So here is the thing, I like a certain type of music, and though my musical taste has greatly expanded over the last year, These are my favorite albums and EPs of 2019. You’ll find albums no one else included on their year end lists, but you’ll also find albums that EVERYONE has already written about. Ask anyone else and they’ll give you a different list. it’s impossible to set my bias aside. It’s also impossible to include everyone on this list, there are a lot of truly amazing albums I feel bad for leaving off these lists. I listened to over two-hundred albums/EPs from 2019 and relistened to all of them again over the last couple months.All that said, here are my favorite albums and EPs of 2019. Tell me why I’m wrong and what I missed in the comments.

#20 Space Monkey Mafia – Captain Crook

It surprises me as much as anyone else that I am including a Ska EP on my best of 2019, but here we are. Lyrically taking a page from punk ethos, Captain Crook is front to back calls out our current economic system. I like to imagine Keegan Greene playing their trumpet with their middle finger permanently up and thrust in the face of the capitalistic establishment.

Favorite track: Oligarchy

<a href="http://spacemonkeymafia1.bandcamp.com/album/captain-crook-ep">Captain Crook EP by Space Monkey Mafia</a>

#19 France Camp - Dark Floral

“Dark Floral” is jangly, gloomy-guitar-pop and I love it. From the chaotic energy of title track “Dark Floral” to the more laid back “My Life in Egypt,” “Dark Floral” is just a fun and catchy EP. The overall sound is an impressively energetic vocal performance some how mixed with a distorted and darkly upbeat instrumental backdrop that provides a sound like no other.

Favorite track: Dark Floral

<a href="http://francecamp.bandcamp.com/album/dark-floral">Dark Floral by France Camp</a>

#18 The Way Away - Hollow

The Way Away started off 2019 with a bang, dropping an awesome pop-punk EP way back in January. “Hollow” has them putting a new spin on well-worn pop-punk subjects like love and loss, nostalgia for better/darker times, and broken homes. “Pieces” especially feels like a story of surviving and just getting through, with an epic breakdown mantra of “I am never alone.”

Favorite track: Pieces

<a href="http://thewayaway.bandcamp.com/album/hollow">Hollow by The Way Away</a>

#17 Kate Malanaphy - Soak

Sometimes you just need to have a sad. Kate Malanaphy’s “Soak” is perfect for when you just need to let out the melancholic emotions. All the songs on “Soak” are easy to relate to, dealing with mostly heartbreak and a negative self-image. The EP is intimate and powerful, and will ultimately leave you with a sense of optimism.

Favorite track: Turning Blue

<a href="http://katemalanaphy.bandcamp.com/album/soak">Soak by Kate Malanaphy</a>

#16 Theyself – Wolf Tower

“Wolf Tower” is probably the most experimental track you’ll find on this list. Most of the singing on the EP consists of bluesy-style vocalizations. For the most part, the instrumentals are variations on a small number of blues riffs and a percussion instrument that I think might be a snare, but can’t tell for sure. It’s certainly unique and catchy.

Favorite track: No Whiskey

<a href="http://theyself.bandcamp.com/album/wolf-tower">wolf tower by theyself</a>

#15 Perfume – Manic Pop

Raw both musically and emotionally, “Manic Pop” is indie rock at it’s most energetic and experimental. “I Just Don’t Know Why” will seriously get stuck in your head, and you definitely won’t mind leaving it there for few days. I love when rock feels like it could go off the rails at any moment and the looseness of of “Manic Pop” makes you feel like it could happen at any moment.

Favorite track: I Just Don’t Know Why

<a href="http://perfumempls.bandcamp.com/album/manic-pop">Manic Pop by Perfume</a>

#14 War Prayer – War Prayer

Aggressive and brutal, War Prayer’s self-titled EP is three tracks of punishing hardcore done right. Vocally War Prayer growl and screech their way through each track. “War Prayer” is a ruthless nine minutes of distorted guitar and bass chugging their way forward. I’d do a deep dive on lyrics, but I can really only make a few words.

