Posts Tagged ‘Year End Lists’

08.01.2010

Best Of 2009: Volume Four

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Here’s my final Top Ten of 2009. Click on the album cover for any more coverage.

#1 Tigers Jaw “Spirit Desire” 7″ (Tiny Engines)

The second release from Tiny Engines, a label I co-run with two other guys. Shameless self-promotion? Sure, but I can honestly say I listened to this release more than any other in 2009. Indie rock and pop punk mixed ever so perfectly!

#2 Brian Bond “Fire & Gold” (Self-Released)

It takes an awful lot for me to get excited about a singer/songwriter but Brian Bond did just that. The fact that he resides in relative obscurity is a shame. And he’s got another album in the can for 2010 that is just as good as Fire & Gold.

#3 Golden City “Self-Titled” (Magic Bullet)

Eric Richter of Christie Front Drive returns with a brilliant set of songs. Imagine CFD crossed with JEW.

#4 Everyone Everywhere “A Lot Of Weird People Standing Around” 7″ (Evil Weevil)

The second coming of The Promise Ring…at least at times it sure sounds like it. The new songs these guys have recorded sound incredible.

#5 Superchunk “Leaves In The Gutter” EP & “Crossed Wires” 7″ (Merge)

Other than Sunny Day Real Estate, there was no greater welcome back party for me than to have Superchunk return with a new set of songs. On their first two releases in years the band puts forth some of their most energetic material since their early days.

#6 Annabel “Each And Everyone” (Count Your Lucky Stars)

Following up on their brilliant EP in 2008 Annabel nail their first full-length. Understated indie rock with just the right amount of pop and power.

#7 Touch Committee “Winter Beard” (Self-Released)

I love when bands come from completely out of nowhere to floor me. Touch Committee did just that with Winter Beard.

#8 Oceans “Nothing Collapses” (Copper Lung)

Sadly, Oceans called it quits shortly after this release. Nothing Collapses is one of the best post rock records I have heard in years. So, can we put the nail in the post rock coffin now?

#9 My Heart To Joy “Seasons In Verse”(Topshelf)

Intelligent and pushing themselves beyond any genre constriction, My Heart To Joy are like a raging hardcore version of Trail of Dead.

#10 Broadway Calls “Good Views, Bad News” (Side One Dummy)

Broadway Calls are the best current pop/punk band period. Bar none.

07.01.2010

Best of 2009: Volume Three

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Sunny Day Real Estate Reunion

The best music news of the year and by far the best show I saw this year was the Sunny Day Real Estate reunion. I attended the Atlanta date and was stoked but did have reservations…I just did not want to be disappointed. Expectations were profoundly exceeded as the band tore through an excellent set list predominantly from their first two classic albums. And the atmosphere of the show was one of pure bliss as the band and the crowd seemed to be on the same emotional wavelength the entire evening. Reunion shows are sometimes a recipe for disaster but you got the feeling that this was perfect timing for Sunny Day to reemerge. The band seemed genuinely humbled and almost giddy by the experience of playing these songs all over again for such willing and excited ears. It was definitely a magical night for all in attendance and one I will remember for a long time.

Tags: Sunny Day Real Estate, Year End Lists

06.01.2010

Best Of 2009: Volume Two

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I have decided to combine LPs and EPs together into one big end of the year lovefest. No rankings til I get to my Top Ten. Click on the album cover for any more coverage.

Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) “What It Takes To Move Forward” (Count Your Lucky Stars)

With a name like that they better be good! Pretentious emo to the max but in a good way of course.

Joie De Vivre “Summer Months” EP (Count Your Lucky Stars)

Imagine Mineral and Pavement having a beautiful bastard love child. Discordant, emotionally raw and powerful…what more could you ask for?

The Lawrence Arms “Buttsweat And Tears” 7″ (Fat Wreck Chords)

Perhaps not the huge splash I was expecting from new Lawrence Arms songs but better than 99% of the other bands out there. These guys are still pop/punk heroes.

AA Bondy “When The Devil’s Loose” (Fat Possum)

Proof that his debut was no fluke. Folk troubadour AA Bondy just keeps getting better.

Pswingset “Self-Titled” Demo (Self-Released)

Out of all the bands I discovered in 2009 I find myself wanting new Pswingset songs the most. This is indie/emo in the greatest sense and this demo was such a tease.

Castevet “Summer Fences” (Count Your Lucky Stars)

This album is awesome. But, it’s not as awesome as people say it is. As they mix styles Castevet is still finding their way but one can only imagine how amazing this is going to sound when they hit it just right. For now Summer Fences will do just fine.

