Half of 2019 has come & gone, and we’re not even mad. This year has seen tons of new music released by our favorite artists’, with some of them even releasing full-fledged albums. After reviewing these releases, we can easily say that this has been a good year for not just EDM but music in general.
Every year, the staff here at EDMTunes gets together to give you our top picks for the best albums of the year. We do this both at the halfway mark of the year, as well as the end of the year. Below is are our favorite picks for the best albums of 2019 thus far. Did your favorites make the list? See for yourself below!
1. Avicii – Tim
What was perhaps the one of the most looked forward to albums in a very long time was Avicii‘s posthumous album ‘Tim‘. Released a little over a year since his passing, this album perfectly displays the musical trajectory of Avicii, while simultaneously giving us some insight into his state of mind. Although this album is to remember Avicii, Tim is a perfect album that makes Avicii’s spirit present. Sitting at 12 tracks, listening to this album is a good way to spend a Friday afternoon.
2. Andrew Bayer – In My Next Life
One of two Trance entries to make our list, Andrew Bayer‘s ‘In My Next Life‘ is quite the spectacle. Released on Anjunabeats, the album takes the tracks from his experimental ‘In My Last Life‘, and turns them into club-ready bangers. This album takes listeners to another world with emotional synths for instant chills. If you’re a fan of Andrew Bayer, or just Trance, you’re gonna want to check this one out.
3. Third Party- Together
No strangers to the spotlight, UK-based producers Third Party wowed us with their sophomore album titled ‘Together‘. The album features 9 tracks, and they are all gold. Through this album, Third Party brings their unique take on progressive to life once more. This is best displayed in their track ‘Together’, which this album is named after. Check it out.
4. Feed Me- High Street Creeps
After more than a six-year wait, 2019 saw Feed Me release his ‘High Street Creeps‘ album on Mau5trap. Featuring 10 tracks in total, ‘High Street Creeps’ tastefully combines Electro-house and Pop elements that we can’t help but vibe to. With various of different sounds incorporated throughout this album, ‘High Street Creeps’ is one for the books. Throughout the album, Feed Me shows off his skillful talent by blending various rhythmic chord patterns as well as soft settle sounds for an enjoyable listen. With his major hit off the album, ‘Feel Love‘, Feed Me has proven that he is capable of fusing multiple sounds together. If you’re a fan of Feed Me, you don’t want to miss this one.
5. Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo present LSD
What is easily the most star-studded album on this list, Labrinth, Sia, & Diplo came together last year to present us their joint project ‘LSD‘. You might recognize the track ‘Genius’ as its easily the biggest tune within the 10 song tracklist. It even makes its way onto the album a second time as the album features an exclusive Lil Wayne remix.
6. Julian Jeweil – Transmission
After breaking through in 2007 with his Beatport topping ‘Air Conditionné‘, 2019 is the year that we finally get an album from Julian Jeweil. Out on on Adam Beyer‘s Drumcode Records, ‘Transmission‘ features 11 tracks of pure, unadultured techno. The title track of this album ‘Transmission’ is easily one of our favorites, be sure to give it a listen. This album got rinsed by Adam Beyer x Cirez D, bringing huge attention to many of its tracks.
7. Key 4050 – Tales from the Temple
The second Trance album to make our list is ‘Tales From The Temple’ by KEY 4050. Comprised of Irish DJ & Record Producers John O’Callaghan and Bryan Kearney, this album is the cream of the crop as far as trance is concerned. The album is a double disc feature, and each disc contains 16 tracks, for a whopping 32 track setlist. If you’re into Trance, or either of these artists, be sure clear your weekend & give this a listen.
Special Entry: Kaskade – Redux – 003
While technically not an album, Kaskade‘s Redux 003 deserves a spot on this list for the sheer number of tunes alone. Coming in at a whopping 18 tracks, Redux 003 is a nice departure from the main stage EDM sound. Kaskade has created more to Redux 003 than it just being an album. With many Redux shows already under his belt, he plans to bring Redux to bigger venues for a full blown intimate experience. Although Redux 003 is no the typical main stage act Kaskade fans would expect, this album truly brings another genre of dance music to the table that is pretty incredible. All in all, the compilation features a more house oriented vibe, similar to the sound that helped Kaskade originally break through.
Closing
Well, these are our picks for the top albums of 2019 so far. With the latter half of the year well on its way, it will be interesting to see what albums make our end of the year list. With artists’ like DJ Snake, Illenium, & Calvin Harris, and Gaia (Armin van Buuren) slated to drop albums this year, we can definitely count on some good music in the coming months. Hang tight, we’re in for a good one.
