50. Dutchess and the Duke
“Scorpio”

The harmonizing voices on this song perfectly capture the heartbreak of the narrator. Despite being near his lover, he still feels miles apart. A few weeks ago I was playing this song in my classroom during journal time, and one of my students commented that it sounded like something from “Juno”. I agreed, although I don’t remember Moldy Peaches ever sounding this damn beautiful.

49. NOFX
“Best God in Show”

Despite releasing a couple lackluster albums in the past few years, NOFX still have a gift for catching you off-guard. On the surface, “Best God in Show” is a happy-hippy jam, but when you get past the joyful ska riff and cheery organ, NOFX is once again questioning religion in a way that is both humorous and thought-provoking.

48. M. Ward
“Never Had Nobody Like You”

Once you get past the use of a double negative in the title, you will find M. Ward has written another hum-able gem that would fit perfectly alongside other classics on “Transfiguration of Vincent”. It’s just too bad he had to let Budweiser throw it into a comercial about guys hi-fiving…who okays these things and deems them as funny?

47. Jay-Z
“DOA (Death to Auto-Tune)

Jay-Z is the godfather of the rap world. When the Hova says auto-tune is dead, you better take notice. Like a modern-day Biz Markie, Jay-Z howls “Na, na, na, na! Hey, hey, hey! Goodbye!” off-key throughout the song, along with the use of live instrumentation, ranging from a howling saxophone to a sultry guitar line. While most of the rap world has become a caricature of their former selves, Jay-Z continues to sing his own song, even if it is out of tune.

46. Bon Iver
“Woods”

Wait just one second Jay-Z…like a musical zombie, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon breathed new life into the auto-tuner with this captivating new approach to the played-out device. Somehow the old timey lyrics of “I’m building a still” work perfectly through the 21st century lens, sounding like a robotic barbershop quartet. And somehow, Vernon is still able to convey the loneliness and solitude of being alone in the woods.

45. Slayer
“Americon”

In a year where we got a glimpse of the stock market’s dirty under-belly and the corruption of American big business, it’s nice to see Slayer take a break from wreaking havoc on Christianity and focusing on the sick fucks who have preyed upon the middle class of this country for too long. There is something poetic about such an “evil” band taking on the true evil of this “land of deceit”.

44. Ty Segall
“Lovely One”

Ty Segall is often banging away at his guitar from start to finish, but on “Lovely One” he takes a break from his distortion pedal, starting off with a calming little guitar strum, eventually leading into the infectious chorus that would fit perfectly alongside The Animals and The Loving Spoonful on a classic oldies station.

43. Lightning Dust
“I Knew”

This song seems pressing despite the lack of a real drum track. The pulsing undertone continues from start to finish while the piano and organ truly take shape as percussion instruments, driving the two-minute romp through its existential path. How can something sound aged and cutting edge at the same time?

42. Pissed Jeans
“Goodbye (Hair)”

Historically, hardcore punk songs are about several defined topics: criticizing the government, criticizing the use of drugs/alcohol, or conveying how horrible it is to be a teenager. Pissed Jeans like to take a different stance. On past albums they’ve lamented the difficulties of being a stalker, the shame felt when cumming, and the perils of scrapbooking. On their 2009 release “King of Jeans” they even present the misery felt during the process of losing your hair:

I still can’t believe this is happening. I’m not fifty years old. I consider myself a young adult and want others to see me this way. If my looks deteriorate, it’ll wreak havoc on my self-esteem. Is that what I have to look forward to?

 Although humorous (and hitting a little close to home for a bald fella like myself) the song also conveys the anguish and frustration that is associated with growing old and losing your youth, one hair at a time.

41. Phoenix
“1901″

I know what you’re thinking: “How could he put this song so low on his list?!” Yes, I will admit that when I first heard this song during the spring, I played it endlessly. It’s catchy as hell and is even capable of getting a white boy like myself on his feet dancing (after a few beers mind you). Unfortunately, my love has turned to loathing due to the Cadillac commercials played in heavy rotation during the commercial break of every football game. Despite this hatred, I still can’t deny what a great song it is, or was (don’t worry, Phoenix gets more cred on this list…)

40. The Love Language
“Lalita”

You’ve heard this song before, but in actuality you haven’t. Weird? That is the power of The Love Language my friends. Quit trying to remember where you heard it and just sit back and enjoy the tune you’ve never heard before but swear you have.

39. Morrissey
“Something’s Squeezing My Skull”

When Morrissey expresses that he is “doing fine”, you know he’s lying. Despite being an older gentleman, he still seems to be dealing with his demons, some of which take pleasure in squeezing his skull. Drugs? The perils of relationships? Insanity? Who cares really. At least musically Morrissey sounds better than ever, with a Gang of Four, angular riff and the closing chant of “Don’t give me anymore!” that you just can’t get enough of.

38. The Thermals
“Now We Can See”

The fact that you are hooked on this song within 10 seconds says it all.

37. Sonic Youth
“Thunderclaps for Pyn”

When I lived in Omaha I liked to go to the Old Country Buffet on barbeque night. I’d skip over the salad bar, the fried foods section, and even noodle salad row in search of one thing: BBQ ribs. I’d fill my plate with ribs, and ribs only. When all that remained was a plate with meat-less bones I’d go back for seconds, engulfing a pig’s entire rib cage by the end of my visit.  Sonic Youth’s “The Eternal” is much like a buffet line, featuring a wide range of Sonic sounds from over the years, ranging from the art noise of early days to the sparser atmospheres of recent albums. But, like a plate of short ribs, this past year I often found myself skipping over the other tunes in search of a nice earful of “Thunderclaps for Pyn”.  Yummy!

36. Lightning Bolt
“Sublime Freak”

How do you make a Lightning Bolt song more chaotic? Add bongos. But there is so much more going on in this song; there is actually a chorus! YES FOLKS! A CHORUS! And if you listen close enough, it almost sounds like a 1960s surfer tune. I can see the beach blanket gogo dancers now…

35. Japandroids
“The Boys are Leaving Town”

Sure, this song has sentimental value for me, reminding me of my road trip this past summer where Paul and I listened to this at the beginning of our trip and later saw the band perform in Boise, Idaho. But this song made its way on this list for more reasons than the memories associated with it. Simply put, it kicks ass. Being the anti-thesis to Cheap Trick’s “Boys are Back in Town”, Japandroids have taken the classic teenage angst of leaving town and given it a jolt with rolling, jumpy drum fills and passionate, lo-fi vocals.

34. Andrew Bird
“Fitz and the Dizzyspells”

Every interview/review I read about Andrew Bird’s 2009 release “Noble Beast” focused heavily on the album’s use of whistling. This is for good reason. Every song on the album features whistling at some point, an aspect that becomes annoying pretty quickly. Only on “Fitz and Dizzyspells” does Andrew find a happy medium between his violin and pierced lips, creating a joyful romp that begs you to put a smile on your face.

33. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
“Zero”

Karen O singing about leather? I’m sold.

32. Animal Collective
“Brother Sport”

In the past few years the tribal sounds of bands like MIA and El Guincho have become more and more popular.  How soon we forget that Animal Collective brought this sound to the forefront years ago.  On “Merriwether Post Pavillion” the boys finish the album off with “Brother Sport”, a tropical rumpus that works perfectly as a final track due to its celebratory tone. It also serves as a reminder that the Collective can still make you shake your ass off if they really want to.

31. Lou Barlow
“The One I Call”

I know, I know. I hate love songs too.  And I’ll admit, Lou Barlow’s “One I Call” would probably work great on a John Cusack chick flick.  But you can’t resist its earnest lyrics nor can you deny the comfort of the combination of Lou’s voice and his guitar. If I saw Lou on the street, I’d probably yell to him, “Great song Lou!” to which he glare at me in disgust (inside joke).

30. Blank Dogs
“Open/Shut”

Guided By Voices meets The Cure circa 1980s? Oh, what a sweet combination, like peanut butter and jelly.

29. Propagandhi
“Dear Coach’s Corner”

Propagandhi usually rage against racism, government, and of course the fact that “Meat is murder”.  But never before have I heard them write about such unique subjects as they do on “Supporting Caste”.  The best has to be “Dear Coach’s Corner”, a vial criticism of the Canadian hockey show “Coach’s Corner” (I guess with Bush out of office, their song material got cut in half). The ranting tune basically states an annoyance with announcers conveying their own agendas when in the end, it’s just a game. Shut the fuck up:

Dear Ron McLane, I wouldn’t bother with these questions
if I didn’t sense some spiritual connection.
We may not be the same, but it’s not like we’re from different planets.
We both love this game so much we can hardly fucking stand it. 

 There is something admirable in Propagandhi’s approach; no one is free from being criticized. Who wouldn’t like to hear a song ripping into Bill Walton, Bob Davie, or Joe Buck?

28. Jay Reatard
“Wounded”

Everything in this song has its function. The “lade-da-da” that starts the song leads into a sweet little acoustic guitar lick, jumping straight into Jay’s yelling anthem, and finally kicking into the fist pumping chorus. And then, when you think you’ve figured it all out, the song finishes off with a killer closer that would put “Hey Jude” to shame.  Jay Reatard is a master songwriter; it’s about time we all accept his God-liness.

27. Matt and Kim
“Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare”

Matt and Kim songs are so simple. A plinking piano plink over a pounding drum beat and Matt’s nasally whine. Yet, with only these few elements they are able to write irresistable pop hits. While “Daylight” may be considered their breakout hit in 2009, “Good Ol Fashion Nightmare” is just as charming and replay-able.

26. Beirut
“My Night With the Prostitute From Marseille”

When I heard Beirut was releasing a double CD (one disc of them performing with a mexican mariachi band and another of Zach Condon singing over electronic music), I expected the first CD to be the better of the two but was disappointed by his Mexican offering.  Instead, I fell in love with the second disc of five dance songs, devoid of trumpets and accordians.  While two of the songs are about hookers, “My Night With the Prostitute From Marseille” is the obvious stand-out of the album.

6) M. Ward – Hold Time

The albums in my list for this year fall into one of two categories. Either I know the people involved – not friends, but people I’ve at least had a pint or awkward sexual encounter with – or know nothing about them whatsoever. M. Ward may not even have a first name. He could spend his days auctioning dogs, or be M out of James Bond* for all I know.

Gone are the days when the mainstream music press had an important role in shaping one’s opinion on an artist via interviews or breathless album reviews; instead I find out about music from friends, gigs, and still, sometimes, the radio. M Ward was just a name on a folder on a memory stick. I liked what I heard, then downloaded his new album from emusic. Until I find it to use as visual dressing for this review, I won’t even know what the album artwork looks like.

So, M Ward, the American (or possibly Canadian) singer of folky music lives on my music player making me happy. The songs glide, lollop and chug along; full of warmth, they’re beautifully arranged, and make long train journeys a pleasure. The lyrics? They’ve not really made much of an impression on me – the melodies, voice and arrangements are enough. If I ever properly listen to the lyrics, maybe he’ll make his way up the list. Maybe if I knew who he was or what his opinions were, I’d like him even more.

Or maybe he’s a twat. It doesn’t matter. This album’s a blissed-out joy, and that’s enough.

