Journal

I tweaked this, combining the output from both the artist and albums versions so each would have a picture associated with it. Some of the data this comes up with can be slight off if you are currently scrobbling. It is also different than other tools which use the same API calls which has me wondering why that would be.

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This post will deal only with the 2nd Quarter of 2009, aka, the months of April, May, and June.
The following are the chart data as recorded by Last.fm (skip past them for my thoughts).
*asterisk denotes a 2009 release, the trailing number is number of plays

3 month artists
1. Beangrowers 240
*2. Bat for Lashes 217
*3. Metric 204
*4. The Decemberists 191
5. Johann Sebastian Bach 176
*6. Camera Obscura 161
*7. Polly Scattergood 139
8. Enya 123
9. Patsy Cline 121
10. Yann Tiersen 118

3 month albums
*1. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love 127
*2. Metric - Fantasies 109
*3. Bat for Lashes - Two Suns 100
*4. Polly Scattergood - Polly Scattergood 93
5. Billie Holiday - Lady Day: The Master Takes And Singles 83
6. Weeping Tile - Cold Snap 79
7. Beangrowers - Not In A Million Lovers 74
*8. Guitares Cinématiques - Penguins On Mars 73
*9. The Rest - Everyone All At Once 70
*10. Company of Thieves - Ordinary Riches 66

3 month tracks
*1. Metric - Blindness 15
*2. Polly Scattergood - I Hate the Way 14
*3. The Pauses - Go North 13
*4. The Rest - Walk On Water (Auspicious Beginnings) 13
*5. Metric - Help I'm Alive 13
*6. The Rayographs - Gold Light 12
7. Rilo Kiley - Pictures of Success 12
*8. The Pauses - The Migration 12
*9. Polly Scattergood - Nitrogen Pink 12
10. Blue October - Congratulations (feat. Imogen Heap) 12
*11. Metric - Collect Call 11
*12. Metric - Gimme Sympathy 11
*13. The BPA - Seattle (with Emmy The Great) 11
*14. Munchausen By Proxy - Sweet Ballad 11
*15. Metric - Sick Muse 11
*16. Butterfly Boucher - Gun for a Tongue 11
*17. Polly Scattergood - Bunny Club 11
18. Jane Siberry - It Can't Rain All the Time 11
*19. Bat for Lashes - Glass 10
*20. Metric - Twilight Galaxy 10
*21. Polly Scattergood - I Am Strong 10
*22. Metric - Front Row 10
*23. Metric - Gold Guns Girls 10
*24. Röyksopp - Were You Ever Wanted (feat. Lykke Li) 10
*25. Polly Scattergood - Other Too Endless 10
26. Counting Crows - Anna Begins 10
27. The Triffids - Stolen Property 10
*28. Patrick Watson - Big bird in a small cage 10
*29. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career 10

Thoughts:
- The first thing that pops out is Beangrowers. They had a 2008 release, Not In A Million Lovers, which is still getting spins enough to show in the top ten (staying power) and they are top artist overall on the strength of my now having their complete library in freshly ripped from CD FLAC.
- The new albums from The Decemberists, Metric, Bat for Lashes, and Polly Scattergood are bunched pretty tightly at the top in all charts and obviously my favs of the quarter.
- Of those four, only Bat for Lashes' Two Suns was in the Q1 lists (staying power).
- Camera Obscura is getting plays and showing in the artist list, but their new one is not getting enough to chart, but for one track.
- The Rest's Everyone All At Once is still getting steady plays, enough to show in both quarters.
- Guitares Cinématiques' Penguins On Mars is the only (somewhat) instrumental album in the above sampling. It does have vocals on a few tracks and some spoken word.
- The Pauses really need to release some more and more official material. Ditto for The Rayographs.
- No EPs are dominated this quarter, against my norm.
- Seems I still really dig female vocals about 2:1

Special Mentions:
- 志方あきこ (Akiko Shikata) - Harmonia
I don't understand a word, but that doesn't matter. Besides the fact she melds 3 or more languages, Akiko uses her voice as an instrument as much as anything. Neo-Classical, Medieval, New Age, World, Alternative, JPop, Art Rock. Label it how you will; it makes my soul smile.

- Alamaailman Vasarat - Huuro Kolkko
The instrumental version of "I don't know what these titles mean, but it doesn't matter". This has more of an edge and at the same is less intrusive (meaning you can listen to this with full attention or as background tunage).

- All India Radio - A Low High
The best straight instrumental release out for the year thus far, just edging out Chris Joss below, and like many of these mentions, could end up in the final list quite easily. Mellow, soothing, a nice trip.

