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| Top 10 Albums of 2009
Special mention for albums I found after I wrote this list that I really enjoyed :
Taken by Trees - East of Eden
Coconut Records - Davy
and especially Fanfarlo - Reservoir
10. Wax Mannequin – Saxon
Wax is passion. To see him perform is to see someone giving every piece they’ve got into their art. Saxon is dark, hilarious, raw...and simply great. Songs like “Volcano God” show Wax’s habit of making music that can be both sombre and fun at the same time. He’s still no slouch in the hook department, with “Everything and Everyone” being a particularly effective earworm. His music is still fist-rock worthy.
9. Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer
Oh, Spencer Krug. Every time this man releases an album, regardless of what project he’s working with, I’m always smitten. I feel that Dragonslayer is the strongest of the albums he’s put out with side project Sunset Rubdown. While I like opener Silver Moon, the album really picks up with the rollicking “Idiot Heart” with its dashing xylophone (that must be the instrument making those sounds, right?) rocking riffs, and Spencer’s usual unique...umm...“singing” : it’s quite the piece of music. “Nightingale/December Song” with its swirling beat is a stand out, as is the epic, 10 and a half minute closer, “Dragon’s Lair”.
8. Matt & Kim – Grand
Another album with really catchy tunes, I found this it while listening to the unbelievable Hood Internet mash-up “Good Ol’ Fashioned Rump Shaker” (with the Beastie Boys). This album is sweet, I mean really sweet. The kind of sweet that hurts your teeth with the mere thought of its sweetness. Every song seems to explode with this youthful exuberance (I don’t actually know if they’re young or not, but they certainly feel that way). In any case, I love the attitude of this record. Just watch the video for “Lessons Learned” (with Matt & Kim stripping while walking around downtown New York City) and you’ll see band obviously carefree and just really enjoying themselves. Standouts : “Daylight” and “Good Ol’ Fashioned Nightmare.”
7. Arkells – Jackson Square
Catchy is the word I’d use to describe this album. I can’t think of another record this year that had me humming and singing along more. Songs like “John Lennon”, “Champagne Socialist” and “The Ballad of Hugo Chavez” would get stuck in my mind and I just could not shake them. The later, in particular, was a perfect example of what pop-rock can be. It takes some spectacular talent to turn a song about Hugo Chavez in solitary confinement into one of the most singable, hummable, mass-appealing songs of the year. Who expected this from a band from Hamilton, Ontario?
6. K’naan – Troubadour
Released early in 2009, I was pretty much enamoured with this somalian-canadian K’naan’s sophomore record from the second I heard it. About half of it is pitch perfect, absolutely brilliant and touching, full of interesting beats and clever rhymes. The other half, less so, which is really the only issue I have with this album and keeps it from ranking higher on the list. I feel like it doesn’t know what it wants to be: a club record (see : ABCs) or a more subdued record (see : Fire in Freetown) (well, subdued in beats per minute if not subject matter)? Regardless, it’s still a fine piece of work.
5. Immaculate Machine – High On Jackson Hill
A significant departure from the three pronged Victoria, B.C. band of old, this new ensemble, in which Brooke is now most certainly the central figure and driving force, still manages to bring ferry loads of catchy indie rock. Tunes like “I Only Love You for Your Car” and “Neighbours Don’t Mind” are some of the best pop songs of the year. Although it’s not simply a record of sugary hooks, “And It Was...” and “Destroyer” showcase Kathryn Calder’s lovely voice in full-on heartbreak mode. While I love the new ensemble, here’s hoping Kathryn Calder will have a better year in 2010 (her family had a difficult 2009) and will be back to play with all the new toys in the Immaculate Machine sandbox.
4. Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns
I think only one of the members of this band is actually from rural Alberta, but they still manage to capture that rustic rural feel with a definite urban edge. An indie-electro-pop-alt-country album (seriously difficult to define) filled with both driving urgency (“The Dethbridge in Lethbridge”, “Drain The Blood”) and soft melancholy numbers (“Don’t Haunt This Place”, “In the Summertime”). Anything you read about this album will bring up comparisons to Neutral Milk Hotel, with which I agree, but this is by no means to insinuate that Hometowns is simply derivative. They capture a feeling all their own with their blend of synthesizers and more traditional alt-country fixings.
3. Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport
From the moment I pressed play, I fell in love with this exceptional electronica. It sucks you in. Slow beats build speed gradually bringing you to a satisfying peak, yet somehow continues marching on, making you feel like the songs are constantly driving forward. It’s also the little things too, that add depth to every song. For instance the marching drums during “The Lisbon Maru”, add an air of imposing doom. Standouts: “Surf Solar”, “Rough Steez”, “Space Mountain”...oh hell, the entire thing, it’s only 7 songs long.
2. Japandroids – Post-Nothing
Damn ulcers. I was SO pumped to see these guys play at the Townehouse in April. Until, of course, one of the guys had to have surgery because of an ulcer, the day before the show; this on the day Post-Nothing received an 8.3 from Pitchfork. Oh well. What I’m left with instead is memories of listening to this album while banging my head and exercising at the gym; on listening to the furious drums while bobbing and running around on my way home from school; of daydreaming about making out with some French girls in France; on becoming teary-eyed when I realized that I too, used to dream, but now simply worry about dying and that I’d much rather “just worry about those sunshine girls.” This album is heart-pounding, head-bang inducing, and a stellar example of what a rock record should be: all this from just two guys.
1. Clues – Clues
It took me a few dozen listens to really get into this album, but once I did, it stayed in rotation for most of the year, and I think it will for many years to come. Formed by half of the Unicorns and the ex-drummer from Arcade Fire, Clues is an indie-rock band that is not shy to try out new sounds and go for broke on incredible climaxes. I can count at least five moments on the record that I usually yell out “this is my favourite moment in music this year!” (1) at 2:17 in the opener “Haarp”, when the guitar stands alone and (2) at 2:30ish in “Remembered severed heads”, there is a quiet moment that leads into the build up that eventually opens the floodgates for the band to smash on their instruments leading into my favourite track on the album “Approach the Throne” with the fantastically creepy “Na na na, na na na”s which has the awesome breakdown at 3:19 where the drummer seems to just be hitting any metal object in the vicinity and (3) 2:05 in “You Have My Eyes Now”, a release from a fantastic build up “Wooooah!” (4) at 2:25 in Cave Mouth, the most fucked up guitar playing in 2009, out of tune and loving it (5) my favourite of these favourites, the climax of the album at 2:13 of “Ledmonton”, for the next couple of minutes the band lets it all hang out. I head bang every single time I hear it. The soft denouement, “Let’s Get Strong” is like a cigarette after great sex (well, I assume, seeing as I neither smoke, nor have sex.) Fucking Awesome.
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| Eternal Sunshine
- Clementine: This is it, Joel. It's going to be gone soon.
- Joel: I know.
- Clementine: What do we do?
- Joel: Enjoy it.
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| The Odds
I dated a woman four years ago.
She broke up with me by email a month after we had began dating.
I found out she was cheating on her fiance with me (I had no idea).
And then she got married, and I never heard from her again.
Today I just got an email from what I assume is a virus...from her account.
Odd world we live in.
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| Top 35 Albums : Part 2, #20 - #11
20. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
This record was the source of many a head bang. Josh Homme + Dave Grohl + John Paul Jones = Epic Rock. Supergroups have such a tendency to fail that I had no expectations going in. After the first listen, I decided they had succeeded were so many others had failed before. This is a fantastic album that is not just the sum of its parts. You can feel that these “Gods of Rock” really wanted to make a record that stood on its own and not simply recreated what they had done before, which isn’t to say quite a few of the songs seem to be kneeling at the altar of Led Zepplin. Standouts : “Gunman”, “No One Loves Me & Neither do I”, “New Fang” and “Elephant”
19. Pink Mountaintops – Outside Love
With distorted, lumbering, yet somehow sugary opener “Axis : Thrones of Love”, Pink Mountaintops begin what is an exercise in contradictions. This album is full of gritty and raw noise, matched with elegant sounds that produce fantastic results. Standouts : “Vampire” and “Holiday.”
