Happy New Year y'all!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Top 10 Records for 2009.
As a male record geek, it is my genetic perogative to order things in an imaginary hierarchy. This way, if the shit goes down and Eric Clapton really does have a fist fight with Jimi Hendrix or Spacemen 3 get in a back-alley brawl with Led Zeppelin, I can say I predicted who would be the victor. Even if GI Joe were to fight Transformers 2, I would have my odds predetermined, but that's for another list. Here's the records released this year that rocked my small boat in their own special way.
2. NOISETTES- Wild Young Hearts. I would have totally overlooked this record had a friend not sent me a cd-r of it and I was instantly hooked. Basically they made the new wave record the Yeah Yeah Yeahs wished they had, the disco record the Gossip wished they made and the futuristic take on the '50s that Janelle Monae wished she had made- all on one record! Truly the Noisettes left the competition in the dust whether anyone knows it or not- and they did it with strong songwriting, innovative production and the catchy-est pop songs of the year. Your time will come Noisettes- keep on pushing.
4. 5 YEARS OF HYPERDUB- compilation. Similarly, the Hyperdub label compiled their best singles of the last 5 years (along with a second disc of newies) for an introduction to Dubstep that updates the concept of dub for the 21st century. Crispy, spacious beats, weird warbled vocals and loads & loads of BASS. This the spiritual offspring of Scratch & King Tubby making music on laptops in the heart of Babylondon. If retrospective compilations aren't allowed than I posit that "Memories of the Future" by Kode9 & Spaceape can be substituted. Again- gimme the fucking future!
5. THE BLACK CROWES- Before the frost/Until the Freeze- Ooops! What did I just say about the future? This is about as retro as a band can sound in 2009- recorded live in Levon Helm's barn, the Black Crowes delivered on two promises. One, they made a caning jam rock album that wipes the floor with My Morning Jacket and they made their trippy/acoustic opus with Until the Freeze. Bonus points for packaging that includes a sticker, download card (for Until the Freeze) and a cool looking black CD made to look like a record. Who sez CDs are dying? I paid full price & felt like I was getting a bargain. The soundtrack to late summer afternoons drinking beer & sanding the paint off my BMW in the yard.
6. THE HORRORS- Primary Colors. As technology moves forward it's getting easier & easier to sound exactly like My Bloody Valentine. The Horrors won points for embracing both periods of MBV- the shoegazer phase and the early geek/rockabilly phase. Extra points awarded for making their intellectual shortcomings into savant-like pop music. Produced by the dude from Portishead, which explains alot about the progression of their sound in my opinion. But what do I know?
7. IMELDA MAY- Love Tattoo. Speaking of rockabilly, Imelda May updated the genre in a way Amy Winehouse wishes she'd thought of first. Irish former burlesque dancer with a fantastic voice and Victory Curl hairdo, what's not to like? As I got more into car culture, excuse me, kar kulture this year, I got more into rockabilly and this is the only new record that celebrates the history and doesnt make me cringe.
8. THE SPIRES- A Way Of Seeing. I first heard Ventura's Spires about 3 years ago and every year they've had a release in my top 10. Think Felt & the Go-Betweens wrapped in a giant Velvet Underground burrito together with a dash of Smiths salsa on top. Great lyrics, amazing guitar playing, steady beats, if the Spires weren't already a band someone would have to start them because their particular vintage of indie rock never goes out of style. Rumor is they're already working on another e.p. for next year, I'll reserve um a spot in the top 10.
9. BOB DYLAN- Christmas in the Heart. Yup. This came on like seeing your favorite old, weird uncle at the usual boring family Christmas party. Rather than embarrassing everyone, he sits at the piano with a drink and sings his old hobo heart out. Possibly my favorite Christmas album since Jacob Miller's "Natty Christmas". Bonus points for the Olivia/Bettie Page pin-up on the inner sleeve to thumb the nose at the Christians- well done Bob!