- Chris Joss - Sticks
Chris Joss seems to write soundtracks to early 70s movies that never existed. And I hope he continues to. Recorded during the sessions that produced last year's teraphonic overdubs, this is another solid release with not one weak track. Play that funky music, French boy.

- Gokul Salvadi
More world fusion. More excellent tunage, but released all separately as mostly single track singles, so more difficult to track. (Note: I had previously written he didn't like the term world fusion. I was mistaken and apologize for that, Gokul)

dotSpice/Alchemic Journey/eXSpace
All projects of Juan and Woodoo Prod again instrumental work, again a fusion of styles, again just wonderful stuff.

That is the last three months. The year so far post, aka, the Q1+Q2, 1 Jan through 30 June, half year best of, post is yet to follow (some time this week, hopefully).

Grooveshark has its pros and cons but looks as if it may be a good way of freely and safely sharing a "mixtape" these days.

I'm testing this theory on my MWM's 2009 Sampler mix.

Though I uploaded them hours ago, the tunes are taking forever to show up in the library so I can add to the bloody playlist. I will check back tomorrow to fill it out. Pros and cons...

*edit* Playlist is good to go. Test it, please :)
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/playlist/MWM_s_2009_Sampler/8748448

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Once, it would have been:

1. We Have The Facts And We're Voting Yes
   
2. Plans
   
3. The Photo Album
   
4. Transatlanticism
   

But with repeat listens, and last years new addition, I find it has changed considerably:

1. Plans
   
2. Narrow Stairs
   
3. Transatlanticism
   
4. We Have The Facts And We're Voting Yes
   
5. The Photo Album
   

Thought I'd share.
♫

As I wrote on Friendfeed:

It's Midnight EST, It has now been one year since I joined Last.fm - the stats:
62515 plays since 8 Apr 2008 | 8,083 Loved Tracks | 71 Posts | 5 Playlists | 195 shouts | 4,012 Artists in total | 187 Friends | 33 Groups (one leader of) | 22 Journal entries | 71 Tags | 1480 unique IP visits to profile (from 68 different countries) | And 365 days of enjoyment...

♫

As March closes, I thought I would summarize what Last.fm and myself have to say about the first quarter of 2009.

For Last.fm historical charts, I highly recommend the aptly recommended "Historical Last.fm Charts"

Last.fm Charts (Top 500) from 01 Jan 2008 to 01 April 2009

Artists:
Top 10 Quick Glance:
Johann Sebastian Bach (171)
Bat for Lashes (166)
The Beatles (163)
INXS (141)
Peggy Lee (122)
The Cranberries (113)
Rilo Kiley (108)
Ghost Ghost (102)
Brokenkites (99)
Beangrowers (98)

Albums:
Top 10 Quick Glance:
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns (75)
Ghost Ghost - Time is Gravity (61)
Ninth Street Mission - Ninth Street Mission (60)
The Beatles - Live at the BBC (57)
Beangrowers - Not In A Million Lovers (53)
The Beatles - Anthology 3 (50)
Melanie Horsnell - The Adventures of.. (48)
The Parlotones - A World Next Door To Yours (47)
Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew (45)
Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke (44)

Tracks:
Top 10 Quick Glance:
Ninth Street Mission – A Little Bit of Soul (25)
Ghost Ghost – Forest Fires (23)
Bat for Lashes – Glass (17)
The BPA – Seattle (with Emmy The Great) (16)
Ghost Ghost – Old Leaves (16)
Ghost Ghost – Time is Gravity (16)
Ghost Ghost – Unreal City (15)
Ghost Ghost – St. Valentine's Day Massacre (15)
Ghost Ghost – Cadmium Red (14)
Melanie Horsnell – I Just Want Some Love (12)
Bat for Lashes – Travelling Woman (12)

* The Brighton Port Authority - Seattle (with Emmy The Great) has 8 plays, same band, name on the single, original name before he shortened it for the album. That gives the track (24) plays in total.

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My top Artist discoveries of the year (in no particular order):
Ghost Ghost: This 3 piece blows me away with smart lyrics, understated delievery of them, and superb musicianship. The percussion is killer. Official website and full streaming on Last.fm or here
Elle Macho: A side project of Butterfly Boucher, it's some brilliant post punk rock.
Polly Scattergood: You should be hearing much this British girl. Unique, I call her stuff Art Rock as it fits with the likes of Kate Bush and Milla.
Big Game Hunter: The latest band fronted by my favourite unknown Aussie, Cassie Melita Swinney aka Cassie Cottonsocks. This time, it's got a classic 70s and 80s rock vibe to it. Streamed on MySpace
Asobi Seksu: I had heard of this Japanese/American dream pop trio but never got into their music until Hush released this year. It's dreamy.
Munchausen By Proxy: Zooey! er, a band featuring Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva, it's an electropop delight, seen on the Yes Man soundtrack.

