Gypped children or not, here we go. 50 fave records of the year. (As usual, I included a song from each record in groups of 10 in a downloadable and deliverable format down below*, to encourage efforts of exploration that could result in finding something that you might like more than Taylor Swift. Impossible as that seems. She's so nice.)
*As an aside, I had some of my favorite songs from these albums on a previous mix, "Vacation, All I Ever Sort of Wanted", that I made this summer. So I didn't repeat those tracks and instead selected some alt faves from the those records. So fr'instance, I included "While You Wait for the Others" from Veckatimest instead of "Two Weeks" and so forth. That mix is still up if you want it as well.
Like I said before, here we go...
1. Japandroids - Post-Nothing
WOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Just add two kids, a trap set, a guitar with a lot of amps into a shout-it-to-the-goddamn-mountaintops mix of spirit and hope and dreams. Did I mention WOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH?2. Hallelujah the Hills - Colonial Drones
Aside from Post-Nothing, this is the record I ended up coming back to the most. One of the best shouting choruses of the year: “YOU BETTER HOPE. YOU (DIE. BEFORE ME.)” This year’s “Run To Your Grave.” Or 2000’s “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi.3. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
“Two Weeks” is probably my obvious choice for single of the year. And the rest of the record almost lives up to that single.. Still not quite sure if this would be my go-to GzzB album or if I’d go to Yellow House. Right now, Veckatimest has a slight edge in the tale of the tape. Mostly due its reach and left pop hook.4. Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Somehow this album just summed up why they’re one of the best bands of the decade. It includes every aspect from their discography that they do well: the scronky electronica, the subtle blues groove, the scratchy steel guitar, and the ability to meld it all together seamlessly. It feels more like a look back than a step forward, but for someone who loves everything they did in the past, I have no problem with that.5. ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - The Century of Self
Who needs a record contract? Wankers. That’s who.6. Port O'Brien – Threadbare
Wounded sloppy folk rock. There’s this really wondrous sadness to the album. Them and Hallelujah the Hills both took a leap this year into the realm of bands you better pay attention to. (That might be a threat. I haven’t decided.)7. Future Of The Left - Travels With Myself And Another
A band smart enough to craft killer tracks around titles like “You Need Satan More Than He Needs You.” McLusky didn’t just die. It just morphed into something equally big-balled. But I hesitate to make any direct comparisons to Jesus if I can help it.8. Fever Ray - Fever Ray
So if you ____ The Knife, you’re also going to ____ Fever Ray. The words I would use should be obvious since it’s my 8th favorite record of the year. You can mad lib as you see fit. Try to keep it clean, as this is a family blog.9. Dan Deacon – Bromst
I just don’t know what he’s doing. Does he have drum machine triggers taped to the inside of his knees? A Mellotron strapped to his back? The great and powerful OZ of independent music.10. The Antlers – Hospice
It’s a lonely, claustrophobic, almost unsettling record. There aren’t many records where you really feel someone baring their soul. This would be one.11. Double Dagger – More
Why don’t more bands try to sound like Unwound? And these guys manage to do it sans guitar. What? 1997 isn’t retro enough for you?
