Year-End Lists

A hand-curated, browsable index of notable year-end lists. Follow the link for each list to see essential commentary from its author, at the source.
Movies TV Shows Music Books Poetry Podcasts

Highlights

2019
All Movies TV Shows Music Books Poetry Podcasts

Robert Christgau: Dean's List 2019

27 January 2020

When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? - Billie Eilish

Robert Christgau: Dean's List 2019

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2018 • 2017 • 2012]

  1. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
    Billie Eilish
  2. Cash Cabin Sessions, Vol. 3
    Todd Snider
  3. The Big Day
    Chance the Rapper
  4. Purple Mountains
    Purple Mountains
  5. Buck Up
    Carsie Blanton
  6. No Home Record
    Kim Gordon
  7. uknowhatimsayin¿
    Danny Brown
  8. Battery Park, NYC July 4th 2008
    Sonic Youth
  9. Open Book
    Kalie Shorr
  10. A Goddamn Impossible Way of Life
    The Paranoid Style
  11. Springsteen on Broadway
    Bruce Springsteen
  12. Un Autre Blanc
    Salif Keita
  13. Beware of the Dogs
    Stella Donnelly
  14. Two Hands
    Big Thief
  15. I Was Real
    75 Dollar Bill
  16. The Terror End of Beauty
    Harriet Tubman
  17. Schlagenheim
    black midi
  18. Toothsayer
    Tanya Tagaq
  19. The Imperial
    The Delines
  20. Punk
    CHAI
  21. Rainford
    Lee "Scratch" Perry
  22. 27 passports
    The Ex
  23. Old LP
    that dog
  24. Country Squire
    Tyler Childers
  25. Capitalist Blues
    Leyla McCalla
  26. The Center Won't Hold
    Sleater-Kinney
  27. Bad Wiring
    Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage
  28. From Memphis to New Orleans
    Alex Chilton
  29. Twelve Nudes
    Ezra Furman
  30. Cuz I Love You
    Lizzo
  31. Rhythm of the Griot
    Diabel Cissokho
  32. Wildcard
    Miranda Lambert
  33. I Need a New War
    Craig Finn
  34. Young Enough
    Charly Bliss
  35. GREY Area
    Little Simz
  36. Sweetener
    Ariana Grande
  37. Eve
    Rapsody
  38. I Am Easy to Find
    The National
  39. The Best of Dualtone Years
    Guy Clark
  40. History
    Youssou N'Dour
  41. Je Suis Africain
    Rachid Taha
  42. Lover
    Taylor Swift
  43. Ballébé
    Hama Sankaré
  44. Phoenix
    Pedro the Lion
  45. Malibu Ken
    Malibu Ken, Aesop Rock & TOBACCO
  46. The Devil You Know
    The Coathangers
  47. Send Aid
    Chuck Cleaver
  48. I Love You Inna
    Oumar Konaté
  49. This Was Supposed to Be Fun
    Epic Beard Men
  50. LEGACY! LEGACY!
    Jamila Woods
  51. How Could a Man
    Derek Senn
  52. Miri
    Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
  53. Conexão
    Amber Mark
  54. Queen
    Nicki Minaj
  55. U.F.O.F.
    Big Thief
  56. Nothing Great About Britain
    slowthai
  57. Live on Red Barn Radio I & II
    Tyler Childers
  58. 1000 gecs
    100 gecs
  59. Athena
    Sudan Archives
  60. Três
    Thiago Nassif
  61. The Seduction of Kansas
    Priests
  62. Care for Me
    Saba
  63. Madame X
    Madonna
  64. Pushin Too Hard (Original Soundtrack)
    The Seeds
  65. Jimmy Lee
    Raphael Saadiq
  66. Free Spirit
    Khalid
  67. Guns
    Quelle Chris
  68. Milano
    Daniele Luppi & Parquet Courts
  69. Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
    Lewis Capaldi
  70. Wisdom Teeth
    Jealous of the Birds
  71. Nūr
    Dua Saleh
  72. Highway Hypnosis
    Sneaks
  73. Remind Me Tomorrow
    Sharon Van Etten
  74. Ocean Club '77
    Alex Chilton
  75. Dennis 6e
    Serengeti
  76. Sunshine Rock
    Bob Mould

Vibe: The 30 Best Albums of 2019

05 January 2020

Shea Butter Baby - Ari Lennox

Vibe Magazine: The 30 Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2018 • 2017]

  1. Shea Butter Baby
    Ari Lennox
  2. The Plugs I Met
    Benny the Butcher
  3. The Lion King: The Gift
    Beyoncé
  4. Homecoming: The Live Album
    Beyoncé
  5. African Giant
    Burna Boy
  6. KIRK
    DaBaby
  7. CASE STUDY 01
    Daniel Caesar
  8. uknowhatimsayin¿
    Danny Brown
  9. Hot Pink
    Doja Cat
  10. Revenge of the Dreamers III
    Dreamville
  11. Bandana
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
  12. Diaspora
    GoldLink
  13. Drip or Drown 2
    Gunna
  14. LEGACY! LEGACY!
    Jamila Woods
  15. El Capo
    Jim Jones
  16. Gilda
    Kemba
  17. May the Lord Watch
    Little Brother
  18. Painted
    Lucky Daye
  19. Kiwanuka
    Michael Kiwanuka
  20. Jimmy Lee
    Raphael Saadiq
  21. Eve
    Rapsody
  22. Port of Miami 2
    Rick Ross
  23. Chasing Summer
    SiR
  24. - Ugh, those feels again
    Snoh Aalegra
  25. When I Get Home
    Solange
  26. Over It
    Summer Walker
  27. IGOR
    Tyler, The Creator
  28. Wow... That's Crazy
    Wale
  29. So Much Fun
    Young Thug
  30. The Lost Boy
    YBN Cordae

NPR Music: Robin Hilton: Best Albums of 2019

04 January 2020

Remind Me Tomorrow - Sharon Van Etten

Robin Hilton: Best Albums of 2019, as posted by NPR

[see also 2017]

  1. Remind Me Tomorrow
    Sharon Van Etten
  2. Norman Fucking Rockwell!
    Lana Del Rey
  3. PROTO
    Holly Herndon
  4. Death is a Warm Blanket
    Microwave
  5. what we say in private
    Ada Lea
  6. Titanic Rising
    Weyes Blood
  7. Olympic Girls
    Tiny Ruins
  8. Four of Arrows
    Great Grandpa
  9. Karaoke Angel
    Molly Sarlé
  10. Trophy
    Kate Davis

NPR Music: Bob Boilen: Best Albums of 2019

04 January 2020

Two Hands - Big Thief

Bob Boilen: Best Albums of 2019, as posted by NPR

[see also 2021 • 2018 • 2017 • 2011]

  1. Two Hands
    Big Thief
  2. U.F.O.F.
    Big Thief
  3. All Mirrors
    Angel Olsen
  4. Better Oblivion Community Center
    Better Oblivion Community Center
  5. Designer
    Aldous Harding
  6. The Livelong Day
    Lankum
  7. Ilana (The Creator)
    Mdou Moctar
  8. Trophy
    Kate Davis
  9. Like the River Loves the Sea
    Joan Shelley
  10. Rwanda, You Should Be Loved
    The Good Ones

NPR Music: Ann Powers: Favorite Albums of 2019

04 January 2020

The Oracle - Angel Bat Dawid

Ann Powers: Favorite Albums of 2019, as posted by NPR

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2017 • 2016 • 2011]