My favourite 2009 release albums (in no particular order):
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns: Though it is not yet officially released, it is officially fully streamable here on Last.fm and it is stellar.
Ghost Ghost - Time is Gravity: In keeping with my history, an EP gets some of the most plays and love. Great stuff.
Polly Scattergood - Polly Scattergood: Just released and already blowing me away.
Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew: The mostly uncredited half of Damien Rice (she was his female counterpart for years). Finally, getting her own props.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!: Karen O and company give us a mix: a few in the old style, a few in a something new and few which meshes them.

My favourite 2009 release tracks (in no particular order):
The BPA – Seattle (with Emmy The Great): My favourite track of the year thus far. Emmy the Great + Fatboy Slim = perfection
Snow Patrol – Crack The Shutters: Almost a return to the power ballad in structure. A great tune.
Bat for Lashes – Glass: The first track I heard from Two Suns and it remains my favourite thus far. Though, there are so many...
Lykke Li – Tonight (Video Version): Stripped down and completely captivating. Enjoy the video and get the free mp3 of the original mix here (click Secret Chapter tab)
Maria Taylor - Time Lapse Lifeline: Fun pop that is sweet but not sugary so.
Elle Macho - Bombs: check this recorded live from Lake Fever Sessions


Other stuff:
Melanie Horsnell - I Just Want Some Love: A tune I simply adore and want everyone to enjoy.
A Camp - Colonia: I was so anxious for this record and it seems somewhat flat :( A few great tracks, but nothing like the cover to cover classic the original self-titled A Camp was.
The Rest and Angus & Julia Stone: two very different acts, the first from Canada and leaning to the psychodelic side of alternative rock, the second from Oz and something alt-country meets folk-pop that is simply pretty and nice to hear. Both are different from normal and highly recommended.

mafaldaQ brought up a good question: Any idea how can I listen to the group radio without having to be at the Last.fm site?And so I was prompted to post this guide.

If you have installed the Last.fm desktop application (scrobbler), that is also a direct player. Your browser should recognize lastfm:// addresses with install of the app. I do not know how subscriber status, more specifically non-subscribers, or country of origin affects the abilities laid out here.

Easy access to many stations should be available at:
http://www.last.fm/listen

And some are handy shortcuts can be found in the app itself. In the main menu, click View > My Profile and a new world opens. Expand the +plus marks, right click each item for addition goodies.

Manually, type in your web browser address bar. A Group radio example would be:
lastfm://group/Friendfeeders

That should make the Last.fm application tune into the group radio. You can substitute Friendfeeders with any group name, as it appears normally, with capitalization and spaces.

You can also do user stations:
Library: lastfm://user/<username>/personal
Recommendations: lastfm://user/<username>/recommended
Loved Songs: lastfm://user/<username>/loved
Neighbourhood: lastfm://user/<username>/neighbours
Default Playlist: lastfm://user/<username>/playlist

Where <username> is replaced to look like:
lastfm://user/Joffi222/personal

Playlists are tricky; if you just do as above, whatever the first playlist is in the flashplayer will start and shuffle automatically. To play other playlists, go to the playlist page and insert the number in the url there. Example:
1. http://www.last.fm/user/Joffi222/library/playlists
2. click on the playlist wanted, say 2009 Addictions, brings you to
3. http://www.last.fm/user/Joffi222/library/playlists/2fjnv_2009_addictions
4. the "Play this Playlist" link reveals the number used to identify it
5. http://www.last.fm/listen/playlist/4084555/shuffle becomes
6. lastfm://playlist/4084555/shuffle

Usertags are those you or another user has tagged:
lastfm://usertags/<username>/<tagname>
example:
lastfm://usertags/Joffi222/great covers

You can do multiple tags in one shuffle with:
lastfm://usertags/<username>/<tagname>, <tagname>
example:
lastfm://usertags/Joffi222/great covers, favourite albums

Global tags are similar:
lastfm://globaltags/<tagname>
example:
lastfm://globaltags/electronica

♫

As the great misterjt says here (and as seen on his Friendfeed), this will be a continuously updated post to chronicle all tracks and albums from mid-Dec 2008 to mid-Dec 2009 that may have Best Of Year list potential. If I can remember to do it.

Albums

EPs
- Ghost Ghost - Time is Gravity
Rock (garage rock, indie rock, post-american, nyc)

Tracks
See 2009 Addictions Playlist for running tally.

Last updated: 08/Jan/2009
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