Thursday, December 31, 2009

Clarke's Favourite Music '09

Top 50 Albums
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  1. 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day
The album that best captured the hesitation and hope of the post-Bush era of America, Green Day proved itself to be the voice of America this year. The album shows influences from Springsteen, The Clash, and most notably, The Beatles. Green Day isn’t just a punk band anymore; they’ve grown up into something else entirely – the sound of a country.

  1. Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen
In a decade of three great Springsteen albums, Working is perhaps his loudest and most adventurous. The Boss hasn’t lost his touch for writing a rocker that makes you think, or just reaching into your chest and squeezing your heart. He’s not called The Boss for nothing.

  1. Battle Studies – John Mayer
Mayer blends all his previous styles – acoustic-folk, rock, blues, funk – into the perfect pop album, his own Blood on the Tracks. As usual it’s filled with Mayer’s wry self-deprecation and humor, but it’s also one of his most dynamic releases.


  1. It’s Blitz! – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Less punk than their previous albums, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have taken their sound to new levels, from danceable classics, to acoustic guitar ballads. Proving that their one of the best bands working now, these new areas perfectly compliment a band that grows with each album. Where they go from here, one can only guess, but I can’t wait.


  1. Together Through Life – Bob Dylan
Dylan took a trip south of the border for this Mexacli-drunk blast. Dylan’s gritty voice has become more and more fitting, and while the lyrics aren’t as good as on Modern Times, the album sounds like Dylan having fun. And when he does, great music isn’t far away.

  1. No Line On The Horizon – U2
U2’s most eclectic album since Achtung Baby has the boys from Ireland in their best for, not only kicking out the rockers, but expanding the sonic landscape that they’ve played such a huge role in creating. Not as commercial or radio friendly as their past two records, it nonetheless stands as one of their best.

  1. Manners – Passion Pit
The best techno album of the year was made by a band that’s not techno at all – Passion Pit is more dance-indie-rock than anything, but the swirling, foot-tapping results of the best debut of the year are the best songs to dance to you’ll find anywhere. The album is a cohesive piece of sheer joy, and that’s what you’ll feel walking away from it.


  1. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Phoenix
Phoenix’s fourth album was perhaps the hookiest record of the year, and the only one to name check 19th century composers. Single after single of fantastic dance-pop made for one of the most infectious albums of the year. I dare you to put it on and stay in your seat.


  1. Post-Nothing – Japandorids
The pinnacle of the return of fuzzy-guitar, lo-fi rock, Post-Nothing is a head-banger that will surprise with how well drums, guitar and vocals can be used to great something with so much subtle melody. At first it may just seem like a noise record, but the more listens, the deeper the sound. That’s what every band hopes for.

  1. Humbug – Arctic Monkeys
Less dance and more Smiths than their previous two albums, the Arctic Monkeys created an album that would – and should – give all Smith’s followers pause. Not that the album was recorded in answer to The Smiths, but the tone of both the lyrics and the music recall them at their best. It may be a little heavier than fans are used to, but the effect is better.


  1. Backspacer – Pearl Jam
Clocking in at barely over half-an-hour, Pearl Jam managed to tap into all their different areas of interest – punk, acoustic folk, rock – and threw them together to create one of their most bombastic albums ever. The mood changes from song to song, but the sheer joy of the craftsmanship remains constant throughout.


  1. What Will We Be – Devendra Banhart
Banhart has always made eclectic music, and What Will We Be doesn’t give up that tradition, but instead uses it to create his most accessible record. It’s more laid back, and is a lot like the early music of the Grateful Dead, mixed in with the occasional dollop of Led Zeppelin.

  1. Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk
Perhaps the most talented “super group” since The Traveling Wilbury’s, the mix of Bright Eye’s Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James and She & Him’s M. Ward created the best rock-folk album of the year. The band worked on all the songs together, but each artist gets a tune or two on which to shine. With talent like this, that’s a lot of gems.


  1. The First Days of Spring – Noah And the Whale
The best break-up album of the year, The First Days of Spring deal mostly with the aftermath of a break-up: not wanting to get out of bed, dating other people and moving on with your life. The music isn’t sappy in the least, and the gorgeous instrumentation and vocals conjure up spring – and the hope that it brings – in the heart and mind.

  1. Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl – Van Morrison
Astral Weeks definitely ranks up there in the top albums ever recorded, and this live version should climb the list of live records. Morrison – always a jazzman – messes with the order of the songs, and adds his own scat flavorings throughout, but the mood is the same. The result is a star only a little dimmer than it’s predecessor.

  1. Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King – Dave Matthews Band
Since the DMB’s last record, the band lost their saxophonist Leroi Moore, and what more fitting tribute than to make one of the band’s most dynamic albums in his honor. It’s also quite possibly Dave’s loudest album, and his grittiest. A fitting tribute for a musician lost too soon.


  1. Dark Was The Night –Various Artists
The year’s best compilation sported rare tracks from all of indie’s superstars, from Feist and Yo La Tengo, to Cat Power and My Morning Jacket. The tone is mostly somber (this shouldn’t be a surprise, given the album’s title) but there’s a definite beauty to the dark.


  1. The Open Door EP – Death Cab for Cutie
Though not a full album, Open Door gave Death Cab fans a sense of where the band will be heading. Ben Gibbard’s melancholic lyrics are still the same, but the music is ever-changing, which makes Death Cab one of the most interesting bands around today. This will make anyone hope they’re heading to the studio soon.

  1. XX – The XX
The Cure would be proud of this British band, whose somber guitar melodies and intertwining male/female vocals make the music stand out from the countless Cure followers. There’s a deceptive simplicity to the music here, and the lyrics go from dark to sexy on a dime, but there’s no arguing with the intoxicating end result.


