Top 10 Albums of 2019 – Killian Laher

Although I don’t believe music should be a competition, I do like an ‘album of the year’ list.  Every year should have one!  To be honest, apart from the top 2, the other 8 could each have occupied any position from 3 to 8.  So here goes:

10. Craig Finn – I Need A New War

Hold Steady brawler turns his hand to occasional bawlers with some sensitive songwriting.

9. A Winged Victory for the Sullen – The Undivided Five

One of the better shows in town in terms of instrumental music.  As good as anything else they’ve produced.

8. Tindersticks – No Treasure But Hope

A proper return to form, their best album in years.  Some great songs with some lovely music.

7. DIIV – Deceiver 

A harder-edged listen from DIIV, they’ve gone full on gauzy shoegaze with some excellent guitar work.

6. Wilco – Ode to Joy

Maybe the slyest album of the year, sounds like nothing special at first but its subtle song-craft creeps up on you in the best possible way.

5. Mark Lanegan Band – Somebody’s Knocking

Everyone familiar with Lanegan knows the strength of his voice, but what is also the case is he is not resting on his laurels and just churning it out, adding a distinctly synthy feel to his music in recent years.

4. loscil – Equivalents

One of the finest producers of immersive, ‘ambient’ music today, this is a cohesive and resonant album.

3. Steve Gunn – The Unseen In Between

Fine guitarist Steve Gunn writes an album of classic-sounding tunes with a timeless feel.

2. The Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel

Exhilarating pop-punk from one of Dublin’s most exciting bands with some really clever lyrical turns.

1. Bill Callahan – Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest

This warm and comforting album continues to enlighten months after its release, another landmark album for Bill Callahan.