Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Besnard Lakes - ...are the Roaring Night
More shoegaze for staring at yr shoez with. The Besnard Lakes are a 'progressive rock' band according to last.fm. They're pretty standard cute, quiet/loud shoegaze with two part songs and 'concepts' I really dig their new record that just came out/leaked. Not really sure if its out yet. Czech it.
Friday, January 29, 2010
jj - jj nº 3
new jj
check the weezy guest spot on "My Way"
(edit; turns out my way isn't on the record, but it's a b-side to 'let go.' i recommend downloading it.)
check the weezy guest spot on "My Way"
(edit; turns out my way isn't on the record, but it's a b-side to 'let go.' i recommend downloading it.)
haven't listened, cop it before the intertronz police take it
down and blogspot slaps me on the wrist
down and blogspot slaps me on the wrist
Thursday, January 28, 2010
SUPER DUPER ULTRA POST PART 2
Thanks for hanging around ladies and gentleman. Sorry for these huge unorganized and poorly constructed posts. Honestly, I would just rather make sure you guys hear the music then read some pretty blog. So let's get to itttttt.
The first thing I want to post is just a single from rising Brooklyn duo, Tanlines. These guys have been in other bands that were popular I guess. I forget the names of the bands, but they weren't bad. Anyway now these guys make tons of remixes and recently have begun releasing original tracks. This song is from their new EP, Settings coming out on True Panther. This is just one mp3 and I apologize but it's REALLY FUCKING GOOD. For real, this track is hot fire y'all. Bogart this track dudes. I can't find a downloadable link, but here's the track. I embedded it for your listening pleasure. And please seek out the rest of their stuff, these guys are pretty legit I thinkz.
Real Life by truepanther
The next band I'd like to talk about is The Big Pink from England. Their clever mix of electro-tinged rock and noisy shoegaze create an interesting canvas for awesome pop hooks and vocal melodies. The lead single from their debut record, "A Brief History of Love" is 'Dominos.' A fat drum beat gives way to one of the catchiest hooks I've heard in awhile. This song is basically perfect and fits in well with the rest of the tracks on the record. Expect songs in a similar vein. Some songs are more shoegaze-y; "Crystal Visions," "Love is Vain." While some are more electro-influenced, "Frisk," "Velvet." This is another act I am curious to see live. Their material is extremely dense and hard to decipher in a live setting it might seem. But they're getting pretty big and have been touring a lot, so we'll see what happens. Get this album if you like any kind of shoegaze or British indie music that's been coming out recently
Thanks for reading and I'm going to try and keep posting more! And please tune into my radio show with my friend Jordan on Tuesdays from 6 - 8 PM eastern time. Listen live at http://www.wcnulive.com! We're organizing an interview with Jim from Le Loup, a band who ended up pretty high on my year end list. (Buy the record FAMILY, trust me).
And one more plug that I have to do. Sorry guys I feel like a loser, but please check out my band Everybody Yay!! check me or Ethan's status on facebook for a mediafire link to a new tra...fuck it I'll just leave it here! Please stay tuned for more new music from us and hopefully an EP and more shows in Virginia! This is our brand new song "Knowing" free to download! Tell your friends. DOWNLOAD THE SONG HERE.
LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
The first thing I want to post is just a single from rising Brooklyn duo, Tanlines. These guys have been in other bands that were popular I guess. I forget the names of the bands, but they weren't bad. Anyway now these guys make tons of remixes and recently have begun releasing original tracks. This song is from their new EP, Settings coming out on True Panther. This is just one mp3 and I apologize but it's REALLY FUCKING GOOD. For real, this track is hot fire y'all. Bogart this track dudes. I can't find a downloadable link, but here's the track. I embedded it for your listening pleasure. And please seek out the rest of their stuff, these guys are pretty legit I thinkz.
Real Life by truepanther
The next band I'd like to talk about is The Big Pink from England. Their clever mix of electro-tinged rock and noisy shoegaze create an interesting canvas for awesome pop hooks and vocal melodies. The lead single from their debut record, "A Brief History of Love" is 'Dominos.' A fat drum beat gives way to one of the catchiest hooks I've heard in awhile. This song is basically perfect and fits in well with the rest of the tracks on the record. Expect songs in a similar vein. Some songs are more shoegaze-y; "Crystal Visions," "Love is Vain." While some are more electro-influenced, "Frisk," "Velvet." This is another act I am curious to see live. Their material is extremely dense and hard to decipher in a live setting it might seem. But they're getting pretty big and have been touring a lot, so we'll see what happens. Get this album if you like any kind of shoegaze or British indie music that's been coming out recently
YOU HAVE TO DOWNLOAD THIS JUST BECAUSE OF THE LINE; 'THESE GIRLS FALL LIKE DOMINOS, DOMINOS, DOMINOOOS'
Next up is Y Δ C H T. I definitely did not dig this at first. The girl vocals didn't seem to fit and it sounded very '07-ish with the whole electrohouse pop sound. I got over my apprehension and listened to the record and found a very enjoyable pop album. The man behind it all is Jona Bechtolt. A 29 year old producer from Portland. After countless guest appearances and producing jobs, along with several releases from the YΔCHT project and even solo projects, Bechtolt conceived SEE MYSTERY LIGHTS. A fun and goofy sounding pop record drenched in slick production, interesting drum sounds, and creative synthesizer sounds. Plus there's a song called "I'm In Love With A Ripper!" That's awesome. The first two tracks are catchy as hell and set a bar for the following songs. Most of them meet the bar, while some aren't as impressive, this album is concise and well-structured. Legit record y'all.
