Top Albums of 2019: Staff Picks

Jaya Chakka·
Featured On KJHKMusic

Well, folks, it’s official… 2019 is drawing to a close. It’s been one heck of a year, packed full with some fantastic music to close out the decade. Per custom, we asked our music and executive staff members to scour their brains and come up with some of their favorite albums that released this year. Check out everyone’s picks below!

Jaya Chakka

  1. Hozier – Wasteland, Baby!
  2. Common Holly – When I Say to You Black Lightning
  3. Florist – Emily, Alone
  4. (Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar
  5. FKA Twigs – MAGDALENE
  6. Hovvdy – Heavy Lifter
  7. Jay Som – Anak Ko
  8. Black Belt Eagle Scout – At the Party With My Brown Friends
  9. girl in red – beginnings (chapters 1+2)
  10. Kishi Bashi – Omoiyari

Kade Schoenfeldt

  1. PUP – Morbid Stuff
  2. black midi – Schlagenheim
  3. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
  4. JPEGMAFIA – All My Heroes are Cornballs
  5. FONTAINES D.C. – Dogrel
  6. Danny Brown uknowhatimsayin¿
  7. Bon Iver – i,i
  8. Little Simz – GREY Area
  9. DIIV – Deceiver
  10. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR

Cole Billings

  1. Thaiboy Digital – Legendary Member
  2. Plant 9000 – Hello Jello
  3. Deaton Chris Anthony – BO Y
  4. (Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar
  5. Mount Eerie & Julie Dorion – Lost Wisdom, Pt. 2
  6. Earl Sweatshirt – FEET OF CLAY
  7. Horse Jumper of Love – So Divine
  8. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  9. Injury Reserve – Injury Reserve
  10. Girlpool – What Chaos is Imaginary

Nick Simpson

  1. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  2. Billie Eilish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
  3. Carly Rae Jepsen – Dedicated
  4. Yola – Walk Through Fire
  5. Flume – Hi This is Flume (Mixtape)
  6. Taylor Swift – Lover Boy
  7. Kevin Abstract – ARIZONA BABY
  8. Olivia Barton – I Could Have Smiled at You More
  9. BROCKHAMPTON – GINGER
  10. Lizzo – Cuz I Love You

Ji Perez

  1. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  2. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  3. Ariana Grande – thank u, next
  4. Billie Eilish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
  5. Men I Trust – Oncle Jazz
  6. Hozier – Wasteland, Baby!
  7. Wallows – Nothing Happens
  8. dodie – Human
  9. Taylor Swift – Lover
  10. Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride

Bailey Tredway

  1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
  2. Injury Reserve – Injury Reserve
  3. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  4. Divino Niño – Foam
  5. Jay Som – Anak Ko
  6. BROCKHAMPTON – GINGER
  7. James Blake – Assume Form
  8. Night Moves – Can You Really Find Me
  9. Girlpool – What Chaos is Imaginary
  10. Maggie Rogers – Heard it in a Past Life

Cooper Hart

  1. Rich Brian – The Sailor
  2. YBN Cordae – The Lost Boy
  3. Wale – Wow… That’s Crazy
  4. Rich the Kid – The World is Yours 2
  5. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  6. Childish Major – Dirt Road Diamond
  7. DaBaby – KIRK
  8. Post Malone – Hollywood’s Bleeding
  9. Chance the Rapper – The Big Day
  10. Kanye West – JESUS IS KING

Patrick Sullivan

  1. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  2. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
  3. YBN Cordae – The Lost Boy
  4. Midland – Let It Roll
  5. Dreamville – Revenge of the Dreamers III
  6. Tyler Childers – Country Squire
  7. Anderson .Paak – Ventura
  8. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  9. The Avett Brothers – Closer Than Together
  10. Danny Brown – uknowhatimsayin¿

