EN-D's December post was a pretty stellar round-up of the year in music, but he's only human and was bound to miss a few. Here are a few more gems that could have made it on the best of 09' list.
The Deal: A tattooed woman from LA plays hummable, fuzzed-out pop. Reminds EN-D of: the girl who could have gone to grad school but became an organic farmer instead. RIYL: My Bloody Valentine, Beach House, the Beach Boys
Eux Artres- Queen Turner
The Deal: Brother and sister make charming pop fit for picking through the clothes at a thrift store. Reminds EN-D of: The harmless bums that shuffle around downtown Lawrence, KS. RIYL: Saturday Looks Good to Me, Slumber Party, Aisler Set
Magic Arm- Widths and Heights
The Deal: Bouncy pop furnished with handclaps and 80's synths Reminds EN-D of: long rides in small cars with good friends RIYL: MGMT, The Talking Heads, the Beta Band
The Mumlers- The Coffin Factory
The Deal: Some dudes from San Jose making music that sounds vehemently opposed to the cleanliness and efficiency of Silicon Valley. Reminds EN-D of: watching people catch catfish with their hands. RIYL: the Band, the Bees, Van Morrison
The Deal: Stripped-down rock for dudes who wear their hearts on the sleeve. Oh, the pathos and melancholy of young hipsters on the make. RIYL: Jonathon Richman and the Modern Lovers, the Black Lips, Reminds EN-D of: Staying up late with friends, driving to work, riding the subway to work.
Yo La Tengo- Popular Songs
The Deal: Another gem from New Jersey's most rocking Jews, who also make it onto the mix as their ragged and saucy alter-ego, Condo Fucks. RIYL: Steely Dan, Smokey Robinson, Sonic Youth Reminds EN-D of: when he saw them play in Seoul. Highly enjoyable despite the atrocious sound.
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart- S/T The Deal: Fuzzy pop songs EN-D tried hard not to like. It was hard, though, and so he gave in. It's like The Cure without all the stuff that makes them seem dated (whiny voice and bloated snyths). PBPH still use synths, but they're a bit leaner, more humble and reserved. RIYL: Jesus and Mary Chain, the Cure, the Ramones Reminds EN-D of: being a teenager, writing poetry in notebooks, hating the suburbs
Naomi Shelton & Gospel Queens- What Have You Done, My Brother?
The Deal: EN-D's not the church-going type but these Mrs. Shelton's the real deal.The Gospel Queens are quite oafish but they certainly bring it, along with the band, who play skin-tight country blues that occasionally favors Basement Tapes-era Bob Dylan. RIYL: Sharon Jones, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, The Band Reminds EN-D of: White people watching sitcoms about black families.
Desolation Wilderness- New Universe
The Deal: Sunny, woozy pop, possibly from the bottom of the ocean. RIYL: Galaxy 500, Luna, Sea and Cake Makes EN-D Feel Like: Lying in a park/beach/hammock, reading something whimsical.
The Rest of the Best
Anchors Dropped Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band S/T While You Wait for the Others Grizzly Bear Veckatimest Lost At Sea The Fiery Furnaces I'm Going Away “Further Complications." Jarvis Cocker Further Complications Nothing But Change Part II Harlem Shakes Technicolor Health (Exclusive Bonus Version) Worm Mountain The Flaming Lips Embryonic Howard Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele The Good Feeling Music of... Snookered Dan Deacon Bromst Black Cloud Christmas Island Blackout Summer Hi-Fi Goon Throw Me The Statue Creaturesque Plain Material Memory Tapes Seek Magic We Are The Men You'll Grow To Love Soon Let's Wrestle In The Court Of The Wrestling Let's Breathing Lake Let's Build a Roof The Whip & The World The Kingsbury Manx Ascenseur Ouvert! Darker Side Of Night Jimi Tenor / Tony Allen Inspiration Information 4 Gallop Jeremy Jay Slow Dance Up From Below Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros S/T Black Wax Dananananaykroyd Hey Everyone Gudbuy T’Jane Condo Fucks Fuckbook Dreams Come True Girl Cass McCombs Catacombs Stay Box Elders Alice and Friends Trading Things In The Voluntary Butler Scheme Trading Things In Peanut Butter Oven Thee Oh Sees HELP Fixed It! Thao with The Get Down Stay Down Know Better Learn Faster Portofino Teengirl Fantasy Portofino / New Image Every Day Weird Machines Small Black Small Black EP Allison and the Ancient Eyes The Shaky Hands Let It Die Introducing Palace Players Mew No More Stories (EP) Do The Chop The King Khan & BBQ Show Invisible Girl A