Favorite track: Sadist

<a href="http://warprayerhc.bandcamp.com/album/war-prayer">War Prayer by War Prayer</a>

#13 NATL PARK SRVC – The Future is Now

“The Future is Now” belongs on all year end lists based off the strength of the rockabilly-punktasticness of “J.W.A.P.R.” But the bops don’t end there, every track is catchy AF, especially “Sea of Thought” and “Madeleine.” “Heaven, Too” is such a stunning-heartfelt crescendo to end on.

Favorite track: J.W.A.P.R

<a href="http://nationalparkservice.bandcamp.com/album/the-future-is-now">The Future Is Now by NATL PARK SRVC</a>

#12 Bad Bad Hats – Wide Right

Bad Bad Hats nail it on this delight of an indie-pop-rock EP. “Wide Right” is three tunes of sweetness that is guaranteed to put you in a cheerier mood. “Dunno Why” is absolutely adorkable lyrically and has some seriously hooky riffs as well.

Favorite track: Dunno Why

<a href="http://badbadhats.bandcamp.com/album/wide-right-ep">Wide Right - EP by Bad Bad Hats</a>

#11 K.Raydio – 3:33

K.Raydio had a seriously ridiculous output in 2019, dropping five EPs, a collaborative album, and an album of beats. Of the five EPs, “3:33” stands out as my favorite. I love the way the vocals throughout the EP are mixed are complimented by the beats, the layered vocals on “Marty McFly” are probably my favorite. “3:33” closes out with the instrumental “Marbles,” which just flows perfectly, adding and changing at the right moments to keep you interested.

Favorite track: Marty McFly

#10 Sonic Sea Turtles – Sound Pollution: Captain Spacey and His Search for a New Home

“Autumn Freeze” is one of the best songs of the year, fight me. The EP hits the emotional distress and despair without ever feeling like a downer, especially on self-deprecating jam “Friends.” This EP is an such an adventure, from the introduction of Captain Spacey in the aptly titled first track “Captain Spacey,” the entire EP has an epic feel until the fade out of the final track “Thinking of U.”

Favorite track: Autumn Freeze

<a href="http://sonicseaturtles.bandcamp.com/album/sound-pollution-captain-spacey-and-his-search-for-a-new-home">Sound Pollution: Captain Spacey and his Search for a New Home by Sonic Sea Turtles</a>

#9 Gully Boys – Phony

Coming on late, Gully Boys dropped “Phony” on December 20th and it was worth waiting the whole year for. From the opening line of “New Song No. 2,” which could easily be imagined to be sung through clinched teeth, to the nearly pleading “Just think if you really got me” vocals near the end of “Like Me Now,” “Phony” exudes passion and restrained emotion. I love the restraint creates tension through out the EP constantly giving the feeling of tension that at any moment if they band loosened up the whole thing might be blown apart my raw emotion.

Favorite track: Like Me Now

#8 Double Grave – Ego Death Forever

Falling somewhere between grunge and happy-indie-rock; “Ego Death Forever” feels like a car ride daydream with the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. Squealy guitars and fuzzy bass, the instrumentals epitomize what it means to be indie-rock. The entire album is a delight, from the darker grunge of “Deceiver” to the eight-minute plus fuzz-epic of “Sunlight.”

Favorite track: Sunlight

<a href="http://ggrraavvee.bandcamp.com/album/ego-death-forever">Ego Death Forever by Double Grave</a>

#7 Lazenlow – w/a/v/e/s

Lazenlow’s “w/a/v/e/s” is a hazy and dreamy pulsing wave of beats and vocals hypnotizing you with its dark beauty. Gillian Needham’s alluring vocals are haunting and blend perfectly with the production work of Mike Ryerse. “w/a/v/e/s” is also mercurial in the way it flows between subgenres without hesitation. It’s also worth mentioning the great feature of Nur-D on “dust,” laden with Nur-D’s almost signature nerd references and is about a couple trying to decide where they belong with each other.

