In January of last year, I proclaimed that in 2019 I would listen to an album every day of 2019, and I did just that. You may have seen various “Album a Day” posts throughout the year.

Ultimately, I didn’t stay on top of the blogging aspect of this project to the extent I wish I had. But I also can’t say I regret this either. Music is different from movies or television. Music, and especially full albums, needs careful thought. I have had so many times when my opinions and feelings about music changing as I listened to it more that I simply did not want to rush to conclusions about things. I stand by my decision to not blog about music until I’ve listened to the full album several times and am confident in where I stand.

And yes, that policy led to less content on the blog. Listening to a new album every day while ALSO finding time to listen to all the previous albums enough times that you can fairly review them takes more time than what I have. But less content is a lesser evil to me than a) publishing overly simplistic reviews that aren’t very well thought out and likely to change anyway or b) sticking to overly basic, easily consumable music that doesn’t challenge me.

Despite the fact that I didn’t blog many of the fantastic albums I listened to, I’m so glad I did this project. It pushed me to discover new artists and actually dive into discographies rather than just listening 2-3 songs on repeat for two weeks. In 2019, I even saw Alex Lahey live, and I hadn’t even heard of her at the beginning of the year. I spent the entire month of exploring classic albums, and yes, Rumors and Purple Rain are totally worth the hype. I revisited albums I remembered from when I was younger and found that actually, Identified by Vanessa Hudgens has some guilty pleasure bops, and Into the Rush by Aly & A.j. isn’t as good as I thought it was in high school. (Insomniatic totally is though. Fight me.)

And the other thing? When you’re forcing yourself to consume so much music from across so many different genres all the time, it means so much more when you DO hear those things that just fucking sticks with you.

I remember the monologue about the bus at the end of Childish Gambino’s Camp. 

I remember hearing Lewis Capadi’s piercing vocal on “Someone You Loved” for the first time.

I remember the first time “Alligator” by Of Monsters and Men came on the radio and I felt like I HAD to listen to the whole album right away.

I remember Caitlyn Smith’s a capella high note on “Tacoma” from Starfire.

I remember the way an ad for some Netflix show turned me onto “Turn” by the Wombats, who became one of my favorite newly discovered artists of the year.

I remember the rawness of Harry Styles’ emotion on “Falling” from Fine Line.

And I remember having a hella bad day around the time AJR’s Neotheater came out, and going for a walk in the park as “100 Bad Days” came on, feeling like it was made just for me.

And yes, I even remember driving through back roads when Taylor Swift’s “Paper Rings” from Lover made my heart explode with warm fuzzy euphoria.

The way I connect with music, the way my tastes have shifted, the way I can connect with other people over music has grown so much over the course of the year. So really, there’s only one logical thing to do: don’t stop. Like, ever. For the foreseeable future, I’m going to keep listening to an album everyday. Same rules apply. I gotta listen to stuff in album order, and I can’t pause for more than four minutes. I can’t count the same album twice.

And as for the blog? I’ll review albums when I want to. There’s certainly some great ones I’d love to share with you people, but the personal enrichment I get out of listening to an album a day is too precious to jeopardize by putting a lot of content creation pressure on myself. My goal is to listen to at least 400 albums, which was my total number for 2019. I’m shooting for at least 400 albums that I didn’t listen to last year, but I’ll inevitably be revisiting at least some of them.

Now, speaking of those 400 albums. . . in case anyone was wondering:

 

