Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Creamtastic / National Skyline Halfway to Christmas: The Best Records of (the First Half of) 2009
Posted by D Patrick Rodgers on Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 1:19 PM
At the end of every year, our esteemed corporate overlords at Village Voice host what's known as the Pazz and Jop Poll. They send ballots out to various music writers under their benevolent corporate umbrella, and we send them back filled out with our favorite albums and singles of the year. It's a fantastic opportunity to feel self-important--and self-importance is literally an attitude that music critics need in order to survive. We're like arrogance vampires.
Well, last year I waited about as late as possible to submit my 2008 ballot (close to midnight on Christmas Eve, as a matter of fact), and thusly did something of a piss-poor job recollecting what the best records of the year were. I tend to drink around the holidays. Anyhow, I left off Raphael Saadiq's The Way I See It (d'oh), Tapes 'n Tapes' Walk It Off (not phenomenal, but a solid follow-up to their debut), British Sea Power's Do You Like Rock Music?, Deerhoof's Offend Maggie, TV on the Radio's Dear Science (though they certainly weren't hurting for votes) and Bottomless Pit's Congress (just an EP, but still worthy of a vote). Let's just say the holiday cocktail of loneliness, last-minute scrambling and egg nog resulted in one epic fail by me. But this year, by God, I'm gonna make it right. This year I'm going to keep a list. This year I've already started thinking about my choices, and I want you guys to weigh in. See a few albums that have already wowed me after the jump, and tell me what else belongs on my list. This year, I'm going to be the man my ego already thinks I am.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Alright, I've already Creamed over this one, so to speak, so I'll spare you the re-post. Just know that, as hard as I try, I can't seem to go more than two days without listening to this record in its entirety. Easily one of the acts I'm most excited about seeing at Bonnaroo, and this video for their single "1901" definitely didn't hurt.
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
This one was just released yesterday. Now, the Projectors' approach/aesthetic isn't exactly something I'd typically go for. Some fairly manic arrangements and melodies that are far from predictable. But damn, Bitte Orca seriously has some of the most mind-blowing vocal performances I've heard in ages. Mariah Carey-tier shit.
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Eating Us
Another one I've mentioned at great length. Since I've already shared a few hundred words on why this record's noteworthy, I don't feel the need to expound any further. Plus, I'm still a little upset with them for playing in the dark.
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Alright, alright, I know. They're not exactly going to need a boost from me to be in the top 10, but I find this one to be their most consistent and accessible record yet. "No More Runnin," "Summertime Clothes" and "My Girls" are three of the best songs they've ever recorded. And don't think I'm the type to vote for P4k-cred artists right off the bat. Example: I'm still not certain if Grizzly Bear's Veckatemist will be getting a vote from me, even though this song is pretty damn good. And the video's terrifying.
Cortney Tidwell - Boys
If you haven't already, please stream this record. I heard it for the first time yesterday, and I'm already prepared to listen to it a third time. Cortney & Co. for the win on this one.
Screaming Females - Power Move
Any time you're within 20 miles of a Screaming Females show, drop what you're doing and go. Thanks to Marissa Paternoster's fleet-fingered badassery at The End a few weeks back, I still can't find my face. Serious. It's ghastly. The record's solid, too.
Still need to spend some time with Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. and Wilco's latest releases; it's difficult not to be blinded by the back catalogs of bands like those, and I don't want to vote for anyone out of obligation. But let's be honest: I'd probably vote for Jeff Tweedy if he put out an album of birdcalls. I'll check back in as the year progresses. Now tell me what else I need to listen to.
Comments (14)
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I've already said this in another thread, but the Japandroids - Post-Nothing is a pretty good album.
I'd suggest some others, but since I spend the majority of my listening time tuned into old GbV, Magnetic Fields and Swervedriver albums, I haven't really heard all that much released this year.
I second Dirty Projectors. If you like jazz then The Blue Note 7's Mosaic. The new Mos Def makes me remember why I like him. If you are high, the Sunn O))) is a good one.
Been listening to these a lot recently:
Thee Oh Sees - Help, Tidal Wave 7"
Eat Skull - Wild and Inside
Gary Wilson - Lisa Wants to Talk to You
I also heard some of the Monks 64-65 demos recently and while they're not as good as the original album, they're still pretty awesome. Also hoping the new Ty Segall album will be as good as the first one.
Japandroids, Thee Oh Sees, Mos Def took a break from acting long enough to possibly be awesome again...
Thanks, dudes! My short-list has just tripled in length. And I am high, Zach, so I'm about to love the shit out of some Sun O))).
I'll take this opportunity to once again say that the new Sunn O))) record rules. Way better than the Black One. The Eat Skull one is pretty great too. These are the new things that I'm listening to and name-dropping: Brutal Truth, Funeral Mist, Alva Noto, James Blackshaw, The Bastard Noise, Mark Templeton
And yes to Japandriods, but I've never been able to get into the Dirty Projectors.
Hrm.. might I add:
Dark Night of the Soul - S/T
Hands Down Eugene - Black Stone / White Witch
Michacu - Jewellery
Non-Commissioned Officers - Make-Out With Violence OST
JG Thirwell - The Music of JG Thirwell
Matt Berry - Witchazel
Max Indian - You Can Go Anywhere, Do Anything
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Those would likely top my 6-month best of list.
I keep a running list in my head all year long, and I'm not even a journo. What this says about me, I don't know. Probably something to do with being a loser.
Davy- Coconut Records
Middle Cyclone- Neko Case
Life & Times- Bob Mould
Written In Chalk- Buddy & Julie Miller
I'll tip my hat to new albums by Super Furry Animals, Rancid, Tim Hecker, Justin Townes Earle. Kinda like the new Royksopp. Phoenix is good but given their catalog I've got to grade it on a tough curve. Bob Dylan...undecided. Green Day...disappointing.
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