image from William Bullimore @ Flickr
27 December 2009
The view from here: Australia
image from William Bullimore @ Flickr
20 December 2009
Block o' new music
The next month or so for me is going to consist of working and packing. Posts here will be kind of lacking till I get settled into the new home. No doubt, many of my nights will be the constant repeating of "Why do I have this?" Packing has that effect on me.
Enough of that. On with the tuneage...
Swedish trio, Brothers of End, released their debut album, The End, in October.
Big Bird by Brothers of End from The End
The Idyllists have released a single from their self-titled album due out in February.
Sweet Loretta by The Idyllists from The Idyllists
Jason Boesel, who has worked with the likes of Rilo Kiley and Conor Oberst, will be releasing his debut album, Hustler's Son, on January 12th. He recently recorded a Daytrotter session which you can stream/download here.
Hand of God by Jason Boesel from Hustler's Son
Australian group, En Tout Cas are currently in the studio recording (presumably) their first EP.
Steal Your Soul by En Tout Cas
Quarter Sins by En Tout Cas
Swedish artist, Little Big Adventure, just released the video for the single "Happiest Times" from The Hateful Eye EP which was released back in May on the Labrador label.
Happiest Times by Little Big Adventure from The Hateful Eye EP
The Hateful Eye by Little Big Adventure from The Hateful Eye EP
An EOI favorite, Adam Sarmiento aka I and I has his fourth release, Weird Animals, out as a limited edition CD with the download version available on January 19th from Alchemist Records.
Weird Animal by I and I from Weird Animals
Only Grey by I and I from Weird Animals
Enough of that. On with the tuneage...
Swedish trio, Brothers of End, released their debut album, The End, in October.
The Idyllists have released a single from their self-titled album due out in February.Jason Boesel, who has worked with the likes of Rilo Kiley and Conor Oberst, will be releasing his debut album, Hustler's Son, on January 12th. He recently recorded a Daytrotter session which you can stream/download here.Australian group, En Tout Cas are currently in the studio recording (presumably) their first EP.Swedish artist, Little Big Adventure, just released the video for the single "Happiest Times" from The Hateful Eye EP which was released back in May on the Labrador label.An EOI favorite, Adam Sarmiento aka I and I has his fourth release, Weird Animals, out as a limited edition CD with the download version available on January 19th from Alchemist Records.Fanfarlo w/ Freelance Whales, Majestic Cafe 12/14/09
Going to the Fanfarlo concert was somewhat of a last minute decision, but so very glad I went. If there were any US shows left, I'd highly recommend seeing them live. Unfortunately, the US leg of their tour with newcomers Freelance Whales is over. 
On the plus side, if you want to check out this new pop band, they're resuming the tour in January. Their debut album, Weathervanes, is scheduled to be released on Frenchkiss Records on March 16th.06 December 2009
20 best albums of 2009...or so says me
20.Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health
Sadly, Harlem Shakes are no more. Shame to break up after such a great album.
Sunlight
19. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
All in all, this one lived up to the initial hype.
Southern Point
18. Broken Records - Until the Earth Begins to Part
Until the Earth Begins to Part
17. Telekinesis - Telekinesis!
Look to the East
16. Japandroids - Post-Nothing
I'd have to say that these guys were one of the best new acts to come on the scene this year.
Wet Hair
15. The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
January Wedding
14. Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring
This album doesn't have the happy, cheery feel of its predecessor. This one takes us to the other, not-so-pretty side of love. It's a break-up album, and a great one at that.
The First Days of Spring
13. Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside
Everybody Come Outside
12. Ólafur Arnalds - Found Songs
A track a day for seven days. This one is a nice holdover till his newest full-length album comes out on December 7th.
Romance
11. The Middle East - The Recordings of The Middle East EP
Finally available in the US as an EP, the wait had been well worth it. Let's hope the tracks missing from the full-length album will be available soon.
The Darkest Side
10. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
Can it get anymore twee than this?
The Sweetest Thing
9. All the King's Men - Dirty Pubs & Bouncing Rooms
I loved this album when I first heard it, and I still love it. So underrated.
