Четверг 31 Дек 2009, 13:54
*According to me.
If i've realised one thing this year it's that i'm a little too obsessed with music. Not necessarily a bad thing, but i know it's got to simmer down at some point. This year takes the cake for sure…, as i think this stupidly long list will prove.
Decided not to include a section of albums i didn't like… theres already too many to mention of the good stuff, so what's the point.
In alphabetical order…
THE STANDOUTS (My absolute favourite albums of 2009)
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/youngcardinals.jpgArtist: Alexisonfire
Album: Old Crows/Young CardinalsAlexisonfire are the quintessential hipster emo/screamo scene kid band-of-choice, and as such i have generally avoided them for years. Was given the album and didn't really give it much play, but the heavy rotation of the 'Young Cardinals' single on the radio eventually hooked me and made me listen again, and this is a great album. I think its funny that the scene kids will have to share their now mainstream band with noobs like me. Ah, i remember when noobs started listening to my bands….
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/blackgiveswaytoblue.jpgArtist: Alice in Chains
Album: Black Gives Way To BlueAlice in Chains and Smashing Pumpkins were my two fave grunge-era bands, so i was more than willing to accept this no matter how average… but it turned out to be exceptionally good, which pushes it up into my standouts. The new singer doesn't add much apart from sounding like Layne Staley, which doesn't interfere with the band's original sound, so they haven't tarnished the band's name in my books, which is always my greatest fear with comebacks like these.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/iandloveandyou.jpgArtist: The Avett Brothers
Album: I And Love And YouThese are the kind of albums i love finding… alt-country gems like this that get overlooked. This album isn't overly serious, consists of beautiful folky melodies and the second half almost breaks into party mode with a few indie rock moments, which for me, gives it a bit of an edge over other alt-country releases this year.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/bluerecord.jpgArtist: Baroness
Album: Blue RecordWaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than Red Album. If they improve again over this, holy shit.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/wyllt.jpgArtist: Black Math Horseman
Album: WylltMelodic stoner/doom with female vocals…. yes please. Apart from that, its also really, really, really good.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/axetofall.jpgArtist: Converge
Album: Axe To FallHardcore+Punk+Metal… sounds like the usual recipe for disaster, but this is so far above average its not even funny. The final two tracks on this album show they could probably make any genre of music and still be exceptional.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/spiritedmigration.jpgArtist: Dark Castle
Album: Spirited MigrationAwesome female metal vocals for this exceptional sludge metal album, a winner with me.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/farm.jpgArtist: Dinosaur Jr.
Album: FarmAware of the slew of highly rated reviews for this, i decided to check it out. Definitely deserves the acclaim. Fantastic guitar record.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thepariahtheparrotthedelusion.jpgArtist: Dredg
Album: The Pariah, The Parrot, The DelusionMy first impressions of this were a mixed bag. On one hand there were some amazing songs with amazing lyrics, like 'Pariah', or 'I Don't Know' - and then there were some others that sound straight up top 40 punk-pop, particularly 'Information' that really put me off. But it was one of those albums i just had to keep listening to, now i really love the whole thing.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/novelsoundsofthenouveausouth.jpgArtist: Ha Ha Tonka
Album: Novel Sounds Of The Nouveau SouthSo damn good.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/honeymoon.jpgArtist: The Handsome Family
Album: Honey MoonAw mah gaaaawd yeh.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/statictensions.jpgArtist: Kylesa
Album: Static TensionsFuck me, this is fucking killer. One of my favourite albums ever!
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/confetti.jpgArtist: Little Birdy
Album: ConfettiI've got a soft spot for Little Birdy, they write great pop songs and they've thankfully returned to their original country inspired sound, and mixed in a bit of white R&B for good measure. There's not a bad song on the album.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/cracktheskye.jpgArtist: Mastodon
Album: Crack The SkyeOne of my favourite bands. Crack The Skye is definitely their most cohesive, focussed album, resulting in less tracks and longer songs. I don't think i could choose a favourite album of theirs, they're all different and excellent.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/fantasies.jpgArtist: Metric
Album: FantasiesThese songs really stood out to me this year, amongst all the other indie pop… fun songs.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/middlecyclone.jpgArtist: Neko Case
Album: Middle CycloneNeko Case rules my world. I LOVE HER!
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thepainsofbeingpureatheart.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/higherthanthestarsEP.jpgArtist: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Album: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Album: Higher Than The StarsAnother totally perfect record, quickly became one of my favourites ever. Totally my exact kind of pop-rock record. Elements of My Bloody Valentine, The Strokes, The Stone Roses, The Smiths and Silversun Pickups all come to mind when listening to it. Pure bliss.