  1. The Fall – Norah Jones
Jones’ most fully realized album since her debut took the world by storm, The Fall perfectly blends the country and rock sounds she’s experimented with on her second and third albums. The result isn’t quite a jazz record, but it isn’t a rock one, either. It smacks of Tom Waits (an intentional thing) and features some of Jones’ most adventurous writing.

  1. Swoon – Silversun Pickups
The heirs-apparent to the sonic world of Smashing Pumpkins, Swoon demonstrated just how heavy – and lovely – reverb-driven guitars can be. Sporting one of the best track one’s of the year, the Silversun Pickups have perfectly angled themselves to blow-up big, and soon. Not bad for a sophomore album.

  1. A Tribute To – Yim Yames
Recorded by himself, shortly after the death of George Harrison, Yim Yames (better known as Jim James) creates a quietly devastating tribute to perhaps the most underrated Beatle. All the songs are brilliant, but “My Sweet Lord,” and “All Things Must Pass,” stand apart as true measures of how talented Harrison was. He couldn’t have asked for a better voice than Yames.


  1. So Far Gone – Drake
The most unexpected rap star of the year, So Far Gone is only an EP, taken from the internet mixtape that set the web ablaze. Signed with Lil’ Wayne’s record label, and sporting a couple of appearances by Weezey himself, Drake appears to be the next big thing in rap. After a listen to this album, it isn’t hard to understand why.

  1. Crazy Love – Michael Buble
Buble may be this generation’s Sinatra, and if that’s the case, he fully embraces the fact on Crazy Love. As usual, it’s full of brilliant covers, but what sets Buble apart is the fact that he’s also a talented songwriter, penning two of the best tracks on the record. Ol’ Blue Eyes left some pretty big shoes to fill, but with every album, Buble is proving himself more and more ready to step into them.

  1. One Fast Move Or I’m Gone – Jay Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard
What started as a soundtrack to a film about Jack Kerouac’s Big Sur turned into a partnership made in indie-rock heaven. This “soundtrack” is full of acoustic guitar-driven road songs, songs about moving, songs about loss. Farrar and Gibbard get the spirit of Kerouac right, and turn it into musical form. That’s something to be proud of.

  1. Merriweather Post Pavilion – Animal Collective
Animal Collective has always taken the sounds of folk, and pushed them to new, crazy areas. Sometimes the results were less than stellar, but that’s not the case on Merriweather, an album that’s as much fun to listen to, as it undoubtedly was to make it. Though they push boundaries, they never go too far, always keeping the music immediate and joyous.

  1. Glasvegas – Glasvegas
One of the year’s best UK imports, Glasvegas has the sonic sensibilities of U2 and a voice as arresting and full of emotion as Bono. They’re not challenging U2 as the biggest band in the world, yet, but after a couple of listens to this gorgeous album, it’s easy to see that that day may not be too far off.

  1. I And Love And You – The Avett Brothers
The best country, or alt-country (depending on your definition) album of the year, The Avett Brothers got the lilting ballads and foot-stomping rockers just right. From a band whose previous release was titled Emotionalism, these brothers have the art of expressing emotion through voice and music down to a science.

  1. Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z
The king of rap returned to claim his throne, and did he ever. Hova has always been full of swagger and bravado, and the most annoying part – to his competition, anyway – is that its almost always justified. Teaming up with old producer Kanye West, Jay-Z produced another album full of hooks, pounding lyrics and great samples. Haters, eat your heart out.


  1. Outer South – Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band
Oberst is one of the most prolific musicians working today, and on his second record without the Bright Eyes moniker, he acquaints himself admirably with southern folk rock. He also shares the vocal and songwriting spotlight with members of his talented Mystic Valley Band. In all, it’s a convincing case for those who say Oberst is the new Dylan.


  1. Middle Cyclone – Neko Case
Case has one of the best voices in rock, and she uses it to full effect on this dynamite of an album, where she turns her voice and music into a force of nature, hitting the listener hard. She’s released several solid albums already, but this is her best so far. A cyclone, indeed.


  1. Hazards of Love – The Decembrists
While not quite as good as The Crane Wife, Hazards of Love still shows one of the most exciting bands around growing and evolving. A quasi-concept album about the love between the supernatural and the natural, Hazards brims with wild guitars, echoing vocals and excellent song-writing. The result falls a little due to over ambition, but there’s no fault in being overly ambitious.

  1. Oh My God, Charlie Darwin – The Low Anthem
In the best straight-folk release of the year, The Low Anthem proved that despite all the freak-folk that has risen, there’s a place for gorgeous harmonies and simple, acoustic guitar work. Anybody who doubts that need only listen to the album’s opener to be convinced.


  1. Baby Darling Doll Face Honey – Band of Skulls
One of the best releases from a British band, Baby Darling is a bit like The White Stripes, only with a fuller sound. Part of what makes the band work is having the male and female vocalists going at it over punk and rock music in the vein of The Arctic Monkeys. The sound is sometimes heavy, sometimes bluesy, but always catchy.

  1. City Of Black And White – Mat Kearney
Kearney got rid of the sing-song-rap that spoiled his debut record, and took the focus to songs more in the area of Coldplay. Sure, it’s not new tracks or anything, but Kearney’s voice is so sweet and the music so lovely, you can forgive him for indulging himself in a sound that’s a little familiar.


  1. Summer of Hate – Crocodiles
Another of the wave of low-fi, fuzzy guitars bands in the vein of My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus and Mary Chain, Crocodiles got the formula right, and created a short, but fantastic album. Using guitar reverb as a palate, the band creates songs that are both hypnotic and catchy at the same time. That’s no small feat.


