Welcome to The Best Music of 2019, otherwise known as the principle cause of our annual staff fist fight. After carefully considering, deliberating, arguing and a few unflattering and entirely untrue remarks about some mothers, we have calculated, sorted, and contextualized what may amount to, more or less, the best music produced in Atlantic Canada during this year of our Lord, 2019. At least, according to some. The rest, we assure you, have been disposed of as humanely as possible. The undertaking has called into question our judgement, our tastes, our ethics, and any belief in a higher power, but we do so hope that enjoy this finished product.

Honeymoon Driver – Worry Worry

“Worry Worry” is the first single to appear under Soapbox Opera’s new moniker, Honeymoon Driver. Cheery and upbeat, Honeymoon Driver’s “Worry Worry” is reminiscent of Brighton indie rock and about as far from our concerns as we can get.

Jont – Church on Sunday

Spiritual, but not religious. That’s the message of Jont’s “Church on Sunday” — that despite our own beliefs, there is nothing that prevents us from enjoying the moments life presents us with in other contexts.

The Stanfields – Breakers in the Dark

The Stanfields’ “Breakers in the Dark” paints a portrait of a weatherworn music scene and the faces of those we’ve seen maybe a thousand times, all lingering at the back of bars, probably long after they should have gone home.

Jennah Barry – Pink Grey Blue

Jennah Barry’s soft and flowing voice in “Pink Grey Blue” offers a lull of calm, but under the surface is the turmoil of someone struggling with body dysmorphia.

Makayla Lynn – Amen

More mantra than a song, Maykayla Lynn breaks out a concert favourite crafted with Rick Tiger. “Amen” serenades us with a reminder that we should all have a little faith in where we’re going.

Paper Lions – Rhythm & Gold

Paper Lions’ upbeat and dance-worthy “Rhythm & Gold” is a solid summertime anthem about romance, travel, adventure and music.

Spoutnique – Irrécupérable (le sort II)

As one of the slowest tracks on Spoutnique’s 2019 album, Solace, “irrécupérable (le sort II)” is sensual and synthy.

Kids Losing Sleep – Maybe You’re Right

Pop-punk group Kids Losing Sleep’s upbeat “Maybe You’re Right” combines youthful energy with loud beats to make us want to jump around.

The East Pointers – Wintergreen

Combing folk and pop, The East Pointers’ “Wintergreen” isn’t the new backing-track to the next Wrigley’s Gum commercial, but fresh reassurances that everything will be okay.

Pretty Archie – Stay The Same

Pretty Archie’s “Stay The Same” is the band’s cure for life on the road and a reminder that the people who really matter will always be there for you.

A.J.H. Gillis & the Delusions of Grandeur – Salt Water

This soft, acoustic folk track by A.J.H. Gillis & the Delusions of Grandeur is packed full of soul and love for Nova Scotia.

Juicebox – Skater

Juicebox are living like it’s the mid 90s, and that means living, breathing and bleeding like a secret shredder of the citywide infrastructure. Don’t tell mom.

Sussex – The Ocean Wide

Offering up the most musically diverse album of the year, Sussex somehow work in a combination of vibraphone and a splash of funk on “The Ocean Wide” to deliver a song that is strangely reminiscent of a folky Dave Matthews Band.

Dylan Menzie – Ivory

A track inspired by the story of a 600+-year-old man and his infant child, Dylan Menzie’s “Ivory” talks of Nuvumiutaq. Historians say the Inuit man lived sometime between 1200 and 1400 A.D., and his remains were discovered along with those of an infant, 24 ivory bird figurines and an ivory bow drill, which contained etchings depicting his life’s story.

Smaller Hearts – Circuitry

Love, life, lingering doubts that we all exist inside of a giant simulation. Smaller Hearts synthfully lament the endless circles our lives are destined to tread and retread.

Designosaur – Associate

Festooned with the wild power of bass, Designosaur’s “Associate” hits heavy on the existential grind of musicianhood.

Sound Drown – Radio Song

Saint John pop-punk band Sound Drown epitomize catchiness with a song tailored for radio play.

Joey Robin Haché – Game Over

Serving up some irony, Joey Robin Haché’s tongue-in-cheek track “Game Over” acts as a commentary on everything that is wrong with the popular music industry.

John – Long Trip

Fronted by Newfoundland’s Joanna Barker, but with the most difficult band name to ever be Googled, John’s “Long Trip” teeters on a bittersweet edge of possibility.

Wintersleep – Into The Shape of Your Heart

Long-time East Coast favourites Wintersleep never fail to impress. Their track “Into The Shape of Your Heart” is almost dangerously catchy, but we’re content to belt out that chorus with them.

Moira & Claire – Again

Soft and acoustic duo Moira & Claire harmonize beautifully in this gentle and heartfelt track, which acts as an ode to the beauty of the Maritime provinces.

Villages – Maggie of the Cove

Bordering on the edge of trad, but too catchy to corner, the upbeat folk tune “Maggie of the Cove” is definitely a toe tapper that will have you dancing at a slant, all while wondering who this Maggie is, anyway.

Daughter of the Moon – Casanova

Telling the tale of a disappointing relationship, Daughter of the Moon calls Nancy Sinatra to mind with “Casanova.”

Corey Isenor – Teenage Blues

Corey Isenor brings us back into a deep nostalgia for our teenage years but also reminds us of how teenhood was not actually all that great anyway in “Teenage Blues.”