Maybe I am a born contrarian, but unlike Martin, I thought 2009 was chock full of remarkable music. With the growing reach of Grooveshark (instant previews!), and the reliability of All Songs Considered, Sound Opinions, Hype Machine and the like, I feel like making my list this year was more challenging than ever before.
Though I have consumed a lot of great stuff, I had to go back to the drawing board and think about what I listened to most in forming the soundtrack for 2009. Maybe this recession has made me introspective? It hasn't curbed my music spending at all, that's for sure. There are names missing from my list that I appreciated (Grizzly Bear, Jay-Z, K'nann, Discovery). I tried to stay away from flash-in-the-pan groups, as well as stuff I was impressed by, but can't sit through an entire album (cough, Animal Collective). This said, 2009 was largely the year of beautiful orchestration by sensitive indie bands. I know, sue me.
1. Avett Brothers - "I And Love And You"
I'm not sure why it took me so long to get into the Avetts. Great song writing; honest, funny and pretty with the appropriate dash of southern influence to make me feel right at home. "Slight Figure of Speech" wins for catchiest, and the title track for honesty award.
2. AC Newman - "Get Guilty"
When I blogged about AC Newman earlier this year, I had sneaking suspicion that this album would remain near and dear. Newman's ability to write pop songs with catchy off-kilter phrasing shows a truly talented musician playing within the form. "Like a Hitman Like a Dancer" is the winner track here.
3. Noah and the Whale - "First Days of Spring"
The minute I heard this band I downloaded everything they have made. Lush, broad landscapes of music. Lead singer Charlie Fink's voice is just broken enough to provide the tension needed when things are too pretty.
4. The Swell Season - "Strict Joy"
A total upset pick, as I didn't intend to like this album at all. Crucify me, but I was not a fan of the film "Once," nor did I really like their first album which I found too precious, quiet, and ultimately forgettable. But add some heartbreak to this star-crossed pair, and we get "Strict Joy" an album with raw emotion, along with a few songs that feel like they could break in your hands.
5. M. Ward - "Hold Time"
Hands down, this is the best songwriting of the year in my book. It is M. Ward doing what he does best, sounding like he always does, which is a great thing. This album has enough epistimology for all the reprobate Protestants out there, and "Blake's View" will be played at my funeral.
6. Brother Ali - "Us"
I'm not sure what a partially blind, Muslim, albino, rapper from Minneapolis and I have in common, but the sing-song tone of his voice, effortless vintage-y hooks, and clever lyrics have me sold. Plus, I like when my rappers to talk about family, peace, love, and some social issues. Gangsta rap dies with Tupac, whenever he decides to die.
7. Bill Carson - "The Whale"
I am not sure where you will get a copy of this record, but when you do, you won't regret it. Charleston resident Bill Carson flies under the radar, but his time is coming. For fans of Jeff Tweety and Will Hoge, there are some great rock tunes, as well as simple ballads. The production is intimate; a great headphones album.
8. Antlers - "Hospice"
I started reading the blog of NPR's Robin Hilton after he kindly posted about the Dave Matthews: Regrets video I was in. Because of him, I found out about this album, which is the most heartbreaking thing you will listen to this year. Warning: don't listen if you don't like to feel.
9. Phoenix - "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"
So this might be a breach in avoiding the 'band of the moment,' but if I am honest, I listened to Phoenix as much as anyone in 2009. Who needs French pop with classical composer references in their life? Me. Though Phoenix might go the way of of bands like Postal Service, MGMT, Passion Pit and Gnarls Barkley for me (groups I like to refer to as "Song of the Summer" bands) for now, they made it.
10. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - "Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros"
A sprawling, fun, road trip required record, this album has enough whistling in it to allow me to leave poor Andrew Bird off my list this year. (!) After all, we must not let our sacred cows get too sacred. "Janglin'" will make you forget, momentarily, that you are freezing your ass off at a bus stop, transporting you to some desert with the Merry Pranksters.
Merry Christmas!
Honorable Mentions: Islands, Andrew Bird, Allen Toussaint, Anathallo, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, The Dodos, Bon Iver ("Bloodbank" might be song of the year), David Mead, Fanfarlo, Joe Pug, Heartless Bastards.
0 comments:
Post a Comment