say.no.radio

Thank Me Later - Album Review

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:17:00 -0500

“Looking down from the top and it’s crowded below,

My fifteen minutes started an hour ago.”

-“Fireworks”

Hip-Hop has had a tough year. The titans of the industry have all fallen off their perch in different ways. Some have grown soft. After listening to Jay-Z’s Blueprint III, you get the feeling that year 2000 Jay-Z who produced the original Blueprint wouldn’t recognize his own work. With nothing to rap about besides being successful, Jay-Z has turned into rap’s version of U2. Kanye has self - imploded and is soul searching for the originality he summoned on his first three albums. Lil Wayne seems to be satisfied with pumping out nonsense on mixtapes and dropping a guest verse on the next Young Money radio single. TI has had his share of legal problems. Phenoms and top prospects such as Kid Cudi and others can’t live up to the hype of their early singles. Fortunately a new face has emerged and appears to have the broad shoulders to take the industry to a new place.

“Did I just trade free time for camera time?

Will I just blow all this money, Hammer-time?

Yea, I just need some closure, and no turning back for me,

I’m in it till it’s over…..”

-“The Resistance”

Producing the best full length rap album since Tha Carter III, Drake delivers on his promise as rap’s brightest diamond. Building off the viral success of his debut mixtape “So Far Gone”, Drake’s flow and lyrical prowess have only grown stronger in between works. Drake manages to produce a rare feat in rap of producing an album that is both self aware and personal. Drake takes the time to acknowledge his rapid accession into stardom and how fast it could all leave him. His lyrics traverse his struggles of carrying the weight of his success and the effect it is having on his personal relationships. Cocky in one minute (“Over”) and hollow in the next (“Karaoke”), the album struts an incredible range of sound that won’t disappoint fans who have been awaiting his first full length album.

”They always tell me nobody’s working as hard as you

And even though I laugh it off, man, it’s probably true

Cause while most of my closest friends are partying,

I’m just here making all the music that they party to.”

-“Light Up”

While the album boasts a star studded guest list (Lil Wayne, Jay-Z), none can unseat their host on any track. TI makes his best guest appearance since “Swagger Like Us” on “Fancy” and Nicki Minaj does a nice job introducing herself on “Up All Night”. It seems that the title is aimed at his contemporaries for his service to their future career success. For taking rap to a new place, Drake should be thanked right now.

-Kris

New Releases 2010: Update v2!

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:24:00 -0500

by Dan | posted June 7, 2010

Building off an earlier post, below is a freshly updated list of 40 past/future record releases for the spring/summer 2010; complete with my original (ranking of anticipation), and, for those albums that have already dropped, my [personalized rating].

As you’ll notice, all of June is already available in some capacity. And this is why the internet rules. Have fun!

April
4/13 MGMT — Congratulations (10) [5/10]
4/20 Delorean — Subiza (5) [7/10]
4/20 Javelin — No Mas (23) [6.5/10]
4/20 Nas and Damian Marley — Distant Relatives (26) [7/10]
4/21 The Radio Dept — Clinging to a Scheme (12) [8/10]
4/27 Small Black — Small Black (24) [5/10]

May
5/4 Broken Social Scene — Forgiveness Rock Record (T-6) [7.5/10]
5/4 Minus the Bear — Omni (T-6) [7/10]
5/11 The National — High Violet (8) [8/10]
5/18 The Black Keys — Brothers (14) [8.5/10]
5/18 LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening (T-2) [10/10]
5/18 Band of Horses — Infinite Arms (3) [6.5/10]

June
6/1 Jack Johnson — To The Sea (13) [7/10]
6/1 Sleigh Bells — Treats (34) [5/10]
6/7 The Drums — The Drums (16) [9/10]
6/8 Ratatat — LP4 (15) [8/10]
6/8 Tokyo Police Club — Champ (T-2) [8/10]
6/8 Blitzen Trapper — Destroyer of the Void (T-27) [4/10]
6/15 Foals — Total Life Forever (17) [8/10]
6/15 Drake — Thank Me Later (29) [6.5/10]
6/15 Gaslight Anthem — American Slang (21) [6/10]
6/15 We Are Scientists — Barbara (22) [7/10]
6/22 Stars — The Five Ghosts (7) [8/10]
6/29 Delphic — Acolyte (20) [9/10]
6/29 Wolf Parade — Expo 86 (28) [7/10]

