Almost Four Stars

MICHAEL BOND, AGAIN

GREG ASHER

KIT WALPOLE

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My Favorite 75 Albums Of 2009 — Dec. 25

Ben W. — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:12:23 +0000

Phew. We finally made it.

This was the most work I’ve ever put in getting through an Advent calendar.

But here we are. It’s Christmas. Which means, among other things, the top of the Great 2009 Album Countdown!

3. Years Of Refusal — Morrissey

This is the best Morrissey album since 1992’s Your Arsenal. Let me clear up some potential misconceptions that statement may cause, though. I do not mean to imply that his last two records were poor. They were not; they had some very nice moments. And I do not mean to imply that Years Of Refusal is significantly different than either of them. It’s not. This album does not represent any new directions for the Mozzer. He’s still churning out witty up-tempo rock based on chunky, layered guitars. The difference simply is in the songwriting quality. Whereas most Morrissey records start well and sag badly on the second half, Refusal starts strong and never lets up. Additionally, Morrissey seems to have a little extra bite behind his snarl. His lyrics betray a very specific personal injury more than his usual vague loneliness and ache. He’s 50 and still full of fire.

2. Travels With Myself And Another — Future Of The Left

I feel badly that Future Of The Left isn’t very popular. I really do. But man, if an infuriating lack of respect from an injust music business helps contribute to more records as good as this, I may like FOTL as my beloved underappreciated underdog. Andy Falkous is one angry man – spitting out intensely esoteric, hilarious and just plain odd lyrics over ferocious minimalist rock music. And while you can never quite be sure of these songs’ meanings, it’s clear that the unrecognized-genius, starving-artist routine is wearing thin on Falko. The irony here is that this is probably the poppiest music of Falkous’ career. It’s certainly more melodic than the first FOTL record. They employ more keyboards, more layered guitars and even harmonies! Great stuff.

1. Humbug – Arctic Monkeys

It is a fact that flew under the radar in a year when most critics were consumed with eccentric American indie pop, but the Arctic Monkeys are quickly establishing their place in the pantheon of great British pop. We’re talking the Who, Kinks, T. Rex, Clash, Jam, Smiths, Roses, Blur, Libertines pantheon. Yeah, that good. This is only their third album, and the guys are still only 22. Yet there’s no doubt Humbug is the work of a far more mature band than debuted on the scene so uproariously in 2006. This is a dark, dense record. The tempos are much slower than their previous work, and they have a much better handle on shading, mood and dynamics. What really elevates it beyond their Brit-guitar post-punk revival pals, though, is Alex Turner’s supreme gift for lyric. He has grown beyond the journalistic observation style he favored on the band’s first two albums. He’s now a full-fledged poet, using brilliant imagery and symbolism to paint an agonized world of life lived too fast and love gone too soon. Indie kids, don’t look down on this record as being too mainstream. You’ll be missing out. This is the work of a band operating on a higher level than everyone else.

Click DAY ONE to view Nos. 75-73.

Click DAY TWO to view Nos. 72-70.

Click DAY THREE to view Nos. 69-67.

Click DAY FOUR to view Nos. 66-64.

Click DAY FIVE to view Nos. 63-61.

Click DAY SIX to view Nos. 60-58.

Click DAY SEVEN to view Nos. 57-55.

Click DAY EIGHT to view Nos. 54-52.

Click DAY NINE to view Nos. 51-49.

Click DAY 10 to view Nos. 48-46.

Click DAY 11 to view Nos. 45-43.

Click DAY 12 to view Nos. 42-40.

Click DAY 13 to view Nos. 39-37.

Click DAY 14 to view Nos. 36-34.

Click DAY 15 to view Nos. 33-31.

Click DAY 16 to view Nos. 30-28.

Click DAY 17 to view Nos. 27-25.

Click DAY 18 to view Nos. 24-22.

Click DAY 19 to view Nos. 21-19.

Click DAY 20 to view Nos. 18-16.

Click DAY 21 to view Nos. 15-13.

Click DAY 22 to view Nos. 12-10.

Click DAY 23 to view Nos. 9-7.

Click DAY 24 to view Nos. 6-4.

MY FAVORITE 75 ALBUMS OF 2009 (THE COMPLETE LIST!!!)

75. Man Of Aran (Soundtrack) – British Sea Power

74. March Of The Zapotec/Holland EP – Beirut

73. Changing Horses – Ben Kweller

72. It’s Frightening – White Rabbits

71. Living Thing – Peter Bjorn And John

70. Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen

69. 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day

68. Grrr… – Bishop Allen

67. Let The Dominoes Fall – Rancid

66. Kingdom Of Rust – Doves

65. Get Guilty – A.C. Newman

64. Hands – Little Boots

63. Further Complications — Jarvis Cocker

62. Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future — The Bird And The Bee

61. The Love Language — The Love Language

60. The Crying Light — Antony And The Johnsons

59. Don’t Stop — Annie

58. My Way — Ian Brown

57. Post Electric Blues — Idlewild

56. Dragonslayer — Sunset Rubdown

55. Middle Cyclone — Neko Case

54. Tongue ‘N Cheek — Dizzee Rascal

53. Art Brut Vs. Satan — Art Brut

52. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand — Franz Ferdinand

51. Phrazes For The Young — Julian Casablancas

50. It’s Not Me, It’s You — Lily Allen

49. The Hazards Of Love — The Decemberists

48. Album — Girls

47. Manners — Passion Pit

46. Watch Me Fall — Jay Reatard

45. 200 Million Thousand – The Black Lips

44. Now We Can See – The Thermals

43. Scars – Basement Jaxx

42. Ghostdini The Wizard Of Poetry In The Emerald City — Ghostface Killah

41. Yesterday And Today — The Field

40. The Duckworth Lewis Method — The Duckworth Lewis Method

39. Merriweather Post Pavilion — Animal Collective

38. Love 2 — Air

37. I’m Going Away — Fiery Furnaces

36. Junior — Royksopp

35. Ignore The Ignorant — The Cribs

34. Wall Of Arms — The Maccabees

33. Ready For The Weekend — Calvin Harris

32. A Brief History Of Love — The Big Pink

31. Temporary Pleasure — Simian Mobile Disco

30. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — Phoenix

29. West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum — Kasabian

28. UGK 4 Life — UGK

27. In And Out Of Control — The Raveonettes

26. Primary Colours — The Horrors

25. Goodnight Oslo – Robyn Hitchcock

24. Face Control – Handsome Furs

23. The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

22. Attention Deficit – Wale

21. It’s Blitz! — Yeah Yeah Yeahs

20. Mo Beauty — Alec Ounsworth

19. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart — The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

