Best Austin Albums of 2019

Two years ago, over 400 albums were released by Austin artists according to Kevin Curtin at The Austin Chronicle. Curtin then released a list of Austin’s top 200 records. His point? The musical bar is set so high in Austin that half of that momentous number of releases were deserving of some kind of mention in a year-end list. While we applaud him for the effort in producing a massive list of worthy albums, we’re keeping it simple with a more manageable collection of best Austin albums we loved listening to in the past year.

Austin has had another impressive year musically. Crescent City native Gary Clark Jr. was nominated for four Grammys. Black Pumas shocked the musical establishment by garnering a Best New Artist nomination after dropping their debut this past summer. Austin bands we love also put out great new records. Megafauna, Moving Panoramas, Jackie Venson and Sun June all created startlingly good recordings. We hope this list provides for both musical discovery and a reminder of the good music Austin musicians released in 2019.

While we encourage our readers to stream the music listed below, if you like the record (or know someone who would), take this opportunity to purchase the album (directly from the artist if possible). It’s the best way to support their work. Some acts have made beautiful pieces of vinyl in addition to access to digital content. Links to their respective music pages is provided when available. The list below is in no particular order. We love great, Austin-born music and cannot possibly choose one of these works of art over the other to be frank.

Black Pumas – Black Pumas – ATO Records

By now, most of you have heard of local musician and producer, Adrian Quesada’s (Grupo Fantasma, Brownout) new project, Black Pumas with upstart soul singer, Eric Burton. Their music is all over the local, regional and national airwaves. They even have a national commercial featuring their song “Colors” in a Bank of America advertisement.

Pumas have sold out shows both stateside and in Europe since the release with a top tier group of musicians in drummer, Stephen Bidwell, keyboardist, JaRon Marshall and bassist Vince Chiarito.  They are preparing off the next leg of tour which spans from sold out performances in Dallas and more U.S. dates in January to another European run in February. In short, these guys are in demand.

The eponymous record is a delight. While the first single “Black Moon Rising” got attention, more recent single “Colors” appears to have longer legs than the first single. The tune is a throwback to the gospel-trained female backup singers of the 1960’s while employing more modern psych, Latin and even hip-hop beats within music rooted in soul, funk and gospel. Lauren Cervantes and Angela Miller fill those backup singer roles perfectly sweetening the deal vocally which is a feat considering Burton’s impressive chops.  

Burton wrote the song about his family and friends one day when the singer was feeling particularly introspective and a bit sad. But a moment of clarity produced the winning lyrics that tell his story. The rest of the album expands on those themes. His contribution (both musically and lyrically) was the magic ingredient added to the musical cocktail Quesada was brewing before the two met. Their collaboration will likely produce more great music going forward.

Gary Clark Jr. – This Land – Warner Bros.

Austin native and shining son, Gary Clark Jr. has taken up the mantle of resident Blues guitar master deftly with his debut release, Blak and Blu (2012). Clark nabbed a Grammy for Traditional R&B Performance in 2014 for his track from that record, “Please Come Home.”
This year, the magical bluesman made a decided departure from his previous two recordings, dropping This Land on an unsuspecting audience who came away with elements of hip-hop, rap, Blues, rock and soul embedded in the material.

The video for “This Land” made startling social commentary on racism in America much like Childish Gambino’s track “This is America” did in 2018. This effort presents a more well-rounded, Gary Clark Jr. who also led production with Austin hip-hop collaboration Blackillac (Phranchyze and Zeale) recently. That experience had to have informed Clark’s own songwriting as evidenced by the breath of material presented on the current record.

Clark’s video got a Grammy nod as did the record ironically for Contemporary Blues Album despite it’s meandering genres. “This Land” was also nominated for best Rock Song and Rock Performance this year.

Megafauna – Ghost Coast – self released

Austin rockers Megafauna led by the tireless Dani Neff (guitar, vocals) added some punch to the lineup with multi-instrumentalist Winston Barrett. Barrett’s contribution also figured into the recording of Ghost Coast, one of The Cosmic Clash staff’s favorite Austin releases this year. Augmented by the rock-solid rhythm section of Will Krause (bass) and Zack Humphrey (drums), the group used sound like the power-trio they were. Power chords and some wicked guitar solos by Neff highlighted the music (and still does), but the newer material presents a different look at the group than previous recordings.

