Top 3 Albums of 2009: 
Top 3? You know, when doing these lists, you have to decide which perspective you want to come from. Do I remark on what’s trendy and basically tell you what you already know…that dream-pop, 80s synth, super groups, and flannel-fuzzy folk is “It”? Or rather, do I share my personal Aha! albums with you, the ones that got the most spin on my ipod, the ones that I shared my crusty morning commutes and busted late night subway sojourns with, the ones that are still stuck in my gut? You should be able to tell from my list where I landed.
- Tegan and Sara – Sainthood
- Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – Summer of Fear
- Mew – No More Stories…
Honorable Mentions:
- Gossip – Music For Men
- An Horse – Rearrange Beds
- Jay Z – The Blueprint 3
Best Show of 2009:
- Peaches @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
You have not lived until you’ve seen the Madame of electro-clash, Peaches, “Fuck the Pain Away” with a giant glow stick dildo while simultaneously dangling like a wild arboreal mammal from the rafters in Brooklyn. Nuff said.
- Honorable Mention: PJ Harvey @ SXSW
PJ debuts her album, A Man A Woman Walked By, for a small gathering of oh…about thirty, myself included? Yeah, that pretty much has to be mentioned, again.
Most Anticipated in 2010:
Buzzed about, fussed over, sophomore challenges and an unthinkable reunion, make the list.
- Lissy Trullie – Self-Taught Learner (early 2010): Asymmetrical bob sporting, art school educated, former model, sings and struts a decidedly Downtown, New Wave cool beat.
- Vampire Weekend – Contra (January 12, 2010): Ezra Koenig buys a new pair of boat shoes and hopes they last as long as the first ones.
- Los Campesinos! – Romance Is Boring: Arts & Crafts darlings return on January 26 with more frisky music to crush on. According to singer Gareth Campesinos! the new album is about “shagging and death.” What more could I possibly hope for?
- Fences: Tattooed, foul-mouthed, impossibly indie crooner with Sara Quin at the helm. Expect an early 2010 release.
- Pavement: Reunion tour…time for the wee ones to wiki “prog rock” and take note!
- MGMT: Congratulations is to be released this coming spring and a “secret” Sir Paul McCartney project in the works? Will their follow-up make Neon Indian’s Alan Palomo break a sweat?
Most Overrated in 2009:
- Grizzly Bear-Veckatimist
Hold yourself back now! I know, it was highly anticipated and got top honors from just about everyone from the moment it leaked, and I tried, I really tried to love this album but it just didn’t stick for me. I’m even going against my hero Bob Boilan (NPR/All Songs Considered) when I shut this album down! Sure, it’s intricate and dreamy, with all the lush harmonies, strings, and chilly choirs an indie-lovin’ girl could ask for, but the hype! The hype! It’s good, but not mind-blowing and I’m still not sure about this “glo-fi” movement that they’re pioneering according to some.
Favorite Musical Memory of the Decade:
- Simple. I’m talking about the moment at the very end of Michael Jackson’s last rehearsal for the This Is It tour, at the end of “They Don’t Really Care About Us,” when he drops a little smile and stands still for a peaceful split second. It’s the last image of Jackson we have and he’s smiling. I watched it twenty times in a row on You Tube after hearing the news of his death. Seeing him happy in that moment is both haunting and beautiful.
