Top 15 of 2009

Well, this is going to be my last post here. I received a threatening email from Blogger about my last post and now all of my old files have been deleted and my fileden account suspended. I think my mistake was trying to praise Them Crooked Vultures in my previous post - the interests of John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl, and Josh Homme are just too powerful I guess. But anyway, one month late, here are my top 15 albums of 2009. The top 4 could almost be in any order, but I painstakingly came to a final decision. Since the mp3's in my previous posts no longer work, I've done my best to provide links to either 100% legal songs or myspace pages. I don't understand how way more illegal blogs than mine continue to survive, but with the coming semester, I don't have the time or energy to figure it out. It was fun while it lasted.

15. Handsome Furs - Face Control
I'm Confused
Radio Kaliningrad
buy
14. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
previously
Cheerleader
Listen to the much better tracks "Two Weeks" and "While You Wait For the Others" here
buy13. Dead Man's Bones - Dead Man's Bones
I like Half Nelson as much as the next person, but Ryan Gosling teaming up with a children's choir to make music? Suspend your disbelief, because this is a hauntingly beautiful album. Check out "Pa Pa Power" or "Lose Your Soul" if you can find them somewhere, or "My Body's a Zombie For You" on their myspace.
buy12. Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Califone continue to put out great record after great record and put on one of the best live shows I've ever seen. This release goes along with their Sundance film of the same name.
Funeral Singers
Ape-Like
buy11. Swan Lake - Enemy Mine
previous post
Spanish Gold, 2044
A Hand At Dusk
Spider
buy10. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Your enjoyment of Bitte Orca will depend on how much you like music that is challenging, often amelodic, and always unpredictable.
Listen to "Useful Chamber," "Temecula Sunrise," and "Stillness Is the Move" here.
buy9. Nirvana - Live At Reading
Not sure if this counts, as it is the official release of the well-known 1992 bootleg. But this is one of the best live recordings I've ever heard. Nirvana's always well-chosen cover songs are particularly special.
Watch some footage here.
buy8. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
previous post
Idiot Heart
buy
7. A.A. Bondy - When the Devil's Loose
previous post
myspace
buy
6. Built To Spill - There Is No Enemy
I never got around to posting about this album - only about their outstanding performance at First Ave. Unlike most reviewers, I think I still prefer their last album You In Reverse to this one. But There Is No Enemy was on constant repeat for months after its release. So grateful that one of my favorite bands are still churning out great records.
myspace
buy
5. Obits - I Blame You
This album has grown on me more since my only above-average review in my previous post. Excited to hear where this band goes next.
Pine On
Two-Headed Coin
buy
4. St. Vincent - Actor
previous post
myspace
buy
3. Dinosaur Jr - Farm
previous post
I Want You To Know
and a few more songs here
buy2. Prairie Cartel - Where Did All My People Go
I can't believe I didn't write about this album when it came out. Not only is it 80 minutes of top-notch electronic, spacey rock music (highly highly highly recommended for fans of LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, or The Faint), but includes Scott Lucas (of favorite band Local H "fame") and Blake Smith (of Fig Dish and Caviar "fame"). Bands like The Prairie Cartel are why I started this blog in the first place. For something completely different, but equally inspired, look for the Bob Dylan & The Band inspired Scott Lucas & The Married Men record George Lassos the Moon out next month.
myspace
buy
1. Pink Mountaintops - Outside Love
I've been listening to this album over and over since my original discovery. It earns the top spot in 2009 for the excitement of having an unknown band turn into a favorite in such a short amount of time. Absolutely stunning.
Vampire
While We Were Dreaming
buy

Farewell!

Disappointments and Honorable Mentions of 2009

I've narrowed my list of the top albums of 2009 to 15. However, before posting it, I thought I would mention a few albums that just missed the cut, along with some of my biggest disappointments of the year (far from the worst of the year, but records that fell short of my expectations for one reason or another).

