My top songs of 2009
My best albums are on their way. But, in the meantime, here are my favorite songs of 2009.
Site Map In the past, I’ve done my top 35 songs of the year (no more than one song per record). But I’m doing fifty this year based on the fact that I’ve probably consumed more music this year than I have in my entire life. Unemployment will do that.
- Ohbijou – Make It Gold
Ohbijou’s sound is characterized by its lush, pastoral nature, making heartfelt and restrained music buoyed by strings and singer Casey Mecija’s subdued chirp. But my most listened-to song of 2009 is probably the darkest and most intense track on the band’s sophomore album, “Beacons.”
It’s all about the build. “Make It Gold” begins quietly with a delicately plucked electric guitar, thumping kick drum and singer Mecija’s high, pure voice. Gradually, though, it builds as Casey’s sister Jenny joins in on violin, along with Anissa Hart on cello. A lonely trumpet blasts a bittersweet melody. About three and a half minutes in, the song reaches a thrilling climax — the loudest and most dramatic moment on the entire album. Casey’s trademark coo turns into a desperate yelp, a piano pounds, the strings release short staccato bursts.
“Make It Gold” is an emotional ride that I’ve taken more than any other song this year.
(Listen on YouTube) - Noisettes – Wild Young Hearts
Noisettes singer Shingai Shoniwa is hot shit and she knows it. She’s beautiful, an amazing singer and a born entertainer. If you need proof, you need only watch the video to the title track on Noisettes’ second record, “Wild Young Hearts.” Shoniwa exudes confidence and a winking sensuality, as she wails against the backdrop of a roaring rock guitar and dramatic piano accompaniment. On a consistently strong album, “Wild Young Hearts’” shimmering old-timey flair wins me over every time.
(Watch the video) - Fanfarlo – The Walls are Coming Down
Fanfarlo’s album “Reservoir” is chock full of memorable melodies, but nowhere does it soar as high as on “The Walls Are Coming Down.”
(Watch the video) (Read my album review) - The Rural Alberta Advantage – Drain the Blood
On “Drain the Blood,” The Rural Alberta Advantage plays exactly how I like them best — manic percussion, vigorously strummed acoustic guitars and lead hottie Nils Edenloff singing as loudly as he can. The RAA is folk music for people who hate folk music. And for people who love folk music.
(Watch the video) (Read my album review) - Julie Doiron – Consolation Prize
Julie Doiron’s been around forever, but I’ve only just learned about her. “Consolation Prize” is atypically heavy and atypically deadpan, but it’s one of my most memorable songs of the year.
(Watch the video) (Read my album review) - Diamond Rings – All Yr Songs
For a sunshiney pop anthem, “All Yr Songs” is a strangely polarizing song. Perhaps its the outlandish video peppered with ridiculous eighties fashions. Perhaps its John O’Regan’s seemingly unnaturally low voice. Perhaps it’s the fact that it is just so sickeningly sweet. But it doesn’t matter to me — “All Yr Songs” is such a fun bit of lo-fi bedroom pop that I find it to be an immediate mood-booster.
(Watch the video) - An Horse – Rearrange Beds
A subtle rock anthem from an adorable Australian duo.
(Listen at Lala.com) - Sleigh Bells – Crown on the Ground
No matter how low the volume is when you turn on “Crown on the Ground,” you’ll immediately think it’s playing too loud. Propelled by a series of shrill electric squeals and an overdriven, distorted beat — the song would be unlistenable if it weren’t so damn catchy based on Alexis Krauss’s candy-sweet vocals and pop melodies on the guitar.
(Download the mp3 here) - The XX – Crystalised
(Watch the video) - Metric – Gimme Sympathy
(Watch the video) - Sunbears! – Little Baby Pines
- Matt & Kim – Daylight (Watch the video)
- The Von Bondies – Blame Game
Wonderfully un-trendy rock and roll. - Twiggy Frostbite – Heroes
A Swedish band I’ve heard absolutely no buzz about, but randomly stumbled upon via mp3 blog. “Heroes” features heart-wrenching keyboards and other-worldly vocals that recall Stina Nordenstam (or some other Scandinavian pixie). (Watch the ridiculously depressing video here. Or just play it and open another window.) - Camera Obscura – The Sweetest Thing
- God Help the Girl – Funny Little Frog
- AA Bondy – False River
- Lymbyc Systym – Ghost Clock (Watch the video)
- Kittens Ablaze – This Machine is Dying (Watch the video)
- Elvis Perkins in Dearland – Shampoo
- Japandroids – Wet Hair
- FrYars – Happy
- The Most Serene Republic – Heavens to Purgatory
The Most Serene Republic’s third album was a bit of a let down. After producing my favorite album of 2007, I found “…And The Ever Expanding Universe” a bit of a bore. The passion of “Population” had been watered down into a bog of studio effects. However, the single “Heavens to Purgatory” recalled the same kind of fun, youthful energy the band employed on their fun-but-scattered debut “Underwater Cinematographer.” Eh. Better than nothing.
(Watch the video) - Pomegranates – This Used to Be My Land, But Now I Hate This Land
- The D’Urbervilles – The Receiver
- Ramona Falls – Diamond Shovel
This song just rips my heart out and stomps on it every damned time. - Other Lives – Black Tables
- Tegan and Sara – Hell
- Land of Talk – May You Never
- Idlewild – Readers and Writers
- Delorean – Deli
- Slow Club – It Doesn’t Have to Be Beautiful
- Freelance Whales – Starring
- Wye Oak – For Prayer
Few things please me more than female musicians who can just wield an axe just as powerfully as the boys. Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner is one of those ladies. The guitars on “For Prayer” just howl — it’s the sound of a slide guitar being tortured. - Phoenix – Lisztomania
- The Raveonettes – Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed)
- Amy Millan – Low Sail
- Kyte – Eyes Lose Their Fire
- Micachu – Golden Phone
- Telekinesis – Foreign Room
- Thao with the Get Down Stay Down – Cool Yourself
- We Were Promised Jetpacks – Roll Up Your Sleeves
- The Thermals – Now We Can See
Like The Most Serene Republic’s new record, The Thermal’s 2009 LP was fairly disappointing. The album “Now We Can See” was a step down from the ambitious punk opus “The Body, The Blood, The Machine,” opting for more traditional (and forgettable) power pop. But there were some memorable tracks, most notably the title track. - Throw Me the Statue – Noises
- Malcolm Middleton – Kiss at the Station
- Little Brazil – Perfection
- The Twilight Sad – Seven Years of Letters
- The Pragmatic – You Blame Me
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero