Best Music of 2009!
Not an awe-inspiring year, but a few choice releases, (and quite a few from friends & associates). Also, very gyno-centric year, with half my favorites featuring female singers in a significant capacity. MY top 3 were down to the wire, and a few toss-ups at the end, but here's my list
1)The Decemberists - "The Hazards of Love". Decemberists still prove to be one of the smartest, most courageous acts around (and one of the few acts that get more popular as they get weirder) with this ambitious old-school concept album. A few misfires on this album - the 'story' is too convoluted to carry through, the female singers don't always fit, and the ending songs are anti-climactic. But kudos for tackling this, and making it as solid as they did.
2)Franz Ferdinand - "Tonight: ". FF take pop songs and retro-Talking Headsy-disco to a whole new level, with their arrangements and almost-literary depth. Outstanding songcraft, also exceptionally witty among often dumb peers. They make pop a not-so-guilty pleasure.
3) Dirty Projectors - "Orca Bitte". New Discovery of the year! Highly intricate arrangements, with the most incredible vocal work I've heard in a long long time. Weird songs, but delectably accessible, with noisy-sounding riffs that reveal mad chops. The only reason this wasn't the top was that many songs are a bit too abstract to hold up to repeated listening. But 'Cannibal Resource' is my top song of the year.
4) MF Doom - "Born Like This" Doom keeps up his humor and absurdist lyrical bent, this time mining 80's TV shows for sounds and samples. Fun mix, beyond typical hip hop.
5) The Fiery Furnaces - "I'm Going Away" Distilled and somewhat restrained for FF, almost like they were trying to make a radio-friendly collection. Almost. But still a lot to sink your teeth into, and arguably tapping into the best production values they've had.
6) Bright Brown - "No Matter How Faint, There's Light in Everything" . The erstwhile "Laughing Stock" by another name, still filled with deep thoughts, lush arrangements, and the magic of the Chapman Stick. I've known Alex Nahas for many years in the Stick community in San Fran, this is his first release since relocating to NYC, though I've heard most of these songs evolve over the years.
7) Neko Case - "Middle Cyclone"Alt-country queen delivers a strong, diverse, and deep collection. I'm struck by how well the tones & production go hand-in-hand with the emotional punch and personal message.
8) A Camp - "Colonia". Only recently learned about this side project, which released in February. A collaboration of Nina Persson and Nathan Larson from Sparklehorse, with Niclas Frisk. Captures the quirky glee sorely lacking in recent Cardigans fare, throws in some nice riffs & tasty production.
9) Mark Growden - "St. Judas"Another local I've known for a long time, I've heard these songs in many forms over the years, but Mark shows a powerful vision by putting everything together as an eclectic sextet. Amazing on all levels as a performer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist.
10) U2 - "No Line On the Horizon". Not really one to go out of my way to try U2, but as an Amazon special, it was a pleasant & satisfying surprise. Solid songs, very interesting production (courtesy of Brian Eno), and best of all, you could listen to large chunks of music without being reminded that it's U2.
Honorable mention :
Hometown hip-hop heroes Crown City Rockers - "Day After Forever"; Regina Spektor's pop gem - "Far"; David Sylvian revisiting noisescapes on "Manafon". Kevin Blechdom keeping it weird on "Gentlemania".
What are your favorites?
1)The Decemberists - "The Hazards of Love". Decemberists still prove to be one of the smartest, most courageous acts around (and one of the few acts that get more popular as they get weirder) with this ambitious old-school concept album. A few misfires on this album - the 'story' is too convoluted to carry through, the female singers don't always fit, and the ending songs are anti-climactic. But kudos for tackling this, and making it as solid as they did.
2)Franz Ferdinand - "Tonight: ". FF take pop songs and retro-Talking Headsy-disco to a whole new level, with their arrangements and almost-literary depth. Outstanding songcraft, also exceptionally witty among often dumb peers. They make pop a not-so-guilty pleasure.
3) Dirty Projectors - "Orca Bitte". New Discovery of the year! Highly intricate arrangements, with the most incredible vocal work I've heard in a long long time. Weird songs, but delectably accessible, with noisy-sounding riffs that reveal mad chops. The only reason this wasn't the top was that many songs are a bit too abstract to hold up to repeated listening. But 'Cannibal Resource' is my top song of the year.
4) MF Doom - "Born Like This" Doom keeps up his humor and absurdist lyrical bent, this time mining 80's TV shows for sounds and samples. Fun mix, beyond typical hip hop.
5) The Fiery Furnaces - "I'm Going Away" Distilled and somewhat restrained for FF, almost like they were trying to make a radio-friendly collection. Almost. But still a lot to sink your teeth into, and arguably tapping into the best production values they've had.
6) Bright Brown - "No Matter How Faint, There's Light in Everything" . The erstwhile "Laughing Stock" by another name, still filled with deep thoughts, lush arrangements, and the magic of the Chapman Stick. I've known Alex Nahas for many years in the Stick community in San Fran, this is his first release since relocating to NYC, though I've heard most of these songs evolve over the years.
7) Neko Case - "Middle Cyclone"Alt-country queen delivers a strong, diverse, and deep collection. I'm struck by how well the tones & production go hand-in-hand with the emotional punch and personal message.
8) A Camp - "Colonia". Only recently learned about this side project, which released in February. A collaboration of Nina Persson and Nathan Larson from Sparklehorse, with Niclas Frisk. Captures the quirky glee sorely lacking in recent Cardigans fare, throws in some nice riffs & tasty production.
9) Mark Growden - "St. Judas"Another local I've known for a long time, I've heard these songs in many forms over the years, but Mark shows a powerful vision by putting everything together as an eclectic sextet. Amazing on all levels as a performer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist.
10) U2 - "No Line On the Horizon". Not really one to go out of my way to try U2, but as an Amazon special, it was a pleasant & satisfying surprise. Solid songs, very interesting production (courtesy of Brian Eno), and best of all, you could listen to large chunks of music without being reminded that it's U2.
Honorable mention :
Hometown hip-hop heroes Crown City Rockers - "Day After Forever"; Regina Spektor's pop gem - "Far"; David Sylvian revisiting noisescapes on "Manafon". Kevin Blechdom keeping it weird on "Gentlemania".
What are your favorites?
posted by pegasusgiraffe at 11:03 PM
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