Top Sixty-Six Albums of 2009: #40 - 31

#40.
Maribel - Aesthetics [Quince]
Maribel Myspace
A cool little Shoegaze record from another random Euro band. Maribel's Aesthetics, is at first perfectly what it seems to be, that is, dreamy and slow with a female singer who moans more than actually singing. Yes, there's somewhat of a 'formula', yet these guys just do it with precision. Dig deep and you'll see an immense amount of diversity in their song craft. Not all of these songs stick to the same script.

#39.
TV Ghost - Cold Fish [In The Red]
TV Ghost Myspace
When I found out these dudes were from Lafayette, I was fucking stunned. Jaw to the floor stunned. I mean, I guess my monkey brain doesn't think of Lafayette as being a town, with people, and things, and people doing things. So, for something this good to be coming from anywhere in my area is a total shocker, and this thing is good. Weird, noisey post-punk with a strange sense of melody hidden deep beneath it's towering surf rock guitars and electronic squeals.

#38.
Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young [RCA]
Julian Casablancas Myspace
I think this is a really good record, I don't think anyone who likes the Strokes would really argue with me. It captures the same kind of feel, and I dig the 80's send-up vibe the thing has got going on. It's just, man, this dudes melodies get stranger as he gets going along, and the synth in some songs allows him to go off into some serious tangents. I like it though. It's just, I don't know.

#37.
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion [Domino]
Animal Collective Myspace
And now, another review that sounds more like a dis. I have liked these dudes since the first time I listened to Sung Tongs, having been a big Beach Boys fan as a kid, I dug the melodies. Years go by and they release this over-produced stinker. It's decent, a solid release despite my disappointments, I just think it's kind of boring.

#36.
Iron Age - The Sleeping Eye [Tee Pee]
Iron Age Myspace
This Texas Hardcore crew does an amazing job of aping their metal forefathers on this impressive new LP. The obvious connotations here are to Metallica, these guys build and weave dueling guitar lines into some seriously huge song structures. Influences aside, this is an overpowering record. Stretch your neck out, and pull out your air guitar, gentlemen, you're gonna need it.

#35.
Andrew WK - 55 Cadillac [Skyscraper Music Maker]
Andrew WK Myspace
I feel like I kind of already reviewed this one over here: Year in Review: pt. The First

#34.
Brainworms - II Swear to Me [Rorscach]
Brainworms Myspace
This is an impressive set of songs care of another great post-punk act hailing from the RVA. Brainworms do the jangly and chaotic bit with precision and a knack for strong guitar melodies and hard-hitting rhythms. Vocally, it reminds me somewhat of Fugazi, but at the same time of nothing at all. Really interesting.

#33.
A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head [Mute]
A Place to Bury Strangers Myspace
These guys impressed with their debut s/t output, a mix of sheeny shoegaze and ear-splitting noise, but have definitely surpassed themselves with their follow up. The first half is so moody and dark, you'd probably think it was some lost New Order side project. Fans don't bemoan, by the end, it gets going among a similar vein as the first release.

#32.
Do Make Say Think - Other Truths [Constellation]
Do Make Say Think Myspace
Other Truths is a solid new record from Canadian post-rock veterans Do Make Say Think. It's not always you're typical slow, build-y style of the genre, employing powerful rhythms and energetic guitar riffs that counteract their moments of near-ambient beauty. Maybe they haven't mastered the genre like my boys in Mogwai, but for fans of this style, this is a really good one.

#31.
The G - Hold My Gold [SHDWPLY]
The G Myspace
The G employ a no frills brand of indie rock that is, rather refreshingly, similar to mid 90's lo-fi acts like Pavement, Slint, or even early Weezer. Often times challenging, while often times breezy and irreverent, Hold My Gold is an impressive first output from this Phlly five-piece.




yeahhhhhh, so there are more of these coming, but don't bother standing by, it'll take time - on account of my severe laziness.

Top Sixty-Six Albums of 2009: #50 - 41

Alright Fellas and Dames, here's the next installment of my list, fresh and with more reviews!

#50.
Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue [Virgin]
Alice In Chains Myspace
Everyone probably knows, and is sick to death of hearing, the Alice In Chains story, I imagine. So, I'll spare it here. That said, I genuinely like this record quite a bit, as an AIC fan. I've heard the naysayers make their defiant case against it, but, to me, it just sounds like Alice in Chains. The three dudes left standing after the collapse of the 90's incarnation pick up where they left off, as a tribute to Layne, yes, but also as a tribute to themselves. Added plus: Jerry Cantrell still wails.

