2009 Album List
Yes, it’s that time of year again! The time of year i sit here, drink a lot and proceed to rant about music.
not really different from much of the rest of the year but this one has LISTS goddamnit.
ANYWAY. HERE WE GO.
2009 Albums
1. Amelia Curran – Hunter Hunter
I was fortunate enough to attend her CD release at the Company House (look up that term people, it’s a distinctly NS term and you’ll probably learn something in the process) and WOW. She was on tour with Melissa McClelland who I’d not seen since the 2007(?) Calgary FolkFest and I’d forgotten just how good she is in a live setting. her albums don’t do her justice. But yes, Amelia. I’ve been a fan since i was 19 and saw her perform in Hell’s Kitchen back when the Marquee was still called the Marquee. “Double Murder Suicide” is still my favourite song of hers to date, but “Hunter Hunter” is my favourite album. It’s dark, it’s sad, it’s emotional, it’s intriguing, it’s perfect. The lyrics are layered and tell of heartache, loss, love and life and can just absolutely crush your heart into a billion pieces. Amelia is not a particularly chipper songstress but there is no denying she has talent. For those interested, check out her website (google it) and you can get a free download of “The Mistress” which is hands down the best track on the album.
2. St Vincent – Actor
I really debated for a LONG time over which of the first two albums on this list would get to the top spot. Amelia won only by a small margin. I have nothing else to say about Actor except that it is brilliant, mesmerizing, lush and amazing. If you haven’t heard this, your life is incomplete.
3. Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
Ohhh my. I think I wore out this CD when I got it. Glass is by far one of the best opening tracks I’ve ever heard. The whole arrangement/production on the CD is fucking stunning. Her voice is haunting and gorgeous. I predict many more good things to come from Ms Kahn.
4. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
This was my first real foray into the world of Neko. I’d sort of ignored my (now) girlfriend’s urgings to listen to her and I actually regret taking this long. This album is SO fucking awesome. I’m not a fan of it entirely (30 minutes of crickets? srsly? THE FUCK?) but overall it’s great. I probably listened to “This Tornado Loves You” and “Prison Girls” at least 20 times a day during the summer.
5. T&S – Sainthood
I will say right off that I don’t enjoy it as much as The Con but it’s a badass record. Except for Paperback Head and Alligator. Those are THE WORST SONGS THEY HAVE EVER WRITTEN. TRUFAX. (don’t argue with me, i know i’m right) The Con seemed to be Sara’s shining star album, but Tegan wins this one. I LOVE the pop-punk vibe on Northshore, and Hell is a fucking fabulous lead single (perhaps i’m biased because I love Vancouver, and spend time on the eastside but meh it’s a great song). I think Paperback Head is one of the songs they wrote together and if that’s what happens when they do that IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. Pumped as fuck for their show here though even though it’s in the Metro Centre because the fucking whiny emo bitches put up a big stink about not getting tickets TO THE ONLY GOOD VENUE IN THE CITY. Argh.
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
My initial thought upon hearing this was a disco inspired album was this: “OH FUCK ME THAT- oh wait, Karen O…yeah this is gonna be fucking stellar”. AND IT IS. Karen O is a fucking genius and as a band they are unstoppable. Dull Life is my ringtone and i don’t care how many people bitch about annoying music ringtones, I love hearing her shrieking at me whenever someone (erm, just two people i guess, since i’ve got specialty ringtones for everyone) call me. I love how it’s a huge departure from their last CD, which is sorta how they roll. And I like that. I wouldn’t want them to make a billion versions of Fever To Tell, no matter how much I enjoy that cd.
7. The Dreadnoughts – Victory Square
FUCK YES IRISH PUNK GODDAMNIT FUCKERS GO LISTEN TO THIS. RIGHT NOW. OR ELSE.
I went to their show here, got really drunk and moshed for the first time in like 10 years.
go listen. seriously. i’ll find you and kick your ass if you don’t.
8. Gossip – Music for Men
Well it’s about goddamn time they put out a new one. And how awesome is Beth Ditto? You cannot deny how fabulous she is. Since they toured and promoted STIWOC for so long and because it was so popular i was wondering how they’d follow that up. MfM is a great follow-up album and it stays in their vibe but also sort of gets into more disco-y, dance-y territory. I can’t hear Heavy Cross without thinking of my friends visiting me this summer and being very drunk wearing pirate outfits.