  1. Strict Joy – The Swell Season
Once launched Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova to superstardom, and there was a lot riding on their second release. Strict Joy hits all the marks and then some, capturing not only the winsome music from Once, but adding some more upbeat songs about finding new love in life. If people wanted Hansard and Irglova to stick to the same sound, then they’re missing the promise these two musicians have. Give Strict Joy a listen, and see all they can be.

  1. Already Free – The Derek Trucks Band
The blues album Trucks has been working up to for years, Already Free not only features some of Trucks’ best guitar work on record, but also the most vocal work, from such artists as Susan Tedeschi and Doyle Bramhall II. All this mixes beautifully to create one of the most solid blues records released in a long time.

  1. In And Out Of Control – The Raveoettes
The second release in two years from The Raveonettes is a little more accessible than last year’s, but the sound is basically the same – the great vocal work and the sonic work of Echo & The Bunnymen. The songs may be a little more poppy, but with numbers like the shimmering, “Last Dance,” nobody should be complaining.


  1. Bible Belt – Diane Birch
Perhaps the best soul record of the year, Bible Belt is a lot like Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis: a white girl singing soul songs with a love and conviction that crosses color lines. Birch’s voice can echo the likes of both Carole King and Aretha Franklin, and its obvious she was influenced by both. There’s even a bit of Cat Power thrown into the mix, and the end result is something both familiar and new.

  1. Back & Fourth – Pete Yorn
Yorn’s best release since his debut, Back & Fourth offers some truly heart-rending numbers, and also Yorn at his most unburdened. It sounds like, for the first time in a while, Yorn is just enjoying making music, and the end result is an album to be proud of. Hopefully, he’ll take himself a little less seriously from now on.

  1. Wilco (the album) – Wilco
The perfect follow-up to Sky Blue Sky, Wilco’s latest is another walk through the alt-country lanes by one of its masters. Mostly guitar driven, always swinging, Wilco (the album) is the sound of a band having fun. Ever since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco has become a pillar of inventive rock, and its great to hear the band just enjoying making music, without any pressure or labels. The enjoyment is infectious.

  1. Keep It Hid – Dan Auerbach
The blues are in Dan Auerbach’s blood. He found the perfect outlet for it in The Black Keys, but his love for the music is so deep, he had to release a solo record just to exercise it. The album is a little bit more straight-ahead blues than The Keys’ recent releases, but the love of the music shines throughout. It may be a step back, but its one worth taking.


  1. Rhett Miller – Rhett Miller
The self-titled release from the head of The Old 97’s is an alt-country record Ryan Adams could be proud of. The songs are all earnest tales of love and loss, and when you lay Miller’s voice over some truly great Whiskeytown-esque music, there’s not much else one could ask for.


  1. Popular Songs – Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo does what they do best on their latest release, an album full of indie rock gems. It’s not as guitar-rock driven as I Am Not Afraid Of You, but it more than makes up for it melodically, and the last two songs, clocking in at nearly twenty minutes, are musical manna.

  1. Kamaal the Abstract – Q-Tip
A fusion of hip-hop and jazz, Kamaal was supposed to be released in 2002, but owing to its less than commercial sound, it took seven years for it to see the light of day. It was worth the wait, coming from A Tribe Called Quest’s beat master and featuring some truly unique mixes.

  1. Songs Up In Her Head – Sarah Jarosz
The best bluegrass album of the year also ranks as one of the year’s best debut records. Jarosz is perfectly in touch with the Appalachian tradition, and has the musical chops to take that tradition and turn it into something accessible and new. She also proves herself to be a gifted songwriter, and her voice is borderline angelic. Watch out, Alisson Krauss.


  1. Troubadour – K’Naan
A rapper from Somolia – thus, one who actually has lived through the experiences he raps about – K’naan made a splash at the same time the Somalian pirates were making a splash in the news. Unlike them, K’naan talks about hardship, but with a passionate drive to improve things. It also doesn’t hurt that the album has some of the best and most original beats of any rap record.

  1. Bitte Orca – Dirty Projectors
In a year of pretty wild folk records, Bitte Orca stands out not only because of the sheer vocal freedom that the band produces, but also because o the cart-wheeling guitars and ever-changing sonic landscapes. It’s a wild ride worth taking again and again.

  1. White Lies For Dark Times – Ben Harper And The Relentless7
Ben Harper put away the more experimental side of himself and went for a flat-out blues-rock record. The result is one of the best efforts of Harper’s career, mixing killer slide guitar with some of his most passionate vocals.

Top 100 Songs
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  1. 21 Guns – 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day
Green Day has written a lot of catchy songs in their day, but a major salute goes to one that actually says something along with getting stuck in your head. It’s the perfect mix of ballad and rocker, and the lyrics fit our days perfectly: “One 21 guns/lay down your arms/give up the fight./One 21 guns/throw up your arms/into the sky.”

  1. Meet Me on the Equinox – New Moon Soundtrack – Death Cab for Cutie
The Twilight Saga drives me crazy, but the soundtrack gave outlet to one of Death Cab’s best songs, so it earns a point or two for me. The song is all ambience, with Chris Walla’s guitars swelling and swirling with Ben Gibbard’s voice, never stronger or more confident. “Everything ends,” Gibbard repeats over and over. For this band, let’s hope not.

  1. Lisztomania – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Phoenix
Probably the hookiest song of the year, this head-bouncer by the French Phoenix will get in your head and keep you bopping in step long after the song is over. Plus, how often is it something this infectious name checks a famous classical pianist?