*This is silly. M’s not a weary-voiced alt-American singer – he’s Dame Judy Dench.

2009 was a pretty fucking awesome year! Seriously. I’ll probably make another post about the rest, but there were some amazing movies and some great records that came out.

Top 10 Albums

A lot of people are making lists for the decade, but I decided that I just couldn’t do that. It was too difficult of a task. So I stuck with just doing a top 10 favorite records for the year. In previous years, I’ve done bigger lists, but I’m keeping it small this year. And, as usual, this is a list of my favorite records, kind of like a personal playlist, rather than ones that I would say are the best.

Anyway, the list is below and I’ll also be counting this list  on The Playlist with The Reverend on 90.3 The Core tonight at 9pm! Make sure to tune in. I’ll be playing one song from each album.

1. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone – Anti
2. Frank Turner – Poetry Of The Deed – Epitaph
3. The Lawrence Arms – Buttsweat And Tears – Fat Wreck Chords
4. M. Ward – Hold Time – Merge
5. Coconut Records – Davy – Young Baby Records
6. Monsters of Folk – Monsters Of Folk – Shangri-La
7. Dear Landlord – Dream Homes – No Idea
8. Conor Oberst And the Mystic Valley Band – Outer South – Merge
9. NOFX – Frisbee/Coaster – Fat Wreck Chords
10. Future Of The Left – Travels with Myself and Another – 4AD

And besides those, there are a few honorable mentions:

• Cheap Girls – My Roaring 20s
• Sonic Youth – The Eternal
• The Decemberists – The Hazards Of Love
• Mason Jennings – Blood Of Man
• Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
• Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
• Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
• Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career

You know, I almost wanted to put Lady GaGa on that list somewhere. I think I’ve spent some serious time in the second half of this year discovering a love for her. I never would have thought that I’d think so highly of her, but she’s pretty friggin’ awesome. However, I just can’t say that The Fame Monster was that great overall. It’s good for a few really great songs, but there’s also a lot of filler. Oh well.

And 2010 is already looking like it’s going to be a great year with new records by Murder By Death, Minus The Bear, Against Me!, Spoon, She And Him, and more already announced. I can’t wait!

Top 10 Movies

I actually had a much harder time making my list of top 10 movies for the year. There were a TON of good flicks this year and there were so many that I just didn’t have time to see either! Ultimately, these were my favorites:

1. Inglourious Basterds
2. Star Trek
3. Up
4. The Hangover
5. Dead Snow
6. Zombieland
7. District 9
8. Paranormal Activity
9. Fantastic Mr. Fox
10. Coraline

And of course, some honorable mentions:

• Whip It
• (500) Days Of Summer
• Watchmen
• Last House On The Left
• Whatever Works
• The Wrestler

So there you have it, my favorite albums and movies of the year. I’m hoping to post another entry about other things from 2009 if I get a chance over the next week. But until then, don’t forget that I’ll be counting down that top 10 albums list tonight on The Playlist with The Reverend on 90.3 The Core!

We’ve had such an outstanding year for music, I couldn’t get down to 10. Albums in the top 5 could have been other years’ best record. Without further ado …

12. M. Ward, Hold Time — If anyone’s gonna make money from their music playing in Bud Light ads, may as well be someone as distinctly skilled as Ward. His musicianship, offbeat arrangements and voice sounding like an old soft sweater probably deserve a campaign with a better beer. Best song: The beerselling yet ingratiating shuffle of “Never Had Nobody Like You.”

11. Dex Romweber Duo, Ruins of Berlin — He doesn’t have the voice of when he led Flat Duo Jets, but Dex’s rockabilly is way cooler than anything on the radio. He’s learn to adjust what he does over the years, but stays true to his musical influences. Best song: “Picture of You,” a jaunty yet plaintive rockabilly gem.

10. Madeline, White Flag — A fine example of songwriting in the Southern gothic tradition. Consider her Neko Case’s deeper voiced long-lost cousin from the sticks. Best song: “This Train,” a folk throwback train song.

9. Green Day, 21st Century Breakdown — I’ll admit it. The first time I heard “Longview,” I never dreamed the band would be this good and for so long. But this testament to 21st century living, the agony and the ecstasy, is a worthy follow-up to American Idiot. Best song: The most upbeat tune, “Last of the American Girls,” where they let their California roots infuse their post-punk ethos.

8. Tegan and Sara, Sainthood — Tegan and Sara albums usually take a while to grow on me, but I’m still not digging this as much as many previous efforts. Plenty of good head-bobbing riffs and make-you-think lyrics though. Best song: “On Directing,” a vintage example of their catchy licks and clever songwriting.

7. Good Old War, Good Old War — Better harmonies than even Crosby, Stills and Nash. There, I said it. This group is a revelation, a throwback to a time when honest-to-goodness vocals were more important than studio tricks. Best song: “Tell Me,” one of the prettiest songs you’ll expect to ever hear.

6. David Gray, Draw the Line — Gray felt his music was getting stale (I’d agree), so he ditched his band and started from scratch. He brings a new energy and outlook, but fortunately his usual vocal prowess remains. Best song: The odd coupling of Gray with Annie Lennox on “Full Steam Ahead,” a lot of singing skills on one track.

5. Butterfly Boucher, Scary Fragile — Between this effort and Flutterby, the British songstress has recorded two of the most overlooked albums of the decade. With lyrical, musical and vocal skills, she’s got it all, and maybe someday the world will notice. Best song: With its deep-breath introduction, ultracatchy melody line and stop-go-stop setup, “I Found Out” isn’t just the best song on this album, I’d give it the nod for Song of the Year.

4. Tragically Hip, We Are the Same – The latest from my favorite band features more great stories marvelously told by Gordon Downie surrounded by solid musicianship. There’s a deeper feeling to this release than much of their catalog, and Gordie’s vocals seem to get better with age. Best song: “Coffee Girl,” which would be a huge hit in some alternative universe.

3. The Damnwells, One Last Century — Track after track of catchy rock tunes wonderfully rendered. And did I mention the band released it as a free download? This mostly unheralded band seems incapable of recording a bad tune. Best song: Kind of a toss-up between gorgeous ballad “Dandelion” and rocker “55 Pictures.”

2. Matthew Good, Vancouver – The newest and best of a very impressive catalogue combined the cinematic sweep of Avalanche with some of the intimacy of Hospital Music. The songs are larger than life with the stories running the gamut from war (as always) to small-town frustration to his concerns about what’s happening to his hometown of Vancouver. Best song: “Us Becomes Impossible,” grammar issues notwithstanding, is a perfect example of the powerful build Good masters.

1. Avett Brothers, I And Love And You – Masterfully written, performed and produced (hat tip to Rick Rubin). The Avetts have always had the ability, but sometimes sloppiness kept this from becoming evident. Here, it’s all focused on their ability. Easily the album of the year. Heck, I have it as the #2 song of the decade. Best song: The title track, which will take residence in your head so long you’ll have to charge it rent.

There you are. Did I miss anything?

You can finally exhale: here are my top 20 albums of 2009. Apart from the two top spots, the order is rather random. Ask me in ten minutes’ time, and Grizzly Bear or M. Ward might sit at number 3 and 4. I’ve put sample tracks of each album on a mix; the song titles appear at the end each abstract.

.

1. Richard Hawley – Truelove’s Gutter
I didn’t expect Hawley to top his majestic 2005 album Coles Corner. A profoundly soulful pop symphony with accomplished and unusual instrumentation, Truelove’s Gutter may very well be the best album of the decade.
(Open Up Your Door) Homepage

2. Ben Kweller – Changing Horses
Kweller at last finds his sound (changing horses?) with an outstanding country album that provides an antidote to the corporate side of the genre. An absolute joy.
(Gypsy Rose) Homepage

3. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
Wilco are incapable of releasing a bad album. The eponymous album will probably not go down in the band’s history as a classic, but it’s solid quality.
(You And I) Homepage

4. Brandi Carlile – Give Up The Ghost
It took me a few listens to realise just how good an album this Rick Rubin-produced effort is. Stay-At-Home Indie Pop put it better than I could: “Anthemic, brash, cool… the abc of Brandi, and I could go on to devilish, euphoric, fresh but fragile, and beyond (to gargantuan, hoarse-heavenly, incandescent), but all I want to really do is pathetically declare my love.” But will you still do so when Brandi gets that first clutch of Grammys, Indie-Pop? See if you can guess, without googling, with whom Carlile duets on Caroline.
(Caroline) Homepage

5. Farryl Purkiss – Fruitbats & Crows
The South African singer-songwriter dude returns three years after his excellent full debut with rockier effort. Purkiss draws his influences widely but manages to create his own coherent, late night sound.
(Seraphine) Homepage

6. Elvis Perkins – Elvis Perkins In Dearland
Here’s what I wrote earlier this year: Imagine Dylan as an indie artist, but with an appealing voice. There is a bit of an experimental edge to it, which in the wrong mood can be annoying, but exhilarating in the right mood.
(Doomsday) MySpace

7. Prefab Sprout – Let’s Change The World With Music
Released 17 years after it was actually recorded, this is supposed to be Paddy McAloon’s lost masterpiece. It’s not a masterpiece, but a damn good, and very accessible album, on which McAloon is on a bit of a God trip.
(Last Of The Great Romantics) MySpace

8. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
Pitchfork calls the New Pornographer “a force of nature”. Hackneyed turns of phrases, even when they intend to pun on an album title, sometimes are just the most appropriate. Case is so much a force of nature that listening to the album can leave the listener exhausted.
(People Got A Lotta Nerve) Homepage

9. Monsters of Folk – Homework
I should love this. Two Bright Eyes guys, M. Ward and the singer of My Morning Jacket, and a batch of very good songs. It’s a fine album, and yet it fills me with a sense of unease, the same vibe I got from the Travelin’ Wilburys (and one song here sounds like a Wilburys track!). And yet, I keep returning to Homework…
(Man Named Truth) Homepage

10. Peasant – On The Ground
This deserved more of a buzz. Nicely crafted guy-with-guitar stuff that recalls Joshua Radin and, yeah, Elliot Smith, with a bit of Simon & Garfunkel. A lovely cool-down album.
(Fine Is Fine) MySpace

11. Eels – Hombre Lobo
E offers nothing much new here, but, hey, it’s an Eels album, and does everything you want an Eels album to do. That’s enough for me.
(That Look You Give That Guy) Homepage

12. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Beguiling and frequently surprising. It’s an aural extravaganza. Now, which Ben Folds does Two Weeks borrow its riff from?
(Two Weeks) MySpace

13. Mindy Smith – Stupid Love
Indie-Pop may be in love with Brandi Carlile; I declare my (admittedly promiscuous) love for the likewise deceptively named Mindy Smith. Stupid Love, it must be said, is not as breathtaking an album as Mindy’s debut, One Moment More, but it has Mindy’s beautiful voice and pleasant enough songs.
(What Went Wrong) Homepage

14. Bob Evans – Goodnight Bull Creek
I’m a great fan of Evans’ 2006 sophomore album, Suburban Songs. Like that set, Goodnight Bull Creek was recorded in Nashville. Creek lacks the immediately catchy songs of the previous album, but has a much richer, textured production.
(Brother, O Brother) Homepage

15. Jason Paul Johnston – Willows Motel
Solid country, recalling Prine rather than Twitty. And just when I think Johnstone has settled into predictable country mode, he pulls something that makes me think, “What the fuck was that?”
(She’s A Friend) MySpace

16. Marissa Nadler – Little Hells
Again, to quote myself: I am not acquainted with Nadler’s previous effort; apparently it is gloomier than Little Hells. Well, this one isn’t a courtjesters’ convention of heedless madcappery either. It is, however, a beautiful, hypnotic album which draws much of its inspiration from medieval, cloistered sounds.
(Rosary) Homepage.