Disappointments

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
I loved his last 2 albums, particularly Armchair Apocrypha, but just couldn't get into this one.
buy

Superdrag - Industry Giants
I've been a huge fan of everything Superdrag's done since the mid-90's. They are way more than a one-hit wonder. But Industry Giants just isn't very good.
buy

The Thermals - Now We Can See
2006's The Body the Blood the Machine=Brilliant; 2009's Now We Can See=Mediocre
buy

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
buy
Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine
buy
OK, so both of these are actually quite good. In fact, Josphine even comes close to earning an honorable mention. But looking at everything Jason Molina's done in Songs: Ohia, Magnolia Electric Co., and as a solo artist, Josephine ranks pretty low. MPP is enjoyable enough, but deserving of nearly universal praise? No way, and it is particularly disappointing in the context of Animal Collective's fantastic (and huge) back catalogue and coming off 2007's career-best (if you ask me) Strawberry Jam.

Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
buy
The Mountain Goats - The Life of the World To Come
buy
These 2 albums are truly disappointing. I was ready to re-embrace Wilco after the mostly boring Sky Blue Sky, but the only thing worthwhile about Wilco (The Album) is the cover art. Even as Wilco reaches impressive peaks with their live performance, they are hitting new creative lows. Coming off Heretic Pride, one of my favorites of John Darnielle's many releases, The Mountain Goats really stumble here - even though most critics seem to disagree. Songs about Bible verses? If anyone could pull that off, it would be John Darnielle, but The Life of the World to Come is neither quirky enough or emotionally satisfying to hold my attention.

Honorable Mention

The xx - xx
Listen if you like Young Marble Giants...
buy

Blackout Beach - Skin of Evil
Cloud of Evil
buy

Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
Listen if you like 90's indie rock...
buy

Iran - Dissolver
buy

Julie Doiron - I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
buy

Flaming Lips - Embryonic
A daring return to eccentric form.
buy

Langhorne Slim - Be Set Free
buy

MV & EE - Barn Nova
Summer Magic
buy

Now the sinners have all gone home

I almost got my shit together around Thanksgiving to write a nice post about American empire, historical violence, and William S. Burroughs - in an effort to at least maintain some respectability as a blogger - but last semester was truly hellish and it never happened. Well, the upcoming semester looks to be even worse, but at least we don't start until the 19th. So, even though it will be depressingly late, a best of 2009 is in the works. Stay tuned.

But first, to jolt the blog back to life, here are a few tracks from the very recently discovered, one-man-plus-helpers band Digital Leather. Created by Shawn Foree, the 2009 album Warm Brother is too new to my ears to make my forthcoming list, but it definitely deserves recognition. The sound is hard to pigeonhole and definitely not for everyone - but think Silver Jews + Pink Mountaintops (who WILL be making my year-end list) + drugs + a heavy dose of synths. Enjoy!

Digital Leather - All the People
Digital Leather - Hurts So Bad
from Warm Brother
buy

You won't give up your blues without a fight

This is a post about AA Bondy. But it is also a post about music blogs, Verbena, and how music blogs love AA Bondy but don't seem to care about Verbena. Blogs are great for finding out about new music, but this narrowness of scope, often confined to what's hot on Pitchfork, is one of the reasons I started Thin Mercury Sound. Verbena has been one of my favorite bands for a while now, so I was thrilled when I found out in 2007 that AA Bondy, of Verbena "fame," was releasing a solo record, American Hearts. This album is a superb piece of somewhat Dylanesque, acoustic guitar, harmonica-driven Americana folk music and Bondy received some well-deserved praise. His new release, When the Devil's Loose, manages to add a full band while also slowing the music down to a sleepy, beautiful pace. It took me a little while to get into this one, but some of the songs are nearly perfect and I've grown to love it.

However, whenever I would read the mostly favorable reviews of Bondy's solo career, his tremendous back catalogue in Verbena is either ignored, commented on in passing, or dismissed as 1990's alternative rock. Heaven forbid these writers pick up La Musica Negra for a penny in the used bin, or download the torrent for free, to gain additional avenues of enjoyment for an artist they supposedly love. Judge for yourself below, but Verbena was one of the most intelligent, consistent-yet-versatile, blues-rock bands of all time. Enjoy a pair of songs from both of AA Bondy's solo albums and each of Verbena's full-length albums.

