2009 in review: Music

When I went to write this post I realised that I’ve listened to a lot of music this year, new and old. So bear with the length of the post, I’m going to give a rundown of the best albums I’ve heard in 2009, the best old stuff I’ve gotten into, and a few other things as well. It’s been a good year for music.

The Best of 2009

St. Vincent’s Actor

While I loved her first album as well, Annie Clark’s follow-up blew me away. Weird, but every track is excellent, and she sounds like nothing else out there. Best tracks: ‘Save Me From What I Want’ & ‘Marrow’

Sufjan Stevens’ The BQE

We might all hate him for not giving us a real follow up to Illinois even four years later, but The BQE, an instrumental album, is as rich and engaging as any of his lyrical work. Best track: ‘Movement I: In the Countenance of Kings’

The Decemberists’ The Hazards of Love

I was initially sceptical and found it impenetrable for months, but Hazards is now one of my favourite Decemberists albums. Buried in the concept are some fantastic songs—I’m still sad I haven’t seen it live. Best tracks: ‘The Rake’s Song’ & ‘Annan Water’

DM Stith’s Heavy Ghost

Best thing I’ve heard all year, hands down, though everyone I recommend it to thinks it’s just weird. It is, sure, but it’s also one of the most atmospheric, layered and rewarding albums I’ve ever heard. Best tracks: ‘Pity Dance’ & ‘Fire of Birds’

Kid Sam’s Kid Sam

It’s so funny to think that when Kid Sam’s Kieran moved in with us in July we’d never heard of his band. Now I think the album’s awesome, and deserves all the praise it gets. Best track: ‘Mirror Drawings’

The Mountain Goats’ The Life of the World to Come

It took me a while to warm to this dramatic departure from 2008’s Heretic Pride, but the album’s sheer intensity won me over. It is both devastating and beautiful; John Darnielle, I don’t think I’ll ever not be in love with you. Best tracks: ‘1 Samuel 15:23’ & ‘Isaiah 45:23’

Florence and the Machine’s Lungs

I was immediately entranced by Florence Welch’s powerful voice and gutsy lyrics—there’s something so appealing about pop that isn’t afraid to big and bold, but at the same time catchy as hell. Great stuff. Best track: ‘Dog Days Are Over’

Andrew Bird’s Noble Beast

I think Bird’s fourth solo album is his best yet, which is saying a lot. More well-rounded than previous efforts, but not without brilliant tracks like ‘Anonanimal’, which I think is the best song of Bird’s career. Best tracks: ‘Masterswarm’ & ‘Anonanimal’

Volcano Choir’s Unmap

I laughed when I found out that the guy behind Volcano Choir is Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon—I can’t stand Bon Iver, but Unmap is brilliant. Subtle yet dense, I feel like I find more in the music with each listen. Best track: ‘Island, IS’

Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest

Though I initially found the album too Triple J for my tastes, further listening reveals much beyond the first single, ‘Two Weeks’. Another one that keeps growing on me. Best tracks: ‘Southern Point’ & ‘All We Ask’

Other Good Stuff of 2009

While it’s not as good as the brilliant What the Sea Wants, Sarah Blasko’s As Day Follows Night is still pretty fantastic.

The Clientele’s Bonfires on the Heath delivers solid indie-pop.

Antony & the Johnson’s The Crying Light might not have an equivalent to ‘Hope There’s Someone’, but it’s maybe even more consistent than their second album and filled with good tracks.

While Regina Spektor’s Far was a little disappointing, there are enough good tracks (‘Dance Anthem for the ‘80s’!) that it’s worth it.

Passion Pit’s Manners strikes a strange but appealing balance with a kind of experimental Coldplay-like sound.

The Middle East’s The Recordings of the Middle East promises to become one of my favourites, even if for the moment it’s a little inaccessible.

While John Vanderslice’s Romanian Names isn’t another Emerald City like I was hoping for, it’s still fantastic.

Damien Rice’s former collaborator Lisa Hannigan’s Sea Sew is surprisingly mature and complex.

Bill Callahan’s Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle has the excellent ‘Eid Ma Clack Shaw’ and a bunch of other goodies.

Telekinesis!’s self-titled album is full of quality pop songs, even if it doesn’t really rise beyond that.

Old Stuff

I’ve been delving into John Vanderslice’s back catalogue with Time Travel is Lonely & Cellar Door—the guy really has some great stuff, and he signed both of these for me when I was at his gig a few months ago.

I’m getting in touch with my inner Mum and listening to Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark, which brings back strange memories of childhood.

I finally get Daft Punk’s Discovery! It’s so unlike anything I’ve ever heard—I feel like aliens have come to Earth and made sweet, sweet music.

It’s been a year of Elton as well, and I’ve been hitting Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (best opening track ever) & Honky Chateau, and making my stepmother proud.

It might just be a compilation, but Queen’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 got me into the deliciously fantastic ‘Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy’. ‘Nuff said.

Ewa put me onto Final Fantasy’s Has a Good Home & He Poos Clouds, and I love them.

Kimya Dawson makes me cry with her outpourings on Hidden Vagenda & Remember That I Love You, both dispelling my misgivings about her from the Juno soundtrack.

Karen Dalton! In My Own Time might be forty years old, but it sounds like it could have been made yesterday.

I finally got into M.I.A.’s Kala, and yes, it’s amazing. I know, where have I been the last two years.

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s Lie Down in the Light is only my first encounter with the guy, but if all of his extensive catalogue is this good I’m excited.

Cold War Kids’ second album Loyalty to Loyalty might be even better than their excellent debut.

Missy Elliott’s Miss E…So Addictive is a guilty pleasure that I was prompted to get by Pitchfork of all places.

Everyone might bag out Damien Rice, but O has some solid stuff.

The Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack is still awesome, and has made me want to track down more from A.R. Rahman.

Brian Wilson’s Smile is the best album ever made. If you haven’t heard it, go get it now.

Her appearances on The Hazards of Love finally prompted me to get My Brightest Diamond’s A Thousand Shark’s Teeth, and it’s pretty good stuff.

I’ve succumbed to the Vampire Weekend album, and while I don’t think it’s as good as everyone says it is, it’s still a great listen and a lot of fun.

The Rest

The Decemberists’ Always the Bridesmaid
Mirah’s (a)spera
Patrick Wolf’s The Bachelor
Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King
Dirty Projectors’ Bitte Orca
Maxwell’s Blacksummers’night
The Temper Trap’s Conditions
Ane Brun’s Duets
Norah Jones’ The Fall
Fever Ray’s Fever Ray
Powderfinger’s Golden Rule
The Antlers’ Hospice
Department of Eagles’ In Ear Park
Kanye West’s Late Registration
The Boy Least Likely To’s The Law of the Playground
Tiny Vipers’ Life on Earth
Peter Bjorn & John’s Living Thing
Patrick Wolf’s Lycanthropy
Gomez’s A New Tide
Conor Oberst and the Mystics River Band’s Outer South
Kings of Convenience’s Riot on an Empty Street
Regina Spektor’s Soviet Kitsch
Ramblin’ Jack Elliot’s A Stranger Here
Whitley’s The Submarine
Wilco’s Wilco (The Album)
Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
The xx’s The xx
The Felice Brothers’ Yonder Is the Clock

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