#49.
Le Corbeau - Evening Chill / Montreal of the Mind [Fysisk Format]
Le Corbeau Myspace
Thiiiis record, man! Evening Chill / Montreal of the Mind is an interesting piece I came across in the late Summer. These guys are Norwegian, I guess, but you'd never guess it. Honestly, I don't know much else about these guys, but the record is like the soundtrack to some Euro Noir film. I can imagine sitting in a smoke-filled bar room, somewhere in France, drinking alone and waiting to make contact with an informant, while this is blaring in the background.

#48.
Wooden Shjips - Dos [Holy Mountain]
Wooden Shjips Myspace
In need of some good Psych-Rock??? This is the record to be on the look for! Taking cues from classic 60's Psychedelia, and modern Noise and Garage, Wooden Shjips sound like if the Jesus Lizard starting taking Peyote on stage. Epic guitar jams that build and build on steady, booming bass and drum blasts. The production is perfect as well, for what these guys are trying to capture, it's lo-fi aesthetic adds to a deeper more natural sound.

#47.
Ty Segall - Lemons [Goner]
Ty Segall Myspace
I was completely wowed by this guys debut self-titled LP, and, of course, was giddy as a school girl to know that there would be a follow up in 2009. However, Lemons was a bit of a let down. It grew on me, and I still enjoy it, but it didn't have the same impact as the s/t. It's interesting to note though, that this record features Ty fronting a three-piece band. The first didn't, and you can hear that in the dynamics of the playing. The songwriting feels more loose, and certain songs swell in ways the first couldn't. So, I'm still with you Ty!

#46.
Bloody Panda - Summon [Profound Lore]
Bloody Panda Myspace
This is going to be one of those reviews, where I talk about a band I know nothing about, who play a style of music I am not 100 percent into, that said: This record is a BEHEMOTH, just a seismically huge hell spawn of a Doom record. I put it on the first time, and lost myself for the hour it droned on. Mood music for the demented, and despite its seemingly trying length, this thing just oozes immediacy from start to finish.

#45.
jj - jj no2 [Sincerely Yours]
I know, I know, by this point, you're thinking "Blasphemy, Phillip, this is more of the Hipster bullshit you ramble on about disliking!" Yeah, maybe it is, but I like it! I can't fucking help it, I like it, okay!?! It's some strange New-Wave, Afro-Pop, Euro-Dance hybrid that, while in theory I would want to avoid like the plague, completely lures me into it's grasp.

#44.
The Fresh & Onlys - s/t [Woodsist]
The Fresh & Onlys Myspace
The debut full length from this San Fran crew, who kept themselves very busy in '09 releasing two LP's and recording another, is a lot like it's peers in many ways. It has a similar beach burn out, lo-fi sound that a lot of So-Cal bands are doing with that whole resurgence out there. The Fresh & Onlys stand alone from the rest, however, due to their maturity. This is Garage Rock for Adults Only.

#43.
Tombs - Winter Hours [Relapse]
Tombs Myspace
I was, most likely, one of few bummed about Anodyne going the wayside. So, when I saw that Mike Hill's new group was releasing their debut LP, I wasted no time checking it out. Needless to say, Hill's still got the touch, this is pretty powerful stuff. Heavy, but not for the sake of being heavy, there is emotion to this and you can hear it in every guttural howl.

#42.
Meth Teeth - Everything Went Wrong [Woodsist]
Meth Teeth Myspace
So it's come to this, I've been dreading to review this one, because, well, I don't really know how to describe it. It's catchy, yeah, the songwriting is good, yeah; but, it's just, kinda weird. With jangly guitars, reverb drenched vocals, and a penchant for melody, Everything Went Wrong is a strange head trip from these upstart Portlanders.

#41.
Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy [Matador]
Kurt Vile Myspace
Mr. Vile is getting a lot of hype lately on the interweb, and maybe, just maybe, it actually is deserving. The guys got a load of talent, and Childish Prodigy really captures that. With sensibilities that go beyond particular genre definitions, he has really crafted a nice, diverse piece of art here. It's 'Bedroom Pop', if that's what you want to call it; but give it another listen and you can hear the outside influences, from Blues licks, to Arena-rock bombastics, to swelling Post-Rock ambience.




next year: #40 - 31

thanks, bye!

Top Sixty-Six Albums of 2009: #66 - 51

Looking back, 2009 wasn't really a very great year. Definitely one of those years where you look back and think, 'Well, I know what not to do next year.' This here top albums list falls into that category. Sure, I got to listen to, and explore, a lot of different and new music. I've found a lot of cool groups, and sounds, and it's been fun. However, after the fun part comes this whole rank and file bullshit which, quite frankly, is tedious and obnoxious and I'm going to be second guessing myself about the order for years to come. I suppose though, that it's a labor of love. So with all of that said:

Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado, the Top Sixty-Six Albums of the Year of Our Lord Two-Thousand and Nine:

