That Sound #86 - Best of 2009 - Bat for Lashes, Ramona Falls, M Ward, Viva Voce, more!
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
Laura Gibson - Spirited - Beasts of Seasons
Ethan Rose - On Wheels Rotating - Oaks
Alela Diane - White as Diamonds - To Be Still
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
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
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
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)
February 5th, 2010 at 11:26 am
you call TPOBPAH c86? i’d call it shoegaze. but meh, we’re probably both right. i love come saturday and everything with you (i also love contender) but young adult friction didn’t grab me.
to be honest, i didn’t dig most of your 2009 favs. but that’s what makes the world go round - celebrating our differences.
the songs i liked best of 2009 (that befit the style of music you post here) are:
Celldweller - So Long Sentiment
Depeche Mode – Wrong
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – Everything With You
Depeche Mode - Corrupt
Bad Lieutenant – Sink Or Swim
Depeche Mode - Peace
Bell X1 - The Ribs Of A Broken Umbrella
Moby – Pale Horses
G Love & Special Sauce – Peace, Love and Happiness
Supervillains – Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
Abbie Barrett - Start A Fire
Porcupine Tree – Time Flies
Chromeo - Night By Bight
see all 50 of my favs here: http://bit.ly/6MLqRQ
moving on to show #87…
February 6th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Yeah, it’s a fine line between C86 and shoegaze. I usually think of shoegaze as a bit less poppy & upbeat. Plus, TPOBPAH sound less “produced” than a lot of shoegaze bands. But again, it’s splitting hairs.
I just glanced at your list of 50–thanks for telling me about Bad Lieutenant! I’m a huge New Order and Electronic fan, but somehow missed that one. I noticed you really liked what Depeche Mode put out last year, I wish I could have agreed, but I’m partial to their earlier stuff, especially “Violator.”
What did you think of Pet Shop Boys’ album? I personally thought it was great. They floundered for a few years, but YES really holds up against any of their older material.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:09 am
i think of Depeche the way you think of PSB, and vice versa.
i feel that DM has held up great over time, including their latest effort. songs like ‘in chains’, ‘hole to feed’, ‘wrong’ and ‘corrupt’ are almost on par with Violator-era music. not quite as good (i mean that’s a pretty unrealistic goal - to beat Violator), but close enough.
however, the two PSB songs i heard from Yes didn’t thrill me at all. i’ll take Introspective over Yes hands-down. for an in-depth analysis, my 2 star review of Love Etc is somewhere on this page: http://www.411mania.com/music/columns/113224
as for Bad Lieutenant, yep great album. solid the whole way through. reminds me of less-electronic Republic. still doesn’t sound like they have/need 3 guitarists though. go fig.
just starting up show #88…
May 13th, 2010 at 1:17 am
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