  1. Heartbreak Warfare – Battle Studies – John Mayer
The opener from Mayer’s third record shows that he’s not happy staying too long in any one genre of music. After mixing blues and pop perfectly on Conintuum is back to his folk roots, electrifying them as he goes. The guitar is straight out of U2, but the lyrics are pure Mayer: “If you want more love/why don’t you say so?” Simple, effective. Right on the money.
  1. Cornerstone – Humbug – Arctic Monkeys
The best song from the British Isle – and also the best heartbroken track of the year – “Cornerstone,” is a Smiths-esque, meandering trip through bars as the narrator looks for a girl close enough to his ex, and who will let him call her by his ex’s name. Catchy, wry and melancholy. Morrisey, eat your heart out.
  1. Best I Ever Had – So Far Gone-EP – Drake
The best song from the most surprising rising star in rap this year, “Best I Ever Had” leaves no doubt why critics and listeners are so excited about his music. His flows sound like Jay-Z, the production sounds like Kanye West, but the end result is uniquely Drake. Best I Ever Had, indeed.

  1. There’s No Secrets This Year – Swoon – Silversun Pickups
The best song the Smasing Pumpkins never wrote, “Secrets” is the catchiest piece of music to come out of the resurgence of lo-fi, fuzzy guitar rock. The lead track from their second album, this should help Silversun become less of a secret.

  1. The Fixer – Backspacer – Pearl Jam
Less than three minutes of Pearl Jam and their most punk and honest at the same time. Anything Eddie Vedder sings, I believe, but he out does himself on this gem from one of the band’s best albums. There’s nothing here that needs fixing.

  1. 16th & Valencia, Roxy Music – What Will We Be – Devendra Banhart
Sounding a bit like the follow-up to Banhart’s “Lover,” “16th” might be his most accessible song yet. That’s probably because it’s obvious how much fun he’s having playing the music. The guitar hook gets under your skin, and the various instruments Banhart employs make for one of the most dynamic songs of the year.
  1. Train Song – Dark Was The Night – Feist and Ben Gibbard
Gibbard and Feist make the perfect duo in this haunting, minimalist collaboration that draws the earnestness out of both their voices, and intertwines them to delicate – and devastating – effect. You really believe their lovers on the way to each other.
  1. Run This Town (featuring Rihanna and Kanye West) – Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z
Hova released another reason why he’s still a force to be reckoned with in hip-hop with Blueprint III, and the catchiest track from the album makes his point perfectly. Rihanna and Kanye are the perfect partners for the track, and one listen proves that Jay-Z still runs the rap town.
  1. Little Secrets – Manners – Passion Pit
The best debut album of the year, a swirling, delightful mix of pop and dance, with a shot of disco for flavor, “Little Secrets,” is a great example of why everyone was making such a fuss about this little record. There is absolutely nothing not danceable about this track – but the vocals, especially the kids choir – but it over the top.

  1. VCR – XX – The XX
Want to know what The Cure would have sounded like working with a female singer? Go no further than this absolutely gorgeous stunner. One of the best love songs of the year, “VCR” fully establishes The XX as one of the best new acts of the year.

  1. Charlie Darwin – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin – The Low Anthem
Perhaps the loveliest thirty-seconds of the year come from this song. Luckily, the whole song is golden, not just the opening. It’s a mix of CSNY, My Morning Jacket and Appalachian folk. The lead vocals are so lilting that they actually send shivers down one’s spine. This is a Charlie Darwin everyone can agree on.

  1. Why I Am – Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King – Dave Matthews Band
One of the most up-tempo – and that’s saying something – songs the Dave Matthews Band has released to date, “Why I Am” is both a tribute to late saxophonist Leroi Moore and a guaranteed number to get you out of your seat, and moving. Leroi couldn’t have asked for more.
  1. All Things Must Pass – A Tribute To – Yim Yames
Yim Yames – or Jim James from My Morning Jacket – is one of the best vocalists working in music today, and this shimmering cover of the George Harrison classic is yet another example of why James can do no wrong. The music is so stripped-down, the lyrics so heartfelt, you just get swept up.

  1. Sweet Disposition – Conditions – The Temper Trap
This song owes a great debt to the film (500) Days of Summer, which featured this Cure-esque beaut to the world. It’s possible that it would have broken through somewhere else, since the bass line is that hard to forget, the lyrics so sincere. However it got here, it’s a sweet, sweet thing.
  1. I Quit Girls – Post-Nothing – Japandroids
The best track from the best grunge album of the year, “I Quit Girls” is about the girl who changes your life, and what you do once she’s gone. The lyrics are simple, but sweet, and the interplay of guitar distortion and pounding drums say everything else. Not only is it a lesson for artists in that genre – it’s a lesson for musicians in general.

  1. Forever (featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem) – More Than A Game Soundtrack – Drake
Without a doubt the most start-studded – and best – collaboration of the year, “Forever,” throws together four of raps greatest and lets the magic happen. If one thinks the artists here don’t mix, just give the track a spin. You’ll change your mind.

  1. Atlantic City – War Child Presents Heroes – The Hold Steady
The Hold Steady has always taken a note from Springsteen, so they were the perfect band to cover one of The Boss’s greatest pieces of songwriting. They manage to capture the yearning of the original, while throwing in a horn line and a wicked guitar solo. It’s no wonder Bruce hand-picked them to cover the song.

  1. She Is Love – Losing Sleep – Parachute
A song James Taylor would be proud of, “She is Love” is just a guy, a guitar and his heart. Sometimes this can be boring – on this one, it’s sheer beauty. For the unlucky in love, this is what hope sounds like.

  1. I Want You! – Living Things – Peter Bjorn and John
Peter Bjorn and John prove themselves to be the masters of infectious hits after “Young Folks,” and now “I Want You!” a guitar-driven piece of music that’s programmed like a rocket to hit your ears and get stuck there.

  1. I’m On A Boat (featuring T-Pain) – Incredibad – The Lonely Island
What can you say about a rap group made up of white-boy comedians that take T-Pain and his auto-tuner voice, and turn it into one of the funniest – and catchiest – songs of the year? It’s just this side of brilliant.