The first single, “Is There Anything Else” leads off with a frenetic drum part by Humphrey as the other band members join the song and Neff begins intoning words into her mic. The result is something both visceral and refined. The recording certainly reflects a maturation of Megafauna’s sound while leveraging the strength of Neff and Barrett’s musical ability. At the same time the music becomes more nuanced and subtle. It’s a neat trick which has made this record a staple at The Cosmic Clash office.

Staffer Brian HIllsman exclaimed after listening, “At some points they sound like Radiohead!” while looking surprised at himself for making the comment. Agree, Brian, they’ve definitely hit on something with this record. Y’all should buy or gift it to a music-loving friend.

Megafauna plays The Lost Well this Wednesday (December 18).

Moving Panoramas – In Two – Modern Outsider

After multiple delays, the sophomore effort from psych-rock, shoe-gazers Moving Panoramas finally dropped In Two in 2019. The group has expanded to six members, moving from the narrower aforementioned genres to one less easily identifiable. Yes, the psych-rock, shoe-gaze component is still there but Panoramas built upon that sound employing elements of alt country, rock, and pop music into their already inviting sound.

Lead single “Baby Blues” (which actually dropped in 2018) reflects these changes, lending a more commercially appealing flavor to the group. Bandleader Leslie Sisson has refined her vocal delivery and included bandmates Rosie Castoe and Cara Tillman on vocals, sweetening the deal. Jody Suarez (drums), Phil McJunkins (slide guitar) round out the band.

Other track highlights include the country-tinged “Whiskey Fight” and the pop-oriented “ADD Heart.” Moving Panoramas’ next Austin date is at Barracuda on December 28.  

Sun June – Younger – Keeled Scales

If it wasn’t for Moving Panoramas we wouldn’t know about self-described “regret pop” act Sun June. Bandleader Laura Colwell is former member of the group who struck out on her own. The result is surprising from our point of view. Pop doesn’t often figure into our playlists. Last year, however, we realized the group’s New York album had quietly moved into our regular playlist which we included in last year’s Top Austin Albums list.

This year’s record Younger falls into that same category of records we didn’t realize we liked so much. But Colwell (keys, lead vocals) and her band make beautiful music that is hard to pass up. The group is currently in studio working on their next release according to Colwell. They’re gearing up for a return to the live stage in March after touring much of the end of the year.

Superfonicos – Cumbaleo – Discos Fónicos

Colombian afro-funksters Superfonicos dropped their second album Cumbéalo this year on their own Discos Fonicos imprint. The record features elements of Latin cumbia, funk and afrobeat. The Cosmic Clash featured their single release earlier this year (see below for exerpt). The record is a great listen and one we frequently return to for new, unnoticed morsels of musical ear candy. The group’s success in the past year has seen them play ACL Festival, guest on numerous radio shows and gain a core following that will take the group far into the future.

he Austin Afro-Colombian Latin funksters Superfónicos released single “Cumbéalo” along with B side, “Tropidelico” on 7” vinyl before the full album dropped. The record was produced by Spoon drummer and Public Hi-Fi Studio owner Jim Eno. Eno approached the band following sessions he recorded with the band as part of local singer, Walker Lukens’ Song Confessional project. After witnessing how well the group recorded that track live, Eno circled back around for the current project which is the first recording (Volume 1) in the Spotlight Series offered by Public Hi-Fi and Gold Rush Vinyl.
Superfónicos released the tracks after a landmark 2018 for the group which saw the world-music octet perform at SXSW, ACL Radio’s Blues on the Green, Austin City Limits Festival and New Year’s Eve at Auditorium shores.  This culminated in the group being nominated for “Artist of the Year” in the Austin Chronicle Music Awards.

The group led by founders Erick Bohorquez and Nico Sanchez, have made huge strides in the four short years they’ve been a band. Superfónicos along with psych-Cumbia innovators Money Chicha lead the Cumbia-fusion movement in Austin. In fact, Money Chicha drummer, John Spiece (Grupo Fantasma, Brownout) appears on the new record. 