18. Popular Songs — Yo La Tengo

17. The Liberty Of Norton Folgate — Madness

16. Man On The Moon: The End Of Day — Kid Cudi

15. Wilco The Album — Wilco

14. The xx — The xx

13. Dark Days/Light Years — Super Furry Animals

12. My Maudlin Career – Camera Obscura

11. Grace/Wastelands – Pete Doherty

10. BLACKsummer’snight – Maxwell

9. Yes – Pet Shop Boys

8. Born Like This – DOOM

7. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. 2 – Raekwon

6. Two Dancers — Wild Beasts

5. Troubadour — K’naan

4. Veckatimest — Grizzly Bear

3. Years Of Refusal — Morrissey

2. Travels With Myself And Another — Future Of The Left

1. Humbug — Arctic Monkeys

My Favorite 75 Albums Of 2009 — Dec. 24

Ben W. — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:44:49 +0000

Christmas Eve!

One day left.

Better get to reading about 2009 albums.

6. Two Dancers — Wild Beasts

I wouldn’t call it a mutually influenced movement, but for whatever reasons, many of the best indie albums this year were of the quiet variety, including this wonderful second album from Wild Beasts. They employ very rhythmic guitars and even the occasional dance beat, yet never create a sound that gets especially loud or energetic. Instead, they manage a surrealistic world of calm tension. The songs are as sexy as they are sad; as funny as they are isolated. It’s a bizarre mix and one that I suspect will attract listeners for years to come.

5. Troubadour – K’naan

I love this album. K’naan drifts between old-school rap to new-school rap to reggae to dancehall to R&B to straight-up pop crossover territory and never sounds anything less than himself. His background — growing up in war-torn Mogadishu before emigrating to Toronto — gives him a unique perspective among hip hop. And though he only began to learn English in his early teens, his lyrics consistently entertain with puns, creative lines and heart-felt stories. Plus, I’m gonna swoon for any record that contains the lyric: “We from the only place that’s worst than Kandahar, and yeah that’s kinda hard.”

4. Veckatimest — Grizzly Bear

The internal argument about this one keeps me up at night…

“Man, I hate these hipster robots. Don’t have a brain of their own. Just go buy what Pitchfork tells them. Must listen to Pitchfork. I hate Grizzly Bear. They’re so boring. If I wanted to fall asleep, I’d drink some NyQuil. I mean, fine, I’ll give you that “Two Weeks” and “While You Wait For The Others” are two of the best songs this decade. But a lot of albums have songs that good. What’s that? Their vocals? Yeah, yeah, I’ll grant you that. They have some of the best vocal arrangements this side of the Four Freshmen. And sure, the record is perfectly produced to accentuate mood and dynamics. The drums really sound amazing when they get loud. No! I’m not tearing up. What are you talking about? I have a cold. I mean, sure, of course there are moments on this record that are so beautiful I do feel like crying. But that’s not what’s happening now. Fucking hipsters. Fucking Pitchfork. I’m not a robot!”

Check back tomorrow for Day 25 of the Advent calendar countdown. We’ll be listing three albums every day from now through Christmas when we get to No. 1.

Click DAY ONE to view Nos. 75-73.

Click DAY TWO to view Nos. 72-70.

Click DAY THREE to view Nos. 69-67.

Click DAY FOUR to view Nos. 66-64.

Click DAY FIVE to view Nos. 63-61.

Click DAY SIX to view Nos. 60-58.

Click DAY SEVEN to view Nos. 57-55.

Click DAY EIGHT to view Nos. 54-52.

Click DAY NINE to view Nos. 51-49.

Click DAY 10 to view Nos. 48-46.

Click DAY 11 to view Nos. 45-43.

Click DAY 12 to view Nos. 42-40.

Click DAY 13 to view Nos. 39-37.

Click DAY 14 to view Nos. 36-34.

Click DAY 15 to view Nos. 33-31.

Click DAY 16 to view Nos. 30-28.

Click DAY 17 to view Nos. 27-25.

Click DAY 18 to view Nos. 24-22.

Click DAY 19 to view Nos. 21-19.

Click DAY 20 to view Nos. 18-16.

Click DAY 21 to view Nos. 15-13.

Click DAY 22 to view Nos. 12-10.

Click DAY 23 to view Nos. 9-7.

MY FAVORITE 75 ALBUMS OF 2009 (THE LIST SO FAR)

75. Man Of Aran (Soundtrack) – British Sea Power

74. March Of The Zapotec/Holland EP – Beirut

73. Changing Horses – Ben Kweller

72. It’s Frightening – White Rabbits

71. Living Thing – Peter Bjorn And John

70. Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen

69. 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day

68. Grrr… – Bishop Allen

67. Let The Dominoes Fall – Rancid

66. Kingdom Of Rust – Doves

65. Get Guilty – A.C. Newman

64. Hands – Little Boots

63. Further Complications — Jarvis Cocker

62. Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future — The Bird And The Bee

61. The Love Language — The Love Language

60. The Crying Light — Antony And The Johnsons

59. Don’t Stop — Annie

58. My Way — Ian Brown

57. Post Electric Blues — Idlewild

56. Dragonslayer — Sunset Rubdown

55. Middle Cyclone — Neko Case

54. Tongue ‘N Cheek — Dizzee Rascal

53. Art Brut Vs. Satan — Art Brut

52. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand — Franz Ferdinand

51. Phrazes For The Young — Julian Casablancas

50. It’s Not Me, It’s You — Lily Allen

49. The Hazards Of Love — The Decemberists

48. Album — Girls

47. Manners — Passion Pit

46. Watch Me Fall — Jay Reatard

45. 200 Million Thousand – The Black Lips

44. Now We Can See – The Thermals

43. Scars – Basement Jaxx

42. Ghostdini The Wizard Of Poetry In The Emerald City — Ghostface Killah

41. Yesterday And Today — The Field

40. The Duckworth Lewis Method — The Duckworth Lewis Method

39. Merriweather Post Pavilion — Animal Collective

38. Love 2 — Air

37. I’m Going Away — Fiery Furnaces

36. Junior — Royksopp

35. Ignore The Ignorant — The Cribs

34. Wall Of Arms — The Maccabees

33. Ready For The Weekend — Calvin Harris

32. A Brief History Of Love — The Big Pink

31. Temporary Pleasure — Simian Mobile Disco

30. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — Phoenix

29. West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum — Kasabian

28. UGK 4 Life — UGK

27. In And Out Of Control — The Raveonettes

26. Primary Colours — The Horrors

25. Goodnight Oslo – Robyn Hitchcock

24. Face Control – Handsome Furs

23. The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

22. Attention Deficit – Wale

21. It’s Blitz! — Yeah Yeah Yeahs

20. Mo Beauty — Alec Ounsworth

19. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart — The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

