Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros -Up From Below
-I've yet to see this on any lists for the past year. Arcade Fire go hippie. Hands down the underdog of the year(in spite of some NPR exposure and a Letterman performance). This is a adjective rarely used for albums, but I feel it fits it best; Up From Below is earnest. The grandiose arrangements, the effortless vocals of alexander/jade/& co., produce a sing along catchiness that is not just pure surface; this album has a deep sound. Handclaps, piano twinkles, foot stomps, tambourine, and secondary guitar pluckings are all there under the strings/horns/vocals. It's a very natural, dreamy recording(one they replicate with a energetic precision live) that lacks any engineered pretense. After a listen or two, you find yourself humming the tunes or mumbling lines...a few days later. I think that speaks to something. "Home" is the big single off the album(check out their aforementioned live performance on Letterman), but reward yourself by listening to this record and falling in love-the magical, mystery, kind.The Almighty Defenders-The Almighty Defenders
-Drunken stage antics force the Black Lips to flee India. Finding refuge at King Khans Berlin haunt, they spend three days recording an album inspired by gospel music. The result is certainly plot worthy for a boozy Sister Act rip off. Marrying the best elements of both bands, suggested playing is as follows:
A: a party where you know less than 25% of the guests and someone's "room" is either a closet or porch.
B: in "the back" of your job, after hours.
C: anything you are doing/going to do that warrants you heading down to the basement for.
Wavves-Wavvves
-It started in his bedroom and ended in Barcelona, but hey, it was good while it lasted. The noise fad came and went, and here is an unblemished artifact as evidence.
The Lonely Island-Incredibad
-My list utterly loses credibility here, but I think it is certainly way more fun to run "I'm on a boat" and "like a boss" into the ground than "1901" or "animal." Yes, I have heard that you just want 4 walls and adobe slabs for your girls, but I like sports and I don't care who knows it.
The Horrors-Primary Colours
-Enjoyable Joy Division white noise from styled out goth dudes.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs-It's Blitz!
-Not what I was expecting from the yyys, but they still manage to go dance whilst maintaining their "sound." Heads rolled, on the floor. Prediction: This signals the end of the band.
Passion Pit-Manners
-Top music trends of 2009: extremely polished studio sound, multi tracked vocals, hey you can kind of dance to this beat/breakdown, remixed way too many times, probably ended up in a commercial. For me, passion pit pulled all these together the best.
Dan Deacon-Bromst
-This isn't one I'll listen to again and again, but I can't think of another album from 2009 that forces the listener to have such a strong reaction. When this came out, I don't anyone that heard it and said "yeah that was ok(can't say the same for Grizzly Bear, Flaming Lips, Lady Gaga)." You cannot be wishy washy with Bromst; you either love it or hate it. Maybe that's not fair given it's electronica, but I don't feel Tobacco or Max Justus would elicit such extreme responses.
Mos Def-The Ecstatic
-Mos Def delivers a solid hip hop outing full of catchiness, cleverness, and political what what. The Selah sampling on "Super Magic" earns extra credit.
Capybara-Try Brother
-Self described "sun music" from KC and points west. Haven't heard of them? You will. Fun indie goodness.
Of note: at the time of making this list, I still hadn't heard the girls album or the dead weather. I'm outta the loop.
Honorable Mention: Jay-Z (boo the yankees), Trail of Dead, Yacht, Bowerbirds, Max Justus, The Sound of Arrows.
Don't Care/Not Impressed: Animal Collective.
Never want to hear again: Miike Snow.
Wait a minute, you mean to tell me these fellas do drugs?: The Flaming Lips.
Wins the unique badge: The Very Best.
Wish it would've been better: The Mountain Goats-The Flaming Lips-Where the Wild Things Are OST-Julian Casblancas.
Who to watch: Pete and The Pirates (will they get back together?), Free Energy, Capybara(hitting the road again?).
Vampire Weekend award: Vampire Weekend.
If Only: The Decline of Western Civilization Soundtrack was released in October of 2009.
