Best Albums of 2009

11 - Yeah Ghost, Zero 7

Zero 7 is back with their fourth album, Yeah Ghost. While I still think that their best album is their first, Simple Things, Yeah Ghost feels different from the start and continues throughout. For this album, they've worked with a largely new group of people - larger stars such as Sia and Jose Gonzalez aren't present here, but the new vocal talent, especially Eska Mtungwazi, who sings on Mr. McGee and Medicine Man. Furthermore, there's a real split in the sound of this album, ranging from fast to slow, which really makes the ever track interesting to listen to, and it adds a fantastic set of music to their already great lineup of songs.

10 - Magnolia, The Wooden Birds

The Wooden Birds were one of the best artists of 2009, so it stands to reason that Magnolia, their first, is one of the better albums of the year. In this instance, their first album has a great sound right off the bat with False Alarm and going through the next forty minutes. The album is wonderfully consistent, with a constant, driving beat running through the length of the entire record; the album feels very structured, even and laidback throughout, and while it's repetitive, it's not boring. Combining influences from country, folk and rock, this indie record has an interesting sound that's worth repeating several times.

9 - A Sucker's Dream, The Alternate Routes

I really dug the Alternate Route's first album, Good and Reckless and True, but A Sucker's Dream jumps out of the gate with On and On We Whisper, bringing back the same energy and passion that I've seen live at their concerts. This is repeated throughout the album, such as with Toe The Line and The Future Is Nothing New. After seeing these guys several times live, it's outstanding to see some of their live tracks become studio ones, and to watch the band improve quite a bit since their first album. A Sucker's Dream is refined, energetic and above all, fun. In the months that I've been listening to this work, I haven't gotten tired of it. I still get a huge burst of energy and a grin when I hear the opening track, and generally, when I'm driving, it means a burst of speed as well.

8 - Bring Back Love, Glide & Swerve

Glide & Swerve was listed as one of my best new artists of this year, and their album is likewise amongst my favorites for the year. Bring Back Love is much like what Simple Things was for Zero 7 - low-key, unassuming, interesting and laid back, with a fantastic overall tone and feel. Electronic down-tempo is a genre that is growing on me, and I really like the easy going, ambient nature that this album has. Each track is a joy to listen to, and as I listen to a lot of these albums when driving, it's the perfect soundtrack for driving home in the evening. Plus, while it's not connected to the music, they've got a fantastic cover for this album.

7 - Tarpits And Canyonlands, Bombadil

Bombadil is back with their quirky indie rock with Tarpits and Canyonlands. Like their first album, A Buzz, A Buzz, this is a refinement, but at the same time, they retained everything that made their first album so much fun to listen to - weird arrangements, sounds and bursts of energy that just add to the quirk factor. Every song is a pleasant surprise, almost like being thrust into a fantasy carnival. Seeing them in person this year was a treat as well - their stage performances have been great, not only to listen to, but to watch as well.

6 - The Hazards of Love, The Decemberists

The Decemberists have always been a weird band to listen to, and a difficult one at best, but The Hazards Of Love is by far their most ambitious and interesting album to listen to. Looking back to progressive and conceptual albums for some sort of inspiration, as well as the desire to do a stage musical, the Decemberists have put together an album that tells a story, making this album a rich, three course meal to be enjoyed. The downside is that the album can't really be listened to piecemeal - it's pretty much all or nothing, but with the right effort, this album's worth it.

5 - Middle Cyclone, Neko Case

Neko Case is an artist that has slowly crept onto my musical radar over the past couple of years, and Middle Cyclone is the best that I've heard from her thus far. The album is a rich, vibrant effort, one that just begs for one more listen. There's a lot going on with each song, from the lyrics to the sound, coupled with Case's absolutely fantastic voice that just moves from song to song. By a far margin, this is her best album, and one that will remain on my favorites list for a long time.

