I feel like I had more albums than ever in my running yearlong playlist this year, but I didn’t get to spend nearly the time with all of them that I would have liked to. Here’s my list of the albums that rose above the noise in 2019. (Minus metal records. Those might get their own list later.) And a handy playlist too!

40. Girlpool – What Chaos Is Imaginary

39. Holly Herndon – PROTO

38. Tyler Childers – Country Squire

37. Toro y Moi – Outer Peace

36. The Highwomen – s/t

35. Chromatics – Closer To Grey

34. The Hold Steady – Thrashing Thru The Passion

33. Orville Peck – Pony

32. Better Oblivion Community Center – s/t

31. Nivhek – After its own death / Walking in a spiral towards the house

30. Charly Bliss – Young Enough

29. Carly Rae Jepsen – Dedicated

28. Clairo – Immunity

27. duendita – direct line to My Creator

26. Angel Olsen – All Mirrors

25. Budos Band – V

24. Charli XCX – Charli

23. Jenny Lewis – On The Line

22. The National – I Am Easy to Find

21. Lana Del Ray – Norman Fucking Rockwell!

20. Jenny Hval – The Practice of Love

19. Billie Eilish – WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

18. Brittany Howard – Jaime

17. Nilüfer Yanya – Miss Universe

16. Aldous Harding – Designer

15. Mannequin Pussy – Patience

14. Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel

13. Mal Blum – Pity Boy

12. black midi – Schlagenheim

11. Solange – When I Get Home

10. Sturgill Simpson – SOUND & FURY

9. Freddie Gibbs and Madlib – Bandana

8. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising

7. Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride

6. Purple Mountains – s/t

5. Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow

4. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Ghosteen

3. FKA twigs – MAGDALENE

2. Faye Webster – Atanta Millionaires Club

1. Big Thief – U.F.O.F./Two Hands (tie)