Best of 2009 Thread

[Shakespeare In The Alley]

Ok...just when did Jim James become 'Yim Yames' and just what does this represent? A heavy handed attempt at speech impediment humor? (I've seen the George Harrison tribute album...so I know it isn't anything new.)

It's a sort of inside joke with Jim, I think.

 

I bought this, after hearing good things about it:

 

Has this even come close to any of your lists?

How is that? I loved her voice on Neon Neon's album, and she's signed to Gruff Rhys' record label, so there has to be some wonderful talent there. Worth checking out her album?

 

Also, the album won't come out 'till 2010, but the Roots' "How I Got Over" is such an incredible song that I want to throw it out there anyway.

[W(TF)]

Ok...just when did Jim James become 'Yim Yames' and just what does this represent? A heavy handed attempt at speech impediment humor? (I've seen the George Harrison tribute album...so I know it isn't anything new.)

 

I know...it bugs me to rename him too, I just figured I'd respect his right to use a different name which I assumed was for contractual reasons. Kinda like the Wilburys did (?).

 

Speaking of which-- on a few songs they just absolutely NAIL the sequential vocal part thing. Listen to Baby Boomer, it's like a perfect homage to the Traveling Wilburys stuff in a way. And it's gotta be one of the 3-4 best tracks on MOF.

[sethyo25]

the 2009 records I listened to the most...

 

heartless bastards "the mountain"

yeah yeah yeahs "it's blitz"

neko case "middle cyclone"

phoenix "wolfgang amadeus phoenix"

st.vincent "actor"

bat for lashes "two suns"

wilco "wilco(the album)"

pj harvey & john parish "a woman a man walked by"

flaming lips "embryonic"

karen o & the kids "where the wild things are soundtrack"

animal collective "merriweather..."

grizzly bear "veckatimest"

marilyn manson "the high end of low"

[sandyriz]

The ones I loved most in 2009:

 

The Decemberists - Hazards of Love - even flew to Chicago to catch the show live. Incredible.

Imogen Heap - Ellipse - why isn't she named anywhere else?

Wilco (Bull Black Nova and a few of the other tracks - NOT the entire album)

[sandyriz]

Thought of one more...

 

Audra - Everything Changes

[solace]

I saw them at an in-store so I can imagine any good atmosphere being lost, but i think the drum machine, which is a good texture on record, just loses any energy live. It's no fun watching a bored-looking guy push buttons

 

ah... yeah an in-store would def be kinda weird for them. they had the lighting super dark and moody at my show, it definitely added to it. as for a drum machine live... hey also played percussion at our show too, in addition to the drum machine. i do think they'd have been better as a 4-piece before the other member left though.

[largeheartedboy]

My list of favorite albums of 2009:

 

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2009/12/largehearted_bo_4.html

 

My blog's list of "best of 2009" online music lists (updated daily, over 1,400 so far):

 

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2009/10/best_of_the_200.html

[PopTodd]

How is that? I loved her voice on Neon Neon's album, and she's signed to Gruff Rhys' record label, so there has to be some wonderful talent there. Worth checking out her album?

 

I'm still waiting for it to arrive from Amazon. I'll give you the scoop once I give it a listen.

[DrNo]

My top ten:

 

1. Phosphorescent To Willie

 

2. Lee Fields and the Expressions My World

 

3. Justin Townes Earle Midnight at the Movies

 

4. Alela Diane To Be Still

 

5. The Low Anthem Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

 

6. Telegraph Canyon The Tide and The Current

 

7. Teenage Cool Kids Foreign Lands

 

8. Son Volt American Central Dust

 

9. Reigning Sound Love and Curses

 

10.Jim O’ Rourke The Visitor

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

My best of 2009 revolves around what I BOUGHT this year. I discovered some older stuff that most of you guys knew about, but since it was new to me...on the list it goes.

 

I fully understand that some of these are OLDER releases...I don't care. Don't point it out to me. It was new in 2009 to ME.

 

TV ON THE RADIO --- Dear Science

TV ON THE RADIO --- Return to Cookie Mountain

ARCADE FIRE --- Funeral

I was really late to the party on these three...but I find them to live up to the hype.

WILCO --- Wilco

GRIZZLY BEAR --- Veckatimest

PEARL JAM --- Back Spacer

MONSTERS OF FOLK --- Monsters of Folk

THEM CROOKED VULTURES --- Them Crooked Vultures

SON VOLT --- American Central Dust

PATTERSON HOOD --- Murdering Oscar

U2 --- No Line on the Horizon

 

I enjoyed every one of these very much. A lot of you might discover that as you get older your tastes can either solidify or you can remain adventurous. (I am more of the former than the latter). The discretionary cash comes into play also.

[PopTodd]

How is that? I loved her voice on Neon Neon's album, and she's signed to Gruff Rhys' record label, so there has to be some wonderful talent there. Worth checking out her album?

 

I like it a lot. It may be the my second-favorite album of the year (after Cornershop).

 

Reminiscent of a drugged-out Latetia Sadier. Or maybe a more-modern Nico.

[Moss]

My best of 2009 revolves around what I BOUGHT this year. I discovered some older stuff that most of you guys knew about, but since it was new to me...on the list it goes.

 

I fully understand that some of these are OLDER releases...I don't care. Don't point it out to me. It was new in 2009 to ME.

 

TV ON THE RADIO --- Dear Science

TV ON THE RADIO --- Return to Cookie Mountain

ARCADE FIRE --- Funeral

I was really late to the party on these three...but I find them to live up to the hype.