18. Popular Songs — Yo La Tengo

17. The Liberty Of Norton Folgate — Madness

16. Man On The Moon: The End Of Day — Kid Cudi

15. Wilco The Album — Wilco

14. The xx — The xx

13. Dark Days/Light Years — Super Furry Animals

12. My Maudlin Career – Camera Obscura

11. Grace/Wastelands – Pete Doherty

10. BLACKsummer’snight – Maxwell

9. Yes – Pet Shop Boys

8. Born Like This – DOOM

7. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. 2 – Raekwon

6. Two Dancers — Wild Beasts

5. Troubadour — K’naan

4. Veckatimest — Grizzly Bear

My Favorite 75 Albums Of 2009 – Dec. 23

Ben W. — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:56:25 +0000

Christmas Eve Eve brings us a unique hypothetical.

What would happen if MF Doom, Raekwon and the Pet Shop Boys got together for lunch?

9. Yes – Pet Shop Boys

Is this album loaded with Neil Tennant’s typically vicious social commentary? (See album title.) Does it have the Boys’ typical combination of dance-pop drum programming with grandiose arrangements? (See album title.) Does it have at least three legitimate candidates for the duo’s next Greatest Hits album? (See album title.) Are these guys in their ’50s and still completely and totally relevant to modern pop music? (See album title.) Is this their finest work of the decade? (See album title.)

8. Born Like This – DOOM

That rare album that serves both as artistic progress and a consolidation of an artist’s styles and talents. It’s a short record, particularly by rap standards, but is chock-full of DOOMisms — the wicked sense of humor, the self-righteous anger, the occasional drops of wisdom, the demented flow, the skittish beats, the bizarre samples and the downright inscrutable genius of the entire presentation.

7. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. 2 – Raekwon

Improbably, Rae lives up to the album title’s high standard. Fourteen years later, he has channeled the original record’s glorious blend of glamor and grit and maintains the mood for more than hour. Of course, it’s not quite up to the purple tape’s quality. If Pt. 1 had a handful of classic tracks surrounded by a bunch of great ones, then Pt. 2 has a handful of great tracks surrounded by a bunch of good ones. Hard to make that sound like a failure, though. In fact, this is the best Wu-related project of the decade.

Check back tomorrow for Day 24 of the Advent calendar countdown. We’ll be listing three albums every day from now through Christmas when we get to No. 1.

Click DAY ONE to view Nos. 75-73.

Click DAY TWO to view Nos. 72-70.

Click DAY THREE to view Nos. 69-67.

Click DAY FOUR to view Nos. 66-64.

Click DAY FIVE to view Nos. 63-61.

Click DAY SIX to view Nos. 60-58.

Click DAY SEVEN to view Nos. 57-55.

Click DAY EIGHT to view Nos. 54-52.

Click DAY NINE to view Nos. 51-49.

Click DAY 10 to view Nos. 48-46.

Click DAY 11 to view Nos. 45-43.

Click DAY 12 to view Nos. 42-40.

Click DAY 13 to view Nos. 39-37.

Click DAY 14 to view Nos. 36-34.

Click DAY 15 to view Nos. 33-31.

Click DAY 16 to view Nos. 30-28.

Click DAY 17 to view Nos. 27-25.

Click DAY 18 to view Nos. 24-22.

Click DAY 19 to view Nos. 21-19.

Click DAY 20 to view Nos. 18-16.

Click DAY 21 to view Nos. 15-13.

Click DAY 22 to view Nos. 12-10.

MY FAVORITE 75 ALBUMS OF 2009 (THE LIST SO FAR)

75. Man Of Aran (Soundtrack) – British Sea Power

74. March Of The Zapotec/Holland EP – Beirut

73. Changing Horses – Ben Kweller

72. It’s Frightening – White Rabbits

71. Living Thing – Peter Bjorn And John

70. Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen

69. 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day

68. Grrr… – Bishop Allen

67. Let The Dominoes Fall – Rancid

66. Kingdom Of Rust – Doves

65. Get Guilty – A.C. Newman

64. Hands – Little Boots

63. Further Complications — Jarvis Cocker

62. Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future — The Bird And The Bee

61. The Love Language — The Love Language

60. The Crying Light — Antony And The Johnsons

59. Don’t Stop — Annie

58. My Way — Ian Brown

57. Post Electric Blues — Idlewild

56. Dragonslayer — Sunset Rubdown

55. Middle Cyclone — Neko Case

54. Tongue ‘N Cheek — Dizzee Rascal

53. Art Brut Vs. Satan — Art Brut

52. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand — Franz Ferdinand

51. Phrazes For The Young — Julian Casablancas

50. It’s Not Me, It’s You — Lily Allen

49. The Hazards Of Love — The Decemberists

48. Album — Girls

47. Manners — Passion Pit

46. Watch Me Fall — Jay Reatard

45. 200 Million Thousand – The Black Lips

44. Now We Can See – The Thermals

43. Scars – Basement Jaxx

42. Ghostdini The Wizard Of Poetry In The Emerald City — Ghostface Killah

41. Yesterday And Today — The Field

40. The Duckworth Lewis Method — The Duckworth Lewis Method

39. Merriweather Post Pavilion — Animal Collective

38. Love 2 — Air

37. I’m Going Away — Fiery Furnaces

36. Junior — Royksopp

35. Ignore The Ignorant — The Cribs

34. Wall Of Arms — The Maccabees

33. Ready For The Weekend — Calvin Harris

32. A Brief History Of Love — The Big Pink

31. Temporary Pleasure — Simian Mobile Disco

30. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — Phoenix

29. West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum — Kasabian

28. UGK 4 Life — UGK

27. In And Out Of Control — The Raveonettes

26. Primary Colours — The Horrors

25. Goodnight Oslo – Robyn Hitchcock

24. Face Control – Handsome Furs

23. The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

22. Attention Deficit – Wale

21. It’s Blitz! — Yeah Yeah Yeahs

20. Mo Beauty — Alec Ounsworth

19. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart — The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