17. M. Ward – Hold Time
Here Ward draws from the heritage of country and soul, from the Beach Boys and from Spector — the choice of two covers affirm the retro vibe: an excellent cover of Buddy Holly’s Rave On, a less than brilliant rendition of Hank Williams’ Oh Lonesome Me (featuring Hank Sr’s namesake Lucinda). The production is polished, the sound a lot more mainstream than previous albums
(Rave On) Homepage

18. Loney, Dear – Dear John
Our Swedish homestudio-bound genius returns with another magical multi-layered chamber-pop epic which is at once orchestral and, largely thanks to the man’s voice, intimate.
(Airport Surroundings) Homepage

19. Micah P Hinson – All Dressed Up And Smelling Of Strangers
I am not a big fan over covers albums. Usually they are self-conscious about doing something “different” with a song, or issue redundant carbon copies. Cover albums work when the performer is idiosyncratic, so unique that he or she need not try to make a song sound differently. Johnny Cash pulled it off; and for the most part Hinson does so here, where he takes on the likes of Sinatra (My Way, the ambitious fucker!), Leadbelly, Holly, Dylan, Beatles and John Denver, armed mostly only with his trusty guitar and croaking voice.
(This Old Guitar) Homepage

20. Laura Gibson – Beasts of Seasons
Pitchfork nailed it when their reviewer called the singer-songwriter  Gibson’s music as “far better suited to a fireplace and a cup of warm apple cider than to your local Starbucks”. Beasts of Seasons is bleak and beautiful.
(Funeral Song) MySpace

DOWNLOAD

.

More Albums of the Year

Alas, after a whole lot of this and a little bit of that, my 2009 list is ready to go.

I’ll start by saying, yes, I do feel bad for the poor artists who are releasing albums this Tuesday, the 29th of December. But no, I don’t feel quite bad enough to wait until January when no one will give a flying frick about a list for 2009. By then, people will already be narrowing down their 2010 lists.

Speaking of flying fricks, I must say that my #1 and #2 artists this year entered into an epic battle with as many lead changes as the Civil War game in Oregon. Who came out on top? Well, this is a music blog, not sports, so is that really an appropriate question to ask right now? Check ESPN if you’re really that curious.

As I emitted before, I did have mixed feelings about the music of 2009. This may have been partly because I’ve always had a thing against the number 9 (especially when preceded by two zeroes or when it’s the title of a movie that probably shouldn’t have been made). But, perhaps a bigger reason, was the fact that much of the releases in the indie scene left me cold. This includes the hot-shit, heavily-hyped acts such as Girls, The xx, and Dirty Projectors, as well as the not-so-hyped-but-still-embraced-by-many mainstays like M. Ward, The Decemberists, Camera Obscura, and Antony & the Johnsons. Still, I must say that I have developed a strong attachment to these 10 albums that survived my vicious pruning practices.

Girls, the San Francisco band, not to be confused with Girls, the gender or sex description.

You may notice that more mainstream releases landed on my list this year than in the past. In fact, four of these albums were able to penetrate the Billboard 200, despite being released by independent record labels (one of them even reached number 7!) This is reflective, I believe, of a current trend towards decentralization within the music industry. Mostly due to the internet, the big artists on the big labels have become less important than ever before. Also, while the individual song may matter more than ever (thanks to the iPod and iTunes shuffle), the radio single does not have the same power that it once had. Out of the rubble from these destructive changes within the industry have emerged the viral, word-of-mouth successes of Merriweather Post Pavilion, Veckatimest, and Swoon. All of this transformation makes me optimistic about the future of music. More access to more artists and word-of-mouth (or perhaps the typing fingers) fueling success or failure.

Here ’tis. My Top 10 of 2009.

10. Metric – Fantasies: Emily Haines, formerly of Broken Social Scene, composed these songs while living in Argentina and the result is a brilliant, high-energy rock album with tragedy, romance, and singable chorus lines.

9. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix: It’s tempting to call Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix overrated, with it’s poppy-as-hell presentation and car-commercial-ready content. But, when given a fair chance, the music will surely force you to think twice before employing the ‘o’ word.  This is a slick pop-rock production from one of France’s finest that deserves every ounce of its glowing attention.

8. Loney Dear – Dear John: These days, Stockholm may be giving birth to more talented artists than New York City itself (well, at least more than Jacksonville, Florida). Though he is not quite there yet, on Dear John, Emil Svanängen takes one step closer to releasing his magnum opus. Heartfelt, gorgeous indie pop that, in a just world, would launch him into stardom.

7. The Felice Brothers – Yonder is the Clock: The album that Bob Dylan should be making right about now (but isn’t). While it is nearly impossible to overlook the Dylan-esque touches on Yonder, that doesn’t take away from the undeniable quality of the music. A scrappy, richly-layered folk-rock effort that has left me curious about the direction of the new folk movement.

6. Japandroids – Post Nothing: Does Post Nothing really belong in the 1990s? Who cares! As far as I’m concerned, it belongs wherever and whenever it’s being played. The Japandroids are a noise-pop / garage/ punk duo from Vancouver, BC and an answer to the question: How good would No Age be if Dean Allen Spunt could carry a tune? An album that gives voice to all the frustrated longings of a 20-something bachelor that, in the end, resemble all the frustrated longings of a pubescent teenage boy.

This would be a good time to take a bathroom break before jumping into the Top 5.

5. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion: Everything that could be written about Merriweather Post Pavilion already has been in the online world, so I’ll spare you a long-winded exposition. This career-defining release from one of the decade’s most creative and, arguably, influential bands is psychodelic, tribal, confusing, and addictive.

4. Silversun Pickups – Swoon: On their second album, Swoon, the self-assured Silverlake rock and roll outfit know what sound they want and almost flawlessly achieve it. Features my aforementioned Song of the Year alongside a handful of driving, sometimes aggressive, tracks with crunchy guitars and androgynous vocals.

3. The Antlers – Hospice: Partly due to the (somewhat inaccurate) mythology of Peter Silberman writing these songs while locked away in complete isolation, there is a lot of intrigue surrounding Hospice. It is a deeply personal musical voyage that includes the full spectrum of raw human emotion–from the icy, lethargic lows captured in “Prologue” to the towering, doughty heights of “Sylvia” and “Two.” While this is only The Antlers’ first album, a part of me hopes that it is also their last because Silberman says and does everything that he needs to here.

2. Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport: Not for everyone! On Tarot Sport, this British duo combines the audacity and repetitious ambiance of house music with the dramatic, sometimes triumphant climaxes of post-rock (it makes sense that they are friends with Mogwai). The result is a 7-song noisy experiment that works.

1. Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish I Were an Eagle: I hate using the word perfect. It’s too easy. You can just whip it out like it’s nothing to in order to quickly and painlessly convince your friends that you really like something. So I guess I’ll edit myself. From the opening, bittersweet guitar line coupled with a p-%f-#tly framed lyric: “I started out in search of ordinary things. How much of a tree bends in the wind” all the way to the string-filled “I put God away” refrain at the album’s end, Callahan demonstrates his penchant for profound simplicity. This former Smog frontman has approached p-%f-#tion on this 9-track, no-lull album that makes me wonder if breakup albums are wasted on the young. In the end, it is the words (and the spaces between the words) that make Eagle such a breathtaking piece of art: “I used to be sorta blind but now I can sorta see.”

Tell me what you think! Go ahead and drop your own Top 10 in the Comments Section. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the year in music.

Meanwhile, look for Caleb’s post before Christmas.

15. Animal Collective – What Would I Want? Sky
The first half of “What Would I Want? Sky” ranks with Animal Collective’s most inaccessible noodling before turning into their prettiest pop song. Featuring the first ever licensed sample for The Grateful Dead and a beautiful, lilting melody, “What Would I Want? Sky” is Animal Collective at their finest, no small feat considering it came not 12 months after releasing one of the finest records of the decade. (J)

14. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Wind Phoenix
A song that rises and falls and weaves around throughout its 5+ minutes, “Wind Phoenix” announced Cymbals Eat Guitars as one of the best up and coming new acts. “Wind Phoenix” is pure rock and roll, a song more willing to sound good than sound important.

13. Atlas Sound – Walkabout
Borrowing from The Dovers “What Am I Going to Do” to form one of the catchiest songs of the year, Bradford Cox’s teaming with Noah Lennox came off even better than it sounded in theory. Sounding more like a Panda Bear song than an Atlas Sound one, “Walkabout” is a sunny, poppy wonder that was a definite song of the summer contender. (J)

12. M. Ward – Never Had Nobody Like You
M. Ward has always had a penchant for writing catchy songs, but his collaboration with his She & Him partner Zooey Deschenel that is his catchiest to date. Borrowing George Harrison’s riff and throwing in a nice male-female duet, “Never Had Nobody Like You” easily gets stuck in your head, but in the best way possible.

11. Grizzly Bear – While You Wait for the Others
One of the year’s goofier diversions was when yacht-rock superstar Michael McDonald (ain’t no mountain high! ain’t no valley low!) sang “While You Wait for the Others.” But McDonald’s affably overwrought vocals only brought into light how beautifully restrained Daniel Rossen sounds on this song. “While You Wait for the Others” is essentially, vaguely, a breakup song, but one with the lush orchestration and polite patience that has become Grizzly Bear’s trademark. (J)

10. St. Vincent – Actor Out of Work
Charging guitars, distorted riffs, and a short running time combine on a track that pounds itself through all the way to the end. Annie Clark’s calm, cool voice keeps the track together, acting as the perfect compliment to the noisy chaos around her. A short but sweet track that stands out on a great record.

9. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Young Adult Friction
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart wear their influences on their sleeve, but “Young Adult Friction” adds up to much more than the sum of its parts. Thanks to a great bassline, adorably nerdy lyrics, and that insanely catchy keyboard party, “Young Adult Friction” is a joyful piece of pop music that’s as much fun to listen to now as it was in January. (J)

8. Bon Iver – Blood Bank
Expectations were very high for Justin Vernon’s post breakthrough EP, its title track met them in every way. A song that slowly builds and tells a love story in a blizzard outside of a blood bank, “Blood Bank” is a hypnotic track that highlights a songwriter on the rise.

