Five days into the new decade. Anyone still remember 2009? Herewith, a quick look at some of my favorite spins. For a while this last year, a long while, I thought I was going to make good on my oft-threatened promise at having a top 10 list with three #3s and no #1, but some good music and a sense of not wanting to upset the DAA applecart won out.
Annual award winner for most overhyped album that I just don't get at all:
Small Band category: Grizzly Collective Animal Bear
Yes, I know these are two different groups, but their records seemed to be released simultaneously, the foaming-at-the-mouth was nearly unanimous, and while there are interesting moments on each, I can't even put together a good 5-song EP from both combined.
Medium Band category: Wilco -- Wilco (the album)
I have to admit I've never "gotten" Wilco. My favorite of theirs is Mermaid Avenue, songs they didn't write played with Billy Bragg.
International Conglomerate category: U2 -- No More Eno/Lanois Behind the Boards
Almost but not quite:
Florence & the Machine -- Lungs
Silversun Pickups -- Swoon
And, here we go...
10. Green Day -- 21st Century Breakdown
Went to the well once too often. A second overly ambitious song cycle is something of a misfire, but I applaud the attempt and there's enough solid material here worth listening to again and again. Was going to be extraordinarily hard to top American Idiot and the safe route might have been to re-issue Dookie, but they went big and tripped. But just some minor scrapes, the kids will be alright.
9. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
The Glaswegians' third outshone Arctic Monkeys' disappointment this year. The dapper lads could have continued to remake their successful formula; instead they offered some new twists (an eight-minute track that borders on house music, for instance) while not totally abandoning the darkly clever and seductive sounds that got them this far. A top-notch live act, to boot.
8. Anouar Brahem - The Astounding Eyes of Rita
Released on ECM, need I say any more? The astounding sounds of North African jazz is probably the only way to describe it.
7. Gossip - Music for Men
With the dissolution of Sleater-Kinney, Gossip may be the best live band going right now. The downside of that reputation is that studio efforts don't nearly measure up. Music for Men comes close. No doubt Rick Rubin is to credit for that. And, well, Beth is worth every drop of ink spilled about her.
6. Manic Street Preachers - Journal for Plague Lovers
The back story only adds color; stick with the solid rock sound and fascinating lyrics.
5. BLK JKS - After Robots
After Metric, I think I listened to this record most often this year. If the compilation Indestructible Beat of Soweto was the gateway to African sounds for many 20 years ago but you haven't listened since Graceland, let BLK JKS introduce you to 21st century South African rock.
4. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
Recent releases had a bit too much filler for a band so talented. Yes, the two songs that fill over 25 minutes to close the album probably wouldn't be noticeably different if they were cut in half, but they feel right in this collection. The groove also feels organic and natural not the forced sounds on recent-ish releases like And Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out.
3. Sonic Youth - the Eternal
Gerard Cosloy, the Youth finally paid you back. After leaving Homestead for SST in the mid-80s, and then releasing the titanic Daydream Nation on Blast First!, the
Youth de-camped
for the majors for more than 15 years. On their first record songs to be released on an indie, albeit the well-funded Matador, (an yes, I'm discounting the purely experimental SYR releases), Sonic Youth drop one of their career's finest.
My theory on the Youth posits that when Kim is engaged and less hippy-dippy, the album holds. Thurston's and Lee's contributions are givens; Kim is the wild card. Like Daydream Nation, she and Thurston are sharing vocals on songs more so maybe she just needs to write more songs with her husband. No more dissecting, just listen.
2. Metric - Fantasies
I really thought this was going to be #1 for me as it was played early and often and loudly by me all spring and summer and fall. Infectious, rollicking, danceable, hooky, fun, solid from start to finish. If not for a ridiculously ambitious success, it would have stayed #1 for me on December 31st too.
1. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
I've had my moments (in a bad way) with the Decemberists in the past. I believe
they won or shared my "Record That Everyone Seems to Love and I Don't Get in
the Least" award one year. Colin Meloy has already looked at song cycles
or a sole source of inspiration (The
Crane Wife) and come up lacking, but the Hazards of Love absolutely nails it.
"The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid" wouldn't feel out of place on a P.J. Harvey record. (Pete(r), ahem.) "The Rake's Song" is a delicious musing on murder. Why folk rock lends itself to storytelling so well is beyond my simpleton ways. But I can say this collection is the best folk rock song cycle since the Rev Hammer's Freeborn John about the life of John Lilburne. (Look it and him up; well worth it.) In the interim, I'm going to have another listen to Margaret's fate.