  1. My Wife’s Home Town – Together Through Life – Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is probably the best bitter break-up songwriter ever, and he shows that he still has his bite on this track. His voice is so fittingly gritty, the guitar and accordion so in touch with the old honky-tonk tradition, that all you can do is sit back and laugh when he growls out, “All I can say is hell’s my wife’s home town.’ And at the end of the song he laughs – the sound of pure joy.
  1. A Quick One, While He’s Away – 21st Century Breakdown (iTunes Exclusive) – Green Day
Green Day has always been influenced by The Who, and for those who doubt, give a listen to this stellar cover of one of The Who’s most dynamic and adventurous songs. It’s eight minutes of pure rock bliss.

  1. Outlaw Pete – Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen
The lead track from another classic by The Boss, “Outlaw Pete,” could be the soundtrack to a Cormac McCarthy song just as easy as a Johnny Cash number. The build up to the thundering end, and the rawness in Bruce’s voice when he calls “I’m outlaw Pete!” leave no doubt that The Boss isn’t done working yet.

  1. Cold Fame – Baby Darling Doll Face Honey – Band Of Skulls
A slow-burner from Britain’s best new band, “Cold Fame,” plays like an old blues song if The White Stripes covered it. The guitar is at the forefront, echoing the tones of Stevie Ray Vaughn, while the vocals call to mind the Arctic Monkeys. The result is anything but cold.

  1. Fireflies – Ocean Eyes – Owl City
The catchiest indie-electronic number since The Postal Service burst upon the scene, “Fireflies,” is as sweet as candy, and just as addicting. It may not have the depth of the Postal Service at their best, but with hooks this good, it’s no wonder it became a number one track of the year.

  1. A Diamond And A Tether – The Open Door EP – Death Cab for Cutie
Even though Ben Gibbard is now a married man, “A Diamond” is a comfort for those fans whose love for his yearning, heart-broken lyrics draw them again and again to Death Cab. As always, Chris Walla’s production is outstanding, the music among the band’s best, and Gibbard’s lyrics are perfectly scared of love. Fans, rest easy.

  1. Astral Weeks/I Believe I’ve Transcended – Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl – Van Morrison
Morrison has always embraced jazz and the improvisation that goes with it, and he takes it to glorious new heights on this live version of the title track to his best album. Near the end, when he repeats over and over that “he’s transcended,” I dare anyone to argue.
  1. Too Many Dicks (On The Dance Floor) – I Told You I Was Freaky – The Flight of the Conchords
For my money, this was the club hit of the year. Will it actually be played in any clubs? Probably not, but still. The Conchords take their folk expertise and transfer it with hilarious precision to dance music. The result is hilarious, and danceable as hell.

  1. Last Dance – In And Out Of Control – The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes do The Cure proud on “Last Dance,” delivering a fuzzy guitar beauty worthy of “Pictures of You.” This should be the last dance at all the proms this year, but it won’t – their loss.

  1. Horseshoes and Handgrenades – 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day
Perhaps the most punk song on Green Day’s latest, “Horseshoes,” shows that even though the band has expanded their sound, the can still pen a good old fashioned head banger. When Billie Joe Armstrong bellows “I’m not fucking around!” it’s easy to believe him.

  1. Haven’t Met You Yet – Crazy Love – Michael Buble
In addition to being the closest thing this generation has to Sinatra, Buble continually demonstrates that he can flourish a pen in the way Ol’ Blue Eyes never did. “Haven’t Met You,” could very well become a standard that other people cover in a couple years.

  1. Colorado Girl – Townes – Steve Earle
The passion Steve Earle put into his tribute to Townes Van Zandt is nowhere more clearly evident than on this gorgeous, stripped down ballad. Wherever Van Zandt is, he has to be happy with this result.

  1. One Fast Move Or I’m Gone – One Fast Move Or I’m Gone – Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard
Farrar and Gibbard capture the freewheelin’ spirit of Kerouac’s Big Sur, with all the sweetness and melancholy that it entails, best on the title track from this tribute. Less a road song, and more a ballad to the road, it’s a sentiment that Kerouac would be proud of.
  1. The First Days of Spring – The First Days of Spring – Noah And The Whale
The opening track from the best break-up record of the year, you won’t find a more lushly beautiful song on any other record this year. The strings and echoing guitar burrow into your head and heart. What else could one ask of from a break-up song?

  1. Sandman, The Brakeman and Me – Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk
The “super group” of the year, the best of all the members come together in “Sandman.” Obviously a very Obest-infulenced track, the guitar moves like a train, and the harmonies don’t get any lovelier.

  1. Even If It Is So – Kamaal The Abstract – Q-Tip
Q-Tip got in touch with his jazz sensibilities on Kamaal and the results are best displayed on “Even If It Is So.” Jazz spawned rap, and Q-Tip proves he’s an MC with an active – and danceable – ear for history.
  1. Constellations (featuring Eddie Vedder) – En Concert – Jack Johnson
A fan favourite since it was released years ago, “Constellations” gets some added heart with the addition of Eddie Vedder. This song is further proof that these two need to make an album together. If “Constellations” is any indication, the result would be a beaut.

  1. Bite Hard – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand abandoned the punk sound they’ve been chasing and embraced the funk side of their music, and the result is a gloriously catchy track that’ll have you dancing like you’re back in the ‘70s.
  1. Don’t Wanna Cry – Back & Fourth – Pete Yorn
Sounding like an early Bob Dylan break-up song, Yorn taps into something heart-wrenching and honest with this song. The song is proof that real men aren’t afraid to cry.

