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I had high hopes for 2009. What can I say? Each year since 2006 simply outdid the previous year. And it’s been exciting. You know, you’ve had all these young artists, most of whom don’t fall into any of the retro cliches that defined the earlier part of the decade, finally using their influences of the past to create something refreshingly original and timeless all at the same time: Nicole Atkins, Vampire Weekend, The Raveonettes, The Kills, The Pierces, The Fratellis, The Pipettes, The Virgins (notice all the “The” bands?). Even mainstream artists like Outkast, Gnarls Barkley and, dare I say, Christina Aguilera were getting it done.
So what’s the verdict in 2009? Not so good–and that’s not to take anything away from any of the artists who made my list. It’s just that last year, I had to strive to whittle it down to 10 albums. And then there were 10 honorable mentions. To be fair, I came home from Paste magazine with about 300 CDs, most of which I haven’t listened to, so there may be a few hidden gems I’ve yet to discover. Perhaps I missed something; feel free to call me out.
The rules: no compilations, reissues or EPs. Had to be an original full-length album released this calendar year, either in the U.S. or overseas.
So here’s what I scrounged up, with a few honorable mentions:
10. Hotel St. George – City Boy Lemon
I feel bad because I’ve been following this San Diego quartet the past year and a half. They weren’t eligible for my 2008 albums because they’d only released a couple EPs, but this year, they actually had an album… and I almost forgot about them while compiling this list! Enough prologue. On the surface, it’s in-your-face power-pop fueled by frontman Matt Binder’s snotty vocals. But listen closer and you quickly discover these guys actually have great discipline when it comes to musical ability and song structure while never compromising the immediacy the modern music-listener demands. (Read my full review at Saw*Kick here.)
9. The Felice Brothers – Yonder is the Clock
The legendary Doug Hite calls them carpetbaggers. And yeah, they were definitely upstaged by opener Justin Townes Earle at the 2008 Kent State Folk Festival. But on tape, the boys from the Catskill Mountains rarely hit a bad note. It’s tough to say if Yonder is the Clock tops the 2008 self-titled record, but some of these songs are more distinguishable and rowdy, at times borderlining all-out rock more than the folky vagabond image they’ve created for themselves. (See my video review at Paste here.)
The Felice Brothers on MySpace
8. Paleface – The Show is on the Road
Once a troubled anti-folk pioneer of the early ’90s mentored by famed Ramones manager Danny Fields, Paleface has come a long way from his alcohol-related problems that nearly killed him a decade ago. Relocated from NYC to N.C. and reformed as a duo with his lovely girlfriend, Mo Samalot, the singer/songwriter has created a stripped-down yet atmospheric collection of songs. In his own words to me: “It’s a nice little record, and we had fun making it. It’s not gonna tear down the walls and make a million dollars and whatever.” No, but it sure does get stuck in your head. (Read my full interview with the duo at Paste here.)
7. The Von Bondies – Love Hate and Then There’s You
All I can say is FINALLY! I’ve been waiting for this album since 2004′s Pawn Shoppe Heart. And while a five-year wait couldn’t yield something better than that record or 2001′s Lack of Communication, I got over that really quick when I could blast tracks like “Pale Bride” and the boppin’ “Accidents Will Happen” (not a cover of the brilliant Elvis Costello song) out my car window. It’s not groundbreaking. I probably won’t like it 10 years from now. But it provided me a burst of enjoyment when I needed some loud music. So kill me.
6. The Peekers – Life in the Air
Ever hear a band you really enjoy but have trouble describing them in a conversation? I’m having that problem right now, and I have the luxury of sitting here, thinking through each word I type. Words that come to me while listening to The Peekers: The Beatles, The Beach Boys, soulful, carefree, cabaret… cute? I don’t know, I took a stab at it earlier this year when I volunteered to write a blurb for the album at Paste. I think that came out a lot better. Read it here.
5. The Raveonettes – In and Out of Control
What a difference a year makes. Indisputably my #1 artist of 2008 with a perfect album in Lust Lust Lust, the Danish duo barely cracks my top five of 2009. But there’s something to be said about Sune Rose Wagner’s sense of urgency and tenacity to craft the perfect pop album. After the noise machine that was Lust, Wagner set out to create something more hurried, more polished, more mainstream. He succeeded–without sacrificing the fuzzed-out guitars, I might add. It’s an interesting effort, kind of summing up the dilemma with which the Raveonettes are continually faced: mainstream success or obscurity? When they’re putting out music this good this often, the better question is, “Who cares?”
4. Weezer – Raditude
Again, what a difference a year makes. While I enjoyed 2008′s Red Album, I felt somewhat slighted that one of my favorite all-time bands couldn’t deliver one of my favorite albums of the year. Needless to say Raditude‘s cover art had me thinking nothing would change in 2009. Boy, was I wrong. Not only is it a more cohesive effort, “(If You’re Wondering if I Want You to) I Want You to” easily joins the Weezer classics catalog. (For me, it almost perfectly described my first real relationship junior year of high school.) A couple of re-recorded tracks from Rivers Cuomo’s last Alone compilation make it to the disc, most notably the heartstrings-pulling album closer, “I Don’t Want to Let You Go.”
