Best Albums of 2009: September Edition

Best Albums of 2009

September Edition (a bit late, sorry)

Rather than compiling a huge list at the end of the year, not having enough time to do a good job, and simply throwing something together really fast, I'm going to start compiling my thoughts on albums over the whole year - month by month. Some of these may have actually been released earlier in the year, but are in this months set because this is when I got my hands on them.

1.
J. Tillman
Year in the Kingdom


Two LPs in one year - not too shabby. Tillman's 2nd offering of 2009 is hands down, one of the best indie-acoustic-folk releases in a long time, if not ever. It features his familiar dark, brooding, mellow vocals, quiet guitar strumming, and richly overlain harmonized oooings and aaahings in the background. There are some great string arrangements backing these tracks as well. And, it appears that Tillman has discovered the dulcimer, which adds a unique new texture to his music -giving Year in the Kingdom a distinct feel. Top Tracks are all of them. Seriously. Try these out though: Though I have Wronged You [download mp3] and Earthly Bodies [download mp3] via stereogum.

2.
Joshua James
Build Me This


I wrote quite a lengty review on this album last month as a stand-alone review. It is quite lengthy, so I'll just direct you there. On that review I had originally posted a sample mp3 of Coal War - the albums opening track. Joshua had given me express written permisison to do so, but his record label disagreed and made blogger disable the post TWICE. I took the mp3 down immediately, but they felt it necessary to flag it for abuse a 2nd time (even though the link was gone). Bummer.


3.
Owen
New Leaves


Mike Kinsella's now multi-year solo project, Owen, simply does not disappoint. I can't get enough of his brand of indie-acoustic slowjam! New Leaves is marked by his now very well established noodly acoustic guitar tracking, oft-hesitant vocals, painful lyrics and interspersed lead electric guitar. Reportedly, this album still contains some material recorded in his mother's basement - as per tradition - but clearly features a more well-developed writing and production process than previous releases. It follows in the footsteps of "At Home with Owen" in this regard. Great strings and other backing instrumentaiton abound. Top tracks include New Leaves and A Trenchant Critique [download mp3].


4.
A.A. Bondy
When the Devil's Loose

I have just recently gotten into A.A. Bondy. The new album is good, but some of the alt-county production turned me off. I think I liked his 2007 American Hearts a lot more. I do appreciate his gravely vox though. Mmm Mmm. Loves me some good 'ol fashioned gravely vox!


5.
Volcano Choir
Unmap


I have been a fan of Pele, and their later reincarnaiton as Collections of Colonies of Bees for quite a while. Avant-garde, experimental, noodly-guitar rock. When I heard they teamed up with Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon to form Volcano Choir, I was intruiged. I'm not a huge bon Iver fan, but his falsetto vox prove a great addition to the experimental Wisconsinites' sound. In deed, many of the lyrics are indiscernable anyways, and his voice serves as another layer of instrumentation. Very nicely done boys. Top tracks include Island, IS [download mp3] and Still.


6.
Grand Archives
Keep in Mind Frankenstein


Grand Archives' 2008 self-titled LP still stands as one of my favorites. It set the standard pretty high for their sophomore release. Even with mediocre expectations, however, Keep in Mind Frankenstein is disappointing. There are a few good tracks, but much of the album is simply boring. Dig That Crazy Grave is a travesty of alt-country devolution/digression. According to their label profile at subpop.com, they originally recorded a much more raucous album, but scrapped it, wrote this one on the spot, and recorded it. I think I would like to hear the more raucous one. The redeemable tracks are Topsy's Revenge, Silver among the Gold [download mp3] and Witchy Park/Tomorrow Will.
