4 - Nothing Rhymes with Woman, Carbon Leaf

Carbon Leaf returned this year with their latest studio album, Nothing Rhymes With Woman to mixed expectations. By far and wide, they're one of my absolute favorite bands, but comparatively, their last album hasn't held up to its earlier predecessors, Indian Summer and Echo Echo. Nothing Rhymes With Woman, however, harkens back to their independent days, but with the sound that they've been polishing over the past couple of years. This album reminded me why I loved their music so much - the band tells stories, and there's an incredible effort here, with some of their best songs, from the opening track, Indecision, Lake of Silver Bells, Mexico and Pink. Carbon Leaf's always been good with evocative music before - I dare you to listen to Pink and not be moved, or to Lake of Silver Bells and not feel good.

3 - Bible Belt, Diane Birch

Diane Birch burst onto the music scene in grand fashion this year with her first album Bible Belt. I caught her this year in Burlington for a free show, picked up her album and simply could not stop listening to it. Her indie soul sound is both nostalgic and refreshing at the same time, with an incredible voice that sweeps across the album, full of energy and zest. Very song on this album just nails the quality level here, sounding perfect almost across the board. Furthermore, Birch is able to navigate the delicate maze of lyrics, telling stories of love and loss, of childhood fun, all without labeling the album as any particular sound or theme. Rather, she puts together an album that sounds, feels and says all the right things.

2 - Death Won't Send A Letter, Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons

Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons have put together an absolute masterpiece of an album, one that I cannot stop listening to. Death Won't Send A Letter is a dark, emotional and absolutely fantastic record - it is both rich and textured throughout. Chisel brings out influences from country/folk rock and Baptist music, woven together to bring out a unique sound. The album ebbs and flows between tracks - starting off with the mind-blowing Born Again and cooling down on the aptly named second track Calm Down. This is an artist to watch in the singer/songwriter market, because I don't think that we've heard the last from these guys. I certainly don't want to.

1- Crooked Measures, Myra Flynn

Vermont singer/songwriter Myra Flynn takes my top spot for the album of the year with her first album, Crooked Measures. Of the numerous new artists and albums that I've been able to listen to over 2009, Flynn has put together a highly emotional, driven and exceptional album that demonstrates her skill as a singer/songwriter. I hate to keep repeating it, but each song is richly conceived and executed, making a wonderful and memorable album to listen to. Crooked Measures is by far and wide the best album that I've listened to all year, and I hope that we will hear more from her in the very, very near future.

Medicine Man - Zero 7
Hometown Fantasy - The Wooden Birds
On and On We Whisper - The Alternate Routes
Healing Overture - Glide & Swerve
Sad Birthday - Bombadil
The Rake's Song - The Decemberists
Magpie To The Morning - Neko Case
Indecision - Carbon Leaf
Don't Wait Up - Diane Birch
My Heart Would Be There - Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons
Sunshine - Myra Flynn

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Review: Tarpits and Canyonlands

Last year, I came across the fantastic band Bombadil with their debut album A Buzz, A Buzz, which I loved for its quirky nature and fun sound. Now, the guys are back with their latest disc Tarpits and Canyonlands, which is out today in all fine records stores and via internet shops.

Tarpits and Canyonlands is a fantastic followup to A Buzz A Buzz, retaining much of the quirk and charm that they have since established with their prior works, but there is a hint of growth with this followup that demonstrates a bit of restraint and wisdom on the part of the group. They haven't felt the need to go and completely change up their sound - they have something that works, and works well, and as this album amply shows, they don't need to do much to it to make a fantastic record.

The record opens very strongly with a trio of songs - I Am, Sad Birthday and Honeymoon that set up the record nicely with a sound that's largely reminiscent of their prior record before the tone shifts slightly: Reasons feels more somber, Cold Runway, So Many Ways to Die and Marriage take on a far more reflective look towards storytelling than I was expecting, and the result gives the album a bit more depth and changes it just enough to prevent this album from falling into the trap of being a carbon copy of their first album. The tone picks up a bit more for the last third of the album with Laurita, Kuala Lumpur, Pyramid, 25 Daniels and Matthew, bringing out more of the odd sounds that the group has demonstrated in some of their concerts and other works.