18. Popular Songs — Yo La Tengo

17. The Liberty Of Norton Folgate — Madness

16. Man On The Moon: The End Of Day — Kid Cudi

15. Wilco The Album — Wilco

14. The xx — The xx

13. Dark Days/Light Years — Super Furry Animals

12. My Maudlin Career – Camera Obscura

11. Grace/Wastelands – Pete Doherty

10. BLACKsummer’snight – Maxwell

9. Yes – Pet Shop Boys

8. Born Like This – DOOM

7. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. 2 – Raekwon

My Favorite 75 Albums Of 2009 – Dec. 22

Ben W. — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:56:11 +0000

We have progressed to that part of the countdown where the albums in question are not just good by 2009 standards. These rank among the best of the decade.

12. My Maudlin Career – Camera Obscura

It’s as if Camera Obscura realized they’d hit the mark on the 2007 Let’s Get Out Of This Country album, because this is very much a carbon copy. Not that I’m complaining. The combination of “small” music with “big” production is a thrilling combination. Ask Phil Spector. And the songwriting, again, remains at a very high level.

11. Grace/Wastelands – Pete Doherty

This is the second consecutive Doherty collaboration with Stephen Street (he produced the last Babyshambles record as well), and they seem to have found their groove. Doherty churns out the melodic, poetic ballads and Street fits them with gorgeous French-pop trappings. It’s a potent combination, producing an album heavy on melodrama and charm – especially on standout tracks “1939 Returning” and “New Love Grows On Trees.”

10. BLACKsummer’snight – Maxwell

Maxwell returned from an eight-year hiatus to do nothing less than breathe new life into contemporary R&B. BLACKsummer’snight recalls the best of soul music’s long history without ever resorting to revivalism.

Check back tomorrow for Day 23 of the Advent calendar countdown. We’ll be listing three albums every day from now through Christmas when we get to No. 1.

Click DAY ONE to view Nos. 75-73.

Click DAY TWO to view Nos. 72-70.

Click DAY THREE to view Nos. 69-67.

Click DAY FOUR to view Nos. 66-64.

Click DAY FIVE to view Nos. 63-61.

Click DAY SIX to view Nos. 60-58.

Click DAY SEVEN to view Nos. 57-55.

Click DAY EIGHT to view Nos. 54-52.

Click DAY NINE to view Nos. 51-49.

Click DAY 10 to view Nos. 48-46.

Click DAY 11 to view Nos. 45-43.

Click DAY 12 to view Nos. 42-40.

Click DAY 13 to view Nos. 39-37.

Click DAY 14 to view Nos. 36-34.

Click DAY 15 to view Nos. 33-31.

Click DAY 16 to view Nos. 30-28.

Click DAY 17 to view Nos. 27-25.

Click DAY 18 to view Nos. 24-22.

Click DAY 19 to view Nos. 21-19.

Click DAY 20 to view Nos. 18-16.

Click DAY 21 to view Nos. 15-13.

MY FAVORITE 75 ALBUMS OF 2009 (THE LIST SO FAR)

75. Man Of Aran (Soundtrack) – British Sea Power

74. March Of The Zapotec/Holland EP – Beirut

73. Changing Horses – Ben Kweller

72. It’s Frightening – White Rabbits

71. Living Thing – Peter Bjorn And John

70. Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen

69. 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day

68. Grrr… – Bishop Allen

67. Let The Dominoes Fall – Rancid

66. Kingdom Of Rust – Doves

65. Get Guilty – A.C. Newman

64. Hands – Little Boots

63. Further Complications — Jarvis Cocker

62. Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future — The Bird And The Bee

61. The Love Language — The Love Language

60. The Crying Light — Antony And The Johnsons

59. Don’t Stop — Annie

58. My Way — Ian Brown

57. Post Electric Blues — Idlewild

56. Dragonslayer — Sunset Rubdown

55. Middle Cyclone — Neko Case

54. Tongue ‘N Cheek — Dizzee Rascal

53. Art Brut Vs. Satan — Art Brut

52. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand — Franz Ferdinand

51. Phrazes For The Young — Julian Casablancas

50. It’s Not Me, It’s You — Lily Allen

49. The Hazards Of Love — The Decemberists

48. Album — Girls

47. Manners — Passion Pit

46. Watch Me Fall — Jay Reatard

45. 200 Million Thousand – The Black Lips

44. Now We Can See – The Thermals

43. Scars – Basement Jaxx

42. Ghostdini The Wizard Of Poetry In The Emerald City — Ghostface Killah

41. Yesterday And Today — The Field

40. The Duckworth Lewis Method — The Duckworth Lewis Method

39. Merriweather Post Pavilion — Animal Collective

38. Love 2 — Air

37. I’m Going Away — Fiery Furnaces

36. Junior — Royksopp

35. Ignore The Ignorant — The Cribs

34. Wall Of Arms — The Maccabees

33. Ready For The Weekend — Calvin Harris

32. A Brief History Of Love — The Big Pink

31. Temporary Pleasure — Simian Mobile Disco

30. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — Phoenix

29. West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum — Kasabian

28. UGK 4 Life — UGK

27. In And Out Of Control — The Raveonettes

26. Primary Colours — The Horrors

25. Goodnight Oslo – Robyn Hitchcock

24. Face Control – Handsome Furs

23. The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

22. Attention Deficit – Wale

21. It’s Blitz! — Yeah Yeah Yeahs

20. Mo Beauty — Alec Ounsworth

19. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart — The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

18. Popular Songs — Yo La Tengo

17. The Liberty Of Norton Folgate — Madness

16. Man On The Moon: The End Of Day — Kid Cudi

15. Wilco The Album — Wilco

14. The xx — The xx

13. Dark Days/Light Years — Super Furry Animals

12. My Maudlin Career – Camera Obscura

11. Grace/Wastelands – Pete Doherty

10. BLACKsummer’snight – Maxwell

Best Of 2009 – Kit Walpole

Ben W. — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:05:08 +0000

And now for something completely different…

My sister, Kit Walpole, is here with her Best Of list; her Best of Musical Theater 2009.

