Earlier this year, Vekzel made a great music blog where he listed his favorite albums from this year of music. I wasn't ready to tip my hand yet, but I was intrigued by his choices, and inspired to post my own list of music. After an exhaustive (read: relaxing and wonderful) few days of catching up on all the music I missed this year; I present (Treehugger's) Best 10 Albums of 2009!
Music is a hit or miss business, but I hope that at the very least I will mention something that's new for you, that turns out to be just what you were looking for.
***
#1: The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists
This is not an album for the morning commute. The Hazards of Love demands a lot of effort from the listener. For one, it's essentially all one, hour-long song, with 17 tracks that meld seamlessly into each other. And secondly, it's all one epic story about a shape-shifter, a damsel in distress, a forest queen, a murderer, and... well you get the idea.
This is an incredibly ambitious record, that just works perfectly. Best listening with the volume high, and the lights off, and even better live. (I've been twice.) All in all, it's simply glorious. + Show Spoiler +
How do I choose a track from an album that's all one track? Start from the beginning:
#2: Hospice by the Antlers
I didn't hear this album until shamefully late in the year, but I'm incredibly thankful that I found it. This album hits all the notes, it can be upbeat, it can be catchy, and it can be tender and sad. Mostly the latter. There's a story behind this album as well- it tells the story of a friend dying from bone cancer, and it's done so realistically, I don't care what really happened. What's most striking about this album is the raw emotion it contains. There's so much going on in each song. + Show Spoiler +
Perhaps this isn't a song that catches you immediately and makes you jump up and buy the record, but give it time, it's sincere, and the album's best song.
#3: Troubador by K'naan
There really isn't a hip-hop artist quite like K'naan. His childhood growing up in Mogadishu, Somalia gives him the kind of perspective that dwarfs that of nearly any other rapper. Perhaps because of that, K'naan eschews attempts to dump him in any specific genre. He appeared one week with the 'Rock the Bells' hip-hop festival, and then the next with Jason Mraz. His music is versatile, genuine, and really fun to listen to. + Show Spoiler +
This is my favorite song of this year, and K'naan's best. He knows it too, because he always ends his sets with a quiet, acoustic freestyle, and then rolls into this song. It's a classic.
#4: Far by Regina Spektor
This album felt like a change of pace from Regina Spektor, which might sound odd because the soviet-born artist seems to change her tack every other song. But while her last release; the fantastic Begin to Hope was an album that won you over with quirk, and idiosyncrasy, Far is a more pop-style record which mixes great fun sounds, with Spektor's great little oddball sounds and lyrics. I started playing this album when it came out, and then halfway through, I had loved every single song. I felt like maybe I wasn't in the right mood to listen objectively.
This is the album's first song, and I love how it welcomes you into the album, arms wide, and just makes you want to hear more.
#5: Middle Cyclone by Neko Case
Neko Case writes fantastic lyrics, and backs it up with a potent voice that rings out like a clarion call. This album is my favorite of her albums to date, because I think the stand-out songs on this album are the best she's ever done. And the overall quality of every song on this album is just excellent. + Show Spoiler +
I've already linked this song in a previous blog, but it's good enough to feature again.
#6: Throw Down Your Heart by Béla Fleck (and others)
I saw Béla Fleck live in Central Park, New York City where he was performing along with the absolutely brilliant Kora player Toumani Diabate, and it was mesmerizing. Fleck is a banjo virtuoso from the United States who traveled to Africa a few years ago and just jammed with famous African musicians. A documentary and an album came out of it, and it's all just wonderful music. Each track is unique, because it's a collaboration with a different artist, and yet the album is held together wonderfully by Fleck's incredible ability to pair his banjo with different instruments. I never thought I'd recommend a banjo album, but this is just an ode to string instruments everywhere. + Show Spoiler +
This is a cut from the documentary version of Throw Down Your Heart, just a small piece of the whole concert.
