Top 10 of oh nine
I have to say that this year was a bit of a disappointment for me for music. I don’t
think any of the music to come out this year would be in the top 5 of the past two
years. Saying that, there was a lot of good music in 2009 and the top ten was very
very hard to pick. I mean leaving off the brilliant Life Of The World To Come and
the kick ass Post-
1) The Harlem Shakes – Technicolor Health
It came early in the year but I think front to back this is the most kick ass album of the year. It’s pop and electronic, catchy and fun. Niagara Falls may be one of the top songs of the year but all the rest are pretty great too. This is an album that will catch your year and keep if throughout the whole album, and that is hard for a guy like me that has about 10 seconds of attention span.
2) Passion Pit – Manners
Why anyone liked Animal Collective’s album more than this one is beyond me. Take the electronic originality of that album and add a layer and you have Manners. I typically shy away from electronic heavy albums but this one is superb. When I first heard it I remember thinking it was good but on the most recent listing I realized just how good. This one will sneak up on you.
3) Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Not as good as their last effort but really damn good work from this French rock band. This is another one that I loved all the way through. Phoenix has a way to keep my body grooving like few others can. About 90% of the time I have no idea what they are talking about but their music grooves and pops and bounces and I love it.
4) How I Became The Bomb – Deadly Art
Ok This Album is half songs from 2008 and half from 2009. It is basically every song HIBTB (too lazy to type it out) has recorded to date and it was released in 09 so I am counting it as 2009. There is nothing typical about the way HIBTB has rolled out their music (in free EPs). There also isn’t anything typical about their music. What I can only call kick ass college rock, HIBTB explores deep subjects like fat girls, one night stands, guy guys, slutty chicks and drugs. Ok you won’t get a deep understanding of life from HIBTB but damn do they rule.
5) The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
The Avett Brothers take music that isn’t all that popular (bluegrass) and make it transcend the genre. This album is no different. This is another album that really wasn’t quite as good as their last one but damn it is a good one. I make no secrets about how much I love the banjo and this album has way too much banjo to be denied the top 5.
6) The XX – XX
Nothing ground breaking here just damn good music. I love the give and take from from the two leads, Romy Croft and Oliver Sim. There are several amazing songs on this one highlighted by “Crystalised.” This group has the most upside of any to come out with an album this year. Don’t besuprised if their next album ends up on MTV.
7) Deer Tick – Born On Flag Day
Some people will be turned off by Deer Tick because of their southern roots, but this band isn’t nascar and bud light. They are rock. They are raw and raspy, but that is what gives them their charm. I love the lead singers voice it is genuine and he is who he is and you can tell that in the music. Give this one a fair shake, don’t run at the steel guitar.
8) The Antlers – Hospice
My favorite concept album since The Mountain Goats released Tallahassee. It is that good. This album is almost a dark Comedy. The protagonist is a worker at a hospice facility and he falls in love with one of the patients. Sick funny stuff, check it out.
9) Eels – El Hombre Lobo
Somewhat of a concept album, Eels has come out with a collection of just loves songs, which for some artists is just an album but this is a little different for him. I am a sucker for love songs and this disk has some great ones. My timing is off is by far my favorite but the others are excellent as well.
10) Thao – Know Better Learn Faster
This is her second year in a row in my top 10 (link). She is still Asian, she is still hot, and she is still cranking out bad ass tunes. Watch out world Thao is on her way!
The Next 11 (in no order)
Niko Case – Middle Cyclone
White Rabbits – It’s Frightning
Silversun Pickups – Swoon
The Big Pink – A Brief History of Love
Japandroids – Post-
The Low Anthem – Oh My God Charlie Darwin
Girls – Album
Lucero – 1372 Overton Park
Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
Mountain Goats – Life of the World To Come
Elvis Perkins in Deer Land – Elvis Perkins in Deer Land
Songs of The Year
1 John 4:16 – Mountain Goats:
I am a sucker for love songs and this is the best of the year. It really touched me. It is simple and heartfelt and considering the protagonist is Jesus and is about Mary Magdalene it is just downright brilliant!
The Horizon is a Beltway – The Low Anthem:
This is just a kick ass rock song it makes me want to beat up the beat jersey style
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-