10) Julien Baker – Red Door
Julien Baker is one of my bigger “songwriter crushes,” not so much in the romantic sense, but from the perspective that I wish I could write from her point of view and style. Her sound often takes me back to younger or simpler years, slightly more angsty years, and her often conversational lyrics are always evocative and visual, helping you to really see and feel the situation the song is written about.
Baker did not release a record this year but she did release a handful of singles and “Red Door” was my favorite. From the opening lines, it draws you in and puts you ring-side, front and center, to whatever emotional conversation is taking place. Everything about the production just puts you in the moment and powerfully emotes.
Favorite Lines
“Gonna break your hand,
Tell me not to fight anymore,
‘Cause I feel yellow as a coward,
Pale as a flickering bulb
Outside of a liquor store”
9 ) Chainsmokers – Do You Mean
Popular EDM music may not be the sort of thing an intellectual with a blog or even a folk musician would normally appreciate but I have to admit that I have a very soft spot for electronic music. Yes, much like hip-hop, it can be difficult for a Christian to find examples from the genre that they would be comfortable listening to. And I’ll admit that many Chainsmokers songs are probably excluded by those criteria.
However, “Do You Mean” is one such catchy anthem that does meet that criteria. The premise is not a unique one, highlighting a couple that seem to be sorting through their disagreements and reconciling their communication. But the duet style, the pulsing synth accents, addictive melodies, perfect percussion; all come together to make a great example of what EDM can be, without the overt club lifestyle and normally low brow themes that permeate the space.
Favorite Lines
“Time’s up, whatcha gonna say next?
Can’t lie, what you did to me,
Put you out like a cigarette,
Put me out of misery,
‘It’s not you, it’s me’,
Come on, seriously?
Heard that once or twice before,
You got that straight from a movie”
8 ) Lady Antebellum – What If I Never Get Over You?
I’m going to warn you: 2019 was a little bit of a country-genre year for me. Don’t get me wrong, most country these days doesn’t appeal to me much, given the often repetitive themes of country roads, pickup trucks, and the overall over-the-top and unbelievability of every artist being raised in the same hometown USA environment.
But quality songs are still being written in country today if you look for them and, as uncool as it may be to say I like it, Lady Antebellum’s “What If I Never Get Over You?” is a great example. From the first listen, I had the song on repeat. And I’m a sucker for a final chorus with alternate lyrics and this song delivers there as well. Many more of Lady Antebellum’s singles this year were also very good so I think it’s fair to say that they are back, alive, and kicking in 2019.
Favorite Lines:
“What if I gave it everything I got,
What if your love was my one and only shot,
What if I end up with nothing to compare it to?
What if I never get over you?”
7 ) The Bros. Landreth – Something
Oh my. “’87”, The Bros. Landreth’s album released this year, was another one highly anticipated for me. It’s not that I love every song they’ve ever written but the artistry and guitar virtuosity of Joey Landreth, along with his great attitude and personality off-record, make me excited to root for him any chance I get. And when the songs are good, they’re really good.
So when you start up the record and get slammed in the ears with “Something” as the first track, good things are sure to follow. The sound is straight out of ’80s pop-land, like a Hall & Oates classic lifted right out of time, yet with all the modern and tight sensibilities you expect today. Every single aspect of this song hits every right note and it’s sure to get you singing along before the first chorus is over.
Favorite Lines:
“Words get stuck deep in my chest,
Call off your dogs,
I’ll confess any crime,
But don’t ask me to cry,
I only know how to run,
I don’t know how to feel anything for anyone”
6 ) Luke Combs – Moon Over Mexico
Luke Combs has had quite the year in the country music scene. He had some success before, sure, but his Prequel EP matched or surpassed records by country greats like Johnny Cash. Again, I’m not the poster child for country music fandom but when I found myself in a hot, Charleston, SC guest house, needing some music to pass the time and hit play on track #1, I instantly knew this one was special.
Rarely do I find an entire album worth of great songs but this is definitely one of them. Of course, it is an EP and it may be easier to fill 5 songs with greatness than 10 or more, but every song hits its own level of awesome here and it is a bit difficult picking a favorite. But for its simplicity and arrangement and, yes, some unrequited love, “Moon Over Mexico” wins for me. I’ve never been to Mexico but if/when I do I hope it is every bit as nice as Combs describes, though hopefully with less heartbreak.
Favorite Lines:
“Whatever that buzz was, I ain’t felt it since,
But I can’t seem to let it go,
There was a shine in the dark,
A flame from a spark,
And a lime in a Pacifico,
Under a moon over Mexico”
5 ) NF – Options
So, hip-hop has never been my music of choice. But I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for lyrical mastery and rhythmic pacing which is certainly an element to the best of the genre. Add in my penchant for visual mystery and generally melancholic storytelling and we’re firmly in the wheelhouse of “Christian” rapper, NF.