66.
Obits - I Blame You [Sub-Pop]
Obits Myspace
65.
Mos Def - The Ecstatic [Downtown]
Mos Def Myspace
64.
The Ax - Our Queen of Dirt [Whoa! Boat]
The Ax Myspace
The Ax are a two piece from Portland, OR who have a fondness for the loud and dirty side of modern rock. They take a lot of stylistic cues from a slew of bands, but rarely do they wear their influences on their sleeves. Often times unrelenting, and full of raw energy, Our Queen of Dirt is the real deal.
63.
Jacuzzi Boys - No Seasons [Florida's Dying]
Jacuzzi Boys Myspace
62.
Talbot Tagora - Lessons in the Woods or a City [Hardly Art]
Talbot Tagora Myspace
61.
Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine [Secretly Canadian]
Magnolia Electric Co. Myspace
What starts off as a nice, very traditional take on Americana and Folk turns into a dark and somber reflection of tragedy and loss. Not the strongest work of Molina's long career, but certainly worth some listens for the second half.
60.
Blakroc - Blackroc [Roc-A-Fella]
Blakroc Myspace
59.
Soul Control - Cycles [Bridge Nine]
Soul Control Myspace
58.
Sonic Youth - The Eternal [Matador]
Sonic Youth Myspace
57.
Pink Mountaintops - Outside Love [Jagjaguwar]
Pink Mountaintops Myspace
With the third Pink Mountaintops record, frontman Stephen McBean has crafted a beautiful, soaring, melodramatic, and sometimes strange ode to romance novels and soap operas. Plenty of strong melodies to go round on this one.
56.
Cult Ritual - 1st LP [Youth Attack]
Cult Ritual Blog
55.
Coalesce - OX [Relapse]
Coalesce Myspace
54.
Lou Barlow - Goodnight Unknown [Merge]
Lou Barlow Myspace
53.
Crocodiles - Summer of Hate [Fat Possum]
Crocodiles Myspace
Crocodiles debut release is a solid set of sun-drenched, laid-back indie-rock, with just enough attitude to make it something special. Summer of Hate could be the perfect soundtrack to a late night July car ride, or a beer-fueled house party. Either way, if it's getting sweaty where you are, pop this sucker on.
52.
Lonely Island - Incredibad [Universal Republic]
Lonely Island Myspace
51.
Lovvers - OCD GO GO GO GIRLS [Wichita]
Lovvers Myspace




thanks, more coming soon!

Weed Hounds - Demo 2009

Since I won't have the time to do any more Year End rambling for a few days, I'll leave you guys this tasty treat, to satiate your desire for more of me.

Weed Hounds - Demo 2009

Tracklist:
1. Embrace (More or Less)
2. In The Afternoon
3. Save Me From My Lethargy
4. Best Friends

I came across this joint at some point during my year-long quest to find new music, and it has remained in rotation basically ever since. Based out of New York, Weed Hounds play a mix of early 90's indie and shoegaze. They tend to sound more like East Coast bands of that era (Swirlies, Dino Jr) than their overseas brethren, though at times I hear the influence from acts like My Bloody Valentine, specifically in the melodies. With harmonious Male/Female vocals, and a light production style, this demo is one of the bright points of my 2009. Perhaps it will bring some light to your 2010.

check the myspace here for other goodies/info: Weed Hounds Myspace

Year In Review pt. Numero Dos

Hi there, it's me again, ready to bore you all with more of my ridiculous opinions about pop culture. I realize that I am probably the worst mirror to pop culture around, because I generally hate most new shit the youth are fawning after; I don't do the tight pants thing, the ironic 80's hair band shirt thing, and I still haven't seen Avatar. All of that being said, I feel pretty confident that I will present, with my next list, things you will disagree with wholeheartedly. Ladies and Gentlemen...

Some Overrated Shit Released in 2009:
Hype Bands

Looking back at 2009, I see a world where youth culture was seriously grabbing for straws. Look at any number of 'Indie' blog sites and I will guarantee you the top 5 or 10 albums in their list will be the same 5 or 10 in the Pitchfork list. Don't get me wrong, I read Pitchfork, it's a perfectly fine commercial entity. It's just that, when did Pitchfork become Fox News for Hipsters? I mean, did anyone actually listen to that XX record? It's fucking boring. For me, it all culminates in the newest output by Animal Collective, a bland, electronica, dance-party record that, since the day it was released, was hailed as 'the next level of pop music'. Not that it's a terrible album (it made the Top 66), it's just that the internet hype machine built the fucking thing up so much that people automatically assumed it was the best. All year long, I've heard and seen conversations take place where any new album is compared to MPP, not listened to and assessed based upon its own merits. Maybe I'm getting cynical, but I always thought forming your own opinions on things was cool. Meh.