Nicole Mitchell

  1. Faye Webster – Atlanta Millionaire’s Club
  2. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  3. FKA Twigs – MAGDALENE
  4. Angel Olsen – All Mirrors
  5. Billie Eilish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
  6. Bon Iver – i,i
  7. Lizzo  Cuz I Love You
  8. Kim Petras – Clarity
  9. MARINA – Love + Fear
  10. Banks – III

Jack Bryan

  1. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Infest the Rats’ Nest
  2. black midi – Schlagenheim
  3. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  4. Weatherday – Come In
  5. Lightning Bolt – Sonic Citadel
  6. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
  7. Tropical Fuck Storm – Braindrops
  8. Xiu Xiu – Girl With Basket of Fruit
  9. Kevin and the Bikes – Dorkcore 101
  10. glass beach – the first glass beach album

Amy Shea

  1. PUP – Morbid Stuff
  2. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Fishing for Fishies
  3. Black Marble – Bigger than Life
  4. Peaer – A Healthy Earth
  5. Horse Jumper of Love – So Divine
  6. Dehd – Water
  7. Boy Harsher – Careful 
  8. Danny Brown – uknowhatimsayin¿
  9. Girlpool – What Chaos is Imaginary
  10. Macseal – Super Enthusiast

Ansley Gomez

  1. PUP – Morbid Stuff 
  2. Chance the Rapper – The Big Day
  3. Post Malone – Hollywood’s Bleeding
  4. Flume – Hi This is Flume (Mixtape)
  5. Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride
  6. Rex Orange County – Pony
  7. Kanye West – JESUS IS KING
  8. Ariana Grande – thank u, next
  9. Jonas Brothers – Happiness Begins
  10. Weezer – Weezer (Black Album)

Patrick Kennedy

  1. (Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar
  2. Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
  3. Nilüfer Yanya – Miss Universe
  4. Horse Jumper of Love – So Divine
  5. Mannequin Pussy – Patience
  6. Hovvdy – Heavy Lifter
  7. King Princess – Cheap Queen
  8. Caroline Polachek – Pang
  9. Grace Ives – 2nd
  10. Mess – Learning How to Talk

Quinn Leyda

  1. FONTAINES D.C. – Dogrel
  2. (Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar
  3. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  4. Nilüfer Yanya – Miss Universe
  5. Little Simz – GREY Area
  6. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  7. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
  8. Bon Iver – i,i
  9. Danny Brown – uknowhatimsayin¿
  10. JPEGMAFIA – All My Heroes Are Cornballs

Matthew Stratton

  1. Thom Yorke – ANIMA
  2. black midi – Schlagenheim
  3. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  4. Cattle Decapitation – Death Atlas
  5. Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs
  6. FONTAINES D.C. – Dogrel
  7. Orville Peck – Pony
  8. JPEGMAFIA – All My Heroes Are Cornballs
  9. Billie Eilish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO
  10. PUP – Morbid Stuff

Hannah Spielberg

  1. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  2. Allah-Lahs – Lahs
  3. (Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar
  4. Steve Lacy – Apollo XXI
  5. Michael Kiwanuka – KIWANUKA
  6. Bon Iver – i,i
  7. BROCKHAMPTON – GINGER
  8. Twin Peaks – Lookout Low
  9. FONTAINES D.C. – Dogrel
  10. Deerhunter – Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared?

Jacquelyn McKay

  1. Ariana Grande – thank u, next
  2. Summer Walker – Over It
  3. DaBaby – KIRK
  4. Megan Thee Stallion – Fever
  5. Daniel Caesar – Case Study 01
  6. Melanie Martinez – K-12
  7. Juice Wrld – Death Race For Love
  8. Mahalia – Love & Compromise
  9. Snoh Aaelgra – Ugh, those feels again 
  10.  Khalid – Free Spirit

Fabian Rosales

  1. Blood Orange – Angel’s Pulse
  2. FKA Twigs – MAGDALENE
  3. Injury Reserve – Injury Reserve
  4. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  5. WILLOW – WILLOW
  6. BROCKHAMPTON – GINGER
  7. Kevin Abstract – ARIZONA BABY
  8. Bon Iver – i,i
  9. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  10. Earl Sweatshirt – FEET OF CLAY