7. Girls – Lust for Life
Like “My Girls,” “Lust for Life” is all about the simple things in life. A pizza. A bottle of wine. A father. Wait, what? The casual darkness, just barely slipping through the edges of an ostensibly bright song, made Girls’ debut Album so strong, nowhere moreso than on its opening track. “Lust for Life” is a puzzling, ambiguous beach rock anthem that doesn’t have any qualms about jacking the title of one of punk rock’s most beloved songs. (J)

6. Neko Case – People Got a Lot of Nerve
The hard edge of Neko Case’s voice that’s heard with the New Pornographers is nowhere to be found on the best song off her terrific Middle Cyclone. Two part harmonies and Byrds-esque guitars highlight a song that is garunteed to get you singing along with your toes tapping.

5. Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move
Yes, yes, we all saw the Solange video, but what was shocking about it was how unnecessary it was. In the midst of a conversation about 3/2 time signatures, African rhythm, and the Talking Heads, the Dirty Projectors slipped in the best Prince song of the last 20 years. With beautiful vocals, glitchy electronics, and the Dirty Projectors’ typically strong guitar work, “Stillness is the Move” made the band’s catapult to indie stardom a foregone conclusion. (J)

4. Phoenix – 1901
If there was a hipster party-going anthem for 2009, it was “1901.” Guitar/keyboard riffs rumble through Phoenix’s break out track that is impossible not to like. Thomas Mars croons over the machine like drumming and charging guitars in a song that’s over before you want it to be. It’s no surprise this is the track that finally got Phoenix some recognition, as it’s a great track from a great band.

3. Camera Obscura – French Navy
On the first track of the transcendent My Maudlin Career, Tracyanne Campbell and Camera Obscura finally stepped out of the shadow those other twee Scots and completed their transformation into a Spectoresque rock band with heartbreaking odes big enough to fill stadiums. “French Navy” is as close to pop bliss as this year was able to reach, with Campbell’s honey-like voice spouting  a gorgeous tale of lost love over an overpowering wall of sound. In a year marked by lo-fi roughness and bedroom recordings, Camera Obscura remembered the old adage about going big or going home. (J)

2. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
Accented with staccato keyboards, atmospheric “oohs,” and thumping drums, “Two Weeks” is a memorizing, catchy song that turned Grizzly Bear into an indie phenom. When the band harmonizes, “Two Weeks” is like sitting in the sun on a summer afternoon. There aren’t many pop songs better than this.

1. Animal Collective – My Girls
Beach Boy-esque vocals and pounding base drive one of the decades best songs from one of its best bands. Animal Collective made a name for themselves with their unique sound, but “My Girls” blew them into the mainstream. Above all through, it’s just a really fun song to listen to. (M)

Let me just reiterate what a great year this has been for music. I can’t see how 2010 can even possibly measure up to ‘09. A great way to close out the decade.

Back to the list:

10. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

I’m a little late to the party when it comes to this alt-country crooner. Actually, alt-country may be a bit of a misnomer; Case’s voice embodies her songs in a style that is truly unique. Her latest is a tour de force of songwriting acumen and beautifully emotive harmonies. There is something raw and elemental to Case’s artistry, and these are the qualities that make her quite the rarity. Of my top ten, this is the album most likely to climb two or three spots in the next few months. Download this: “This Tornado Loves You”, “Middle Cyclone”

9. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band – Outer South

This guy has been busy lately. The former Bright Eyes frontman released a self-titled solo album last year while also collaborating with M. Ward, Mike Mogis and Jim James on the Monsters of Folk project. Somehow, he also found the time to release this stellar crop of songs with the Mystic Valley Band, the band he assembled in the wake of Bright Eyes’ hiatus / demise. The result is an album that is equal parts rollicking Americana and bluesy poetic sensibilities. The best track of the batch — the seven-minute “I Got the Reason” — functions as a microcosm of this rock / blues dichotomy. While the album would benefit from some editing — the 16 tracks here need to be trimmed to 10 or 12 — Outer South is an impressive recording nonetheless. Download this: “Slowly (Oh So Slowly)”, I Got the Reason

8. Bruce Springsteen – Working On A Dream

This was the first really great album I listened to in 2009. In my opinion, the E Street Band hasn’t sounded this vital in years. The band demonstrates their versatility by covering a wide range of song styles here: the wistful working man pop of the title track; the rollicking roadhouse blues of “Good Eye”; the gospel-choir tinged “The Last Carnival”. Even a throwaway cut like “Tomorrow Never Knows” sounds like a lost CCR track.

The highlight of the album, without a doubt, is the eight minute western epic “Outlaw Pete”. Springsteen uses the great American cowboy narrative and our infatuation with the West to plumb the themes of death, justice, redemption and forgiveness. I can’t help but think my Dad would’ve loved this song; Outlaw Pete is as conflicted and tortured a character as any Cash ever wrote about. (Well, except maybe that guy sitting in Folsom Prison.) Easily the coolest song of the year.

7. Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk

When M Ward, Conor Oberst, Jim James and Mike Mogis collaborated on this little folk-rock project, they had to know the Traveling Wilbury comparisons were going to come their way. What nobody knew is that the comparison would be justified. These four are at the top of their game here, plying their craft and swapping instrumental and vocal solos throughout. One of the best tracks is album-opener “Dear God”, an existential rumination on God’s goodness amid suffering. Who knew these folk-rock wunderkinds were interested in theology? This is the kind of project that could’ve easily turned into “too many cooks in the kitchen”; instead, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Download this: “Dear God”, “His Master’s Voice”.

6. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

These French purveyors of power pop have been labeled as “Strokes-lite”. Maybe, but they’re also producing literate rock music bereft of the self-absorption that derailed their NYC counterparts. Wolfgang is the product of ten years of honed craftsmanship; tight hooks, soaring harmonies, intelligent lyrics. This is indie-rock that yearns to be mainstream. But not at any cost. Take, for instance, the frenetic “Lisztomania”, an ode to 19th-century classic composer Frank Liszt who had young female fans fighting for his handkerchiefs at concerts a full century before the Beatles. The references to both Liszt and Mozart help situate the tension between true artistry and selling out for mass approval. Phoenix have clearly settled the issue for their fans: the adoring masses may come their way, but on the band’s terms. Download this: “1901″, “Countdown”.

5. Justin Townes Earle – Midnight at the Movies

Being the son of a legend must be tough. Following in Dad’s footsteps professionally without trading on his name has to be even more difficult. But with Midnight at the Movies, Justin Townes Earle establishes himself as a bona fide alt-country troubadour in his own right. His sophomore LP is made up of an organic set of folk-blues and country that boasts an everyman-wisdom rarely embodied by a twenty-something. But the lingering questions will always surround the young man and his surname; I can’t help but wonder if “Mama’s Eyes” is a thinly veiled response to those who want to cry nepotism: “I am my father’s son….We don’t see eye to eye….I’ve got my mama’s eyes / her long thin frame and her smile / and I still see wrong from right / cause I’ve got my mama’s eyes.” He may have his mama’s eyes, but he also demonstrates a songwriting ability and precise vocal delivery that approaches both Dad and his venerable namesake. Download this: “Mama’s Eyes”, “Walk Out”, “Can’t Hardly Wait”.

4. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

This album was something of a disappointment to a fan base that had grown accustomed to plenty of barn burning hoedowns on their Avett Brothers discs. But the fact that the raucous factor has been dialed down a notch should not take away from the fact that this is a great record. Uber-producer Rick Rubin has smoothed off some of the rougher edges but the result is a radio-ready LP that still boasts some of Scott and Seth’s best songwriting to date. In fact, this is probably best understood as the next step in the band’s natural maturation process. Balladry was always a viable option in the Avett Brothers canon. What they’ve produced here is an album of wall-to-wall ballads. And it works.

The center piece is the title track, a piano-drenched ballad about wanderlust and love lost. Written on tour (after a performance in Brooklyn, New York, a place that seemed as far away from home as any place the band had ever performed), the song laments “three words that became hard to say: I and Love and You.” It is out of this kind of heartfelt honesty that the entire album flows. “January Wedding” is a quirky ode to true love and winter weddings; “The Perfect Space” takes on the dangers of pride (“I wanna have pride like my mother has / And not the kind in the Bible that turns you bad.”); greed becomes the topic of discussion on the stellar “Ill With Want”. My favorite cut, though, is probably “Laundry Room”, a heart-wrenching plea for unrequited love. It also contains a grace note: a sixty-second bluegrass romp that simmers with banjo before exploding into a joyous eschaton of fiddle, guitar, and rhapsody. For just a brief moment, we’re reminded that these boys may be hitting the big time, but they haven’t forgotten their roots. Download this: “I and Love and You”, “Laundry Room”, “Ill With Want”.

3. Eels – Hombre Lobo

Pound for pound, this has to be the most surprising album of the year for me. I had a few free downloads over at eMusic and I came across this one and decided to give it a try. Little did I know that it would become one of the records I would listen to the most this year. I was initially drawn in by the great guitar-rock sound. But what truly gripped me was the lyrical depth. Thematically, the album deals with desire, specifically our deep-seated desire to find love. Hombre Lobo vacillates between yearning / churning rockers (“Prizefighter”, “Lilac Breeze”, “Fresh Blood”) and beautifully minimal sonnets (“The Look You Give That Guy”, “All the Beautiful Things”, “In My Dreams”). The album’s best line comes from “Ordinary Man”: I’d rather be alone than try to be someone that I’m not. You go, Hombre Lobo. These are clearly songs for the Wolf Man in all of us. Download this: “Fresh Blood”, “Ordinary Man”, “All the Beautiful Things”, “Beginner’s Luck”.

2. M Ward – Hold Time

This guy ought to be a household name. He certainly doesn’t lack for trying. In addition to his side project on “She and Him” and moonlighting with the Monsters of Folk gang, Ward produced one of this year’s best albums, in my opinion. Hold Time is an effortless amalgam of blues, folk, country, and gospel that sounds at once immediate and timeless. Ward has played with these genres on previous efforts, but never this well. Americana soul is perhaps the best way to describe this beautiful meandering record.

Hold Time, much like some of Ward’s earlier work, attempts to capture some of our timeless musical expressions while simultaneously reinterpreting them, a difficult — if not impossible — task. Yet, Ward has achieved something that sounds fresh alongside the rest of my favorite albums this year while still retaining a proper sense of perspective. For me, it all works. “One Hundred Million Years” would be comfortably at home on the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack; “Never Had Nobody Like You”, with its guitar grind and drum stomp, pulsates pure rock ‘n roll fun; covers of “Rave On” and “Oh Lonesome Me” attempt to apprehend music’s transcendent quality. The guy’s not afraid to name drop either: Lucinda Williams, Zooey Deschanel, and Jason Lytle all make cameo appearances on Hold Time. But in the end, this is still Ward’s record. And his record is a great one. In any other year, this might’ve been at the top of my list. Download this: “Never Had Nobody Like You”, “Epistemology”, “To Save Me”, “Rave On”, “For Beginners”.

1. U2 – No Line on the Horizon

It’s one thing to say this is my favorite album of the year; it’s another thing entirely to say this is my favorite U2 album. After their last two releases (2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind and 2004’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), I wondered if No Line could possibly measure up. It did. It would’ve been easy for Bono and the boys to mail this one in; after 30 years as the best band in the world and on the heels of two critically acclaimed albums, a subpar effort was almost expected. I mean, how long can they honestly keep this up, right? But No Line plumbed enough familiar terrain to make it a U2 album, but it was risky enough to make it worth listening to. In my opinion, the band has never sounded better. The Edge plays with the ferocity of a mad man here — especially on “Breathe” and “Unknown Caller”. As always, however, Bono’s voice is the band’s greatest instrument. “I was born to sing for you/I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up,” he sings on “Magnificent”. Indeed, Bono.

