By the time January 1st was over, people were already convinced what their number one album of '09 what would be. When Merriweather Post Pavilion, the new, rediculously-hyped/critiqued album from indie legends, Animal Collective leaked on Christmas day of 2008, the blogosphere erupted into hysteria. Bloggers left and right claiming that no album will top this in 2009. I never like to count my chickens before they hatch, so I just told myself, yeah this album is REALY good, but wait for December to make that kind of judgment call. I'm glad I did, because there were better albums in 2009 then MPP.
Three albums actually. THREE albums were better than MPP, in my opinion. And the rest of the top 10 are all pretty damn close. It's interesting how the album became a measuring device. Any album released after MPP that was even remotely similar in sound (a lot were), was meticulously juxtaposed next to it and examined. It was kind of disturbing to watch this happen.
New genres, new bands to love/hate, crazy beefs between bands, hissy fits, collaborations, bands breaking into the Billboard charts; 2009 was an incredible year for music. Whether you loved to watch Wayne Coyne drop the f-bomb on Win Butler or hope that Nathan Williams does get the shit kicked out of him by that dude from Black Lips, or if you actually listened to the music, you have to admit, 2009 was quite a year for music.
So without further namedropping and AnCo referencing here's a few of my favorite things from 2009.
T O P A L B U M S
25.
Volcano Choir - Unmap
24.
Here We Go Magic - s/t
23.
The xx - xx
22.
Memory Tapes - Seek Magic
21.
Taken By Trees - East of Eden
20.
Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
19.
Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
18.
Girls - Album
17.
Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young
16.
Devendra Banhart - What Will We Be
15.
Blind Man’s Colour - Season Dreaming
14.
Passion Pit - Manners
13.
jj -jj n˚2
12.
Le Loup - Family
11.
St. Vincent - Actor
10.
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Eating Us
Oh, Tobacco. I wish I knew your name. And I wish I knew where you got your synthesizers from. I wish I knew a lot of things about the mysterious leader of psychedelic Pennsylvanians, Black Moth Super Rainbow. These guys are crazy, straight up. Analog synths clash and collide over thick lo-fi drum beats and vocoder vocals to create some intense psychedelic pop music. Eating Us is definitely the band’s most focused and solid release so far, while there are no real vocals on this album, you get a real pop vibe and the songs are actually catchy. “American Face Dust” and “Born on the Day The Sun Didn’t Rise” are fantastic pop tunes that anyone can really enjoy. You don’t HAVE to do drugs to listen to this band, but it might help, who knows?
9.
Neon Indian - Psych Chasms
Alan Palomo; the man, the myth, the legend. In just one year, this man brought two different projects to the forefront of really awesome electronic music. More importantly, his Neon Indian project released their first LP. First single, “Deadbeat Summer” is one of the best tracks of ’09 and sort of became an instant classic as an anthem for bedroom musicians and stoner kids across America. But it doesn’t stop there, the rest of this album is chock full of lo-fi electronic pop tunes with stifling guitar sounds and perfectly flat bass drums. I look forward to more tunes from this cat.
8.
Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
It’s hard to put these guys so low at 8 because I love them so much. Portugal. The Man have released a great record every year since 2006 and show no signs of stopping. From loop-based, electronic rock sounds to 70s-infused indie rock, this band has progressed fluidly and naturally from a studio collaboration to a full-fledged live act and studio friendly band. If any of you have seen them live you can say safely that they are incredible at what they do. The Satanic Satanist is a record full live-set accessible songs that are memorable and intriguing. On the surface the songs might seem somewhat tame and generic, but once you break into the arrangements, instrumentation, and sounds they use, you realize how intricate and beautiful the album is. Tracks like “Lovers in Love,” “The Home,” “Guns and Dogs,” and “Everyone is Golden” are incredible songs that flow perfectly as a short and simple collection. The record is not very long and it really couldn’t be any other way. Look for a new record from these guys in 2010 for sure.
7.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
I would hazard a guess that most of the people that really got into Phoenix this year were completely unaware of the band’s back-catalog. Not only has the band made one of the best albums of 2009, but they’ve been producing solid records for the past decade or so! These French indie-pop wizards finally hit it big when lead single, “Lisztomania” became one of the first big bloggable mp3’s of 2009. And once the band went on SNL earlier this year, the hyping commenced. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix dropped in the middle of 2009 to reviewer’s and listener’s delight. The album is full of concise and sweet pop songs about love, loss, and everything in between. The vocals are delivered with a sense of certainty and security. The melodies are quick and sugary. What this album does is hook you quickly, and keeps you interested with subtly weird synths and drum sounds. Probably the best strictly pop album released this year. Probably.
