Music Notes of 2009

Here are my top 10 albums from 2009 with a few Honorable Mentions. This has been edited. I forgot the Converge album and i put them in order for MF Nitpicker.

Album Artist
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Them Crooked Vultures by Them Crooked Vultures
my favorite record of the year. it’s catchy enough to be on the radio yet complicated enough to keep my attention. JPJ’s influence is very noticeable.

Born In Babylon by SOJA
fantastic album and definitely a shoe in for my second favorite for the year. still listening regularly and definitely much better than their last album. they are growing away from all the jah talk too, which is nice, and writing what are clearly their own songs free from the confines of “reggae” topics.

Black Gives Way to Blue by  Alice in Chains
against all odds they came out with a great release featuring a new singer. and it delivers.

Axe To Fall by Converge
never was a huge fan but this album easily changed that. it is insanely well crafted.

Truth Is Here by Brother Ali
better than Us. short and only the well conceived/executed songs were released.

Night Is the New Day by  Katatonia
i was totally caught off guard with how good this album is. i have an older album and it is good but this album really blows me away. their sound is so polished and thick.

BLACKSummer’s Night by Maxwell
seriously……..he’s back. thats all i need.

Farm by Dinosaur Jr
their best album in over 15 years. fantastic.

Arts And Entertainment  by Masta Ace & Edo G
if only for the songs “Dance Like A White Girl” “A&E” and “Little Young” alone. and the rest of it is good (someone stop them from making skits next time.)

Sort Of A Revolution by Fink
i’m a sucker for all these neo-folk/singer songwriter types.

Honorable Mentions
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Crack the Skye by Mastodon
these guys can’t do wrong for me.

Around The Well by Iron And Wine
Nothing technically new…rarities and bsides.

Felt 3: Rosie Perez by Slug and Murs (with Atmosphere)
could be one of the best of the year….but it’s too long.

Rádio do Canibal by BK-One
I really like it but haven’t had a chance to really decide if it’s a top 10 album.

Relapse by Eminem
too many throw away tracks and too much of the same old same old but it was nice to hear him get off the “i’m a gangsta like fiddy” bs of the last few years.

Slaughterhouse  by Slaughterhouse
too many great MCs for this not to at least be damn good.

A Brand You Can Trust by La Coka Nostra
See Slaughterhouse

best “new” artists.
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there were 2 artists that i discovered this year that i can’t get enough of and i think more people need to hear.
Jakob
William Fitzsimmons
neither released an album in 09 (i don’t think) but i heard them both this year for the first time and both of them floored me with how good they are.

Published in:  on December 11, 2009 at 4:57 pm Leave a Comment

William Fitzsimmons “If You Would Come Back Home”

Who hasn’t had a fight with their lover and not thought these words?  Another in the beautiful neo-folk singer songwriter artists that are so abundant these days (Iron and Wine, Alexi Murdoch and Fink to name a few) William Fitzsimmons has the unique position of writing an album focused entirely on the pain of his divorce.  The Sparrow And The Crow is a stunningly beautiful collection of songs that pass the traditional path of a lost love: lamentation, pleading, acceptance and moving on.  This song pleads for the lover to come home because “I promise things will be better” and we will “Call the surgeon to mend the pieces.”  Wonderful, amazingly sad and well crafted, this is an album anyone that has ever, or will ever experience the pain of a failed relationship should own; a reminder that great beauty can come from great pain.

(somtimes the embed is working, sometimes not so much…just copy and paste the link)

Published in:  on October 7, 2009 at 5:16 pm Leave a Comment
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Jakob

Just read a blog on the deciblog (soon to be linked on my sidebar) and Aaron Harris from ISIS referenced this band. They are outstanding instrumental hard rock (similar to last weeks Russian Circles.)

www.myspace.com/jakobmusic

(UPDATE:  added Oran Mor for immediate consideration)

Published in:  on September 29, 2009 at 9:58 pm Leave a Comment
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New Russian Circles Album

Give the new Russian Circles album a free preview. It’s pretty awesome.

Look for the regular song review’s to start soon. Alert your friends about this blog and win (my friendship!)

Published in:  on September 25, 2009 at 4:33 pm Leave a Comment
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First Post WHOAAAA

Because I need to post something up I’ll post this Katatonia remix.  I love remixes.

Published in:  on September 19, 2009 at 7:49 pm Comments (3)