When it comes to a followup album, there are a number of expectations, from fans, from critics and the members themselves. Everybody has their own ideas about what the direction should be, and it's a hard path to follow to both meet and exceed expectations. Bombadil has done this wonderfully with Tarpits and Canyonlands, by putting together a clever, interesting and reflective album that exceeds what they did with A Buzz, A Buzz. Hopefully, we'll see more of that in the future.

Sad Birthday - Bombadil

Pyramid - Bombadil

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The Best Albums of the Year

This year has been an incredible one for music. I don’t know if it was the full year of blogging about it, but I have learned and heard so much during the past year, making it incredibly difficult at times to really narrow down what was the best of the good. Looking back over the year, there were some clear choices, some not so clear, and a couple that surprised me. Already, 2009 is shaping up to look like a good year already.


Runners up: Always the Bridesmaid: Decemberists, Human: Civil Twilight, A Hundred Million Suns: Snow Patrol, Let It Go: Jon Regen, View from the Root: Adam Ezra Group, A Good Day: Priscilla Ahn.

10 - The Fairline Parkway, Memory of Open Spaces / The Weepies, Hideaway

Memory of Open Spaces is a light affair, and carries a quiet grace from its opening song, Westward Bound, that is sustained throughout the album with a soft and balanced sound. I like it because it's soft, reflective and interesting throughout with a great sound and good lyrics.

Tied with this album is Hideaway by the Weepies. Like the Fairline Parkway, this album is soft, rythmic and interesting. The sound is evenly balanced between the two vocalists with a sweet and relaxing sound to it.

9 - Bombadil, A Buzz, A Buzz

From the first bars of Bombadil's debut album A Buzz A Buzz, you'll know that there's something very different about their sound. Trip Out West starts out soft but strong, before launching into a series of incredibly diverse, lyrically unique and tight songs. There's a wide range of sounds here, and seeing these guys life is an experience in and of itself, as they move around the stage, often switching instruments.

8 - Oren Lavie, The Opposite Side of the Sea

Oren Lavie's first CD Opposite Side of the Sea is a labor of love, and has been getting a wider audience from the use of several songs in a commercial. While overall, this album is on the softer side, there's a rich variety of themes throughout the album, helped along by his rich voice and lyrics.

7 - Tina Dico, Count To Ten / Sia, Some People Have Real Problems

Ironically, these two singers have a common link: the Electronic/Pop outfits Zero 7, whom both have collaborated with for several songs over their three albums.

Tina Dico's album Count To Ten is the good sort of pop music. She starts off with an incredible voice and beat and sustains it throughout the course of the album with a number of absolutely fantastic songs that continue to impress me numerous listens later.

Sia's latest album, Some People Have Real Problems is easily her finest album to date, with an electro-popish sound with an urgent, yet at the same time relaxed feel to it. The tracks slow down and speed up but each one is just fantastic.

6 - Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs

This album got lot of nay Sayers when released - a lot of this "The band has turned their backs on their fans/roots/style" crap. Bullshit. This album is easily their strongest, with the same strong lyrical style that we've come to expect from these guys, with a richer and far more refined sound throughout. This new album is emotional, intense and rich with sound.

5 - Goodtimes Goodtimes, Glue

Technically, this came out in 2008, but I really got their album in January, so this makes the list. Goodtimes Goodtimes blew me away when I first heard their first track, Kids, with it's bright and optimistic beat that still gets me moving fifty listens later. The rest of the album is just as good too. Each song here sounds fantastic, with some excellent guitar work and lyrics. Every time I pop this into my car's CD player, I sing along, and feel good afterwards.

