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If you haven’t already, you can become a fan at facebook.com/ThatSound, or follow me on Twitter @davecusick

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Yeasayer - O.N.E. - Odd Blood
Bryan Free - I’ll Pull You Out - digital single
Four Tet - Angel Echoes - There is Love in You
Cars & Trains - Intimidated by Silence - The Roots, The Leaves
The Watson Twins - U-N-Me - Talking to You, Talking to Me :: out February 9
She & Him - In the Sun - Volume Two :: out March 23
Eels - End Times - End Times
Broken Bells - The High Road - Broken Bells :: out March 9
Let’s Wrestle - We are the Men You’ll Grow to Love Soon - In the Course of Wrestling, Let’s :: out March 23
Metric - Help I’m Alive (80kidz Remix) - digital single
The Album Leaf - Falling From the Sun - A Chorus of Storytellers :: out February 2
Lali Puna - Remember - Our Inventions :: Did I say “out February 4″? I meant April 2. Dang Europeans with their switching the MM/DD and whatnot!
Peter Bradley Adams - For You - Traces
Laura Gibson and Ethan Rose - Younger - Bridge Carols :: out February 9
The Besnard Lakes - Albatross - The Besnard Lakes are the Roaring Night :: out March 9
Rogue Wave - Good Morning - Permalight :: out March 2
Radar Bros - Horses Warriors - The Illustrated Garden :: out March 23
The Raveonettes - The Chosen One - In & Out of Control :: special edition bonus track
Drive-By Truckers - This Fucking Job - The Big To-Do
:: out March 16
Sambassadeur - Days - European :: out February 24
Alex Arrowsmith - Get a Job, Hippie - Modernity Leave :: free album download
mp3s:

Yeasayer - O.N.E.
Bryan Free - I’ll Pull You Out
Four Tet - Angel Echoes
Cars & Trains - Intimidated By Silence
The Watson Twins - U-N-Me (sign-up requried)
She & Him - In the Sun (via Local Cut)
Eels - End Times (via Stereogum)
Let’s Wrestle - We are the Men You’ll Grow to Love Soon
Metric - Help I’m Alive (email required)
The Album Leaf - Falling from the Sun
Lali Puna - Remember
Peter Bradley Adams - For You (.zip file on page)
Laura Gibson and Ethan Rose - Younger (email required)
Besnard Lakes - Albatross
Radar Brothers - Horses Warriors
The Raveonettes - The Chosen One
Drive-By Truckers - This Fucking Job
Sambassadeur - Days

 

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 As I see the written words “Best of 2009,” I have a gut reaction to dismiss the very idea as an oxymoron. Like when someone who would rather not be awake responds with “What’s good about it?” when greeted by “Good morning.”

As writer Marc Kevin Hall recently observed, 2009 can be summed up by one word: loss. This was certainly true for me; I lost my job to the recession, and, worse, a longtime friend to death. The music community also suffered losses: Michael Jackson, Jeff Hanson, Vic Chestnutt to name a few. So far, this trend hasn’t abated in 2010, yet. Economic indicators continue to be sluggish, musicians keep dying, a personal friend of ours is withering in the hospital from cancer, and tens of thousands have been killed by the earthquake in Haiti.

So, that’s kind of a downer.

While bad circumstances can get me down, I also tend to be an optimist. I generally give people the benefit of the doubt, as well as difficult situations. I think things will start to get better. We’re on the cusp of passing health care legislation which, although it isn’t as robust as many of us had hoped for, should be the biggest stride towards improvement we’ve seen in years. I think we’re also going to figure out how to make a better, more stable economy. Science is continuing to make some sweet strides, and the world is basically a good place.

Even during last year, when things were the most difficult, there were still things to be thankful for, to smile about. For the first half of the year, I got to perform my calling in an amazing setting with amazing people, AND get paid for it. I met some artists whose work I truly admire. My wife is the most supportive and understanding woman I could hope for, and our daughter becomes more beautiful, smart and loving every day.

This is some of the music that helped me through the more difficult passages of 2009, and were the most enjoyable music I came across. I hope you enjoy it!

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Viva Voce - Rose City - Rose City
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart :: this is C86
Laura Gibson - Spirited - Beasts of Seasons
Ethan Rose - On Wheels Rotating - Oaks :: out soon: Bridge Carols (w/ Laura Gibson) [listen] [pre-order]
Alela Diane - White as Diamonds - To Be Still :: [video]
M. Ward - Rave On - Hold Time
Monsters of Folk -  Say Please - Monsters of Folk
Neko Case - People Got a Lotta Nerve - Middle Cyclone
Bat for Lashes - Daniel - Two Suns :: [video]
Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Shampoo - Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Jeff Hanson - If Only I Knew - Madam Owl
Vic Chesnutt - Society Sue - Skitter on Take-Off
Celilo - Sunken Ships (Live at Mississippi Studios) - [original on] Bending Mirrors
Starfucker - Boy Toy - Jupiter EP
Telekinesis - Coast of Carolina - Telekinesis!
O+S - Permanent Scar - O+S :: [video]
Ramona Falls - Russia - Intuit
Blue Giant - Blue Sunshine - Target Heart EP
They Might Be Giants - The Ballad of Davy Crockett (in Outer Space) - Here Comes Science :: [video]

Also, here are my top 10 favorite albums of the year, arranged in semi-arbitrary order:

1. Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
2. O+S - O+S
3. Ramona Falls - Intuit
4. Laura Gibson - Beasts of Seasons
5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
6. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
7. M. Ward - Hold Time
8. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
9. Viva Voce - Rose City
10. Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Elvis Perkins in Dearland

mp3s:

Viva Voce - Devotion
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Everything with You
Laura Gibson - Spirited
Ethan Rose - On Wheels Rotating
Alela Diane - White as Diamonds
Elvis Perkins - Shampoo
Jeff Hanson - If Only I Knew
Vic Chestnutt - Society Sue
Celilo - Sunken Ships (live at Mississippi Studios) (via The Oregonian)
Starfucker - Boy Toy
Telekinesis - Coast of Carolina
O+S - Permanent Scar
O+S - We Do what We Want To
Ramona Falls - Russia
Blue Giant - Blue Sunshine (via Local Cut)

 

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This is the fifth and final edition covering the last decade. Sort of. Next, we’ll be listening to the best music of 2009, and then we’ll really be done with the decade, I swear.

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Loney Dear - I am John - Loney, Noir
Yeasayer - 2080 - All Hour Cymbals
M.I.A. - Paper Planes - Kala
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights - 100 Days, 100 Nights
Basia Bulat - In the Night - Oh, My Darling
Deerhoof - +81 - Friend Opportunity
Blonde Redhead - 23 - 23
Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat - Spiderman of the Rings
The National - Fake Empire - Boxer
Okkervil River - Our Life is not a Movie or Maybe - The Stage Names
Palomar - Our Haunt - All Things, Forests
Blind Pilot - I Buried a Bone - 3 Rounds and a Sound
Ratatat - Falcon Jab - LP3
Why? - Fatalist Palmistry - Alopecia
Point Juncture, WA - Once Tasted Ever Wanted - Heart to Elk
Starfucker - Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second - Starfucker
Boy Eats Drum Machine - The Crack in the Sea - Booomboxxx
Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer - Furr
Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance - Youth Novels
Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire - In Ghost Colours
Goldfrapp - Caravan Girl - Seventh Tree
Plants and Animals - Mercy - Parc Avenue