18. The Hood Internet – The Mixtape Volume Four
These guys continue to pump out the best mash-ups on the internet. Their blend of hip-hop and indie rock has been imitated but never duplicated. This mix proves just how clever they can be. Standouts : “Good Ol’ Fashioned Rump Shaker” – Beastie Boys vs. Matt & Kim, “Save Me Concubine” – Ghostface Killah vs. Beirut, “Two Weeks of Hip Hop” – Dead Prez vs. Grizzly Bear
17. Moby – Wait for Me
Moby’s best since Play. A return to form that shocked me with its darkness (ex: “Shot through the back of the head”). A stunningly beautiful record. Other stand outs : “Mistake” and “Pale Horses”.
16. Meatdraw – Fin du Monophone
Upbeat concept album about surviving the end of the world. Oddly happy for such a subject matter. It’s kind of like a cheerful, danceable, folk album with horns...about Armageddon. Standout tracks : “Are We Gonna Die?”, “Crazy”, “Old World”.
15. Dead Man’s Bones – My Body’s A Zombie For You/Dead Man’s Bones
First is the Halloween themed EP and second was the full length. Both are surpringly great records from Ryan Gosling and company. With a name like Dead Man’s Bones the songs are fittingly quite chilling: particularly the children’s choir that pops up throughout. That being said, I feel like the full length takes out a lot of the raw feeling that I really enjoyed on the EP, especially on “In the Room Where You Sleep”. Check out the original on the EP. Standouts : “My Body’s A Zombie For You”, “Pa Pa Power” and “In the Room Where You Sleep”.
14. The Coward & The Pelican – Silhouette EP
They deserve to be on the list simply because when I ordered their EP from their website, they sent me a hand written note thanking me for my support. That and their music is lovely. At some points the main singer ventures into Spencer Krug “singing” territory, which actually turns out pretty well. I expect big things from them. Standouts: “Lets Dress Up”, “Under the Plum Tree”.
13. Jenn Grant – Echoes
Sweet voice, sweet lyrics, sweet sounds. This record is sweet, sometimes heartbreaking, but always sweet. Standout tracks : “Blue Mountains”, “Sailing Silver Ships”, “Heartbreaker”
12. Julie Doiron – I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
As I’ve said before, I’m developing an indie-crush on Julie Doiron. This album just cements her title as queen of indie-rock. Standouts : “Consolation Prize”, “Borrowed Minivans”, “Spill Yer Lungs” and “Heavy Snow”.
11. The Decemberists – Hazards of Love
When this concept was first announced, many people just didn’t know what to make of it. Coming out after the successful The Crane Wife, it had gigantic expectations to live up to. So what did The Decemberists do? They wrote a folk-rock opera. Sure, the songs don’t work all that well when they’re taken out of the whole, but as an album, this thing is epic. I have to admit that I wasn’t as sold on the concept until I actually saw the band play it live and saw the separation between the different characters. When played from beginning to end, it makes up what was my favourite concert of 2009.
Next week : The Top Ten!
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| Top 35 Albums : #35 to #21
Welcome to this year's edition of "Pat's Top Albums". I usually do a much shorter list type deal (last year and the year before I put up album artwork). This year, I began writing a list as an email for a friend from Sweden (hey Anna!) but realized that I was putting so much effort into it, it would be terrible not to share. Last week was my favorite discoveries of 2008, this week we have my favorite albums of 2009 : part 1.
Tentative schedule :
Next week : Part 2, #20 to #11
Week after : Part 3, #10 to 1
Week after : Part 4, Top 50 songs
Week after : Part 5, Year in Review
Here we go!