Favorite track: leave*her*alone*boy

<a href="http://lazenlow.bandcamp.com/album/w-a-v-e-s">w/a/v/e/s by Lazenlow</a>

#6 Unturned – Sunk

I’m not entirely sure how this happened, but “Sunk” has become my go to workout music. Again, I’m a sucker for raw emotion and distorted guitars, and “Sunk” has that in spades. When listening to “Sunk,” it conjures the feeling of being fifteen again, pressed up against the stage of my favorite venue and screaming the lyrics along with my favorite local band. The back to back to back turn around of “Shake,” “Vertigo,” and “Comedown” remind me going out, having a crazy good time, then the morning hangover respectively.

Favorite track: Shake

#5 Why Not – EP

Big and crunchy, “EP” is dynamic and fun while putting forward heavy subjects. Isaac Dell gets noodly on the guitar, while the bass and drum parts provide the perfect balanced backdrop of building then exploding sound. “Thud. Dead.” is an incredibly fun song considering how dark the subject matter is and “Eighth Year” is basically a multi-movement prog-rock epic.

Favorite track: Thud. Dead.

#4 Floodwater Angel (formerly known as Loneliest Ways) – Crush

If I were making a song of the year list, “Wavemania” would probably be at the top of it. As the opener to “Crush,” it sets the tone for the dynamic EP that follows. While “Wavemania” and “Changed Feelings” are both full speed rockers right out the gate, other songs like “Baby” and “Details” are slow builds to distorted furry, while “Don’t Call Me” is a brilliant slow jam. Maddie Knorr’s excellent vocal performance is also worth mentioning. I’ve heard they’re working on a new project and I for one am hyped.

Favorite track: Wavemania

<a href="http://loneliestways.bandcamp.com/track/changed-feelings">changed feelings by Loneliest Ways</a>

#3 OKnice – Callous

“Callous” is an EP full of anxiety and coping. When looking at the world at large in 2019, that’s often how I felt about the whole thing. At least on “Callous” all this anxiety is delivered through clever word play and tense beats. The entire EP is cohesive and you’ll barely notice transitions from song to song. Deergod’s production provides a perfect backdrop for OKnice’s bleak lyrics. While the “Callous” is full of death and anxiety, it never gets too dark to be enjoyable, and it ends with my favorite track “Rx,” which is upbeat and optimistic for the future, especially when compared to the previous three songs.

Favorite track: Rx

#2 The Von Tramps - Suns Out: Strung Out!

The perfect album to throw on during the darkest time of the year to remind yourself that Summer will (eventually) come again, “Sun’s Out, Strung Out!” basically defines Summer music. The EP is packed with surf rock guitars, gang vocals, and big choruses; ideal for chilling by a pool or on a sandy beach. A concept album, the EP goes through the anxious nerves of asking someone out to pensive reflecting period that inevitably comes after any break up.

Favorite track: Shark Bait

<a href="http://thevontramps.bandcamp.com/album/suns-out-strung-out">Sun&#39;s Out: Strung Out! by The Von Tramps</a>

#1 Niiice. – Never Better

DIY darlings Niiice. dropped their fantastic EP “Never Better” back in March and it’s been on high rotation for me ever since. Full of emotion and distortion, “Never Better” is wall-to-wall hits. I personally enjoy the discontent lyrics paired with the pounding of guitars and drums on “Love Handles.” It’s hard not to have visions of a mosh pit while listening to “Blunt Force Marijuana.” There is even screaming and a trumpet on “Minneapolis Vs. St. Paul: This Time It’s Personal,” what more could you ask for?

Favorite track: Love Handlez

<a href="http://niiice.bandcamp.com/album/never-better">Never Better by niiice.</a>

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Review and Interview by: Andrew Perrizo