Next up is Y Δ C H T. I definitely did not dig this at first. The girl vocals didn't seem to fit and it sounded very '07-ish with the whole electrohouse pop sound. I got over my apprehension and listened to the record and found a very enjoyable pop album. The man behind it all is Jona Bechtolt. A 29 year old producer from Portland. After countless guest appearances and producing jobs, along with several releases from the YΔCHT project and even solo projects, Bechtolt conceived SEE MYSTERY LIGHTS. A fun and goofy sounding pop record drenched in slick production, interesting drum sounds, and creative synthesizer sounds. Plus there's a song called "I'm In Love With A Ripper!" That's awesome. The first two tracks are catchy as hell and set a bar for the following songs. Most of them meet the bar, while some aren't as impressive, this album is concise and well-structured. Legit record y'all.
DOWNLOAD THIS RECORD AND DRIVE AROUND LOOKING FOR WOMEN. ALSO LOL @ THE DESCRIPTION ON THE MEGAUPLOAD PAGE.
The last band I'd like to cover is Silver Apples. You might or might not have heard of these guys. But one listen to a record of theirs and it's hard to tell what decade it's from. You might be surprised to know, this duo were prominent in the 60s and 70s (and have made a very confusing reappearance, I have no idea what's going on there). They pioneered the synthesizer and the idea of 'electronic' music. They released a couple of records in their prime and I found a link with both of them in the same .zip folder. The first record is self titled and the second is titled CONTACT. Check out these guys and listen for the huge impact they had on today's music.
Thanks for reading and I'm going to try and keep posting more! And please tune into my radio show with my friend Jordan on Tuesdays from 6 - 8 PM eastern time. Listen live at http://www.wcnulive.com! We're organizing an interview with Jim from Le Loup, a band who ended up pretty high on my year end list. (Buy the record FAMILY, trust me).
And one more plug that I have to do. Sorry guys I feel like a loser, but please check out my band Everybody Yay!! check me or Ethan's status on facebook for a mediafire link to a new tra...fuck it I'll just leave it here! Please stay tuned for more new music from us and hopefully an EP and more shows in Virginia! This is our brand new song "Knowing" free to download! Tell your friends. DOWNLOAD THE SONG HERE.
LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
SUPER DUPER ULTRA POST
I'm deciding to make up for lost time, and give you a bunch of music I've been digging on recently. This will kind of mess with the idea of archiving posts by month and date on the side, but I guess people should understand that there's a lot of music here just by seeing the title, "SUPER DUPER ULTRA POST." I don't know, seems enticing and attractive enough to me.
Sorry for being so awful at blogging, life is intense in college. Let me tell you. I don't know how I do it sometimes. And I'm not trying to be silly here, I honestly think I might go crazy any given day.
Enough with my cries for sympathy and respect. Not really. Whatever. I'm tired. So music right?
I wanted to start with a really cool band that sort of combines two really interesting ideals in the music scene now. The idea of really cool female led bands combined with this post-Animal Collective sound aesthetic is undeniably intriguing. To explain the former, bands like Bat For Lashes, Florence + the Machine, Chairlift, St. Vincent, and newcomers Sleigh Bells are all female led acts that are blowing up and creating awesome awesome totally rad music. And to explain the latter portion of that sentence way up there, after Merriweather Post Pavilion came out, everyone not only ate that record up, but the newly created die-hard fans worked their way tirelessly through their back-catalog creating an amalgam of sound to create a new genre almost. Bands like Blind Man's Colour and Toro Y Moi are actually really good at it and don't make it lame. Anyway this is High Places's self-titled record. They're releasing a new record sometime soon, probably on a new label. And they put out a new single somewhere. I don't know, I haven't heard it.
It's really complicated and hard to upload my own files onto mediafire or anything with an ethernet cable so I have to find my links for now off the interwebz. And the only thing I could find is a little zip folder of a collection of tracks from High Places. Sorry guys this all I have for now, but I definitely want to put up their actual self-titled as soon as possible.
