Andy's Top 10 Albums of Twenty Ohh Nine

Hear Me, Hear Me. ME. Imma let you finish your decade, but I just wanna say these are the best albums of the year. Jenna will be providing her view later this week, but for now you're stuck with me

10. Vs. Children (Casiotone for the Painfully Alone)

Ok, before I start, let me make one thing abundantly clear- all "Best Of..." lists are painfully subjective, and infused with the authors own personal preferences and tastes. That's the main reason this record made it onto the list- I'm a massive Casiotone fan. Even having said that, Vs. Children is undoubtably some of his best work; a slightly more intimate, mature and thematic outing for Californian indietronica minstrel Owen Ashworth. The shadows of Bonnie and Clyde lingers over the album- from the album cover (Fay Dunaway as Bonnie Parker in the 1967 movie rendition) to the bankrobber theme of Optomist vs. Silent Alarm- which serves as a powerful metaphor for family life. Perhaps the most moving track is White Jetta, climaxing with the dying wish of Ashworth's mother: for him to start a family. Seriously, this is worth seeking out.

For more, visit http://www.cftpa.org/. Or download "Optomist vs. Silent Alarm" here.

9. Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (Major Lazer)

With album artwork that could cut your eyes open, the debut full-length from the DJ/Producers Diplo and Switch is a dancehall-tastic fury packed with guest appearances from Jamaican artists and samples from Commodore Amiga games. Like everything that Diplo touches, it's fresh and exciting, and I guarintee it'll make you smile as wide as a Switch remix. The aforementioned cover art actually sums up the whole album- from a glance, you can tell it's going to be mega, but you wouldn't want to leave it on loop, lest you have an epilectic fit.

To see the Saturday-Morning-Cartoon monstrosity that is "Hold the Line", head on over to Youtube.

 

8. Why There Are Mountains (Cymbals Eat Guitars)

In what has been quite an electronic year (at least if you're me), Cymbals Eat Guitars managed to whack out an impressive rollercoaster of dramatic, balls-to-the-wall indie rock. It's more than just a nostalgic retread of the paths carved out by Modest Mouse et al, though- frontman Joseph D'Agostino has an uncanny ability to navigate the trecherous swells and falls without crashing and sounding hackneyed. It's almost as if Doug Martsch lent him a map...


To listen to "Wild Phoenix (Proper Name)", follow this link courtesy of the kind folks at Daytrotter dot com

7. There Is No Enemy (Built to Spill)

... speaking of which, Doug's back with a new release from Built to Spill. And it's actually quite good (Hence it's on this list. Duhr. Even if it's only placed at number seven so I could have that sweet intoducing sentence. Seriously, was that slick or what?). After the lukewarm reception for previous release You in Reverse from critics, fans and fans-turned-critics like me, There Is No Enemy was an exercise in expectations. I expected another predictable, anodyne nostalgia-bomb. Instead I got vintage BTS in a highly crafted, exciting return to form. Considering this is the band that wrote Perfect From Now On is pretty high praise indeed.

For the full album, go back in time to September and stream it from the band's Myspace 

6. Psychic Chasms (Neon Indian)

Incase you hadn't noticed, 2009 was the year electronic music "made a comeback". In a shady freemason meeting hall, the powers that be selected the 1980s as a decade in need of a revival in the usual way (a novelty oversized dartboard and a balista). Of course, the synth never really died, it merely went underground, spawning a string of genres with horrific names. For me, Psychic Chasms is a perfect middle ground- it's an electropop album for everyone: whether you kick back with Depeche Mode, Ladytron or Little Boots, you'll find something you enjoy. From the glisten-and-grind of the title track to the brutal and sometimes funky Ephemeral Artery, it's a mixed bag of lo-fi electro tricks.

For Paul's (of Too Much Happiness) Neon Indian Indie-Rocktail, look no further:

The NEON INDIAN
4 oz. Riesling
4 oz. Lemon-lime gatorade
For best results, drink while wearing an enormous, racist Indian headdress. 

