ILM's Top 77 Albums of 2019

These visuals are ridiculously good, Moka

It's pretty straight forward as written, nashwan. It's the chorus of the title track, which is also ridiculously good.

Yes to “Omama Bomthandazo”, but also “Umuhle Uyasabeka” and the amapiano one-two-three punch at the end (with “Akukaleki” being the knockout).

It’s “iss-pee-tee-pee-tee”.

Spelling error there: the title is “Isphithiphithi”.

I didn't know there was a Moodymann album this year. Japanese new age record looks interesting too.

loved this, voted for it.

Anyone just not vote for reissues, even if it's practically your first chance to hear something? (first time outside Japan for a lot of this, I think)

I hesitated on some DJ Kicks stuff I loved this year just cuz they're mix albums... next year I think it'll just be what I liked most, no hangups!

had samthing at #44 on my long list, would've moved it higher if i'd listened more

i voted for this one in the series and everyone should check it out if you haven't heard it:
VA - Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986

i bumped this down a few places because it's an archival release but it's the best record released last year

well do Mordy thank u

Yes to “Omama Bomthandazo”, but also “Umuhle Uyasabeka” and the amapiano one-two-three punch at the end (with “Akukaleki” being the knockout).

It’s “iss-pee-tee-pee-tee”.

Spelling error there: the title is “Isphithiphithi”.

i voted for this one in the series and everyone should check it out if you haven't heard it:
VA - Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986

City pop isn't my thing but that comp was an eye-opener, so… seconded.

https://i.imgur.com/hY7CPgJ.jpg
#55 – American Football – American Football (223 points, 7 votes, 2 number 1 votes)

I like American Football (the band) does anyone else?
http://drownedinsound.com/releases/20590/reviews/4152296

yeah i never know about reissue compilations. can't remember if I cvoted for 'Sweet As Broken Dates' the year that came out, or whether it even got nominated.

ooo didn't vote for that american football album but it has some stunners on it. voted for "uncomfortably numb" in the tracks poll.

i voted for this one in the series and everyone should check it out if you haven't heard it:
VA - Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986

― Mordy

Yeah, the Pacific Breeze compilation is essential. I keep going back to it. I did like the new age one too, but it didn't have the same impact.

BEAUTIFUL RECORD

another of my votes, yay

maybe not better than the original lp, but certainly more accomplished, if that makes sense.

imo it's better

Anyone just not vote for reissues, even if it's practically your first chance to hear something?

I definitely think twice before putting a reissue or comp on my ballot, but I have done so before and would do again for something outstanding. We don't have a separate list for those records and allow "year of impact" rules on the tracks poll, so I think it's fine.

Somehow I just don’t get American Football

I just wanted to pop in and say I thought the Thom Yorke album was great

I definitely think twice before putting a reissue or comp on my ballot, but I have done so before and would do again for something outstanding.

this is my thought process as well, as someone who listens to a lot of archival reissue type things that had limited or no availability at time of release

voted ongaku too! my best ever day haha

I just don't get emo at all.

American Football

That, and American Football.

this record sounds way more like a red house painters album with heavy steve reich influences than "emo" tbh

emo one of several things i thought i was over after high school and then re-clicked in my 30s

https://i.imgur.com/focw57S.jpg
#54 – Clairo – Immunity (223 points, 9 votes)

Clairo - Immunity
https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/08/album-review-clairo-immunity/

i love ongaku

Clairo's included!

Problem with the albums rollout is that I can't listen through these records quick enough to keep up. Lots of new stuff for me today!

wait until Underworld places

Really nice bedroom pop album. Good for early mornings and late nights. Not sure where she goes from here though.

high tea

If I knew/thought we could vote Kankyo Ongaku, it would have been my number 1 EASILY

I'll go up to 50 every 10 mins and rest for an hour so you can take a time to sample the selections so far and keep up!

https://s3.10and5.com/between10and5/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/07110343/image007.jpg

Pictured above: the Isphithiphithi mural
in Johannesburg.

Samthing mentions it in this Rolling Stone profile: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/samthing-soweto-isphithiphithi-897467/

https://i.imgur.com/t4VBPFx.jpg
#53 – Koffee – Rapture (224 points, 7 votes, 1 number 1 vote)

gratitude is a must: the Koffee thread
https://exclaim.ca/music/article/koffee-rapture

nice segue!

https://i.imgur.com/yDywbjS.jpg
#52 – Carla dal Forno - Look Up Sharp (228 points, 8 votes)
Carla dal Forno
https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/carla-dal-forno-look-up-sharp

Kankyō Ongaku! Another one of my votes! Simply brilliant.

American Football album is great too, nearly made my ballot.

is this an album of dizzee rascal covers?

OK I'm intrigued by that Carla del Forno album having skimmed the review.

So how did a collection of Japanese ambient from the 80s become a board favorite?

it's really really good!

also, as noted, a lot of it was never available outside of Japan

plus beautiful and intriguing packaging from what I've seen

https://i.imgur.com/aZEkhu5.jpg
#51 – Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains (234 points, 7 votes, 3 number 1 votes)

Purple Mountains (RIP David Berman, August 2019)