(Sorry about the delay for the last 5--went through an internet dry spell :-/)
Let me share some feelings. As 2009 comes to a close, I have to be honest and say that, though filled with some totes awesome jams, when compared to 2008 this year was a little thin. Last year was filled out with huge acts and big-deal albums, but 2009 lacked that fanfare. But I suppose that's to be expected. And, it's not like there wasn't anything to get excited about this year, there was a lot. Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Miley dominated the pop world, Phoenix came out of nowhere and are the biggest French act the world has seen in a while (sorry, the biggest French act that's not Daft Punk), Lily Allen and Regina Spektor released stunning followup bids, and newcomers Florence and the Machine and Marina and the Diamonds made an memorable first impression. In fact, 2009 was a good year for women in music, and definitely left enough space for bands to emerge that may have been crowded out otherwise. So, this year, now that I've thought about it--not so bad after all. And here's the best of the best:
40. “I’m On A Boat” (ft. T-Pain) – The Lonely Island – IncredibadNot since “Chocolate Salty Balls” has a comedy record been so popular. Beyond ridiculous and beyond fun.
39. “Happy Up Here” – Röyksopp – JuniorDespite the average album it came from, “Happy Up Here” gave Scandinavian Royksopp that modern, electro edge. The video is geek-chic awesome too.
38. “Whatcha Say” (ft. Imogen Heap) – Jason DeruloNewcomer Jason DeRulo proves that you can’t really go wrong remixing a beloved Imogen Heap classic.
37. “Stranger” – Noah and the Whale – The First Days of SpringThe First Days of Srping saw Noah and the Whale break away from the happy-go-luckiness of “5 Years Time” to something of genuine substance.
36. “Lovegame” – Lady Gaga – The FameThe general public has been literally bombarded with Gaga. “Lovegame” is just one of the many suitably silly, pop-debaucheries that made 2009 this Lady’s year.
35. “The South Sound” – British Sea Power – Man of AranBritish Sea Power’s Man of Aran went somewhat unnoticed this summer, but the eleven minute “The South Sound” captures the big imagination of this Brighton band.
34. “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Glee, The Music: Volume 12009 was the year to be obsessed with Glee. The unbelievably popular TV show garnered it’s strong, devoted audience with excellent renditions of hits past and present.
33. “Audacity of Huge” – Simian Mobile Disco – Temporary PleasureSimian Mobile Disco came back strong this year with Temporary Pleasure bouncing around the college radio charts (well, maybe “strong” was a little strong). The materialist satire “Audacity of Huge” perhaps being the best the album has to offer.
32. “Microphone” – Coconut Records – DavyJason Schwartzman’s Coconut Records released their sophomore album Davy in January—and it’s an indie delight. It’s almost as if an actor didn’t record it…
31. “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” – Matt & Kim – GrandMatt & Kim’s “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” is a simple, sing along delight, just as worthy as “Daylight” to be on any year’s-end countdown.
Best Song Of 2008 That I Only Found Out About This Year...If only I'd known about Jax Panik's "Talking to Myself" this time last year, I would have definitely made some room for this electro-pop pleasure in my Best Of list for last year. But, oh well. Panik is relatively unknown outside of his native South Africa which is probably a good thing because he's kinda of super weird as
this YouTube movie will attest to. Nevertheless, "Talking to Myself"--great track--and the next album, coming is March of next year should be something to look forward to.
30. “Work All Day” – Portugal. The Man – The Satanic SatanistAlaskan trio Portugal. The Man’s fourth studio album
The Satanic Satanist deliver’s artful basement-chatter jams, like this, “Work All Day,” which, I think, is about friendship… Or drugs.
29. “Shangri-La” – M. Ward – Hold TimeLong before She & Him and Monsters of Folk (well, a little before) it was just M. Ward. “Shangri-La” is a lo-fi, folksy throwback to another era, y’know, an era with locomotives and whatnot.
28. “People Got A Lotta Nerve” – Neko Case – Middle CycloneMiddle Cyclone saw alt. country cougar Neko Case rise to prominence with tracks like “People Got A Lotta Nerve” highlighting perfectively Case’s expansive, captivating voice.
27. “Two Weeks” – Grizzly Bear – VeckatimestCombining lead singer Ed Droste’s Morrissey-morose voice, a good dose of oohs and aahs, and, what sounds like the opening of
Annie’s “It’s a Hard Knock Life” have lead Brooklyn’s Grizzly Bear to a winner with “Two Weeks.”
26. “Raindrops” – Basement Jaxx – ScarsScars may be Basement Jaxx’s worst charting album yet, but let’s blame that on the flailing music industry, because with songs like “Raindrops,” complex and worldly, it’s hard to believe that the Jaxx aren’t moving forward with their craft.