July
7/5 Mystery Jets — Serotonin (T-27)
7/6 Big Boi — Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty (25)
7/6 Fol Chen — Part II: The New December (32)
7/6 Thieves Like Us — Again & Again (19) [7/10]
7/13 M.I.A. — /\/\/\Y/\ (T-11)
7/13 School of Seven Bells — Disconnect From Desire (31)
7/13 Panda Bear — Tomboy (36)

August and Beyond
8/1 Miami Horror — Moon Theory (T-11)
8/3 Arcade Fire — The Suburbs (4)
8/10 Cam’ron — The UN: Gunz N’ Butta (33)
8/17 Chromeo — Business Casual (18)
8/24 Ra Ra Riot — The Orchard (9)
8/24 T.I. - King Uncaged (30)
9/14 Interpol — Interpol (1)
10/5 Antony And The Johnsons — Swanlights (35)

Additional 2010 Releases
Summer: Kanye West — Good Ass Job
Summer: Klaxons — Surfing the Void
Summer: Lil Wayne — Rebirth
Summer: Royksopp — Senior
Summer: Cut Copy — Title TBD
Summer: The Walkmen — Title TBD
Fall: OutKast — Title TBD
Fall: The Strokes —Title TBD
Winter: The Shins — Title TBD

I have been on a bit of a concert whirlwind the last couple of...

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:34:00 -0500

Hey Champ at Lasalle Power Company

Vampire Weekend at the Riviera

Miike Snow at Metro

The XX at the Riviera

Hot Chip at the Riviera

I have been on a bit of a concert whirlwind the last couple of months. I thought I would share of few of my favorite picts I snapped. Hope you enjoy!

Spoiler Alert: Lolla 2010 Schedule Hack

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:46:00 -0500

by Dan | posted April 6, 2010

As you know, the long-awaited official Lollapalooza 2010 line-up was released earlier today. What you may not know is that there is was a ~~assumed~~ glitch in Lollapalooza’s website that revealed the performance breakdown by day.

Update: An unofficial Twitter source confirmed that Lolla’s reps have acknowledged the oversight and the snafu has since been rectified.

The assumed schedule, which is listed out below, lines up with current speculation dates as well as the information confirmed about Soundgarden and Arcade Fire closing the festival, and the notion that Lady Gaga will need her own stage and, thus, is a Friday act.

In closing, I would be remiss not to extend a big cheers to the folks at Lollapalooza for their steadfast ability to one-up themselves year over year. August 6 cannot come soon enough!

THE HEADLINERS
Friday: Lady Gaga, The Strokes, Jimmy Cliff, Hot Chip
Saturday: Green Day, Phoenix, Social Distortion, Spoon
Sunday: Soundgarden, Arcade Fire, MGMT, The National

Friday, August 6th
Lady Gaga
The Strokes
Jimmy Cliff
Hot Chip
The Black Keys
Devo
The New Pornographers
Chromeo
Dirty Projectors
Mavis Staples
Matt & Kim
Drive-By Truckers
Jamie Lidell
Fuck Buttons
Raphael Saadiq
The Walkmen
Los Amigos Invisbles
The Big Pink
Cymaballs Eat Guitars
B.o.B
Balkan Beat Box
Wavves
American Bang
The Constellations
Javelin
Foxy Shazam
Semi Precious Weapons
My Dear Disco
The Ettes
Jukebox The Ghost
These United States

2ManyDJs
Tiga
Erol Alkan
Caspa
Peanut Butter Wolf
Cut Copy (DJ set)
Ana Sia
FreeSol
BBU

