Hello, I've not posted here in awhile. I'm going to try to do better. Promise. But not in the form of complaining about things happening in my life, unless I think others might find them very interesting. I'm going to start using this to talk about the things I love. Enjoy my first endeavour.
I decided to make a list of my favourite albums I heard this year. This isn't a typical list, as some of these things were not released in 2009. In my opinion, if I've never heard it, then it's new music to me. So I'm not going to limit myself to albums released only in 2009. This is the first time I've tried to write on something that means a lot to me, so please be kind. I've tried to explain what I like on each of these albums. These are in order as well, and I'm not going to do the starting with number ten thing...as who am I to make you wait to see what I thought was the best thing I heard this year. I hope you enjoy.
The Mountain Goats: The Life of the World to Come
If John Darnielle puts out an album, it more than likely is going to be in my top ten list for that year. Even albums that I at first thought I wasn't going to like, like the album Get Lonely, it eventually works it's way into my conscience, like a popcorn husk between your teeth. This album, like Get Lonely, is more somber, but with a few upbeat tracks. The heart of any Goats album of course are the lyrics. We have stories in these songs of someone watching a friend die of a horrid illness and how useless he feels because he can't help. A man who sneaks into a house he used to live in and hopes the people dwelling in it are better at living than he was.
Noah and the Whale: Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down
After being floored by the newest Noah album, I believe the next day I went to iTunes and purchased their debut album. Similar in sound, but much bouncier and happier. Also this album features female harmonies from the lead singer's girlfriend at the time. The harmonies are not present on Spring because...well, that's why we got such an excellent break up album. Might sound harsh, but hey...we suffer for our art.
The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love
When deciding on the order of this list, I was surprised that this came in at number four. Colin Meloy, the lead singer and song writer, was very afraid that this album would be called their “Rock Opera.” I can see where people might think that as each song isn't a stand alone song. The album could be one long continuous track, each song runs into the other and you aren't really going to understand a song on it's own. This whole album is telling a story. With different singers playing the parts in this story. What is odd on this Decemberists album is unlike previous ones, where the best way I could describe their sound to someone a few years ago is they sound like they are a pirate ship that were shipwrecked and the crew decided to start a band. But on this album some of the tracks might even be considered close to metal. This album contains within the best song ever written about a right bastard (The Rake Song), and probably the creepiest song in pop music/indy music(The Hazards of Love 4(Revenge!))
Frightened Rabbit: The Midnight Organ Fight
One thing I always hear from people when discussing music is how come singers who are from countries with “accents” don't have those accents when they are singing? This is definitely not the case with Frightened Rabbit. The lead singer is Scottish and you can hear the accent when he's singing. But it doesn't deter from the songs. Another of those pesky “break up” albums. But once again, not the woe is me kind. There are songs of extreme bitterness on this album, and songs of trying to move on. One of these trying to move on songs is a stand out called “The Twist”. It features lyrics that are so innocent (lift that dress enough to show me those shins) and heartbreaking lyrics (“lets pretend I'm attractive and then...” and also “whisper the wrong name, I don't care, nor do my ears”)
Mike Doughty: Sad Man Happy Man
I was ready to think this was just going to be ok. Doughty's album before this was “Golden Delicious”. It was good, but not as good as his debut album “Haughty Melodic”. Which I listened to over and over and over. So I purchased this with the thought of it being a good album but nothing special. This won me over more than Haughty Melodic or the three albums from his band before his solo stuff(Soul Coughing). Mainly acoustic, with the occasional piano or bass, and very rarely some drums. Every song on here is a gem. Plus, how can you not like an album that has a song on it called “How to Fuck a Republican.”
Blind Pilot: 3 Rounds & a Sound
I don't know how to really describe this album. It's very mellow and the lyrics are very beautiful. I don't think there is an electric guitar on any of the songs. I would say just listen to this and you'll love it. The title track was featured this year on Californication. It was the song playing at the end of the episode where Hank came home with the tattoo and Karen made him breakfast.
Troubled Hubble: A Happy Day Went Off the Cliff
This is only an EP. Four songs, two of which I'd heard before and have three different versions of on my iPod. Troubled Hubble is a now defunct band, but the lead singer songwriter continues on with Heligoats. Check out either band if you love clever lyrics with a rocking sound.
Wilco: Wilco(The Album)
Like The Mountain Goats if Wilco puts out an album it is more than likely going to be on my top ten list. After a few experimental albums, they went back to basics on this one. It's very reminiscent of a seventies folk sound. Looking over the whole of Wilco's albums this album probably is second to last (Sky Blue Sky being the lowest). But, even mediocre Wilco is better than most out there, in my opinion.
Lightning Dust: Infinite Light
I really don't have much to say about this as I know I've really enjoyed it but haven't been able to spend a lot of time with it to talk a lot about it. It's female/male harmonies, with the female voice taking the lead most of the time. The music is sort of country-ish.
1. Noah and the Whale: The First Days of Spring
My number one album this year. Mainly because it really surprised me. I had read a lot about it and it was on many top lists this year. I thought I'd give it a try. It is what is usually called in the music critic world as a “break up” album. Which means that the main song writer has broken up with someone they have been with for a long time, and writing these songs was their therapy. What I really liked about this one though, it was unlike most “break up” records. Most in this vein is almost every song is a “woe is me” lament to the audience, with a few bitter angry songs and then the one or two “will you come back” songs. What I really loved about this one is that it starts out woe is me, but not in a feel sorry for me way. The lyrics almost say “well, shit, this sucks, but you have to power through.” Then for the rest of the album, we have songs of hope and looking forward to the future. A different approach that was well needed. As for the sound it sounds very British folk music.
Sorry on the last few entries of this list. I started this awhile ago and just recently came back to it, so I sort of rushed on the last bit. I didn't want to be posting a 2009 list in March of 2010. I'm hoping to write a bit more about music and books and some movies(my three loves, in that order probably) in this blog. Let's hope I can keep my word on that.
