15.) Strand Of Oaks – Leave Ruin
mp3 – Strand Of Oaks – New Paris
This album is an absolute emotional juggernaut. From the opening words of the autobiographical “End in Flames” to the tick-tick-(tick)-boom song structure of “New Paris,” the music and lyrics of Timothy Showalter strikes chords and pulls at heart strings with the best of them. I applauded and now praise the creator of this work for his honesty, sincerity and also for allowing the world into his one time small town home of Wilkes-Barre, PA. After spending SO much time with Leave Ruin this year and telling all of my friends just how fantastic it is, I can assure everyone that it will stay with me for a very long time and will inevitably be an album I’m tearfully nostalgic for in years to come. Wait! I already am. – Avanhizzle
14.) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Its Blitz
mp3 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll
In March of 2009 a lot of people had a lot of reasons to hang their heads. And apparently, based on how It’s Blitz takes off, Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s thought they could use a party. Starting with “Zero,” and it’s disco ball musings on being somebody and nobody, and continuing on to”Heads Will Roll,” by the time the YYY’s slow it down with “Soft Shock,” you’ve already broken a decent sweat.
Produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, this album is the sound of several risks paying off at once. Nick Zinner’s guitar is replaced by synths and the music is no less original or affecting for it. Emotion runs rampant in the upbeats and the downs. “Skeletons’ march is as real as “Dull Life’s” nasty (oh yeah the guitar comes back on this one) nasty riffs. There are the super-hero team-ups, when Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone show up, and that is all just as kickass as anyone, who hasn’t been stuck inside a cave in Mongolia, might expect.
Perhaps what strikes me the most about this album is the decisiveness. The YYY’s aren’t questioning any of their decisions. There is a direction and a purpose to the way Karen O sings and to what she says, and her emotional peaks and valleys are as convincing as neon lights. People have attempted to quantify the sound of It’s Blitz and it has been cause for many an elaborate descriptor, but the bottom line is, whatever It’s Blitz sounds like, I’m sure of it and so are the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. – Bobby Solo
13.) Washed out – Life Of Leisure
mp3 – Washed Out – New Theory
Georgia (via South Carolina)’s Washed Out, or Ernest Greene, bursted onto the scene mid-summer. ‘Life Of Leisure’ was on blast at everyone’s bbq’s, beach party, and spliff-sponsored cruises with the top down. Ethereal synthesizer lines, laid-back porno drum beats, dripping with re-verb and tape echo, this disc vibes for days. – Madano
12.) Discovery – LP
mp3 – Discovery – I Want to Be Your Boyfriend
2009 has seen a lot of bent borders between normally polar musical genres—Jay Z is hanging out at Grizzly Bear shows, the Dirty Projectors’ first single of Bitte Orca is a study in hip-hop production, Lil Wayne is dropping a metal album and members of Vampire Weekend and the Ra Ra Riot teamed up to produce a ridiculously good, ridiculously dancy R&B LP called, well, LP, and branded it Discovery. I’m sure I’m not the first to say it but these guys certainly did their homework after discovering the drum machines they put through the wringer on this album. Kicking off with a fanfare that I would have expected to hear on Kiss FM during a top-10 songs of the month countdown, Orange Shirt really exemplifies the proper use of an MPC for drum and vox programming. Osaka Loop Line is one of my favorite tracks of the year—going from half-time to double-time, to no-time and all over the place with those patently-hip-hop closed-hat ticks all over the place and the hard-edge autotune that we’ve all grown to know and (well, kinda) love. Dirty Projectors’ Angel Deradoorian makes a guest appearance singing on the relatively gender-confused I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend and she really brings those R&B chops that she and the rest of the DPs honed during the construction of their latest offering. So Insane channels Prince better than that dude with the squiggly symbol for a name who looks kinda like Prince, and I swear I hear some samples from Super Mario Brothers (yes, the original 8-bit version) in Swing Tree. Our pal Ezra Koenig hops into the saddle on Carby and gives that autotuning computer a workout that makes it wish it had never been programmed. All in all Discovery’s LP is a great feel-good album and a perfect example of why these creative types need to break out of their MOs once in a while and make something totally new, innovative and awesome. – Chazzbot
11.) Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms
mp3 – Neon Indian – Should Have Taken Acid With You
Psychic Chasms is so cool it hurts. Like bronzing a statue of the Fonz… wait, Wisco did that. True story. For a generation that was raised by video games, Alan Palomo, or Neon Indian,’s take on pop tape music was the years best. Coolness aside, Psychic Chasms is a 13 track masterpiece and arguably the freshest sound of ‘09 in an often flooded or derivative ‘indie’ market. – Madano
10.) Jail – There’s No Sky (Oh My My)
mp3 – Jail – There’s No Sky (Oh My My)
From the title track’s opening drum roll to the final heart pangs of “Love Takes Shots,” “There’s No Sky (Oh My My)” is one of the most memorable albums to ever come out of Milwaukee, and certainly the best straight up pop album of the year, anywhere. The fact that Jaill hails from Milwaukee should not be an asterisk, or the implied footnote, it is of no consequence musically. “There’s No Sky…” would still be on the top ten even if the band was from doppelganger Chicago or Albequerque. The entire disc spins at 120 rpm, with a psychedelic Buddy Holly vibe, especially on standout tracks like, “Beggar Sincere,” and “The Biggest Nugget of Them All,” and it was this eclecticism that caught the attention of the indie gods at Sub Pop, to which Jaill (they had to add an “L” to their name to avoid confusion with a 70’s German band of the same name) recently inked a record deal with. So, ten years from now, when Jaill are backing their latest album with a sold out stadium tour, you are going to be the guy saying, “Oh yeah, but their first record was so good…Oh Wait? You say you’ve never heard it? Well…That’s o.k…I guess…It just fucking rocks is all,” and that’s going to make you look pretty cool. – The Mad Chef