WILCO --- Wilco

GRIZZLY BEAR --- Veckatimest

PEARL JAM --- Back Spacer

MONSTERS OF FOLK --- Monsters of Folk

THEM CROOKED VULTURES --- Them Crooked Vultures

SON VOLT --- American Central Dust

PATTERSON HOOD --- Murdering Oscar

U2 --- No Line on the Horizon

 

I enjoyed every one of these very much. A lot of you might discover that as you get older your tastes can either solidify or you can remain adventurous. (I am more of the former than the latter). The discretionary cash comes into play also.

 

Actually this is a pretty adventurous list if you go by what most people I know listen to.

[Oil Can Boyd]

Glenn Kotche's top 10 (according to Filter Magazine):

 

1. Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

2. Jim O'Rourke - The Visitor

3. Alex Cline - Continuation

4. John Luther Adams - The Place We Began

5. Tortoise - Beacons of Ancestorship

6. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

7. Frank Rosaly - Milkwork

8. Nels Cline - Coward

9. Bobb Bruno - Dreamt On EP

10. Chris Corsano - Another Dull Dawn

[Vacant Horizon]

Glenn Kotche's top 10 (according to Filter Magazine):

 

1. Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

2. Jim O'Rourke - The Visitor

3. Alex Cline - Continuation

4. John Luther Adams - The Place We Began

5. Tortoise - Beacons of Ancestorship

6. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

7. Frank Rosaly - Milkwork

8. Nels Cline - Coward

9. Bobb Bruno - Dreamt On EP

10. Chris Corsano - Another Dull Dawn

 

No W(TA)? mmmm. not even On Filmore

[augurus]

No W(TA)? mmmm. not even On Filmore

Glenn Kotche is not Kanye West, Brandon Flowers, Liam Gallagher, nor Clipse.

[tinnitus photography]

Glenn Kotche's top 10 (according to Filter Magazine):

 

1. Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

2. Jim O'Rourke - The Visitor

3. Alex Cline - Continuation

4. John Luther Adams - The Place We Began

5. Tortoise - Beacons of Ancestorship

6. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

7. Frank Rosaly - Milkwork

8. Nels Cline - Coward

9. Bobb Bruno - Dreamt On EP

10. Chris Corsano - Another Dull Dawn

 

i've seen Chris Corsano twice this year (once w/ Six Organs of Admittance, once as half of the Flower/Corsano Duo) and he's a fantastic drummer.

[solace]

looking back on my EOY lists trying to come up with my fave albums of the 00's... 2009 might be my least favorite year for new music :-/

 

i don't think a single album on my list this year will make my top 50 of the 00's even.

 

a lot of very good records, but no real amazing albums for me.

[bleedorange]

looking back on my EOY lists trying to come up with my fave albums of the 00's... 2009 might be my least favorite year for new music :-/

 

i don't think a single album on my list this year will make my top 50 of the 00's even.

 

a lot of very good records, but no real amazing albums for me.

 

Almost just the opposite for me. I thought this year was great: Merriweather Post Pavilion, The xx, Bitte Orca, Jewellry, The Love Language, A Brief History of Love, It's Frightening...all those would probably make my top 100 list somewhere, if I can ever find the time to put it together.

 

I thought it was an excellent year.

[solace]

it wasn't BAD, just not a single album that i'd score a 9+ for is all.

 

best years of the 00's for me: 2002, 2004, 2003, 2007, 2001... lower end 2000, 2006, 2005, 2008, 2009

[MattZ]

You know, I've got to admit that out of nowhere, American Central Dust probably became my most played album of the year. I found it paralyzingly boring for the first few spins. But for some reason, I kept coming back to it. And now it's like this slow burning groove. Nothing mindblowing. Just really solid, and really hits the that one spot that I didn't know I had.

 

other stuff I liked/loved this year (not big into rankings or lists):

 

Bill Callahan

Yo La Tengo

Bob Pollard

Jim O'Rourke

Califone

Bonnie Prince

Wilco

Eels

Bobby Zimmerman

Everything else that I am forgetting

[cryptique]

MAGNET weighs in...

[Nobody Girl]

1. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

 

2. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

 

3. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - s/t

 

4. Obits - I Blame You

 

5. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

 

6. Elvis Perkins in Dearland - s/t

 

7. Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

 

8. Them Crooked Vultures - s/t

 

9. Bowerbirds - Upper Air

 

10. Regina Spektor - Far

 

11. Grant Lee Phillips - Little Moon

[owl]

Here's Owl and Bear's list: http://www.owlandbear.com/download/owl-and-bear’s-best-albums-of-2009

[Shakespeare In The Alley]

My top five would probably go as follows:

 

Dar Days/Light Years - Super Furry Animals

Dark Night Of The Soul - Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse

Them Crooked Vultures

Further Complications - Jarvis Cocker

Journal For Plague Lovers - Manic Street Preachers

 

W(TA), Lotusflower, Phrazes for the Young, Together Through Life and Blakroc would probably round out the top ten. But honestly, those may have been the only new albums I listened to this year. I got really into jazz this year, so that was a lot of my new discoveries.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

Here's Owl and Bear's list: http://www.owlandbear.com/download/owl-and-bear’s-best-albums-of-2009

 

Seeing you guys had Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros as your number one made me smile. Home is the most infectiously upbeat and charming song that I have heard in years. These guys seem like they are really enjoying what they do.