Over Stars & Gutters “Consider This Your Curse” (Black Numbers)

Melodic hardcore has turned bland but bands like Over Stars & Gutters keep the flame going with passion and sincerity.

Gray Young “Firmament” (Self-Released)

I think Doves was a great comparison for these guys but where Doves are coming from Brit pop, Gray Young are coming from indie rock.

PJ Bond “You Didn’t Know I Was Alphabetical” (Black Numbers)

PJ Bond expounds on his debut with an album that ranks up there with greats like Rocky Votolato.

Snowing “Fuck Your Emotional Bullshit” 7″ (Square of Opposition)

Fuck your emotional bullshit sounds about right. Snowing play their brand of emotional hardcore loud, aggressive and mathy with vocals that will melt your face.

Tags: AA Bondy, Black Numbers, Castevet, Count Your Lucky Stars, Doves, Empire Empire (I Was A Lonely Estate), Fat Possum, Fat Wreck Chords, Gray Young, Joie De Vivre, Over Stars And Gutters, PJ Bond, Pswingset, Rocky Votolato, Snowing, The Lawrence Arms, Year End Lists

05.01.2010

Best Of 2009: Volume One

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I have decided to combine LPs and EPs together into one big end of the year lovefest. No rankings til I get to my Top Ten. Click on the album cover for any more coverage.

Cheap Girls “My Roaring 20’s” (Paper + Plastick)

While it might not live up to the charm of their debut, My Roaring 20’s eschews any real sophomore slump and cements Cheap Girls as one of the brightest young bands around today.

Witches “Self-Titled” 7″ (Salinas/Mandible)

Simply gorgeous and mesmerizing songs and I can’t wait for a full-length.

Wooden Birds “Magnolia” (Barsuk)

Not better than AmAnSet but equal to at least. Welcome back Andrew Kenny. We missed you.

Grown Ups “Songs” EP (Kid Sister)

So many great young bands springing up and Grown Ups are one of the best. Pop punk with noodles!

Sleep Bellum Sonno “Judge Us By How We Lived Our Lives, Not By How We Made A Living” (Self-Released)

I understand that a lot of people probably won’t get these guys but I swear if you give this concept album time it is a moving experience. Proggy, arty hardcore with balls and intelligence. If you miss how mewithoutYou once sounded you should listen to Sleep Bellum Sonno.

Certain People I Know “4 Songs” EP (Self-Released)

I don’t understand why more people don’t talk about this band. Hell, it’s members of Braid and it basically sounds like Hey Mercedes with the addition of female vocals.

Communipaw “Self-Titled” (Self-Released)

The supremely talented Brian Bond and his band play a smooth and confident brand of indie rock laced with alt country and brit pop influences. These kids sound wise beyond their youthful ages.

Teenage Cool Kids “Foreign Lands” (Protagonist)

Built to Spill – The Jammy Parts + More Hooks = Teenage Cool Kids

Latin For Truth “We Are Sick of Not Having The Courage To Be Absolute Nobodies” EP (Pitfall)

I listened to this EP non stop upon first receiving it. Fast paced pop punk with definite hardcore influences throughout.

Dude Japan “Self-Titled” Demo (Self-Released)

Husker Du-ish Lo-fi indie power pop. These songs just have a way of slowly finding traction and before you know it they are on repeat in your head for days.

31.12.2009

Chuck (from Beartrap PR): 2009 Top Ten

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Chuck Daley of Beartrap PR and Tiny Engines…two fine entities that I can vouch for and you should definitely check out!? Chuck once referred to me as his partner when introducing me. I did not like that.

* Friends Of Friends – Deep Search
Probably my favorite of 2009. Kind of sounds like something from the gruff / melodic No Idea stable of bands, but with lots of other subtle influences thrown in the mix as well. At times its choruses remind me of Avail’s sky-high punk anthems and other times there’s almost a 90s Chapel Hill / Archers of Loaf indie rock vibe. There are terrific lyrics and hooks galore, but it still shreds pretty hard and falls just left of being “catchy,” although it’s not a stretch to call these ten tracks unforgettable. Definitely check this one out.

Download it for free here!

* The G – Hold My Gold
Dirty, fuzzed-out indie rock with ragged punk heart, a knack for melody and a penchant for noisy experimentation.

* Juvenescent Beat! – One Day We’re Gonna Fall Through This Roof
Every year there are a bunch of bands who try to bring back that “true” mid-90s emo sound. This is definitely the best of all of them. This record is passionate, raging and jubilant all at the same time. A great record for anyone who remembers what the “E” word really means.