They also released an EP, Higher than the Stars, which was a bit disappointing only because the songs on it all sound kinda similar to other songs on the eponymous LP.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/roadhousesun.jpgArtist: Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses
Album: Roadhouse SunAnother amazing alt-country discovery.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/carvingdesertcanyons.jpgArtist: Scale The Summit
Album: Carving Desert CanyonsInstrumental, post-rock, progressive, with elements of metal… i think this is my favourite instrumental album ever. I don't really enjoy instrumental albums that much. There are a lot of amazing bands out there who choose this path, but my main complaint is that, for me, it just gets boring after awhile. This album never get boring and is a total blast to listen to.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/swoon.jpgArtist: Silversun Pickups
Album: SwoonCarnavas is up there with my most favourite perfect albums ever, and i knew it would be a hard act to follow. No, its not as good as Carnavas. But this is still really, really good. I really love this album and it's still miles better than most stuff around at the moment, it's just that Carnavas set the bar too high and i find it hard to get too excited about this.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/raincitystateofmindEP.jpgArtist: A Textbook Tragedy
Album: Rain City State of MindI have absolutely listened the dog shit out of their EP this year. I can't get enough. Something about this EP clicks with me more than the 2008 Intimidator LP did, i can't put my finger on it. It totally obliterates anything in its path, and makes it hard to downgrade to other similar hardcore technical math-metalcore bands out there… this is as good as it gets.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thosedarlins.jpgArtist: Those Darlins
Album: Those DarlinsCountry + Punk + Girls = win.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/nightmaresinthekeyofwow.jpgArtist: Tucker B's
Album: Nightmares In The Key Of (((((Wow)))))Well, finally an Aussie band that totally delivered. These guys are so slept on, its criminal. I guess that's how they can manage to produce yet another album of such sheer brilliance, because there's absolutely no pressure. I thought 2005's Chubby LP was amazing, and now this, the songs are still as punchy, catchy, unpretentious and bizarre as ever. I've always kinda thought they sound like Pixies meets Radiohead sans thom yorke. I dunno, they're just the Tucker B's. Fucking legends.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/trueblood-musicfromtheHBOoriginalse.jpgAlbum: True Blood - Music From The HBO Original Series
One of the best soundtracks ever! Perfect for any mood or occasion. Try it out!
LOVED (awesome albums! - just not quite the standouts)
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thedivinityofoceans.jpgArtist: Ahab
Album: The Divinity of Oceans
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/ofsoundmind.jpgArtist: Ancestors
Album: Of Sound Mind
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thesearelights.jpgArtist: The Armed
Album: These Are Lights
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thegreatmisdirect.jpgArtist: Between The Buried And Me
Album: The Great Misdirect
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/deflorate.jpgArtist: The Black Dahlia Murder
Album: Deflorate
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/horizoner.jpgArtist: Bloodhorse
Album: Horizoner
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/spoilsoffailure.jpgArtist: Buried Inside
Album: Spoils of Failure
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/providence.jpgArtist: Callisto
Album: Providence
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/sci-ficrimes.jpgArtist: Chevelle
Album: Sci-Fi Crimes
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thefineprintacollectionofodditiesan.jpgArtist: Drive-By Truckers
Album: The Fine Print (A Collection Of Oddities And Rarities) 2003-2008
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/greybritain.jpgArtist: Gallows
Album: Grey Britain
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/fromfathoms.jpgArtist: Gifts From Enola
Album: From Fathoms
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/ithatesyou.jpgArtist: He is Legend
Album: It Hates You
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/throughthedevilsoftly.jpgArtist: Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions
Album: Through The Devil Softly
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/primarycolours.jpgArtist: The Horrors
Album: Primary Colours
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/desperateliving.jpgArtist: HORSE The Band
Album: Desperate Living
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/solelord.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/soleyeseai.jpgArtist: Irepress
Album: Sol Eye Sea I
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/waveringradiant.jpgArtist: Isis
Album: Wavering Radiant
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/infinity.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/opiatesun.jpgArtist: Jesu
Album: Infinity
Album: Opiate Sun
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/theempyrean.jpgArtist: John Frusciante
Album: The Empyrean
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/soundawake.jpgArtist: Karnivool
Album: Sound Awake
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/shadowsoftheshapeless.jpgArtist: Kongh
Album: Shadows of the Shapeless
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/ohmygodcharliedarwin.jpgArtist: The Low Anthem
Album: Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/withechoesinthemovementofstone.jpgArtist: Minsk
Album: With Echoes In The Movement Of Stone
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/worsethanalone.jpgArtist: The Number Twelve Looks Like You
Album: Worse Than Alone
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/godisgood.jpgArtist: Om
Album: God is Good
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/murderingoscarandotherlovesongs.jpgArtist: Patterson Hood
Album: Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs)
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/laughincryinwiththereverendhorton_h.jpgArtist: Reverend Horton Heat
Album: Laughin' & Cryin' With The Reverend Horton Heat
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/oozevoodoo.jpgArtist: The Scare
Album: Oozevoodoo
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/shrinebuilder.jpgArtist: Shrinebuilder
Album: Shrinebuilder
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/conditions.jpgArtist: The Temper Trap
Album: Conditions
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/beggars.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/wilcothealbum.jpgArtist: Wilco
Album: Wilco (The Album)
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/itsblitz.jpgArtist: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Album: It's Blitz!