I am here to offer the best in 2009 Musical Theater recordings. Now I know that the words “musical theater” may conjure images of weird costumes, strange singing, and bad movie adaptations. But just as everyone reading this blog sifts through the pop music world to find the quality amidst the crap, I too, approach musicals with the same discerning eye/ear. I look past you, “Rock of Ages,” I ignore you, “Shrek the Musical,” and even shun you, “Billy Elliot,” to find something remotely original and dare I say, even good.

All of that being said, 2009 was not the best year. If I was writing this a year ago, I’d easily have a top 10 with a rich variety of cast recordings (“In The Heights,” “Passing Strange,” “[title of show]“), song cycles (“It’s Only Life”) and solo albums (“Audra! Kelli!”).

This year I have three. And four Honorable Mentions.

BRONZE MEDAL

“West Side Story” – New Broadway Cast Recording

There is absolutely no denying that “West Side Story” is hands-down one of the best (if not the best) musicals ever written. I have often been frustrated by recordings of the show that just aren’t the way I want them. This recording definitely delivers with clean, energetic performances. The addition of Spanish lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda (of “In The Heights”) is an interesting twist and is done tastefully. Josefina Scaglione (Maria) and Matt Cavenaugh (Tony) have lovely voices, as well they should, but it is Karen Olivo as Anita who really steals this show – or CD as the case may be. It’s a worthy interpretation of a true classic.

SILVER MEDAL

“Hair” – New Broadway Cast Recording

Prior to this year, I had one experience with the musical “Hair.” In a very strange episode of “Head Of The Class,” back in the ’80s, Mr. Moore decided to put the show on with his “special” class. What would they do? Would they be nude? Would the production be a success? They did the damn thing – and I think they did the nude scene. Ben would remember, I’m sure. (ed.: I don’t think they did that! But I do recall it was a blockbuster episode. Two-parter, for sure.)

From that, I must admit that I wasn’t terribly excited to hear this recent album. I am pleased to announce that I now have a much more favorable opinion of “Hair.” This recording is fantastic with some really outstanding young talent. The music and lyrics seem relevant in today’s climate in a way that I’m sure has not been seen or felt since the ’60s. The orchestrations retain that ’60s feel but also update the sound. What is most remarkable here is one Mr. Gavin Creel. His voice is just ridiculously agile. I would pay whatever God-awful price they are charging these days just to see him live.

Another note – the cast has been very proactive about participating in events and rallies all over the country for gay marriage and anti-war movements. Nice to see they’re trying to live the show.

Meanwhile, high schools should never perform this show. Bad choice, Mr. Moore.

GOLD MEDAL

“Next To Normal” – Original Broadway Cast Recording

In his Tony Award speech, lyricist Bryan Yorkey thanked the audience for taking a chance on an “Original Musical.” He’s right to thank them. In this age of epic movie/book/revival musicals, it is really, really tough for the little guy to squeak a show through. Particularly when your show is about a family torn apart by the death of a child – Mom is basically depressed and on lots of crazy medications and she sees the ghost of her dead kid throughout the show; father is trying to help mother; daughter is pretty crazy too and getting on the drugs; she sees the ghost too. Not exactly “Wicked” here…

But all of this is what makes it wonderful. The show is small with only about six characters. The music is angry and pretty and aggressive. You will not walk out from this show humming “I Whistle a Happy Tune” – you will probably need a tissue cause it’s just so damn sad. Tom Kitt is a composer who just hadn’t quite found his way yet – his recent “High Fidelity” came to Broadway and closed after a week. But here, the pieces are perfectly aligned. The orchestrations are lovely, the music is not overblown and the performances….oh the performances!

The cast here is pretty sick. Alice Ripley is a Broadway mainstay who had never found her “it” role. Well, she hits the gold mine here with the chance to play a woman who is crazy, depressed, and eventually lobotomized. Not too shabby – she got a Tony. J. Robert Spencer and Jennifer Damiano also turn in some primo roles. Then there’s our ghostboy Aaron Tveit. This dude will have a long, long career on the stage. He recently completed a stint in the new “Catch Me If You Can,” and basically he’s awesome. If you can really hear and feel someone’s energy through a recording, it’s a good sign. This guy is electric.

Root for the little guys! They turn out some pretty great stuff.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

“Glee”

Truth be told, my least favorite part of “Glee” is the musical numbers. They’re overproduced, oversung, and over-everything else. But how can I not give props to anything that’s bringing musical theater into the mainstream? In the last episode before the break, Lea Michele (from Broadway’s “Spring Awakening”) belted out “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” the fourth theater song to make it into the show, and thus onto iTunes. So well-done “Glee” – just try to make the musical quality a little better. I’m also pleased with anything that makes Matthew Morrison more well-known.

“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”

Neil Patrick Harris has become a strangely famous guy. He recently hosted the Tonys, the Emmys and is pretty much all over the place. In this bizarre little internet show, he is quite funny and has a pretty fine singing voice. More Doogie please!

“13″

Let’s give some credit where credit is due – Jason Robert Brown wrote a musical for 13-16 year olds. The cast was filled with awkward teenagers. What is most notable is he even filled the pit with awkward teenage musicians. So good for you, Mr. Brown. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t very good.

Last but not least…

Keep your eyes on Bret Michaels the whole time:

Sorry Bret. You deserve it for de-classing my always-classy Tony Awards. And “Rock of Ages” SUCKS.

Here’s to hoping that next year yields better results! Go see “Fela!”

– Kit Walpole

Our other expert picks:

MICHAEL BOND, AGAIN

GREG ASHER

No related posts.

My Favorite 75 Albums Of 2009 — Dec. 21

Ben W. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:15:12 +0000

Welcome to the working week.

We’re in the Top 15, which means three more very, very, very good albums to discuss today.

15. Wilco The Album — Wilco

Less is way more on this one. Stripping away the overbearing artistic pretensions that plagued all its work since Summer Teeth, Wilco has focused the listener’s ear properly on the songs themselves. And that’s great because the songs themselves are among the very best of the band’s career. My favorite Wilco album.

