2009’s Best Music (So Far)
Written on July 10, 2009
Future of the Left, Travels With Myself And Another
There was a huge void in angry noise punk when Mclusky disbanded a few years back. But singer/guitarist Andy Falkous’ darkly humorous tales have found a new home. All you need to know: There’s a song called “You Need Satan More Than He Needs You.”
J Dilla, Jay Stay Paid
Nothing new, just the same old jaw-dropping array of samples and mindblowing beats dropped at a rate of roughly three-per-two-minute song. Guest lyricists are fire from top to bottom and bring ferocity to offset the lazy funk.
Sonic Youth, The Eternal
Hooky distorted noise and timely lyrics make this one of the best SY albums in quite a while. Melodic fast and loud add up to a return to hard rocking roots.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz!
I’ve listened this album into the ground and I still love it. The updated Pat Benetar sound is a throwback that feels fresh, from the anthemic “Zero” to the dancehall throwdown “Heads Will Roll” to the energizing “Dull Life.” New touches are revealed on each listen.
Mastodon, Crack The Skye
Few words strike doubt into a metal fan’s heart more than “Produced By Brendan O’Brien.” But in reality, he tempers the Atlanta quartet’s rambling tendencies. Only the massive Remission compares in terms of quality of hooks, production, and replay value.
Mos Def, The Ecstatic
Most focused album in years for the Brooklyn MC. Globalized beats and an opening call-to-arms reveal the album tone. Recent clips of Mos quoting MF Doom lyrics reveal the inspiration behind the one-verse-and-done laser focus on this album.
Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion
If it’s possible for an album to ride on the strength of two singles, then Animal Collective have made it happen. The catchiness of “Summertime Clothes” and “My Girls” rivals Swine Flu for infecting eardrums everywhere.
The Clipse, Road To “Till The Casket Drops”
Although some rhymes feel like works-in-progress, the overall feel and quality of beat-jacking on this album-length mixtape rivals any commercial release of 2009. Remains to be seen if the true album can live up to the high-bar set here.
The Decemberists, The Hazards of Love
Proggy Zeppelin-esque and metal flourishes propel a story arc involving shape-shifting beasts, queens and murderous revenge. Although the disc bloats with meandering folk tracks, the ballsy tracks are enough to intrest the adventurous.
Dalek, Gutter Tactics
Following in the footsteps of El-P, Dalek has a deeply abstract flow buried under a crushing level of noise guitar and thick beats. At times the lyrics are almost completely lost and drowned in the mix but it somehow makes sense as a unifying factor.
The Horrors, Primary Colours
The influence of Joy Division is alive and well, passed from Interpol (who were interesting for a minute) to the slightly more raw sound of The Horrors, whose baritone lyrics are given considerable backbone through swirling guitars and good tunes.