4 - Coldplay, Viva La Vida/Prospekt's March

I'm counting both of these albums together, along with Lhuna, as one package. Coldplay, after the commercially friendly A Rush of Blood To the Head and disappointing X&Y, proved to be an extremely fresh breath from these guys, proving that they still have the talent to not only produce a good record, but to produce one that drastically refines, changes and exceeds expectations. Viva La Vida is a tight and cohesive affair, with some of their best works to date. Prospekt's March is likewise as good, with several tracks that didn't make it on the album, but carry much of the same feel or talent along with it. Already, there's talk of a follow-up - let's hope that it's a good one.

3 - Amos Lee, Last Days at the Lodge

Amos Lee has come a very, very long way since his first, self titled debut. His second album exceeded that one, and Last Days at the Lodge likewise exceeded that one. Where Supply and Demand really changed around his sound, Last Days brings Lee back to some of his root sounds, revisits some familiar ground and breaks anew, infusing a distinct blend of soul, R&B and folk-rock into the eleven fantastic tracks. The album is intimate and emotional at times, while blatant and fresh at others.

2 - Ray LaMontagne, Gossip in the Grain

Like Amos Lee, Ray LaMontagne has improved upon his sound over his past two albums, really redefining his sound each time. Gossip in the Grain has done much of the same, giving us a new look at this singer as he's refined and honed his skills. His voice isn't as raspy as it was in Trouble, and the backing band here absolutely blows each song away. This album is emotional, touching, personal, romantic and somber all at the same time. It is easily his strongest and best work to date.

1 - Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago

Bon Iver's For Emma Forever Ago is my favorite album of the year, and I knew it from the moment I heard the first track, Flume. Recorded in a cabin in the woods during a troubling time for Justin Vernon, what we get is an album that is a mix of raw emotions that is honest, thrilling and simply beautiful to listen to. Each time that I listen to this album, I get chills throughout at the intensity and reflection presented here in the songwriting. Bon Iver has done with this album something that I thought was impossible - show me that there are still huge surprises waiting out there in the music world, and even after listening to it literally hundreds of times, it still shakes and invokes the same emotion and thrill that is present in the notes.

Bombadil @ Langdon St. Cafe

Photo Source (March 18)

Last night, one of the bands that I've gotten hooked on came to my hometown last night here in Vermont, and played a fantastic set of music. Back in April, I did a review of A Buzz, A Buzz, by the band Bombadil. It's a fantastic album and you should check it out, especially if you like quirky bands like the Decemberists or Bright Eyes.
The concert was at the Langdon St. Cafe, which is a small, hippyish community cafe, where they tend to pull in smaller, local bands or people on their way through.

Bombadil is composed of four guys, Stuart, Bryan, Daniel & James, out of North Carolina. I talked to them before and after the show - extremely nice guys - they really seemed to enjoy what they were doing, and were a pleasure to talk with. These guys had energy - on stage, they really brought the level up and had fun while doing so. Their performance and stage presence was lively and dynamic. There was a little coordinated dancing and movement that was pretty fun to watch as well.

What impressed me the most was how interchangeable each member is. I think that they all switched instruments at least twice, sang, or hit something with a stick. They brought out Trumpets, tambourines, xylophones, flutes, all to create a very rich and textured sound. Overall, I was very happy that I saw them - a very fun performance for a Wednesday night!

Set List:

1 - Jellybean Wine
2 - 25 Daniels
3 - Robore
4 - Julian of Norwich
5 - Three Saddest Words
6 - Venezualen Hymn (The Waltz)
7 - Johnny
8 - Suzy Marie
9 - Laurita
10 - Kuala lupur!Malasia

Break

11 -
12 - Smile When You Kiss
13 - Trip Out West
14 - She Said?
15 - What Would You Say? Marriage
16 - A Buzz, A Buzz
17 - (Bear Song)
18 - (Old Roommate Song)
19 - Tall Grass
20 - (New Song - Take the Chance / Wedding Song?)
21 - (Cavaliers)

(Songs I'm not totally sure about, titlewise)

Julian of Norwich - Bombadil
Smile When You Kiss - Bombadil

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The Best of April

This month's had a bunch of really good new songs and releases. There was a lot of really good stuff this month:

View from the Root [Album]
The Adam Ezra Group has rapidly become a favorite of mine, ever since I saw them last December with Carbon Leaf, and again when they returned a week later. They've recently come out with their latest album, and it's a step up for them - they've really refined and strengthened their sound and have produced a really good record. Flyin' is a nice, laid back song that just feels right, and Katie is another fantastic song from them with a great beat and rhythms. My review is coming soon.

