My Favourite Albums of 2019: Emotions Unpacked

Before diving into the year's top picks, let's take a quick mental game: I'll give you three album names and artists, and you can guess which album cover matches each one.

Here are the covers for each album to help you guess:

Got your picks? Great! If you had guessed correctly, you’ve identified my absolute favourites from 2019. Let's explore them starting with the dizzily depressing and ending on a positively positive note.

Her and all of my friends - Ritt Momney

This is the debut album from Ritt Momney, who gained popularity with his cover of 'Put Your Records On.' However, this album is a far cry from that upbeat track, and it's incredibly sad.

Jack Rutter, the creator behind Ritt Momney, was raised a Mormon in Salt Lake City. He drifted away from his faith during late high school. After high school, his friends moved interstate for their missionary work, and his girlfriend left for college. This album captures the grief and confusion of losing touch with friends and a girlfriend.

The lyrical content is deeply personal, and each track leaves a profound impact. In particular, the track 'If the Book Doesn’t Sell' is a narrative so well spun that it can be perfectly visualized, encapsulating the story vividly. The instrumentation is minimal yet effective, enhancing the emotional depth of the song.

Hello, this album hints at a continuous narrative with tracks titled 'I,' 'II,' and 'III.' However, it doesn't fit the traditional concept album mold. Instead, it reads like the diary entries of 2019, revealing Rutter's innermost thoughts and emotions.

The most honest and introspective moments come in 'III,' where Rutter confesses, 'I can sing to a crowd much more honestly than I can talk to my mom.' This honesty is the reason why 'Her and all of my friends' is my favourite album of 2019. Ritt Momney is an outlet that Rutter needed, providing a space for raw and authentic introspection.

The First Glass Beach Album - Glass Beach

When you listen to Glass Beach, you can’t help but think, 'Yep, it's the first Glass Beach album.' The band has a unique approach, much like Ritt Momney, they don't provide much backstory about their work, leaving you to do the thinking.

The opener, 'Classic J Dies and Goes to Hell Part 1,' is an excellent example of Glass Beach's creativity. This is a fusion of lo-fi and punk rock, which seems like an impossible blend but works surprisingly well. Tracks like 'Bedroom Community' and 'Cold Weather' showcase Classic J's raw emotion, while 'Bone Skull' and 'Dallas' give the band some breathing room to showcase their talent.

A special mention goes to 'Classic J Dies and Goes to Hell Part 1.' I love playing it on the piano, and I'm eagerly waiting to see other interpretations of this song. If you're a guitarist or pianist with enough finger speed, give it a try!

Fuzzybrain - Dayglow

Before delving into the album, let’s comment on Sloan Struble, the sole creative behind Fuzzybrain. Sloan Struble radiates good vibes through every interview, performance, and video he puts out. It's clear that he loves making music and is genuinely stoked to exist.

Dayglow has been putting out some excellent singles leading up to his sophomore album 'Harmony House,' with recent tracks like 'Something' overflowing with poppy playfulness. 'Fuzzybrain' sets the tone with clever lyrics that feel reminiscent of high school, paired with some of the most infectious instrumentation out there.

While 'Fuzzybrain' is not a sad album, it has only one sad song, 'Dear Friend.' This side of Dayglow proves that Struble has the capability to make you cry, adding depth to his range. The quality of singles for Harmony House is shaping up to be even better, so keep an eye out for it in late May.

In conclusion, 2019 was a memorable year for me in terms of album releases. Each of these albums has touched me in different ways, reflecting the emotions and experiences of the time.