Albums of 2009

10 - Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion

Favorite Tracks: "My Girls," "Summertime Clothes," "In The Flowers"

Probably the most accessible Animal Collective album to date, but then again that’s not really saying all that much.

9 - Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

Favorite Tracks: "French Navy," "The Sweetest Thing"

Love this band, can they ever do any wrong? This album proves they can still inspire "oohs" and "aahs" when they sing "ooh" and "aah."

8 - Yeah Yeah Yeah’s - It’s Blitz!

Favorite Tracks: "Soft Shock," "Zero," and "Heads Will Roll"

While I miss their more guitar driven stuff, It’s Blitz! managed to keep me interested. Particularly "Soft Shock" which is quite possibly one of the cutest YYYs songs ever.

7 - White Rabbits - It’s Frightening

Favorite Tracks: "Percussion Gun," "The Lady Vanishes"

Nothing frightening about White Rabbits, just lots of fun, percussive songs that beg for air drumming and tapping along. Count me in.

6 - Jimmy Eat World - Clarity Live

Favorite Tracks: "For Me This Is Heaven," "No Sensitivity," "Lucky Denver Mint," "A Sunday" and "Just Watch The Fireworks"

Clarity Live reminded me why Jimmy still very much eats my world. It takes a fantastic band to make a fantastic live album, and I hope J.E.W. never stops touring.

5 - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Favorite Tracks: "Lasso," and "1901"

A band that’s even better live, Phoenix makes danceable indie that leaves you feeling happy and relaxed. If you’re looking for reasons to hate this band, good luck.

4 - Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health

Favorite Tracks: "Strictly Game," "Niagara Falls," "Sunlight," and "Radio Orlando"

Harlem Shakes inspired many conversations with Awmercy about how much we love these tunes. Quirky indie rock at its most infectious, I love the optimism of this record and spent many hours blasting "Strictly Game." Best live show of the year, hands down.

3 - The xx - xx

Favorite Tracks: "Islands," "Crystalised," "Shelter"

Dream pop at its finest, these Brits remind us that sexy and romantic are not mutually exclusive. This record is full of stunning, exciting, melodic, mellow and atmospheric mood music I just can’t stop listening to.

2 - Japandroids - Post-Nothing

Favorite Tracks: "Wet Hair," "The Boys Are Leaving Town," "Young Hearts Spark Fire," "Crazy/Forever"

A band that just moved to the top of my "must see live" list, Japandroids makes exuberant, noisy garbage rock that is fun and refreshingly simple.

1 - Passion Pit - Manners

Favorite Tracks: "Moth’s Wings," "Eyes As Candles," "Little Secrets," "The Reeling," and "Sleepyhead"

Manners has been the #1 release of ’09 for months now. Nothing can top danceable indie like this that is creative, inventive, flawless and addictive as hell. In the movie of my life, "Moth’s Wings" would hopefully play in the trailer.

Singles of 2009

5 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Soft Shock"

So cute, so soft, so pretty, so good it actually distracted me from missing the YYYs guitars I know, love, and have come to expect. Wow?

4 - The xx - "Islands"

Cool and catchy, "Islands" is the groovy little track that got me jazzed on all things xx.

3 - Matt & Kim - "Daylight"

Fucking love this song, Matt and Kim keep Brooklyn indie on the map with their toe-tappin’ danceable jams. Oh, and my vote for favorite video of the year.

2 - Japandroids - "Wet Hair"

If ever I had to pick an album from 2009 to blast in my car as I drive off a cliff in one blaze of glory and emerge victoriously from the car crash unscathed, Post-Nothing would be it. And "Wet Hair" would be the perfect song to soundtrack the moment.

1 - Harlem Shakes - "Strictly Game"

Quirky indie rock like "Strictly Game" always keeps me in a cheerful mood. If this track doesn’t instantly sell you on Harlem Shakes, why/how are we even friends?

Best concert of 2009

Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health Record Release Party

So much fun, so much love, it’s great being in a venue sharing in the sonic delight with local fans who are equally obsessed with Harlem Shakes. After a great set, I just wanted to hug everyone there. But didn’t.

Biggest musical dissapointment 2009

The Horrors - "Primary Colours"

The hype wasn’t worth it and neither was this record. If you’re going to do shoegazy psych rock, do it well or don’t do it all.

Most overrated album of 2009

Kings of Leon

Their success grates on me, particularly since their best songs were during their more "off the radar" days. Seeing them play on a morning show next to Al Roker pretty much put the nail in the coffin of my fandom. No offense, Al.

Most anticipated album of 2010

Arcade Fire - "TBA" (to be announced)

Can’t wait to see what these guys have been working on the past few years. I’m hoping for something life-altering.

2009 | site by itscalledlove.com