Running LP List

1. J. Tillman - Year in the Kingdom (September)
   
2. Joshua James - Build me This (September)
   
3. J. Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues (January)
   
4. Brendan Benson - My Old Familiar Friend (August)
   
5. fun. - Aim and Ignite (August)
   
6. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (May)
7. Shark Speed - Sea Sick Music (April)
8. Owen - New Leaves (September)
   
9. Say Hi - Oohs & Aahs (February)
10. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast (January)
11. Iron & Wine - Around the Well (May)
12. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches (August)
    
13. Before Braille - Spring Cleaning (June + July)
14. Art for Starters - Drugs Made / Drugs Ruined (April)
    
15. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love (March)
16. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - Outer South (May)
    
17. Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band (August)
    
18. The Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels (March)
19. A.A. Bondy - When the Devil's Loose (September)
20. Volcano Choir - Unmap (September)
    
21. Mos Def - The Ecstatic (June + July)
    
22. Dent May and his Magnificent Ukuele - The Good Feeling Music of Dent May (March)
23. Jeremy Enigk - OK Bear (May)
24. Coconut Records - Davy (January)
25. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity Live (April)
    
26. Iain Archer - To the Pine Roots (April)
    
27. The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha (February)
28. John Vanderslice - Romanian Names (May)
    
29. Peter, Bjorn and John - Living Thing (March)
30. Jonsi and Alex - Rice Boy Sleeps (June + July)
    
31. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (May)
32. Grand Archives - Keep in Mind Frankenstein (September)
    
33. Lateef the Truth Speaker - Truth is Love Mixtape (April)
    
34. Vetiver - Tight Knit (March)
35. General Elektriks - Good City for Dreamers (February)
36. Dark was the Night compilation (April)
    
37. Ben Kweller - Changing Horses (January)

Running EP List

1. Common Market - The Winter's End (March)
2. Death Cab for Cutie - Open Door (March)
3. Owen - The Seaside (August)
   
4. Joshua James - Sing Songs (May)
   
5. Andrew Bird - Fitz and the Dizzyspells (August)
   
6. The Mountain Goats and John Vanderslice - Moon Colony Blood Bath (April)
7. Blue Scholars - OOF! (August)

Best Albums of 2009: August Edition

Best Albums of 2009

Rather than compiling a huge list at the end of the year, not having enough time to do a good job, and simply throwing something together really fast, I'm going to start compiling my thoughts on albums over the whole year - month by month. Some of these may have actually been released earlier in the year, but are in this months set because this is when I got my hands on them.

1.

Brendan Benson
My Old Familiar Friend


Every once in a while I get down about the indie music scene because it seems like every band is trying so hard to forge a unique indie sound that will get them recognition as doing something groundbreaking. In the process, however, too many veer off into genres and sounds that just aren't listenable. This is one reason for why I have always loved Brendan Benson. There is no shtick here. He just makes good 'ol fahsioned indie-rock albums. I really wish he would dedicate more time to his solo ventures than what he was doing with Jack White and the Ranconteurs. My Old Familiar Friend has been a long time coming too. His last solo release, Alternative to Love, was in 2005! It was a phenomenal album and set the bar fairly high for this new LP. Since then, and especially over the last 12 months a good batch of new demos have been floating around, whetting our appetites. The resulting LP is great. However, there are a few misteps - Garbage Day is a travesty. A few other tracks are good, but not great, and I wonder why some of the really stellar demos I had collected didn't make the cut. In any case. Benson's mix of indie-rock with classic southern rock sounds and tight harmonies is great. No frills rock. I love it. Top tracks include a Whole Lot Better and Misery.


2.
fun.
Aim and Ignite

I was saddened when The Format broke up. I had followed them since their first EP was produced by Bob Hoag at Flying Blanket Studio and I was so excited when their 2nd LP, Dog Problems, did so well. In the wake of the break up, lead-singer Nate formed a new band - fun. If you liked The Format, you will like fun. There are quite a few moments on the album where direct links to the Dog Problems sound can be traced. The multi-phase pacing of At Least I'm Not as Sad (as I used to be) is a direct translation of things they did on Dog Problems. There is a greater reliance on string arrangments, rather than brass and woodwinds, throughout Aim and Ignite that signal a new direction. The album is good, but disappointing at times. 4 of the songs are honestly some of the best tracks from any album this year. Some of the others, however, are just "ok." When the good tracks are good, though, they are REALLY good. Consider Be Calm, Benson Hedges, At Least I'm Not as Sad (as I used to be) [download mp3] and Walk the Dog.

