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Tony Breed writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2019: Tony Breed
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Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2019. Our next list is from DJ Tony Breed. In addition to my top 10, every year I pick a track of the year, something I heard other DJs play that really made me stop and listen. This year that track is “Sounds Like Now” by Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble, from their live album Where the Future Unfolds. |
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#1 Jaime by Brittany Howard (ATO) |
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#2 LEGACY! LEGACY! by Jamila Woods (Jagjaguwar) |
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#3 Cuz I Love You by Lizzo (Nice Life) |
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#4 Dreamboy by Dane Terry (Self-released) |
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#5 The Gereg by The Hu (Eleven Seven) |
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#6 Hello Happiness by Chaka Khan (Island) |
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#7 Requiem by Shey Baba (Virgin EMI) |
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#8 Bubble Gum by De Staat (Caroline International) |
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#9 Tubman by Avery R Young (FPE) |
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#10 Magdalene by FKA Twigs (Young Turks) |
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Honorable Mentions:
Sault, 5 The Safes, Winning Combination |
Brittany Howard’s Jaime is deeply personal and very powerful. Musically, it’s very varied so it never gets stale —whereas the first Alabama Shakes album was all guts and fire, Jaime goes from subtle and quiet to urgent and loud and back again. Brittany Howard commands your attention and takes you on a journey.
I listened to LEGACY! LEGACY! on repeat for a good month. Though "BASQUIAT" is the song that held my attention the most, with its message of anger, the album is excellent top to bottom.
Lizzo became a megastar this year, and it is 100% deserved. There’s enough art, grit, and realness in this album to please the indie rock crowd, while also having the hooks to be the favorite of my pop-loving friends.
In 2018, Dane Terry started a podcast called Dreamboy. It ran for several months, telling a dark story of zoo intrigue, gay subculture, and strange, driven little girls. At the end, he released this soundtrack, which features some re-recorded music, some new songs, and some incidental music. It’s wildly varied and extremely fun—the beauty of “Sugar Neighbors”, the atmosphere of “In the Dark”, the ridiculousness of “There Are So Many Colors in the World, Eric Schmalenberger”.
If you'd told me one of my favorite albums of the year would be Mongolian heavy metal, I wouldn't have believed you. I've never been much for metal, but there's so much more here. Frankly it reminds me of Dead Can Dance, more than anything else, but with throat singing.
Chaka Khan returns (first album in 12 years!), in top form, like no time has passed at all. This is sunshine funk to brighten your day, and it’s pure joy.
Gorgeous, layered, intricate music to listen to on a rainy day.
De Staat makes a sort of goofy aggro electro dance punk that is 100% my style. This album features a song about Pikachu that is a total bop.
A couple of years ago I happened to catch Avery R Young performing at the CHIRP Record Fair—absolutely transcending that small downstairs performance space, melting our faces off with fierce vocals and energy. He’s managed to capture that in this record. Check it out.
I couldn’t say it better than CHIRP’s own DJ Meister: “FKA Twigs straight-up made a Kate Bush album and I love every bit of it.”
Next entry: CHIRP Radio Best of 2019: Pete Zimmerman
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