Best Album
This year saw two artists abandon their more downtrodden sounds and embrace a happier tone. Lorde had a more straightforward pop album in “Solar Power,” meanwhile the Michelle Zauner led Japanese Breakfast explored the facets of joy and happiness for one of her most personal and experiential records to date. It’s an album you can sit and envelope yourself in, or just have on in the background of a nice dinner, but it’s never disposable noise. It was certainly one of the top albums I had on repeat this year.
Best Debut Album
My wife explained the backstory behind “driver’s license.” Then I saw the SNL skit having a bit of fun at adult men digging the song. But then I really listened to the song. And then the album. It’s very fair to draw comparisons to early Taylor Swift, one Olivia would happily embrace. But Olivia takes the “Sad Teen Girl” trope beyond the schtick and creates an album that is both deeply personal to the artist and universal to any audience. It’s a fascinating record from a fascinating young artist.
Best of the Rest
The rest of the year’s music that really got me moving is presented in no particular order. Just a bunch of albums for you to check out. Every artist/album title links you to the album on Spotify.
Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed
Silk Sonic – An Evening with Silk Sonic
Tyler, the Creator – Call Me If You Get Lost
Courtney Barnett – Things Take Time, Take Time
Foo Fighters – Medicine at Midnight
Sturgill Simpson – The Ballad of Dood & Juanita
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Carnage
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden’s Gate
Sierra Ferrell – Long Time Coming
Larry Fleet – Stack of Records
Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – The Future
The Empty Theatre 
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