Top 10 Albums of 2009

¡Merry Christmas!

10a. Rock Plaza Central - ...at the moment of our most needing
God these guys are weird. And pretty good too. Keebler Elves FTW.

"Oh I Can"
"(Don't You Believe the Words of) Handsome Men"

10b. Chuck Ragan - Gold Country
"Glory" sounds an awful lot like "California Burritos," but I'll allow it. Solid neo-folk from a seasoned veteran. Gruff-arse voice.

"For Goodness Sake"
"Ole Diesel"

9. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
It feels like a regression from the older material, but that's still good enough to make the list. Plus, in the words of NPR, they are "a world-beating colossus" live.

"I and Love and You"
"Laundry Room"

8. Andrew Jackson Jihad - Can't Maintain
Not even electrified guitar can stop the AJJ train.

"Self Esteem"
"We Didn't Come Here to Rock"

7. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. But if you have the time, this is an treat.

"Isn't It a Lovely Night"
"The Rake's Song"

6. The Swell Season - Strict Joy
Glen Hansard's just GOT IT. The debut was better, but this is pretty darn good.

"In These Arms"
"Low Rising"

5. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Now this is someone with real vocal range. And probably the strongest collection of songs she's put together. My friends Joe and Fardeen love this. And I have to admit that I have a soft spot for it too.

"This Tornado Loves You"
"Middle Cyclone"

4. The Thermals - Now We Can See
If The Body, The Blood, The Machine was the midst of a war, Now We Can See is the fatalities making small talk. And do they ever talk.

"Now We Can See"
"At the Bottom of the Sea"

3. William Elliot Whitmore - Animals in the Dark
He's declaring a mutiny on this ship, ya hear?

"Old Devils"
"Hell Or High Water"

2. The Mountain Goats - The Life of the World to Come
John Darnielle has to do me great injury to not make a year end list (or two) of mine. No great injury done here. An awfully reserved, and yet awfully powerful record.

"Psalms 40:2"
"Isaiah 45:23"

1. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
Ben Nichols and company do it again. Better than everyone else? I'll bite.

"Mom"
"Hey Darlin' Do You Gamble"

Tonight I Burned the Lyrics, 'Cause Every Chorus Was Your Name

I've been listening to The Avett Brothers ever since I heard the track "Matrimony" off of 2006's Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions. So when they were featured on the NPR All Songs Considered Tiny Desk series a few months back (highly recommended podcast, BTW), I was intrigued. This is video of that performance. The first song, "Laundry Room," is pretty much dynamite. One of the songs that made up the soundtrack of my summer, for sure.



Oh, and their new album I and Love and You drops tomorrow.

P.S. The Swell Season's Tiny Desk session was also quite good. You know, 'cause Glen Hansard's kind of a baller.

The War of Northern Aggression, Part 4

For want of any better concepts at this time, I am posting yet another installment...

Dolorean - Violence in the Snowy Fields (From Violence in the Snowy Fields)
Blood shows up pretty well on snow.

The Fainting Fansies - Volunteer Army (From The Red Shed)
At the start of the war, the Northern Army was comprised largely of volunteers--by the middle of the war the North was increasingly reliant on conscription.

The Go! Team - We Just Won't Be Defeated (From Thunder, Lightning, Strike)
The Go! Team--kindred spirits with Panic! At the Disco, if only because of their love of the exclamation point mid-name. I guess this could be the North's fight song?

Willy Mason - Fear No Pain (From Where the Humans Eat)
Religious conviction helped men on both sides go into battle with less apprehension of death, and this song kind of sums that up.

The Avett Brothers - Die Die Die
The title says it all, I think. Plus, the Avett Brothers are from North Carolina.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Army Bound (Demo)
I like this version better than the one that appeared on Living With the Living, but that might just be me. Either way, it's good.

Buy 'em up:
Yep Roc
The Fainting Fansies Myspace
Columbia
Virgin
Ramseur Records
Touch and Go