35. Cuff the Duke – The Way Down Here
Excellent example of Canadian alt-Country. It’s Cuff the Duke, expect anything less? Standout tracks : “Promises” and “Listen to Your Heart”.
34. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
More electronic departure for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs still manages to be catchy and exciting. Standout tracks : “Heads Will Roll” and “Zero”.
33. Ohbijou – Beacons
Lovely voice, lovely instrumentation, all around : lovely. Standout tracks : “Black Ice” and “Wildfires”.
32. K-Os – Yes!
I was surprised I enjoyed this album as much as I did. Great collaborations, really great beats, an all around solid effort from the guy that brought you “Crabbuckit”. Standout tracks : “4, 3, 2, 1”, “I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman” and “Uptown Girl”
31. Ox – Burnout
Mark Browning’s latest offering sets a fantastically chill “morning after a long party” feeling. I’m really impressed with this record and look forward to the hints I’ve heard of a full length coming soon. Standout tracks : “Burnout” and “Urban Legend”
30. Beirut – Realpeople Holland
The synth is certainly different from the usually orchestral Beirut, but it really works here. Still the same Zach Condon wail, still the same charming lyrics. I quite like the accordion (?) on The Concubine which was used to great effect on the Hood Internet mash up with Ghostface Killah. Standout tracks : “My Night with the Prostitute from Marseille” and “The Concubine”
29. Hidden Cameras – Origins : Orphan
This album has a darker mood than the others and the songs simply feel huge. Standouts: “Walk On”, “He Falls to Me”, “Ratify the New”.
28. Patton Oswalt – My Weakness is Strong
Not music, but this record was my favourite comedy album of the year. Absolutely hilarious. His description of walking in on an orgy on the morning after...wow.
27. Winter Gloves – Factories
Another one of those dance rock indie bands that seem to be popping up everywhere or that I just haven’t noticed before (like Creature and Hexes & Ohs). I really enjoy the fun they seem to be having with all sorts of sounds and instruments on songs like “Party People”. That being said, they do have some more sombre yet sweeping songs like “I Can’t Tell You” and Great album. Other standout tracks : “About a Girl”, “Invisible” and “Factories”
26. Shout Out Out Out Out – Reintegration Time
I don’t even know how to describe this album : electro-house-indie-rock? At any rate, songs like “Run”, “In the End, It’s Your Friends” and “Remind me in Dark Times”, helped me keep my heart pumping at the gym.
25. Passion Pit – Manners
An album that was a long time coming (I had “Sleepyhead” stuck in my head last year as a result of a holiday PSP commercial). This electro-pop record is simply fun and sweet. Standouts : “Sleepyhead” and “Little Secrets”.
24. Mando Diao – Give Me Fire
A great example of danceable rock, kind of reminiscent of The Hives. The one-two punch of “Dance with Somebody” and “Gloria” alone, pushed the album onto this list.
23. Flight of the Conchords – I Told You I Was Freaky
As I’ve said here before, not AS good as their first, but still brimming with funny and fun tunes. Standouts: “Carol Brown”, “Sugalumps” and “Rambling through the avenues of time.”
22. Metric – Fantasies
Metric’s most accessible album to date, songs like “Gimme Sympathy” and “Help I’m Alive” would get stuck in your head even hours after listening.
21 Racoons – Islomania
I was going to try to describe this new band from Victoria, B.C. but I think their last.fm page does it well : “It’s difficult to nail down The Racoons. Picture a band that can reconcile a love for Joy Division, Bruce Springsteen and The Cars. Now picture a second band that sounds like Frank Zappa, David Caruso and Animal from the Muppets. Now picture a cover band of the second band mentioned. Now picture a rival cover band of the first cover band who aren’t quite as talented and generally refer to themselves as a tribute band. The Racoons are that band.” Err, yeah. Standout tracks : “Islomania”, “Tangiers” and “No, it meant nothing”.
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