Claire Monroe

  1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
  2. 100 gecs – 1000 gecs
  3. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
  4. Mount Eerie & Julie Dorion – Lost Wisdom, Pt. 2
  5. Prude – Tease
  6. Girlpool – What Chaos is Imaginary
  7. Ok O’Clock – Parental Guidance
  8. Arthur Russel – Iowa Dream
  9. Drugdealer – Raw Honey
  10. William Basinski – On Time Out of Time

Kilian Willems

  1. Richard Dawson – 2020
  2. 100 gecs – 1000 gecs
  3. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  4. Weatherday – Come In
  5. Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride
  6. Caroline Polachek – Pang
  7. (Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar
  8. Foals – Part 1 Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost
  9. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  10. The National – I Am Easy To Find

Dawson Frick

  1. The Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger
  2. Angel Olsen – All Mirrors
  3. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Infest the Rats’ Nest
  4. Tyler, the Creator – Igor
  5. Tool – Fear Inoculum
  6. Thom Yorke – Anima
  7. White Reaper – You Deserve Love
  8. Billie Eilish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
  9. Cage the Elephant – Social Cues
  10. PUP – Morbid Stuff

Deegan Poores

  1. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  2. Young Thug – So Much Fun
  3. CHAI – PUNK
  4. Denzel Curry – ZUU
  5. Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains
  6. Jamila Woods – LEGACY! LEGACY!
  7. FKA Twigs – MAGDALENE
  8. Blood Incantation – Hidden History of the Human Race
  9. Solange – When I Get Home
  10. Big Thief – Two Hands

Markus Becerra

  1. Madeon – Good Faith
  2. BROCKHAMPTON-GINGER
  3. CHARLI XCX – Charli
  4. Flume – Hi, This is Flume
  5. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  6. Denzel Curry – ZUU
  7. FKA Twigs – MAGDALENE
  8. Ariana Grande – thank u, next
  9. Kevin Abstract – ARIZONA BABY
  10. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib- Bandana

Miranda Roberts

  1. FKA Twigs – MAGDALENE
  2. Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs
  3. The National – I Am Easy to Find
  4. Kate Tempest – The Book of Traps and Lessons
  5. Solange – When I Get Home
  6. Nilüfer Yanya – Miss Universe
  7. Better Oblivion Community Centre – Better Oblivion Community Centre
  8. Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
  9. Boy Harsher – Careful
  10. PUP – Morbid Stuff

Sophie Johnson

  1. Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
  2. Grace Ives – 2nd
  3. Sudan Archives – Athena
  4. BROCKHAMPTON – GINGER
  5. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
  6. Julia Jacklin – Crushing
  7. (Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar
  8. Divino Niño – Foam
  9. Slowthai – Nothing Great About Britain
  10. Girlpool – What Chaos is Imaginary

Sophie Shawver

  1. Kevin Morby – Oh My God
  2. BROCKHAMPTON – GINGER
  3. Alex Cameron – Miami Memory
  4. Devendra Banhart – Ma
  5. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
  6. Angel Olsen – All Mirrors
  7. Aldous Harding – Designer
  8. Orville Peck – Pony
  9. Slowthai – Nothing Great About Britain
  10. Vagabon – Vagabon

Arman Alhosseini

  1. Billie Eilish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
  2. DaBaby – Kirk
  3. Denzel Curry – ZUU
  4. Harry Styles – Fine Line
  5. Post Malone – Hollywood’s Bleeding
  6. Ariana Grande – thank u, next
  7. Ramin Djawadi – Game of Thrones: Season 8
  8. Lil Nas X – 7 [EP]
  9. Moneybagg Yo – 43va Heartless
  10. DaBaby – Baby on Baby