  1. My Girls – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Animal Collective
Animal Collective got their lovely mix of psychedelic folk down to a science on Merriweather, and “My Girls,” is the epitome of how simultaneously gorgeous and swirling the music can be. Just like the first taste of new love.
  1. I Was Young When I Left Home – Dark Was The Night – Antony + Bryce
Dessner
This song has been covered countless times, but there’s something immediately arresting about this version. That special ingredient is the raw sadness in Antony’s voice – a hurt so deep that you’d think he was singing it as he walked the lonesome road home.

  1. I And Love And You – I And Love And You – The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers may well be the best thing to happen to alt-country since Ryan Adams, and if you doubt that statement, give this title track a listen. The heart-piercing beauty will play your heart strings as potently as the piano keys that drive the song.
  1. Undressed – Sound the Alarm – Howie Day
There’s nothing subtle about this song, but sometimes you just have to say it. “I like us best, undressed,” Day sings over an immediately infectious guitar line. When he makes this kind of music, that’s when I like Day best.
  1. Wear and Tear – Break Up – Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
The guitar line on this track will grab you right away, and if not, just wait for the interplay between Yorn and Johansson’s voices. They both sound untrained, unpracticed and totally human.

  1. Brooklyn – Gary Go – Gary Go
An ode to New York that Billy Joel or Ryan Adams would be proud of, this Coldplay-esque jewel is driven by a lilting piano line and, near the end, a great horn line. The vocals really make it believable that Brooklyn could be quiet enough for a song as lovely as this to be heard.

  1. One Hundred Million Years – Hold Time – M. Ward
M. Ward hit it big last year with Zooey Deschanel on She & Him’s debut, but this tracks that he can still write folk beauties with the best of them. His next project is a follow-up to She & Him, but he can drop music like this anytime he wants.

  1. Natural Disaster – Noble Beast – Andrew Bird
The whistling folk wunderkind hits the nail on the head with this meandering folk ballad, straight out of the hills of Appalachia. Bird has never sounded more earnest, or better.
  1. Rosalyn – New Moon Soundtrack – Bon Iver & St. Vincent
One of the odder pairings of the year works to devastating effect on this stand-out number from New Moon. St. Vincent adds some real layers to the song, but it’s the voice of Bon Iver that carries the song. Until his follow-up album is ready, this is more than enough to keep fans happy.
  1. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight – No Line On The Horizon – U2
An anthem in the best U2 tradition, Bono hits all the high notes as The Edge lets his understated guitars shimmer just behind the vocals. If this is crazy, colour me crazy.

  1. Heads Will Roll – It’s Blitz! – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs traded in their straight-up New York punk for something a bit more danceable, and they hit the jackpot with “Heads.” When Karen O orders you to “Dance/dance/till you’re dead,” you’ll have no problem following her orders.

  1. The Prowl – Keep It Hid – Dan Auerbach
The Black Keys are undoubtedly one of the best blues bands around, the solo debut by guitarist Dan Auerbach shows that their love for the blues is all encompassing without sacrificing anything in the way of hooks.

  1. Feeling the Pull – Strict Joy – The Swell Season
A great road song by the duo made famous by Once, “Feeling the Pull” perfectly captures the ennui that comes in love and life, and how sometimes all one can do is hit the road, and look for something new.
  1. I Wouldn’t Need You – The Fall – Norah Jones
When a song by Norah Jones starts out with the line “If I touched myself/the way you touched me,” you know you’re in for a new Jones. The music is a little less jazzy, but it’s just as hooky and her voice is in perfect form. New isn’t always a bad thing.

  1. Life Itself – Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen
Perhaps Springsteen’s most uplifting song since “The Rising,” “Life Itself” shows the Boss at his most introspective, and arresting. He’s still the master of blending hopes for love and a better world into a moving whole.

  1. Empire State of Mind Pt. II – Elements of Freedom – Alicia Keys
This song was made famous with Jay-Z off of his record, but this solo version aptly shows Keys’ love for New York, her subtle piano skills, and her uncanny ability to write a catchy melody line. Its more intimate than the predecessor, and there’s something to be said for that.

  1. Straight Away – City Of Black And White – Mat Kearney
“Straight Away,” is the perfect example of why it was wise of Mat Kearney to abandon the pseudo-rap from his first record, and focus on the more Coldplay-esque ballads. When he gets it right, it’s a thing of beauty.

  1. El Corporal – Dark Was The Night – My Morning Jacket
Sporting a fantastic horn line and the typical vocal styling of Jim James, with the baritone backing vocals and swinging guitar, “El Corporal” is everything that’s so wonderful about MMJ.

  1. Night/Day – (M)orning – Mae
The best song from Mae’s most ambitious record, “Night/Day” is a tone-perfect emo-ballad, that manages to be more than just a love song. The music is swirling and the pulls the listener into a sonic wonderland.

  1. Never Say Never – The Fray – The Fray
An example of what has made The Fray such a big name, “Never” is about as catchy as a piano-driven love ballad can be, without being written by Chris Martin. The voice is earnestness incarnate, and when you match that with the music, it’s a slow dance number waiting to happen.

  1. Daddy’s Gone – Glasvegas – Glasvegas
From one of the best debuts of the year, Glasvegas perfectly blends the guitar reverb of U2 with the earnest singing of Glen Hansard from The Swell Season. It’s a sweeping mix.
  1. Shiver Me Timbers – Other Covers – James Taylor
One of Tom Wait’s best – and most underrated – songs gets a pitch-perfect treatment from James Taylor. Instead of being driven by the piano, Taylor uses acoustic guitar and a superb violin to give it the perfect melancholy tone. This is how a cover should be done.

  1. Mary Pickford – Pictures – Katie Melua
A meditation on some of film’s early stars, while simultaneously showing off Melua’s gorgeous voice and guitar playing. All the stars mentioned would be proud to be included in something this lovely.