Annual award winner for most overhyped album that I just don't get at all:
Small Band category: Grizzly Collective Animal Bear
Yes, I know these are two different groups, but their records seemed to be released simultaneously, the foaming-at-the-mouth was nearly unanimous, and while there are interesting moments on each, I can't even put together a good 5-song EP from both combined.
Medium Band category: Wilco -- Wilco (the album)
I have to admit I've never "gotten" Wilco. My favorite of theirs is Mermaid Avenue, songs they didn't write played with Billy Bragg.
International Conglomerate category: U2 -- No More Eno/Lanois Behind the Boards
Almost but not quite:
Florence & the Machine -- Lungs
Silversun Pickups -- Swoon
Lily Allen -- It's Not Me, It's You
Sloan -- Hit & Run epAnd, here we go...
10. Green Day -- 21st Century Breakdown
Went to the well once too often. A second overly ambitious song cycle is something of a misfire, but I applaud the attempt and there's enough solid material here worth listening to again and again. Was going to be extraordinarily hard to top American Idiot and the safe route might have been to re-issue Dookie, but they went big and tripped. But just some minor scrapes, the kids will be alright.
9. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
The Glaswegians' third outshone Arctic Monkeys' disappointment this year. The dapper lads could have continued to remake their successful formula; instead they offered some new twists (an eight-minute track that borders on house music, for instance) while not totally abandoning the darkly clever and seductive sounds that got them this far. A top-notch live act, to boot.
8. Anouar Brahem - The Astounding Eyes of Rita
Released on ECM, need I say any more? The astounding sounds of North African jazz is probably the only way to describe it.
7. Gossip - Music for Men
With the dissolution of Sleater-Kinney, Gossip may be the best live band going right now. The downside of that reputation is that studio efforts don't nearly measure up. Music for Men comes close. No doubt Rick Rubin is to credit for that. And, well, Beth is worth every drop of ink spilled about her.
6. Manic Street Preachers - Journal for Plague Lovers
The back story only adds color; stick with the solid rock sound and fascinating lyrics.
5. BLK JKS - After Robots
After Metric, I think I listened to this record most often this year. If the compilation Indestructible Beat of Soweto was the gateway to African sounds for many 20 years ago but you haven't listened since Graceland, let BLK JKS introduce you to 21st century South African rock.
4. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
Recent releases had a bit too much filler for a band so talented. Yes, the two songs that fill over 25 minutes to close the album probably wouldn't be noticeably different if they were cut in half, but they feel right in this collection. The groove also feels organic and natural not the forced sounds on recent-ish releases like And Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out.
3. Sonic Youth - the Eternal
Gerard Cosloy, the Youth finally paid you back. After leaving Homestead for SST in the mid-80s, and then releasing the titanic Daydream Nation on Blast First!, the
Youth de-camped
for the majors for more than 15 years. On their first record songs to be released on an indie, albeit the well-funded Matador, (an yes, I'm discounting the purely experimental SYR releases), Sonic Youth drop one of their career's finest. My theory on the Youth posits that when Kim is engaged and less hippy-dippy, the album holds. Thurston's and Lee's contributions are givens; Kim is the wild card. Like Daydream Nation, she and Thurston are sharing vocals on songs more so maybe she just needs to write more songs with her husband. No more dissecting, just listen.
2. Metric - Fantasies
I really thought this was going to be #1 for me as it was played early and often and loudly by me all spring and summer and fall. Infectious, rollicking, danceable, hooky, fun, solid from start to finish. If not for a ridiculously ambitious success, it would have stayed #1 for me on December 31st too.
1. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
I've had my moments (in a bad way) with the Decemberists in the past. I believe
they won or shared my "Record That Everyone Seems to Love and I Don't Get in
the Least" award one year. Colin Meloy has already looked at song cycles
or a sole source of inspiration (The
Crane Wife) and come up lacking, but the Hazards of Love absolutely nails it.
"The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid" wouldn't feel out of place on a P.J. Harvey record. (Pete(r), ahem.) "The Rake's Song" is a delicious musing on murder. Why folk rock lends itself to storytelling so well is beyond my simpleton ways. But I can say this collection is the best folk rock song cycle since the Rev Hammer's Freeborn John about the life of John Lilburne. (Look it and him up; well worth it.) In the interim, I'm going to have another listen to Margaret's fate.
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