12. Noise Addict - it was never about the audience
Speaking of 1997, Ben Lee, everyone. I hope songwriters like Lee and Robert Pollard and Lou Barlow donate their brains to science when they die, so that we can find out how certain people can churn out the catchiest shit you’ll ever hear at an assembly line pace. Medulla Pop-longata.13. Beirut - March Of The Zapotec / Realpeople Holland
Speaking of brains and their hemispheres and split personalities and schizophrenia (was I?), this two EP thing by Beirut all at once seems completely naturally and also seems somewhat forced. If Zach Condon would just Califone all 12 songs together (That’s right. I’m using Califone as a verb. They’ve earned it), this release might have been a bit more compelling. That being said, not many people can write songs as great as “My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille” or “My Wife, Lost In The Wild.”14. El Perro del Mar - Love Is Not Pop EP
This is an “extended” E(xtended)P(lay) EP. A solid 7 tracks. And probably the best thing EPDM has done. (I like to abbreviate her name to EPDM because then it make me giggle imagining a cute little waifish Swede chick hanging on the corner with two hard brothers from NYC’s mean streets, bobbing their heads to Strictly Business. I wonder if she thinks it’s funny too that every album EPMD put out had the word “business” in the title. I mean, I get it. You mean “business.”)15. Bear In Heaven – Beast Rest Forth Mouth
I dare say it’s the Brooklyn version of Neon Golden.16. Cold Cave - Love Comes Close
Keeping electronica noisy and poppy. As it should be.17. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
This is a band that knows how to write a chorus. You start to drop off a little during the verse. Eyelids flutter. Maybe drool forms a little in the corner of your mouth. Then the chorus comes in full force and you leap up and scream “Holy shit! Another pop gem!” Then rinse and repeat.18. The Marked Men – Ghosts
So there are bands that still sound like this? Who sound like this, but are also really good at sounding like this? No reason to beat around the punk rock bush, if you can just be in the punk rock bush.19. Suckers - Suckers EP
Can’t wait until these Suckers put out a full length.20. Generationals - Con Law
Of the dance-able indie pop bands that seemed to propagate uncontrollably this year (I’ll get to you soon enough, Passion Pit and Harlem Shakes), I like Generationals’ sound the best. I can’t say exactly why. There’s almost an old Motown shake to it.
21. The xx - 2.0
I get it. The same part of my brain that understands Kristen Stewart’s appeal completely understands The xx’s appeal. Like listening to the soft whispers of teens waiting for their parents to go to bed.22. The Mountain Goats - The Life Of The World To Come
Moving past the clever concept of each song relating to a Bible verse, which I guess if you’re the literary or theological or analytical sort has its appeal, this is just another really good Mountain Goats record. For me, it’s around We Shall All Be Healed good. Not Tallahassee good.23. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
Another album that took me by surprised since I’m not the biggest Flaming Lips fan. But I bought in as soon as the Can/Faust feel became more and more evident.24. Pajo-Scream With Me
I could always hear something appealing in Misfits songs. But seeing them stitched next to crappy metal band patches on jean jackets always kept me hesitant. But Dave Pajo stripping songs like “Devil’s Whorehouse” and “Angelfuck” down to a whisper makes you hear that there were some good tunes hiding beneath the denim-pressed bravado.25. James Blackshaw-The Glass Bead Game
Probably the 12-stringer’s most gorgeous work to date.26. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
I’m not sure there isn’t a more overrated band than the Animal Collective. (Though I guess Radiohead would have something to say about that.) They’re the Mad Men of indie rock. They just don’t hit their own weight. But like the gang at Sterling Cooper, when they do get the bat around, they bang out some astounding hits. For instance, I would say “My Girls” is their Peggy Olsen. Though they have yet to turn out anything as good as Joan. (And I have officially exhausted my desire to continue the Mad Men analogy.)
27. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountains
Probably the best opener of any album this year. And the rest of the album brings back some unsung indie touchstones from the '90s like Joan of Arc and Red Stars Theory.28. Clues-Clues I think I enjoyed this album more than the other post-Unicorns project Islands. It’s a bit more rockin’ that way.
29. Passion Pit – Manners
If there was a 2009 Indie Rock NYE Dance Party (somewhere in Brooklyn I assume), these guys would probably be headlining. (And Ryan Seacrest would still be hosting I assume. Never underestimate Seacrest’s hipster street cred. He’ll tell you that himself.)30. Times New Viking – Born Again Revisited
I guess this record loses points because it does sound exactly like Rip It Off. But to me, I think the songwriting is better. So it’s sort of a wash. It’s going to be interesting to see if these guys ever move past this sound.31. Harlem Shakes – Technicolor Health
I was almost moved to attempt a Harlem Shake upon hearing the danceable fun of this record. But I just ended up doing the Cabbage Patch. Again.
32. Crystal Antlers – Tentacles
“Andrew” is probably one of my favorite songs of the year. However, the rest of the record becomes a bit muddled for me. I just always end up double-clicking “Andrew”, which works fo’ ya and agin’ ya.33. Blank Dogs – Under and Under
Same for Under and Under. I love “Tin Birds”, but then the rest of the record is sort of indistinguishable. In some way, I don’t think this is the album’s fault, but the listener’s (AKA me) due to the instant gratification of the iTunes double-click. I wish I could fight it, but I’m only one person. What can I do?