9.) Phoenix – Wolfgang Amedeus
mp3 – Phoenix – Lisztomania
As the snow started melting and the good citizens of our fair town started coming out of hibernation after a bitter cold winter here in the Em Kay Eee it became clear that we’d all need a common musical bond through which to remember the glorious summer of 2K9. Enter Phoenix. From the mysterious appearance of a URL oddly reminiscent to that of an institution of online higher learning (wearephoenix.com) that made 1901 available for listen and download it was unanimously declared that the summer of 2009 would be the summer of Synth-Pop. When WA finally dropped I was happier than a pig in shit. Seemingly bubblegum on the outside, this album really is pretty heavy when you really dive into it. Here’s a little known fact: Phoenix has been around for a long time. This album is one giant commentary on the maturing of the band and the people within it—good and bad. As we all know, when relationships ‘grow’ (read: age), they start to develop baggage. WA is the story of four guys purging all the baggage that they’ve developed both personally and as a group during their very successful run. WA is fun and bouncy but has a very real soul—look as deep into the album as you want to and take away from it what you will; if you leave it fun and bouncy you’re still getting the point. Phoenix created something very special in WA that leaves itself open to the listener’s interpretation but still finds a way to express exactly what it needs to. – Chazzbot
8.) Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
mp3 – Grizzly Bear – Southern Point
The album that I almost never gave a second chance ends up as number 8 on our list of albums of the year. The perfect Sunday morning/early afternoon record held tight and stayed in my rotation throughout ’09 and will surely get continuous play for the remainder of my years. With poppy giants like “Two Weeks” and “Cheerleader” it’s hard to imagine that in the year 2099, Veckatimest won’t be in the running for album of the century. Complexity, structure, and the erection of so many brilliant soundscapes help place a crown on top of this one. And again, my thoughts about THIS album are still entirely true after a half of a year of reflection: “As a whole the album proves to be extremely labor intensive on both the part of the creator and what it asks of the listener. There’s no way to definitively label it, making my first few listens confusing and hair pulling. But this became my favorite aspect of it. It is sophisticated and intricately layered, while still managing to be simple. It asks you to construct each sonic structure from the hushed ground beneath it. Sometimes you build it up just to tear it down, like in my current favorite “All We Ask”. And sometimes you sit atop and marvel at what was just built, like in the lead off “Southern Point”. And this is why the album as a whole succeeds. It doesn’t matter that “Two Weeks” is not a perfect representation of the rest of the album. Like Voltron, all 12 tracks exist as separate entities that in the end meld together to create the dynamic force that becomes Veckatimest.” – Avanhizzle
7.) Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. 2
mp3 – Raekwon – House Of Flying Daggers
The hype for Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. 2 began over fourteen years ago, on August 2nd 1995, the day after it’s predecessor, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… , was released to universal acclaim, and solidified Raekwon’s place in hip-hop mythology. The mere fact that OB4CL2 lived up to over a decade of build up means that it exceeded all expectations, especially when compared to the fading careers of Raekwon’s Wu-Tang brethren. Easily the best Wu-Related release since the GZA’s seminal Liquid Swords, OB4CL2 let the hip-hop world know that at least one Clan member was not going softly into that good night, and with any luck revived the careers of rap’s sleeping giants. – The Mad Chef
6.) YACHT – See Mystery See Lights
mp3 – YACHT – We Have All We’ve Ever Wanted
What I wrote about YACHT’s ‘Ring The Bells’ track is all that needs to be said:
“It became clear, there is no one else here.” True for YACHT’s blend of electro-dance-pop this year. Royksopp? fart. Miike Snow? bitch please. With a live show (party) to boot, YACHT is DFA’s new crowned jewel. Which for a year relatively devoid of LCD Soundsystem, is an important thing. “Accordingly, YACHT is and always will be what YACHT is when YACHT is standing before you” To me, YACHT are the most under-rated artists of the year.”… See Mystery See Lights is beautiful, smart, infectious, and orchestrally composed. The album sees a band’s growth and ethos shine benefiting anyone who listens by challenging them to truly think about life in the modern world. Talking with these guys was one of the highlights of my year. – Madano
5.) Passion Pit – Manners
mp3 – Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
The bright synth hook that starts “Make Light,” functions as the rails for your ears while their shot through a wormhole dropping out the other side amongst the cosmic falsetto of Michael Angelakos. From then on out, on the opening track of Passion Pit’s stellar Manners, “Make light” is exactly what the fellas do. In our increasingly over-exposed world it is hard to make tracks that give a person that true bliss of pop music. “Little Secrets,” the second track, is layered with the type of synth that allowed Phil Collins to get away with making up his own words (Sussudio?), and it introduces the children’s gang vocal. No cheese here though, and that’s an achievement.”Moth’s Wings,” contains the first hint of sadness and the promise that all might not be right with the universe. And then they drop “The Reeling,” revealing the depth and mystique of the album.