The Derby Dogs
8. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
Of this year's debuts, this is by far one of the best.
Indiana
7. St. Vincent - Actor
This album is so much easier to love than her first.
The Neighbors
6. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
This album has gotten mixed reviews, but I personally think it's even better than Random Spirit Lover, and a welcome relief from the slight disappointment from last year's Wolf Parade release.
Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!
5. Fanfarlo - Reservoir
Even with all the comparison's to Beirut, this album has stood on its own just fine. I'm very much looking forward to seeing them live in a couple weeks.
I'm A Pilot
4. The Twilight Sad - Forget the Night Ahead
We were told before this album was released that it wouldn't be the usual follow up to Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters. Couldn't have been more true.
Reflecting of the Television
3. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
Is it even possible for Andrew Bird to come out with a bad album?
Tenuousness
2. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Like 2006's The Crane Wife, this album is a story intended to be listened to from start to finish. The addition of vocals from My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden certainly helped, as she definitely stole the show while on tour with the band.
The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid
1. Doves - Kingdom of Rust
After a long four year wait, Doves did not disappoint on this one. "Winter Hill" is bound to be one of my favorite tracks for a long time to come.
Kingdom of Rust
Sadly, Harlem Shakes are no more. Shame to break up after such a great album.
19. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
All in all, this one lived up to the initial hype.
18. Broken Records - Until the Earth Begins to Part
17. Telekinesis - Telekinesis!
16. Japandroids - Post-Nothing
I'd have to say that these guys were one of the best new acts to come on the scene this year.
15. The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
14. Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring
This album doesn't have the happy, cheery feel of its predecessor. This one takes us to the other, not-so-pretty side of love. It's a break-up album, and a great one at that.
13. Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside
12. Ólafur Arnalds - Found Songs
A track a day for seven days. This one is a nice holdover till his newest full-length album comes out on December 7th.
11. The Middle East - The Recordings of The Middle East EP
Finally available in the US as an EP, the wait had been well worth it. Let's hope the tracks missing from the full-length album will be available soon.
10. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
Can it get anymore twee than this?
9. All the King's Men - Dirty Pubs & Bouncing Rooms
I loved this album when I first heard it, and I still love it. So underrated.
8. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
Of this year's debuts, this is by far one of the best.
7. St. Vincent - Actor
This album is so much easier to love than her first.
6. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
This album has gotten mixed reviews, but I personally think it's even better than Random Spirit Lover, and a welcome relief from the slight disappointment from last year's Wolf Parade release.
5. Fanfarlo - Reservoir
Even with all the comparison's to Beirut, this album has stood on its own just fine. I'm very much looking forward to seeing them live in a couple weeks.
4. The Twilight Sad - Forget the Night Ahead
We were told before this album was released that it wouldn't be the usual follow up to Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters. Couldn't have been more true.
3. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
Is it even possible for Andrew Bird to come out with a bad album?
2. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Like 2006's The Crane Wife, this album is a story intended to be listened to from start to finish. The addition of vocals from My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden certainly helped, as she definitely stole the show while on tour with the band.
1. Doves - Kingdom of Rust
After a long four year wait, Doves did not disappoint on this one. "Winter Hill" is bound to be one of my favorite tracks for a long time to come.
04 December 2009
Time for the obligatory end of year lists; decisions, decisions
If you're anything like me, you read blog after blog after blog with lists that seem to mirror each other just a little bit too much. And then you ask yourself "Why?" Why do bloggers come up with these lists? Why are so many of them so much alike?Answer: I have no idea - but I'm going to do one anyways.
This year wasn't exactly a stellar year, in my opinion, but there were some really good albums that came out that deserve noting again. Maybe they slipped under the radar with all the hype surrounding releases from the likes of Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, etc.; maybe they came out in the beginning of the year and simply were forgotten about. It happens.
On that note, let me start off with what I think were the best songs of the year. This was not an easy list to make. I wanted to keep it simple (and short) so there were a handful of really great songs that didn't make the cut. As much of a chore as it was just deciding which songs to list, I'm not going to put them in ranking order. Good enough is just simply that.
image from chewie2008~ at Flickr
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