The Bright Light Social Hour – Jude Vol 1 – Modern Outsider

By now you’ve realized we’re suckers for The Bright Light Social Hour. From their eponymous debut to their otherworldly Space is the Place to this year’s Jude Vol 1 this band does it for us. Perhaps it’s Curtis Roush’s exceptional guitar performances and vocal delivery? Or maybe it’s the insistent drum beat of Joe Mirasol? Or the alien sounds emanating from Edward Brailiff’s keyboards? Or maybe it’s watching bassist Jack O’Brien rile up the audience with his enthusiastic bass lines and energy? It’s all of those contributions on top of exceptional songwriting.

From our piece in Glide Mag:

“The first single released, “Lie To Me (Große Luge)” is a microcosm of what’s to come on the rest the record. Lush sonic textures weave together amid a catchy chorus that gets stuck in the listener’s head long after absorbing the material. The slow, keyboard-led intro blossoms into a steady beat and bass rhythm as the band joins in with beautifully harmonized vocals that sound both otherworldly and insistently intentional simultaneously. 

Subsequent songs on the new record affect the listener similarly. Track three, “She Wanna Love You” has a deep, hypnotic bass line and beat that carries through to the outro which fades out into a syncopated electronic rhythm. Other tracks such as “Darling You” push Roush’s heartfelt vocal performance into the spotlight amid yet another hypnotic drumbeat Mirasole produces as if he were a machine, crafting just the right amount of energy to match the tone of the song. Precision drum technique is often underappreciated, but it’s hard to ignore Mirasole’s talent on this album. The man is a percussion beast.

The Vapor Caves – Feel Yourself – self released

The collaboration of Yadira Brown (LAX, 10yr) and Andrew Thaggard (Boom Baptist) christened The Vapor Caves produces some seriously deep, delicious modern funk that pays homage to 70s and 80s funk a la the Gap Band or Zapp. This year’s album, Feel Yourself has all those elements and then some.  Brown’s voice is the perfect pitch to deliver the sultry lines necessary to set the mood. Add in Thaggard’s experienced take on his own beats in the context of funk and you have something really special happening.

The track “Endless Summer” is a good example of a mood setting piece that gets the listener imagining a pool side chill session with an exotic cocktail. Brown further soothes the ear with her playful, light touch. Track two, “Hurry Up and Wait” has the kind of beat that sets an entire room moving to the synthetic grooves seeping in. It feels like a party from the get-go.

That’s the gist of The Vapor Caves, a feel-good band wrapped in original, classic beats and great vocals.

Jackie Venson – Joy – self released

If someone asked you who the reining guitarist according to the Austin Music Awards is you might say Gary Clark or Jimmie Vaughan but you’d be wrong. It’s Austin native, Jackie Venson. The 29-year old singer and Blues impresario dropped a doozy of a full-length earlier this year, selling out The Paramount Theatre for the record release. She’s the real deal and so is her record Joy.

Joy represents Venson’s confidence to step beyond traditional Blues and push the various boundaries of her inlfuences. The result is an emotionally raw, studio polished full-length that displays the full range of the artist’s abilities. Her songwriting is on point regardless of genre, underlining her musical skill. Whether it’s the electronic drumbeats on “Rollin and Tumble” mixed with a Blues vocal delivery or the sprawling “Back to Earth” Venson does it with verve and talent.

Townes Van Zandt – Sky Blue – Fat Possum

After becoming obsessed with this record upon its release, we had to include Townes Van Zandt’s posthumous recording Sky Blue in this year’s list of great Austin albums. Recorded at his friend’s home studio in Alabama, most of the tracks are unreleased acoustic versions of previously recorded songs with a few exceptions.

The album picks up at the tail end of a Van Zandt’s last truly productive writing period. His voice is true, his heart unwavering, his guitar picking clear, the man grabs the listener by the ear from the first notes of opening song, “All I Need.” You’re immediately reminded at why Van Zandt is so influential with other Texas songwriters. He had the gift even if the man was fallible and often succumbed to the temptations of drugs and alcohol. The version of “Pancho and Lefty” on this record is worth the price on its own. This is a fantastic album you’ll come back to again and again.