Manners, highlights the best parts of today’s production capability, expressing a surprising sonic range for a synth based band, and using the range to rise and fall, to let the bottom drop out on numerous occasions, and allow for the album, when listened to straight through, to give honest and meticulously crafted drama. Manners slows down nicely with “Swimming In The Flood,” and then quickens into a two stepping dance number with “Fold In Your Hands,” (Chromeo fans will dig). It’s essential that they nail this type of ebb and flow with Manners as it is consistently reinventing Angelakos falsetto vocals, making them a trademark and not a gimmick. Throughout, Nate Donmoyers, percussion keeps the sound from being too electronic, occasionally like on “To Kingdom Come,” there is a jangle and snap that even hints at Motown beats. They bring “Sleepyhead,” with them to this album, though it was originally on the EP Chunk of Change, and is the track that drew many folk’s attention to the band. Manners finishes up with “Seaweed Song,” a triumphant surrender of a track, and that is exactly how I feel having experienced the album front to back, triumphant. All isn’t right with the universe, but that’s all good. – Bobby Solo
4.) Girls – Album
mp3 – Girls – Hellhole Ratrace
The one electorate college that we have we don’t need, meanwhile, all star games and best of lists are ruined by public opinion. If it were up to me “Album,” by Girls, would be the album of the year, but I was outvoted 3 to 1. “Album,” will be looked back on in the same way that “My Generation,” is remembered, and not since the Who has a band come along with such vitriol, sorrow, anger, and madness, as Girls. “Album,” is a perfect snapshot of the confused and tragic times we are living in, especially the cathartic, “Hellhole Ratrace,” which spurns the hopelessness of existence in favor of a two step or two. Musically the sound is retro, but with enough variance and modernity to keep the blood coursing. Songs like the tropical croon, “Headache,”the minimalist slow-burner “Laura Marie,” and the two minute sunshine-punk rocker “Morning Light,” twist any expectations you might have formed in the opening tracks. Girls aren’t just doom and gloom lyrics over tired pop melodies, these guys have the chops, and they have something even more important than that musical ability, they have guts. So where’s my weighted vote and what do you mean Al Gore didn’t win? Wait, why are there six Cubs players in the 2008 all-star game? For the same reason “Album” didn’t get voted best album. – The Mad Chef
3.) Dirty Projector – Bitte Orca
mp3 – Dirty Projectors – Cannibal Resource
This is an album I am absolutely addicted to which made it extremely hard for me to write about. To me, perfection is something that need not be critiqued. But the fact that Bitte Orca as whole, and not just single songs deserves monstrous praise is what put an imaginary pen in my hand. This is the album that never goes away. It turns up nearly everywhere I go. Mostly by choice, but sometimes I’ll get into a friends car or have my iPod on random and a song from this favorite of mine will come on and immediately alter a shitty mood or quench whatever thirst of mine that is need of quenching. Bitte Orca, which translates as “please whale.” was chosen as a title not because it holds some sort of personal meaning to the band or because it has some sort of historical value, but because the two words placed next to one another were phonetically pleasing. And as stated in my description of our 23rd favorite track of the year, “Temecula Sunrise,” the album’s sound is clearly the centerpiece. Amazing guitar work throughout from uber talented front man Dave Longstreth and the vocal accompaniment of Amber Coffman, Angel Dereadoorian, and Haley Dekle give this album the most refreshing, clean, and crisp sound that I may have ever heard. Every track is it’s own puzzle that is put together right before your ears. As I stated in my previous review, this album is amazing because I find it devoid of holes and leaves you satisfied after each listen. And also because of the Kid A like complexity, Pet Sounds worthy harmonics, and Kind of Blue like synchronization. But, still, words will always fail to describe the beauty that this album contains. – Avanhizzle
2.) Antlers – Hospice
mp3 – The Antlers – Two
So, about a month after I picked Hospice at my local record shop called iTunes I plugged my iPhone in to my computer and watched Last.fm scrobble all the recent plays from said iPhone and, low and behold, I had listened to Hospice 93 times in that month (not counting the spins directly from my computer during the one-third of each day I spend at my desk). And nothing else. It was then that I realized I have a problem. It is so rare in these days of over-produced musical garbage to hear an album that was composed as such and not just a collection of tracks with a few decent singles surrounded by a bunch of shit; it is even more rare when that album is a true work of art. Hospice is both of those things and more.