  1. If Rap Gets Jealous (featuring Kirk Hammett) – Troubadour – K’naan
One of the best new names in rap, this track demonstrates why K’naan is a figured to be reckoned with. When he raps about being new to the game, saying “Instead of getting a beat from KanYeezy/who’d probably take half my budget/I could save the back end and do it tight,” he’s not just bragging.

  1. Lua – Dark Was The Night – Conor Oberst + Gillian Welch
A stripped down version of one of Bright Eye’s best songs, this duet of voices and guitars gets at the heart of the song – the loneliness and longing of love.

  1. Nothing But A Miracle – Bible Belt – Diane Birch
Perhaps the best new voice in soul, Birch taps into the tradition of the greats like Aretha Franklin with this organ driven gem. Birch can sometimes sound like Carole King, Franklin or Joni Mitchell. She channels King here to devastating – in the best sense – effect.

  1. You Never Know – Wilco (the album) – Wilco
“You Never Know” is the sound of Wilco having fun, ignoring all the pressures placed on a band of this importance. Tweedy muses on the coming apocalypse while channeling The Traveling Wilburys, and perhaps oddest of all, injects a sense of hope into the mix.

  1. Rock That Shit – Love vs. Money – The-Dream
One of the best neo-soul voices of our generation, The-Dream perhaps produced the best baby-making record of the year, and this song is the perfect demonstration of why you’ll want to get down to his music.

  1. Sleeper – Beasts Of Seasons – Laura Gibson
With a guitar opening that sounds like something out of Joni Mitchell, but with a voice more reminiscent of Marketa Irglova, Gibson crafts a subtle ballad that both grabs you and then soothes you at the same time.

  1. Okay, I Feel Better Now – Crash Love – A.F.I.
A.F.I. abandoned their punk rockabilly sound a couple albums ago, in favor of the more emo-flavored anthems, and while some may disagree about the wisdom, there’s no arguing with songs like this, which plays like the best crowd pleaser one could imagine.
  1. Jackdaw – Draw The Line – David Gray
David Gray goes back to his roots on Jackdaw, and it’s a perfect example of why sometimes wandering away is okay, as long as you’re coming home again. In the vein of Gray’s best, White Ladder, Jackdaw is a welcome return to a great sound.
  1. Days Is Almost Gone – Already Free – The Derek Trucks Band
There’s no doubt that Trucks is one of our generation’s best guitarists, and this track shows how when you mix his playing with a good old fashioned blues ballad, the results are some of the most stirring blues music in a long time.

  1. I Wanna Kill – Summer of Hate – Crocodiles
Crocodiles tap directly into their Jesus and Mary Chain influence on “I Wanna Kill,” and the result is a song that can sit comfortably with “Just Like Honey,” as a fuzzy-guitar gem.

  1. What You Do To Me (featuring Jim Jones, Billy Danze and Nicole Wray) – Blakroc- Blakroc
What at first seems a ridiculous mash-up – the blues of The Black Keys, with some of today’s best rappers – works to perfect effect, as shown on this song. Auebach’s voice is the perfect compliment to Nicole Wray’s, and the total effect is a wonder.
  1. Can You Discover? – LP – Discovery
A band made up of members of Ra Ra Riot and Vampire Weekend, this is a revision of one of Ra Ra Riot’s best songs, and the electro-happy result is a perfect example of why both bands are so popular.

  1. Happier Blues – The Ballad of John Henry – Joe Bonamassa
One of the best “classical” blues guitarists working today, “Happier Blues,” is a great example of why Bonamassa is such a force to be reckoned with on the guitar. It’s nice to have someone with a deep respect for the blues still playing.

  1. Like Love – Rhett Miller – Rhett Miller
The vocals on “Like Love,” are straight out of Ryan Adams, the music is a swelling wave of alt-country guitar, and the lyrics are some of Miller’s best. What do else do you need?

  1. Here To Fall – Popular Songs – Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo has always been at the fore of indie music’s expanding horizons, and “Here to Fall,” doesn’t disappoint in giving listeners something both adventurous and infectious to listen to. It smacks a bit of Pink Floyd mixed with Thievery Corporation, but the end is all Tengo.

  1. Annie – City Of Black And White – Mat Kearney
About as lovely a song as was released this year, “Annie,” is a simple ballad in the vein of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” Kearney’s guitar and voice echo into sonic space with gorgeous effects.

  1. The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All) – Hazards of Love – The Decembrists
The Decembrists are so adventurous that when they write something as catchy and radio friendly as this, it can sometimes throw listeners off. Luckily, this song is so good, it won’t throw anyone off for long.
  1. I Got The Reason #2 – Outer South – Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band
A stripped down guitar and faint organ are the main instruments in this beautiful song that ranks amongst Oberst’s best. It’s great that he’s been experimenting more and more musically lately, but it’s always nice when an artist comes back to what’s familiar.

  1. Leap – Welcome Joy – The Cave Singers
The Cave Singers channel both Fleetwood Mac and Ryan Adams on their second release, and if you think that’s an odd mix, one listen to “Leap” should clear away any doubts you have.

  1. Hideaway – Where The Wild Things Are Soundtrack – Karen O and the Kids
Fans of Karen O’s heavier stuff with the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s might be thrown off a bit by the subtle beauty of “Hideaway,” but for those with an ear for it, its proof that if O hadn’t joined YYY, she could have been a killer solo star.

  1. This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody) – Live – Shawn Colvin
Shawn Colvin’s live cover of The Taking Heads standard is the quintessential example of the raw power just a guitar and voice can have when used correctly.
  1. Gifted (featuring Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li) – The Spirit of Apollo – N.A.S.A.
A great techno-dancehall song, featuring one of the oddest – and best – group of musicians, “Gifted,” is yet another example of despite West’s off-mic antics, when he’s on, he’s on.

