Holiday at the Sea's Favorite Music of 2019

2019 has been a great year for music. From 30-minute mind-melting jams to Tuareg guitar and all kinds in between. I LOVE year-end lists. I love seeing what other people loved, especially if I can find something I hadn’t heard before. And to a lesser extent, who doesn’t like having their tastes confirmed by people much cooler?

But I don’t necessarily like ranking everything. After all, every list is subjective. And is there really any music that is “best”? Maybe you preferred one album to others, but does that really mean it’s “better”? Excuse me while I step off of my soapbox.

And I don’t like not hearing what people recommend. So, as you already know, I made a four-volume mix of some of my favorite music of the year, which I hope you’ve already checked out. If not, feel free to do so here and here and here and here. Also, just one more time of review, I chose 50 songs this year but only 49 albums since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single.

Now that you’ve had a chance to to hear the songs, here is the complete list in alphabetical order.

• I Was Real by 75 Dollar Bill

• Mandatory Reality by Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society

• Ancestral Recall by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

• U.F.O.F. by Big Thief

• Sahari by Aziza Brahim

• RE_CORDIS by Bruno Bavota

• i,i by Bon Iver

• V by The Budos Band

• African Giant by Burna Boy

• Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest by Bill Callahan

• Ghosteen by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

• All My Relations by Cochemea

• A Good Time by Davido

• Grow Towards The Light by Dire Wolves

• Sun Cycle / Elk Jam by Elkhorn

• Pianoworks by Eluvium

• Blue Values by Eamon Fogarty

• All Time Present by Chris Forsyth

• Gold Past Life by Fruit Bats

• One Of The Best Yet by Gang Starr

• One Step Behind by Garcia Peoples

• The Unseen In Between by Steve Gunn

• Back At The House by Hemlock Ernst and Kenny Segal

• The Gospel According to Water Joe Henry

• Terms of Surrender by Hiss Golden Messenger

• More Arriving by Sarathy Korwar

• Miri by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

• Sauropoda by L'Eclair

• Ilana (The Creator) by Mdou Moctar

• Stars Are The Light by Moon Duo

• Three Chords and the Truth by Van Morrison

• All Mirrors by Angel Olsen

• Desire Path by One Eleven Heavy

• Phoenix by Pedro the Lion

• Rainford by Lee “Scratch” Perry

• Purple Mountains by Purple Mountains

• Rose City Band by Rose City Band

• ‘Sideways’ by Seryn

• Out of Darkness by Some Dark Hollow

• Illegal Moves by Sunwatchers

• Amankor / The Exile by Tartit

• Amadjar by Tinariwen

• Preserves by Matt Valentine

• Father of the Bride by Vampire Weekend

• Remind Me Tomorrow by Sharon Van Etten

• Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits by Various Artists

• Water Weird by Wet Tuna

• Ode To Joy by Wilco

• The Sisypheans by Xylouris White

• Walk Through The Fire by Yola

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• Listen to Volume 01 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 02 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 03 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 04 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

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Holiday at the Sea’s Favorite Music Label of 2019

My Favorite music label of the year would have to be, without a doubt, Brooklyn’s Beyond Beyond is Beyond. Self-describes as: "“Music for Heads, by Heads,” which just about sums it up. More a vibe than a genre. A way of thinking than a particular style.

With five out of my favorite 49 albums of the year; (Dire Wolves, Garcia Peoples, L'Eclair, One Eleven Heavy, and Matt Valentine (plus, if I had expanded my list or included an “Honorable Mentions” section, this list would have expanded even more. That De Lorians is really good to mention only one more), no other single label presented as much music that I wanted to hear this year.

I can’t wait to hear what’s next.

• Visit the Beyond Beyond is Beyond website

• Visit Beyond Beyond is Beyond’s Bandcamp page for all the goodies

• Follow the label on Facebook

• Follow them on Twitter

Holiday at the Sea's Favorite 2019 Music Mix (Volume 04)

Today we dive in to Volume 04 of a 4-volume playlist of some of my favorite music of 2019. And, just to review one last time: there are 50 songs, but only 49 albums represented, since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single. We’ve already heard a lot of great music and this last installment is no exception if I do say so myself (and I do).

I hope you enjoy this last installment of the series.

Volume 04:

Volume 04 Tracklisting:

1. ‘Come On Up To The House’ by Joseph from the album Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits

2. ‘Spinning Song’ by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from the album Ghosteen

3. ‘U.F.O.F.’ by Big Thief from the album U.F.O.F.