There are plenty of great songs here: “Magnificent” and “Moment of Surrender” are already live staples. The understated minimalism of “Cedars of Lebanon” and the world-weariness of “Fez – Being Born” help create a sound that is much more textured than anything on How to Dismantle… or All That You Can’t Leave Behind. But the best song on the album, hands down, is “Breathe”, a timely song about fearmongering and the courage it takes to rise up against the fear that is so prevalent. Its a song about refusing to buy what they sell on talk radio and the cable news networks every day. Its about finding all that you need in the siren song of grace amid fears both local and global. Ultimately, in these uncertain times, Bono affirms “I found grace, it’s all that I found.”

In a year when my theme word, my root concept has been hope, there’s not been a refrain that’s filled my ears more often than this one. I love the wistful, hopeful line: “These days are better than that.” Download this: “Breathe”, “Moment of Surrender”, “Magnificent”, “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight”, “Cedars of Lebanon”.

I borrowed the idea from a friend to compile an annual mix CD this year. But in slight departure from the convention set by my friend, my “2009” mix fails to really include songs that are actually from 2009. And in a further, more enthusiastic, departure from her idea, I have gone ahead and given a long list of reasons for this (see ‘album notes’).

This CD actually exists in the world outside cyber space as a real, tangible object you can hold in your hands, so suspend disbelief, close your eyes, and try with all your mite to just picture what it could look like as you click on the link and enjoy the miracle of sound…

My 2009 in Song!

1. Here comes the sun – The Beatles
2. Next Lifetime – Erykah Badu
3. Looking for the heart of Saturday – Tom Waits
4. Lovely Day – Bill Withers
5. If you don’t think – Tammy Mongomery
6. Heavy Cross – The Gossip
7. Rumours – Capital Letters
8. Another Day – Jamie Lidell
9. The sun goes down (Extended version) – Level 42
10. Helicopter – M.Ward
11. One of these days – Eilen Jewell
12. Three is the magic number -  Bob Dorough

http://rapidshare.com/files/323674400/My_2009_In_Song.zip

‘My 2009 in song’ album notes – Yes, that’s right, album notes! On a personal, homemade, mix cd. Now you know how much I care…

1. This was one of the first songs I listened to on my newfound Ipod  (a surreptitious gift from the universe, keenly spotted by The Yang one day in the park) and it made me gleefully happy. The sweet voice and feeling of the song create the exact same mood as the sun beginning to peek out after a grey rainy morning, or a long cold winter.

It is unsurprisingly then, to learn that this is exactly what inspired the song. It was written by George Harrison in response to English winters that feel never ending. Funnily enough, John Lennon is nowhere to be heard on this number.

2. Having owned this song for years, it wasn’t until one nondescript day in 2009 that I paid the lyrics any mind. They tell a slightly poignant story, beautifully. Making the childlike notion of ‘next lifetime’ sound so simplistic that it is altogether alluring.

The film clip, which whimsically depicts this notion of reincarnating lives and souls, was actually directed by Erykah Badu, the ‘first lady of Neo-Soul’.

3. On a cold winter’s night, huddled by the heater, warmed by red wine and conversation with The Yang, Tom Waits sang this one to me at his sing-song best, noticeable for its slight departure from his signature gravelly growl, hauntingly beautiful in its melody and melancholy.

Music critic Daniel Durchholz once described this trademark growl as sounding “like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car.”

4. Another song that after being unassuming for years, decided to put its hand up and say ‘look at me, look at me’. And so I did, and it was beautiful and uplifting.

Earth, Wind and Fire producer, Skip Scarborough, wrote the music for this song. Bill Withers was so taken by Skip that he became the inspiration for the lyrics – “Skip was a very nice, gentle man. The way Skip was, every day was just a lovely day. If I had sat down with the same music and my collaborator had been somebody else with a different personality, it probably would have caused something else to cross my mind lyrically”.

5. I doubted over the inclusion of this one, but something about the rocky, punchy rhythm, and the attitude of expression – the backhanded way she tries to tell someone she loves them, just reminded me of how I communicate to The Yang.

This song was actually written by James Brown for Tammy Montgomery, who is better known for her duets such as ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ with Marvin Gaye. In 1967 she collapsed on stage, falling into the arms of her rumoured lover, Marvin. She died shortly after from a brain tumor at the age of 24.

6. I heard this song in a shopping centre and it just stuck in my head. I had no idea of the name of the song, or who was even singing it, but one night I got on the internet and did some searching around the one line and riff that had lodged in my brain, and I found it! I was so proud of myself for tracking it down, and I felt weirdly connected to the wider world because now I was into Top 40 music.

This album is produced by omnipresent, superstar producer Rick Rubin and is the long awaited follow up to Standing In The Way of Control, the title track of which made headlines when Ditto said it was written in response George Bush’s stance on same sex marriage – “I wrote the chorus to try and encourage people not to give up. It’s a scary time for civil rights, but I really believe the only way to survive is to stick together and keep fighting.”

7. This song literally does.not.stop. coming up on random on my Ipod. Insistent on talking to me, telling me its heartbreaking story, all the while sounding so sweet while it does it.

It’s by Capital Letters, who, back in 1979, were the first homegrown group to be released on the now legendary Greensleeves label, but sadly, and strangely, they fell off the rader after delivering this extremely successful album, which is called “Headline News”.

8. I consider this an all time favourite ‘happy song’. Perfectly composed with bumping brass and horns and gospel backing chorus to put a bounce in your feet and a smile on your face. It’s impossible to listen to it and not feel good.

Now that Jamie Lidell is a soul-pop sensation (he has had great commercial success with last two albums, and Elton John is said to be a fan) much is made of his glitchy, experimental, electronic underground past. But, Lidell says, “I made Muddlin Gear (his first album) for a friend and it was tailored to his tastes. The fact that it now represents me is funny, really, because at the same time I had a soul band called Balzac, very similar to my band now”.

9. One day while listening to The Yang’s radio show, I learnt that this was one of his fav songs of the day. He said he kept finding himself playing it at sunset at his gigs down on the harbour, and that today, he would give us a treat and play the extended version. I fell in love with the song, and with The Yang all over again for loving this kooky disco tune with some geeky guy doing far out funky.

This would prove to be the first UK Top Ten hit for Level 42, who had a long, up-and-down career through the 80s and 90s. They gained a lot of their fame from Mark King’s (founding member, bass player and singer) “percussive slap-bass” guitar technique, that was the driving groove behind many of the band’s hits. King actually picked this style up from watching American funk players that came into the London music store in which he worked.

10. A stand out track on Transfiguration of Vincent, this has a really great foot-stomping tempo that makes it one of the only upbeat songs on the album.

The album itself was received with pretty muted reviews, with many believing his best work lays in his other releases. One blogger, although conceding that ‘Helicopter’ is a stand out track, went on to say that it was a straightforward song with a “melody line lifted straight out of Paul Simon’s Graceland”.

11. Eilen Jewel had to make an appearance here, for it was in 2009 in which revealed herself to me. She has a wonderfully rich sound, a unique ‘ye-olde’ treasure to find in these modern manic times.

This is from her third album that includes what was previously excluded on her other albums – the influence of the likes of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, the Animals and the Kinks. These influences are lovingly blended into her roots, blues, country, folk sound.

12. “A man and a woman had a little baby / Yes, they did  / They had three in the family, / That’s a magic number.”  If this doesn’t perfectly, and beautifully, capture my life in 2009, I don’t know what does.

The creator of this tune is somewhat of a bebop, jazz legend, and was one of the few vocalists to record with Miles Davis. This track is the result of Bob and his pals whipping up a little counting and multiplication magic (as part of a now famed educational animation series from the 70s) and was actually sampled by De La Soul for their own  ‘The Magic Number’ track.

Top 200 Singles of 2009

Here is a list of the top 200 songs from 2009…

1. Courtney John – Lucky Man
2. Estelle & Sean Paul – Come Over
3. Screw Driver & Inner Circle – Never Give Up
4. Daweh Congo – Straight Up Conscious
5. Sean Paul – So Fine
6. Michael Franti and Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)
7. Luciano & Easy Star All-Stars – With A Little Help From My Friends
8. Luciano, U-Roy, & Easy Star All-Stars - With A Little Dub From My Friends (Version 2)
9. Chali 2na, Damian Marley, and Stephen Marley – Guns Up
10. John Legend & Buju Banton – Can’t Be My Lover
11. Daweh Congo - Ghetto Skyline
12. Ziggy Marley & Willie Nelson – This Train
13. YT, Million Stylez, Mr. Williamz, Blackout Ja, Jah Knight, & Iverse - Champion Sound
14. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Fan It
15. The Decemberists – The Rake’s Song
16. Alborosie – No Cocaine
17. M. Ward – Stars of Leo
18. K’Naan & Chubb Rock – ABC’s
19. Norah Jones – It’s Gonna Be
20. Elephant Man – Dance and Sweep
21. The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
22. Daweh Congo – One Day
23. K’Naan & Damian Marley - I Come Prepared
24. Michael Franti & Spearhead - Rude Boys Back In Town
25. Laden – Time To Shine
26. Queen Ifrica – Lioness On The Rise
27. Brother Ali – Fresh Air
28. Wilco – Wilco (The Song)
29. Michael Rose, Menny More, & Easy Star All-Stars – A Day In The Life
30. Kid Cudi – Day ‘N’ Nite (Nightmare)
31. Julian Marley – Boom Draw
32. Buju Banton & Third World – Sense Of Purpose
33. K’Naan – Take A Minute
34. The XX – VCR
35. Serani – Playing Games
36. Major Lazer, Jovi Rockwell, & Mr. Vegas – Can’t Stop Now
37. Tarrus Riley – Herbs Promotion
38. Michael Franti & Spearhead – Soundsystem
39. M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel - Never Had Nobody Like You
40. Ziggy Marley & Toots Hibbert - Take Me To Jamaica
41. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Sweet Jennie Lee
42. Daweh Congo – Steppin
43. Yim Yames – My Sweet Lord
44. The Avett Brothers – January Wedding
45. George Strait - El Rey
    