25. “Glory” – You Say Party! We Say Die! – XXXXPunk is still dribbling through here and there thanks to You Say Party! We Say Die! and “Glory”—an energy-packed jump-a-thon about, as the lyrics say, “sex (gasp!), drugs (gasp!), boys” (the gasps are important).
24. “Anonanimal” – Andrew Bird – Noble BeastPeople seem to have neglected Andrew Bird’s
Noble Beast since it came out all the way back in January, but it’s still as full of air and melancholy as ever.
23. “Forever" (ft. Lil' Wayne, Eminem, & Kanye West) – Drake – More Than A GameWith a veritable host of hip-hop superstars, Drake's “Forever” is a hard-hitting, diamond-studded hit whose hook you won't be able to get out of your head.
22. “Stars Come Out” – Calvin Harris – Ready For The WeekendReady for the Weekend was a little disappointing when compared to Harris’s debut, but luckily “Stars Come Out” was a gem amid the, uh… less gem-like song.
21. “My Night with the Prostitute From Marseille” – Beirut – March of the ZapotecZachary Condon (snicker… sorry), head honcho of Beirut shows us all that transcendent electro-synth should be like—“My Night…” is seductively dreamy.
Best Mockery of Auto-Tune on a Late Night Talk Show... of 2009
T-Pain, ever the good sport, took up the challenge of self-debasement for Jimmy Kimmel Live spoofing his use of the, often overused, voice alteration technology - the auto-tune. Mash-ups of Obama speeches and interviews are dubbed hilariously strung together with T-Pain providing the accompaniment, and we're never quite sure who's the butt of the joke.
Watch T-Pain on Jimmy Kimmel here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITT6bYYGVfM.
20. “The Fear” – Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s YouLily Allen returned with her fantastic second album this year, grittier and more fun than the last. “The Fear” is a perfectly timed, satirical number one single of capitalist acquisition and public image that only Allen could pull off.
19. “The Rider Song” – Nick Cave and Warren Ellis – White LunarThe busy Nick Cave gave us the sad alt. country “The Rider Song” this year (among other things) combining soft piano, wailing violin, and Cave’s signature man-with-troubles voice, that while short takes us on a helluva journey.
18. “Low Rising” – The Swell Season – Strict JoyAfter
Once came The Swell Season’s
Strict Joy, another album of heartfelt songs and unmatched musicality. “Low Rising” pits Hansard’s rough voice in a background of smooth electric guitars and organ murmurs to create something of honest sorrow.
17. “Communion Cups and Someone’s Coat” – Iron & Wine – Around the WellThough coming from an album of b-sides, “Communion Cups and Someone’s Coat” isn’t half-assed whatsoever. In fact, the entire two-disc event contains songs that would be comfortable being on any fully-realized release.
16. “Heads Will Roll” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!Karen O’s biting tones excellently matches the new, harsher feel of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album
It’s Blitz!. Commanding us to “dance ‘til your dead” in “Heads Will Roll” the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have found a new energetic vibe whilst remaining very much themselves.
15. “Kiss With A Fist” – Florence & the Machine – Lungs“Kiss With A Fist”! The song that brought Florence and the Machine to our attention is now part of an entire album of quirky hits, but there’s no other song that could introduce us to an artist and demand our attention as much as “Kiss With A Fist.”
14. “Half Asleep” – School of Seven Bells – AlpinismSchool of Seven Bells’s signature dreamy, floating style is well-displayed for their debut album
Alpinism (re-released this past July). Identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza provide haunting harmonies above the complex, diverse background of instruments.
13. “Generator ^ First Floor” – Freelance Whales – WeathervanesA delightful wintery track, “Generator ^ Fist Floor” (I think the “^” is pronounced “to the”… maybe) debuts Freelance Whales as a band with much to offer. The song includes a banjo as well, so that’s awesome.
12. “Horchata” – Vampire Weekend – ContraContra won’t be released until next year but Vampire Weekend gave us an exciting heads up with “Horchata” free for download on their website. Sounding as ever Vampire Weekendy, “Horchata” takes a deeper, grander tour around the world of chamber pop making Contra something to truly look forward to.
11. “My Girls” – Animal Collective – Merriweather Post PavillionIn case you may have forgotten (as I did—just a little), Animal Collective’s
Merriweather dropped all the way back in January, giving us “My Girls”—a track so good other bands are already covering it.
Worst Songs of 2009
"Boom Boom Pow" - Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D.Here's hoping the namesake of this album holds more meaning than a name. "Boom Boom Pow" is pure idiocy wrapped in overused sound effects topped with nonsense lyrics and the unbearable whining of Fergie.
