sundfor
"OK" by Backstreet Boys
"Pretend" by Teen
"Olympia" by Flamingods
"Fare Thee Well" by Jessica Pratt
"Let's Be Us Again" by The Delines
"Blood of the Past" by The Comet is Coming f/ Kate Tempest
"Wait for Now / Leave the World" by The Cinematic Orchestra
"Rounder" by Cass McCombs
"Pharoah" by Rosie Lowe
"Automaton" by The Faint