10. ACE FREHLEY- Anomaly. I've loved Ace Frehley since 1978 and I was overjoyed to see he's cleaned up for the first time ever and released a proper follow-up to his original Kiss solo album. As a song-writer the guy isn't exactly Leonard Cohen but as a guitarist he's still Ace Frehley which gives him spiritual royalties on everything from Guitar Hero to the International Air Guitar Championships. Kiss made a good showing too with their "Sonic Boom" album but lost big points for having Tommy Thayer wear Ace's makeup- sorry Gene, there's only one Ace!
1. DIAGONAL- Diagonal. With just about every possible sub-genre strip mined by indie rock this year, Brighton 6-piece Diagonal went into hyperspace and came back with a prog rock/space jazz fusion that put them light years ahead of the competitors. Sounding more like Van Der Graff Generator than Grizzlybeardeerhuntereaglewhatever- they have both the chops and the imagination to make a record that most bands just don't got the vision to do. Bonus points for recording it at Toe Rag Studio and for being such good looking geeks as well. Expect more blog posts about them in the coming years.
2. NOISETTES- Wild Young Hearts. I would have totally overlooked this record had a friend not sent me a cd-r of it and I was instantly hooked. Basically they made the new wave record the Yeah Yeah Yeahs wished they had, the disco record the Gossip wished they made and the futuristic take on the '50s that Janelle Monae wished she had made- all on one record! Truly the Noisettes left the competition in the dust whether anyone knows it or not- and they did it with strong songwriting, innovative production and the catchy-est pop songs of the year. Your time will come Noisettes- keep on pushing.
Video enabling disabled but you can peep um here
3. FRANZ FERDINAND- Blood. Now, this is BLOOD- the dub remix of their "Tonight" album. I thought Tonight was good but kinda did the same retread dance that everyone else made this year (sorry Tegan & Sara!!). But Blood was an entirely different proposition- remixed by Mr. Dan (who's supposedly done mixes for Lee Scratch Perry) it stripped off Franz' disco layers to reveal some tasty non-cliched reggae beats. All I listened to this year was vintage reggae so anyone with an update on the sound was a welcome addition- thank you Mr Franz & Mr Dan!
3. FRANZ FERDINAND- Blood. Now, this is BLOOD- the dub remix of their "Tonight" album. I thought Tonight was good but kinda did the same retread dance that everyone else made this year (sorry Tegan & Sara!!). But Blood was an entirely different proposition- remixed by Mr. Dan (who's supposedly done mixes for Lee Scratch Perry) it stripped off Franz' disco layers to reveal some tasty non-cliched reggae beats. All I listened to this year was vintage reggae so anyone with an update on the sound was a welcome addition- thank you Mr Franz & Mr Dan!
4. 5 YEARS OF HYPERDUB- compilation. Similarly, the Hyperdub label compiled their best singles of the last 5 years (along with a second disc of newies) for an introduction to Dubstep that updates the concept of dub for the 21st century. Crispy, spacious beats, weird warbled vocals and loads & loads of BASS. This the spiritual offspring of Scratch & King Tubby making music on laptops in the heart of Babylondon. If retrospective compilations aren't allowed than I posit that "Memories of the Future" by Kode9 & Spaceape can be substituted. Again- gimme the fucking future!
5. THE BLACK CROWES- Before the frost/Until the Freeze- Ooops! What did I just say about the future? This is about as retro as a band can sound in 2009- recorded live in Levon Helm's barn, the Black Crowes delivered on two promises. One, they made a caning jam rock album that wipes the floor with My Morning Jacket and they made their trippy/acoustic opus with Until the Freeze. Bonus points for packaging that includes a sticker, download card (for Until the Freeze) and a cool looking black CD made to look like a record. Who sez CDs are dying? I paid full price & felt like I was getting a bargain. The soundtrack to late summer afternoons drinking beer & sanding the paint off my BMW in the yard.
6. THE HORRORS- Primary Colors. As technology moves forward it's getting easier & easier to sound exactly like My Bloody Valentine. The Horrors won points for embracing both periods of MBV- the shoegazer phase and the early geek/rockabilly phase. Extra points awarded for making their intellectual shortcomings into savant-like pop music. Produced by the dude from Portishead, which explains alot about the progression of their sound in my opinion. But what do I know?