1. What If Nothing by Walk the Moon
2. It’s About Us – Alex & Sierra
3. Bleed American – Jimmy Eat World
4. dont smile at me – Billie Eilish
5. Fly by Dixie Chicks
6. Last Young Renegade by All Time Low
7. 19 by Adele
8. 21 by Adele
9. Wide Open Spaces by Dixie Chicks
10. + by Ed Sheeran
11. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
12. Up All Night by One Direction
13. Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell by Meat Loaf
14. 5150 by Van Halen
15. Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf
16. Take This to Your Grave by Fall Out Boy
17. From Under the Cork Tree by Fall Out Boy
18. Infinity on High by Fall Out Boy
19. Folie á Deux by Fall Out Boy
20. Save Rock and Roll by Fall Out Boy
21. American Beauty/American Psycho by Fall Out Boy
22. M A N I A by Fall Out Boy
23. Death of a Bachelor by Panic! at the Disco
24. 5 Seconds of Summer by 5 Seconds of Summer
25. Hot Fuss by the Killers
26. Vices & Virtues by Panic! at the Disco
27. RIOT! by Paramore
28. Walk the Moon by Walk the Moon
29. The Sound of Madness by Shinedown
30. LM5 by Little Mix
31. Know-It-All (Deluxe Edition) by Alessia Cara
32. 25 by Adele
33. Blue Neighbourhood (Deluxe Edition) by Troye Sivan
34. Invasion of Privacy by Cardi B
35. Here I Am by Kelly Rowland
36. Born to Sing by En Vogue
37. Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman
38. H.E.R. by H.E.R.
39. Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae
40. Shade by Living Colour
41. The Supremes by The Supremes
42. Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
43. Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd
44. The Temptin’ Temptations by The Temptations
45. To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
46. Beerbongs & Bentleys by Post Malone
47. DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar
48.  The Kids Are Alright by Chloe x Halle
49. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
50. ANTI by Rihanna
51. Pink Friday (Deluxe Edition) by Nicki Minaj
52. Funky Divas by En Vogue
53.  Still Bill by Bill Withers
54. Master of My Make-Believe by Santigold
55. 99 cents by Santigold
56. Ctrl. by SZA
57. Hold On, I’m Comin’ by Sam & Dave
58. Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding
59. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
60. Lemonade by Beyonce
61. Everything Is Love by The Carters
62. I Am… Sasha Fierce by Beyonce
63. All ‘n All by Earth, Wind & Fire
64. Dua Lipa (Deluxe Edition) by Dua Lipa
65. Body Talk by Robyn
66. Shawn Mendes by Shawn Mendes
67. Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
68. Illuminate by Shawn Mendes
69. Zombies on Broadway by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
70. A Little Bit Longer by Jonas Brothers
71. Jonas Brothers by Jonas Brothers
72. Camila by Camila Cabello
73. Lines, Vines, and Trying Times by Jonas Brothers
74. All at Once by The Airborne Toxic Event
75. Breakout by Miley Cyrus
76. Just the Beginning by Grace VanderWaal
77. Unbroken by Demi Lovato
78. Don’t Forget by Demi Lovato
79. V by Vanessa Hudgens
80. ÷ by Ed Sheeran
81. Identified by Vanessa Hudgens
82. Pop Psychology by Neon Trees
83. Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life by The Wombats
84. Insomniatic by Aly & A.j.
85. One of the Boys by Katy Perry
86. American Teen by Khalid
87. Into the Rush by Aly & A.j.
88. Headstrong by Ashley Tisdale
89. So Wrong, It’s Right by All Time Low
90. Talking Is Hard. by Walk the Moon
91. Heartthrob by Tegan and Sara
92. Evergreen by Broods
93. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish
94.  Days Are Gone by HAIM
95. Something to Tell You by HAIM
96. David Cook by David Cook
97. Glitterbug (Deluxe Edition) by The Wombats
98. Gone Now by Bleachers
99. Woodstock by Portugal. The Man
100. How Will You Know If You Never Try by COIN
101. Strange Desire by Bleachers
102. Free Spirit by Khalid
103. Melodrama by Lorde