3.
David Bazan
Curse Your Branches


Pedro the Lion's frontman (and only man in some ways) David Bazan is now releasing his brand of acoustic indie-rock under his own name. Must be a trend - Conor Oberst, Matt Pryor, etc . . . In any case, I saw Bazan do an acoustic set last year and was very excited to see how the songs he played would translate into studio tracks. It is great in its simplicity - as always. Even when there is full instrumentation to his songs, there always seems to be a very streamlined approach to his music. A welcome addition to an already prolific discography. Top tracks include Hard to Be, Curse Your Branches, Bless This Mess [download mp3] and Please, Baby, Please.


4.
Fruit Bats
The Ruminant Band

Sub Pop's Fruit Bats have taken quite a break since their 2005 Spelled in Bones. The new album is good, consistent and introduces some new sounds to their alt-folk repertoire. Few tracks leap out as amazing masterpieces, but the album as a whole holds together very well. Top tracks are Primitive Man, Being on Our Own and Feather Bed.


5.
Owen
The Seaside [EP]

The Seaside EP includes a grouping of songs that had been previously released on splits, 7"s and compilations. While I had already dug most of them up, having them in one place is nice. It has gotten me excited about Owen's upcoming LP New Leaves as well. A good addition to your Owen library. Top tracks are Head Will Ache and I'm Not Seventeen.


6.
Blue Scholars
OOF! [EP]

Blue Scholars MC Geologic grew up in Hawaii in the 1980s before transplanting to Seattle. This EP is all about the island and would have been a better release for the early summer - that way I could have listened to the island-inspired beats and rhymes all summer long! Sabzi's production and beats feature a host of new sounds and tricks. In many ways, the rhymes are secondary to the beats on this EP - which is usually not the case. As a matter of fact, the lyrics are pretty horrible in parts. It seems to me that Sabzi had some new beats he had worked out, and Geologic quickly slapped together some inane verses on top of them. They really lack the sophistication, poetic quality and complex syncopation of the Blue Scholars that have won me over in the past. Come to think of it, "New People" is all around horrible. A few somewhat redeemable tracks are HI-808 and Cruz.

7.
Andrew Bird
Fitz and the Dizzyspells [EP]

This EP came out back in May and features one track off of Noble Beast, with 4 new songs. It is classic Andrew Bird. Not much commentary to make. Favorite track was Ten-You-Us.

Running LP List

1. J. Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues (January)
   
2. Brendan Benson - My Old Familiar Friend (August)
   
3. fun. - Aim and Ignite (August)
   
4. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (May)
5. Shark Speed - Sea Sick Music (April)
6. Say Hi - Oohs & Aahs (February)
7. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast (January)
8. Iron & Wine - Around the Well (May)
9. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches (August)
   
10. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love (March)
11. Before Braille - Spring Cleaning (June + July)
12. Art for Starters - Drugs Made / Drugs Ruined (April)
    
13. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - Outer South (May)
    
14. Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band (August)
    
15. Mos Def - The Ecstatic (June + July)
    
16. Jeremy Enigk - OK Bear (May)
17. The Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels (March)
18. Dent May and his Magnificent Ukuele - The Good Feeling Music of Dent May (March)
19. Coconut Records - Davy (January)
20. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity Live (April)
    
21. Iain Archer - To the Pine Roots (April)
    
22. The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha (February)
23. John Vanderslice - Romanian Names (May)
    
24. Peter, Bjorn and John - Living Thing (March)
25. Jonsi and Alex - Rice Boy Sleeps (June + July)
    
26. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (May)
    
27. Lateef the Truth Speaker - Truth is Love Mixtape (April)
    
28. Vetiver - Tight Knit (March)
29. General Elektriks - Good City for Dreamers (February)
30. Dark was the Night compilation (April)
    
31. Ben Kweller - Changing Horses (January)

Running EP List

1. Common Market - The Winter's End (March)
2. Death Cab for Cutie - Open Door (March)
3. Owen - The Seaside (August)
   
4. Joshua James - Sing Songs (May)
   
5. Andrew Bird - Fitz and the Dizzyspells (August)
   
6. The Mountain Goats and John Vanderslice - Moon Colony Blood Bath (April)
7. Blue Scholars - OOF! (August)
   

Mike Kinsella (Owen) plays Van Halen

Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Mike Kinsella (Owen) covered Van Halen? Yeah, me neither.