Year-End List 2009
Twas just over a year ago that I announced the end of an era (for me, anyway) in ending weekly music review updates at almostcool.org. It wasnt’ a decision that I made lightly, but one that I was at peace with, and a year on I feel even better about the decision.
For one, there are now many weeks where I simply wonder where in the hell I found the time to write five music reviews. At the same time, I figure that I had started recycling my own writing so much that I was time to reign in the pace a little bit. This site was the result, and in 52 weeks I posted a little fewer than one new review per week. Quite a step down from my previous pace, but in the end I felt like the quality of the reviews themselves increased.
At any rate, one of the things I did every year on the old site was post a year-end list, and I still plan on doing that here (although instead of readers lists, I’ll just ask that you post them in the comments of this entry).
For me, 2009 arrived right off the bat with some great music and continued with some albums that I had really looked forward to, as well as some complete and total surprises. Of course, there were some letdowns as well, but I’d rather not dwell on them. One big trend I noticed in my list is that this is perhaps the strongest year for straight-up electronic music that there’s been in some time (to my ears at least). Without further explanation, here’s how things shook out.
1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)
This is the first music review that I did in 2009 and even then I knew it would take something incredibly strong to knock it out of the top spot. I’ve been a fan of this group for a long time going now, but they’ve never released something quite so catchy and effervescent.
2. Wisp – The Shimmering Hour (Rephlex)
A little album that came out of nowhere and knocked me for a loop, then just continued to find its way up in my rotation. I honestly can’t believe that I haven’t seen this one given more love elsewhere, as it’s one of the most melodic, rhythmic, and incredibly-produced electronic albums that I’ve heard since the glory days of one Mr. Richard D. James. Stunning stuff.
3. Mount Eerie – Wind’s Poem (P.W. Elverum)
Alongside The Glow Pt. 2 this recording easily rests as my favorite work that Phil Elverum has had a hand in to date. To me, it feels like the perfect culmination of all his different experiments and side-projects over the course of the past couple years. It’s alternately massive and noisy, dense and atmospheric, and fragile and candid. Reveals itself over several listens and holds up very well.
4. Akron/Family – Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free (Dead Oceans)
Akron/Family is one of those groups that I’d followed somewhat peripherally for awhile, but it took until this album for them to finally really grab me. An incredibly fun album full of everything from quiet campfire singalongs to big old fuzzed-out psych rock jamz.
5. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orce (Domino)
Like the aforementioned Mount Eerie album, this is one that seems like a real cumulative effort of previous outputs distilled into something better than the works that arrived previous. The intricate guitar melodies and off-kilter voice of Longstreth is still the majority of the focus here, but there’s a lot of other weird vibes (including some doo-wop) that haunt this release and make it something special.
6. Health – Get Color (Lovepump United)
This delicious collision of post punk, noise, and electronics was a great step forward for the group, who threw as much sheer power as they could into making the listener bang their head and shake their hips at the same time. Loud, lovely textures.
7. Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport (ATP Recordings)
Another sophomore album that takes a huge step forward, this one finds the duo finding a winning formula and then riding it to sheer ecstasy over and over again. It isn’t rocket science, but it’s as exhilarating as a rocket ride. Makes me feel delirious in a good way.
8. Clark – Totems Flare (Warp)
Flying unabashedly into a more pop context, Clark went full gusto with vocals this time out, but didn’t leave his crushing, singular musical constructions behind. The result is an album that again sounds like nobody else could have made it, along with some of the most insane pop music I’ve heard in awhile.
9. Intrusion – The Seduction Of Silence (Echospace)
I have a real weakness for anything with a Basic Channel vibe, and the Echospace and Echocord label have been kicking it out in spades for the past several years, with most of it being really high quality work. This latest from Intrusion is no different, and it burns deep with some minimal techno and dub riddims, pulsing on and on.
10. White Rainbow – New Clouds (Kranky)
I can’t even begin to count how many times this album cycling through my playlist during the course of the fall and winter, but it’s been a lot. Mega epic spaced-out goodness that just hits me in the right spot and brings the bliss.
11. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE (Asthmatic Kitty)
I don’t know where Stevens will go from here, but it was nice to hear something new from the talented artist as he explores different ideas. This instrumental chamber/orchestral piece drew little bits from everyone from Gershwin to minimalism (one could argue) and it combined with the visuals it made for an utterly fascinating ode to a massive slab of unsightly concrete and steel.
12. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone (Anti)
I’ve been listening to Neko Case for years now and have even seen her in concert twice (once in a tiny club and another time in a huge theater), so it seems odd that I’ve never placed her on one of my year-end lists. There’s nothing hugely different with this release from her past efforts, but it simply does something for me that the others didn’t. The songs are catchy but inventive. They start and just go and tell a tale and sometimes that story is sad. That’s pretty much how life goes, really.
13. Moritz Von Oswald Trio – Vertical Ascent (Honest John’s)
On the grand scheme of things, calling this collaboration a “supergroup” would probably cause chuckles from most people, but in the circle of electronic music, this trio was definitely cause to listen in. Unlike a lot of other mind-melds, this one paid off in spades, with four epic cuts that all morph and meld into one epic piece. Hypnotic.
14. Humcrush – Rest At Worlds End (Rune Grammofon)
In a year when Supersilent went drummerless and got even more super silent, Humcrush again brought their alternately ramshackle and sleek android jazz rock out for another spin and created another heck of an album in the process. There are cuts for melting into a tub full of bubbles and others that sound like shrapnel slicing the air. Wicked.