Sorry for being so awful at blogging, life is intense in college. Let me tell you. I don't know how I do it sometimes. And I'm not trying to be silly here, I honestly think I might go crazy any given day.
Enough with my cries for sympathy and respect. Not really. Whatever. I'm tired. So music right?
I wanted to start with a really cool band that sort of combines two really interesting ideals in the music scene now. The idea of really cool female led bands combined with this post-Animal Collective sound aesthetic is undeniably intriguing. To explain the former, bands like Bat For Lashes, Florence + the Machine, Chairlift, St. Vincent, and newcomers Sleigh Bells are all female led acts that are blowing up and creating awesome awesome totally rad music. And to explain the latter portion of that sentence way up there, after Merriweather Post Pavilion came out, everyone not only ate that record up, but the newly created die-hard fans worked their way tirelessly through their back-catalog creating an amalgam of sound to create a new genre almost. Bands like Blind Man's Colour and Toro Y Moi are actually really good at it and don't make it lame. Anyway this is High Places's self-titled record. They're releasing a new record sometime soon, probably on a new label. And they put out a new single somewhere. I don't know, I haven't heard it.
It's really complicated and hard to upload my own files onto mediafire or anything with an ethernet cable so I have to find my links for now off the interwebz. And the only thing I could find is a little zip folder of a collection of tracks from High Places. Sorry guys this all I have for now, but I definitely want to put up their actual self-titled as soon as possible.
Download some HIGH PLACES brah
The next band I'd like to share with your lovely ear holes are The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. Probably the cutest shoegaze band I've ever heard. Often times, 'shoegaze' bands are somewhat moody and depressive. But these guys (and girl) create fun yet subdued shoegaze pop songs about being young, love, loss, and everything else that happens before you turn 30. They've released an EP called Higher than the Stars that is really good and has a fantastic remix on it. I recommend it. They also released a self-titled LP last year that was a little underhyped in my opinion just because it wasn't really the same sort of sound as what was popular during 2009. This music isn't about the beach or summer, it's about things that people really care about. Which interests me especially. This is their debut record. I really want to catch them live. And I'm really interested in where their sound goes.
I love the Roland SP-404. I currently have two friends that dropped the dough to acquire one of these beast machines. An SP-404 is a sampling machine that is a wonderful tool to create weird and interesting music. Popularized by the wonderful Panda Bear on his tours of Person Pitch where he rocked dual 404's to pull of his stunning record live. This new guy's project is called City Center. And if you look at his live pictures, it's a hi-hat or cymbal of some kind, a mic, a 404, an echo/reverb unit, and some percussive instruments like a shaker. This record is his first LP, and is somewhat challenging at first. But once you dig out the melodies, it's a very satisfying listen. This guy seems to be a pretty cool dude and loves to tour so hopefully I can catch him live soon and see how he pulls it off live.
I love the Roland SP-404. I currently have two friends that dropped the dough to acquire one of these beast machines. An SP-404 is a sampling machine that is a wonderful tool to create weird and interesting music. Popularized by the wonderful Panda Bear on his tours of Person Pitch where he rocked dual 404's to pull of his stunning record live. This new guy's project is called City Center. And if you look at his live pictures, it's a hi-hat or cymbal of some kind, a mic, a 404, an echo/reverb unit, and some percussive instruments like a shaker. This record is his first LP, and is somewhat challenging at first. But once you dig out the melodies, it's a very satisfying listen. This guy seems to be a pretty cool dude and loves to tour so hopefully I can catch him live soon and see how he pulls it off live.
Every blog on the planet worth reading has probably mentioned this guy before. And I'm surprised I haven't yet cause I downloaded his debut record MONTHS ago when it leaked. It still hasn't come out yet and it's really sad that such a small time producer had pride and joy leaked before the new year even rolled around. Due out in Febuary, TORO Y MOI's sound is characterized by Panda Bear-esque samples, IDM-influenced beats and sugary pop hooks. His record 'Causers of This' is about to come out and I really hope this guy blows up. He really deserves it. He's kind of the underdog in the whole chillwave movement. Neon Indian and Washed Out have definitely overshadowed this guy and it's not fair for him to sit back when he made arguably a better record. Anyway, please buy this record when it comes out. I shouldn't be posting this and I feel bad, but hell it's everywhere already.
Friday, January 15, 2010
PSYCHE
Sorry for the confusion. I switched web bowzers and forgot my wordpress password. Whatevz. The blogspot was always pretty trill. I'm back on this ish for good.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Best of 2009
It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I made my best of '08 list for I Want To Go To Brainville. I can assure you, this year's list(s) are much more in-depth and legit then last year's. Not only did I make a 25 album list, but we have a Top EP, song, and music video list. Compared to last year, the year of 2009 for music was phenomenal. I always thought that no matter what, no year could top 2007 in the future. I'm not sure if 2009 was better, but it was damn close.
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
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
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