Saturday, August 7th
Green Day
Phoenix
Social Distortion
Spoon
Cut Copy
Erykah Badu
Slightly Stoopid
Grizzly Bear
Gogol Bordello
Metric
AFI
The xx
Blues Traveler
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Deer Tick
Stars
Wild Beasts
Rogue Wave
Dawes
Warpaint
The Soft Pack
Rebelution
Harlem
Mimicking Birds
The Kissaway Trail
The Morning Benders
Royal Bangs
Dan Black
Dragonette
Skybox
MyNameIsJohnMichael

Empire of the Sun
Perry Farrell
Rusko
Kaskade
Wolfgang Gartner
Joachim Garraud
Beats Antique
Steve Porter
Ancient Astronauts
DJ Mel
Vonnegutt
Only Children
Lance Herbstrong

Sunday, August 8th
Soundgarden
Arcade Fire
MGMT
The National
Cypress Hill
Wolfmother
Yeasayer
X Japan
MUTEMATH
The Temper Trap
Frightened Rabbit
Blitzen Trapper
The Cribs
Minus The Bear
Switchfoot
Mumford & Sons
The Dodos
Hockey
The Antlers
Ike Reilly
Company of Thieves
Nneka
Miniature Tigers
HEALTH
Violent Soho
Freelance Whales
Band of Heathens
Shawn Fisher
Neon Hitch

Digitalism
Felix Da Housecat
Flosstradamus
Mexican Institute of Sound
Dirty South
NERVO
Didi Gutman of Brazilian Girls
Team Bayside High
Dani Deahl

Bonus: Check out this sweet Animoto vid from Lollapalooza 2007
(Arranged by: Blake)

New Vid: Jamaica - I Think I Like U 2

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:24:07 -0500

by Dan | posted April 5, 2010

Fresh out of the film canister! Check out the new video for “I Think I Like U 2” from French electro-rock duo Jamaica (f/k/a Pony Pony).

:: dan's indie mix 32 ::

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:17:00 -0500

by Dan | posted March 26, 2010

♫ Download: direct via Sendspace | Soundcloud

Tracklist

01. Shy Child – Disconnected
02. Two Door Cinema Club – What You Know
03. Harlem – Friendly Ghost
04. Think About Life – Johanna
05. Tim & Jean – Come Around
06. Grum – Can’t Shake This Feeling
07. YACHT – Psychic City (Classixx Remix)
08. Minus the Bear – My Time
09. Gemini Club – Mary’s Day
10. Erik Hassle – Hurtful (Penguin Prison Remix)
11. Delphic – Halcyon
12. Mux Mool – Get Better John
13. Gypsy and The Cat – ‘Til Tomorrow
14. Late Of The Pier – Best In The Class
15. Phantogram – As Far As I Can See
16. The xx – Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit)
17. The Radio Dept. – Heaven’s On Fire
18. Delorean – Real Love
19. Hot Chip – We Have Love
20. Neon Indian – Sleep Paralysist

New Vid: Fabian - Heatwave

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:52:00 -0500

by Dan | posted March 26, 2010

LA-based producer Fabian really aced it with “Heatwave,” an ethereal head-nodder that continues to thaw me out from the icy Chicago weather.

Even better, I just stumbled upon this music video for the song, which was crafted by TNUC. If this doesn’t put you in the summer frame-of-mind, nothing will. Give it a spin and let me know what you think.

New: Grum - Can't Shake This Feeling

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:01:00 -0600

by Dan | posted March 12, 2010

Check out this brilliant new song and hilarious video from Scottish electro/house artist Grum, who was responsible for last year’s banger “Heartbeats”— #55 on my 75 Best Tracks of 2009 list. Nicely done, mate.

New Vid: Yeasayer - O.N.E.

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:43:00 -0600

by Dan | posted March 11, 2010

“O.N.E.” from Brooklyn-based experimental band Yeasayer, with its reggae-splashed beat and a chorus about counteracting heartache, might possibly be my favorite song of 2010 (so far). It’s the second single from their sophomore LP “Odd Blood,” and the new—and extremely cool—music video hit the web earlier this week.

The new video centers around a Morpheus-inspired mystery man who purportedly oversteps his metaphysical boundaries after wandering into a hipster-crowded warehouse party. In the background, Yeasayer performs in what appears to be an illuminated steel cage wrestling ring. After losing a game of “prism checkers,” our protagonist is literally bounced back into reality. In retrospect, the whole affair could pass as a scene from “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test”—if Michael Mann directed the film version.

