Top 89 of 2019: Jay Gabler, digital producer
by Jay Gabler
December 02, 2019
At the close of the decade, I have a confession to make: for the past six years, I've been fronting. Every year when it comes time to list my favorite songs and albums for The Current's Top 89, I scour all the available lists of the year's best music and make sure I've listened to everything I can possibly squeeze in before the deadline, coming up with a list that's basically honest but also presents the version of myself who can most credibly be seen as a tastemaker working at a cool radio station.
This year, I'm just going to play it straight with you. I'm not going to list the songs and albums I should have been listening to all year, I'm going to list the new songs and albums I was actually listening to all year – as revealed by Last.fm, the social network I use religiously to chart my listening. I've been on the network since 2007, so I can also list my completely honest most-played songs and albums of the 2010s.
I did have to make a couple of edits to prevent artist repetition and to account for some listening that didn't get tracked, but basically, this is the new music I listened to most this year and decade. I am who I am.
Favorite songs of 2019
1. Billie Eilish – "bad guy"
2. Ariana Grande – "7 rings"
3. Carly Rae Jepsen – "Too Much"
4. Tegan and Sara – "Hold My Breath Until I Die"
5. Lana Del Rey – "Norman f---ing Rockwell"
6. Betty Who – "Old Me"
7. Charli XCX feat. Lizzo – "Blame It On Your Love"
8. Lizzo feat. Missy Elliott – "Tempo"
9. Taylor Swift – "The Archer"
10. Lil Nas X – "Old Town Road"
Favorite albums of 2019
1. Ariana Grande – thank u, next
2. Lana Del Rey – Norman F---ing Rockwell!
3. Tegan and Sara – Hey, I'm Just Like You
4. Lizzo – Cuz I Love You
5. Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
6. Charli XCX – Charli
7. Mark Ronson – Late Night Feelings
8. Eric Mayson – Its All Real Its All Fake
9. Eric Mayson – Ōp-Nope
10. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
Favorite songs of the 2010s
1. Tegan and Sara – "Closer"
2. Kate Nash – "Do-Wah-Doo"
3. Carly Rae Jepsen – "Call Me Maybe"
4. Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris – "We Found Love"
5. Cher Lloyd – "Want U Back"
6. Lana Del Rey – "Video Games"
7. Ariana Grande – "Problem"
8. Azealia Banks feat. Lazy Jay – "212"
9. Charli XCX – "Nuclear Seasons"
10. Those Darlins – "Be Your Bro"
Favorite albums of the 2010s
1. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
2. Beyoncé – Beyoncé
3. Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob
4. Marina – The Family Jewels
5. Tristen – Charlatans at the Garden Gate
6. Kate Nash – My Best Friend Is You
7. Dr. Dog – Shame Shame
8. Grimes – Art Angels
9. Robyn – Body Talk
10. Gayngs – Relayted