Quarterly Review: The Best of 2009’s Fourth Quarter
With 2009 coming to an end, so does the decade. Of course, for music blogs, that means lists, lists and a few more lists. Well, let me just say, “Me too!” I’ve got a slew of lists planned for what I’m assuming will be the next few months, with some year-end stuff coming just around the corner and some decade reflections coming shortly after. I have a top 100 of the decade all planned out along with a list of the decade’s best EPs, but until then, let’s start slowly with my final Quarterly Review of the year. Happy 2010, everyone.
1. Animal Collective Fall Be Kind EP
What could have been a nice little victory lap for Animal Collective after their world-conquering Merriweather Post Pavilion turned into something far more satisfying and rewarding. Comprised mostly of songs that simply didn’t fit in with MPP thematically, this 11th hour release manages to maintain its companion LP’s sense of sonic and lyrical wonderment, exploring themes of dissatisfaction and spiritual exploration, while pushing Animal Collective’s sound further and further, challenging and embracing the listener in equal measure. I entered 2009 on the fence with Animal Collective, not knowing whether they were the real deal. After a brilliant full-length and this captivating EP, I know exactly where I stand.
2. Converge Axe To Fall
I don’t know if it’s safe to this yet, but…best Converge album ever. I know that’s sacrilege to most Jane Doe supporters, but this beast just feels a little, I don’t know, fuller. Abrasive and punishing, but in all the right ways – less annoying. Of course, Converge have been growing stronger as a band for years, releasing You Fail Me and No Heroes, two albums that saw them further shape and refine their sound to a taught, muscular pummel. Up to this point, however, everything, for one reason or another, falls back to Jane Doe. This should stop that. As Kurt Ballou and Co. have crafted a punishing and dynamic ride that sees the band perfect what they’ve done and venture into the new.
3. Baroness Blue Album
For some inexplicable reason, Baroness’ latest took me a while to really get into, which is strange since the band is, maybe this side of Torche, the most immediately accessible metal band going today. Blue Album sees the band churn out more hooky, southern-fried metal guaranteed to hit your pleasure centres, but for some reason, I wasn’t loving it. There was nothing discernibly “wrong” with the album, it just wasn’t clicking. Then I gave it a really solid listen the whole way through and got to “The Gnashing,” a bar band stomper that builds to something glorious and powerful. After that, every acoustic sing-a-long, video game guitar duel and busy drum fill made sense. It’s pretty much a retread of 2007’s Red Album, so Red gets the nod, but Blue Album is really a technical masterpiece in disguise as a pop metal record. Fun for the brain, fun for the heart.
4. Thao With The Get Down Stay Down Know Better Learn Faster
Know Better Learn Faster is both a breakup album and a sex album as Thao Nguyen manages to find a way to sound both jilted and horny. Of course, whether Nguyen’s cooing, “Bring your hips to me” or asking “Was I just a body in your bed?” it all comes off like a winsome, lively party, similar to the one depicted on the album’s cover. That’s the skill of Thao and her band, every sound and every measure of music is a celebration, even as the lyrics veer away from the innocence that originally caught my ear on 2008’s We Brave Bee Stings And All.
5. Flaming Lips Embryonic
The Flaming Lips have always had their devoted fans, but I was never one of them. Yes, I enjoyed The Soft Bulletin and to a lesser extent Yoshimi, but I never counted myself as a full-out fan. Things are a little murkier now, however. With Embryonic, Wayne Coyne and Co. have crafted an album that drops the song structure from the band’s catalogue, and ups the huge, fuzzy, psychedelic jam aspect of the album. There isn’t a lot to sing along with here. Instead, Embryonic is a messy puzzle of an album that perfectly soundtracks what I’m sure some kind of drug trip would feel like. I don’t know. I’m a choirboy. I don’t do drugs, but I wish I did. Embryonic feels like a nice alternative. Or perhaps it’s a gateway itself. Either way, I’m pretty lightheaded from the album’s fumes.
6 to 10 (in no particular order): Ghostface Ghostdini: The Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City; Mission of Burma The Sound the Speed the Light; Tinariwen Imidiwan: Companions; Lightning Bolt Earthly Delights; and Built To Spill There Is No Enemy
January 1st, 2010 at 2:53 pm
I enjoyed MPP a little more, well a little more than a little, than Fall be Kind but I know that you are a big EP guy getting just a sample that doesn’t overwhelm or underwhelm (is not a word, I know it’s not because I looked it up). It’s hard to see Animal Collective at the top of the pile again on so many lists but it is deserved.
I wasn’t as big a fan of Embryonic as you although I did appreciate the depth of the album. It’s not so often that you get a psychedelic album full of minor chords and low end riffs seemingly inspired by an iron lung machine that actually are peaceful and oddly soothing. Maybe the Flaming Lips can inspire life in us and cause us to shut the world off and out depending on what disc is in the player. Certainly a worthy record but just outside my top 10.
As a post Pumpkins fan its not too surprising that Post-Nothing (Japandroids) is my favorite record of 09. With its red vinyl release it does a lot to stand out amongst my collection.
My other favorite record of the year is The Ecstatic just because I really thought Mos Def was done. The new Dinasour JR is good but maybe a little overhyped. I don’t know why people are going so mental for the new Yeah Yeah Yeah’s disc. A good year for music overall though.
Thanks for putting up a noble list to sit amongst the many other lists out there. A couple of bold choices and some even bolder shuns. Like to hear your take on Post-Nothing.
January 1st, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Well, Tyson, keep in mind, this is just my best of for the last three months of 09. A full on top 25 is to come shortly, there you will see my take on Japandroids (here’s a hint: I like them a lot). I’m also quite big on the new Dinosaur Jr. I just seem to find myself listening to that album more than anything else this year. It helps that it’s all the superlong, near-ballads that I like the best.
I’ve given cursory listens to The Ecstatic. It’s good, but I need to go more in depth with it.
Anyway, don’t jump the gun just yet. The big 09 list is on its way followed by my top 100 (with write-ups!).