#7. Hold Time by M. Ward
Hold Time was on my list for a long time, and has never really left it for me. M. Ward has a really old voice and his lyrics and songs have old souls. There's just something really warm and comforting about his songs, and there's sincerity in the delivery that is so winning. + Show Spoiler +
This song has a funny build to it, but it's more than worth it. Great stuff.
#8: Wind's Poem by Mount Eerie
This album has my favorite cover art of the year, and is also another record that I just discovered way too late. It's hard to know what to make of this. Mount Eerie is a one man band with a guy named Phil Elverum, and there's almost too much on this album to digest. There's metal tracks- just saturation with a quiet little voice in the back singing tender poetry. Then there's quiet songs filled with ambient noise of birds, and crickets, and the wind. Oh, how the wind howls through this album...! + Show Spoiler +
There's the metal sound in this album (the song is: "Wind's Dark Poem") but this album's most distinctive feature must be its endless quiet and the gusts of wind that punctuate its songs. This is a song that has all of that.
There's a bonus in the song "Wind Speaks" One of the lines goes "I am the tauren of terran flame.."
#9: Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle by Bill Callahan
Bill Callahan is a poet, first and foremost, and you get the feeling that only he could make his lyrics fit with quiet the comfort that he does. He's has the kind of voice that comes after years of smoking (I don't know if he does, but, as an aside, he used to make music under the name 'Smog' ) and I never get tired of how his songs unfold. It's impossible to be impatient with his music. + Show Spoiler +
This was the first song I heard from the album, and it's just great how hear play out, there's so much repetition, and I never care.
#10: Incredibad by The Lonely Island
This is the successor to last year's "Flight of the Conchords"- a clever comedy album that is totally underrated musically. This isn't a complicated album by any stretch, but great music doesn't need to be particularly heady. This is an album that was fun to listen to, but had the lyrics, and a gift for production, that made this more than just a parody album. There's nothing lazy about these songs. + Show Spoiler +
Of course, I'm On A Boat.
***
This was a fantastic year for music. In past years, I felt like getting up to ten albums has been a bit of a stretch. This year, I'm annoyed at who I left out.
Hope you found some new music. Feel free to tell me I'm an idiot who likes indie hipster garbage. Tell me what I totally missed!
EDIT: I'm editing already. Marianne Faithful had a great album of covers called "Easy Come, Easy Go", and "Dark Was the Night" was probably the greatest charity album I've ever heard, 'Ocean Eyes' from Owl City was excellent as well.
I have Hospice, Middle Cyclone, and Wind's Poem. Hospice is okay but too lethargic. Middle Cyclone is inconsistent but I will always love Neko. Haven't listend to Wind's Poem that much but it seems pretty good so far.
Quite a lot of really nice stuff here that I haven't even heard of man. Thanks for all this stuff, I like most of it! Particularly regina spektor! Very cool stuff.
Hot shit, I wish more people would do this, I'm finding out about so many new artists that I haven't heard about before. The Antlers for sure caught my attention, definitely my kind of music. Reminds me somewhat of the Stars, whom I love. Anyways, thanks for the new tunes!
good picks dude! Though I can't say I really liked The Hazards of Love…thing never went anywhere. Concept albums are often boring, this was not an exception to the rule.
I'll post my Best of 2009 list soon…you've inspired me!
On December 17 2009 09:13 JWD wrote: good picks dude! Though I can't say I really liked The Hazards of Love…thing never went anywhere. Concept albums are often boring, this was not an exception to the rule.
I'll post my Best of 2009 list soon…you've inspired me!
I do think 'Hazards' was a bit of a "love it or overrated" album (nobody hates it, they just don't care for it). When I first heard the album, a friend of mine called me up, and said in a worried tone, "I'm not so sure I like it..". I tuned in to NPR's SXSW coverage, and listened live, around midnight in front of my computer, and I was just entranced. I told her to give it a chance, and we saw it in concert, and it was easily the greatest concert I've ever been to.