  1. The Oracle
    Angel Bat Dawid
  2. Silences
    Adia Victoria
  3. The Jungle Is the Only Way Out
    Mereba
  4. Deserted
    Mekons
  5. Love Will Find a Way
    Philip Bailey
  6. Love and Liberation
    Jazzmeia Horn
  7. Terms of Surrender
    Hiss Golden Messenger
  8. Oneness
    Matthew Halsall
  9. Faulkner County
    Erin Enderlin
  10. The Gospel According to Water
    Joe Henry

American Songwriter: Top 25 Albums of 2019

01 January 2020

American Songwriter: Top 25 Albums of 2019, listed alphabetically

[see also 2020 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2012 • 2011]

Other Great Albums of 2019

XXL: 50 of the Best Hop-Hop Projects of 2019

31 December 2019

Cuz I Love You - Lizzo

XXL: 50 of the Best Hop-Hop Projects of 2019

[see also 2020]

Under the Radar: Top 100 Albums of 2019

31 December 2019

All Mirrors - Angel Olsen

Under the Radar: Top 100 Albums of 2019

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2011]

  1. All Mirrors
    Angel Olsen
  2. Titanic Rising
    Weyes Blood
  3. Ghosteen
    Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
  4. Anima
    Thom Yorke
  5. Eraserland
    Strand of Oaks
  6. Miss Universe
    Nilüfer Yanya
  7. Remind Me Tomorrow
    Sharon Van Etten
  8. Keepsake
    Hatchie
  9. U.F.O.F.
    Big Thief
  10. Fibs
    Anna Meredith
  11. Purple Mountains
    Purple Mountains
  12. Lost Girls
    Bat for Lashes
  13. Anak Ko
    Jay Som
  14. Magdalene
    FKA twigs
  15. Two Hands
    Big Thief
  16. Father of the Bride
    Vampire Weekend
  17. It Won/t Be like This All the Time
    The Twilight Sad
  18. Crushing
    Julia Jacklin
  19. Norman Fucking Rockwell!
    Lana Del Rey
  20. A New Illusion
    Rose Elinor Dougall
  21. The Practice of Love
    Jenny Hval
  22. Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?
    Deerhunter
  23. Designer
    Aldous Harding
  24. I Am Easy to Find
    The National
  25. Beware of the Dogs
    Stella Donnelly
  26. Any Human Friend
    Marika Hackman
  27. This Is Not a Safe Place
    Ride
  28. On the Line
    Jenny Lewis
  29. When I Get Home
    Solange
  30. Schlagenheim
    black midi
  31. At the Party with My Brown Friends
    Black Belt Eagle Scout
  32. Giants of All Sizes
    Elbow
  33. Deceiver
    DIIV
  34. Kiwanuka
    Michael Kiwanuka
  35. Jaime
    Brittany Howard
  36. Patience
    Mannequin Pussy
  37. The Center Won't Hold
    Sleater-Kinney
  38. i,i
    Bon Iver
  39. Reward
    Cate Le Bon
  40. My Finest Work Yet
    Andrew Bird
  41. IGOR
    Tyler, The Creator
  42. Closer to Grey
    Chromatics
  43. The Best of Luck Club
    Alex Lahey
  44. Cuz I Love You
    Lizzo
  45. Dogrel
    Fontaines D.C.
  46. SASAMI
    SASAMI
  47. Brickbat
    Piroshka
  48. Better Oblivion Community Center
    Better Oblivion Community Center
  49. Diviner
    Hayden Thorpe
  50. The Talkies
    Girl Band
  51. Charli
    Charli XCX
  52. Bandana
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
  53. uknowhatimsayin¿
    Danny Brown
  54. Office Politics
    The Divine Comedy
  55. Ode to Joy
    Wilco
  56. Nothing Great About Britain
    slowthai
  57. American Football (LP3)
    American Football
  58. Forever Turned Around
    Whitney
  59. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
    Billie Eilish
  60. Health
    C Duncan
  61. Metronomy Forever
    Metronomy
  62. Twelve Nudes
    Ezra Furman
  63. Serfs Up!
    The Fat White Family
  64. House of Sugar
    (Sandy) Alex G
  65. Part 2 Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost
    Foals
  66. Late Night Feelings
    Mark Ronson
  67. Memory Emotion
    Electric Youth
  68. Animated Violence Mild
    Blanck Mass
  69. Distress Signals
    Earthquake Lights
  70. The Competition
    Lower Dens
  71. Don't You Think You've Had Enough?
    Bleached
  72. Vagabon
    Vagabon
  73. Return to Center
    Kirin J Callinan
  74. Hot Motion
    Temples
  75. Birth of Violence
    Chelsea Wolfe
  76. Miami Memory
    Alex Cameron
  77. Lost Wisdom, Pt. 2
    Mount Eerie feat. Julie Doiron
  78. Pang
    Caroline Polachek
  79. Quiet Signs
    Jessica Pratt
  80. Young Enough
    Charly Bliss
  81. Grim Town
    SOAK
  82. LEGACY! LEGACY!
    Jamila Woods
  83. No Geography
    The Chemical Brothers
  84. Girl
    Girl Ray
  85. A Bath Full of Ecstasy
    Hot Chip
  86. The Soft Cavalry
    The Soft Cavalry
  87. Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest
    Bill Callahan
  88. Both-And
    Luke Temple
  89. Until The Tide Creeps In
    Penelope Isles
  90. Wheeltappers and Shunters
    Clinic
  91. Atlanta Millionaires Club
    Faye Webster
  92. Emily Alone
    Florist
  93. Part 1 Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost
    Foals
  94. This Is How You Smile
    Helado Negro
  95. Dissolution
    Jaakko Eino Kalevi
  96. Jules
    Julien Chang
  97. No Home Record
    Kim Gordon
  98. All My Heroes Are Cornballs
    JPEGMAFIA
  99. PROTO
    Holly Herndon
  100. GREY Area
    Little Simz

