Lets start 2010 with the first entrance of the year being a conscious vow for peace.
The love reflected from another person has its source in your own heart. -Deepak Chopra
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
My Top 10 Albums of 2009
2009 was a decent year for new new music- decent, not great. My top 6 albums were unquestionable for me - albums where at numerous points I used the words "F%# I love this album", but then it gets a little murky which is usually not the case. And the list after 10 is short this year. The big names put out some big records - U2, Bruce, DMB, Pearl Jam. As usual, nothing critical, no-nonsense approach to the ranking which is simply what I played most throughout the year. Ok, I'll just get right into it.
2. The Decemberists - The Hazzards of Love This album is brilliant. I didn't know much about The Decemberists, when someone on Facebook recommended this album to me after lamenting earlier in the year about the slow music year. Not only did this album make me an instant fan - as in, they are now one of my favorite bands, but it was one that I had to listen to start to finish, over and over. Its
8. Silversun Pickups - Swoon
The Silversun Pickups were new to me this year. A great new band that has flavors of 80's and 90's - feels like the Smashing Pumpkins but more of a pop sound. Good stuff.
9. The Derek Trucks Band - Already Free
Another pleasant surprise. Derek Trucks is one of the best guitarists out there. This is classic blues-rock from the young guitarist playing with the Allman Brothers Band. The opening cover of Bob Dylan's "Down in the Flood" will get you immediately hooked as it did me.
10. Diane Birch - Bible Belt
Diane Birch is a newcomer and somehow I came across her by clicking on an iLike ad on Facebook - one of those "if you like such and such, then try this" - I did, and just loved what I found. She has a gospel, soul, pop thing going on. I'm already looking forward to more.
Here's the other ones I liked this year:
1. Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King 
Ok, it doesn't hurt that I am a huge fan of DMB, however, I think this album stands out on its own as easily best album of the year regardless. It is so so good. I will listen to it for years to come. I raved earlier about it earlier in the year in this post. To recap what I wrote there: "I challenge any other album to try to stand up to this album in both its appeal musically, its diversity, its talent, its style. There's no other band on the planet quite like DMB - where a violin, saxophone, acoustic guitar, drums and bass comprise the band. This album adds a new twist of more electric guitar with the re-addition of Tim Reynolds. Which just makes it rock all the more."
Ok, it doesn't hurt that I am a huge fan of DMB, however, I think this album stands out on its own as easily best album of the year regardless. It is so so good. I will listen to it for years to come. I raved earlier about it earlier in the year in this post. To recap what I wrote there: "I challenge any other album to try to stand up to this album in both its appeal musically, its diversity, its talent, its style. There's no other band on the planet quite like DMB - where a violin, saxophone, acoustic guitar, drums and bass comprise the band. This album adds a new twist of more electric guitar with the re-addition of Tim Reynolds. Which just makes it rock all the more."
2. The Decemberists - The Hazzards of Love This album is brilliant. I didn't know much about The Decemberists, when someone on Facebook recommended this album to me after lamenting earlier in the year about the slow music year. Not only did this album make me an instant fan - as in, they are now one of my favorite bands, but it was one that I had to listen to start to finish, over and over. Its
a rock opera filled with mid-evil imagery and lyrics and tells just an amazing story. You get more and more of the story with each listen. Its spans so many music genres too - there's pop, heavy metal, country, bluegrass - its just brilliant. I was subsequently blown away when I saw The Decemberists in concert do the entire album start to finish. Wow. Organs, accordians, upright bass, and like 5 different types of drumsets all at once. The lyrical trade-offs between each vocalist who has a part in the story is just cool.
3. Pearl Jam - Backspacer I didn't have big expectations for this one. I figured, it would be another good Pearl Jam album as usual, but just another one to throw into the mix. I was so wrong. I couldn't stop listening to it. This is one of those albums, where every song is great. Its fun, it rocks, lots of great riffs and hooks. Just one you
want to crank the stereo up and have a great time. Pearl Jam
shows that they truly can just keep getting better and better, when it doesn't seem possible.
4. U2 - No Line On the Horizon
And, another band that just proves to get better and better even after decades of music. This album is no
4. U2 - No Line On the Horizon
And, another band that just proves to get better and better even after decades of music. This album is no
Out of nowhere, this album shows up in my top 5. While I do like country music as much as any genre, I didn't expect this or any country release to be on my favorites list this year - then I heard this, and I couldn't stop listening. Check out "Me and Your Cigarettes", "Only Prettier", "Virginia Bluebell", and "Sin for A Sin" - all great songs.
6. Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown - Another rock opera for t
he year and simply fun and joyful to listen to. I took many a bike ride with this album on my iPod
.
7. Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg - Wolfmother rocks. They define rocks. You can't help but think of Sabbath, Zeppelin, Floyd, Hendricks, and the Beatles when you listen to this album. Australia has once again provided us with a hard rock gift.
8. Silversun Pickups - Swoon
The Silversun Pickups were new to me this year. A great new band that has flavors of 80's and 90's - feels like the Smashing Pumpkins but more of a pop sound. Good stuff.
9. The Derek Trucks Band - Already Free
Another pleasant surprise. Derek Trucks is one of the best guitarists out there. This is classic blues-rock from the young guitarist playing with the Allman Brothers Band. The opening cover of Bob Dylan's "Down in the Flood" will get you immediately hooked as it did me.
10. Diane Birch - Bible Belt
Diane Birch is a newcomer and somehow I came across her by clicking on an iLike ad on Facebook - one of those "if you like such and such, then try this" - I did, and just loved what I found. She has a gospel, soul, pop thing going on. I'm already looking forward to more.
Here's the other ones I liked this year:
- She Ain't Me - Carrie Rodriguez (debated on top-10 for this one)
- Mark Knopfler - Get Lucky
- Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
- Lyle Lovett - Natural Forces
- Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted to Sin
- Bare Bones - Madeleine Peyroux
- Sonic Youth - The Eternal
- Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
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