6.
Atlas Sound - Logos
If you don’t know who Bradford Cox is, get educated. The exceedingly opinionated and skinny songwriter is in charge of two extremely successful projects on the indie scene. Deerhunter and Atlas Sound have been releasing records for only four years, but both projects are mature and intense listening experiences. Bradford’s solo outlet is Atlas Sound. One album and many EP’s deep, this is the project’s most cohesive and solid record. Logos plays through like a heavy and hazy journey through lo-fi folk experiments and psychedelic ambient infused meanderings. The ideas of Cox may seem loose and unfocused, but there is a solid core to every song. Each track has a unique sound and emotion attached to it. The record flows in a strange way, sort of ebbing and flowing as it takes the listener on a roller coaster ride of themes and moods. The album ends with a three song suite of songs about sickness and the insecurities that come along with his illness. Logos is definitely a weird listen, but it’s an honest record. And Bradford Cox is an honest guy.
5.
The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
I’m always in for the ride when a band changes their sound. Usually it’s more exciting when it’s a sophomore release or somewhat early in their career. But The Flaming Lips are more than two decades deep into their legendary run as psych-rock gods and they’re still changing things around. The crystalline sheen of At War With the Mystics created by fancy studio sounds and layers of keyboards has given away to loud bass, pounding drum sounds, and guitar freak-outs that wouldn’t sound out of place on any one of the Lips’ pre-Zaireeka efforts. What makes Embryonic so successful is that it makes a jam session sound like an in-depth and complicated double album. Essentially what we have here are mixed and mashed jams recorded by principle song-writer Stephen Drozd in his old house. Obviously, there’s a little more writing going on here than what that sounds like, but a lot of these songs are the products of good old, back to basic jam outs. Another rewarding part of this record is the presence of long-time live drummer, Kliph Scurlock. Drozd might be the weirdest, most creative drummer I’ve heard in awhile, but don’t turn a blind eye to Kliph. His beats and rhythms are groovy and powerful. While this album is a very different animal compared to their 2000-era material, you still have your classic Wayne Coyne pop sensibilities. What drags this album down is length and some insignificant filler. If the Lips had cut the fat off a little more, we could have been left with one of the tastiest Lips records ever.
4.
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Oh boy. Where do I start? I name drop these guys in almost every post I make. That’s kind of embarrassing and I should probably stop doing that. But they’re such an influence on the music scene today, that it’s inevitable to be reminded of them when listening to the newer, more popular acts. Digressions aside, this album is probably one of the most overhyped, talked about, and critiqued album of the decade. Ever since AnCo debuted tracks from this album on the Strawberry Jam tours, fans eagerly anticipated the studio versions. Crowd favorite, “My Girls” premiered on the internet in late 2008 to the delight of bloggers and fans across the world. The song was everything we hoped for and more. The touching lyrics from Noah Lennox were delivered perfectly over a dense arrangement of sounds and samples. The chorus that everyone already knew the words to was still perfect. And then on Christmas Day, 2008, this record leaked. Not only was it a low quality vinyl rip in four parts, but listening to it now, it’s almost a completely different record. Once we got our hands on the studio version, blogs and zine’s worldwide claimed this the top record of 2009...in January. I’ll admit, I was skeptical that anything could top this record, but after repeated listens you can hear flaws. Sure it’s a wonderful avant-pop album created by some of the most creative songwriters of our generation, but the songs sometimes lack punch. The indomitable “Brothersport” is still amazing, and “Summertime Clothes” is also a beast of a track. But some tracks fall short, “Also Frightened” is a good song, sure. But give me any song on Strawberry Jam over this one. If it wasn’t for Panda Bear, I don’t know what this album would sound like. His contributions are slowly become more and more integral to the sound they’re going for. Yeah, this record is really good. But come on guys, it’s not that good.
3.