46. Bounty Killer – Corrupt
47. Mayer Hawthorne – Maybe So, Maybe No
48. Michael Franti & Spearhead – A Little Bit Of Riddim
49. Dave Matthews Band - Funny The Way It Is
50. Jay-Z & Mr. Hudson – Young Forever
51. Monsters of Folk – Say Please
52. Julian Marley & Damian Marley - Violence In The Streets
53. Tarrus Riley – Human Nature
54. Spoon – Writing in Reverse
55. Phoenix – Lisztomania
56. Andrew Bird – Oh No
57. M Ward – Rave On
58. Yim Yames – All Things Must Pass
59. Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin
60. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
61. Slaid Cleaves – Cry
62. Phish - Backwards Down The Number Line
63. Graham Wilkinson, Hayes Carll, and Lloyd Maines – Ragamuffin
64. The Itals – Let Dem Talk
65. Sean Kingston – Fire Burning
66. Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
67. Black Ryno – Real Stingers
68. Romain Virgo – Alton’s Medley: Breaking Up / Ain’t That Loving You / My Willow Tree
69. Jah Cure – Sticky
70. Pearl Jam - The Fixer
71. Vybz Kartel - Life Sweet
72. Q-Tip – Even If It Is So
73. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
74. Capleton – Acres
75. Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA
76. Mariah Carey – Obsessed
77. Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal, Barrington Levy, & Beenie Man – She Call Mi Phone
78. Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
79. The Swell Season – Feeling The Pull
80. George Strait – Arkansas Dave
81. Chino – Never Change (From Mawning)
82. Sean Paul – Press It Up
83. Queen Ifrica - Coconut Shell
84. Lyle Lovett – Loretta
85. Beres Hammond - Can’t Say I Never Tried
86. Chali 2na - Comin’ Thru
87. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
88. K’Naan – Wavin’ Flag
89. Beirut – The Shrew
90. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Right or Wrong
91. Metric – Sick Muse
92. Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – Flyin’ Shoes
93. Regina Spektor – Eet
94. Bon Iver – Blood Bank
95. Soja & Rebelution – Here I Am
96. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band – Nikorette
97. John Fogerty & Bruce Springsteen – When Will I Be Loved
98. Julian Marley & Stephen Marley - Things Ain’t Cool
99. George Strait – Living For The Night
100. Frankie Paul & Easy Star All-Stars – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
101. Graham Wilkinson & the Underground Township - Boys and Girls
102. Major Lazer – Cash Flow
103. Zee Avi – Bitter Heart
104. Etana & Alborosie - Blessings
105. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel - I’m Sittin’ on Top of the World
106. Jay Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind
107. Danny Malone – Basement
108. Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body
109. George Strait – Easy As You Go
110. Jay-Z – D.O.A. [Death Of Auto-Tune]
111. Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal, & Gyptian - Jah Jah See Dem
112. Danny Barnes – Pizza Box
113. Major Lazer – Bruk Out
114. Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – The Rose Hotel
115. Soja, Tamika, & Gentleman – I Tried
116. Casual Sax - Baby I’m Black (From The Waist Down)
117. Courtney John – I Want To Get Next To You
118. Major Lazer – Pon De Floor
119. Rhett Miller – I Need To Know Where I Stand
120. The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin
121. Beres Hammond - See You Again
122. Micachu & the Shapes – Golden Phone
123. Queen Ifrica – Keep It To Yourself
124. Bob Dylan – Beyond Here Lies Nothin’
125. Son Volt - Dynamite
126. N.A.S.A., Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold, & Nick Zinner - Whachadoin?
127. Elephant Man – Nuh Linga
128. Levon Helm - Tennessee Jed
129. Eminem – Crack A Bottle
130. Ziggy Marley, Jack Johnson, & Paula Fuga - Cry, Cry, Cry
131. Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard – California Zephyr
132. Boycott Blues – Got Beef? (Food Coma)
133. Snoop Dogg – I Wanna Rock
134. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel - Won’t You Ride in My Little Red Wagon
135. N.A.S.A., Kool Keith, & Tom Waits – Spacious Thoughts
136. Max Romeo & Easy Star All-Stars – Fixing A Hole
137. The Lemonheads – Waiting Around To Die
138. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band - Air Mattress
139. Neil Young – Johnny Magic
140. Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, & Cedella Marley – I Love You Too
141. Queen Ifrica - Daddy
142. Cunninglynguists – Never Come Down
143. Mavado – So Blessed
144. Mos Def & Talib Kweli – History
145. B-Real & Damian Marley – Fire
146. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Corrine Corrina
147. Anthony B & Horace Andy – Enter The Kingdom of Zion
148. John Legend – Can’t Be My Lover (Curtis Lynch Remix)
149. Bruce Springsteen – Outlaw Pete
150. Sizzla – Black Man In The White House
151. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Bring It on Down to My House
152. Wasp - Unfair Officer
153. Sugar Minott & Easy Star All-Stars -When I’m Sixty-Four
154. Bitty McLean – Fall In Love (Rub A Dub Mix)
155. Taken By Trees – To Lose Someone
156. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Hesitation Blues
157. U-Roy, Bunny Rugs, & Easy Star All-Stars – Lovely Rita
158. Daweh Congo – Daybreak
159. Coconut Records – Any Fun
160. Serani – When It’s Cold Outside
161. Telekinesis – Coast Of Carolina
162. Mavado – On The Rock
163. Bill Callahan - Jim Cain
164. Kirsty Rock & Easy Star All-Stars – She’s Leaving Home
165. Noah and the Whale – Blue Skies
166. Daweh Congo – Joy Brings Pain
167. Fanfario – I’m A Pilot
168. Mavado – Money Changer
169. The Dry Spells – Black Is The Color
170. David Guetta & Akon – Sexy Bitch
171. Animal Collective - My Girls
172. Taken By Trees – My Boys
173. Tribal Seeds – The Garden
174. Norah Jones – Chasing Pirates
175. Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard - These Roads Don’t Move
176. Matisyahu – Struggla
177. Black Eyed Peas – Meet Me Halfway
178. Buju Banton – Rastafari
179. Juvenile – Gotta Get It
180. Groundation – Beating Heart
181. 10 Ft Ganja Plant - 10 Ft. Ganja Plant and Weed
182. Mishka – Stay By My Side
183. Raekwon & Lyfe Jennings - Catalina
184. Bebel Gilberto – Chica Chica Boom Chic
185. Pitbull – I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
186. Phoenix – 1901
187. Bramma – Da Body Deh
188. Kid Cudi - Make Her Say
189. Mayer Hawthorne – Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out
190. Flo Rida – Right Round
191. Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, & Ghostface Killah – House Of Flying Daggers
192. Matisyahu – Smash Lies
193. Timbaland & Justin Timberlake – Carry Out
194. Chezidek – Border Line
195. Bebel Gilberto – Sun Is Shining
196. Gregory Isaacs – Fools Fall In Love
197. Oba Simba – The Herb
198. Robert Glasper – Butterfly
199. B.B. Seaton – Life Goes On
200. Johnny Clarke with Soothsayers meet Red Earth Collective – Bad Boys
201. Sean Paul & Keri Hilson – Hold My Hand [I'll Be There]

20. Dawes – North Hills
Kind of like The Band with special guests Stephen Stills and The Shins.

“When You Call My Name”

19. David Bazan – Curse Your Branches
The sound of Pedro The Lion after being struck by lightning on the 18th green at Bushwood.

“Bless This Mess”

18. Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
Nobody whistles their way through a thesaurus like ol’ Andy!

“Fitz and the Dizzy Spells”

17. John Vanderslice – Romanian Names
JV bounces back after a couple of subpar efforts with this interesting mix of styles.

“Carina Constellation”

16. Pete Yorn – Back and Fourth
A solid, if not spectacular, return to form by the midget minstrel.

“Paradise Cove”

15. Robert Pollard – Elephant Jokes
Former GBV frontman high kicks his way through yet another solo album full of rockin’ quirk.

“Symbols and Heads”

14. Lucero – 1372 Overton Park
Barfights backed by Tower of Power.

“What Are You Willing to Lose?”

13. V.V. Brown – Travelling Like The Light
Kind of like Amy Winehouse minus drugs plus talent.

“L.O.V.E.”

12. The Gourds – Haymaker!
I don’t always listen to accordion-laced porch jams, but when I do, I prefer The Gourds.

“Tighter”

11. Franz Ferdinand – Tonight
Disco for soccer hooligans.

“Bite Hard”

10. Reno Bo – Happenings and Other Things
Elements of Big Star, The Byrds and Tom Petty flirt around with a modern bent.

“You Don’t Know”

9. The Oranges Band – Are Invisible
Ballmer’s kings of DIY art bar rock bring it stronger than McNulty after an ass-chewing by Rawls.

“Do You Remember Memory Lane?”

8. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
Dad rock for dads who are cooler than their dads were at their age.

“You Never Know”

7. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
Indie’s most magnificent voice overshoots a spot in the top 5 by a half-hour worth of chirping crickets.

“Prison Girls” –

6. Hayden – The Place Where We Lived
Canada’s finest troubadour since Gordon Lightfoot strikes gold once more.

“Disappear”

5. Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk
Bonnaroo headlined by The Traveling Wilburys.

“Say Please”

4. Deer Tick – Born on Flag Day
95% of you will never be able to get past this guy’s voice, but if you can, it will pay off in spades.

“Houston, TX”

3. Ike Reilly – Hard Luck Stories
The bastard love child of Westerburg and Mellencamp.

“Girls in the Backroom”

2. Art Brut – Art Brut vs. Satan
UK’s answer to The Hold Steady hits their stride with Frank Black at the knobs.

“Slap Dash for No Cash”

1. M. Ward – Hold Time
Coupled with his contributions to Monsters of Folk (#5), this album (his best to date) cements 2009 as the year of M. Ward.

“To Save Me”

Rarely do I purchase albums on the strength of the single.  I picked Monsters of Folk’s self-titled album at Target the other day off the strength of hearing them perform the track “Say Please” on Conan O’Brien’s show. Other than that song, I really didn’t know what to expect from the album. I’m not really familiar with M. Ward’s music, nor am I particularly familiar with anything from Jim James’ My Morning Jacket. Aside from a couple singles, I haven’t heard anything from the combination of Oberst and Mogis (Bright Eyes) since 2000’s Fevers and Mirrors.

This is an incredibly solid and enjoyable album. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, but after repeated listening I’ve determined that this album holds a unique spot in my CD collection. Bordering on a line somewhere between indie rock and country, Monsters of Folk have brought a sound that is as equally comfortable in Bakersfield as it would be in Portland. I think that really summarizes what I’ve enjoyed the most about the album. Tracks like “The Right Place” and “Baby Boomer” hearken back to a 1960s country sound without being corny, while “Whole Lotta Losin’” and “Losin’ Yo Head” bring an alternative rock sound that is simultaneously rustic and modern.

While the album as a whole doesn’t really do anything risky or mind-blowing, it maintains a solid pace and doesn’t have any songs that feel like filler. Because of this, the album retains some widespread appeal, yet sits comfortably in its indie folk/rock box. The aspect of the album I appreciated most was the old country vibe that permeates so many of the tracks. If you’re a fan of M. Ward, My Morning Jacket or Bright Eyes, or are looking for something that’s both fresh and familiar sounding, I would definitely check this out. I picked my copy up at Target. I’m sure it’s available in stores all over and on iTunes if you swing that way.

Hollywood and other ‘Monster’ side projects haven’t stopped She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward) from continuing their folky, retro feat.

Deschanel confirmed a second album to MTV News saying: “I have a new [She & Him] record coming out in the spring. It’s official. It’s done and being released in the spring. And we’re going to go on tour.”

Further details are mum as of now, but word of a tour and a new album?  That’s all I need for now.

I hate to do this to you guys but… the countdown is on hold at #15 because I’m headed out of the country on holiday.  I promise to continue the countdown upon my return in the new year.  I will have my top ten albums of the year posted on 12/31 along with a dance mix or two to get your party jumpin’.  This time today… it’s “Shangir-La” for me…  See ya soon!

