ILM's Top 77 Tracks of 2019

I don't want to sound like erstwhile poster Sick Mouthy here but the way this is mastered makes it sound like shit, totally wrong for Chris's voice.

really liked hearing their two voices on one song

I feel like Comet Is Coming is a band I'd enjoy a lot but every time I put them on they go a bit too far down the chaotic skronk onslaught route and I end up reaching for more restrained bands like Girls In Airports or Dawn of Midi.
This is nice, but I could do without the excessive echo on the brass and the overall feeling I'm listening to the jazz equivalent of Explosions In The Sky.

This is a great song and a great album. I think Charli's turn away from the PC Music weirdness of Pop 2 has blinded some folks to the fact that she's finally cranking out some legit HITS.

explosions in the sky is a weird comp, tcic is way more chaotic even in the slower tracks

xp

the way this is mastered makes it sound like shit

that's the #aesthetic

I think Charli's turn away from the PC Music weirdness of Pop 2

weird thing to say about an album with "click" on it. pop 2 had better hooks

and the better version of "blame it on your love" ("track 10")

tbh everything Charli XCX has done since "You (Ha Ha Ha)" has been some level of disappointing to me

I know Boys winning the tracks poll a few years ago really caused the Charli backlash (although maybe it started before that?) but she's still one of my favourite artists around. I was the number one vote for Gone and I'm actually surprised to see it this high. Incredible performances from Charli and Chris as their voices blend together surprisingly well. Their chemistry in the video is so addictive and I must have watched it over a hundred times this year. That little bit where they break character at the three minute mark in particular gets me.

Bleh.

explosions in the sky is a weird comp, tcic is way more chaotic even in the slower tracks

xp

― culture of mayordom (voodoo chili), Wednesday, January 29, 2020 4:15 PM (two minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

you're right, it's not the right comparison. I'm using it as a shorthand for whatever 2000s squalling post-rock guitar bands who masked their talent with guitar pedals. Clearly the dude is a talent, I just don't like some of the production choices.

Like other stuff by CXCX and CATQ but 'Gone' does nothing for me

Charli gave a star's performance at Pitchfork last summer, which meant she sold by sheer charisma some blah material.

Most Christine & The Queens stuff I've heard perks up my ears but this just washes over me. Matt DC probably correct - any emotional weight is being eaten up by the overbearing mastering.

You (Ha Ha Ha) isn't a track I really care for because it's 90% Gold Panda and I don't think she really adds much. My favourite thing from that era is Take My Hand, expect to put that in my top 10 of the decade when that comes up.

"backseat," "femmebot," "out of my head," "tears" >>> most of last year's charli record, which was still pretty good (cf. "white mercedes")

every time I put them on they go a bit too far down the chaotic skronk onslaught route

This is why I like them. Was gutted they sold out when they played here.

Despite liking a lot of glistening pop style stuff I've still never heard a Charli song I really love. This is pretty good in comparison to the other stuff I've heard, I guess due to the Christine influence (I always mean to listen to more C&TQ stuff but never get round to it).

grins is my fav

and the better version of "blame it on your love" ("track 10")

I'd probably agree with this, but the new version with Lizzo is the more obvious pop hit. Charli XCX clearly wants to be a big star, and this is the direction she needs to go to get there. It's a bit less eccentric and original, but it's extremely catchy.

comet is coming put on a hell of a live show

ok yeah wow that comet is coming track is tight

"Gone" was on my longlist. My not very hot take is that Charli is where it all finally came right for Charli.

It's a bit less eccentric and original, but it's extremely catchy.

again, she successfully had it both ways on pop 2, no need to involve troye sivan

again, she successfully had it both ways on pop 2, no need to involve troye sivan

― american bradass (BradNelson)

I do really like her latest album but yeah, it felt like she found that balance more successfully on Pop 2.

The new London jazz scene is fun 'n' all but must it always be so short on improv? Is it more like an acid jazz revival or what?

― pomenitul, Wednesday, January 29, 2020 9:55 AM (thirty-two minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

The thing that strikes me about Hutchings's projects (at least The Comet Is Coming and Sons of Kemet) is how indebted they are to New Orleans-style brass-band music. Which I don't mind at all, but I'm a little surprised that that sound is fashionable.

It's not my preferred strand of jazz tbh but it's good for what it is.

I voted for "Gone" downballot but to be honest I was a bit disappointed to have to vote for it. Really spoke to how shallow the pool of music I liked this year was. (Though I've had a few new discoveries from this poll that had I known them earlier probably would have knocked "Gone" off my ballot). Good song though.

http://i.imgur.com/QACyogE.jpg
27: Sun-El Musician and Ami Faku – “Into Ingawe” – 314 points – 13 votes – 1 #1 vote

YouTube Video

THE HOUSE OF SUN-EL: Sun-El Musician, Simmy, Mlindo The Vocalist, and other related artists

Singles Jukebox

hell yeah

boundlessly gorgeous

oh shit another SA house one I haven't heard yet. SO MUCH came out last year

absolutely stellar stretch so far by the way.

lovely, but not my SA vote. still always happy when this stuff shows up

two tracks from my ballot have already placed today! (this and "baby are you coming")

This is fine but kinda cheesy. I'm struggling to suspend disbelief.

With a few notable exceptions, I don't think non-free-improv jazz has ever really interacted with free improv in the UK - two different worlds mostly, though I remember the editor of Straight No Chaser telling me that he used to see Cecil Taylor dancing at the Wag Club whenever CT played London in the 80s.

dare to accept beauty into your life, pom

"Summon the Fire" was my number 1 vote! I'm not even a big jazz head, but that track and that album both own so hard.

Great tune

dare to accept beauty into your life, pom

Beauty's objective now?

No offence, but there are far more beautiful sounds out there.

(To me.)

This was one of the last additions to my list after falling for it on the Spotify playlist. Gorgeous song.

after falling in love with the simmy album last year it was a pleasure to follow the sun el thread in 2019

sublime

Beauty's objective now?

― pomenitul, Wednesday, January 29, 2020 11:41 AM (five minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

yeah, idk if you heard

it was all over the news

Noted, thanks. I'll be sure to correct my worldview accordingly.

Best song of the rollout so far!