I enjoy this video because no two people will interpret it exactly the same. And I think that’s the point. Genius.

The lyrics of the song burrow deep into memory, begging to be played and replayed ad infinitum…

One’s
Not
Enough

I won’t stop till I’ve given you up
here, right as I am
it’s hard having fun
it’s much easier said than it’s done

the room’s still now when I’m lying
cause the wet of the night has gone dry
when they ask to behave
I paid them no mind
now I doubt if I’d have been so kind

hold me like before…
hold me like you used to…
control me like you used to…

NO!

you don’t move me anymore
and I’m glad that you don’t
cause I can’t have you anymore

but I thought you should know
you don’t move me anymore
and I’m glad that you don’t
cause I can’t take it anymore

DELOREAN: Live in Concert! (sort of)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:18:00 -0600

by Dan | posted March 10, 2010

In October of last year, Eristoff Vodka, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bacardi and an innovator in the online music festival space, teamed up with Spanish synthpop crew Delorean to create a first-of-its-kind remote concert experience, and was it ever epic.

To promote their amazingly beautiful EP “Ayrton Senna,” the group played an eight-track set for Eristoff Internative’s webcast-only festival, which encourages fans to interact with the band via their website before and after the performance.

What I failed to realize until just now is that during said concert, Delorean played 2 previously unheard songs (Stay Close and Grow) from their upcoming album “Subiza,” set to drop worldwide on April 20th.

Sidebar for serendipitous discovery: An album release date of 4/20/10 corresponds with the 25th anniversary of the day the film “Back To The Future” wrapped filming (4/20/85). Coincidence, Delorean?

Moving on, both tracks feature the bands familiar sun-soaked synth notes and vocal samples—a combination that was used to perfection on EP standout “Seasun”. Closing out the set is “Grow,” which begins with an inviting guitar loop and then transitions into a more structured dream pop anthem, with layers of carefully composed electronics giving the track its infectious energy. “Stay Close” is similarly excellent, a more chillwave-sounding tune with a profoundly blissful vocal harmony.

Check out the set list along with the video playlist below.

DELOREAN
10.04.09
Eristoff Internative Festival

1. Seasun
2. Stay Close
3. Moonson
4. Big Dipper
5. No Name
6. Deli
7. As Time Breaks Off
8. Grow

Pretty awesome, right?

This was also rather enjoyable –

Google-translated Marketing Slogan from Eristoff’s YouTube Channel:

“When the full moon extends his dominions, Eristoff wolves leave their dens in search of unforgettable nights. Howl, pokes his nose and keep alert your instinct of a wolf. Something may be happening nearby. And if you’re a wolf ready, you’ll soon find it.”

New Releases 2010: Updated!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:14:00 -0600

by Dan | posted March 9, 2010

Alright folks — here’s an updated list of 27 30 new record releases for the spring/summer 2010 that I can’t wait to get my headphones around; complete with my “ranking of anticipation,” of course.

Pretty impressive stuff, especially given that this year has already graced us with fantastic new music from Yeasayer, Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club, Hot Chip, Delphic, jj, Toro Y Moi, and several others.

Simply put, 2010 kind of rules. And here we go…

April
4/13 MGMT — Congratulations (10)
4/20 Delorean — Subiza (5) [*pushed back from 3/15]
4/20 Javelin — No Mas (18)
4/21 The Radio Dept — Clinging to a Scheme (12)
4/27 Small Black — Small Black (24)

May
5/4 Broken Social Scene — Forgiveness Rock Record (T-6)
5/4 Minus the Bear — Omni (T-6)
5/11 The National — High Violet (8)
5/18 The Black Keys — Brothers (14)
5/18 LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening (T-2)
5/18 Band of Horses — Infinite Arms (3)
5/25 Stone Temple Pilots — Stone Temple Pilots (23)
TBD Big Boi — Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty (19)
TBD Drake — Thank Me Later (17)
TBD Nas and Damian Marley — Distant Relatives (26)