…don’t ask.
9. Metric – Fantasies
I will say it again: I hate Metric fans at their concerts. Or at least i hate their fans in Calgary. But this is a great record. I’d argue that Gold Guns Girls is one of their best songs ever. The bonus acoustic songs took a bit to grow on me but they are really good. I’d even say that I like this one more than Old World Underground, and i was OBSESSED with that when it came out. I will say though that Satellite Mind and Gold Guns Girls should have been the singles.
10. The Happy Hollows – Spells
If Sonic Youth, Bikini Kill, Marnie Stern and Sleater Kinney circa 1996 mated, this would be the offspring. I got into these guys sorta late, but OH MY SWEET TITTYFUCKING JESUS THEY ARE AMAZING. That’s all I have to say. They’re great. This is where rock ‘n roll needs to go in the future.
11. Imogen – Ellipse
I have a special emotional relationship with Immi, because my emo 19 year old self would sulk and listen to IMegaphone on repeat and mope about this chick I had a crush on. Ellipse is a beautiful record. Imogen has one of the most amazing voices I’ve heard in my life and Canvas was quickly added to my Top 25 Most Played songs on iTunes. I admire her DIY ethic and dedication to her fans almost as much as I admire her talent and ability to write music that cuts people to their very soul.
12. Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster
Shut the fuck up, it’s a fucking awesome pop album and Bad Romance is catchy as all fuck. Don’t judge me.
13. The Slate Pacific – Safe Passage
these guys are from New Brunswick and one night in the summer, my brother and I and our friend went downtown to see a few bands and these guys blew me away. I completely forget who the other bands were (oh hello alcohol killing braincells) but I remember just standing there thinking “wow. WOW. WOW! this is FUCKING AWESOME” so you should all check out their myspace. I hope they get some major success because their talent is far too good to just stay on the east coast.
14. Silversun Pickups – Swoon
I listened to Panic Switch 30 times in one day. Good GOD i love these guys.
15. Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night
It took a bit, but its really grown on me. Her voice is so incredible and the arrangements are brill. She’s one of the few artists that I can say have consistently put out really good, solid, impressive albums. I see many good things coming from her in the future.
Honourable Mentions
Stuff that I really loved but didn’t love as much as the stuff up there.
PJ/John Parish – A Woman A Man Walked By
Soap&Skin – Lovetune for Vacuum
Polly Scattergood
Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career
Lacuna Coil – Shallow Life
Sonic Youth – The Eternal
Melissa McClelland – Victoria Day
Stuff I thought might be good or at least have one or two good songs but didn’t and even if they did have one or two good songs they weren’t really good for that long
Tori – Abnormally Attracted to Sin
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Fruit
Lily Allen – It’s Not Me It’s You
Songs (in no particular order)
These are all of (if not all, then most) of the songs that I was obsessed with at some point during this year.
Neko Case – This Tornado Loves You
Neko Case – Prison Girls
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Dull Life
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero
Bat For Lashes – Glass
Bat For Lashes – Sleep Alone
St Vincent – Marrow
St Vincent – Save Me From What I Want
St Vincent – Actor Out Of Work
Tiesto feat. Tegan and Sara – Feel It In My Bones
Gossip – Heavy Cross
Imogen Heap – Canvas
Tegan and Sara – Northshore
Tegan and Sara – Hell
Tegan and Sara – It Was Midnight
Sarah Blasko – No Turning Back
PJ Harvey – Black Hearted Love
PJ Harvey – Pig Will Not
PJ Harvey – Sixteen, Fifteen, Fourteen
Amelia Curran – The Mistress
Amelia Curran – The Wrecking Ball
Amelia Curran – Julia
Amelia Curran – The Dozens
The Dreadnoughts – Ivanhoe
Metric – Gold Guns Girls
Metric – Satellite Mind
Glee (cast) – Don’t Stop Believin’
Glee (cast) – Alone
Glee (cast) – Halo/Walkin’ On Sunshine
Glee (cast) – Defying Gravity
Lady Gaga – Alejandro
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
The Happy Hollows – Faces
The Happy Hollows – High Wire
Silversun Pickups – Panic Switch
Soap&Skin – Thanatos
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