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defrogWrapping up our coverage of Team Def’s favorite music of 2009. Albums 11 through 20 are here. The bonus categories are here.
Let's do this.
TOP 20 DEF LPs/EPs/DOWNLOADS OF 2009 (#1-10)
1. The Raveonettes, In And Out Of Control (Vice)
2. Rodrigo y Gabriela, 11:11 (ATO Records)
3. Dengue Fever, Venus On Earth (Real World)
4. Neko Case, Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz! (Dress Up/Geffen)
6. Tinariwen, Imidiwan: Companions (Independiente)
7. Sonic Youth, The Eternal (Matador)
8. Peaches, I Feel Cream (XL)
9. Gossip, Music For Men (Columbia)
10. The Thermals, Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars)
TOP 20 DEF LPs/EPs/DOWNLOADS OF 2009 (#1-10 EXTENDED PLAY)
1. The Raveonettes
In And Out Of Control (Vice) The Raveonettes haven’t really changed their MO much since their debut EP – dark 60s pop via Jesus & Mary Chain, Phil Spector and Joe Meek – but this is probably the best version of it they’ve done since Chain Gang Of Love. Plenty of reverb-drenched pop candy for the brokenhearted – who else could come up with love songs for drug addicts and rape victims and make it sound beautiful?
2. Rodrigo y Gabriela
11:11 (ATO Records) I don’t claim to be a flamenco expert, and I’ll admit that Rodrigo y Gabriela’s thrash-metal influences are probably a factor in their cross-genre appeal, but this – their first album of original songs (each a tribute to their favorite guitarists) – is jaw-droppingly brilliant.
3. Dengue Fever
Venus On Earth (Real World) The Cambodian psychedelic rock comeback begins here. No, really. Actually, Dengue Fever are mostly from LA, but the singer is Cambodian, and they capture the spirit of the lost Cambodian rock songs of the 60s before the Khmer Rouge literally killed it. This is their second album, and technically it came out in 2008, but it only made it here in early 2009, and it’s been charming my iPod all year.
4. Neko Case
Middle Cyclone (Anti-) Neko Case continues to be one of the most underrated singer-songwriters in America, and spends much of her latest album musing on Man vs Nature in her trademark style that veers between jangly and haunting. Absolutely gorgeous music.
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It's Blitz! (Dress Up/Geffen) I’ve always liked the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but it did seem like they were starting to tread water by 2007’s Is Is EP. So they went for synth-pop on their third LP, and improbably, it works a treat, thanks to Karen O’s enthusiastic-as-ever vocals and Nick Zinner’s ability to do with synths whatever the hell it is he does with guitars.
6. Tinariwen
Imidiwan: Companions (Independiente) Tinariwen get as much attention for their CV as their music – Touareg nomad freedom fighters from the Sahara desert playing rock’n’roll songs of rebellion since the 1980s. The real story isn’t quite that exciting, but the music is compelling, with 70s Santana being the more obvious influence, but not to the point of dominating their local flavor. This is their fourth LP, incidentally.
7. Sonic Youth
The Eternal (Matador) Album #20 and their first after leaving Geffen, SY bring on another new member (Mark Ibold of Pavement) and continue their refocus on a more mainstream version of their dissonant and unique guitar sound. If you liked their last couple of albums, you won’t be disappointed by this.
8. Peaches
I Feel Cream (XL) Peaches, for my money, is everything Lady Gaga aspires to be and more. And only one of them has the nerve to release an album called Fatherfucker. This is her fourth LP, and it’s actually a little more restrained on the sex content compared to her previous work, but it still delivers – and proves that Peaches is more daring and provocative than these platinum-selling divas passing off mainstream porn fantasies as “shocking”.
9. Gossip
Music For Men (Columbia) Fourth album and major-label debut, in which Rick Rubin polishes up their soul-drenched punk-funk sound. It may be too polished for some, but the Rubin touch also gave Gossip a chance to explore their sound a little more, and hone their songwriting chops. And then there’s Beth Ditto, whose voice still dominates with confidence and sass.
10. The Thermals
Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars) Another “fourth album”, as The Thermals move from Sub Pop to Kill Rock Stars. You really can’t beat The Thermals for sheer enthusiasm and passion, thanks in no small part to Hutch Harris’ vocal style. And while previous album The Body, The Blood, The Machine – which skewered the Religious Right’s vision of America – was always going to be hard to top, Now We Can See ("songs from when we were alive", as Harris puts it) is a pretty good attempt.
That’s it for 2009. The annual and 100% illegal podcast of this year’s winners is coming soon to an Internet near you.
