The Alt’s Best of Summer 2019 Playlist
Posted: by The Editor
The Best Music of Summer 2019
With summer coming to an end, we decided to take a look back on some of our favorite albums and singles of the past couple of months. But that wasn’t enough, so we also put together a 100+ staff spotify playlist of all of our favorite tracks of summer months. ow, let’s get to the music.
Basking in the Glow by Oso Oso
Somehow improving on all the qualities that made the yunahon mixtape so great, Basking in the Glow is further proof that Jade Lilitri’s songwriting skills are unparalleled.
Cosmic Thrill Seeking Forever by Prince Daddy & The Hyena
Prince Daddy & The Hyena’s sophomore album is an audacious concept record that only gets better each time you listen to it. It’s insane to see how much this band has grown in a such a short period of time, and I for one can’t wait to see what they do next.
Remembering the Rockets by Strange Ranger
Remembering the Rockets finds Strange Ranger experimenting with keyboards, drum machines, and 90’s alt-rock on the group’s catchiest album yet.
Patience by Mannequin Pussy
Patience is everything you could want from a punk record in 2019, an album that spends as much time shredding as it does offering moments of vulnerability and true heartbreak.
A Healthy Earth by Peaer
Melding together elements of math-rock with slowcore, Peaer shine on A Healthy Earth. Tracks like “Don’t” and “Commercial” are some of the best Peaer songs to date.
ZUU by Denzel Curry
Clocking in at only 29 minutes, Denzel Curry wastes no time at all on the excellent ZUU, his wonderful ode to the music of Miami.
Emily Alone by Florist
With it’s stripped back arrangements consisting of acoustic guitar and not a whole lot else, Emily Alone is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking albums of the year.
1000 gecs by 100 gecs
I still have no idea what in the hell to make of 1000 gecs. If you were to toss a Pop Goes Punk CD in the blender and throw it back into a CD player, it would probably sound like this.
Midnight by Stef Chura
Filled with fist-pumping indie-rock anthems and produced by Will Toledo of Car Seat Headrest, Midnight is fearless and unapologetic, a stellar collection of fuzzed-out garage rock.
Immunity by Clairo
Stepping away from the bedroom-pop sound of her breakout hit “Pretty Girl”, Immunity finds Clairo and producer Rostam Batmanglij creating one of the most unconventional and enjoyable pop records of the year.
Jinx by Crumb
After a handful of excellent EP’s, Jinx is a showcase of Crumb at their most refined and accessible, a kaleidoscopic swirl of lush psych-rock and warm synths.
Bandana by Freddie Gibbs / Madlib
Bandana feels like the album Freddie Gibbs and producer Madlib were destined to make, striking the perfect balance between Gibbs’ street rhymes and Madlib’s eccentric production.
I Never Said I Didn’t Care by Cool Original
I Never Said I Didn’t Care is technically the first album by Cool Original (fka Cool American), but the album finds songwriter Nathan Tucker building on the foundation of his previous works for the projects most immediate album yet.
Camp Somewhere by Winnebago Vacation
Winnebago Vacation recreate all the excitement and sorrow of going to camp as a child on the criminally underrated Camp Somewhere.
Meaning by Field Mouse
Field Mouse return better than ever on Meaning, with the band diving deeper into lush arrangements and hazy dream-pop than ever before.
Death of the Neon by String Machine
Every second of Death of the Neon feels precise and purposeful as the shapeshifting Pittsburgh band blends elements of freak-folk, post-rock, and Midwest emo into something entirely their own.
I Spent the Winter Writing Songs About Getting Better by Proper.
Proper. don’t mince words when it comes to the difficulties and frustrations of being a person of color in the predominately white DIY scene, and I Spent the Winter Writing Songs About Getting Better is a record that is as sharp-witted as it is infectious.
Shine In My Chest by King of Heck
As evident by their fantastic debut Shine In My Chest, King of Heck are an incredibly versatile and energetic band. Made-up of equal parts intricate math-rock and face melting punk, this album most certainly rips.
Anak Ko by Jay Som
There aren’t many songwriters that can make a song as soothing as Jay Som can, and listening to Anak Ko is like getting lost inside of a daydream.
If You’re Not Afraid, I’m Not Afraid by Queen of Jeans
With producer Will Yip on the boards, Queen of Jeans come into their own on their wonderful sophomore album, fleshing out their sound into new and exciting places.
There have also been a number of great singles that have dropped over the course of these past few months, we’ve been blessed with new music by Great Grandpa, Harmony Woods, Chris Farren, Hovvdy, Vagabon, The Berries, JPEGMAFIA, Charli XCX, Big Thief, Rico Nasty, and that’s just barely scratching the surface. If you didn’t see your favorite artist or song on this list, make sure to stream our Best of the Summer playlist because I guarantee you we’ve got it covered on there, as well as a bunch of other great tunes you can check out.
THE PLAYLIST
Written by Michael Brooks // @nomichaelbrooks
Playlist curated by Steven Lalonde // @StevenLalonde
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