* P.O.S – Never Better
Hands down the best hip hop record I’ve heard in the past five years. Not that I listen to a lot of hip hop, but this just comes across as so fresh and unique. P.O.S. has a great, earnest delivery and Never Better is overflowing with intelligent, thought-provoking lyrics and really captivating beats. I dunno … maybe I like it because he comes from a punk background and throws out Fugazi references.

* Double Dagger – More
One vocalist, one drummer and one bassist? C’mon …. how arty and pretentious are you? Not very, actually. More is a really fun, upbeat, rhythm-heavy record that will blast a groove about a mile deep through your living room.

* Tigers Jaw – Spirit Desire 7″
I helped release this, so I’ll admit that I’m slightly biased. Still, Tigers Jaw is just one of those bands that seem to write music that appeals to fans of all types of musical genres. The title track is their darkest, most mature offering yet, but maybe their catchiest as well.

* Broadway Calls – Good Views, Bad News
I wasn’t sure if I liked this more than the band’s Self-Titled debut, but in the end I thought that Good Views, Bad News was the stronger overall record. This is pop punk done right – with a little bit of anger and edge and a truckload of unforgettable hooks. Seriously, I dare you to find one single part of this album that isn’t ridiculously catchy.

* What Price, Wonderland? – It Is True, It Is Shakey
The second best emo record of the year … although I’m a little hesitant to even call it that. Emo is certainly the base level here, but it tends to veer all over the place in a sloppy, herky-jerky and reckless way that totally works.

* Teenage Cool Kids – Foreign Lands
Seems like I’m diggin’ a lot of music this year that one could classify as a “throwback” to yesteryear. Summery, fuzzy, punk-tinged indie rock drenched in nostalgia, good vibes and plenty of sweet “whoo hoos.”

* Shook Ones – The Unquotable A.M.H
Okay, so this sounds exactly like Kid Dynamite, but who cares? Kid Dynamite was awesome.

Tags: Archers Of Loaf, Avail, Beartrap, Broadway Calls, Double Dagger, Friends Of Friends, Fugazi, Juevenescent Beat!, Kid Dynamite, No Idea, P.O.S., Shook Ones, Teenage Cool Kids, The G, Tigers Jaw, Tiny Engines, What Price Wonderland?, Year End Lists

31.12.2009

Evan (from Into It Over It): 2009 Top Ten

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Evan Weiss / Into It Over It

1. Papermoons – new tales
2. Native – wrestling moves
3. Pirouette – sometimes sad isn’t funny
4. Fight Amp – manners and praise
5. Phoenix – wolfgang amadeus phoenix
6. V/A – dark was the night compilation
7. Coalesce – ox
8. Pearl Jam – backspacer
9. Owen – new leaves
10. Capsule – blue

Tags: Capsule, Coalesce, Evan Weiss, Fight Amp, Into It Over It, Native, Owen, Papermoons, Pearl Jam, Phoenix, Pirouette, Year End Lists

31.12.2009

Jeff (from Rocket Fuel): 2009 Top 25

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Jeff – SAL contributor and Rocket Fuel Podcast moderator

25-Arliss Nancy Dance to Forget
24-Reigning Sound Love & Curses
23-The Riverdales Invasion USA
22-Lucero 1372 Overton Park
21-Above Them Blueprint for a Better Time
20-The Sidekicks Weight of Air
19-The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Pin Points & Gin Joints
18-Dear Landlord Dream Homes
17-Rehasher High Speed Access to My Brain
16-Banner Pilot Collapser
15-Noise By Numbers Yeah, Whatever
14-Teenage Bottlerocket They Came From the Shadows
13-Heartsounds Until We Surrender
12-Polar Bear Club Chasing Hamburg
11-Big D & The Kids Table Fluent in Stroll
10-Used Kids Yeah No
9-Left Lane Crusier All You Can Eat
8-The New Lows Atlantic/Pacific
7-The Thermals Now We Can See
6-The Evening Rig Is Doin’ Stuff
5-The Marked Men Ghosts
4-Failure’s Union In What Way
3-Cheap Girls My Roaring 20’s
2-Red Collar Pilgrim
1-Nothington Roads, Bridges and Ruins

30.12.2009

Brendan (from Perfect Future): 2009 Top Ten

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Brendan – Guitarist/Vocalist for Perfect Future

1. Fall of Efrafa – Inlé
2. Propagandhi – Supporting Caste
3. Portraits of Past – Cypress Dust Witch
4. Brainworms – II Swear To Me
5. The Black Atlantic – Reverence for Fallen Trees
6. Arktika – Heartwrencher
7. Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) – What It Takes To Move Forward
8. Mount Eerie – Winds Poem
9. mewithoutYou – It’s all Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright!
10. Bomb The Music Industry! – Scrambles

Honorable mentions: Converge – Axe to Fall, Loser Life – Friends With a Demon, Castevet – Summer Fences, and Ruiner – Hell is Empty.