NF’s album for 2019, “The Search”, was very highly anticipated and for good reason. NF’s songs do not center around the typical hip-hop tropes of drugs, sex, or street life but moreso speak about life’s difficulties in the context of family, maturity, and striving to achieve in the current cultural environment. Sometimes “Christian” rap can feel contrived or pigeon-holed into the genre, always out of place, but these songs feel perfectly at home. As I processed the record, my favorite song seemed to change every day but “Options” is a good example here, with different rap styles in one song and an inspiring message.
Favorite Lines:
“I’m an outlaw, my brain has no fence,
Doesn’t matter either way to me ’cause even if it did
I would destroy it,
Used to be employee, now I’m employer,
Making big deals, now I gotta get lawyers,
People tell me to relax and enjoy it,
But when I kick back, I see warnings”
4 ) Mandolin Orange – Wolves
So, I’m usually pretty picky when it comes to bluegrass, bluegrass-inspired bands, Americana, etc. And I haven’t always been a fan of every effort by Mandolin Orange, their songwriting or sound. But “Wolves” was an instant like for me. I was actually very surprised that this song released as part of an album earlier this year as it always seems like I find these gems outside of their original release year.
I just think everything about this song is well done. The lead male vocalist, with his trademark drawl, the traditional bluegrass elements like mandolin, and more jam-band inspired electric guitar come together to make an altogether fantastic mash-up of vintage sounds and modern sensibilities. If only every neo-bluegrass upstart could hit this mark my playlists would be overflowing and I may not need to write music at all.
Favorite Lines:
“There she stands, so tall and mighty,
Her gaze facing the east,
At her back our doors are closing,
As we grin and bare our teeth,
On the wind the wolves are howling,
She cries they’re drawing near,
Turn around, turn around my darling,
Oh, the wolves are here”
3 ) NYE – Joseph
This slot was very difficult for me to choose. Joseph’s new album, “Good Luck, Kid”, was a highly anticipated album for me but I was initially let down by the singles. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the non-single album songs were amazing and they ended up really making the album for me. I had a hard time choosing between “Revolving Door,” which is a super retro, almost Motown song with a great feel, and “Half Truths,” a very catchy and inspirational option.
But “NYE” takes the cake for bringing a balance of pop-catchiness and clever songwriting. I think the album as a whole will be an amazing journey, especially if you’re unfamiliar with Joseph as a band. But these three songs, and “NYE” in particular, are sure to be an embarrassment of riches for listeners who love vocal harmony.
Favorite Lines:
“I, don’t really feel a whole year older now,
I’m still shaken but I’m bolder now,
I need you to hold me even closer now,
I know we’ll make it another year, though I don’t know how”
2 ) Patrick Droney – Brooklyn
So, if you follow me on Instagram, you may know that my wife surprised me with a trip to New York City for our anniversary this year. It had been a while since I’d been and having gone again and I can honestly say that I love being there. Despite its flaws, it just oozes with the fantasy of holding whatever you’re asking of it around the next corner.
Right before that trip, I just happened to come across this song, “Brooklyn” by Patrick Droney, and I was immediately taken. It ended up being something of a soundtrack to the entire trip, a perfect blend of modern production with very “John Mayer-ish” guitar work. In fact, every song on Droney’s EP is fantastic and I’m waiting anxiously for what I can only hope will be another release next year. Until then, feel free to listen to “Brooklyn” on repeat.
Favorite Lines:
“Lie in the park until dark,
And we would tell each other secret things,
Pulled our mattress up on the roof,
And we counted all the Saturn rings,
You wore my coat like a uniform,
Collar up and you rolled the sleeves,
We crossed our hearts every block,
And we swore to God that we’d never leave”
1 ) Kevin Garrett – Factor In
Oh my.
I first heard this song in crowded traffic in Northern Virginia. I’ll admit, I was a captive audience, but it was a cold listen from an earlier round of research into Charlotte music venues where I saw Garrett’s name and made a note to look him up later.
Well, one Spotify search and 20 plus listens later, I shared the song to my wife and commenced continuing to listen on repeat ad nauseam. The song is simply addictive. Garrett’s lyrical themes can be wordy, complex, hard to grasp at times, but the melody, music, lyrics, all combine in an absolute gem of a pop song that is neither over-produced nor simplistic for the style. My only complaint with the song is that it didn’t come out until September of this year. What took it so long, I don’t know, but out of the million or so streams it has achieved so far, I have to account for at least half of them.
Favorite Lines:
“‘Cuz I’ve been living off the way you react,
And I’m way too attached to it,
Don’t look at me, I’m jaded and passionate,
Can you wait till you factor in?
Always thought I felt the same,
Oh but actually you had the traction and,
One look at you and I start to crash,
Can you see the way that you factor in?”