5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart)

Who said indie-pop was dead? The Pains... is a blisteringly gorgeous self-titled debut (on Fortuna/Slumberland, no less!) that marks a rennaisance for lovers of twee and C83 everywhere. The album is an incredibly open affair, unashamedly baring the band's obvious influences- the catchy jangles of The Smiths ring through in Stay Alive, the strained echoing vocals of Heavenly and the Field Mice pervade the entire outing, and even Another Sunny Day's sense of humour is visible in the song titles (The Tenure Itch; Young Adult Friction). In this way, the band conjure up a rich imagery of particular moments, places and naratives that make you feel somewhat less alone. If that kind of thing makes you wretch, then this clearly isn't for you. But if an album clearly intended for people who like tea, cake and libraries appeals to you, then you'll be all the better for letting it into your life. 


For a s'amuse bouche, follow this link to download "Come Saturday"

 

4. Merriweather Post Pavillion (Animal Collective)

Animal Collective are HOW FAR DOWN???

Ok, ok. Hear me out. MPP is fucking ACE. I think it's some of Animal Collective's best work, and it's a concept album anyone can "get" (a record "deserving of an amazing outdoor listening experience") which is rare in this day and age. But, had some relative unknown released this album, would it have made the top of everyone's xmas list? I doubt it somehow- it might just be me, but I kinda prefer Strawberry Jam, or the Water Curses EP. And the cover is trying too hard to freak out AC listeners which, considering many will be stoned, is like shooting fish in a proverbial piscine barrel. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great album, full of the epic soundscapes and elation we've come to expect. It's just not my favourite AC album. Is that an unfair benchmark? Probably. But for a band who are hailed for constantly pushing the boundaries, MPP feels like an album taking baby steps forwards, rather than the bounding leaps I was hoping for.

To read some reviews even less complimentary than mine, click here.


3. Tarot Sport (Fuck Buttons)

In spite of an immature name, post-rock duo Fuck Buttons have released a snowballing cacophony in Tarot Sport. Upon first listening, it almost sounded accessable. By the second track, Rough Steez, I was completely lost. By the end of the album, I didn't particularly care where I was, or if I'd ever get back. An exhausting listen, and a serious wall-of-sound, this is an album that demands respect from it's listeners. Plug in some headphones, turn it up loud, and drop out for an hour.


Get started now- grab the fanciest audio equipment you can find and follow the white rabbit

2. Embryonic (The Flaming Lips)

The Flaming Lips are an institution. That's not usually a good thing- most bands run out of anything interesting to say by the third album, let alone their twelfth. But Embryonic manages to do something no other Flaming Lips release has done to date- it's their first double album and, as such, is less of a gruelling concept album and more a lurching, atmospheric slow burner of 21st century prog. Whether or not this makes it any easier to listen to is a mute point. Embryonic manages to be instantly accessable and endlessly challenging at the same time- it's not a single hour long track, but undeniably there is a thematic link connecting the noises that come between the infuriating half-second pauses on my CD changer. Add to that guest appearances from everyone from Karen O to German mathematician Dr Thorsten Wörmann and you've got a trully unmissable album that proves that The Flaming Lips are still relevant today. Which is good news for fans of human hamster balls everywhere.

If you get lost along the way, try this track-by-track guide written by frontman Wayne Coyne

1. xx (The XX)

Yes! It's time to crack open the buzzbands! Blogworthy, genre-defying, Guardian Album of the Year, and album art that makes it look like a new flavour oxo cube (and probably a fucking nasty one to boot), xx is probably the album that's generated the most riddiculous descriptions this year. Tim Jonze called it "more than just the sound of 2009, it was a distinctive musical statement of the like we may never get to hear again", whilst Pitchfork opted for the more abstract (read: batshit crazy) " a secretive conversation, the sort you might have after sex, or on a train, or at a coat check at night's end".* Whatever. They're all right. It's an absolute treat. Exciting, energetic and effortlessly cool without a cloying aftertaste of pretension (well, except for the fans). Fuck what the Beastie Boys said. DO believe the hype!

For free mp3s and a whole bucket of minimalist chic, check out the band's website: http://thexx.info/



*for the record, my contribution to the hype cloud was that stockcube based gem


Predictions for 2010- Andy will rave about the new Los Campesinos album whilst Jenna pretends to listen; Jenna will rave about the new Little Boots album whilst Andy pretends to listen; They'll both rave about the new Arcade Fire album whilst everyone else pretends to listen; the results of the General Election will probably not be a Good Thing.