Best of 2009 Thread

[deepseacatfish]

I listened to Phil Collins during 2009, true story.

[Moss]

Mojo has their top 2009 list out. No surprise Animal Collective is #1. Some interesting choices though:

 

They actually list the top 50 but I can't find them on the website so here is the top 15:

 

1. Animal Collective - Merriweather post pavillion

2. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I wish we were an eagle

3. Richard Hawley - Truelove's gutter

4. The Horrors - Primary Colours

5. Tinariwen - Imidiwan: Companions

6. Bob Dylan - Together through Life

7. Florence and the Machine - Lungs

8. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport

9. Madness - The liberty of Norton Folgate

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

11. The Cribs - Ignore the ignorant

12. The Low Anthem - Oh my god, Charlie Darwin

13. Grizzly bear - Veckatimest

14. Mayer Hawthorne - A strange arrangement

15. Kasabian - The west rider pauper lunatic asylum

 

Something tells me this is quite a bit different than what Rolling Stone will pick.

[augurus]

Worst of 2009 – Albums that I just couldn’t love, even though I wanted to.

The Decemberist – The Hazards of Love

Oh, thank you!

 

I thought I was the only one.

[tinnitus photography]

Mojo has their top 2009 list out. No surprise Animal Collective is #1. Some interesting choices though:

 

They actually list the top 50 but I can't find them on the website so here is the top 15:

 

1. Animal Collective - Merriweather post pavillion

2. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I wish we were an eagle

3. Richard Hawley - Truelove's gutter

4. The Horrors - Primary Colours

5. Tinariwen - Imidiwan: Companions

6. Bob Dylan - Together through Life

7. Florence and the Machine - Lungs

8. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport

9. Madness - The liberty of Norton Folgate

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

11. The Cribs - Ignore the ignorant

12. The Low Anthem - Oh my god, Charlie Darwin

13. Grizzly bear - Veckatimest

14. Mayer Hawthorne - A strange arrangement

15. Kasabian - The west rider pauper lunatic asylum

 

Something tells me this is quite a bit different than what Rolling Stone will pick.

 

My list shares exactly one choice w/ Mojo's, and it's at the same position (#2).

[intodeep]

1. Baroness-Blue Record

2. Mastodon- Crack the Skye

3. Grizzly Bear- Veckatimist

4. Neko Case- Middle Cyclone

5. Roman Candle- Oh Tall Tree in the Ear

6. Phoenix- Wolfgang Amedeus

7. Built to Spill- There is no enemy

8. Flaming Lips- Embryonic

9. Cymbals Eat Guitars- Why they are Mountains

 

 

Worst Album of the year- Neil Young- Fork in the Road.....

[brianjeremy]

Oh, thank you!

 

I thought I was the only one.

 

 

You are not alone! That album felt like the very definition of pretension and pompous through and through. Some songs are alright but none are that great. Bloated and void of interest.

[solace]

The Decemberists annoy me SO much these days it's not even funny.

[brianjeremy]

They annoy me too nowadays. Every time they pop up on the random mode on i-tunes, I switch it. I am just not down with them like I used to be. I love their second and third album but could pretty much live without another album from them for the rest of my life.

[anthony]

My top five of the year.

 

1. Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

 

This was a "grower" for me. Didn't like it the first couple spins, but has since won me over.

 

2. Iron and Wine - Around The Well

 

I know, I know: cheating to put a collection like this the year end list. But it is so damn good.

 

3. Wilco - Wilco (the Album)

 

What can I say that has not already been said about this record on this board?

 

4. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

 

Neko is always a welcome breath of fresh air. This one is no different.

 

 

5. Andrew Bird-Noble Beast/Useless Creatures

 

Not my favorite AB record, but it has its moments.

[Wild Frank]

A pretty good year for new music. My favourites have been:

 

1) Jason Lyttle - Yours Truly, The Commuter (Does anyuone else love this one?)

2) Black Crowes - Before The Frost...Until The Freeze (Very pleasant surprise)

3) Marillion - Less Is More (Still a great band and this is a beautifully stripped down record)

4) Various - Dark Was The Night (A great compilation. Disc one was perfect)

5) Sparklehorse - Dark night Of The Soul (Is this missing off official lists because it wasn't officially released?)

6) Decemberists - Hazards Of Love (I totally understand the negative comments above...but I love it)

7) M. Ward - Hold Time (Not his best but better than most other releases this year)

8 Archive - Controlling Crowds (Undervalued UK band. Check out 'Bullets' for one of the best tunes of 2009)

9) Eels - Hombre Lobo (Good rockin stuff. Looking forward the the new record)

10) Grant-Lee Phillips - Little Bird (Criminally overlooked. Just a great album)

 

Thats it. Not sure where W(TA) would come in. Its starting to grow on me. I would have probably heard more new stuff this year if Neil Young hadn't released Archives Vol. 1, which has taken up three or four months of my life. The Genesis re-issues have also taken up valuable listening and viewing time.