14. The xx — The xx

The xx already sounds like a polished, veteran group on this, the most complete debut album of the year. They use sparse keyboard patches and even sparser percussion to create an album-long mood of intimacy and quiet. The tracklist ebbs and flows as a united body and not a collection of separate pieces. And lest you fear this sounds like the recipe for boredom, know that they have enough hooks (see “Crystalised” and “Basic Space”) to hold your interest.

13. Dark Days/Light Years – Super Furry Animals

I find it quite hilarious how much love Animal Collective is getting this year for being crazy and ground-breaking and all things amazing, when Super Furry Animals were doing that psychedelic-electro-pop thing in far more interesting, humorous and less-pretentious fashion more than a decade ago (please please please see “The Door To This House Remains Open”).

But I digress. Animal Collective is fine. Whatever. The point here is that this is yet another rewarding album of off-center, highly-creative pop from the Super Furries — a band that seems to have a never-ending supply of tunes.

Check back tomorrow for Day 22 of the Advent calendar countdown. We’ll be listing three albums every day from now through Christmas when we get to No. 1.

Click DAY ONE to view Nos. 75-73.

Click DAY TWO to view Nos. 72-70.

Click DAY THREE to view Nos. 69-67.

Click DAY FOUR to view Nos. 66-64.

Click DAY FIVE to view Nos. 63-61.

Click DAY SIX to view Nos. 60-58.

Click DAY SEVEN to view Nos. 57-55.

Click DAY EIGHT to view Nos. 54-52.

Click DAY NINE to view Nos. 51-49.

Click DAY 10 to view Nos. 48-46.

Click DAY 11 to view Nos. 45-43.

Click DAY 12 to view Nos. 42-40.

Click DAY 13 to view Nos. 39-37.

Click DAY 14 to view Nos. 36-34.

Click DAY 15 to view Nos. 33-31.

Click DAY 16 to view Nos. 30-28.

Click DAY 17 to view Nos. 27-25.

Click DAY 18 to view Nos. 24-22.

Click DAY 19 to view Nos. 21-19.

Click DAY 20 to view Nos. 18-16.

MY FAVORITE 75 ALBUMS OF 2009 (THE LIST SO FAR)

75. Man Of Aran (Soundtrack) – British Sea Power

74. March Of The Zapotec/Holland EP – Beirut

73. Changing Horses – Ben Kweller

72. It’s Frightening – White Rabbits

71. Living Thing – Peter Bjorn And John

70. Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen

69. 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day

68. Grrr… – Bishop Allen

67. Let The Dominoes Fall – Rancid

66. Kingdom Of Rust – Doves

65. Get Guilty – A.C. Newman

64. Hands – Little Boots

63. Further Complications — Jarvis Cocker

62. Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future — The Bird And The Bee

61. The Love Language — The Love Language

60. The Crying Light — Antony And The Johnsons

59. Don’t Stop — Annie

58. My Way — Ian Brown

57. Post Electric Blues — Idlewild

56. Dragonslayer — Sunset Rubdown

55. Middle Cyclone — Neko Case

54. Tongue ‘N Cheek — Dizzee Rascal

53. Art Brut Vs. Satan — Art Brut

52. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand — Franz Ferdinand

51. Phrazes For The Young — Julian Casablancas

50. It’s Not Me, It’s You — Lily Allen

49. The Hazards Of Love — The Decemberists

48. Album — Girls

47. Manners — Passion Pit

46. Watch Me Fall — Jay Reatard

45. 200 Million Thousand – The Black Lips

44. Now We Can See – The Thermals

43. Scars – Basement Jaxx

42. Ghostdini The Wizard Of Poetry In The Emerald City — Ghostface Killah

41. Yesterday And Today — The Field

40. The Duckworth Lewis Method — The Duckworth Lewis Method

39. Merriweather Post Pavilion — Animal Collective

38. Love 2 — Air

37. I’m Going Away — Fiery Furnaces

36. Junior — Royksopp

35. Ignore The Ignorant — The Cribs

34. Wall Of Arms — The Maccabees

33. Ready For The Weekend — Calvin Harris

32. A Brief History Of Love — The Big Pink

31. Temporary Pleasure — Simian Mobile Disco

30. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — Phoenix

29. West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum — Kasabian

28. UGK 4 Life — UGK

27. In And Out Of Control — The Raveonettes

26. Primary Colours — The Horrors

25. Goodnight Oslo – Robyn Hitchcock

24. Face Control – Handsome Furs

23. The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

22. Attention Deficit – Wale

21. It’s Blitz! — Yeah Yeah Yeahs

20. Mo Beauty — Alec Ounsworth

19. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart — The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

18. Popular Songs — Yo La Tengo

17. The Liberty Of Norton Folgate — Madness

16. Man On The Moon: The End Of Day — Kid Cudi

15. Wilco The Album — Wilco

14. The xx — The xx

13. Dark Days/Light Years — Super Furry Animals

Best Of 2009 — Greg Asher

Ben W. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:44:28 +0000

In addition to being one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, Greg Asher also has finely honed music taste. Here’s his list of favored 2009 albums.

Greg Asher’s Top Albums Of 2009

The Hazards Of Love – The Decemberists

OK, so most people were pretty leery when The Decemberists got signed on over at Capitol Records, but with the release of The Hazards Of Love I felt a lot better about the whole thing. The Hazards Of Love is pretty much the only “true” album on my list. This LP is meant to be listed to beginning to end. If you jump ahead to the “The Rake’s Song” or “Annan Water” you’re missing the point. It’s a well-polished story with plenty of personality and development as Colin Meloy takes you deep into a tale of love, betrayal and murder.

Post-Nothing – Japandroids

I don’t know many things in life for certain, but I know for sure that these two guys are the coolest Canadians I never met. First released through an indie-Canadian label, the Japandroids are now with Polyvinyl. The Post-Nothing album has a solid rock sound reminiscent of my favorite old school At The Drive In and “Sparta” jams. I purposely removed these guys from my “Driving” mix because each and every time “Young Hearts Spark Fire” came on I ended up speeding. These guys will make you awesomely reckless.

Logos – Atlas Sound

Got turned on by “Walkabout,” in which Noah ‘Panda Bear’ Lennox of Animal Collective fame contributed. Atlas Sound is Bradford Cox’s (Deerhunter) solo project. To be honest this spot could have gone either way, to Deerhunter’s single “Microcastle Mellow 3,” but I was explictly told that this is an album countdown.

