My Personal Top 10 Albums of 2009. (A year of positive progression? I think so.)
10. Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
Interesting direction for Wilco, with their last album, Sky Blue Sky, they mellowed out to make their first album with the band collaborating as a whole. In the end, it ended up being a modern eagles CD, for the "Dad group. Wilco (The Album) Remedies this by picking up the pace while keeping that delicious sound from Sky Blue Sky. Not their best, but a fantastic effort.
9. Regina Spektor - Far
Regina Spektor has always hit or miss for me, Soviet Kitsch was decent and Begin to Hope was half glorious, half abysmal. Far has two very important things her previous albums don't have. 1.) Consistency and 2.) Quality of Production.
Every song on Far is a winner, and it's produced well. (Which cannot be said for Being to Hope.) Over all, I really find this album enjoyable, its fun and it sounds great on a good set up.
8. Death Cab for Cutie - The Open Door
Okay, Okay. I realize that this is only a B-Sides EP of last years horrible Narrow Stairs, but this is different. I promise.
Death cab has never been a band of surprises, I always feel like I know what to expect with them. Thats why this album is so fresh to me. The songs are so much more catchy, and produced so much more abrasively than on Narrow Stairs. It's really one of their best works other than The Photo Album.
7. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
A Combination of M. Ward, Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) and Jim James (My Morning Jacket) can't possibly be wrong! Their ability to work as a group is stunning in the album and in performance. The songs flow together nicely, and the production is spot on. While not every song is a winner, it's still an album to hold onto. I keep finding myself coming back to it on a daily basis.
6. Various Artists - Dark Was the Night
Sufjan Stevens, Feist, Ben Gibbard, Bon Iver, The National, My Brightest Diamond, Iron & Wine, Arcade Fire, Spoon, Beirut, My Morning Jacket, The New Pornographers, Cat Power, Conor Oberst and Andrew Bird.
Yes. It's that ridiculous. It's without a doubt the best compilation album I've ever heard. Just about EVERY track is great, and some of them are perfect.
I play a song from this album almost every time I get on my college radio station.
5. Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom Live
Tom Waits really hits it home, every time. He goes much further live.
He does everything I want from a show. Different Versions of songs you know and love, Humor, and 36 minuets of Tom Waits talking to the Audience.
It's fantastic. Sometimes, I play it, and leave it on while I have guests over in my Dorm, and people stop and listen to him talking, always laughter and "Who is this?"
4. The Beatles - Remastered Catalog
This again, is me cheating.
These Remasters are fantastic. FANTASTIC.
I felt like Abbey Road is the most apparent change, and it's more exciting that the LOVE Soundtrack.
3. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
This is the album, I really didn't want to like. I feel that Yellow House is an abomination of an album. It's so slow and boring, and there isn't any progression.
It just drags along, and never goes anywhere. Veckatimest on the other hand picks up and never lets go. It's beautiful, well written and interesting. Buy it. You will not regret it, and if you do regret it you're probably not a Hipster.
2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Wow, was I shocked when I first gave this album a proper listen. Animal Collective solved the insolvable musical issue. How to make music "wet". Every thing in this album pleases my ears. It's so different from anything else I've heard. Ever.
For that reason, I give it my second favorite album of 2009.
1. M. Ward - Hold Time
(It gets a big picture for being extra special)
Surprised? This borderline gospel album shocked the hell out of me when I first heard it. I didn't know it was possible to improve on the sound of Post-War, but of course it is. It's M. Ward. Every single song on this damn album is the best song. Plain and simple, it's a damn fun album. Hold Time is my first album of choice when I don't know what to listen to.
Pick this up, and every other album M. Ward has to offer. He is a timeless musician. No Question.
Okay, thats all folks. All of these albums are easily obtainable online for free. (www.btjunkie.org) Don't pay for music.
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