 

Nostalgic moment of the year: Listening to Genesis 'Invisible Touch' for the first time in years. It was the first record I ever bought and, although it doesn't get much love, I really enjoyed hearing it again in remastered glory. Its a great 'pop' record and I forget how many songs off that record were singles. I think six out of eight songs were released and did well in the charts.

[myboyblue]

10) Grant-Lee Phillips - Little Bird (Criminally overlooked. Just a great album)

 

I keep meaning to pick this up. I love GLP/GLB...it seems to scratch an itch that I just can't get to with other tunes at times.

[Wild Frank]

I keep meaning to pick this up. I love GLP/GLB...it seems to scratch an itch that I just can't get to with other tunes at times.

I'm the same. For information this is one of his finest solo efforts so I would definately recommend it. The track 'Hidden Tresure' is as good as anything he has written. His finest work, in my opinion, is found on 'Mighty Joe Moon' which is such a good record. Tracks like 'Mockingbirds' and 'Honey Don't Think' are classics.

[solace]

as final as it's probably ever going to be (i'm sure i'll discover some album in a month or two from this year that i love, always happens, oh well)

 

i think the most surprising thing is, if you'd told me last January that some of my fave artists (mostly Andrew Bird, M. Ward, Neko Case, Wilco, Doves, Thermals, etc., and to a lesser extent Avett Bros.) new albums from 2009 wouldn't be in my top 40-50 at the end of the year, i wouldn't have believed you.

 

 

1. Handsome Furs - Face Control
   
2. Megafaun - Gather, Form, & Fly
   
3. The Antlers - Hospice
   
4. Why? - Eskimo Snow
   
5. Akron/Family - Set 'em Wild, Set 'em Free
   
6. Built To Spill - There Is No Enemy
   
7. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
   
8. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
   
9. Fanfarlo - Reservoir
   
10. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - S/T
    
11. Andrew Bird - Useless Creatures
    
12. Lou Barlow - Goodnight Unknown
    
13. Obits - I Blame You
    
14. Brakes - Touchdown
    
15. Reigning Sound - Love and Curses
    
16. Lookbook - Wild At Heart
    
17. The XX - The XX
    
18. Passion Pit - Manners
    
19. Ramona Falls - Intuit
    
20. Liam Finn & Eliza Jane - Champagne In Seashells
    
21. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
    
22. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
    
23. P.O.S. - Never Better
    
24. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
    
25. Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
    
26. Twilight Sad - Forget The Night Ahead
    
27. The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love
    
28. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
    
29. Cass McCombs - Catacombs
    
30. Red Cortez - Hands To The Wall EP
    
31. Strand of Oaks - Leave Ruin
    
32. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
    
33. Riceboy Sleeps - Riceboy Sleeps
    
34. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
    
35. Brother Ali - Us
    
36. We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls
    
37. The Evening Rig - Is Doin' Stuff
    
38. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle
    
39. Mark Olson & Gary Louris - Ready For The Flood
    
40. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm
    
41. Real Estate - Real Estate
    
42. Sonic Youth - The Eternal
    
43. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes of The Young
    
44. Patterson Hood - Murdering Oscar (and Other Love Songs)
    
45. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
    
46. Metric - Fantasies
    
47. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
    
48. Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
    
49. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
    
50. The Wooden Birds - Magnolia
    

honorable mentions:

 

Doves - Kingdom of Rust

The Thermals - Now We Can See

A Sunny Day In Glasgow - Ashes Grammar

Japandroids – Post-Nothing

Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains

Mos Def - The Ecstatic

Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter

Deer Tick - Born On Flag Day

William Elliott Whitmore - Angels In The Dark

Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

Mason Jennings - Blood of Man

Brendan Benson - My Old, Familiar Friend

Langhorne Slim - Be Set Free

Heartless Bastards - The Mountain

M. Ward - Hold Time

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Elvis Perkins - Elvis Perkins In Dearland

Dent May - The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele

White Rabbits - It's Frightening

[myboyblue]

 

 

[*]Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid

[*]Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

 

 

Surprised/shocked to see these so low in your top 50.

 

 

 

[*]Lucero - 1372 Overton Park

[*]The Evening Rig - Is Doin' Stuff

[Synthesizer Patel]

16 of my favourites

 

01 Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

02 Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

03 The Fiery Furnaces - I'm Going Away

04 Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

05 Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Dark Night Of The Soul

06 Cornershop - Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast

07 Various - Dark Was The Night

08 Espers - III

09 Portugal The Man - The Satanic Satanist

10 The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa [EDIT: I Forgot This, For Some Reason]

11 Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

12 Super Furry Animals - Dark Days/Light Years

13 Woods - Songs Of Shame

14 Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle

15 David Rawlings Machine - A Friend Of A Friend

16 Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications

 

2 of my least favourites

01 Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

02 Bob Dylan - Together Through Life

 

(I only mention those 2 cos they both contain 2 of my favourite songs of the year - I Feel A Change Comin' On & I'll Fight - but the rest of the album, on both counts, I can't even really stand listening to)

[solace]

Surprised/shocked to see these so low in your top 50.