15. Bruno Pronsato – The Make Up The Break Up (TheSongSays)
I’m not quite sure whether this is a long single, an EP, or a full-length, but I haven’t heard minimal techno this good in quite some time so I don’t really give a flip. Basically, it’s a slow build, then a hearty, scorchy burner, then long meltdown that all clocks in at just about 40 minutes and trips my trigger many many times along the way.
16. Do Make Say Think – Other Truths (Constellation)
One of three entries on my list that consisted of four long tracks, this newest effort from Do Make Say Think doesn’t really change their formula a great deal but doesn’t sound the least bit stagnant either.
17. Faust – C’est Com… Com… Complique’ (Bureau B)
This isn’t quite the original lineup of the legendary krautrock group, but damned if they don’t kick out the freaking jams as if the past 30 years hadn’t even passed. This is noisy, sloppy at times, and exhilarating and highly entertaining.
18. Cold Cave – Love Comes Close (Heartworm / Matador)
Maybe it’s the inner goth and club kid in me, but I couldn’t get enough of this album from Cold Cave. Kinda crunchy, kinda dancey, and seemingly very serious, it’s nonetheless a great deal of fun (yes, fun).
19. Robert Moran – Mantra (Innova)
A modern classical release that mixed solo instrumental pieces with those for voice alone and some spare percussion, it was truly an album that I think anyone could find something to love. A triptych of beautiful pieces, this is an overlooked gem.
20. The Field – Yesterday And Tomorrow (Anti/Kompakt)
Even though he hasn’t tweaked his formula a great deal, there’s really isn’t anyone creating the same sort of sweeping musical vistas that Axel Wilner is. This one spun many times while I biked thousands of miles in 2009.
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:02 pm
In the past, I’ve always posted readers lists on my site, but in lieu of doing that this year, I’ll just ask that people post their list in the comments here (please limit it to 20 or so).
Or, if you have your list posted on a website somewhere else, feel free to post a link to it.
Thanks!
January 4th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Hey Aaron,
Thanks for another great year! Although I did miss your weekly updates, I’m super happy you kept this blog going.
I have given up ranking my tunes, but have a bunch of my faves posted here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyroddick/sets/72157623103656298/
If you (or anyone else) is interested, I also have a mix of some of my favorite tracks.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4243187083_a26236e976_b.jpg
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z6ICZJD9
I hope to see the lists of other folks here. I always caught wind of alot I missed from the almostcool yearly lists.
January 5th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
My list is very similiar since I am heavily influenced by this site. I like most of what’s been featured here and you’re right about the quality of the reviews having improved. They are way better and you’ve picked some downright smashing albums to review throughout the year. The new, slower pace is good.
Best Albums:
1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)
2. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone (Anti)
3. The Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orce (Domino)
4. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest (Warp)
5. White Rainbow – New Clouds (Kranky)
6. Akron/Family – Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free (Dead Oceans)
7. Clark – Totems Flare (Warp)
8. Mount Eerie – Wind’s Poem (P.W. Elverum)
9. The Very Best – Warm Heart of Africa (Green Owl)
X. Wisp – The Shimmering Hour (Rephlex)
I also liked Jim O’Rourke’s “The Visitor” and Moderat’s self-titled to name a few new names.
Best Reissues:
The Stone Roses – S/t (20th Anniversary Edition) (Sony)
Various Artists – Nigeria 70 – 1970’s Funky Lagos (Strut)
January 5th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Animal Collective : “merryweather post pavilion” (domino)
Wild Beasts : “two dancers” (domino)
Grizzly Bear : “veckatimest” (warp)
Atlas Sound : “logos” (4ad)
Natural Snow Buildings : “shadow kingdom” (blackest rainbow)
Mountains : “choral” (thrill jockey)
Shackleton : “three Eps” (perlon)
DM Stith : “heavy ghost” (asthmatic kitty)
Peter Broderick & Machinefabriek : “blank grey canvas sky” (fang bomb)
Jim O’Rourke : “the visitor” (drag city)
Cryptacize : “mythomania” (asthmatic kitty)
Dirty Projectors : “bitte orca” (domino)
The Field : “yesterday and today” (kompakt)
Peter Wright : “snowblind” (install)
Le Lendemain : “fires” (home normal)
King Midas Sound : “waiting for you” (hyperdub)
January 11th, 2010 at 3:28 am
1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)
2. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest (Warp)
3. M Ward – Hold time (Domino)
4. Squares On Both Sides – Indication (Own Records)
5. Nils Frahm – Wintermusik (Sonic Pieces)
6. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career (4AD)
7. Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle (Drag city)
8. Bowerbirds – Upper Air (Dead Oceans)
9. Fedaden – Broader (Nacopajaz)
10. Atlas Sound – Logos (4AD)
11. Belone Quartet – 1802 (Kythibong)
12. Trouble Books – The United Colors Of Trouble Books (Own records)
13. Saint Vincent – Actor (4AD)
14. Color Cassette – Forever Sparrow (Autres Directions In Music)
15. The Gentleman Losers – Dustland (City Centre Offices)
16. The XX – s/t (Young Turks)
17. Sinner DC – Crystallized (Ai)
18. Epic45 – In All The Empty Houses (Make Mine Music)
19. Bike For Three – More Heart Than Brain (Anticon)
20. This Immortal Coil – The Dark Age Of Love (Ici D’Ailleurs)