7. IMELDA MAY- Love Tattoo. Speaking of rockabilly, Imelda May updated the genre in a way Amy Winehouse wishes she'd thought of first. Irish former burlesque dancer with a fantastic voice and Victory Curl hairdo, what's not to like? As I got more into car culture, excuse me, kar kulture this year, I got more into rockabilly and this is the only new record that celebrates the history and doesnt make me cringe.
8. THE SPIRES- A Way Of Seeing. I first heard Ventura's Spires about 3 years ago and every year they've had a release in my top 10. Think Felt & the Go-Betweens wrapped in a giant Velvet Underground burrito together with a dash of Smiths salsa on top. Great lyrics, amazing guitar playing, steady beats, if the Spires weren't already a band someone would have to start them because their particular vintage of indie rock never goes out of style. Rumor is they're already working on another e.p. for next year, I'll reserve um a spot in the top 10.
9. BOB DYLAN- Christmas in the Heart. Yup. This came on like seeing your favorite old, weird uncle at the usual boring family Christmas party. Rather than embarrassing everyone, he sits at the piano with a drink and sings his old hobo heart out. Possibly my favorite Christmas album since Jacob Miller's "Natty Christmas". Bonus points for the Olivia/Bettie Page pin-up on the inner sleeve to thumb the nose at the Christians- well done Bob!
10. ACE FREHLEY- Anomaly. I've loved Ace Frehley since 1978 and I was overjoyed to see he's cleaned up for the first time ever and released a proper follow-up to his original Kiss solo album. As a song-writer the guy isn't exactly Leonard Cohen but as a guitarist he's still Ace Frehley which gives him spiritual royalties on everything from Guitar Hero to the International Air Guitar Championships. Kiss made a good showing too with their "Sonic Boom" album but lost big points for having Tommy Thayer wear Ace's makeup- sorry Gene, there's only one Ace!
There they are, the graduating class of 2009.
For the most part though, all I've really listened to this year is old school reggae and a bit of metal. The Trojan box sets are a screaming deal- the Dub Rarities, Roots & Culture, Revive & Country Reggae & DJ boxes don't have a bad track on um and average 50 singles over 3 discs at about $20 each and it's the greatest music ever made. If reggae gets co-opted by indie rockers in 2010, don't blame me.
Jah survive!
I'm already famous.
Just one day of operation and we've already got some very famous fans. Maybe you've heard of Blair Waldorf and her alter ego....
Leighton Meestermeister!!
And speaking of unsightly old hags who terrorise the Upper East Side- our other big fan is none other than...
Mick Jaggermeister! Lead singer of the Olding Bones and a big fan of the tipple if you catch my drift!!
Tune in tomorrow for more intermadness!!
Leighton Meestermeister!!
And speaking of unsightly old hags who terrorise the Upper East Side- our other big fan is none other than...
Mick Jaggermeister! Lead singer of the Olding Bones and a big fan of the tipple if you catch my drift!!
Tune in tomorrow for more intermadness!!
More glorious and more dread than from no fall
Mee though just right, and the fixt Laws of Heav'n
Did first create your Leader, next, free choice,
With what besides, in Counsel or in Fight,
Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loss
Thus farr at least recover'd, hath much more
Establisht in a safe unenvied Throne
Yeilded with full consent.
This is the sample text taken from the template made by Blogger & I thought it would be an appropriate first post to capture the gravity and the pageantry of starting another blog. "Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loss thus farr at least recover'd" indeed bro! Party on King James!
Did first create your Leader, next, free choice,
With what besides, in Counsel or in Fight,
Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loss
Thus farr at least recover'd, hath much more
Establisht in a safe unenvied Throne
Yeilded with full consent.
This is the sample text taken from the template made by Blogger & I thought it would be an appropriate first post to capture the gravity and the pageantry of starting another blog. "Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loss thus farr at least recover'd" indeed bro! Party on King James!
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