Street Chant
So here is our top 20 records of 2009 list. I use the word ‘genius’ a lot on this page, but I’m not going to apologise for it. Because it all is.
Brilliant, complex and joyous ear-battering LP from Todd. A noise lasagne - layers of brutal sound served up with a special sauce of audio surprises. Plus they have ZZ Top as one of their myspace friends, which hitches them one rung up the ladder towards godliness in my opinion.
Download Country and Western super posters mp3
Cheating somewhat to have a joint number 20, but both choices are deserving of being in this final list. It’s easy to sit on your trying-to-be-cool high horse and ignore The Datsuns, but if you do, you’ll be missing out on some of thee most perfect classic rock riffs this side of 1972. Still passionate, still great live and still extremely nice chaps. If you’ve not checked them out for a while, give Head Stunts a piece of your time. You’ll be glad you did.
Check out The Datsuns on myspace
So the story goes that the Black Lips got kicked out of India, probably for peeing in each others’ mouths or something (actually, I think it was simple stage nakedness). They promptly hiked to Berlin, and found redemption by making an album of ‘gospel’ songs with King Khan and Mark Sultan. What’s more, that album is genius. A brilliant party record, the perfect sound track to your pre-friday-night routine. It’s the album my own ramshackle country punk band puts on before each gig, and it gets us in just the right frame of mind.
It’s the Black Lips on the above clip I know, but it’s an AD song.
Check out the Almighty Defenders on myspace
A great tune this - inventive pop punk with some SST/Alternative Tentacles sensibilities. They’ve since signed to Sub Pop, a wise move on the iconic Seattle label’s part.
Check out Male Bonding on myspace
Excellent album of spot on indie pop from Darlings. Insanely catchy and infectious - get it now.
Darlings - "Teenage Girl" from Joseph Tirabassi on Vimeo.
Perfect indie pop from the Soft Pack who are just staggeringly good. And without wanting to sound like a muso nerd, their guitarist rules. No official releases this year (I think) so we’ve managed to crow bar them into the list courtesy of a couple of previews from their forthcoming official debut lp. Which I can’t wait to hear.
They also put out an amazing session on laundromatinee, which you should download. Aw C’mon is total genius.
Stop that digital press! Just yesterday, they made the studio version of Aw C’mon available and it rules.
The Soft Pack - C’mon from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.
The Soft Pack ‘Answer to Yourself’ from Felipe Lima on Vimeo.
Get the Soft Pack session on Laundromatinee
Check out The Soft Pack on myspace
Audio experimentalists layering on infinte sounds, white noise and organic beats to create their own strange brews.
Check out Fuck Buttons on myspace
All hail Dance to The Radio, who released a quite stupendous series of 12 inch EPs this year. The bands they pick are often outstanding and always intriguing. Full marks to them for eschewing the formulaic and embracing all that’s exciting about music in the UK right now. And the US. Anywhere, actually.
Picking this series also enables us to cheekily include clips by a few of the bands that feature, including Pulled Apart by Horses, Bear Hands, Chickenhawk, Holy State, Olfar and Suckers.
Head to the Dance to The Radio website
Victorian English Gentlemens Club have finally come out with their second full-length release - ‘Love On An Oil Rig’. Recorded with the old lineup; we’re glad to see that the new lineup has the same number of females. Awesome album.
Excellent indie pop with fine witty and wry lyrics. My Schedule and Dianne Hair being particular examples of genius.
Check out Let’s Wrestle on myspace
It’s King Khan again and it’s Mark Sultan again. Excellent garage stompers and doo wop swooners, with lyrics as filthy as the guitar sound.
Check out King Khan & BBQ on myspace
It may seem pretensious to use the word ‘gravitas’ in an LP review, but this record somehow has it. Brooding sounds and pithy monologues, stripped down bass and drums punch and slink. It’s an album with all the right textural tricks and surprises, and some cracking stories.
Check out Joe Gideon & The Shark on myspace
pic by www.jesperhedemann.dk
Instrumental New Surf Flamenco! From Denmark! It’s what we’ve been waiting for people, even if we didn’t know it. A band that ooze Morricone cool, The Good The Bad give us some snappy twang with plenty of atmosphere. And at the same time, they manage to kick arse. Check out the two brilliant videos below. And once again, full marks to The Devil for tipping us all about them.
Check out The Good The Bad on myspace
Aggresive and cutting rather than cynical, Andy Falkous’s lyrics are sharp as ever on this brilliant LP. The band are more satisfyingly direct than on their debut, with some audio brutality to emphasise the punchlines.
Watch Future of the Left interview on Dirty Laundry
Check out Future of the Left on myspace
I don’t want to know anyone who would deny the genius of this tune. Infectious rock n roll, a single with the same rousing sweep as Dinosaur Jr’s classic ‘Freak Scene’ 45. Sub Pop or Matador should sign Street Chant right now. They’re an awesome live band and if there’s such a thing as cosmic justice in the world, deserving of massive success in 2010.
Check out Street Chant on myspace
Photo by Little John
A brilliant album of righteous fury and schlock evil vibes from garage rockabilly maestro Waylon Thorton & his wife Meg. The swagger and stomp of these gems make it the kind of fury you can dance to. What’s more, you can download the album for free.
Check out Waylon Thornton & The Heavy Hands on myspace
From the band that define ‘noise rock’ without really fitting into the genre, comes their aurally-friendly softmore album - ‘Get Color’. Despite the dodgy Americanised spelling, it was one of the most anticipated of 2009, and exceeded expectations. Mine at least.
HEALTH "DIE SLOW" from Lovepump United on Vimeo.
DIY pop punk genius from Brooklyn, with the pumped up hardcore joie de vivre of early Minutemen LPs. A truly awesome debut album.
Check out Bonus Eventus on myspace
Preposterously skilled and sussed, White Denim swirl together a mix of all the right influences like a musical spin painting. Classic rock grooves without being sludgy, surprising turns of corner, hardcore sprints and punk rock work outs - it’s a truly truly brilliant record which you should all own.
Check out White Denim on myspace
Total complete fucking awesome genius.
Check out Pulled Apart by Horses on myspace
This is the LP that has given me the most enjoyment this year - infectious Unicorns-on-happy-pills psychey pop with ragged edges and an embrace of the ridiculous. It’s the sound of the good times - fun without being dumbass, experimental without being show off. Its eclecticism seems almost subconscious - they’re not trying to be clever, they just like a lot of different stuff and want to prove this all at once. Often in the same song. Most deserving of our number one slot, and what’s more, now available for you to download for free. So there’s no excuse to not own this LP.
Check out The Zookeepers on myspace
Although these are our very favourite records of 2009, I encourage you to also chew on our entire top 100. Let’s be honest, ranking was subject to various whims and fickle thoughts - all 100 records are ones you should check out.
> Top 100 Records of 2009: 100-81
> Top 100 Records of 2009: 80-61
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ISTVAN & THE KOSMAS / DISCO CLUB IMPERIAL
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Hmmm...
... every band on this list is shit, honestly, total and utter shit. There's not one melody on here. Sorry, not one good melody that makes any sort of sense. Awkward, retarded and talentless efforts made for people who are impressed by anything so long as it's convincing enough to be classed as cool. Fuck. Off.
Obviously, I disagree
as I compiled the list. I'm a big fan of melody, and I think all these bands have an ear for it. Are you sure you're not confusing melody with production values?
Who would you pick instead? Who has the melody you think is missing from this list?
Thank you!
Thank you for the great list! And especially for introducing me to the Zookeepers!
http://radioflyerreview.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-albums-of-2009-part-4-15-11.html
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