By Massimo Usai

While 2019 wasn’t the easiest year for me personally, music was the lifeline. These aren’t just critically acclaimed albums—they are the ones that marked my soul. Below is my top 10, plus 20 honorable mentions that shaped the soundtrack of my life that year.

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🎧 1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Ghosteen

No album in 2019 came close to the spiritual and emotional depth of Ghosteen. It’s a record about grief, love, and the power of memory. Every time I hear “Waiting for You” or “Sun Forest”, I stop. It’s more than music—it’s a companion for life.

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🎧 2. Thom Yorke – ANIMA

ANIMA isn’t just an album—it’s an audiovisual experience. The Netflix short film by Paul Thomas Anderson complements the music perfectly. Haunting, cerebral, and deeply personal. “Dawn Chorus” is one of the most moving songs Yorke has ever released.

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🎧 3. The National – I Am Easy to Find

With its introspective lyrics and layered arrangements, this album felt like it was written for me. My daughter even said, “It sounds like your life, dad.” Highlights: “Where Is Her Head” and “Not in Kansas.”

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🎧 4. Konradsen – Saints and Sebastian Stories

A hidden gem from Norway. Folk, electronica, and minimalist piano blend in an album perfect for late-night reflections. Want to impress someone with your music taste? Play “Red to Rhyme”.

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🎧 5. James Blake – Assume Form

Released quietly in January, Assume Form is a lush, romantic, and vulnerable album. “Power On” became my personal anthem during a tough winter in London. Always elegant, always honest.

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🎧 6. FKA Twigs – Magdalene

The sophomore album from FKA Twigs is stunning. Dealing with heartbreak, media pressure, and identity, Magdalene is art in motion. From the album art to tracks like “Cellophane,” it’s a masterpiece of modern vulnerability.

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🎧 7. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!

Yes, she can be divisive. But this album is intimate, poetic, and mature. Lana slows things down and offers a deeply reflective record that became my quiet companion during long nights.

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🎧 8. Bon Iver – i,i

Another Bon Iver record, another emotional journey. Justin Vernon never disappoints. While i,i isn’t revolutionary, it’s warm, textured, and sincere. The comfort food of modern indie music.

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🎧 9. Big Red Machine – BRM

A collaboration between Aaron Dessner (The National) and Justin Vernon. I discovered it late, but it became a permanent fixture in my playlists. A bold, experimental debut that deserves more attention.

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🎧 10. The Japanese House – Good at Falling

Pop, synths, and emotion. Amber Bain’s debut album is perfect for springtime walks and early summer evenings. “Lilo”and “Maybe You’re the Reason” are beautiful and bittersweet.

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Honorable Mentions: 20 More Albums That Shaped 2019

Here’s a quick list of albums that didn’t make the top 10 but were part of my year’s musical landscape:

• Hyperspace – Beck
• Two Hands – Big Thief
• Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest – Bill Callahan
• Altid Sammen – Efterklang
• King’s Mouth – The Flaming Lips
• Crush – Floating Points
• Song Society / Taller – Jamie Cullum
• Legacy! Legacy! – Jamila Woods
• Ode to Joy – Wilco
• Thanks for the Dance – Leonard Cohen
• No Words Left – Lucy Rose
• Miss Universe – Nilüfer Yanya
• Atlas Internet Café – Pablo Nouvelle
• Sasami – Sasami
• Remind Me Tomorrow – Sharon Van Etten
• Titanic Rising – Weyes Blood
• Jaime – Brittany Howard
• Western Stars – Bruce Springsteen
• All Mirrors – Angel Olsen
• Kiwanuka – Michael Kiwanuka
• Immunity – Clairo
• Better Oblivion Community Center – Self-titled

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What Was Your Favorite Album of 2019?

Tell us in the comments—or better yet, send us your own list and we might feature it!
🎧 Happy New Year and happy listening! 🎶