Year-End Lists

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

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2018 • 2017 • 2011]

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

Pitchfork: The 50 Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

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

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

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013]

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

25 Other Favorites

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

The Atlantic: The 18 Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2020 • 2018]

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

Ken Tucker: Top 10 Albums of 2019, as aired on NPR’s Fresh Air

[see also 2020 • 2018]

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

PopMatters: The 70 Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2018 • 2017 • 2012 • 2011]

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

Flood Magazine: The Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014]

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

Jennifer Lucy Allan: Favourite Albums of 2019, as published by The Quietus

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020]

1. Reach the Endless Sea
   Tunes of Negation
2. Odds Against Tomorrow
   Bill Orcutt
3. Lifetime
   Klein
4. Trotula
   Viridian Ensemble
5. In the past only geniuses were capable of staging the perfect crime (also known as a revolution) Today anybody can accomplish their aims with the push of the button
   Keiji Haino / Jim O’Rourke / Oren Ambarchi
6. Sound of Turning Earth
   Kumio Kurachi
7. Vortex Veering Back to Venus
   Mosquitoes
8. The Deontic Miracle: Selections from 100 Models of Hegikan Roku
   Catherine Christer Hennix
9. Father Fugue
   Nour Mobarak
10. Essaka Hoisa
    WaqWaq Kingdom

Greg Kot: The Best Albums of 2019, as published by The Chicago Tribune and aired on Sound Opinions

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. LEGACY! LEGACY!
   Jamila Woods
2. Jimmy Lee
   Raphael Saadiq
3. Ghosteen
   Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4. Kiwanuka
   Michael Kiwanuka
5. Remind Me Tomorrow
   Sharon Van Etten
6. Hiding Places
   Billy Woods & Kenny Segal
7. Sound & Fury
   Sturgill Simpson
8. Kills Birds
   Kills Birds
9. Anima Mysterium
   Yugen Blakrok
10. Night of the Worm Moon
    Shana Cleveland

The Next 10

• Trust In The Lifeforce Of The Deep Mystery
  The Comet Is Coming
• Psychodrama
  Dave
• Crushing
  Julia Jacklin
• Jaime
  Brittany Howard
• Boat
  Pip Blom
• On the Line
  Jenny Lewis
• Deserted
  Mekons
• Covert Contracts
  Control Top
• Like the River Loves the Sea
  Joan Shelley
• Ticker
  Pist Idiots

Chris Willman: The Best Albums of 2019, as published by Variety

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2018]

1. Lover
   Taylor Swift
1. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
   Billie Eilish
1. The Highwomen
   The Highwomen
4. Help Us Stranger
   The Raconteurs
5. In the Morse Code of Brake Lights
   The New Pornographers
6. Thanks for the Dance
   Leonard Cohen
7. GIRL
   Maren Morris
8. Walk Through Fire
   Yola
9. thank u, next
   Ariana Grande
10. Amidst the Chaos
    Sara Bareilles

Not to mention

• Western Stars
  Bruce Springsteen
• While I'm Livin'
  Tanya Tucker
• Father of the Bride
  Vampire Weekend
• there is no Other
  Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi
• Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  Lana Del Rey
• Front Porch
  Joy Williams
• On the Line
  Jenny Lewis
• Blood
  Allison Moorer
• This Land
  Gary Clark Jr.
• Gold Past Life
  Fruit Bats
• Wildcard
  Miranda Lambert
• LEGACY! LEGACY!
  Jamila Woods
• TEXAS
  Rodney Crowell
• Open Book
  Kalie Shorr
• IGOR
  Tyler, The Creator
• Threads
  Sheryl Crow
• Let It Roll
  Midland
• Heard It In A Past Life
  Maggie Rogers