104. Pure Heroine by Lorde
105. I Love You Like a Brother by Alex Lahey
106. Sainthood by Tegan and Sara
107. Penguin Prison by Penguin Prison
108. Conscious by Broods
109. Deep End by Doc Robinson
110. Chariot by Gavin DeGraw
111. Confess by Twin Shadow
112. Wanted on Voyage by George Ezra
113. Cuz I Love You by Lizzo
114. Wild Things by Ladyhawke
115. Staying at Tamara’s by George Ezra
116. We Need to Talk by Tayla Parx
117. The Family Jewels by Marina and the Diamonds
118. Our Own House by MisterWives
119. Chaos and the Calm by James Bay
120. Harry Styles by Harry Styles
121. Side Pony by Lake Street Dive
122. Neotheater by AJR
123. Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? by Paloma Faith
124. Living Room by AJR
125. Feel Your Feelings Fool! by The Regrettes
126. Dreaming Out Loud by OneRepublic
127. About U by MUNA
128. Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded by Rihanna
129. Lungs by Florence + the Machine
130. Pep Talks by Judah and the Lion
131. Hands by Little Boots
132. Badlands by Halsey
133. Tell Me You Love Me by Demi Lovato
134. HERO by Maren Morris
135. Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
136. Brand New Eyes by Paramore
137. Born to Die by Lana Del Rey
138. Salute (Deluxe Edition) by Little Mix
139. Same Trailer, Different Park by Kacey Musgraves
140. Four the Record by Miranda Lambert
141. The Best of Luck Club by Alex Lahey
142. Ladies of the Canyon by Joni Mitchell
143. Sam’s Town by The Killers
144. Threat To Survival by Shinedown
145. The Spirit Room by Michelle Branch
146. Takin’ the Long Way by Dixie Chicks
147. Believe by Orianthi
148. A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out by Panic! at the Disco
149. Metro Station by Metro Station
150. Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (Deluxe Edition) by Halsey
151. Made in the A.M. (Deluxe Edition) by One Direction
152. Goddess by BANKS
153. Wide Eyed Southern Boys by .38 Special
154. GIRL by Maren Morris
155. The Ghost of What You Used to Be by Quietdrive
156. Yourself or Someone Like You by Matchbox Twenty
157. Tell All Your Friends by Taking Back Sunday
158. The Wombats Proudly Present… This Modern Glitch by The Wombats
159. The Union by The Glorious Sons
160. Never Take Friendship Personal by Anberlin
161. Foxy Shazam by Foxy Shazam
162. California by Blink-182
163. Love Drunk by Boys Like Girls
164. My Darkest Days by My Darkest Days
165. Happiness Begins by Jonas Brothers
166. Fallen by Evanescence
167. Hyperion by St. Lucia
168. Currrent Mood by Dustin Lynch
169. Midnight Memories (Deluxe Edition) by One Direction
170. The First Time by Kelsea Ballerini
171. Unapologetically (deluxe) by Kelsea Ballerini
172. Starfire by Caitlyn Smith
173. The Tree by Lori McKenna
174. Interstate Gospel by Pistol Annies
175. Pearl by Janis Joplin
176. Armageddon by PRISM
177. Flat as a Pancake by Head East
178. Approved by the Motors by The Motors
179. Killer by Alice Cooper
180. Fresh by The Raspberries
181. Collector’s Item by Heartsfield
182. Leveled by Earth Quake
183. Kiss (Deluxe Edition) by Carly Rae Jepsen
184. Emotion (Deluxe Edition) by Carly Rae Jepsen
185. Dedicated by Carly Rae Jepsen
186. Now by Shania Twain
187. Dying Star by Ruston Kelly
188. Pageant Material by Kacey Musgraves
189. Pray For the Wicked by Panic! at the Disco
190. Gods & Ghosts by Adam Wakefield
191. Fitz and the Tantrums by Fitz and the Tantrums
192. FAME by Mikky Ekko
193. We the Kings by We the Kings
194. Outside Inside by The Tubes
195. Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen
196. FOUR: Deluxe Edition by One Direction
197. The Bones of What You Believe by CHVRCHES
198. Speak Your Mind by Anne-Marie
199. Sacred Hearts Club by Foster the People
200. Always In Between (Deluxe Edition) by Jess Glynne
201. Pickin’ Up the Pieces by Fitz and the Tantrums
202. All Killer, No Filler by Sum 41