4. ‘Goin’ by Wet Tuna from the album Water Weird

5. ‘Walk Through The Fire’ by Yola from the album Walk Through The Fire

6. ‘All Mirrors’ by Angel Olsen from the album All Mirrors

7. ‘Utopia In Blue’ by Eamon Fogarty from the album Blue Values

8. ‘Margaritas at the Mall’ by Purple Mountains from the album Purple Mountains

9. ‘My Phoenix’ by Pedro the Lion from the album Phoenix

10. ‘Be Kind’ by Matt Valentine from the album Preserves

11. ‘Her Arrival’ by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah from the album Ancestral Recall

12. ‘Endless Dave’ by L'Eclair from the album Sauropoda

13. ‘Good Ol' Vilayati’ by Sarathy Korwar from the album More Arriving

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• Listen to Volume 01 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 02 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 03 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

Holiday at the Sea's Favorite 2019 Music Mix (Volume 03)

As I’ve explained, rather than just give a context-less list, I’ve made a four-volume playlist of some of my favorite music of 2019. Each mix is as close to an hour as I could get it.

Today we dive in to Volume 03. Also, just to review again: there are 50 songs, but only 49 albums represented, since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single. After lots of finagling, I just decided to leave it alone and enjoy the music. It is what it is and it is all great. I hope you enjoy this third installment.

Volume 03:

Volume 03 Tracklisting:

1. ‘Shadow Conductor’ by Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society from the album Mandatory Reality

2. ‘Ptah, The El Daoud’ by Sunwatchers from the album Illegal Moves

3. ‘Spider Web Pt. 1’ by The Budos Band from the album V

4. ‘One Step Behind’ by Garcia Peoples from the album One Step Behind

5. ‘Water Bearing One by Dire Wolves from the album Grow Towards The Light

6. ‘Telephone Song’ by Xylouris White from the album The Sisypheans

7. ‘Love Is Everywhere’ by Wilco from the album Ode To Joy

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• Listen to Volume 01 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 02 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 04 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

Holiday at the Sea's Favorite 2019 Music Mix (Volume 02)

As I mentioned yesterday, we’re doing something different this year with my year-end list of my favorite music of 2019. I’ve made four different playlists so you can hear a representative song from each album I picked.

Today we dive in to Volume 02. Each mix is as close to an hour as I could get them. And as I already mentioned, there are 50 songs, but only 49 albums represented, since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single and I’ll present the complete list at the end of the week. I hope you enjoy this second installment.

Volume 02:

Volume 02 Tracklisting:

1. ‘Shepherd’s Welcome’ by Bill Callahan from the album Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest

2. ‘Miri’ by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba from the album Miri

3. ‘Autobiography Of The Upsetter’ by Lee “Scratch” Perry from the album Rainford

4. ‘Vagabond’ by Steve Gunn from the album The Unseen In Between

5. ‘U (Man Like)’ by Bon Iver from the album i,i

6. 1 Milli by Davido from the album A Good Time

7. ‘Three Chords and the Truth’ by Van Morrison from the album Three Chords and the Truth

8. ‘Anybody’ by Burna Boy from the album African Giant

9. ‘To See Darkness’ by Elkhorn from the album Sun Cycle / Elk Jam

10. ‘Hot Potato Soup’ by One Eleven Heavy from the album Desire Path

11. ‘Out of Darkness’ by Some Dark Hollow from the album Out of Darkness

12. ‘Comeback Kid’ by Sharon Van Etten from the album Remind Me Tomorrow

13. ‘Carrier 32’ by Eluvium from the album Pianoworks

14. ‘Bloom’ by Joe Henry from the album The Gospel According to Water

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• Listen to Volume 01 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 03 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 04 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

Holiday at the Sea's Favorite 2019 Music Mix (Volume 01)

I love year-end lists.

I love to see what other people loved. Especially people I respect who can introduce me to new music (and to a lesser extent, have my tastes validated by people cooler than me). But I don’t dig ranking everything. After all, it’s all subjective in the first place. You may not like what I like, and I probably don’t like what you do, and that’s OK. The past couple of years, I’ve done unranked, alphabetical lists. But this year I’d doing something different. (though there will still be an unranked, alphabetical list at the end).

Over the next several days, I’ll post four different playlists of some of my favorite music of 2019; selections from my favorite albums. Each mix is as close to an hour as I could get it. There are 50 songs, but if you want to be specific, there are only 49 albums represented since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single and not part of an album. After lots of finagling, I just decided to leave it that way. It is what it is and it is all great. I hope you enjoy. Here’s the first installment.

Volume 01:

Volume 01 Tracklisting:

1. ‘Out Of The Blue’ by Bruno Bavota from the album RE_CORDIS

2. ‘Cuatro Proverbios’ by Aziza Brahim from the album Sahari

3. ‘Tetuzi Akiyama’ by 75 Dollar Bill from the album I Was Real

4. ‘All My Relations’ by Cochemea from the album All My Relations

5. ‘Family and Loyalty’ by Gang Starr from the album One Of The Best Yet

6. ‘Harmony Hall’ by Vampire Weekend from the album Father of the Bride

7. ‘Taqkal Tarha’ by Tinariwen from the album Amadjar

8. ‘Tomorrow Might as Well Be Today’ by Chris Forsyth from the album All Time Present

