Friday, December 6, 2019

Jeff's Best of 2019 - #8: Marika Hackman - Any Human Friend

A sign of how great the best music of this year has been? At one point in my list, this was my #1.

Marika Hackman's third album definitely has a different feel than her first two. I went from a low-key fan to low-key obsessed thanks to this album, which is a cohesive and interesting listen that's equal parts sexual and sophisticated. There are layers here I didn't expect, songs here that lodged themselves in my head for weeks, and imagery that stuck with me long after I was finished listening. It's one of the albums I recommended more than any other this year, as well.

To Hackman's credit, this seemed to be a breakthrough release for her, with "Hand Solo" getting some radio attention and more people talking about her than I saw for her last album. Still, this is an album that feels isolated and personal even with such an expansive intent. I'm glad it exists, and every time I listen to it I'm reminded as to why it's a favorite.

Songs of Note: "Hand Solo," "I'm Not Where You Are," "All Night."

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