I decided that I'm going to only really write about the most underlooked album of the year. I could go into detail about how I loved some albums this year, noteably Bibios releases, Black Moth Super Rainbow, The Flaming Lips, Washed Out, etc etc etc. But there's no real point in explaining why I like them much, they're solid albums in my eyes, and they were played the most from me this year.
THE MOST UNDERLOOKED ALBUM OF 2009:
Lunar Testing Lab -
Seashore Blvd
Undoubtedly the most underlooed EP of the year. I don't really consider this an EP, because it flows like an album and is one of the most cohesive electronic albums I've listened to in a long, long time. I find that a lot of electronic albums go off track a little bit, and Lunar Testing Lab seems like he had a mission for this album. Hats off to him.
There is a free download to "Seashore Blvd"
here.
MUSIC THAT I FOUND THIS YEAR, THAT DIDN'T COME OUT THIS YEAR, THAT KICKS ASS ANYWAY AND I LOVE IT.
Urinals -
Negative Capability...Check It Out!
This album is 30 tracks of the best punk that I have ever heard in my life. Also, check out 100 Flowers. I swear, they're the most punk band alive. That's all I can really say about this record.
FAVORITE SHOW OF THE YEAR
Broadcast w/ Atlas Sound - 30 minutes of improv from Broadcast, who gives a fuck about Atlas Sound. Broadcast is the greatest.
on a side note: I bought 24 records this year.
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FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE DECADE
Liars -
Drum's Not Dead
When I got into Liars, I was at a pretty confusing time in their career. I had became obsessed with the first two albums, and I was also about 15 years old when Drum's came out. I went to see them live, and they didn't play any of the post-punk goodness that I loved. I was confused. After I saw them, I listened to Drum's Not Dead a couple of times, here and there, and then one day I was on the road listening to it and it suddendly clicked. Everything about the album made sense. The tribal feeling of the album and also the focus on drums makes it a great concept album. There's not quite an album like Drum's.
Black Moth Super Rainbow -
Dandelion Gum
I had first heard "Sun Lips" on MTVs Subterranean. Just when I had lost hope of the television show, I heard Sun Lips. The single was stuck in my head for days. I was struggling to find out who wrote the song. I finally found the video up on pitchfork. Ever since then, I have been hooked. Dandelion Gum might have an isolated feeling to it, however, the usage of analog synthesizers and the psychedelic aspects of the album make it such a complex album. There's just something about this album that holds such a sentiment to me, I hadn't felt so passionate about music at the time of hearing the album, and it made me fall in love with music all over again. I really do love Black Moth Super Rainbow, listening to their catalog, I feel like I have evolved with them.
Boards of Canada -
Geogaddi
Oh, Boards of Canada. What would we do without you? WIthout Boards of Canada, I don't think I would really give a fuck about electronic music. I first became aware of Boards of Canada in 2004, but I didn't really understand the appeal, but I must admit, that a psychedelic breakthrough came to me. I had a complete understanding of "Geogaddi" (at least my interpretation) during a time where I was using psychedelics. I feel like an excellent album must have an eerie aspect to it, and I think it's understood that Geogaddi is their most eerie album.
Panda Bear -
Person Pitch
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, and once again, yeah. Fuck you if you don't appreciate this album. It's a great album. The fact that two Roland samplers made this album automatically means it kicks the ass of every band that uses more than one instrument. You know you love the harmonics, you know you love the melting pot of influences, but you hate the fact that this is going to be a classic.
Interpol -
Turn on the Bright Lights
Turn on the Bright Lights helped me listen to more post-punk. This is a great introduction album, not to mention it was refreshing for the time. It truly is a beautiful album from start to finish. I don't think I've ever really played this album without skipping a track. The lyrics are sexual and I guess you could say, arousing. It's just a great album for the theme of "love". This album helped me grow a lot, that's why I love it so much.
Broadcast -
Haha Sound
HaHa Sound is a great album, inspired by 1960s underground psychedelia and pop music. Trish Keenans voice is surely the voice of an angel. She is also a great musician. This album flows so wonderfully, it gives me warm feelings. There's nothing greater than listening to HaHa Sound while relaxing and being alone. I have grown up with this album, it has been a part of me since I was in highschool. Also, Broadcast are so successful for being one of the first bands that were different than the rest of the Warp crowd, but I feel that they fit perfectly. When I first heard HaHa Sound, it was exactly what I needed and wanted to hear.
In conclusion, the 2000s were great.
Boards of Canada