Fever Ray – Fever Ray

WHOA. I really dig this solo work from Karin Dreijer of The Knife. For a first stab at solo work I’m impressed. It’s dark, heartfelt and sometimes plain creepy. I expect a double release next year with a follow-up EP to the Fever Ray release and a new Knife LP since electro-pop has come a long way since their last release in 2006. (Eat it Animal Collective)

Fantasies – Metric

I’m not sure how to explain Metric or the reasoning for putting them on this list. I stumbled on “Help I’m Alive” and couldn’t stop singing along in the car; another jam from the album is “Gold Guns Girls.” After listening to the album I literally felt like I’ve been beaten by hammer. If that hammer was held by a hot blond Indian/Canadian/British lady and she was all smiling and telling you this whole long story about how she was born in India and like moved to Canada, but lived in Peterborough for years. Except you don’t care cause shes super hot and cool and so cosmopolitan…. and are being beaten by a hammer at least that’d be my reaction.

– Greg Asher

Our other expert picks:

MICHAEL BOND, AGAIN

My Favorite 75 Albums Of 2009 — Dec. 20

Ben W. — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:17:43 +0000

Last weekend before Christmas. Hope you got your shopping done.

What’s that? You haven’t started yet?

Well, might as well put it off for another 10 minutes. Read about three more great 2009 albums before you go out.

18. Popular Songs — Yo La Tengo

Kind of a frustrating album. The first half is full of Yo La Tengo’s trademarked brand of dreamy, eclectic pop. Then the second half is undistinguished hazy jam audio boredom. My advice? Simple enough. Listen to the first half. Ignore the second.

17. The Liberty Of Norton Folgate — Madness

This one was a real treat. Madness returned with a semi-concept album about London — its neighborhoods and inhabitants — and how it has changed in the last three decades. The lyrics, as usual, are wonderful. The music highlights their pure pop sensibilities over their standard ska sound with great results. Bands with 20 years separating them from their hey day never sound this good, do they? It’s remarkable.

16. Man On The Moon: The End Of Day — Kid Cudi

The almostfourstars hate for this album is well-documented. Funny thing, though. The more I heard this album the more I realized my initial negativity was wrong. I stand by my opinion that the lyrics are crap. They really, really are. But the album succeeds in spite of Cudi’s insipid words. The key is the music. His gift for melody and song structure are obvious, and production-wise Man On The Moon is an absolute tour-de-force. (Plus “Make Her Say” seriously is the song of the year.)

Check back tomorrow for Day 21 of the Advent calendar countdown. We’ll be listing three albums every day from now through Christmas when we get to No. 1.

Click DAY ONE to view Nos. 75-73.

Click DAY TWO to view Nos. 72-70.

Click DAY THREE to view Nos. 69-67.

Click DAY FOUR to view Nos. 66-64.

Click DAY FIVE to view Nos. 63-61.

Click DAY SIX to view Nos. 60-58.

Click DAY SEVEN to view Nos. 57-55.

Click DAY EIGHT to view Nos. 54-52.

Click DAY NINE to view Nos. 51-49.

Click DAY 10 to view Nos. 48-46.

Click DAY 11 to view Nos. 45-43.

Click DAY 12 to view Nos. 42-40.

Click DAY 13 to view Nos. 39-37.

Click DAY 14 to view Nos. 36-34.

Click DAY 15 to view Nos. 33-31.

Click DAY 16 to view Nos. 30-28.

Click DAY 17 to view Nos. 27-25.

Click DAY 18 to view Nos. 24-22.

Click DAY 19 to view Nos. 21-19.

MY FAVORITE 75 ALBUMS OF 2009 (THE LIST SO FAR)

75. Man Of Aran (Soundtrack) – British Sea Power

74. March Of The Zapotec/Holland EP – Beirut

73. Changing Horses – Ben Kweller

72. It’s Frightening – White Rabbits

71. Living Thing – Peter Bjorn And John

70. Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen

69. 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day

68. Grrr… – Bishop Allen

67. Let The Dominoes Fall – Rancid

66. Kingdom Of Rust – Doves

65. Get Guilty – A.C. Newman

64. Hands – Little Boots

63. Further Complications — Jarvis Cocker

62. Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future — The Bird And The Bee

61. The Love Language — The Love Language

60. The Crying Light — Antony And The Johnsons

59. Don’t Stop — Annie

58. My Way — Ian Brown

57. Post Electric Blues — Idlewild

56. Dragonslayer — Sunset Rubdown

55. Middle Cyclone — Neko Case

54. Tongue ‘N Cheek — Dizzee Rascal

53. Art Brut Vs. Satan — Art Brut

52. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand — Franz Ferdinand

51. Phrazes For The Young — Julian Casablancas

50. It’s Not Me, It’s You — Lily Allen

49. The Hazards Of Love — The Decemberists

48. Album — Girls

47. Manners — Passion Pit

46. Watch Me Fall — Jay Reatard

45. 200 Million Thousand – The Black Lips

44. Now We Can See – The Thermals

43. Scars – Basement Jaxx

42. Ghostdini The Wizard Of Poetry In The Emerald City — Ghostface Killah

41. Yesterday And Today — The Field

40. The Duckworth Lewis Method — The Duckworth Lewis Method

39. Merriweather Post Pavilion — Animal Collective

38. Love 2 — Air

37. I’m Going Away — Fiery Furnaces

36. Junior — Royksopp

35. Ignore The Ignorant — The Cribs

34. Wall Of Arms — The Maccabees

33. Ready For The Weekend — Calvin Harris

32. A Brief History Of Love — The Big Pink

31. Temporary Pleasure — Simian Mobile Disco

30. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — Phoenix

29. West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum — Kasabian

28. UGK 4 Life — UGK

27. In And Out Of Control — The Raveonettes

26. Primary Colours — The Horrors

25. Goodnight Oslo – Robyn Hitchcock

24. Face Control – Handsome Furs

23. The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

22. Attention Deficit – Wale

21. It’s Blitz! — Yeah Yeah Yeahs

20. Mo Beauty — Alec Ounsworth

19. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart — The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

18. Popular Songs — Yo La Tengo

17. The Liberty Of Norton Folgate — Madness

16. Man On The Moon: The End Of Day — Kid Cudi

No related posts.