3. Gliss – Devotion Implosion
When your team is on the verge of going to the World Series and you can’t watch the gateway game because you’re stuck in some club watching some unknown band switch instruments in between songs, your patience wears thin. That was two years ago. But let me state for the record just how wrong I was that night. I love these guys (and girl). Their sophomore album is a bleak noisy blast of sex and vanity, but underneath all the blankets of reverb, guitars and harmonies is something not heard on their 2007 debut: hope? A deeper emotion? It’s almost like they decided crack open the blinds on a bright sunny day with songs like “Morning Light” and “Beauty.” Yeah, it’s still pretty dark, but a few golden rays have found their way inside. (Read my interview with the trio at Paste here.)
2. Slow Club – Yeah So
A few months ago I saw something interesting on one of the music websites. Either the NME or Blender, I think, but I can’t seem to figure it out. That’s not important. What matters is the cool little video for a simple catchy song called “Trophy Club.” I quickly MySpace friended the British boy-girl duo behind the track and forgot about them–until I saw they were releasing a Christmas EP. Again, I was drawn to the folky popsters playful back-and-forth vocals. The setup is so simple that it gives Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor (my new crush) plenty of room to breathe and build on each others energy. Finally, I ordered the album from Amazon UK, received it this past Saturday and, perhaps unfairly, rushed it to my #2 album of the year. Yeah, it’s that good. Just watch the “It Doesn’t Have to Be Beautiful” video and tell me you’re not in love:
1. Justin Townes Earle – Midnight at the Movies
There’s very little I can say about Justin Townes Earle that I haven’t already said a million times. He’s absolutely electric–electric in the way that he doesn’t even need electricity. In fact, the fewer distractions around him the better. People ask me to describe his sound. “Well, he’s kind of old-school country. Some honky tonk, bop, blues, folk, a little rockabilly…” But no matter how hard I try, my summations never do him justice in conversation. The truth is, he’s simply a great performer. When you see him live, he’s in complete control of every nuance. The audience is his. It doesn’t matter if you went in skeptical. If you walk into a Justin Townes Earle show, you are coming out a fan. It’s that simple. Running just 32 minutes over 12 tracks, this album in particular captures the stripped-down intensity of the live set better than The Good Life with tracks like “They Killed John Henry” and “Halfway to Jackson.” But the true excitement comes in the moment–the being there. The albums are there just to tide you over. (Read my full review at Paste here.)
Justin Townes Earle on MySpace
The Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):
Annabel – Each and Everyone
William Elliott Whitmore – Animals in the Dark
Rancid – Let the Dominoes Fall
Placebo – Battle For the Sun
Cut Off Your Hands – You and I
My Favorite Reissues
Buddy Holly – The Memorial Collection
Buddy Holly – Down the Line: Rarities
The Kills – Keep on Your Mean Side
Albums I Meant to Pick Up But Haven’t… Yet
A Place to Bury Strangers – Exploding Head
The Riverdales – Invasion USA
The Kabeedies – Rumpus
AFI – Crash Love
Albums I’m Looking Forward to in 2010
Both of the new Nicole Atkins records
Magic Wands
…and a slew of other stuff I can’t think of.
Best Find
The Prissteens – Scandal, Controversy & Romance (1998)(took a $1 chance at Criminal Records in Atlanta. Paid off big time. Booya!)
Placebo
A lot has changed with Placebo since its last album, Meds. The band claimed big Stateside success with its rendition of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and appearance on Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution tour. Then, shortly after the tour, it saw the mysterious departure of its longtime drummer Steve Hewitt. People “close” to the situation claimed Hewitt was booted from the band, although a reason never surfaced. The official press release stated the split was mutual, but frontman Brian Moloko in this interview seems to lead on that he and bassist Stefan Olsdal did in fact, give Hewitt the heave-ho. Though again, no official details on either side are known to the public, those in the know say neither Moloko nor Olsdal actually confronted Hewitt, instead having management do the dirty work. Wow.
So with this info in mind, unofficial as it may be, I had a hard time giving a fair listen to the new Placebo record, Battle For the Sun. I’ve been a fan for years, but this apparent shadiness puts a damper on the whole listening experience. The album is good. And when I reviewed it a month back, I did my best to wash away this information while taking it all in. It’s amazing, though, how you can admire a band so much and then just kind of fall out of love with them (i.e. Green Day). Give us the full story, already!
OK, I’m done editorializing. The news. Well, the sixth Placebo record hits stores in the U.S. June 9. But you don’t have to wait until then to hear it. The band is currently streaming the album on its official website. But you need to sign in to hear it, and this isn’t an automatic stream you can just listen to whenever you want. It goes from today until midnight May 31. I’m assuming “midnight” London time, which would be 7 p.m. EST. Anyhow, you can check out all 13 tracks here. Below are the rules of the game, copied and pasted directly from the band’s email:
- You can login to the playback 5 times from 9am on Friday 29th May until midnight Sunday 31st May.
- Each login session allows you to listen to the complete album from start to finish!
- Once the track finishes click the next button to continue to the next song.
- You cannot pause or go back until your next login – so make sure you have time to enjoy the whole album!!
- If you leave your listening session inactive for more than 15 minutes then you will be logged out and will miss out on one of your 5 playbacks!