On December 17 2009 09:00 meeple wrote: Hot shit, I wish more people would do this, I'm finding out about so many new artists that I haven't heard about before. The Antlers for sure caught my attention, definitely my kind of music. Reminds me somewhat of the Stars, whom I love. Anyways, thanks for the new tunes!
Sounds like you'll get your wish, if JWD posts! I don't know The Stars though, so I'm going to have to check them out. I love sharing and getting new music!
On December 17 2009 08:51 zulu_nation8 wrote: I have Hospice, Middle Cyclone, and Wind's Poem. Hospice is okay but too lethargic. Middle Cyclone is inconsistent but I will always love Neko. Haven't listend to Wind's Poem that much but it seems pretty good so far.
Knew you'd get in here, Zulu. I respectfully disagree with you on Hospice, and MC, but I do once again agree on one point, I do love Neko Case. Wind's Poem is just a strange album, but it's so good. It reminds me of Shearwater who put out an excellent album last year.
The XX - XX St.Vincent - Actor Pains of Being Pure at Heart - self titled Fevery Ray - self titled Destroyer - Bay of Pigs Memory Tapes - Seek Magic Atlas Sound - Logos Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Light
I don't really agree with a lot of the music there. My list would look like this (in no particular order)
Fever Ray-Fever Ray: Seriously if you listen to one thing on this list listen to this. Karen Dreijer Anderson in any incarnation is just fucking amazing. Seriously incredible. + Show Spoiler [Fever Ray] +
That's all I can really think of. A lot of the stuff I heard from this year didn't strike me as all that good. I guess I'm biased against Regina Spektor, The Decemberists, and The Lonely Island to begin with, so that colors my opinion there. There is some solid stuff that isn't on the list, like Isis's Wavering Radiant, and Animal Collective's Merriweater Post Pavilion, but I didn't feel they were "spectacular" enough to give them such a merit.
On December 17 2009 13:06 LightRailCoyote wrote: I don't really agree with a lot of the music there. My list would look like this (in no particular order)
Fever Ray-Fever Ray: Seriously if you listen to one thing on this list listen to this. Karen Dreijer Anderson in any incarnation is just fucking amazing. Seriously incredible. Mew-No More Stories... Mastodon-Crack the Skye Deastro-Moondagger Royksopp-Junior The Mountain Goats-The Life of the World to Come Moderat-Moderat St Vincent-Actor Edit: Delorean: AYRTON SENNA EP <- Forgot this one. It's brilliant.
That's all I can really think of. A lot of the stuff I heard from this year didn't strike me as all that good. I guess I'm biased against Regina Spektor, The Decemberists, and The Lonely Island to begin with, so that colors my opinion there. There is some solid stuff that isn't on the list, like Isis's Wavering Radiant, and Animal Collective's Merriweater Post Pavilion, but I didn't feel they were "spectacular" enough to give them such a merit.
This is slightly less entry level, but waaaay more hipster garbage.
On December 17 2009 13:28 JWD wrote: Screw you Elwinros, we'll listen to whatever music we like.
Edit: ok nice troll
You assume I'm trolling because I like good music? Is this how people on the Internet "argue"? They just call each other trolls? Well, I hope we haven't devolved to such a state.
On December 17 2009 13:26 Elwinros wrote: In Order to educate you mindless hipster masses I have posted probably the only good song to come out within the last 50 years.
On December 17 2009 13:26 Elwinros wrote: In Order to educate you mindless hipster masses I have posted probably the only good song to come out within the last 50 years.
On December 17 2009 13:26 Elwinros wrote: In Order to educate you mindless hipster masses I have posted probably the only good song to come out within the last 50 years.
Hahah, great link, Elwinros! I've heard that song more times in my life than I can remember, yet still probably not enough. It's not from 2009 though, so I didn't think to include it!
I'm a fan of the Knife, and by extension, I liked Fever Ray quite a bit. Didn't blow me out of the water though, and I could probably point to only one track (Seven) that I really came back to quite a bit. RAA is coming to the Twin Cities when I'm away for break, but that's another band I do like quite a bit. They're good, but not great- for me at least. Royksopp is the third entry in this category.