June
6/1 Jack Johnson — To The Sea (13)
6/7 The Drums — The Drums (16)
6/8 Blitzen Trapper — Destroyer of the Void (22)
6/15 Gaslight Anthem — American Slang (21)
6/22 Stars — The Five Ghosts (7)
TBD Miami Horror — Moon Theory (T-11)
TBD Mark Ronson — Title TBD (27)

July and Beyond
7/13 M.I.A. — /\/\/\Y/\ (T-11)
8/3 Arcade Fire — The Suburbs (4)
8/24 Ra Ra Riot — The Orchard (9)
9/14 Interpol — Interpol (1)
Summer Cut Copy — Title TBD (T-2)
Summer !!! — Title TBD (15)
Summer The Walkmen — Title TBD (20)
Summer T-Pain — Title TBD (25)

Bad Veins…Cincinnati, OH…Gold and...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:39:00 -0600

Bad Veins…Cincinnati, OH…Gold and Warm…Video…check it

New: Late of the Pier - Best in the Class

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:46:00 -0600

by Dan | posted February 25, 2010

You gotta loosen up
You gotta concentrate
You gotta play it right
You gotta fall in love
You gotta live the dream
You gotta warm it up
You gotta speak your mind
You can always change

Pitchfork: TV

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:08:00 -0600

The Very Best: Warm Heart of Africa [Green Owl]

Pitchfork: TV

"I'm with the band."

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:15:00 -0600

by Dan | posted February 2, 2010

Kris and I – along with Katie and Ashley – got to hang with some of the band members at a recent Solid Gold gig @ Lincoln Hall (Chicago) back on 1.14.10. After every show I’ve seen there, the band has come out and mingled with the crowd, which is awesome. Here are a few photos from that evening along with an old one I dug up from a Girl Talk show back in early 2007.

One of Minneapolis’ finest: Zach from Solid Gold

Steve (aka STV SLV) from The Hood Internet

Dan + Blake [right] at Girl Talk @ Stonefly Brewery (Milwaukee) 3.23.07

New Vid: Miami Horror - Sometimes

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:53:00 -0600

by Dan | posted January 11, 2010

Check out the new video for Miami Horror’s EPIC single ‘Sometimes’— #14 on my Top 75 Tracks of 2009 list.

Hype Machine's Music Blog Zeitgeist 2009

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:48:00 -0600

The Hype Machine has recently announced the release of their annual list of the most-blogged music. A great round-up for the year that was…

The 75 Best Albums & Tracks of 2009

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:01:00 -0600

by Dan | posted December 15, 2009

We at saynoradio felt it would only be fitting to close out 2009 with our picks for the year’s best in indie music.

A few notes: Empire of the Sun’s Walking on a Dream — released Stateside in April ‘09 on Capitol — would have placed high on my list, but the Aussie-released version of the record came out in Oct ‘08 and, thus, belongs in my 2008 edition. Also, I omitted genre’s outside of indie rock/folk and electronica from this “best of” list, albeit there were an array of great hip-hop albums released this year.

Anyway, I hope that everyone enjoys the holiday season! Looking forward to 2010 and what already appears to be a very promising year for music. Let’s go get it.

TOP 75 ALBUMS

01

Friendly Fires
Friendly Fires

02

Passion Pit
Manners

03

The xx
xx

04

Phoenix
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

05

Delorean
Ayrton Senna

06

Camera Obscura
My Maudlin Career

07

Memory Tapes
Seek Magic

08

La Roux
La Roux

09

Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It’s Blitz!

