Best of 2009

2010 The year that was

Yeasayer said (tongue in cheek) that they want to make music to "make you feel inadequate, like you're not cool enough to be listening to [this] music." That's the goal of

Best of, as well. Unfortunately, once you have listened, digested and internalized, the coolness becomes part of you. Sorta of a musical communion. Well that's the goal. The reality is this is what the inside of my head sounds like, ex-bonds, my girls (much louder), cars (even louder if done correctly) and all the stuff of day to day life. The words here are just a bonus. Trends and thoughts:

(1) Quantity: I've said this in the past and I'll say it again: there is more music out there than ever. Part of that is the ease that technology has spawned. Go to your favorite blog, right click and whammy new music!!! I've exposed to more songs than I can listen to. I think Tim Duff hooked my up with about 30 songs one day in November that I have listened to only a few times - not enough. Fcuk buttons, School of Seven Bells, Lupe Fiasco mix tape - these don't even get mentions but come highly recommended, but there is so much out there if you have time to look and listen.

(2) Bootlegs: This discovery clearly contributed to the above problem in number one, but there are numerous blogs where you can download bootlegs. Not quite the live experience, but variations of all you favorites. It's a chunk of hard drive but I love it. Check out http://www.archive.org/: 35 shows by Spoon, 388 by DBT or 338 by Smashing Pumpkins. Strange remixes, obscure covers, all of various quality (and these are 100% authorized and legal. - other sites have a more questionable legal). Or go narrow: http://joydivision-neworder.blogspot.com/. Or by local: nyctaper.com (guess here) or http://dclivetracks.wordpress.com/ featuring the 9:30 club (you know what I'm talking about). A great way to discover music.

(3) Paying for Music: I've already paid a fair amount for music although I have long spent the bulk of money either at concerts or used (half.com), but this year I joined the download revolution and not just the free stuff. Amazon.com got this rolling. $5 for an album = hard to go round. $7 for new release = can't be beat. Then came emusic.com which while lacking the choices of the majors (call it 75%) wins on price (basically .50 a song on subscription model). Wait until spotify.com arrives: unlimited, every song of music on demand for $150 a year, via computer, ipod or mobile. In a year, I spend somewhere between 5 and 10 times that much so it's a no-brainer. Europe has it, it'll be here soon.

Hard Cuts (In ascending order of angst)
U2 - not a really a tough cut. Trying to split the difference between the last two albums and doing neither well. Can't figure out of they are trying to artistically stretch or just self-indulgent.

Rhett Miller - Liz will kill me but this just doesn't measure up to previous stuff. Okay "happy birthday don't die" goes into Joy Division territory and "another girlfriend" is witty but not as musically interesting as previous outings or Old 97's. Bring back Jon Brion! Please!

Those Darlins - This album grows on me with each listen. There is more going on than appears, but the songs don't grab me as strongly as some of the others. Check out the animation

Datarock - I love the red jumpsuits and great party music but I don't know if its really that original, at least musically, but fun.
Eels - another one of those albums that I feel I should spend more time with. I like it but nothing over the top that has to be on the list.

Eliot Brood/Dan Mangan - check out preview. I love these songs as obscure live Canadian alt country that's not really country, but not really 2009 and that's enough to push them down the list. The video here doesn't make the song make any more sense but it sure makes me laugh.

Monsters of Folk - a great idea, a finely executed and enjoyable album but as with all super-groups, balances is essential and the album is so well-balanced nothing stands up. In any other year, would have made the list easy. Still growing on me.

Morrissey - Album was actually good if not new ground. Overshadowed by fantastic live show on the BBC (above) - have not heard Swords yet but assume more solid live performances.

Garage Rock - Plenty to go around Band of Skulls, Dead Weather (Kills plus White Stripes on drums). I think the best I found (actually Liz found) was the Kills. This is more bluesy than rock, but it just doesn't sound as fresh as it did ten years ago even if still enjoyable. Maybe Jack White needs to start playing the guitar again.

Miss Li - Bourgeois Shangri-la - designated Apple one hit wonder of the year. But Cage is a better song in the one-hit wonder category.

There are maybe ten or twelve - AC Newman (of the New Pornographers) needs a little more polish (we are now down to the part of the list that is actually painful to make these choices).

The Decemberist - Hazards of Love - I love this album but its a concept album that needs to be listened to in its entirety so I can't pick one song

Wale - Finally the album came out and we were all disappointed, despite working with TV on the Radio (check out TV in the radio with K'naan). but his mixtape "back to the feature" was better (check out "letter" with Mark Ronson and John Mayer on preview), both musically and lyrically. Who gives away their best stuff, and then charges for the throw aways?