M. Ward – Hold Time ~ “Shangri-La”

Notable Emissions for 2009…
No, I’m not talking about the carbon kind. Nor am I referring to that of the nocturnal variety.

Don't worry, that's not the nocturnal variety

Rather, I am now tackling my Notable Emissions (er… Omissions) of 2009, the music that couldn’t quite claw its way into my Top 10 but left an impression on me nonetheless. I will also tackle a handful of letdown releases and throw in my song of the year for good measure.

I’ll start by echoing the enthusiastic sentiment from my cousin, Caleb, with regards to the output of quality rock music in this decade. It surely was a Golden Age of sorts. I would also, though, like to complicate the issue by stating that mainstream rock music has been functioning at an all-time-low this decade with nu metal, generic Coldplay sound-alikes, and cheap rap-rock in the vein of Linkin Park. I believe that it is primarily in the underground that creativity has been flourishing, and much of that has been in reaction to the “overground.”

As for 2009 itself, I must admit to mixed feelings. On one hand, I was pleased as punch to see high-quality pop and rock records invading the Billboard charts, such as Phoenix, Metric, Grizzly Bear, and Silversun Pickups. At the same time, though, a handful of the ‘indie’ powerhouses disappointed me with their efforts this year–that means YOU, Decemberists and Antony and Neko and M. Ward and Camera Obscura and Andrew Bird! In some cases, it felt like overambition and for many, it felt more like underambition. It’s not that Andrew Bird or Neko Case necessarily took a big step back but, rather, one small, nearly unnoticeable, step to the side.

So, without further ado, here are tk’s Pre-Top-10 Categories.
SONG OF THE YEAR
HONORABLE MENTION: Number 11 through 20 in alphabetical order.
PROMISING RELEASES FROM UP AND COMING ARTISTS: Serving all of your needs for vicarious verbosity.
DISAPPOINTMENTS
THE JURY IS STILL OUT: I’ve heard good things but haven’t spent enough QT with it yet.

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Panic Switch” by Silversun Pickups: For me, listening to KROQ in L.A. is like going to the dentist (no need for elaboration on that simile). However, during one of my trips to the dentist in April, Dr. Roq forewent the flouride procedure and pulled out a fine wine from behind the counter to share a glass with me. That’s right, “Panic Switch” invaded the radio in the spring-time and society as a whole has been better off because of it.

The Silversun Pickups: cooler than your Mom

HONORABLE MENTION
Akron Family – Set Em Wild Set Em Free: The sound of a loose band getting tighter while still boldly exploring country, folk, and jam territory.
Balmorhea – All is Wild, All is Silent: An instrumental quintet from Austin, Texas, playing acoustic post-rock blended with classical sophistication.
Benjamin Gibbard – One Fast Move or I’m Gone: An overlooked, underrated tribute to Kerouac from an artist whose primary band (Death Cab for Cutie) has fallen into a rut. Place these songs next to Balmorhea’s in a playlist and you’ve got a perfect soundtrack to the landscape of the American West.
Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest: These boys may not be edgy or particularly groundbreaking, but it’s hard to deny the magic and charm infused in these tracks, as well as the vocal-trading finesse that serves to keep things interesting.
Knaan – Troubadour: A genuine, inspiring release from a genuine and inspiring singer/rapper from Somalia who NPR is calling the new Bob Marley.
Leslie and the Badgers – Roomful of Smoke: This debut from one of L.A’s numerous hipster-country outfits is more than just Laurel Canyon throwback hype–it’s chock full of timeless songs of heartbreak sung powerfully by Leslie Stevens.
Mew – No More Stories: An album pulsating with the kind of precious, dark, fantasy mystique that could only emerge from the depths of Scandinavia.
Morrissey – Years of Refusal: I’ll spare you yet another comment on how some old guy who thrived in a prior decade has still got it–instead, I’ll just say that this muscular release is quite possibly Morrissey’s best since 1994’s “Vauxhall and I” (despite a few too many moments of tired studio instrumentation).
Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms: His creative impulses are producing mostly positive results so far, though he can’t seem to build much of a fanbase around this brand of head-spinning baroque pop.
POS – Never Better: Punk-influenced rap (or is it rap-influenced punk?) from Minneapolis musician, Stefon Alexander, is dripping with a sense of urgency.

PROMISING RELEASES FROM UP AND COMING ARTISTS
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Family of the Year – Songbook
Fool’s Gold
Here We Go Magic
The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

DISAPPOINTMENTS (that’s right… there’s 10! Ack!)
Air – Love 2
Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career
The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
Fever Ray
Girls – Album
M. Ward – Hold Time
Mount Eerie – Wind’s Poem
Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
The Swell Season – Strict Joy

THE JURY IS STILL OUT
Bat for Lashes: Two Suns
Dry Spells: Too Soon for Flowers
Foreign Born: Person to Person
Kid Cudi: Man on the Moon
Noah & the Whale: The First Days of Spring

Coachella 2010 Dates were confirmed Sunday!

The festival will be held April 16, 17 & 18, though the 2010 Web site has not launched, and the bands have yet to be announced…

Coachella 2008 Flashback:

Outside the gates

Tegan & Sara

M.I.A.

Prince

Camping…

2009 Flashback:

Outside the gates

M. Ward

Conor Oberst

Girl Talk

Light installation

Fleet Foxes

In the crowd at Lykke li

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

My 2010 Wish List:

Girls, Dirty Projectors, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Phoenix, Beach House, Best Coast, Vivian Girls, Passion Pit, Miike Snow, the Flaming Lips and Vampire Weekend/etc. etc.

1. .WHEN ACTRESS + INDIE ARTIST = BAND.

[source]

2. .CROWDED SIDEWALKS.

I’ve always been obsessed with Natalie Portman’s  sidewalk scene in Closer. I’ve even listened to “The Blower’s Daughter ” by Damien Rice in crowded commutes to recreate the same experience. Didn’t meet Jude Law though, which was weird…

[source]

3. .THIS OBVIOUS STATEMENT.

As obvious as it may be, this weirds me out.

[source]

4. .SCRUFF.

[source]

[source]

5. .THE MANMADE VS. NATURAL CYCLE.

[source]

6. .GRUNGY KATE.

in British Vogue

.AND CLEAN KATE.

in W magazine

[source]

7. .NINTENDO CUPCAKES.

Although…as I die-hard Yoshi loyalist, this batch is lacking my fave player.

[source]

8. .NOT USING PLASTIC BAGS.

9. .HAPPY SIGNS.

[source]

[source]

10. .ANDREW BIRD.

Recently, I  can’t seem to stop listening to him.

[source]

Have a better day than me! I’ll be library bound with a jittery caffeination buzz all day. Oh, exam week…

Peace,

Alright, here goes nothing. Though the following albums have made the final cut for my Top 5 Albums of the Naughts, this list is by no means the result of careful contemplation or a well thought out system of algorithms or any other objective criteria. It is simply the list of albums that, upon letting my mind wander over the subject, floated closest to the surface of my murky memories of the past ten years and, boy howdy, murky these past ten years have been.

5. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

I’ve been a pretty big fan of The Flaming Lips for quite some time, but this, for my money, is their masterpiece. Richly textured and combining moments of quietude with raucous, soaring peaks, this album has it all. This album came out while I was in college and for a long while was one of the staple albums in the apartment music mix.

If you haven’t seen it, check out the movie, “The Flaming Lips: The Fearless Freaks” at hulu; it’s worth your time:

4. Yo La Tengo: I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

To some extent, you never know what to expect from Yo La Tengo, but usually it turns out pretty good. This album blew my mind the first time I heard it. It probably helps that I was stoned to ba-jesus at the time, but nevertheless, subsequent listens did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm for it. If nothing else, this album has to win best title of the decade.

3. M. Ward: Post-War

This was a tough pick. I knew I had to put M. Ward on this list. The trouble was, which album? Well, this is the one I most often reach for when I’m in the mood for him and deservedly so, it’s filled with some damn fine songs, such as Poison Cup, Chinese Translation, Magic Trick and my personal favorite, the Daniel Johnston cover, “To Go Home,” featuring one Neko Case.

If I was making a Top 5 videos of the naughts list, this one would be a serious contender:

2. Beck: Sea Change

I’ve noticed this is on a lot of people’s list, so I won’t say too much. I will say that I once listened to this on a very sad day, in a very strange place and the memory of listening to “Guess I’m Doing Fine,” especially with the company I was keeping that particular day, pretty much single-handedly puts it on this list for me.

1. Wilco: A Ghost is Born

Wilco. What can one say. Tweedy’s a genius, etc., etc. I know most people would go with YFT, but there are some tracks on Ghost that make this my favorite Wilco album of the decade, if not their career (ok, nothing will ever top Being There for me). Some favorites include the N. Youngesque riffing on “At Least That’s What You Said” and the goosebump-inflicting lyrics of “Hummingbird.” Personally though, I think “Hell is Chrome” might be the most well produced Wilco song of all time.

Not an official video obviously, but the only one I could find with the album track on it:

And honorable mentions:

Neko Case: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

The Beatles: Love (kind of cheating)

Ben Folds: Ben Folds Live

The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow

Okkervil River: The Stage Names

Ryan Adams: Heartbreaker

Magnetic Fields: I

Avui us presento un descobriment que he fet no fa gaire tot i que ja fa un any que corren per l’escena musical. Es tracta de She & Him, la unió entre l’actriu Zooey Deschanel i el músic de Portland M.Ward.

Ella composa les cançons i canta, però no us espanteu, res a veure amb altres actius que intenten cantar com Leonor Watling o Scarlett Johansson. Ell fa els arrengaments i aporta la seva guitarra.

Junts ens van regalar l’any passat un tros de disc anomenat “Volume One” que sona molt sixties i té versions d’Smokey Robinson i els Beatles.

La bona notícia és que a principis de 2010 apareixerà el seu segon treball que com no podia ser d’altra forma es dirà “Volume Two”.

De moment, podeu escoltar “Volume One” sencer a l’Spotify i un deixo amb la versió en directe de “You Really Got a Hold On Me” d’Smokey Robinson:

Review of the self-titled album Monsters of Folk

140 characters:

As each song plays to the strengths of its members, Monsters of Folk is a folkin’ synergistic success.

140 Words:

Supergroups run in two distinct categories for me:

1. muddled mess- the highlights of individuals are overshadowed by others’ talents.
2. synergistic success- the individuals play to the strengths of others, highlighting what/who is most important in each song.

I won’t go so far as to say Monsters of Folk is a masterpiece, but they definitely fall into the latter category. A track like “Dear God” plays to the strengths of My Morning Jacket (albeit the programming is reminiscent of Bright Eyes’ Digital Ash album). In “Say Please,” there is no doubt, for one song, this is Conor’s band. He has that effect, like Jack White, of making his presence known in projects without taking over every song. And “Whole Lotta Losin’” scampers along behind M Ward’s cowboy boot shuffle. Despite the incredible talent, they never lose focus; a synergistic success.