10

Grizzly Bear
Veckatimest

11

Miike Snow
Miike Snow

12

Discovery
LP

13

VEGA
Well Known Pleasures

14

Julian Casablancas
Phrazes For The Young

15

Neon Indian
Psychic Chasms

16

Dirty Projectors
Bitte Orca

17

Jack Peñate
Everything Is New

18

YACHT
See Mystery Lights

19

The Whitest Boy Alive
Rules

20

Girls
Album

21

The Juan MacLean
The Future Will Come

22

The Horrors
Primary Colours

23

Andrew Bird
Noble Beast

24

Various Artists
Dark Was the Night

25

The Big Pink
A Brief History Of Love

26: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
27: Fever Ray - Fever Ray
28: The Temper Trap - Conditions
29: Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
30: Little Dragon - Machine Dreams
31: Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
32: The Invisible - The Invisible
33: The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love
34: Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
35: Peter Bjorn and John - Living Thing
36: White Lies - To Lose My Life
37: Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Light
38: Iron and Wine - Around The Well
39: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
40: Washed Out - Life of Leisure
41: Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
42: jj - jj n° 2
43: The Swell Season - Strict Joy
44: Toro Y Moi - Causers Of This
45: Metric - Fantasies
46: White Rabbits - It’s Frightening
47: Matt & Kim - Grand
48: Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
49: Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
50: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
51: Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend
52: Florence + The Machine - Lungs
53: Fol Chen - Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made
54: The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
55: Princeton - Cocoon Of Love
56: Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
57: The Drums - Summertime!
58: Kings of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
59: Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth
60: Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind
61: Japandroids - Post-Nothing
62: Amazing Baby - Rewild
63: Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
64: Mason Jennings - Blood Of Man
65: Volcano Choir - Unmap
66: Vetiver - Tight Knit
67: School Of Seven Bells - Alpinisms
68: Thieves Like Us - Really Like To See You Again
69: St. Vincent - Actor
70: Wave Machines - Wave If You’re Really There
71: Papercuts - You Can Have What You Want
72: Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
73: Telefon Tel Aviv - Immolate Yourself
74: Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
75: The Maccabees - Wall Of Arms

TOP 75 TRACKS

1: Friendly Fires - “Skeleton Boy”
2: Passion Pit - “Little Secrets”
3: Grizzly Bear - “Two Weeks”
4: Camera Obscura - “French Navy”
5: The xx - “Islands”
6: Delorean - “Seasun”
7: Phoenix - “1901”
8: Wolf Gang - “The King And All Of His Men”
9: Hey Champ - “Gold Dust Girl”
10: Friendly Fires - “Lovesick”
11: Miike Snow - “Cult Logic”
12: VEGA - “No Reasons”
13: Phoenix - “Lisztomania”
14: Miami Horror - “Sometimes”
15: The Dirty Projectors - “Stillness Is The Move”
16: Julian Casablancas - “11th Dimension”
17: Bag Raiders - “Shooting Stars”
18: Memory Tapes - “Bicycle”
19: Passion Pit - “The Reeling”
20: Delorean - “Deli”
21: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - “Dragon Queen”
22: Sébastien Tellier - “Kilometer (A-Trak Remix)”
23: Girls - “Lust For Life”
24: Washed Out - “Feel It All Around”
25: Jack Peñate - “Pull My Heart Away”
26: The xx - “Crystalised”
27: La Roux - “I’m Not Your Toy”
28: Classixx - “I’ll Get You”
29: Matt & Kim - “Daylight”
30: Grizzly Bear - “While You Wait For The Others”
31: Animal Collective - “What Would I Want? Sky”
32: The Whitest Boy Alive - “Dead End”
33: Joy Orbison - “Hyph Mngo”
34: Holy Ghost! - “I Will Come Back”
35: Discovery - “Carby”
36: Peter Bjorn and John - “It Don’t Move Me”
37: The Juan MacLean - “Happy House”
38: Friendly Fires - “Jump In The Pool”
39: YACHT - “Psychic City (Classixx Remix)”
40: Local Natives - “Camera Talk”
41: Metric - “Help, I’m Alive”
42: Fever Ray - “When I Grow Up (Dan Lissvik Remix)”
43: The Horrors - “Sea Within A Sea”
44: The National - “So Far Around The Bend”
45: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - “Young Adult Friction”
46: The Temper Trap - “Fader”
47: The Very Best - “Warm Heart of Africa”
48: Two Door Cinema Club - “Something Good Can Work”
49: The Big Pink - “Dominos”
50: The Drums - “Let’s Go Surfing”
51: Bat For Lashes - “Daniel”
52: NightWaves - “Fascination (Bit Funk Remix)”
53: Duck Sauce - “aNYway”
54: Volcano Choir - “Island, IS”
55: Grum - “Heartbeats”
56: Fol Chen - “Cable TV”
57: Calvin Harris - “Ready For The Weekend”
58: Memory Tapes - “Graphics”
59: Noah and the Whale - “Blue Skies (The Twelves Remix)”
60: Animal Collective - “My Girls”
61: Wilco - “I’ll Fight”
62: White Rabbits - “Percussion Gun”
63: Florence + The Machine - “You’ve Got The Love (The xx Remix)”
64: Julian Casablancas - “Left & Right In The Dark”
65: Au Revoir Simone - “Shadows”
66: Japandroids - “Young Hearts Spark Fire”
67: Antony and the Johnsons - “Kiss My Name”
68: Little Dragon - “Feather”
69: Papercuts - “Future Primative”
70: Thieves Like Us - “American Skies”
71: Mason Jennings - “The Field”
72: Kings Of Convenience - “Boat Behind”
73: Tesla Boy - “Electric Lady”
74: St. Vincent - “Save Me From What I Want”
75: Jamie T - “Sticks N’ Stones”