Thirty One Today - Aimee Mann
This song feels and sounds great, but it's depressing as hell. The guitar, keys, bass and vocals all work wonderfully today with a nice, seductive sound that's really propelled it to the top of my playlist.

Julian of Norwich - Bombadil
A Buzz, A Buzz - Bombadil
I covered these guys recently with a review of their debut album, A Buzz, A Buzz. They've got a really neat, unique sound with some fantastic songwriting that's really set them apart from a lot of other groups that I've listened to. Julian of Norwich and the title track, A Buzz, A Buzz are two of the best on the album.

Violet Hill - Coldplay
Coldplay's first single off of their upcoming album. It's pretty different from some of their earlier works. I like this sound, and I'll be interested to see what the next album brings.

I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie's back with a new album and a wholly new sound. I have yet to hear the rest of the record at this time, but so far, I really dig it. I Will Possess Your Heart, I think will become one of their better songs, despite the drama from the fanboys on this one. Bands do change their sound. Relax, you will live to see another day.

Westward Bound - The Fairline Parkway
Nowhere to Be - The Fairline Parkway
These guys are new, and made a splash at the South by Southwest festival. My review of this album is forthcoming, but here are two of my favorite tracks from this album.

Let It Go - Jon Regen
The Last Song - Jon Regen
Regen is a new artist to me, and I love his Soul/Jazz sound that really resembles Marc Cohn's Walking In Memphis. This whole album is tight, full of emotion and really sounds fantastic.

Memory One - Lili Haydn
Satellites - Lili Haydn
Lili Haydn's also a new artist to me, although this is her third album. She has a nice, easy going style that's really set apart with the piano and violin.

John Adams Theme - Robert Lane
My new favorite show - I'm in love with history, and it's fantastic to see a television show get something to the public that's actually good. John Adams is a wonderful show about the founding of the US, and this theme song is just amazing.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar - That Mitchell and Webb Look
This show just makes me laugh. This is actually a theme song for a reoccurring sketch within the show, but it's so slapstick, it's just hilarious.

Hideaway - The Weepies
I haven't listened to these guys extensively, but I'm adding them to my 'to listen' list because I'm really liking their laid back sound here. These songs are light, with a fantastic sound and some interesting lyrics.

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Album Review: A Buzz, A Buzz

This band, Bombadil, can be summed up in one word - quirky. Their first release, A Buzz, A Buzz, is a really unique and facinating one, somewhere along the lines of the Decemberists, the Softlights and Ferraby Lionheart, but even a little more out there.
They cover a lot of ground here, with some songs about history, romance, and a couple others, and is probably best described as a sort of folk-indie. Of all the bands that I've heard this year, none have been this rich in sound. It's a complex, interesting and diverse sound. Trip Out West, Get To Get It On, Buzz A Buzz, all have an interesting folk-ballad sound, while Julian Of Norwich, Rossetta Stone and Cavaliers Han Hur all have a really unique sound and feel to them that I really can't think of a parallel to.
The songs have a bit of an innocence and carefree nature to them. This is partially between the lyrics and the surrounding instrumental work. A couple have a indie movie feel to them, such as the sweet, Smile When You Kiss. Rosetta Stone and Julian of Norwich appeal to the history geek in me, with some interesting history content.
Overall, I think this is one of my favorite albums of the year thus far, for it's uniqueness, interesting lyrics and cool sound.

Julian of Norwich - Bombadil
Smile When You Kiss - Bombadil

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