Tags: Arktika, Bomb The Music Industry!, Brainworms, Castevet, Converge, Empire Empire (I Was A Lonely Estate), Fall Of Efrafa, Loser Life, MewithoutYou, Mount Eerie, Perfect Future, Portraits Of Past, Propagandhi, Ruiner, The Black Atlantic, Year End Lists

30.12.2009

Court’s Best of 2009

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Courtney Drant – SAL Contributor

Jawbox – For Your Own Special Sweetheart Re-issue
Life and Times – Tragic Boogie
Future of the Left – Travels With Myself and Another
Young Widows – Old Wounds
Metric – Fantasises
Sylvie – Trees and Shade Are Our Only Fences
Art Brut – Art Brut vs Satan
Brendan Benson – My Old, Familiar Friend
The Mountain Goats – The Life Of The World To Come
Big Business – Mind the Drift

Tags: Art Brut, Big Business, Brendan Benson, Future Of The Left, Jawbox, Metric, Sylvie, The Life And Times, The Mountain Goats, Year End Lists, Young Widows

29.12.2009

Matt (from Everyone Everywhere): 2009 Top Ten

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Matt Scottoline – Bassist for Everyone Everywhere who put out one of the best seven inches of 2009.

1 – David Bazan – “curse your branches”
2 – Cheap Girls – “my roaring 20s”
3 – Built To Spill – “there is no enemy”
4 – Dinosaur Jr. – “farm”
5 – Phoenix – “wolfgang amadeus phoenix”
6 – Sufjan Stevens – “the bqe”
7 – Japandroids – “post nothing”
8 – Sonic Youth – “the eternal”
9 – Weezer – “raditude”
10 – Passion Pit – “manners”

Tags: Built To Spill, Cheap Girls, David Bazan, Dinosaur Jr., Everyone Everywhere, Japandroids, Passion Pit, Phoenix, Sonic Youth, Sufjan Stevens, Weezer, Year End Lists

29.12.2009

Jon (from Restorations): 2009 Top Ten

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Jon Loudon – Guitarist/Vocalist for Restorations

1. Attack In Black – “Years (By One Thousand Fingertips)”
2. Bill Callahan – “Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle”
3. Paint It Black – “Amnesia / Surrender” 7ins
4. Tombs – “Winter Hours”
5. Mountain Goats – “The Life Of The World To Come”
6. Baroness – “Blue Record”
7. Dinosaur Jr. – “Farm”
8. Hopalong – “Wretches”
9. Mark Kozelek – “Lost Verses – Live”
10. Tom Waits – “Orphans” 7XLP Box Set

Tags: Attack In Black, Baroness, Bill Callahan, Dinosaur Jr., Hop Along, Mark Kozelek, Paint It Black, Restorations, The Mountain Goats, Tom Waits, Tombs, Year End Lists

28.12.2009

Rich’s Best of 2009

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Rich Duncan – SAL contributor

Albums
Rapid Cities “Machinery Saints”
Touch Committee “Winter Beard”
Native “Wrestling Moves”
Japandroids “Post-Nothing”
An Horse “Rearrange Beds”
Gray Young “Firmament”
Golden City “Self-titled”
Empire! Empire! (I was a lonely estate) “What It Takes To Move Forward”
Double Dagger “More”
Daitro “Y”
Communipaw “Self-Titled”
Caspian “Tertia”
Brian Bond “Fire & Gold”
Brainworms “Swear To Me”
Annabel “Each and Everyone”

EPs
Snowing “Fuck Your Emotional Bullshit”
No Age “Losing Feeling”
Certain People I Know “4 Songs”
Weed Hounds “Demo”
Dude Japan “Demo”
Victor! Fix The Sun “Person Place or Thing”

23.12.2009

Look Mexico’s Best of 2009

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Look for Look Mexico’s new album, To Bed To Battle, early next year on Suburban Home. It’s already on my Best of 2010 list.