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thegreatcessation.jpgArtist: YOB
Album: The Great Cessation
NOT BAD, NOT GREAT (disappointing, but worth a mention…)
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/tobestill.jpgArtist: Alela Diane
Album: To Be Still
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/amongtheoakash.jpgArtist: Among The Oak & Ash
Album: Among The Oak & Ash
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/itsnothingpersonal.jpgArtist: Bury Your Dead
Album: It's Nothing Personal
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/ox.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/deadmansbones.jpgArtist: Dead Man's Bones
Album: Dead Man's Bones
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/theclearing.jpgArtist: Disappearer
Album: The Clearing
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/musicformen.jpgArtist: The Gossip
Album: Music For Men
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thedevilyouknow.jpgArtist: Heaven & Hell
Album: The Devil You Know
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/radiowars.jpgArtist: Howling Bells
Album: Radio Wars
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/icarusthesunclimber.jpgArtist: Manatees
Album: Icarus, The Sunclimber
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/passages.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/endgame.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/newdistances.jpgArtist: Narrows
Album: New Distances
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/ifeelcream.jpgArtist: Peaches
Album: I Feel Cream
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/ephemeralEP.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/thetropicrot.jpgArtist: Poison The Well
Album: The Tropic Rot
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/kamaaltheabstract.jpgArtist: Q-Tip
Album: Kamaal The Abstract
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/annodominihighdefinition.jpgArtist: Riverside
Album: Anno Domini High Definition
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/geneva.jpgArtist: Russian Circles
Album: Geneva
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/worldpaintedblood.jpgArtist: Slayer
Album: World Painted Blood
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/kieran0411/2009/americancentraldust.jpgArtist: Son Volt
Album: American Central Dust
OTHER ALBUMS I wanted to check out - for future referenceA Storm of Light - Forgive Us Our Trespasses
A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar
Across Tundras - Herds of the Fathomless Valleys
And Then There Were None - Who Speaks For Planet Earth?
Arbouretum - Song Of The Pearl
Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love
Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer
Black Cobra - Chronomega
The Bottle Rockets - Lean Forward
Bridezilla - The First Dance
Chali 2na - Fish Outta Water
Children - Hard Times Hanging At The End Of The World
The Church - Untitled #23
Clan of Xymox - In Love We Trust
Dappled Cities - Zounds
Dave Alvin - Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women
Dexter Romweber Duo - Ruins of Berlin
Double Dagger - More
Echoes of Yul - Echoes of Yul
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up From Below
Fall of Efrafa - Inlé
Five Finger Death Punch - War Is The Answer
Florence + The Machine - Lungs
Gaza - He Is Never Coming Back
Guy Clark - Somedays The Song Writes You
Heavy Trash - Midnight Soul Serenade
Hot Panda - Volcano… Bloody Volcano
I Was A King - I Was A King
Iron Age - The Sleeping Eye
James Hand - Shadow on the Ground
Javelina - Beasts Among Sheep
Jets Overhead - No Nations
Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
Kieran Kane - Somewhere Beyond The Roses
Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy
Langhorne Slim - Be Set Free
Latitudes - Agonist
Litmus - Aurora
Living Things - Habeas Corpus
Loney Dear - Dear John
Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
Lullabye Arkestra - Threats/Worship
Mac McAnally - Down By The River
Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People… Lazers Do
Maplewood - Yeti Boombox
Mariachi El Bronx - Mariachi El Bronx
Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
Mos Def - The Ecstatic
N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo
Naam - Naam
New Keepers of the Water Towers - The Chronicles
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Speed of Life
Oceansize - Home & Minor
Oh Mercy - Privileged Woes
Oneida - Rated O
Paul Burch And The WPA Ballclub - Still Your Man
Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Pelican - What We All Come To Need
Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans
Porcupine Tree - The Incident
Shadows Fall - Retribution
Sights & Sounds - Monolith
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Starlight Mints - Change Remains
Sugar Army - The Parallels Amongst Ourselves
Taint - All Bees To The Sea
The Psyke Project - Dead Storm
Tift Merritt - Buckingham Solo
To A Skylark - To A Skylark
To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie - Marlone
Two Tongues - Two Tongues
Weird Owl - Ever The Silver Cord Be Loosed