My 10 Worst Albums of 2019
My least favourite albums of the year, from the 600+ I've listened to. Although I sincerely hope that the present form of this list will prove definitive, I'll update if necessary over the next month. |
| 10 |  | The Raconteurs
Help Us Stranger
39/100 | The critical reverence for everything Jack White never ceases to baffle me. From the stuff I've listened to, this is easily the worst Rock 'n' Roll album of the year. |
| 9 |  | Soundtrack (Disney)
The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
38/100 | When many of Zimmer's cues don't hit the spot, there's a problem. When Beyoncé does her worst to monopolise the album by means of obtuse vocal inflections in every line, there's a problem. When Seth Rogan's asinine "humour" makes the cut, there's a problem. Whereas the excellent 'Moana' soundtrack proved that Disney could still make great musical soundtracks, this chaotic release jarringly proves the ephemerality of their capacity to do so. |
| 8 |  | David Hasselhoff
Open Your Eyes
37/100 | In all sincerity, Hasslehoff's latest release must be commended - especially when compared with his abysmal 2012 LP 'This Time Around'. A number of tracks here have replay value; the songwriting is vastly improved; many of the covers are decently performed; and there are admirable traces throughout of Hasslehoff experimenting with his sound. The plethora of features also works far better for the album than it has any right to. A lot of effort has evidently gone into making this, and many of the results are laudable. |
| 7 |  | Steve Earle
GUY
37/100 | This incredibly half-arsed Guy Clark covers/tribute album borderline defames its source material by its sheer ineptitude. Earle’s son's 2019 effort ('The Saint of Lost Causes') is significantly better. |
| 6 |  | Robbie Williams
The Christmas Present
33/100 | The perfect Christmas present for someone you really hate. Not only awful from start to finish, but also agonizingly protracted. |
| 5 |  | Weezer
The Black Album
28/100 | It says something damning about the band's trajectory when both 'Teal' and their song from the 'Frozen 2' soundtrack are better than the vast majority of their latest eponymous effort. A real disappointment given that this came only three years after the excellent 'White'. The instant classic 'Too Many Thoughts In My Head' is the only track here worthy of being saved from the garbage pile. |
| 4 |  | Robbie Williams
Under the Radar Vol. 3
26/100 | "Did you hear the atrocious album Robbie released this year?"
"Which one?" |
| 3 |  | Hobo Johnson
The Fall of Hobo Johnson
25/100 | Saccharine drivel. |
| 2 |  | Richard Fordham
Antiques
20/100 | This is a massive improvement over Fordham's 2018 effort 'An Englishman Abroad'. Predominantly, because Fordham's voice has been mixed so far back into the mix that many tracks literally become bourgeois shoegaze anthems. Additionally, most tracks have actually been produced and mastered this time - bonus points for effort. |
| 1 |  | Kanye West
Jesus Is King
16/100 | Disingenuous; badly produced; poorly written; sanctimonious; half-arsed; insipid. The grotesque tie-in clothing line for the album epitomises its sound perfectly. Perhaps not quite as bad as 'Ye', but still atrocious |
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