AA Bondy - Mightiest of Guns
AA Bondy - I Can See the Pines Are Dancing
from When the Devil's Loose
buy

AA Bondy - American Hearts
AA Bondy - Sweet Rapture (Sweet Rapture)
from American Hearts
buy
Verbena - So What
Verbena - Postcard Blues
from Souls For Sale
buy

Verbena - Baby Got Shot
Verbena - Big Skies, Black Rainbows
from Into the Pink
find this used somewhere...

Verbena - I, Pistol
Verbena - Me and Your Sister
from La Musica Negra
find this used somewhere...

My stepfather looks just like David Bowie

Behind Local H and Nirvana, Built To Spill might be my 3rd favorite band/artist. There are other contenders (Bob Dylan, Rocket from the Crypt, Pavement...), but Built To Spill's place is secure (for a little while at least) after last night's show at First Avenue. Having seen them twice previously in less than adequate venues, I was blown away by the combination of their finely tuned craft, near perfect set list, and First Ave's sound. Not only is Doug Martsch one of the best guitarists of all time, but BtS has the rare gift of a perfect balance between melody and rock and roll energy. And they have been putting out consistently superb records since 1993 (or even longer if you count Martsch's previous band Treepeople). Oh, and there is also Martsch's solo album and collaboration with Calvin Johnson in The Halo Benders to consider. Built To Spill's band members were evidently enjoying themselves and it spilled over into the crowd. They have a new album coming out on Oct. 6 titled There Is No Enemy, but we only got 2 previews of it last night. Their last album, 2006's You In Reverse, was their most Neil Young influenced and my second favorite of theirs behind the 1997 masterpiece Perfect From Now On. Needless to say, my anticipation is immense (still no leak, but pre-ordered), despite the nightmare-inducing album art (see below). Here is a nice mix of new and old tracks played last night, but expect a comment on the new album in the coming weeks and a post on Perfect From Now On in the future...

Built To Spill - Big Dipper
Built To Spill - Distopian Dream Girl
from There's Nothing Wrong With Love
buy

Built To Spill - Carry the Zero
from Keep It Like a Secret
buy

Built To Spill - Wherever You Go
Built To Spill - Conventional Wisdom
from You In Reverse
buy

Yeah, we're straight, we get high on our music

I'm off to DC/Baltimore tomorrow for some research fun, but I had to mention that I saw The Breeders last week at the Fine Line Music Cafe. You probably know The Breeders from A) 1990's radio hit "Cannonball" or B) Kim Deal (of Pixies fame) or C) As one of Kurt Cobain's favorite bands. Their recorded material is simply fantastic and I've included a sampling below. Perhaps there will be more on that in the future. But I am happy to say that their live show did not disappoint either. Kim and twin sister Kelly were clearly having a blast on stage and, although it's been a long time since the release of Pod in 1990, the band is still going strong.

The Breeders - Hoverin'
from Divine Hammer Single
buy

The Breeders - Happiness is a Warm Gun (Beatles cover)
The Breeders - Lime House
from Pod
buy

The Breeders - Cannonball
from Last Splash
buy

The Breeders - We're Gonna Rise
from Mountain Battles
buy

The Breeders' latest release is the Fate To Fatal EP. One of the tracks includes Mark Lanegan! So buy it!

Imagination blind, but changing

Short post today on Dinosaur Jr.'s latest album, Farm, which was released back in June. If we think about music in terms of lists, Dinosaur Jr. can be found near the top of many - best band, best album, best guitarist, best cover art, best live band, loudest live band, and best album of 2009. I've always wished that J. Mascis had a bit more going on lyrically, but the band's music continues to be the perfect blend of melody and energy, beauty and noise. Here are two tastes - the lengthy "Said the People" and "Imagination Blind," one of the two Lou Barlow-led songs on the album. Looking forward to having my eardrums blown out again when they come to Minneapolis in November.