Thousand Diamond Rings The Handsome Family Honey Moon Lust For Life Girls Lust For Life My Unusual Friend Fruit Bats The Ruminant Band Over It Dinosaur Jr. Farm Logos Atlas Sound Logos Psychic City (Voodoo City) YACHT See Mystery Lights Que Viva Elrocanrol Spider Bags Goodbye Cruel World, Hello Crueler World Quicksand Lotus Plaza The Floodlight Collective Black Sand The Curious Mystery Rotting Slowly Lately (I've Been On My Back) BOAT Setting The Paces Be An Encore Ape School S/T Girl In Love Smith Westerns S/T Before I Was Caught Jay Reatard Watch Me Fall Can't See Anything Changing The Curtains Common Rocker Terminally Chill Neon Indian Psychic Chasms Slap Dash For No Cash Art Brut Art Brut vs. Satan
The Deal: Six sensitive kids make music your parents would make love to. Listen to this with someone special. Makes EN-D remember: Pictures of mom and dad with feathered hair. RIYL: The No Kids, Yo La Tengo, Fleetwood Mac
The Curtains- Bob and Jenny Scott
The Deal: Bald British guys who dress like teachers. Makes EN-D remember: being assaulted by football hooligans RIYL: The Who, The Stooges, Guided By Voices
Junk Culture- West Coast
The Deal: Some East-Indian dude in Mississippi who churns out ridiculously catchy, yet obtuse jams with incredible cover art to match. Makes EN-D remember:the time he went to a dance club and felt awkward. RIYL: Blockhead, Girl Talk, "electronica" or "disco" music
Spider Bags- Hey Delinquents
The Deal: Guys from Chapel Hill who never heard about Alt-Country going the way of pagers and AOL. But alas, EN-D is a known Alt-Country holdout himself and can't deny the ragged glory Spider Bags let loose. Makes EN-D remember: when he decided he didn't like trucker hats. RIYL: Uncle Tupelo, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young Spider Bags (7), 3/10/07 The Cave
Just in case you were wondering--- Fabulous Pleasure took a little break during October. Cut EN-D some slack. He took part in a group art show out in Incheon. And you mine as well see some photos of it here.
The Deal: Stripped-down rock for dudes who wear their hearts on the sleeve. Oh, the pathos and melancholy of young hipsters on the make. RIYL: Jonathon Richman and the Modern Lovers, the Black Lips, Reminds EN-D of: Staying up late with friends, driving to work, riding the subway to work
Brown Recluse-- Contour and Context
The Deal: a loose and breezy jam for the semi-articulate. RIYL: Belle and Sebastian, the Long Winters, Beulah Reminds EN-D of: summer nights with lightning bugs and no misquitos Margo, Left in Bed - live on Phoning It In
The Deal: Monotone, primitive rock that geriatrics could probably play without much help. And yet it's pleasing, a worthy contribution to the rock n' roll canon. RIYL: Pavement, the Stooges, Iggy Pop Reminds EN-D of: the cool but stupid guys in high school
City CenterThe Deal: The dude from Saturday Looks Good To Me makes an oddball record with shimmering keyboards and lots and lots of reverb. It's dense like SLGTM, but in a strange, dark way. Maybe he switched drugs or something? RIYL: AU, Animal Collective, Reminds EN-D of: underwater photograpy
The Deal: Some too-cool-for-school blues rock played by guys from Austin who might or might not have worked at the local American Apparel/Urban Outfitters etc., etc. EN-D knows it sounds vapid and asinine but there's no use in avoiding it because your friends will probably turn you onto it anyway. RIYL: The Black Lips, King Khan, Rolling Stones Makes EN-D Feel Like: Smoking Black n' Mild's and watching people play cards (EN-D doesn't enjoy card games... too many rules to keep straight).
Panther - Puerto Rican Jukebox
The Deal: This is actually an '08 cut but it's my favorite off Kill Rock Stars' new '09 sampler. Anyway, it's two dudes making postmodern funk for artfags. Loops are created, hypnotic bass lines are sprinkled about. You can imagine the strutting that ensues. RIYL: Talking Heads, !!!, Liars Makes EN-D Feel Like: Doing pelvic thrusts.
Desolation Wilderness - Boardwalk Theme
The Deal: Sunny, woozy pop, possibly from the bottom of the ocean. RIYL: Galaxy 500, Luna, Sea and Cake Makes EN-D Feel Like: Lying in a park/beach/hammock, reading something whimsical.
Sam Billen - Returning
The Deal: Heartfelt, intricate, and dainty pop straight from EN-D's old stomping grounds, Lawrence, KS. RIYL: Postal Service, Makes EN-D Feel Like: Making origami, being gentle, playing with feathers.
Magic Arm- Widths and Heights
Posts