There was so much music I loved this year. I seriously considered mentioning Animal Collective, but they're a band that's on the verge. They became listenable this year, but the next step is to really become awesome. Over their album and EP, there are definitely a couple tracks that I really came away loving, though.
i don't get the hate for elwinros's music he has different tastes than the majority of the kpop fans here - so what? it's like it's bad to be unique here
On December 17 2009 13:44 tree.hugger wrote: Hahah, great link, Elwinros! I've heard that song more times in my life than I can remember, yet still probably not enough. It's not from 2009 though, so I didn't think to include it!
I'm a fan of the Knife, and by extension, I liked Fever Ray quite a bit. Didn't blow me out of the water though, and I could probably point to only one track (Seven) that I really came back to quite a bit. RAA is coming to the Twin Cities when I'm away for break, but that's another band I do like quite a bit. They're good, but not great- for me at least. Royksopp is the third entry in this category.
There was so much music I loved this year. I seriously considered mentioning Animal Collective, but they're a band that's on the verge. They became listenable this year, but the next step is to really become awesome. Over their album and EP, there are definitely a couple tracks that I really came away loving, though.
Animal Collective was totally awesome before Merriweather Post Pavilion. The album was good, but it wasn't as good as their previous, Strawberry Jam. Fireworks is simply amazing.
Dark was the night I fully agree with. I disagree with Incredibad although the rest of your taste is inimitable and enjoyable to listen to. If you liked the Hazards of Love so much I am sure you loved The Crane Wife! Also, you should know and like My Brightest Diamond. She toured with The Decemberists and has recently influenced her music.
The_Conclave, Oh, I love The Crane Wife. Favorite album of... ever, I have all three parts of the title song on one track, and am giving the album as a gift this year. It's essentially the reason I got into music.
Shara Worden is insane. Agreed. What a voice.
LRC, I've just never found Animal Collective very accessible until this year. Fireworks does start off really well, but It doesn't do much for me emotionally, and that's why I think we all come to music. The AC song that I did post, really makes me happy, when it turns about halfway through. It's a band that I've gone back to often, because I know that they're going to really make an album that I'm going to love, but it hasn't come yet. But that's not a big deal, albums will always trigger different reactions in different people.
And it's not that I couldn't get into Fever Ray, it's just that it didn't stand out to me as one of my highlights of listening this year. Again, a great year for music. Fever Ray is probably on my list if her album came out last year.
On December 17 2009 14:45 tree.hugger wrote: The_Conclave, Oh, I love The Crane Wife. Favorite album of... ever, I have all three parts of the title song on one track, and am giving the album as a gift this year. It's essentially the reason I got into music.
Shara Worden is insane. Agreed. What a voice.
The Crane Wife 3 was one of the most important songs musically to me ever composed. I had not heard such imposing music since Sunflower by Low.
Anyway, please post your list in this thread (linky) because you have very knowledgeable taste in music.
On December 17 2009 22:04 Wotans_Fire wrote: I disagreed with all of your other choices, but thanks for the antlers. Does anyone know something similar?
Hey, that's what it's all about. I doubt there's anyone who thinks I've made a perfect list. But if there's something— anything that works for you, I'm happy!
On December 17 2009 18:23 Foucault wrote: Cool thread nevertheless. I will proceed to post a top ten list sometimes soon as well
EPT
![[image loading]](http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/Stormalong/treehugger-regular.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://thefulmerazzi.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/album-cover.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://betyg.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/antlers.png?w=350&h=350)
![[image loading]](http://www.bscreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/k-naan-troubador-300x300.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://democracysmores.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/regina-spektor-far.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/archives/neko-case-middle-cyclone.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://auralstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/bela-fleck-throw-down-your-heart-cover.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://popmusicology.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/m_ward-hold_time-art-300x300.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.thesirenssound.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Winds-Poem.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://whitenoiseofeverydaylife.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/bill-callahan.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.mp3boo.com/cover-album/incredibad.jpg)