Fireflies - Owl City - Love this song including bubble pops. But Postal Service did it way back when and Death Cab had better songs this year. Cool "animation."

DC Comics and Milkshakes - Art Brut - actually more of a lifestyle than a song.

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp - really a 2010 song



Andrew Bird - Fitz & Dizzyspeels - Something about this weird song makes me happy. And the lyric twists are either bizarre or awesome or both.

Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Shampoo -Second best band name of the year (first being the Ska Skank Redemption) what a great hook, great tempo but I think in the genre, there are better versions.


The Cribs - Johnny Marr has had a helluva run lately (hell this plus modest mouse ep is a helluva a year). He performs the same role here that he performed with Modest Mouse: smooth out some edges, add layers to the sound, adding just enough to take the band to the next level. Now that level is not the same as MM, but still this is straight rock and roll and a pleasure.



Death Cab for Cutie - Meet me at the Equinox - the heir to Geddy Lee, but partially represented.

The Final Cut
Street Sweeper Social Club - 100 Little Curses - It's not Rage but maintains the intensity, the politics and unique guitar. It's not as nuanced as Rage but still recommended. A good time to remark on shows of the last year. Summer line up of Street Sweeper, NIN farewell and Jane's Addiction is tough to beat. Drive by truckers and Hold steady is right there too. For drunken fun, Lucero is tough to beat. Another highlight was Bruce Springsteen. I think this was the fifth time I've seen him live. The first time was one of the best concerts I ever saw but each show declined since then (although he always gave it three or so hours). This show restored my faith. Much more musical, less hits, great playing, intensity, on-stage marriage proposals, Dropkick Murphys and Ramones songs:

Have but have not listened enough to judge:
Avett Brothers - I and Love and You - Yes shame shame. A lot of blogs picked as best of the year. Listened to it on a plane. Seems pretty good, definitely unique sound. Weirdest video of the year (music starts at 1:35)

Felice Brothers - Yonder is the Clock - Apparently, I have issues with brothers - more of a musicians favorite
George Strait - Twang - It's gd George Strait
Todd Snider - The Excitement Plan - another blog favorite
Bob Dylan - Together through life - have not even listened yet but looking forward to it. Bob get better with age. Last two album were complete gems.
Fanfarlo - feel once I see them live, I will fall in love
Dinosaur Jr - no excuse
Morphine - at your service - given the guy dies 10+ years ago, I suppose it doesn't count as 2009 but still a unique gem after all this time.


Julian Plenti aka Interpol side project - new album of Interpol next year
AA Bondy - another well reviewed but will have to investigate more.
Scott Biram - pulled from others best of 2009


Looking forward to next year:
Spoon - the best band in the world today. Their songwriting has been inching towards the main stream with each album yet remaining weird and wonderful. Will 2010 be their U2 moment?
Teenage Fan Club
Reckless Kelly
Strokes
Arcade Fire (this band is growing on me)
Gorillaz
Peter Gabriel (covers album with orchestra arrangements produced by Bob Ezrin)could be the most glorious diaster of the year, but Pete usually pulls shit off
Drive by Truckers
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim (featuring female singer line up doing concept album on Imelda Marcos)
Yeasayer
Magnetic Fields - promised to be pop songs
Hold Steady - big question although they are working on Chuck Klosterman movie

The Best of 2009

Blackroc - This is Black Keys with various rappers. If you remember, their last album evolved to what we might call alternative country blues. They took it to the next step as a rap album. The incredible thing is unlike most things that sound good in theory, they pull it off. Album hasn't been out a month but probably a top ten.

Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses- hey hey - Definite top ten album, no bad songs. Its country with an edge. Love this song, fires me up, makes me feel like square dancing and having a beer.

Cage the Elephant - ain't no rest for the wicked - designated one hit wonder of the year. Great attitude.

Them crooked vultures - Led Zepplin plus Nirvana's drummer plus Queens of the Stone Age but mainly Led Zep, a hard rock album with alternative drum riffs. A throw back. Could have been any one of half dozen songs.

Ida Maria - How do I describe Ida? Think Bjork (Ida is Norwegian) backed by the Strokes and the weirdness dial turned down to about an 8, plus the Sundays for intensity and melody. She can write a great pop song ("I like you so much better when you're naked" see preview), alternative songs or a classic rock ("everybody's always alone"). An amazing talent. A top ten album and rising star, I hope. I got some criticism of the song and it might have been a weak choice on my part but I liked the contrast to "laughing with." Plus live version kicks ass. And she chews tobacco. Would Iggy Pop make it better?

Moondoogies - alt country via Kentucky. Love these guys melodies but they still rock

Delta Spirit - Top five album. Both bluesy and alternative. Yet feels natural and real, yet slightly off. Love it. Could have been trashcan or any other song. Hopefully, we can look forward to a long career with these guys.