9. ‘Wiwasharnine’ by Mdou Moctar from the album Ilana (The Creator)

10. ‘Slabs of the Sunburnt West’ by Hemlock Ernst and Kenny Segal from the album Back At The House

11. ‘Fall in Your Love’ by Moon Duo from the album Stars Are The Light

12. ‘I Need a Teacher’ by Hiss Golden Messenger from the album Terms of Surrender

13. ‘Gold Past Life’ by Fruit Bats from the album Gold Past Life

14. ‘Sideways’ by Seryn // Released as a single

15. ‘Afous Dafous’ by Tartit from the album Amankor / The Exile

16. ‘Fear Song’ by Rose City Band from the album Rose City Band

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• Listen to Volume 02 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 03 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

• Listen to Volume 04 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

Joyful Sounds: An Introduction to Sacred Steel

If you’re not familiar, “Sacred Steel” music is a subset of Gospel music originating with the House of God churches, particularly the Keith and Jewell Dominion sects. Brothers Troman and Willie Eason are credited with the introduction of lap steel guitar in worship services, replacing the more traditional organ.

According to Chuck Campbell (of the Campbell Brothers), in an interview with The New Yorker:

“Sacred Steel started in Philadelphia, in the nineteen-thirties: “A man named Willie Eason was the first. His brother, Troman, had a lap steel because of the Hawaiian-guitar craze. Behind his brother’s back, Willie would take it to the church and mimic the voices.”

Sacred Steel music can be found in many states but was first brought to a wider audience with Arhoolie’s 1997 compilation ‘Sacred Steel: Traditional Sacred African-American Steel Guitar Music in Florida.” The music’s best-known guitarist is probably Robert Randolph who has garnered crossover success.

I put together an hour-long mix introducing you to some of the key players. Enjoy.

Tracklisting:

1. Joyful Sounds by Glenn Lee

2. Praise Music by Aubrey Ghent

3. Jewell Praise by Amazing Grace Praise Band

4. Without God by Robert Randolph

5. Since I Laid My Burden Down by  Calvin Cooke

6. Jesus Will Fix It For You by Sonny Treadway

7. Come On Help Me Lift Him Up by The Lee Boys

8. Sit Down If You Can by  Elwood Haygood With The Campbell Brothers

9. Blood On That Rock by The Word

10. All God’s Children by Elton Noble

11. Something's Got A Hold Of Me by Dante Harmon

12. Good All The Time by The Campbell Brothers

If you’re interested in listening to more Sacred Steel music, here are the albums each of these songs are a part of. Click through for purchase links. Albums are pictured in the order they appear on the mix.

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• Download jewel case art as a PDF file.

Daily Driver Summer 2019 (Trailer)

Back in August as Summer was closing out, I posted a personal music mix that I had been listening to during the heat of the sunbaked Phoenix Summer. I called it “Daily Driver Summer 2019”. I know, not the most creative title, but, as I said at the time, I hadn’t really planned on posting it. It was just something I made for myself to listen to on my daily commute. What I neglected to tell you at the time, my dear readers is that there are actually two volumes. So I figured why not share the sequel as well. Please don’t hold it against me. I really didn’t mean to keep anything from you. Please enjoy now.

Download the jewel case art as a PDF file.

Tracklisting:

1. “Suzie Q” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

2. “Suena” by Ondatrópica

3. “Mustt Mustt (Extended)” by Kiran Ahluwalia

4. “Kukuchi” by Letta Mbulu

5. “Kogarashi” by Kikagaku Moyo

6. “On the Road Again” by Canned Heat

7. “Turn On Your Love Light” by the Grateful Dead

8. “I Like It (I Like It Like That)” by Pete Rodriguez

9. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and the Wailers

10. “Golden Clouds” by The Orb Featuring Lee "Scratch" Perry

11. “Hey Ya!” by OutKast

12. “Boogie On” by Rob (Funky Rob Way)

13. “Hymn of the Big Wheel” by Massive Attack

• Listen to/download the previous mix for yourself.

Daily Driver Summer 2019

Daily Driver: Summer 2019

This mix is exactly what it says it is. This has been the soundtrack to most of my commutes for most of Summer 2019. I hope you enjoy. There may be more installments in the Daily Driver series. We’ll see. For now, let’s just enjoy what we’ve got, alright? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Download the jewel case art as a PDF file.

Stream and/or download the mix below.

1. “I Heard It Through The Grapevine by CCR

2. “Soul Makossa” by Manu Dibango

3. “Sunflower” by Post Malone

4. “Funky Kingston” by Toots & The Maytals

5. “Rosa Parks” by Outkast

6. “Emampondweni” by Batsumi

7. “Truckin’” by Grateful Dead

8. “Rosalee” by Chris Robinson Brotherhood

9. “Roots Train” by Junior Murvin

10. “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” by Rolling Stones

11. “Thank You for Talkin' to Me Africa” by Sly Stone