Best Of 2009 — Michael Bond, again

Ben W. — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:44:49 +0000

If you didn’t get your fill of Michael Bond opinions yesterday with his list of 2009 albums, I have good news — he’s back today with a list of non-2009 music that he listened to in 2009.

If you did, in fact, get your fill of Michael Bond yesterday, ummm… well… too bad?

10 reissues, remasters, compilations, and just plain *old* albums that I listened to more than anything new this year

Willy and the Poor Boys — Creedence Clearwater Revival

CCR’s 40th anniversary remasters have been nothing less than a revelation to me. Their first five albums (recorded over just 3 years!) are incredible, full of replenished grit and swagger after two decades of crappy ’80s CD masterings. I had always written them off as redneck barbecue music, but these records reveal a rawness and urgency that even years of classic rock radio cant kill.

New Skin For The Old Ceremony — Leonard Cohen

I’ve been working myself through Leonard Cohen’s back catalog, getting obsessed with exactly one album at a time. This winter, it’s New Skin — sexy, jubilant, and deeply sad. I’d say they don’t make records like this anymore, but the truth is, they never did.

Downriver Revival — Numero Group

Numero became my new favorite label this year, and I have this record to thank for kick-starting my obsession. Numero’s incredible knack for uncovering forgotten scenes and studios is on full display here, as they unpack decades worth of a single Ecorse, Mich. studio’s attempts to be a downriver Motown. Country gospel and soul mix on the best cuts, but funky instrumentals and even a burst of garage-punk sound as though they fit — the true test of a well-built compilation. Even more impressive is that they’ve released nearly a dozen records of this stature during the year, and their back catalog reveals even more amazing discoveries, expertly telling the stories of the producers and artists that made these mini-scenes happen. I would never have named Wichita, Kansas or Columbus, Ohio as the sites of secret ’60s soul explosions, but Numero has proved me wrong, again and again.

The Beatles (The White Album) — The Beatles

The Beatles’ much-talked-about remasters excelled best at blowing the dust off of forgotten songs, and no album benefitted more from this treatment than their self-titled 1967 double album, which is just bursting with fantastic tracks that I’d nearly forgotten. Ringo’s “Don’t Pass Me By,” John’s “Sexy Sadie,” even Paul’s “I Will” sound fresh, their lazy lyrics outshone by ramshackle (yet pitch-perfect) production. Plus, the mono versions of their early records do the same for a number of fantastically loose early cuts (“Boys,” “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby”).

Lux & Ivy’s Favorites

What we have here is the ultimate music-geek labor of love, an 11-volume attempt to compile every song the Cramps ever mentioned as an influence, to try and recreate the infamous mixtapes Lux & Ivy made to recruit new band members. The result is amazing. There’s plenty of rockabilly, surf, and garage gems, but the majority of the tracks are just too weird, ridiculous, or downright filthy to have ever been revived or compiled elsewhere. It’s like getting unfettered access to the 78 collection of the weird old guy at the record shop — daunting, wonderful, and above all, revealing. Given this stack of mp3s, you could get the full force of the Cramps’ passion and goofy exuberance without actually hearing a single one of their songs.

Blossom Dearie — Blossom Dearie

I’d been a fan of Blossom Dearie’s versions of ”Thou Swell” and ”Deed I Do” for ages, but it took her death earlier this year for me to finally buy a copy of her self-titled Verve debut. It’s great — breezy and light, stuck between the ”Great American Songbook” of ’40s pop and the swing of ’50s bebop jazz, all filtered through a diminutive white girl at the piano. It’s hard to believe that this record came out at the same time Elvis was tearing up the country, as her equally disarming sexiness and charm comes from a completely different place — sly, demure, and winking. (”If you don’t like my peaches, baby, why do you shake my tree?”) I’d say it’s a very ’50s record, but by the time it came out it was already the last gasps of something rapidly disappearing, and sounds downright quaint next to hard jazz and rock ‘n roll of the same time. I’m OK with that.

Bizarre Ride II — The Pharcyde

OK, so maybe I’ve just been listening to “Passin’ Me By” over and over again. Nothin’ wrong with that. This slot was a close battle between this and KMD’s Mr. Hood, specifically ‘Peach Fuzz’. Forget lo-fi, I’m ready for the early-’90s stoner-rap revival to begin.

Shine On Brightly — Procol Harum

Procol Harum gets written off as a one-hit wonder (“Whiter Shade Of Pale”) far too often, and I’ve been battling that preconception with a copy of their great debut I’ve had for years now, but just recently got some of their other works from the same period. Shine On Brightly may be the best, its title track encompassing nearly everything good about classic rock — excess for the sake of the song, not the performers, and pushed to the limits of late-’60S studio magic. And sure, it ends with a meandering, almost Moody Blues-esque 17-minute proto-prog jam, but even that’s forgivable — just keep side A on repeat.

Sweetheart Of The Rodeo — The Byrds

I’ve slowly but surely come around to the late-’60s/early-’70s country-rock my girlfriend loves, and now talk wistfully of Flying Burrito Brothers’ genius. But it wasn’t ’til a few months ago that this album finally clicked for me. I still don’t care much for the Byrds (and their career built off of covering Dylan songs) but I’ll take this album as an accidental masterpiece. Not only do the Dylan covers actually surpass their originals, but the other cover choices are perfectly matched, and the Byrds end up owning them as well. It’s hard to underestimate Gram Parsons’ influence on the rest of the band during the recording of this album — not just the songs he wrote and recorded for them, but for steering the band towards country music at a time when the genre was considered a joke by most rock-n-rollers. But all of this would be moot if the record didn’t work so incredibly well — the instrumentation is relaxed and laid-back without feeling lazy, and the vocals twang without veering into parody. No small feat for a bunch of California hippies.

Keep It Like A Secret — Built To Spill

I stood at the back of Pitchfork Festival’s fence, watching and waiting for them to strum the last note so I could run up the street to play an afterparty. Something switched in my brain, and ever since I’ve wanted to hear “Carry The Zero” every 10 minutes.

– Michael Bond

Michael and previous almostfourstars expert Matt Dennewitz are Coltrane Motion. Together, they released an outstanding Double-A side single of their own this year. “Maya Blue” absolutely is one of my favorite songs of the year. Check it out HERE.

You can find more rantings and ravings from the mind of Michael Bond HERE – a list of his favorite 10 albums of 2009.

Our other expert picks: