My Top 10 Records of 2009
Once again, this was a great year for new music. I’m limiting this list only to new studio albums released in 2009. Look for #s 11-20 next week. And aside from my #1 entry, they’re in no specific order.
The Bomb – Speed is Everything (No Idea)
Please see my full review here.
Not only is this by far my favorite album of the year, but it’s one of my favorite albums of the decade as well.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Slumberland)
A record released early in the year that I kept playing throughout the course of the year, Pains are a wet dream for someone like me who’s both into punk rock as well as the late ’80s/early ’90s dream-pop and indie-pop scenes. “Young Adult Friction” sounds what would’ve happened had BUZZCOCKS formed in 1986 instead of 1976 and had been a dream-pop band. Other songs like “Everything with You” and the infectious “Hey Paul” are just pure, perfect indie-pop with just the right amount of distortion and fuzz to prevent it from being too saccharine.
This band is clearly not composed of cutesy wallflowers, though. Songs like “This Love is Fucking Right”, despite the sweetness of the music, have raunchy lyrics that would make not just PRINCE or THE BLOODHOUND GANG but even BLOWLFY or 2 LIVE CREW blush.
Vivian Girls – Everything Goes Wrong (In the Red)
Please see my full review here.
Jay Reatard – Watch Me Fall (Matador)
Although this record has, at least for the most part, received generally positive reviews, some fans seem disappointed that the full-throttle melodic garage punk of Blood Visions or the sheer insanity of side projects like TERROR VISIONS have been largely abandoned in favor of a hybrid of hard-eged indie-pop particularly influenced by the ’80s New Zealand Flying Nun greats (i.e. THE CLEAN and TALL DWARFS in particular) and late ’70s power-pop. Personally, I love these genres and Reatard’s melodic gifts are allowed to shine in these environs as well, so I’m not complaining one bit!
How can I, when absolute gems like the single “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me” and pop gems (often with characteristically bleak lyrics) like “Hang Them All” abound throughout this record? The mix of acid and sugar doesn’t always work, particularly on the cringe-worthy lyrics of “I’m Watching You” (previously released on one of the count ‘em six 7” EPs that Reatard released last year on Matador), but overall this record is a triumph.
The Rifles – The Great Escape (679/Nettwerk)
Released early in the year in the UK and finally given a U.S. release back in September, The Rifles’ second Lp is an absolute triumph. Sure, there’s nothing new here, but with tunes like “Winter Calls,” “Science is Violence” and “Someday”, who friggin’ cares? This is JAM worshipping mod-rock at its absolute best (with bits of THE SMITHS and THE HOUSEMARTINS thrown in for good measure) and as such, is highly recommended especially for fans of the aforementioned style. And in an age where so many promising new British bands (I’m looking at you, FRANZ FERDINAND, BLOC PARTY, EDITORS, etc.) make disappointing sophomore albums that fail to match the greatness of their debuts, it’s nice to see The Rifles make an album that far surpasses their debut No Love Lost. Let’s hope they can keep it up.
Neko Case – Middle Cyclone (Anti)
Although this one is less consistent than her three previous, absolutely brilliant full-lengths, the contents of the first and last third (not counting the pointless 32 minute closing track) of this record are strong enough that a spot on this list has been reserved for it. Case has never recorded such radio-friendly jangle pop singles such as “This Tornado Loves You” and “People Got a Lotta Nerve”, but they’re both among her best material. Elsewhere, the unique country/soul/noir hybrid that she’s perfected throughout this decade is in full bloom on “The Pharoahs,” “I’m an Animal” and a great cover of HARRY NILSSON‘s “Don’t Forget Me”. The Lp also boasts a great cover of the SPARKS classic “Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth”, which Case effortlessly makes sound like one of her own compositions. Stunning.
Pansy Division – That’s So Gay (Alternative Tentacles)
Anyone who still thinks of Pansy Division as just a “gay rock band” or “queercore” or who’s completely unfamiliar with them should give this a shot. Yes, many of the lyrics are from a gay, male point of view and there’s a fair amount of the silly, sexually flirtatious songs often associated with Pansy Division, but these are balanced by more serious fare like the title track (written and sung by bassist CHRIS FREEMAN), guitarist JOEL READER‘s “Some of My Best Friends” and “You’ll See Them Again”, a song that’s easily relatable no matter what sexual orientation one possesses. It’s a shame that Pansy Division are pigeonholed since singer/songwriter JON GINOLI has come up with one power pop gem after another since their inception in the early ’90s and deserves to be heralded as such. Also check out the single “Average Men”, which has label head JELLO BIAFRA on vocals and as such has a DEAD KENNEDYS feel to it.
The Trashcan Sinatras – In the Music (Lo-Five)
Featuring several new members and recorded by ANDY CHASE (who mixed 2004’s also excellent Weightlifting), In the Music is the most organic-sounding record that this excellent Scottish band has ever released in their over two decade long career so far. The best track is “Should I Pray”, which features none other than CARLY SIMON on backing vocals (a rarity), but others like the title track, the upbeat opener “People,” “Easy on the Eye” and “I Wish You’d Met Her” are also excellent.
Furthermore, the lyrics seem to come from a happier and more content place this time around, which is nice to see, though the aforementioned “I Wish You’d Met Her” show that they haven’t lost their trademark sense of melancholy.
This is, much like Weightlifting, beautiful music for adults that isn’t MOR treacle.
Art Brut – Art Brut vs. Satan (Downtown)
Although I love 2005’s excellent Bang Bang Rock and Roll, I almost gave up on this band after 2007’s merely so-so It’s a Bit Complicated. It’s a good thing I gave this a chance, though, because it’s an astounding return to form as opposed to a bid for the mainstream and/or bad dance music ala the newest offerings from Bloc Party or Editors. EDDIE ARGOS is completely on his game lyrically here on cuts like “The Replacements” and “DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshakes” and the band has tightened up (this is especially evident live) considerably as well.
The Thermals – Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars)
Although they changed labels from Sub Pop to Kill Rock Stars for this release, not much has changed musically for The Thermals. Still sounding like TED LEO fronting SUPERCHUNK, singer/songwriter/guitarist HUTCH HARRIS astounds with some of the best melodies I’ve heard all year in gems like “When I Died,” “We Were Sick,” “Liquid In, Liquid Out” and the title track.
Lyrically, it’s much less explicitly political than some of its predecessors (most notably 2006’s also excellent The Body, The Blood, The Machine, a full-length Lp critique of the religious right and the administration of GEORGE W. BUSH) and more focused on issues of mortality and what not.