 

it's a f'n great record, but i honestly i only LOVE 3 songs on Keep It Hid (but 2 of those are some of my fave songs of the year), and i know some people like it more than most Keys records, but for me i just don't enjoy it quite as much. it didn't help that it came after my favorite Keys album to date either.

 

now the live show for the record... WAY better than any Keys show i've seen

 

as for Isbell... i dig it a lot too. not as much as the debut, but that one wasn't super high on my list that year either. i feel like while he's put out 2 very solid records, he can still do way better (as witnessed by the songs he wrote w/ the Truckers)

[solace]

 

2 of my least favourites

01 Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

02 Bob Dylan - Together Through Life

 

(I only mention those 2 cos they both contain 2 of my favourite songs of the year - I Feel A Change Comin' On & I'll Fight - but the rest of the album, on both counts, I can't even really stand listening to)

funny thing about the latest Dylan... i enjoyed it quite a bit at first (as i'm sure i probably said somewhere on here), but i had little to no desire to revisit it at the end of this year, thus why it didn't get a mention from me.

 

as for WTA, i don't hate it, but obviously i didn't care for it enough to mention it either... in fact i forgot it even came out in 2009

 

but if those 2 are truly your least favorite albums, curious how many records you heard??

[Synthesizer Patel]

funny thing about the latest Dylan... i enjoyed it quite a bit at first (as i'm sure i probably said somewhere on here), but i had little to no desire to revisit it at the end of this year, thus why it didn't get a mention from me.

 

as for WTA, i don't hate it, but obviously i didn't care for it enough to mention it either... in fact i forgot it even came out in 2009

 

but if those 2 are truly your least favorite albums, curious how many records you heard??

 

i've not really heard that much to be honest. i think this has been one of the least interesting years - certainly for finding anything completely new to me that i've enjoyed. got loads of old music, though, as usual! when i say least favourite it's because i'd expect to like them, but i kind of find myself hating them; whereas other albums that i don't like this year i wasn't expecting to like in the first place.

[Lammycat]

 

Worst Album that I heard this year:

three way tie

Bonnie Prince Billy - Beware/ Son Volt - American Central Dust/ Steve Earle - Townes

 

I don't listen to that first guy but the last two I thought were excellent. Particulalrly Townes. It fact, it's my favorite of the past year. Liked I and Love and You.

[solace]

i've not really heard that much to be honest. i think this has been one of the least interesting years - certainly for finding anything completely new to me that i've enjoyed. got loads of old music, though, as usual! when i say least favourite it's because i'd expect to like them, but i kind of find myself hating them; whereas other albums that i don't like this year i wasn't expecting to like in the first place.

gotcha.

 

cuz i was like... i can certainly recommend you worse albums than those two to hear

[Moss]

I keep meaning to pick this up. I love GLP/GLB...it seems to scratch an itch that I just can't get to with other tunes at times.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I remember hearing it was coming out and then I forgot all about it as I never heard anything. Looking forward to hearing it.

[Wild Frank]

I Love 'I Feel A Change Comin' On'. It contain's my favourite lyric of the year: "You are as Whorish As Ever". Great line Bob.

[bleedorange]

Nice to see Face Control that high. That album has certainly flown under the radar.

[solace]

Nice to see Face Control that high. That album has certainly flown under the radar.

it's certainly not a record i would have expected to love so much... as i was so-so on Plague Park (it eventually grew on me a lot), but at the end of the day, the album from 2009 that gets me the most excited and amped up and that I enjoy most all the way through is def that one.

 

doesn't hurt that Dan Boeckner has the quintessential rock voice for me either.

[Maggie]

I've done my best to pick the albums I genuinely enjoyed and listened to the most, rather than choosing the albums I think I should like.

 

Top 20, pretty much in order:

 

1. Magnolia Electric Co. - Josepthine
   
2. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
   
3. Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard - One Fast Move or I'm Gone
   
4. Son Volt - American Central Dust
   
5. Califone - All My Friends are Funeral Singers
   
6. M. Ward - Hold Time
   
7. The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (I think this is technically a re-release, but it's new to me)
   
8. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - S/T
   
9. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
   
10. Mark Olson & Gary Louris - Ready for the Flood
    
11. Vetiver - Tight Knight
    
12. Monsters of Folk - S/T
    
13. St. Vincent - Actor
    
14. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
    
15. Andrew Brid - Noble Beast/Useless Creatures
    
16. Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
    
17. Wilco - Wilco (the album)
    
18. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
    
19. Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
    
20. Patterson Hood - Murdering Oscar
    

 

Worst purchase of the year:

 

Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted to Sin (I had to buy it based on my teenage obsession with her years ago)