As a Haiku:

Conor, Jim and Matt

A synergistic success

as Monsters of Folk

The xx

1. Animal Collective – Summertime Clothes: For a long time I aggressively didn’t “get” Animal Collective, partially as a “fuck you” posture. This song was the key, because it’s an art-rave track. Art-rave. Merriweather Post Pavillion makes the rest of their albums make sense.

2. Annie – Don’t Stop: Annie does intelligent indie electropop, which she calls “pop with strange edges”. This song is one of three truly new songs on her 2009 version of the album Don’t Stop. The heavy (but not in your face) beat, the twinkling synths, the whole production by Paul Epworth add up to a pop song that doesn’t sound pop. Her breathy sweet vocal on top ties it together. Few singers can sing breathy AND with bravado like she does. That is why Annie is special.

3. Bat For Lashes – Sleep Alone: Natasha Khan mixes some Indian guitar, a huge bassline, a stuttering pounding beat, some maracas, synths, and her gorgeously sad voice for a bewitching track about her literally casting a spell to combat her loneliness. She deserves to be said in the same company as Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks, and I point to a track like this as proof. Except Natasha Khan can do beats better than most electronic producers.

4. The Big Pink – Velvet: The British do epic electronic rock better than anyone else, and this track comes in line with that grand tradition. Headphone filling.

5. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career: Phil Spector reverb. And Campbell’s vocals which say her maudlin career is over, but sound like it’s not. Yeah, that’s Camera Obscura. What made me love this song is that twinkling upward piano line that runs throughout.

6. Neko Case – This Tornado Loves Me: It’s a obsessed love song expressed by a personified tornado. And it breaks your heart. Enough said.

7. Delorean – Seasun: This house song makes the world feel glorious. It sounds like sunrise over an ocean. Such a thrill when that beat drops halfway through.

8. Franz Ferdinand – Live Alone: It’s just a classic FF track. Lots of swagger, great synth chorus that sends the song skyward, and lyrics that somehow make not moving in together sound totally awesome.

9. Girls Aloud – The Loving Kind: Co-written with the Pet Shop Boys. If the Spice Girls had had songs that sounded this effortlessly good to your ears, they might still be around. Girls Aloud knocked this song out on their FIFTH album. Girl group perfection.

10. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks: If the Beach Boys were still together and went indie-rock.

11. The Juan MacLean – Tonight: Disco house epic. Easily one of the very best tracks out of the DFA house so far. It’s how I feel about going out in song form: Melancholy, but hopeful and glad. I’ve played the song many times driving fast down the highway on my way out or back home late at night. The trumpet solo 5:30 – 6:45 makes life feel infinite.

12. Lady Gaga – Bad Romance: The first 35 seconds dominate. Frankly, this is the peak of Lady Gaga. It’s her on all cylinders, and makes me believe she’s a contender despite her bullshit. Sure, rave has existed for 20 years, but she’s managed to bring it to the masses like few else. Oh, and “Ra-ra-ah-ahah-roma-ro-mama-ga-ga-ooh-la-la.”

13. & 14. Major Lazer – Hold The Line / When You Hear The Bassline: Diplo and Switch’s dancehall creation was my favorite driving album this year. Shit is hot. The first two songs are the perfect example of how you start a mix. Atmospheric spaghetti western guitars begin “Hold The Line”, then the dancehall beat hits, and Mr Lex and Santigold sound badass. Love that Nokia vibration sound. It really makes your head vibrate. “When You Hear The Bassline” turns shit way up with that pounding… er bassline. I’ll put these two songs, and the entire album, against any hiphop, dancehall shit you play me, and it’ll be hotter.
Hold The Line:

15. Monsters Of Folk – Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.): Jim James, M. Ward, and Conor Oberst do some sorta trip hop sensual song. As a letter to God. I saw them live this year, and this song is gorgeous live.

16. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – The Tenure Itch: This to me is the sweetest, prettiest track off their album. For a debut album, they did their My Bloody Valentine indebted (heavily) thing really well, and this was my favorite moment. A song this romantic and shy is why their band name is the best name they could have.

17. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – All Of The Above: From an album that sounds like it was recorded in the 70’s, I think I listened to this song the most because of the strutting bassline that kicks in 47 seconds in.

18. The Raveonettes – Suicide: Their In And Out Of Control album was the Raveonettes embracing the pop part of their, in my opinion, iconic style. Which is appropriate, given Lust Lust Lust’s embrace of their feedback part. “Suicide” blew me away, because it is the sweetest, prettiest singing of the word “suicide” that has probably ever been committed to tape. And, the lyric is “Lick your lips and fuck suicide”, for the record. Only The Raveonettes.

19. Saint Etienne – The Sea: This track comes from the double disc reissue of a 1997 album that was previously Japan only, called Continental. “The Sea” comes late in an album filled with Saint Etienne’s usual pristine take on house and pop. Suddenly, Etienne drop a drum ‘n’ bass track. And, it’ll stand up to any drum ‘n’ bass track you’ll play me. Such is the greatness of Saint Etienne.

20. Saint Etienne – Girl VII (Richard X Remix): Taken from Richard X’s Foxbase Beta album, a remix of Saint Etienne’s entire debut album Foxbase Alpha. According to the commentary track to Foxbase Beta (yes, really), Saint Etienne say they wrote “Girl VII” to represent their impression of the glamour of London. Richard X takes “Girl VII” to such lush heights, you feel the glamour all the more. It’s one track on Foxbase Beta that I truly prefer to the original. And, that is rare in a remix. Somehow Richard X recreates “Girl VII” into a 4:30 minute constantly evolving and changing beast, yet all the elements came from, and follow, the original track. Epic. Perhaps the best remix I’ve ever heard.

21. Sally Shapiro – Mircale: Like others, I wasn’t as enamored with My Guilty Pleasure as much as Sally Shapiro’s debut. That’s what happens when you create a debut that’s borderline perfect. But, this electro track will always rank as one of her best. It’s Sally Shapiro at her most muscular and anthemic. And, for someone as breathy and shy as her, it was a welcome surprise.

22. Britney Spears – Womanizer: Why Britney is Britney.

23. The xx – Crystalized: I’m a huge sucker for male/female vocals. The way The xx weave their vocals together on “Crystalized” is magical. They do the atmospheric, minimalist, dreampop thing so well, and listening to this track and its host album breaks my heart in the best way possible.

24. Yacht – Afterlife: Here’s some sing-songy jaded female sung funky techno indie guitar shit. I’m still waiting for The DFA to get their due as a label. People mention labels like Jagjaguwar, Secretly Canadian, and Saddle Creek. The DFA constantly shepherd incredible dance music, and I never hear their name mentioned unless LCD Soundsystem release music. Shame.

25. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero: Answered the question, “What if the YYYs added synthesizers?” Answer: Sound like the YYYs. Happily confirmed when the synthesizers become guitars after the first chorus. What a rush. They’re one of the very best bands we have right now.

Indie film star Zooey Deschanel is to release her second music album in April 2010. Most recently appearing on our screens in the wonderful 500 Days Of Summer, the talented lady will be focusing on Volume Two for the coming year.

The album will once again be produced by M Ward following their collaboration on her debut attempt, aptly titled Volume One. Ward will also be offering music contributions, with it’s entirety being written by Deschanel.

Having never head her music, I will be very interested come the album’s release. If she’s as talented a singer as she is actress, we could be in for a real treat.

(Image courtesy of Wood Chipped)

What a year it’s been! We released our first record on 27th July 2009 – Krakatoa’s debut single ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Revolution’ on limited edition 7” single and digital download. This was quickly followed by The Supernovas’ debut single, ‘Ace Face’, once more as a 7” single and download. Roses Kings Castles, the side project of Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek, was next with the ‘Apples And Engines’ EP, issued on CD and download. Liverpool’s merry pranksters, The Know delivered their debut single The Jackal as a download shortly after.

The second Krakatoa single, ‘Fat Cats’ was released in November, as the lads headed out on an eighteen date tour supporting Alabama 3, which was a roaring success, with the boys winning fans everywhere they went. The Supernovas have just been added to the bill for three Babyshambles gigs next week, and the following week Gaoler’s Daughter take up two slots. In the past few weeks we have released singles and EP’s by London’s raggle taggle popsters Gaoler’s Daughter; ten piece indie pop soul groovers White Collar Weapons; Swedish psych shoegazers Mono Stereo, and hotly tipped Dubliners Reader’s Wives.

A 25 track compilation album of the work of Liverpudlian legend Dean Johnson was released last week, and his entire catalogue of sixteen albums will be released by 360 in 2010. Next year also sees the release of the second Roses Kings Castles album; the debut album by the magnificent Ben Sommers; the second singles by The Supernovas, Reader’s Wives and Mono Stereo; debut releases from The Savants and Inwits; An EP of five new songs by Sunderland song writing sensation Paul Liddell, and a whole host more!

We here at 360 love music, so it’s not just about what we do, it’s about the amazing array of worldwide talent who defy the naysayers by producing great artistic work in times of supposed darkness. So here’s a big shout out to all the artists who made great albums in 2009:

A Camp, Air, Alberta Cross, Alessi’s Ark, Amazing Baby, Animal Collective, Asobi Seksu, Blitzen Trapper, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Sarah Blasko, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Brakes, The Cave Singers, Coconut Records, Marshall Crenshaw, Crocodiles, Crystal Antlers, Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse, Dead Man’s Bones, The Decemberists, Alela Diane, The Drums, The Duke & The King, Thomas Dybdahl, Eels, Empire Of The Sun, Forest Fire, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Ghoststory, Girls, Great Lake Swimmers, Grizzly Bear, The Handsome Family, Hatcham Social, Imogen Heap, Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey, Ida Maria, The Leisure Society, Local Natives, Madness, Metric, Miike Snow, Rhett Miller, Okkervil River, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Papercuts, Phoenix, Pink Mountaintops, Jay Reatard, Reverend & The Makers, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Hope Sandoval, 7 Worlds Collide, The Shivers, Soap & Skin, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Mindy Smith, St. Vincent, Jamie T, Theoretical Girl, Tim Ten Yen, Tinariwen, The Trinity, Vetiver, Vivian Girls, M. Ward, Wavves, White Denim, Wilco, Wooden Shjips, The XX, Yves Klein Blue and PROBABLY A LOAD MORE WE HAVEN’T DISCOVERED YET.

‘360′

Indie-folk duo She & Him (aka Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward) have announced that they will be releasing their sophomore album on April 5th of next year. The album, aptly titled Volume Two, will be put out on Merge Records.

Here is the tracklisting below:
1. Thieves
2. In the Sun
3. Don’t Look Back
4. Ridin’ in My Car (NRBQ cover)
5. Lingering Still
6. Me and You
7. Gonna Get Along Without You Now (Skeeter Davis cover)
8. Home
9. I’m Gonna Make It Better
10. Sing
11. Over It Over Again
12. Brand New Shoes
13. If You Can’t Sleep

If this album is anything like their debut, I’m absolutely on board. I really enjoyed Volume One; it’s a great album of pop songs for anyone with a beating heart. Not to mention that they also do some pretty great covers.

Not that you should need it, but here is a little bit of proof: “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”

(Volume One, Merge 2008)

Website
MySpace
Purchase