Karsan Turner

  1. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
  2. Ariel Pink – Odditties Sodomies Vol. 2
  3. Drab Majesty – Modern Mirror
  4. Boy Harsher – Careful
  5. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Loverboy
  6. Cows on Hourglass Pond – Avey Tare
  7. Gary R. Wilson & R. Stevie Moore – Fake News Trending
  8. Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle: The First Recordings
  9. Panda Bear – Buoys
  10. LCD Soundsystem – Electric Lady Sessions

Benji Bloom

  1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
  2. Baby Keem – DIE FOR MY BITCH
  3. Blood Orange – Angel’s Pulse
  4. Steve Lacy – Apollo XXI
  5. Benny the Butcher – Plugs I Met
  6. Grace Ives – 2nd 
  7. Pivot Gang – You Can’t Sit With Us
  8. Goldlink – Diaspora
  9. Anderson .Paak – Ventura
  10. Denzel Curry – ZUU

Erin Bugee

  1. Boy Harsher – Careful
  2. Graduation – Sleepy Dog
  3. Toro y Moi – Outer Peace
  4. (Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar
  5. Sneaks – Highway Hypnosis
  6. SASAMI – SASAMI
  7. Steve Lacy – Apollo XXI
  8. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  9. Angel Olsen – All Mirrors
  10. Stereo Total – Ah! Quel Cinema!

Kalekidan Yeshiwas

  1. Crumb – Jinx
  2. Still Woozy – Lately
  3. Billie Eilish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
  4. Clairo – Immunity 
  5. BROCKHAMPTON – GINGER
  6. Anderson .Paak – Ventura
  7. Omar Apollo – Friends
  8. Rico Nasty and Kenny Beats – Anger Management
  9. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  10. Hana Vu – Anne Hathaway // Nicole Kidman

Cami Koons

  1. Julia Jacklin – Crushing
  2. Girlpool – What Chaos is Imaginary?
  3. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  4. Nilüfer Yanya – Miss Universe
  5. Orville Peck – Pony
  6. SASAMI – SASAMI
  7. Angel Olsen – All Mirrors
  8. Crumb – Jinx
  9. Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs
  10. Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow

Lane Hornback

  1. Steve Lacy – Apollo XXI
  2. Toro y Moi – Soul Trash
  3. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR
  4. IDK – Is He Real?
  5. Blood Orange – Angel’s Pulse
  6. Cuco – Para Mi
  7. Denzel Curry – ZUU
  8. Angel Olsen – All Mirrors
  9. Danny Brown – uknowhatimsayin¿
  10. Crumb – Jinx

Elliott Boog-Scott

  1. Toro y Moi – Outer Peace
  2. Kim Gordon – No Home Record
  3. FKA Twigs – MAGDALENE
  4. Maxo Kream – Brandon Banks
  5. (Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar
  6. Empath – Active Listening: Night On Earth
  7. MAVI – Let the Sun Talk
  8. 100 gecs – 1000 gecs
  9. LUCKI – Days B4 III
  10. Mannequin Pussy – Patience

Brian Locasio

  1. Ben Platt – Sing to Me Instead
  2. Ariana Grande – thank u, next
  3. Brittany Howard – Jaime
  4. Hozier – Wasteland, Baby!
  5. Lizzo – Cuz I Love You
  6. Billie Eilish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
  7. Rex Orange County – Pony
  8. Dorian Electra – Flamboyant
  9. Maggie Rogers – Heard it in a Past Life
  10. MUNA – Saves the World

Fengxue Zhang

  1. Abhi The Nomad – Modern Trash
  2. FKA Twigs – MAGDALENE
  3. Billie Eillish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
  4. King Princess – Cheap Queen
  5. Maggie Rogers – Heard it in a Past Life
  6. Gary Clark Jr. – This Land
  7. Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
  8. Raffaella – Ballerina
  9. Sasha Sloan – Self Portrait
  10. Ariana Grande – thank u, next