When we were alive,
This is dF
Let's do this.
TOP 20 DEF LPs/EPs/DOWNLOADS OF 2009 (#1-10)
1. The Raveonettes, In And Out Of Control (Vice)
2. Rodrigo y Gabriela, 11:11 (ATO Records)
3. Dengue Fever, Venus On Earth (Real World)
4. Neko Case, Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz! (Dress Up/Geffen)
6. Tinariwen, Imidiwan: Companions (Independiente)
7. Sonic Youth, The Eternal (Matador)
8. Peaches, I Feel Cream (XL)
9. Gossip, Music For Men (Columbia)
10. The Thermals, Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars)
TOP 20 DEF LPs/EPs/DOWNLOADS OF 2009 (#1-10 EXTENDED PLAY)
1. The Raveonettes
In And Out Of Control (Vice) The Raveonettes haven’t really changed their MO much since their debut EP – dark 60s pop via Jesus & Mary Chain, Phil Spector and Joe Meek – but this is probably the best version of it they’ve done since Chain Gang Of Love. Plenty of reverb-drenched pop candy for the brokenhearted – who else could come up with love songs for drug addicts and rape victims and make it sound beautiful?
2. Rodrigo y Gabriela
11:11 (ATO Records) I don’t claim to be a flamenco expert, and I’ll admit that Rodrigo y Gabriela’s thrash-metal influences are probably a factor in their cross-genre appeal, but this – their first album of original songs (each a tribute to their favorite guitarists) – is jaw-droppingly brilliant.
3. Dengue Fever
Venus On Earth (Real World) The Cambodian psychedelic rock comeback begins here. No, really. Actually, Dengue Fever are mostly from LA, but the singer is Cambodian, and they capture the spirit of the lost Cambodian rock songs of the 60s before the Khmer Rouge literally killed it. This is their second album, and technically it came out in 2008, but it only made it here in early 2009, and it’s been charming my iPod all year.
4. Neko Case
Middle Cyclone (Anti-) Neko Case continues to be one of the most underrated singer-songwriters in America, and spends much of her latest album musing on Man vs Nature in her trademark style that veers between jangly and haunting. Absolutely gorgeous music.
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It's Blitz! (Dress Up/Geffen) I’ve always liked the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but it did seem like they were starting to tread water by 2007’s Is Is EP. So they went for synth-pop on their third LP, and improbably, it works a treat, thanks to Karen O’s enthusiastic-as-ever vocals and Nick Zinner’s ability to do with synths whatever the hell it is he does with guitars.
6. Tinariwen
Imidiwan: Companions (Independiente) Tinariwen get as much attention for their CV as their music – Touareg nomad freedom fighters from the Sahara desert playing rock’n’roll songs of rebellion since the 1980s. The real story isn’t quite that exciting, but the music is compelling, with 70s Santana being the more obvious influence, but not to the point of dominating their local flavor. This is their fourth LP, incidentally.
7. Sonic Youth
The Eternal (Matador) Album #20 and their first after leaving Geffen, SY bring on another new member (Mark Ibold of Pavement) and continue their refocus on a more mainstream version of their dissonant and unique guitar sound. If you liked their last couple of albums, you won’t be disappointed by this.
8. Peaches
I Feel Cream (XL) Peaches, for my money, is everything Lady Gaga aspires to be and more. And only one of them has the nerve to release an album called Fatherfucker. This is her fourth LP, and it’s actually a little more restrained on the sex content compared to her previous work, but it still delivers – and proves that Peaches is more daring and provocative than these platinum-selling divas passing off mainstream porn fantasies as “shocking”.
9. Gossip
Music For Men (Columbia) Fourth album and major-label debut, in which Rick Rubin polishes up their soul-drenched punk-funk sound. It may be too polished for some, but the Rubin touch also gave Gossip a chance to explore their sound a little more, and hone their songwriting chops. And then there’s Beth Ditto, whose voice still dominates with confidence and sass.
10. The Thermals
Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars) Another “fourth album”, as The Thermals move from Sub Pop to Kill Rock Stars. You really can’t beat The Thermals for sheer enthusiasm and passion, thanks in no small part to Hutch Harris’ vocal style. And while previous album The Body, The Blood, The Machine – which skewered the Religious Right’s vision of America – was always going to be hard to top, Now We Can See ("songs from when we were alive", as Harris puts it) is a pretty good attempt.
That’s it for 2009. The annual and 100% illegal podcast of this year’s winners is coming soon to an Internet near you.
When we were alive,
This is dF
