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Last Active 12-02-12 5:42 pm
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| Top 30 Albums Of 2009 - Part 3
This is a day late because I had to put up a Christmas tree and shovel through 12-15 inches of
snow this morning. But here it is, hope you find something on here you agree with! | | 1 |  | Between the Buried and Me
The Great Misdirect
10. After Between the Buried and Me released "Colors", considered by many to be the 'magnum opus' of
their early career, the big question was raised: how the hell are they going to top this? While "The Great
Misdirect" falls short of Color's absurdly high watermark, the band put forth a commendable effort that
continues the epic nature of their music with slight adjustments, including more sensible transitions
between segments and a wider variety of influence, from world music (the intro to "Swim to the Moon") to
alt-country ("Desert of Song"). "Obfuscation" shows what is best about BTBAM, with a tight blend of
progressive metal that is much more to the point than anything on Colors was, while "Swim to the Moon"
shows their worst: sounding more like a shelved Dream Theater experiment than anything else.
Regardless, the band has put forth another solid effort, and prove that another masterpiece may not be far
out of their reaches. | | 2 |  | As Cities Burn
Hell or High Water
9. This probably was my biggest surprise of the year. While "Come Now Sleep" showed a mass amount of
potential with their moody post-hardcore flavored blend of rock, "Hell or High Water" delivers in a big way,
delivering songs that are both emotional and fun. "Lady Blue" is a wonderful example, a quiet electronic-
sounding opening gives way to chain clanks, female backing vocals, and memorable guitar hooks in a song
that evolves at a constant pace. It is a shame the band broke up, this album showed a focus on
songwriting that was both surprising and endearing. They could have had more big things ahead, if this
was any indication. | | 3 |  | Manchester Orchestra
Mean Everything to Nothing
8. I got this album pretty late in the 2009 game, but how high it ended up already shows how good of an
album this is. Andy Hull is an absolute monster here, as his vocals cover the gamut from a quiet somber
quiver to a disconcerting yell. The instrumentation is also just as dynamic, pounding guitars and drums
peak at all the right times, while they also know just when to back off and offer some new textures. This
album suffers from some repetition in the songwriting department, but top tracks like "I Got Friends" and
"Shake it Out" really stand out and grab the listener. A great listen for anyone who likes indie/alternative
music. | | 4 |  | fun.
Aim and Ignite
7. Rarely does a band's name explain their ethos, but fun. did just that. From the opening track "Be Calm"
which sounds like an epic introduction to a musical to the underrated "Take Your Time (Coming Home)
which boasts great lyrics and rocking instrumentals, fun. has brought to the table an enjoyable indie pop
record. Nate Ruess takes command here and brings a strong vocal performance, though some may find his
high pitched singing to be irritating. But whether the band is using tubas for flavor or delivering some
Queen-esque vocal harmonies, the point is clear: they are having fun, and so should you while listening.