Modest Mouse – No One’s First and You’re Next
Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
Dave Bazan – Curse Your Branches
mewithoutYou – It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All A Dream! It’s Alright!
Various Artists – Dark Was the Night
Fake Problems – It’s Great to be Alive
Michael Jackson – This Is It
Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing
Built to Spill – There is No Enemy
Frank Turner – Poetry of the Deed
Wilco – S/T

Tags: Built To Spill, David Bazan, Dirty Projectors, Fake Problems, Frank Turner, Manchester Orchestra, MewithoutYou, Modest Mouse, Suburban Home, Wilco, Year End Lists

23.12.2009

Football, Etc. 2009 Top Ten

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In addition to releasing a fabulous demo in 2009, the new Football, Etc. / Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) split 7″ is out now via Count Your Lucky Stars. Well worth checking out.

1. Tortoise – Beacons of Ancestorship
2. Sonic Youth – the Eternal
3. Owen – New Leaves
4. Mars Volta – Octahedron
5. Metric – Fantasies
6. Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
7. Coalesce – OX
8. P.O.S. – Never Better
9. Age Sixteen – Open Up Finders, Please
10. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

Tags: Age Sixteen, Coalesce, Count Your Lucky Stars, Empire Empire (I Was A Lonely Estate), Football etc., Jay Z, Metric, Neko Case, Owen, P.O.S., Sonic Youth, The Mars Volta, Tortoise, Year End Lists

22.12.2009

PJ Bond’s Best of 2009

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PJ Bond’s Best of 2009 (in no particular order)

Check out PJ’s amazing new album, You Didn’t Know I Was Alphabetical, out now on Black Numbers.

01. Dropping out of “real life,” and living a real life. April 14 – first day of the “Year Of A Thousand Roommates.”
02. NYC pizza tour 2k9 (7 friends, 10 hours, 9 pizza places and countless street beers.)
03. Grilled cheese party 2k9 (esp. roasted beet w/ goat cheese and horseradish cheddar with sauteed greens and caramelized onions.)
04. New Brian Bond LP – Your Love Is Strange
05. Touring the UK for the first time. (did so on trains and buses, which ruled.)
06. Made tons of new, amazing friends.
07. First big tattoo below the elbow. Huh, never realized those words had the same letters.
08. Fell in love with the best woman ever (though subsequently lost her. Still don’t regret it.)
09. Released You Didn’t Know I Was Alphabetical on Black Numbers, and finally felt legit.
10. Told social norms to go fuck themselves, and am still alive, arguably more so than ever.

Tags: Black Numbers, Brian Bond, PJ Bond, Year End Lists

Posts Tagged ‘Year End Lists’

#1 Tigers Jaw “Spirit Desire” 7″ (Tiny Engines)

#2 Brian Bond “Fire & Gold” (Self-Released)

#3 Golden City “Self-Titled” (Magic Bullet)

#4 Everyone Everywhere “A Lot Of Weird People Standing Around” 7″ (Evil Weevil)

#5 Superchunk “Leaves In The Gutter” EP & “Crossed Wires” 7″ (Merge)

#6 Annabel “Each And Everyone” (Count Your Lucky Stars)

#7 Touch Committee “Winter Beard” (Self-Released)

#8 Oceans “Nothing Collapses” (Copper Lung)

#9 My Heart To Joy “Seasons In Verse”(Topshelf)

#10 Broadway Calls “Good Views, Bad News” (Side One Dummy)

Sunny Day Real Estate Reunion

Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) “What It Takes To Move Forward” (Count Your Lucky Stars)

Joie De Vivre “Summer Months” EP (Count Your Lucky Stars)

The Lawrence Arms “Buttsweat And Tears” 7″ (Fat Wreck Chords)

AA Bondy “When The Devil’s Loose” (Fat Possum)

Pswingset “Self-Titled” Demo (Self-Released)

Castevet “Summer Fences” (Count Your Lucky Stars)

Over Stars & Gutters “Consider This Your Curse” (Black Numbers)

Gray Young “Firmament” (Self-Released)

PJ Bond “You Didn’t Know I Was Alphabetical” (Black Numbers)

Snowing “Fuck Your Emotional Bullshit” 7″ (Square of Opposition)

Cheap Girls “My Roaring 20’s” (Paper + Plastick)

Witches “Self-Titled” 7″ (Salinas/Mandible)

Wooden Birds “Magnolia” (Barsuk)

Grown Ups “Songs” EP (Kid Sister)

Sleep Bellum Sonno “Judge Us By How We Lived Our Lives, Not By How We Made A Living” (Self-Released)

Certain People I Know “4 Songs” EP (Self-Released)

Communipaw “Self-Titled” (Self-Released)

Teenage Cool Kids “Foreign Lands” (Protagonist)

Latin For Truth “We Are Sick of Not Having The Courage To Be Absolute Nobodies” EP (Pitfall)

Dude Japan “Self-Titled” Demo (Self-Released)

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