Dinosaur Jr. - Said the People
Dinosaur Jr. - Imagination Blind
from Farm
buy

Holy ghosts and talk show hosts are planted in the sand

I really need to keep up with this blog - with tons to write about and as much free time this summer as I'm likely to have until next year, one post a month isn't going to cut it. I'll just have to make this one exceptionally long. Anyway, a couple weeks ago I saw another pair of fantastic shows at the 7th St. Entry. The first, and most anticipated, was Sunset Rubdown. Their new album, Dragonslayer, is getting a great deal of well-deserved praise (along with a bit of unsettling obsession with frontman Spencer Krug). It is a tighter and more rockin' (and indeed, fabulous) follow-up to their 2007 all-time-greatest album Random Spirit Lover. Their live show did not disappoint either, with Spencer demonstrating that he is not only a brilliant songwriter but also one of the most gracious. The most pleasantly surprising aspect of the show, however, was the display of talent from the rest of the band members - Camilla Wynne Ingr, Jordan Robson-Cramer, Michael Doerksen, and Mark Nicol, the last three rotating effortlessly between bass, guitar, and drums throughout the set. Can't wait to see them again.

Sunset Rubdown - Idiot Heart
Sunset Rubdown - You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)
from Dragonslayer

Sunset Rubdown - The Taming of the Hands That Came Back To Life
from Random Spirit Lover


Later in the week I attended the Meat Puppets show - a 25 year anniversary of their first performance at the Entry. The band is touring in support of their new album Sewn Together (which is good, but not great), but played a number of classic songs including "Plateau," "Oh Me," "Up On The Sun," and "Comin' Down." Unfortunately, the band did not go on until 11:30 and I had my French exam in the morning, so I had to leave after about 45 minutes of their set. Nevertheless, the aging Kirkwood brothers and new drummer Ted Marcus displayed an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm.

Meat Puppets - Go To Your Head
from Sewn Together

Meat Puppets - Up On The Sun
from Up On The Sun

Meat Puppets - Plateau
from II


While the Meat Puppets were great, I was truly blown away by Duluth-based openers Retribution Gospel Choir, which consists of two members of the band Low. While Low is known for their slow, quiet, stripped down music and beautiful husband-wife harmonies, the Alan Sparhawk-led Retribution Gospel Choir was loud, explosive, and full of life. I was definitely skeptical as the band took the stage dressed in matching shirts and ties, but was converted into a dedicated fan within three seconds of their opening song "Breaker," originally appearing on Low's fantastic album Drums and Guns. Their self-titled, full length debut is highly recommended, but can only capture a fraction of energy present in their live show. So make sure to go see them if you get the chance.

Retribution Gospel Choir - Breaker
Retribution Gospel Choir - What She Turned Into
from Retribution Gospel Choir

Paralysed and gleaming, with visions of new states

It's been a long time since I've been this impressed with a band I had never heard of before. Perhaps better known for his work in Black Mountain (also great), Vancouver's Stephen McBean is the principal songwriter in the Pink Mountaintops. Outside Love is the band's third album and easily their best. The album displays a mix of pop, folk, and rock influences - think Mark Lanegan, Low, M. Ward, the Vaselines - while still retaining a sound that is both chilling and exhilarating and undoubtedly original.

As the band's label Jagjaguwar writes, "The ten songs on "Outside Love" are about or influenced by weddings in Montreal, winter, Pink Floyd's The Final Cut, Christmas albums, that one Exile song and that one Echo and the Bunnymen song, the Bermuda Triangle, being depressed in the sunshine, people who haven't made out yet but will in the future, The Everly Brothers, clowns in the ceilings, and bedrooms where skinheads used to live."

Is "Vampire" the best song of a 2009 packed with great albums that are filled with great songs? Perhaps - or maybe I just have a soft spot for demon love songs.

Pink Mountaintops - Vampire
Pink Mountaintops - While You Were Dreaming
buy

St. Vincent videos

MFR has 3 videos of the St. Vincent show at First Ave. Check them out here!