Tyler Andere: Favorite Albums of 2019

30 December 2019

Remember the Silver - Emily Yacina

Tyler Andere: Favorite Albums of 2019, as posted to Medium in no particular order

Jordan Cronk: Top 30 Albums of 2019

30 December 2019

Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains

Jordan Cronk: Top 30 Albums of 2019, as posted to Twitter

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2018 • 2017 • 2016]

  1. Purple Mountains
    Purple Mountains
  2. Norman Fucking Rockwell!
    Lana Del Rey
  3. PROTO
    Holly Herndon
  4. basking in the glow
    Oso Oso
  5. House of Sugar
    (Sandy) Alex G
  6. No Home Record
    Kim Gordon
  7. Main Pop Girl 2019
    Default Genders
  8. American Football (LP3)
    American Football
  9. Agora
    Fennesz
  10. Baroo
    Carl Stone
  11. Ghosteen
    Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
  12. Remembering the Rockets
    Strange Ranger
  13. Field Whispers (Into the Crystal Palace)
    Fire-Toolz
  14. Export
    Rap
  15. The Practice of Love
    Jenny Hval
  16. Schlagenheim
    black midi
  17. Magdalene
    FKA twigs
  18. Four of Arrows
    Great Grandpa
  19. Immunity
    Clairo
  20. Lost Wisdom, Pt. 2
    Mount Eerie feat. Julie Doiron
  21. At the Party with My Brown Friends
    Black Belt Eagle Scout
  22. Emily Alone
    Florist
  23. Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest
    Bill Callahan
  24. 1000 gecs
    100 gecs
  25. U.F.O.F.
    Big Thief
  26. Two Hands
    Big Thief
  27. Dogrel
    Fontaines D.C.
  28. Soft Landing
    Sandro Perri
  29. Life Metal
    Sunn O)))
  30. Pyroclasts
    Sunn O)))
  31. Crush
    Floating Points
  32. This (Is What I Wanted to Tell You)
    Lambchop

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Year-end lists are fingerprints; aggregate statistics are smudges. Therefore, I make no tallies.