Also props goes to guitarist Jack Antonoff for FINALLY getting some recognition after receiving barely any
credit for his awesome work in Steel Train. | | 5 |  | The Antlers
Hospice
6. And I thought "For Emma, Forever Ago" was depressing. The Antlers have put an album that embodies
the idea of desolation, from the dark keyboard tones to the perfect lo-fi production of the album. Songs like
"Bear" show that The Antlers can rock, but the slower tracks like "Kettering" and "Atrophy" really show
The Antlers at their best, creating a somber mood that fits the subject matter of the album almost
painfully well. Not an album for the easily depressed (my girlfriend refuses to listen to this after I told her
what the album was about), but for the rest, we get a great record that really surprised this year. | | 6 |  | Isis
Wavering Radiant
5. Post-metal is a kind of genre that is really hard to deviate with in terms of sound, with heavy dropped
guitars churning out nine minutes of droning chords and minimalist riffs. Luckily, Isis is a band that
continues to push this genre to new heights, and "Wavering Radiant" is the product of minor tweaks really
working effectively. For starters, there are really great grooves on this album, especially in the
polyrhythmic "Ghost Key" and the slow moving monolith "Hand of the Host". Every instrument has a place
in the mix, and even Aaron Turner's vocals have a modal quality within the overall sound. Turner's clean
vocals have improved a great deal as well, he sounds much more in command as a singer than in past
efforts. Even Isis' worst albums are great, but "Wavering Radiant" is very much worthy of a top-five spot in
this list. | | 7 |  | Rx Bandits
Mandala
4. Its amusing to think that Rx Bandits used to have more in common with Reel Big Fish than progressive
music, but "Mandala" shows a band that has a truly evolved sound. From the sweeping electronic piano
sounds that open the album to the absolutely insane Mars Volta-inspired mess that closes "Bring Our
Children Home or Everything is Nothing", the Bandits have hit on a very successful sound. While the
album shows incredible musical proficiently, especially in the drummer, the band also excels at grooving
and textures in tracks like "White Lies". The ska inspired energy from their past releases may be missing,
but it doesn't even matter: Rx Bandits have crafted an excellent work here. | | 8 |  | Grizzly Bear
Veckatimest
3. With a name like Grizzly Bear, one would not expect to hear 60's influenced baroque pop being played,
but that is exactly what the band is all about. "Veckatimest" shows a band that has crafted their musical
styling to absolute perfection. "Southern Point" is the best example of this: loud/soft dynamics are
constantly being thrown at the listener in a song that is just as much about bombastic percussion as it is
classically inspired acoustic guitar parts. Textures are the reason why this album works so well, as every
single instrument in effectively placed within the overall soundscape. The dynamics of the songs are also
important as shown with "Southern Point", because the tension between lush choruses and stark verses
creates a wonderful effect. There is a definite craftsmanship that can be derived from this album, and that
is something to be commended in a musical world where big hits seem to come from artists who
experiment the least. | | 9 |  | mewithoutYou
It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All
2. Aaron Weiss is one quirky dude. His vocal performance is barely even musical, while his lyrics range from
parables about animals to sailing a banana boat across a tapioca sea. But somehow, he makes it work
better than most vocalists could ever hope to do. MWY's 2009 release sees the band take on a more indie
influenced sounds, and it does a lot for the band. The focus on auxiliary instrumentation creates a story-
like soundtrack to Weiss' zany lyrics, which really puts an emphasis on his incredible knack for storytelling.
"The Fox, The Crow, and The Cookie" is a perfect example, mixing incredible metaphors with comical
situations and somehow still arriving at a moral ending. I don't even care that Weiss' subject matter is
essentially Judeo-Christian in nature. Anyone who can create songs like this deserves an immense amount
of credit. | | 10 |  | Animal Collective
Merriweather Post Pavilion
1. Don't you just hate it when a band that is super hyped makes the top spot on a year end list? AC's
detractors must be terribly sick of hearing about them this year, but let's face it: these guys deserve every
inch of credit they get. "Merriweather Post Pavilion" is the perfect blend of psychedelic pop and manic
electronic ambiance, and looking past single "My Girls" only strengthens this opinion. The lush electronic
textures of tracks like "Bluish" are absolutely stunning, while the energy of "Brother Sport" creates an
exciting crescendo to the ending up the album. The only thing that may be better than this album is their
"Fall Be Kind" EP, but that goes to show you that Animal Collective as a reviewer here stated is "truly on
top of their game", and we as listeners are the true beneficiaries of this. | |
klap
12.21.09 | quality yet again | IanDavila
12.21.09 | 7 is the best!!!!!!, great selections | rodigo1
12.21.09 | a lot of shit most missed
im lovin it | EVedder27
12.21.09 | nice list dude, a few of these were in my top 10 | sleepyhead
12.21.09 | i've been following your lists man and i knew, i just knew AC would be no1! most of your choices are great, some a bit overatted though. | sleepyhead
12.21.09 | *overrated | handoman
12.21.09 | you really need to get rxb's other albums if you havent | ECRbubs
12.22.09 | nice man. 5 3 and 1 are really sweet and I like how you described the fun. album | GnarlyShillelagh
01.10.10 | k sweet where's Mono |
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