Antony & the Johnsons - The Crying Light
Antony Hegarty is a complete enigma to me. I’m not a mean kid, but the guy looks weird. He’s an overweight, gay British man with greasy long black hair and clothes that look like they were bought at Renaissance fair thrift store. Antony’s voice is haunting, but beautiful. Pained, but joyful; he longs to be a woman. It’s somewhat disconcerting at first to listen to tracks about wishing you were the opposite sex, but once you delve into his vocal work and arrangements, you realize that behind his pained exterior is an extremely talented songwriter, you find an amazing record. Piano chords lay on top of complex string arrangements and subtle guitar lines and percussion. Songs like “Epilepsy is Dancing,” are emotionally stirring numbers that often leave me staring into nothingness in a contemplative state. “Aeon” is a triumphant track that provides a rewarding chorus and bridge. But underneath it all you hear the guitar track gradually gain more distortion until the fuzz is undeniable. As the song progresses, so do the sounds. The way Antony connects his lyrics to the music is often perfect. Songs like “Dust and Water” are stark numbers that contain minimal instrumentation put an abundance of emotional power from the vocals. Every track on this record is completely beautiful, and I highly recommend any music lover to listen to this album.
2.
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Dave Longstreth is probably one of the weirdest guys in the scene today. His quivering vocals along with his noodly and prickly guitar lines are comforting, but in a way they’re confusing. Because there’s tons of melody on this record. But it’s almost discordant in a way that makes you consider what experimental music really entails. Longstreth has been kicking around the Dirty Projectors project for longer than you might think. Countless members and sound changes finally led to their breakthrough Rise Above. The reworking of the classic Black Flag album, Damaged, put Longstreth on the map. By adding the dual female vocalists, Longstreth stumbled upon something truly special and unique. And this year the band released Bitte Orca for our eager ears. Leading single, “Stillness is the Move” is probably the catchiest song you’ll hear all year. Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian, and third female vocalist, Haley Delke blend their voices with the awkward voice of Longstreth to create a vocal attack that will leave your jaw on the floor most times. The centerpiece of the album is the one, two, three of Stillness is the Move, Two Doves, and Useless Chamber. The first two songs are showcases given by Longstreth to Coffman and Deradoorian respectively. All three songs are completely different, but blend and flow perfectly. The album is questionably short at nine tracks, but it doesn’t matter when they’re this good.
1.
Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
It’s a weird feeling when you can safely say that an album is flawless. When all the sounds mesh and fit seamlessly to create a sonic masterpiece. The guys in Grizzly Bear have been working toward this album for awhile now. Since the dreary debut, Horn of Plenty, Ed Droste and Co. have been steadily molding their sound into something really special. On Veckatimest, Daniel Rossen becomes even more dynamic and takes the lead on more tracks. Songs like “While You Wait for the Others” and “I Live With You” are incredible songs that floor me every time I listen to them. Not to say that Ed Droste doesn’t shine like always; “Ready, Able,” “Foreground,” and “Two Weeks” are also top notch tracks. And not to mention the spacious production by multi-instrumentalist, Chris Taylor. Known for his meticulous use of reverb and depth in his recordings, the way Taylor tracked these songs is overwhelming impressive. I’ve never heard someone so comfortable with a production job as he was on the record. I would recommend this album to anyone looking for tightly-crafted, interesting pop songs. And if you have the chance to catch these dudes live, please go. You will not regret it.
T O P E P's
5.
Delorean - Ayrton Senna EP
4.
Memory Cassette - Call & Response EP
3.
Chromatic Flights - Sunset Bell EP
2.
Washed Out - Life of Leisure
1.
Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind EP
T O P S I N G L E S
15. Passion Pit - The Reeling
14. St. Vincent - Marrow
13. Portugal. The Man - People Say
12. Girls - Hellhole Ratrace
11. Phoenix - Lisztomania
10. Animal Collective - Brothersport
9. Washed Out - Feel It All Around
8. Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer
7. Atlas Sound - Walkabout
6. Antony & the Johnsons - Epilepsy Is Dancing
5. Animal Collective - What Would I Want? Sky
4. Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
3. Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move
2. Grizzly Bear - Ready, Able
1. Animal Collective - My Girls
T O P M U S I C V I D E O S
10. Girls - Hellhole Ratrace
9. Fuck Buttons - Surf Solar
8. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Tooth Decay
7. St. Vincent - Marrow
6. No Age - Losing Feeling
5. The Flaming Lips - Watching the Planets
It's hard to find, but it's out there
4. Grizzly Bear - Ready, Able
3. Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move
2. Animal Collective - My Girls
1. Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