34. Tarfufi – Nests of Waves and Wires
Can’t believe this is just 2 dudes pulling this sound off.35. Sebastien Schuller – Evenfall
A b-yoo-tiful record. One of the bigger surprises for me this year.36. Papercuts - You Can Have What You Want
A remarkably consistent album that has been moving its way into my heart more and more. Sort of the opposite of Crystal Antlers and Blank Dogs in that there isn’t one track that leaps out of you, but it's solid from start to fin.37. Malcolm Middleton – Waxing Gibbous
I figured I would be reserving a post-Arab Strap spot for Aidan Moffat. But Middleton has shown a real handle on crafting catchy enjoyable tunes. It’s not going to fill the Arab Strap void in my heart, but I enjoyed the effort.38. The Bitter Tears – Jamtarts in the Jakehouse
Here’s a band that’s a pain in the ass to pin down. They tap sort of the same goth-country vein as labelmates The Handsome Family, but seem to frolic a bit more in the sonic landscape. Horn flourishes, pop hooks, accordions… that sort of thing. Quite an enjoyable record.39. YACHT – See Mystery Lights
There’s one song on here that has a sample that sounds like when I get a new iChat message. Gets me every time. I think this Jona kid gets his rocks off on it. Dude seems like an absolute scoundrel.40. Jesu – Opiate Sun EP/Infinity
Justin Broadrick makes awesome noise. So awesome that I can forgive a single track record that goes on for 45 minutes (AKA Infinity.) Especially when in the same year he puts out as solid an EP as Opiate Sun.41. Nurses – Apples Acres
I listened to this album multiple times, and it just glossed over me. Then I woke up one morning singing “Mile After Mile” and knew they backdoored me. In a good way. Not in a prison bunkmate way.42. Wye Oak – The Knot
Another great record from these two. I think this one might be more consistent than If Children, but there are some songs on If Children that still kneecap me consistently. And that separation hasn’t happened on this year’s outing. Though “Take It In” comes close.43. Bruce Peninsula – A Mountain Is a Mouth
I think they’re like an indie rock jug band. I’m constantly listening for washboards and spoons. I’m also discovering that bands involving a lot of shouting appeal to me. (See Japandroids…)44. The Ballet – Bear Life
Why apologize for sounding exactly like the Magnetic Fields? I say run with it. A good pop song is a good pop song.45. Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Waiting for the next album when he puts his Christian name in parentheses.46. Cotton Jones – Paranoid Cocoon
I like Lee Hazlewood. This feels like a throwback to those Lee/Nancy years.47. Le Loup – The Family
While I can’t get on board for the amount of slobbering that goes on with Animal Collective, I do think their presence has a better effect than say, Lady Gaga. Le Loup certainly has their influence tailored into their sound. And using it they’ve made a good album.48. Magic People – You Are the Magic People
These guys are menacing in a hilarious way. Somewhat like Les Savy Fav. “Your girlfriend gave me flowers. What do you think about that, bossman?” If I was the “bossman” in that scenario, I don’t think I could take that question seriously.49. HEALTH – Get Color
HEALTH makes a noise unlike anyone else, and they seem aggressively interested in making a point of that. In that sense, they remind me of Liars. Also, in that they aggressively seem to love tribal drumming.
50a. Tiny Vipers – Life On Earth
50b. Tara Jane O’Neil – A Ways Away
50c. Laura Gibson – Beasts of Seasons
Total copout. But I had a hard time figuring out which of these folky female projects appealed to me the most. Tara Jane has history on her side. Tiny Vipers has indie cred. Laura Gibson has the out-of-nowhere surprise going for her (I don't listen to a lot of NPR.) But all 3 records have an ambient acoustic beauty complimenting lovely vocals thing. And I could put all three of them on one playlist and fall right to sleep. Like I said, a copout.
Best o' Decade List coming. Depending on how consistent my distractions are...
Download here:
Best of '09 Sampler #1-10
Best of '09 Sampler #11-20
Best of '09 Sampler #21-30
Best of '09 Sampler #31-40
Best of '09 Sampler #41-50
1 comment:
50 Albums and still no room for Neko Case Fiery Furnaces or Atlas Sound. :/
I would say more but I have to go french kiss some french girls.
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