My Best of 2009

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:01:00 -0600

Hello All,

What bubbles with excitement, makes you reflect on your past, and comes at the end of the year? No, not champagne silly, end of the year lists! Lists are a great way to compartmentalize and compact the past year into tiny little numbered details. This year we are fortunate to be hit with an onslaught of “best of the decade list” (no joke I saw a “best car chases of the decade” special on TV the other day). I present my favorite tracks, albums, and concerts from 2009. Maybe you can listen to it while you are drinking all that champagne…

Cheers to a great year in music!

PS. If someone figures out what to call the next decade, please let me know. (The teen’s?)

Tracks

1) Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

2) Passion Pit - Sleepyhead

3) Delorean - Deli

4) The Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move

5) Hey Champ - Cold Dust Girl

6) Camera Obscura - French Navy

7) Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension

8) Girls - Lust for Life

9) Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix)

10) Grizzly Bear - While You Wait for the Others

11) The National - So Far Around the Bend

12) Phoenix - 1901

13) Vega - No Reasons

14) Discovery - Can You Discover

15) Solid Gold - Synchronize

16) YACHT - Psychic City

17) The xx - Islands

18) Delorean - Seasun

19) Memory Tapes - Bicycle

20) Neon Indian - Terminally Chill

Albums

1) Passion Pit - Manners

2) Girls - Album

3) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amedeus Phoenix

4) Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires

5) The xx - xx

6) Various Artists - Dark Was The Night

7) YACHT - See Mystery Lights

8) Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms

9) Discovery - LP

10) Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Honorable Mention

> Matt & Kim - Grand

> Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

> Memory Tapes - Seek Magic

> Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth

Concerts

1) Band of Horses - Lollapalooza

2) Passion Pit - Lollapalooza

3) The National - Pitchfork Music Festival

4) Friendly Fires / The xx - Bottom Lounge

5) Neon Indian - Lincoln Hall

6) Ra Ra Riot / Princeton - Schubas

7) Passion Pit - Apple Store (Michigan Ave, Chicago)

8) Santigold - Lollapalooza

9) Fleet Foxes - Lollapalooza

10) Crookers - Lollapalooza

My Favorite Albums of 2009...

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:19:00 -0600

My list sucks. I didn’t have time to absorb shit this year. I don’t care if you think it sucks. It is my list. Punk Rock.

1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

3. A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head

4. Japandroids - Post-Nothing

5. Dan Auerbach - Keep it Hid

6. The Antlers - Hospice

7. Heartless Bastards - The Mountain

8. Mew - No More Stories Told Today…

9. Washed Out - Life of Leisure

10. Silversun Pickups - Swoon

11. Dodos - Time to Die

12. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

13. Russian Circles - Geneva

14. Them Crooked Vultures - S/T

15. Owen - New Leaves

16. Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong

17. Pete Yorn - Back & Fourth

18. The Temper Trap - Conditions

19. The Von Bondies - Love, Hate and Then There’s You

20. Yeah Yeah Yeah - It’s Blitz