2009 (Thank God It's Over) Top Ten
I'd written grand essays on everything on this list, took one look, and decided to edit with a meat hook. My top ten, with runners-up, each in 5 words or less.
And although some of these seem particularly obvious, I took special care to leave off anything "important" - I just put what I listened to the most this year.
Go to itunes and sample anything you don't know - it's been a very good year for music.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, if you got this you know you are loved.
Cheers,
John
10
The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns
naive • sincere • smalltown • storytellers
9 (tie)
Built To Spill - There Is No Enemy
Thermals - Now We Can See
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
still • searching • for • another • R.E.M.
8
Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
Pavement • Modest • Mouse • solid • pop
7
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
music • still • equals • art • Yaaaaaay
6
Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Rock/Folk? • Folk/Rock? • who • cares • listen
5
Washed Out - Life Of Leisure
lovely • floating • dance • or not
4
Atlas Sound - Logos
funny • scary • sunny • dark
3
Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People, Lazers Do
fun • funny • dancehall • get • up
2
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
psychedelic • americana • shimmering • noisy • beautiful
1
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
screw • hipsters • listen • anyway
(HOLIDAY EXPERIMENT: Play Veckatimest for your mom or grandmother sometime without telling them what it is, they'll be delighted you did.)
Runners-Up
The xx - xx
post-coital • austere • ambivalent • smooth • glassy
Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
singalong • smart • straightforward • energetic
The Antlers - Hospice
sad • deep • cathartic • beautiful
Wish I had room for: Fuck Buttons, Surfer Blood, Cold Cave
Happy New Year!
John