"I Love College" - Asher Roth - Asleep in the Bread AisleI don't know what's more offensive: i) that anyone would want this as a depiction of their higher education experience, or ii) that the chorus rhymes the line "I love college" with the line "I love college." It's a tough call.
"Holiday" - Dizzee RascalDizzee teamed up with Chrome of "Dance Wiv Me" fame for this single and the result is disappointing. Reeking of pandering, it is frivolous while having absolutely no charm. And the techno speed up at the end is just silly. Very, very silly.
10. “Meddle” – Little Boots – HandsLittle Boot’s album Hands can be a little hit or miss what with the eclectic mix of industrial and techno elements but for songs like “Meddle” she really hits the mark dealing a hard yet dance blow to your cranium.
9. “Up, Up, and Away (The Wake and Bake Song)” – Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon: The End of Days“Up, Up, and Away,” from Kid Cudi’s first full-fledged studio album, strikes me as a song that would be a great radio song if only it didn’t have the addendum to the title. It’s infectious, endearing, and lyrically masterful with imagery that blows you out of the water. But that salacious reference to *whisper* marijuana *end whisper*, well, that will never fly, oh wait and all the lyrics too.
8. “Dance Anthem of the 80s” – Regina Spektor – FarReturning for her one billionth album of tender, pop wonder-hits, Regina Spektor strikes memorable, charm-encrusted gold once more with Far. “Dance Anthem of the 80s” is packed with simplicity and vocal dexterity with a bridge that rings full and deep leaving the listener as far from the cold of her native Russia as is possible.
7. “Halo” – Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha FierceHow do you follow up an uber-mega-hit like “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”? Obviously you give your fans “Halo.” Beyoncé is making all the right moves this year, enough, even, to ensconce Kanye West to sing your praises at the VMAs. “Halo” is a well deserved notch to this superstar’s dynastic staff—y’know, the staff she uses to beats off contenders to her pop-throne.
6. “Bulletproof” – La Roux – La RouxJust one of the many Englishwomen on this year’s top 40 list, La Roux entrance to the electro-pop scene with “Bulletproof” was catchy and totes dance-tastic—the video similarly debuting her prismatic, hard-to-ignore style. Here’s hoping that La Roux isn’t just a one-hit wonder.
5. “Ulysses” – Franz Ferdinand – TonightFranz Ferdinand had been off the radar a little since You Could Have It So Much Better but the wait was well worth it. Tonight is a dance-rock treat, taking their dark, raw sound an transforming into something wonderful. Take “Ulysses,” probably one of the catchiest, most intriguing hooks, mixing rock and electronic sounds into an appealing package.
4. “Mowgli’s Road” – Marina & The DiamondsJoining the likes of Kate Nash and Florence and the Machine, Marina Diamandis is one of the many British women in recent years to captivate us with her quirky Anglo-Saxon chic. “Mowgli’s Road” combines her distinctive voice with the allure of jungle ambience, making something unmistakably unique
3. “Little Secrets” – Passion Pit – MannersManners was the soundtrack to the summer. A mighty step up from the Chunk of Change EP, Manners was wall-to-wall electro-pop bliss and nothing encompasses this high energy, riotously fun album more than “Little Secrets.” It blast you with a catchy hook right from the get go and never lets up. Fantastic.
2. “Stillness is the Move” – Dirty Projectors – Bitte OrcaBitte Orca is chock-a-block with jams, Dirty Projects did an excellent with the album as is seen with the LP and “Stillness is the Move” making it on to many a Top XX of 2009 lists. And who could deny the appeal of “Stillness” pop-y, stark, diverse—a genuinely likeable song if there ever was one.
1. “1901” – Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus PhoenixHow could “1901” not be number one? How!? It is, hands down, no equivocations, a stunning track rocketing Phoenix into the spotlight. I defy anyone not get some instant plus happiness when the jukebox (those are still around, right?) cycles on to this number. Or when you’re listening to it in the car—makes you feel like you’re driving a Cadillac (thanks clever product placement) and you’ve just got to sing out. I suppose the only thing left to figure out is if they’re saying “fallin’,” “fold it,” or, my personal favorite, “ballin’” during the chorus…
Posts
New Zealanders The Ruby Suns are set to release their third album, Fight Softly, this March, from which "Cranberry" comes. The track is part carnival, part mid-nineties electro, Vengaboys-esque throwback (but not nearly as tacky), essential devided down the middle. I have to admit that I find the second half puts me more in the merrymaking mood, but the whole thing exudes a dancing happiness that's hard to ignore. So take a listen, after all, it's a no-strings-attached free download :-)
