Amanda Petrusich: The Best Music of 2019, as published by The New Yorker

[see also 2018, 2017, 2010s]

• FKA twigs — Magdalene
• Mdou Moctar — Ilana (The Creator)
• 75 Dollar Bill — I Was Real
• Sharon Van Etten — Remind Me Tomorrow
• Bon Iver — i,i
• Big Thief — Two Hands
• Purple Mountains — Purple Mountains
• Burna Boy — African Giant
• Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
• Thom Yorke — Anima
• Jake Xerxes Fussell — Out of Sight
• Maggie Rogers — Heard It In A Past Life

Billboard: The 50 Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010s]

1. Ariana Grande — thank u, next
2. Billie Eilish — When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
3. Taylor Swift — Lover
4. Lizzo — Cuz I Love You
5. Maggie Rogers — Heard It In A Past Life
6. Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
7. Tyler, The Creator — IGOR
8. The Highwomen — The Highwomen
9. DaBaby — KIRK
10. J Balvin & Bad Bunny — Oasis
11. Vampire Weekend — Father of the Bride
12. Beyoncé — Homecoming: The Live Album
13. Post Malone — Hollywood's Bleeding
14. Burna Boy — African Giant
15. Angel Olsen — All Mirrors
16. Jonas Brothers — Happiness Begins
17. Brittany Howard — Jaime
18. Mark Ronson — Late Night Feelings
19. FKA twigs — Magdalene
20. Carly Rae Jepsen — Dedicated
21. Summer Walker — Over It
22. Clairo — Immunity
23. Megan Thee Stallion — Fever
24. Karol G — Ocean
25. YBN Cordae — The Lost Boy
26. Maren Morris — GIRL
27. Solange — When I Get Home
28. Sharon Van Etten — Remind Me Tomorrow
29. Rapsody — Eve
30. Bruce Springsteen — Western Stars
31. Bad Bunny — X 100PRE
32. Khalid — Free Spirit
33. Ari Lennox — Shea Butter Baby
34. Better Oblivion Community Center — Better Oblivion Community Center
35. Sturgill Simpson — Sound & Fury
36. Jamila Woods — LEGACY! LEGACY!
37. Maluma — 11:11
38. Luke Combs — What You See Is What You Get
39. Nilüfer Yanya — Miss Universe
40. The Raconteurs — Help Us Stranger
41. MUNA — Saves the World
42. Oso Oso — basking in the glow
43. Young Thug — So Much Fun
44. Miranda Lambert — Wildcard
45. Ozuna — Nibiru
46. Madonna — Madame X
47. Danny Brown — uknowhatimsayin¿
48. Kim Petras — Clarity
49. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Ghosteen
50. Céline Dion — Courage

NPR Music: 25 Best Albums of 2019. If it seems odd that some of NPR's favorite artists of the year aren't on this list, it's because of this rule: "no lead artist was allowed to appear on both this list and our list of the 25 Best Songs of 2019."

[see also 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011]

1. Brittany Howard — Jaime
2. Angel Olsen — All Mirrors
3. Raphael Saadiq — Jimmy Lee
4. Solange — When I Get Home
5. Aldous Harding — Designer
6. Sharon Van Etten — Remind Me Tomorrow
7. Caroline Shaw / Attacca Quartet — Orange
8. Lankum — The Livelong Day
9. Billy Woods & Kenny Segal — Hiding Places
10. Jenny Hval — The Practice of Love
11. Vagabon — Vagabon
12. Ari Lennox — Shea Butter Baby
13. Our Native Daughters — Our Native Daughters
14. Weyes Blood — Titanic Rising
15. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah — Ancestral Recall
16. Burna Boy — African Giant
17. Holly Herndon — PROTO
18. iLe — Almadura
19. Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
20. Sault — 5
21. Seattle Symphony — John Luther Adams: Become Desert
22. J Balvin & Bad Bunny — Oasis
23. Kris Davis — Diatom Ribbons
24. Tanya Tucker — While I'm Livin'
25. Tyler, The Creator — IGOR

Chris Richards: Best Music of 2019, as published by The Washington Post

[see also 2018, 2017, 2011]

1. Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
2. Angel Bat Dawid — The Oracle
3. Bill Callahan — Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest
4. Kelela — Aquaphoria
5. Jessica Pratt — Quiet Signs
6. Beyoncé — Homecoming: The Live Album
7. Goonew — Back From Hell
8. Teejayx6 — The Swipe Lessons
9. Galcher Lustwerk — Information
10. Mizmor — Cairn

Pitchfork: The 50 Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010s]

1. Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
2. FKA twigs — Magdalene
3. Big Thief — U.F.O.F.
4. Angel Olsen — All Mirrors
5. Solange — When I Get Home
6. Bad Bunny — X 100PRE
7. Helado Negro — This Is How You Smile
8. Fennesz — Agora
9. Weyes Blood — Titanic Rising
10. Purple Mountains — Purple Mountains
11. Jamila Woods — LEGACY! LEGACY!
12. Brittany Howard — Jaime
13. Big Thief — Two Hands
14. Beyoncé — Homecoming: The Live Album
15. Bill Callahan — Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest
16. Bon Iver — i,i
17. (Sandy) Alex G — House of Sugar
18. Clairo — Immunity
19. Jessica Pratt — Quiet Signs
20. Jenny Hval — The Practice of Love
21. Billie Eilish — When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
22. Cate Le Bon — Reward
23. Tyler, The Creator — IGOR
24. Kim Gordon — No Home Record
25. Vampire Weekend — Father of the Bride
26. Burna Boy — African Giant
27. Florist — Emily Alone
28. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Ghosteen
29. Ariana Grande — thank u, next
30. Oso Oso — basking in the glow
31. Mike — Tears of Joy
32. Sharon Van Etten — Remind Me Tomorrow
33. Polo G — Die a Legend
34. slowthai — Nothing Great About Britain
35. Mannequin Pussy — Patience
36. Denzel Curry — ZUU
37. Nilüfer Yanya — Miss Universe
38. Rap — Export
39. Aldous Harding — Designer
40. Thom Yorke — Anima
41. Blood Incantation — Hidden History of the Human Race
42. 100 gecs — 1000 gecs
43. Rico Nasty & Kenny Beats — Anger Management
44. Holly Herndon — PROTO
45. DaBaby — Baby on Baby
46. CHAI — Punk
47. Barker — Utility
48. Danny Brown — uknowhatimsayin¿
49. Faye Webster — Atlanta Millionaires Club
50. Floating Points — Crush

Carl Wilson: The Best Albums of 2019, as published by Slate, in alphabetical order by artist

[see also 2018, 2017, 2016]

• Better Oblivion Community Center — Better Oblivion Community Center
• Jaimie Branch — Fly or Die II: Bird Dogs of Paradise
• Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
• Billie Eilish — When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
• Brittany Howard — Jaime
• Miranda Lambert — Wildcard
• Cate Le Bon — Reward
• Purple Mountains — Purple Mountains
• Sleater-Kinney — The Center Won't Hold
• Jamila Woods — LEGACY! LEGACY!

25 Other Favorites

• Big Thief — Two Hands
• Leonard Cohen — Thanks for the Dance
• Céline Dion — Courage
• Steve Earle & The Dukes — GUY
• FKA twigs — Magdalene
• Fontaines D.C. — Dogrel
• Kim Gordon — No Home Record
• Mary Halvorson & John Dieterich — A Tangle of Stars
• Ariana Grande — thank u, next
• Carly Rae Jepsen — Dedicated
• Jenny Lewis — On the Line
• Lightning Bolt — Sonic Citadel
• Lingua Ignota — Caligula
• Mekons — Deserted
• Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom — Glitter Wolf
• Angel Olsen — All Mirrors
• Bruce Springsteen — Western Stars
• Sudan Archives — Athena
• Taylor Swift — Lover
• Tropical Fuck Storm — Braindrops
• Tanya Tucker — While I'm Livin'
• Vampire Weekend — Father of the Bride
• Weyes Blood — Titanic Rising
• Yola — Walk Through Fire
• Young Thug — So Much Fun

The Atlantic: The 18 Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2018]

• FKA twigs — Magdalene
• Burna Boy — African Giant
• Megan Thee Stallion — Fever
• Torche — Admission
• Maxo Kream — Brandon Banks
• Billie Eilish — When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
• Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
• Chris Farren — Born Hot
• Ari Lennox — Shea Butter Baby
• Barker — Utility
• Sleaford Mods — Eton Alive
• Summer Walker — Over It
• Carly Rae Jepsen — Dedicated
• DaBaby — KIRK
• 100 gecs — 1000 gecs
• Vampire Weekend — Father of the Bride
• The Highwomen — The Highwomen
• Bad Bunny — X 100PRE

Ken Tucker: Top 10 Albums of the Year, as aired on NPR’s Fresh Air

[see also 2018]

1. Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
2. Lizzo — Cuz I Love You
3. Billie Eilish — When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
4. Carsie Blanton — Buck Up
5. Megan Thee Stallion — Fever
6. Carly Rae Jepsen — Dedicated
7. Maren Morris — GIRL
8. Beyoncé — Homecoming: The Live Album
9. Sharon Van Etten — Remind Me Tomorrow
10. Jenny Lewis — On the Line

Flood Magazine: The Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2018, 2017]

1. Weyes Blood — Titanic Rising
2. Charly Bliss — Young Enough
3. FKA twigs — Magdalene
4. Angel Olsen — All Mirrors
5. Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
6. Oso Oso — basking in the glow
7. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Ghosteen
8. Denzel Curry — ZUU
9. Big Thief — Two Hands
10. (Sandy) Alex G — House of Sugar
11. PUP — Morbid Stuff
12. Mannequin Pussy — Patience
13. Jamila Woods — LEGACY! LEGACY!
14. Better Oblivion Community Center — Better Oblivion Community Center
15. Taylor Swift — Lover
16. Danny Brown — uknowhatimsayin¿
17. Vampire Weekend — Father of the Bride
18. Prince Daddy & the Hyena — Cosmic Thrill Seekers
19. Tyler, The Creator — IGOR
20. Carly Rae Jepsen — Dedicated
21. JPEGMAFIA — All My Heroes Are Cornballs
22. Bruce Springsteen — Western Stars
23. Helado Negro — This Is How You Smile
24. SASAMI — SASAMI
25. The Flaming Lips — King's Mouth: Music and Songs

PopMatters: The 70 Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2018, 2017, 2012, 2011]

1. FKA twigs — Magdalene
2. slowthai — Nothing Great About Britain
3. Lana Del Rey — Norman Fucking Rockwell!
4. Fontaines D.C. — Dogrel
5. Dave — Psychodrama
6. Jamila Woods — LEGACY! LEGACY!
7. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Ghosteen
8. Angel Olsen — All Mirrors
9. Big Thief — U.F.O.F.
10. Purple Mountains — Purple Mountains
11. Little Simz — GREY Area
12. Sharon Van Etten — Remind Me Tomorrow
13. Baroness — Gold & Grey
14. Jenny Hval — The Practice of Love
15. Underworld — DRIFT Series 1 Sampler Edition
16. Hot Chip — A Bath Full of Ecstasy
17. Jordan Rakei — Origin
18. Michael Kiwanuka — Kiwanuka
19. Rapsody — Eve
20. Jenny Lewis — On the Line
21. Kano — Hoodies All Summer
22. Gary Clark Jr. — This Land
23. Durand Jones & The Indications — American Love Call
24. Lingua Ignota — Caligula
25. Billie Eilish — When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
26. Hælos — Any Random Kindness
27. Hatchie — Keepsake
28. The National — I Am Easy to Find
29. Holly Herndon — PROTO
30. Ekiti Sound — Abeg No Vex
31. clipping. — There Existed an Addiction to Blood
32. Vanishing Twin — The Age of Immunology
33. Yola — Walk Through Fire
34. Weval — The Weight
35. JPEGMAFIA — All My Heroes Are Cornballs
36. Opeth — In Cauda Venenum
37. Brittany Howard — Jaime
38. Weyes Blood — Titanic Rising
39. Tyler, The Creator — IGOR
40. Marika Hackman — Any Human Friend
41. Mark Lanegan Band — Somebody's Knocking
42. Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi — there is no Other
43. Sampa the Great — The Return
44. Sleaford Mods — Eton Alive
45. Caroline Polachek — Pang
46. Cate Le Bon — Reward
47. Cherry Glazerr — Stuffed & Ready
48. The Twilight Sad — It Won/t Be like This All the Time
49. Sturgill Simpson — Sound & Fury
50. 100 gecs — 1000 gecs
51. Loraine James — For You and I
52. Devin Townsend — Empath
53. Blanck Mass — Animated Violence Mild
54. Lizzo — Cuz I Love You
55. Adia Victoria — Silences
56. A Winged Victory For The Sullen — The Undivided Five
57. Thom Yorke — Anima
58. Anna Meredith — Fibs
59. Boy Harsher — Careful
60. Elbow — Giants of All Sizes
61. Slayyyter — Slayyyter
62. Solange — When I Get Home
63. Jade Bird — Jade Bird
64. black midi — Schlagenheim
65. Charly Bliss — Young Enough
66. Raphael Saadiq — Jimmy Lee
67. Sleater-Kinney — The Center Won't Hold
68. The Highwomen — The Highwomen
69. Orville Peck — Pony
70. Angel Bat Dawid — The Oracle