203. Beautiful Lies by Birdy
204. Paradise by Lana Del Ray
205. Girl Goin’ Nowhere by Ashley McBryde
206. Traveller by Chris Stapleton
207. Colorblind by Robert Randolph and the Family Band
208. Glorious by Foxes
209. Evolve by Imagine Dragons
210. New Surrender by Anberlin
211. Flicker (Deluxe Edition) by Niall Horan
212. How Does It Feel by MS MR
213. Cleopatra by The Lumineers
214. Blue Roses by Runaway June
215. July 23 – Rainbow by Kesha
216. Don’t You Worry, Honey by Sir Sly
217. A Bad Girl in Harlem by New Politics
218. Pieces of Me by Tiffany
219. Beautiful Trauma by P!nk
220. The Way That I Am by Martina McBride
221. Poems, Prayers & Promises John Denver
222. All We Know is Falling by Paramore
223. The Mamas & the Papas by The Mamas & the Papas
224. Naturally by Three Dog Night
225. One Tin Soldier by The Original Caste
226. MKTO by MKTO
227. Hotel California by the Eagles
228. The Shadow Side by Andy Black
229. Whirlwind by Maddie Poppe
230. Clouds by Joni Mitchell
231. MINT by Alice Merton
232. Every Open Eye by Chvrches
233. This Is Gonna Hurt by Sixx A.M.
234. Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! by Panic! at the Disco
235. One-X by Three Days Grace
236. Love You to Death by Tegan and Sara
237. Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance
238. Alive by Jessie J
239. Love is Dead by Chvrches
240. Cage the Elephant by Cage the Elephant
241. El Camino by The Black Keys
242. Expectations by Hayley Kiyoko
243. Taylor Swift (Deluxe Version) by Taylor Swift
244. Fearless (Platinum Edition) by Taylor Swift
245. Speak Now (Deluxe Edition) by Taylor Swift
246. Red (Deluxe Edition) by Taylor Swift
247. 1989 (Deluxe Edition) by Taylor Swift
248. reputation by Taylor Swift
249. Lover by Taylor Swift
250. Heard It In a Past Life by Maggie Rogers
251. Blackholes and Revelations by MUSE
252. New Again by Taking Back Sunday
253. The Boy Who Knew Too Much by MIKA
254. Life in Cartoon Motion by MIKA
255. Between the Country by Ian Noe
256. Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent by Lewis Capaldi
257. Plural by Electric Guest
258. Move Along by The All-American Rejects
259. Nevermind by Nirvana
260. Ten by Pearl Jam
261. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
262. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
263. Who’s Next by The Who
264. Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
265. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
266. Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder
267. Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution
268. Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
269. 1984 by Van Halen
270. The Joshua Tree by U2
271. The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
272. LEON by Leon
273. OK Computer by Radiohead
274. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy
275. Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
276. Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A.
277. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
278. Tapestry by Carole King
279. CrazySexyCool by TLC
280. Exile on Main St. by The Rolling Stones
281. Are You Experienced? by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
282. Abbey Road by The Beatles
283. A Night at the Opera by Queen
284. Graceland by Paul Simon
285. Goodbye Yellowbrick Road by Elton John
286. What’s Going On? by Marvin Gaye
287. Appetite for Destruction by Guns ‘n Roses
288. The Velvet Underground and Nico
289. The Chronic by Dr. Dre
290. The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
291. The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition) by Lady Gaga
292. Same Train, Different Station by Sub-Radio
293. Room for Squares by John Mayer
294. The Kick Inside by Kate Bush
295. My Name is Michael Holbrook by MIKA
296. Handwritten by The Gaslight Anthem
297. Saves the World by MUNA
298. Wolves by American Aquarium
299. Warrior by Kesha
300. Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn
301. Come On Over by Shania Twain
302. The Highwoman by The Highwoman
303. Things Change by American Aquarium
304. Entertainer of the Year by Loretta Lynn
305. Fleetwood Mac by Fleetwood Mac
306. Yours Truly by Ariana Grande
307. My Everything (Deluxe Edition) by Ariana Grande
308. Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande
309. Sweetener by Ariana Grande
310. Thank u, Next by Ariana Grande
311. Start Here by Maddie & Tae
312. Enema of the State by Blink-182
313. Revolver by The Beatles
314. When The World Comes Down by The All-American Rejects
315. FEVER DREAM by Of Monsters and Men
316. Oracular Spectacular by MGMT
317. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming by M83
318. MASSEDUCTION by St. Vincent
319. Back to Us by Rascal Flatts
320. Eyes Open by Snow Patrol
321. Songs About Jane by Maroon 5
322. Madman Across the Water by Elton John
323. The Click (Deluxe Edition) by AJR
324. Storyteller by Carrie Underwood
325. Blown Away by Carrie Underwood
326. American Idiot by Green Day
327. The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
328. 21st Century Breakdown by Green Day
329. EVOLution by Sabrina Carpenter
330. Clarity by Kim Petras
331. Let It Enfold You by Senses Fail
332. Let’s Rock by The Black Keys
333. Young & Dangerous by The Struts
334. Z by SZA
335. Fast Times at Barrington High by The Academy Is…
336. Talk That Talk by Rihanna
337. Golden Child by Judith Hill
338. Dookie by Green Day
339. Finally Out of P.E. by Brie Larson
340. Awaken, My Love by Childish Gambino
341. Take Off Your Pants and Jacket by Blink-182
342. The Architect (Zeitgeist edition) by Paloma Faith
343. Camp by Childish Gambino
344. Time Bomb by Alyssa Reid
345. Around the World and Back by State Champs
346. Bombs Away by Sheppard
347. Where The Shadow Ends by BANNERS
348. The College Dropout by Kanye West
349. Thankful by Kelly Clarkson
350. Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson
351. My December by Kelly Clarkson
352. PANG by Caroline Polachek
353. All I Ever Wanted by Kelly Clarkson
354. Stronger (Deluxe Edition) by Kelly Clarkson
355. Piece By Piece by Kelly Clarkson
356. Meaning of Life by Kelly Clarkson
357. Lowborn by Anberlin
358. Without Fear by Dermot Kennedy
359. Betty by Betty Who
360. No Secrets by No Secrets
361. Can’t Hold Back by Eddie Money
362. Debut by Bjork
363. Post by Bjork
364. Vespertine by Bjork
365. Homogenic by Bjork
366. Medulla by Bjork
367. Volta by Bjork
368. Biophilia by Bjork
369. Vulnicura by Bjork
370. Utopia by Bjork
371. Talking Book by Stevie Wonder
372. They Might Be Giants by They Might Be Giants
373. Christmas Extraordinaire by Manheim Steamroller
374. LP1 by Liam Payne 
375. I Like Fun by They Might Be Giants
376. Birthplace by Novo Amor
377. For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
378. Some Nights (Spotify Exclusive Version) by fun.
379. Fine Line by Harry Styles
380. Romance by Camila Cabello
381. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel
382. The Captain and Me by The Doobie Brothers
383. Crossing the Rubicon by The Sounds
384. Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks
385. Cheap Queen by King Princess
386. Waiting for My Rocket to Come by Jason Mraz
387. Travelogues by Doc Robinson
388. No 6. Collaborations Project by Ed Sheeran
389. Toulouse Street by The Doobie Brothers
390. Beast Epic by Iron & Wine
391. We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. by Jason Mraz
392. The Lost Christmas Eve by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
393. Anxiety by Ladyhawke
394. Spice by Spice Girls
395. In Loving Memory of When I Gave a Shit by LOLO
396. Sorry by Meg Myers
397. I’ll Be Back Someday by Tegan and Sara
398. The Stranger by Billy Joel
399. Tell Me How You Really Feel by Courtney Barnett
400. Please Please Me by The Beatles