The Antlers played an unbelievably great set at the Forward Music Festival in Madison this year and were gracious enough to sit down with me for a brief chat (I swear to God I’ve never been more nervous) and I really gained a new appreciation for this album and the guys that put it together. There was a rumor spinning around that guitarist and vocalist, Peter Silberman, locked himself in a NYC apartment and came out with this album; I’m glad to have had that rumor squashed—this album was truly a team effort and the close proximity of the subject matter to each performer in the group really shines through. We also chatted about the album as an analog for any unhealthy relationship (romantic, personal or otherwise) and the damage it can do to both people involved. The conceit of a terminally ill patient (while still being totally sincere) as representative of something that we’ve all had to deal with at some point in our lives helps us not only to relate better to the album but to better understand the dynamics of the interplay between two people who aren’t totally happy with one another.
Alternately morbid and uplifting, Hospice explores the inner workings of the human mind when affected by another entity. The album as a construct is a tremendous accomplishment—it plays like a novel reads (we meet the characters, develop our own relationships to those characters, learn of their problems, let things escalate, realize that we ourselves are all characters, dénouement, and resolve). I really feel that Hospice derives much of its beauty and sincerity from the fact that we all know exactly how these players feel and the album gives us accurate insight into the workings of the minds that affect our own. I’ll admit, Hospice hit me at a time when I really needed it, but I would be remiss to believe anything but the fact that everyone needs it. Go buy it, give it a spin and thank me later. Hospice is my personal album of the year for 2009. – Chazzbot
1.) Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion
mp3 – Animal Collective – Summertime Clothes
It’s not quite as simple as looking at our Best of 2009 Songs List. Sure, Animal Collective is heavily featured and appears multiple times, but we did not just decide on our top album of 2009 based on that alone. We all, (almost all), after more than a few rounds of these and a discussion about the importance of replayability, use value, and longevity came to the decision that Merriweather Post Pavilion surpassed expectation and exceeded grandiose hype to beat some fantastically crafted albums in an abundant year for music. Not to mention, MPP thrust open the door to our musical year and continued to move and groove us all the way to the end. We hope that you had a chance to enjoy it and if you didn’t, we think you should. Cheers!!
Coming into 2009 the expectations for this album were extremely high. It all started in mid to late ’08 when the mobile alien blood album art that was plastered all over the interweb made people go batshit. And then of course there was the inevitable leak that had bloggers collectively drooling over their empty turntables in anticipation for the January 6th release date. All of this generated hype and my growing adoration for AC coerced me and countless others everywhere to enter crowded bars filled with skinny-jeaned hipsters fighting for the nearest seat next to a speaker to hear it for the first time. An unforgettable time for multiple reasons, the momentous needle dropping that night left me with this impression that hasn’t changed a bit since that snowy night in January, “Merriweather Post Pavilion is filled with spaceship smashed alarm clocks and colorfully well crafted derivations. My favorite moment from it comes at about 2:30 of the first track, “In the Flowers”. The song starts out with layered futuristic sounds fitting for the score of a recut of The Abyss. It’s calming. It’s relaxing. For a moment you’re in the flowers with them. Floating. Resting. Breathing. Then. @2:30. Sprinting. Slamming. Screeching. Chaos ensues for a short few seconds. Beauty is bred. Beats rumble from the soil. Voices create harmony and amazing sonic joy. Shortly after a smile on the face of the listener is completely inevitable and undeniable. And that smile should remain, mixing with a multitude of other emotions, throughout the remainder of the record. “ And looking back, who would’ve thought that “In the Flowers” wouldn’t only be the perfect spaceship launch into a great a record that contains the sonic boom that is “My Girls”, the perfect windows down creeper “No More Runnin’” and the throw your hands up shout along “Brother Sport”, but that it would also launch us into a fantastic sonic throw down of a year! – Avanhizzle
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