  1. If I Can Come Home To You – Strange Faith And Practice – Jeb Loy Nichols
Nichols has mixed folk with jazz brilliantly over his career, but this song is perhaps his best combination. The jazz guitar and piano blend beautifully with the strings, and Nichols’ voice is the icing on the cake.

  1. Life’s A Dream – There Is No Enemy – Built To Spill
It is hard to compare Built To Spill to anyone, their sound is so unique. Whoever they remind you of, there’s no disputing the greatness of this killer guitar song. As always with Built to Spill, the vocals almost steal the show, but the music hangs in their just fine.

  1. Pretty Wings – Blacksummer’snight – Maxwell
Sounding at first like a children’s lullaby, “Pretty Wings,” shows why Maxwell is the rightful heir to Prince’s soul sound. It’s easy to see why this song was the biggest hit off of Maxwell’s most recent album.

  1. Love Vignettes – Around the Well – Iron & Wine
Iron & Wine is known for his stark arrangements, and when he turns that talent to a political song, the result is as bewitching as anything he’s done before.

  1. Lay There & Hate Me – White Lies For Dark Times – Ben Harper & Relentless7
A fantastic Jimi Hendrix-esque blues number, Harper’s guitar blazes through this standout song. And it has one of the best lines of the year: “Never trust a woman who loves the blues.”
  1. History (featuring Talib Kweli) – The Ecstatic – Mos Def
Mos Def proves that he’s still as relevant as he was when he and Kweli broke into the hip-hop scene with Black Star. He’s a master of taking personal stories and laying them down over killer jazz beats.
  1. This Tornado Loves You – Middle Cyclone - Neko Case
Case has one of the strongest voices in music today, and when she applies it to music as lovely as this, the result will knock you over. She sounds a bit like Stevie Nicks on “Tornado,” but the sound is so uniquely Case, there’s never any doubt who it is.

  1. Long Black Veil (featuring Jeff Tweedy) – The List – Rosanne Cash
According to her father, “Long Black Veil,” is one of the most important country songs ever, and Cash gives it the reverential treatment such a piece of music deserves. The addition of Tweedy on harmonies was a stroke of genius.

  1. Along The Way – Remain – Tyronne Wells
The simple desire to be everything that someone wants, without all the faults is the subject of Wells infectious ballad. It’s a radio-perfect single waiting to happen.

  1. A Ghost – The Boy Who Never – Landon Pigg
Pigg channels the jazz sound of Van Morrison on this song about the beauty of believing in things one cannot see. It’s certainly a sentiment Morrison would approve of.

  1. Appaloosa – Before the Frost/Until the Freeze - The Black Crowes
The Crowes tap fully into their country side on this song, that echoes The Band at their best. Part slide guitar ballad, part vocal gem, it’s a full-blooded hit.

  1. See You – Farm – Dinosaur Jr.
A guitar-reverb blast, “See You,” shows why the regrouping of this band is cause for celebrating. The vocals are as earnest as they’ve ever been, and the guitar solos are barn burners.

  1. Lucky Day – Glitter & Doom Live – Tom Waits
Wait’s growl can show as much heartache and pain as anger, and when he applies it to a ballad like “Lucky Day,” it cuts to the heart of even the toughest listener.

Top Reissues

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1. Archives Vol. 1 (Box) – Neil Young

2. The Unforgettable Fire (Deluxe) – U2

3. The Who Sell Out (Deluxe) – The Who

4. Bleach (20th Anniversary Edition) – Nirvana

5. Reckoning (Deluxe) – R.E.M.

6. Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (Deluxe) – John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers

7. Wait for Me (Deluxe Edition) – Moby

8. I Am Sasha Fierce (Deluxe) – Beyonce

9. Hopes and Fears (Deluxe) - Keane

10. Tuesday Night Music Club (Deluxe) – Sheryl Crow

Top Live Albums

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1. Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl – Van Morrison

2. Dreamin’ Man Live ’92 – Neil Young

3. En Concert – Jack Johnson

4. A Positive Rage – The Hold Steady

5. The Live Anthology – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

6. Celebracion De La Ciudad Natal – My Morning Jacket

7. Glitter & Doom Live – Tom Waits

8. Meets Madison Square Garden – Michael Buble

9. Live – Shawn Colvin

10. Live at Royal Albert Hall – The Killers

Top Music DVDs

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1. En Concert – Jack Johnson

2. A Positive Rage – The Hold Steady

3. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live – Various Artists

4. Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music

5. Meets Madison Square Garden – Michael Buble

6. Live at Royal Albert Hall – The Killers

7. Chris Botti in Boston – Chris Botti

8. Live in London – Leonard Cohen

9. Live from the Royal Albert Hall – Joe Bonamassa

10. Live from Madison Square Garden – Eric Clapton and Stevie Winwood

Top Soundtracks
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1. New Moon – Various Artists

2. (500) Days of Summer – Various Artists

3. Where the Wild Things Are - Karen O

4. Away We Go – Alexi Murdoch

5. Inglourious Basterds – Various Artists

6. Pirate Radio – Various Artists

7. Up in the Air – Various Artists

8. LOST Season 4 – Michael Giacchino

9. Mad Men Season 2 – Various Artists

10. The Watchmen - Various Artists

Top Box Sets

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1. Stereo Box Set – The Beatles

2. Archives Vol. 1 – Neil Young

3. New York – Frank Sinatra

4. The Live Anthology – Tom Petty

5. Deluxe Edition Box Set – U2

6. One Fast Move or I’m Gone – Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard

7. Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out – The Rolling Stone

8. Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King (Deluxe) – Dave Matthews Band

9. Live 1973-2007 – Genesis

10. Keep An Eye on the Sky – Big Star




1 comment:

Unknown said...

nas trumps jay any day.