The Best Music of 2019
In 2019, the culture was lit and the playlists were wild. With one killer track, an artist could become a household name, sparking infinite conversations and even more memes. (Where were you when you first heard Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X?) Established artists like Lana Del Rey and Normani redefined themselves and reset the trajectories of their careers, and visionaries like FKA twigs, Angel Olsen, and Charli XCX took their art to new heights. Here, Pitchfork looks back at the year that was, with lists of the best songs, the best albums, and much, much more.
The Best Music of 2019: Pitchfork Readers’ Poll Results
Featuring your picks for the best albums and songs of the year
The Best Music Books of 2019
From the collected satire of The Hard Times to the queering of Karen Carpenter, these books captivated our staff and contributors this year.
The Best Metal Albums of 2019
From the return of Sunn O))) to Blood Incantation’s death-metal space odysseys to anarcha-feminists Ragana, these are the metal records we loved this year.
The 20 Best Music Videos of 2019
From J Balvin and Bad Bunny to Charli and Christine, and from Normani to the Chemical Brothers, here are the clips that ruled the year
The Best Experimental Albums of 2019
Featuring Holly Herndon, Kali Malone, Fire-Toolz, and other voices from the fringe
The Best Electronic Music of 2019
Featuring Peggy Gou, Floating Points, Joy Orbison, and a lot of deep cuts
The Best Rap Songs of 2019
Featuring Lil Uzi Vert, Doja Cat, and Young Thug, along with many exciting young upstarts
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The Best Rock Albums of 2019
From Big Thief’s twin masterworks to Brittany Howard’s bold solo debut, these were the guitar records we loved most this year.
The 50 Best Albums of 2019
The artists who ruled the year, starring FKA twigs, Bon Iver, Kim Gordon, DaBaby, and more
The 100 Best Songs of 2019
The tracks that defined the year, starring Billie Eilish, Thom Yorke, Normani, Bad Bunny, and more
The Best Gifts for Vinyl Lovers
Upgrade your turntable setup with the latest gear to improve sound, maximize storage, and more
The Best Tech Gifts for Music Lovers
Kid-friendly synths, dongle keychains, floating speakers, and everything else for the most plugged-in music fans
The Best Music Merch Gifts of 2019
From FKA twigs shoelaces to 2 Chainz bobbleheads to Burna Boy lighters, here are cool presents for the music obsessive on your list.