Disney Pixar's 'UP'

'Up' is a movie about an Octogenarian, Carl, who has lost his wife, and is living alone in their house, which the city is forcing him to vacate. Carl, a former balloon salesman, gets a bright idea one day - he straps hundreds of balloons through his chimney and floats off to South America. Hi-jinks involving a dog and a boy scout all ensue, and it's a really nice movie about learning to move on from pain, and living your dreams even when you're an old fart. Also, my boy Michael Giacchino, who does the music for LOST, did the score, so big ups. The reason I say it's overrated goes a bit beyond the film itself however, and all the way up to the big dogs. Disney Pixar has pretty much had a lock on top animated films for the past decade or so, and it will be no surprise to me if 'Up' nabs an Oscar. It's just that they don't deserve it. Not this time. 'Up' tugs at the heart strings of older movie viewers, something rare for animated cinema, but the story itself falls apart by the end. 2009 also saw the release of 'Coraline', 'Ponyo', and 'The Fantastic Mr. Fox', each one a future classic, and each one better than (or at the very least as good as) 'Up'.

Micheal Jackson

Yeah, this dude. Honestly, I'm only mad because dude had to ruin my birthday by dying on it. I'm already anticipating waking up this June 25th and seeing 'RIP Micheal' plastered all over everything I come across (which is why I also anticipate drinking myself into a serious stupor). Don't get me wrong, the dude had a great voice, and performed on a lot of great songs other people wrote for him. It just bugs me that, prior to his death, he's some gross child-molesting plastic-surgery-obsessed freak. Yet as soon as he dies, he becomes a strong black man, and a role model, and everyone goes out and buys 'Thriller' on eBay for $200. First of all, anyone with any sense knows you can find 'Thriller' for .99 cents at any record store; and, secondly, when did dying make you a positive black figure? If death is a redeeming quality, maybe someone should let Joe Piscapo know.


Up Next: Some other lists or something, who cares?

Year In Review pt. The First

Okay, okay, I'm way behind on getting all of this shit done. I've slacked off to a great extent lately, and I would apologize, but I wont. Anyway, unless you're Chinese or Jewish, or something, then you're well aware we are in a brand new year - and a brand new decade. That being said, I've compiled some lists of things that I like, the big mama of them all being my Top 66 Albums of the Year List. First, I'd like to name a few things I think went under the radar.

Some Underrated Shit Released in 2009:
MOON - by Duncan Jones

Released by Sony Picture Classics around the midpoint of the year, Moon stars Sam Rockwell as an astronaut (cleverly enough, named 'Sam') who lives and works alone on a Moon base, collecting energy for people back on Earth. His only companion is a robot, voiced coldly and brilliantly by Kevin Spacey. It starts off simple enough, Sam is nearing the end of his 3-year contract, and is getting a little homesick. As it progresses, Sam discovers that there is more going on behind the scenes in his one-man operation than he has been led to believe. First time Director Duncan Jones, who also came up with the story, plays with a number of sci-fi conventions while still managing to present a fresh and engrossing tale that is original in it's own way. I don't want to spoil anything about the story for any readers, so go see it.

'55 Cadillac' - by Andrew WK

There has been a bit of controversy of late regarding whether or not Andrew WK is really making his own music. According to some he was just a figure head of a studio project, and he had no say in the music he wrote. Whatever, I don't care. I've always liked the dude, and his music, even the somewhat bizarre 'lost' album, Close Calls With Brick Walls (being re-released Worldwide next February). So when he released a solo album of all piano improvisations, I thought what anyone else in my shoes might have thought, "what the fuck?". However, as it turns out, the dude is an excellent pianist, and really has crafted some compelling music all by his lonesome (or did Steev Mike do it??). I read in an interview that his idea was that the album could be a companion piece to a late night drive, and it works. It treads the line between background music and fist pumping rock, with wild emotional shifts that keep your ears attentive. Whether or not the dude is genuine, I'll let you decide, but whoever or whatever is behind the music itself shouldn't stop, y'know, partying.

Bashah Black Belgian Double IPA

Okay, you're saying to yourself right now, 'Phillip, you have fucking lost it, how is this eight-dollar-a-bottle beer underrated?' and, well, you make a point. But let me counter with this, yeah it's expensive, which is why you didn't try it, which is why I am here telling you about it. This beer is heaven in my mouth every time I drink it. Brewed jointly with love by the folks at Stone Brewing Co. from Cali and the Brew Dog fellas from Scotland, Bashah has the rich, full taste of a Black Ale with a crisp Hop aftertaste. One killer brew from a couple of the best Breweries who do the damn thing, do yourself a favor and buy one of these before they're gone to the history books.

Up Next: Some Overrated Shit Released in 2009.

Coming Soon: The Top 66 Long Play Records Released in the Year of Our Lord Two-Thousand and Nine.



Even Later: Countdown to the End Times - Dick Clark and Friends 2012 Celestial Annihilation Celebration.