Neko Case - What can I say? That voice, that red hair, that car. But really that voice just blows me away. This is isn't new ground from "Fox Confessor" but still a great album with no weak links. Usually not a red head guy but I'm in love. If she ever comes knockin'... needless to say, top ten.












Grizzley Bear - This is one of the bands I'll call the new harmonies. Think beach boys plus prog rock on an alt-country base. But the music is usually pretty constructed and complex. It started with My Morning Jacket but was everywhere this year, think Fleet Foxes or Elvis Perkins in Deerland. But I think these guys put together the strongest album and the most complex melodies. Cheerleader didn't really do it for me, but "two weeks" got me and this one got me hook line and sinker. Top ten album.

One Fast Move - Jar Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard. Jay Farrar is the leader of Son Volt who dropped American Central Dust, a return to form for them. Problem is I can't choose one song because they are all good. Top Ten Album. Ben Gibbard is the leader of Deathcab for Cutie who put out that insanely catchy song on twilight soundtrack as well as a great ep which sounds very different from their usual stuff. Another couple of songs and it could have been album of the year (I got over hating myself for liking them a few years ago but it took a lot of work). One fast move is a collaboration between the two and allows me to kill two birds with one stone.

Laughing With - Regina Spektor - Regina was the next hot thing a few years ago, but I never really bought it. But this song really grabbed me. I love the tone and the hook and the piano. The rest of the album I can take it or leave it but sometimes all you need is one great song.

El Paso - Jason Anderson - I think I found this guy at the alt country site but its not alt country. More like Bruce Sprinsteen updated for the post modern 2000's. He a local Boston guy. I love the simple but multi-layered sound. But I really love the exuberance that he sings with.

What are you willing to lose - Lucero - Major label premiere from the boys from Little Rock. They advance their song by adding a horn section, but it is still their sound. A top ten album and still a great (albeit drunken) time.

Rabbit Heart - Florence and the Machine. Sorry Bats for Lashes but this album is just a notch higher. Credit Flo's Kate Bush-esque vocals with sufficient alternative rock. But they had me at the Kate Bush thing. Good song too.

Lisztomania - Phoenix -Album of the Year, not a bad song. Phoenix has been kicking around for a few years, putting out good stuff but never getting the mix between techno, French and pop quite right. But with this album it all came together for a perfect set of songs.

Franz Ferdinand - tough choice to pick one song. If any album was ever to re-mixed, it was "Tonight." And they complied with remix album "Blood." The album (or should I say both albums) is a great alternative album with a dance backtrack. I really wanted to use the 8 minute "Lucid Dreams" which is one of the freakiest headphone tracks since Pink Floyd (go to about 4:30 in the song). Why hasn't the ipod era created better headphone songs?

Nothing to Worry About - Peter Bjorn and John - Usually there a lot of songs I hear and instantly know that I will be playing that song in my head for the rest of the year. This year, not so much. But this song got me the first time I heard it. Folk duo plus drum machine (last album) = overrated. Folk duo plus Kanye album (this one) equals awesome. I dare you to not tap your foot.

I wish I knew Natalie Portman - K-os - Nothing brings you closer to your musical heroes than finding out you have the same obsession, in this case me, K-os and Natalie Portman. I could go on and on about N.P. or V for Vendetta or how the English don't get the superhero comic or comics is just a medium. But simple point is rap is a medium and K-os is one who has pushed it to the unusual spaces in it, but still writes catchy "pop" songs. Wish this guy got more appreciation from, well anyone.

ABC's = K'naan (with Chubb Rock) This guy is really interesting - born in Somalia, came up as local rapper, learned English and moved to America. You'll know him this summer as his song is the official song of the World Cup (whatever that means). The lyrics vary in quality but the right DJ (like here) this stuff really pops. A lot of potential here.

Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z w/Alicia Keys - There have been a lot of comments about this song being the new "New York New York" (that sounds like a stutter but we are referring to Frank here). That might be overstating it a bit, time will tell, but it still is a kick ass track. The album is uneven and I respect Jay-Z for taking chances, even if he ends up on his arse here and there. But this one is gold. My favorite part is the shout out to "60 state street" which is where I have worked for 15 years, although in Boston not NYC.

The Missing Track

As some of you have noticed, there is an extra song that is listed but not on the CD. Here it is. Modest Mouse is suppose to have a real album this year but I love this weird guitar solo in this one. Thanks for making it this far. Here is your reward. follow to link:

Whale

Likewise, make sure you visit the "preview" with live options:

Best of 2009 Preview

Thanks again for your support.