For Against – Never Been (Words on Music)
Playing this record is to be sucked into another world, succumbing to its textural tenacity, so brimming with pocket passages of flickering luminous radiance and the coolest shade, dabbling in dissonance, light jangle, esoteric bass, hypnotic drums, and some of the most inventive guitar playing you’ll hear any year.
The Dimes – The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry (Pet Marmoset)
Portland, OR’s brilliant Johnny Clay chronicles Beantown’s history, spanning from rebellion, to abolitionist passions, to the 1872 Great Boston Fire, to the anti-Italian hysteria of 1921’s Sacco and Venzetti trial, to…my word! Hats off to one of the best/most entertaining folk-pop groups in years!
Visqueen – Message to Garcia (Local 638)
And though there’re copious guest stars such as Neko Case on five songs, the high-energy, up-tempo, elastic blast of Visqueen is Rachel Flotard’s kick-ass licks, her commanding thick pipes and compassionate lyrics (the many about her recently deceased father, whom she was taking care of, will choke you up), and Ben Hooker’s slam-banging. Man, it’s great to have them back!
Mission of Burma – The Sound the Speed the Light (Matador)
No band mixed—and again mixes—atonal drone chords with such drive and memorable tunes, and this new album (third since their reunion) deserves every accolade it’s poised to garner.
Emitt Rhodes – The Emit Rhodes Recordings [1969-1973] double-CD (A&M/Geffen/UNI)
Along with his older band The Merry-Go-Round’s Listen, Listen, The Definitive Collection!, this package is the complete canon of L.A.‘s still-living poor-man’s McCartney, who, alone in his studio with a four-track in the early ’70s, made music of such beguiling polish and freshness, he warrants mythologizing.
Pointed Sticks – Three Lefts Make a Right (Northern Electric CAN)
“North America’s answer to The Undertones” (Jello Biafra) churn out their meaty, rushing, highly melodic, enormously infectious guitar-pop punk out of Vancouver for the first time since 1980, and singer Nick Jones is still master of lovelorn heartsick lyrics, like the prototypical “Too Late” and the pleasant new wrinkle piano ‘n’ strings “How I Felt.” Surprise of the year? Are you kidding?
New Model Army – Today is a Good Day (Attack Attack/Red Eye)
Wiry, taut, post-punk juggernauts full of slow-burning intensity such as “States Radio,” “Arm Yourselves and Run,” “Disappeared,” and “Bad Harvest” rumble astride darkly beautiful, poignant mood-folk, such as the rollicking “Autumn,” bluesy “God Save Me,” somber closing “North Star,” and Justin Sullivan’s 2003 solo Navigating By the Stars_’ masterpiece, “Ocean Rising.” Meanwhile, Sullivan spills his philosophical, intelligent veins in a way rarely experienced. Like 2007’s sensational _High, this is extraordinary—again.
The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
Album of the year, 2009, hands down. Nothing else came close.
T.S.O.L. – Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Free Downloads vinyl 12” (DC Jam)
I’ve raved about this 30th anniversary album since last year on digital free download. Now that it is out on vinyl, it’s just as amazing.
Big Star – Keep an Eye on the Sky box set (Rhino/WEA)
This is what a box set should be: an outpouring of unavailable material alongside the classic, with an overriding quality control that matches and enhances a legend.
