Music Friday: 2009 Top Ten!

So I know you've been waiting patiently all week for the much anticipated Iconunited Top 10 albums of 2009. As I mentioned before, and I feel it might be a good time to mention again, that this is my top 10 list and has no baring on what one might consider a definitive list in any one genre/style/group, to simply state, anything was fair game. As it happens it's pretty varied for a short 10 deep list. With that said, lets jump in....

10.

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

This hit me at the end of the year as I came across it. It's a fantastic little album that hit me at the right time too. Thus, it made the list. It's listed as an "Alternative" album but I would argue it has more of a folkish vibe to it. Lyrically it's complex and refreshing. Good stuff there. I'm glad it hit the radar before 2009 faded away. official site.

9.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus

Ok. Lets clear this up a bit. It's #9 because this album made everyone's list for "top something" this year and could easily be in any position on this list depending on the day but I had to deduct some points simply because they are on everyone's list and my plug here isn't going help or hurt them. So I don't feel bad putting them at 9 considering the caliber of the album. At the end of the day a solid, feel-good album all around. Good stuff. I mean, this video is totally awesome...I linked to it before too...

phoenix - lisztomania *brooklyn pack mashup* from ian parker on Vimeo.

I love that video. offical site.

8.

the XX (self titled?)

On iTunes the XX is described as:

"...it's essentially makeout music for cool kids; steely quiet-storm soundscapes that redefine R&B for a generation that loves Aaliyah and the post-everything productions of Timbaland as much as freshly-pressed Hot Chip singles and faded Cure LPs."

Going by that quote I guess I'm not that cool. But that itunes quote makes this music the coolest music out there...I mean, everything that's in between Timbaland, Hot Chip and Cure(!) it's gotta be the only music you need! Apparently it's the cause of hot and wild make out sessions of tweens everywhere too! (where did they get that information?) My take is a bit more mellow, I agree it *is* cool (yea, i said it) but while embodying a ridiculously chill alternative vibe it, here's the tricky part, really doesn't try too hard. So much music out there tries so hard "to be cool" and ultimately fails to be anything close (and sadly fail to become the "makeout album" it could be). Without thinking to hard the first lame band that comes to mind is Nickleback sounds like the Shinedown, that souns like Daughtry that soulds like....you get the idea...that music is all so produced (maybe manufactured is a better word)...while the XX's simple beats might be cast off as produced it's the balance that make it stand apart and ultimately stand apart from said bands above. It's a great balance that makes XX's fairly simple beats and low key lyrics separate them from the other "alternitive" bands out there. You should be warned though, the official site is too cool to load or at least on my computer it is. Oh, and just to make it clear, XX DOES NOT sound like Nickleback, Shinedown or Daughtry, I wouldn't be cought dead with those in my iTunes track list, my ears cannot take that sort of punishment...but they were the first really bad "alternative bands" that came to mind. Onward...

7.

Washed Out - Life of Leisure

Great electronic digs here. Sound stuff. I can easily hit chill mode by simply putting it on. The only downside is the album is about 17 and half minutes....too short! Hence the short review...check it out yourself, chill on your own time, it's worth it...boom shake. Ummm....official site?

6.

Simeon Ten Holt - Canto Ostinato

Amazing classical compositions. I can't say enough good things about this artist's work. Although, if you're not a fan of say...Philp Glass or Steve Reich you might find only *parts* of this work beautiful (sorry, at this point those are the only two musicians I can think of who closely resemble the sound of Simeon, I might be way off when it comes to capturing the essence of what is going on in Ten Holt's compositions with those artists but...so it goes...). Anyway, mad minimalist music here, none-the-less I happen to find all of it beautiful. The official site looks like it's from the 90s but the music is amazing. Oh and not to be confused with Steve Holt!.

5.

Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream

Awesome. Fantastic dance/electronic music. And probably the inspiration behind one of the coolest modern music videos ever. So cool I had to link to it again. But seriously, the dance thrills going on here will make you want to move. Swoop here for a bit more.

4.

Fanfarlo - Reservoir

I believe I heard of them first on npr (I *heart* npr) sometime back but I have been listening to them quite a bit. Again, it comes in on an "alternative" tag but I don't know if they are really all that "alternative". They have that great folk/alternitive cross thing going on. "The Walls Are Coming Down" is a tasty little tune. official site.

3.

The American Dollar

"Anything You Synthesize" is an amazing post rock creation. After getting into their work I've heard their compositions on so many commercials. They are like the Album Leaf but not as well known...or maybe they are and I just don't know it. They're Dutch I believe and I have to say, that part of the world, including the nordic countries too, is amazing. I need to spend more time there. On another note, post rock is a genre that is slowly taking over the bulk of my iTunes library. Really good stuff by The American Dollar. official site. There is also this amazing made as a tribute to this song...I don't know if it's the official video or anything but it's super cool...I linked to it before I think...

The American Dollar’s “Anything You Synthesize.” from Aron Jeney on Vimeo.

2.

Bosques de Mi Mente - Lo Fi


Terribly beautiful music. So beautiful I had to make a small film/video/movie composition (whatever you call the moving images these days) of my own to make/compliment the sound. I didn't do it justice but I think with a little tweaking it will be a nice quiet piece ("quiet piece," sound familiar? It might feature a quiet man...anyway...) The music is that inspirational. I just made my little project it's getting close to being done hopefully it will turn out as beautiful as the music. Bosques de Mi Mente is exceptional stuff. Make sure you stop by the official site to learn more. I can't get enough of the piano and all the the wonderful variances I find within the music...really really wonderful.

And Finaly,

1.

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Jacksonville City Nights.

Now, before you jump all over me for being sligly less innovative/groundbreaking/on the thumb of good music with my #1 pick, I should say I happen to love Ryan Adams. So this crowing of #1 was inevitable. I could definitively say that if I was stranded on an island and I could only take three archives (not albums, but archives of an artist, albums never give you enough...) the top three archives would be Guster, Ryan Adams and Frederic Chopin. If it was more than three I'd have too hard of time figuring out what to take but I think I could easily take those three archives and be pretty good while stranded there. Wake up in the morning with my island coffee to Chopin, rock out to Guster while repairing my thatch hut the rain had slightly damaged the night before and then bringing in the evening with Ryan Adams around a campfire grilling tofu (they have tofu when stranded on islands right?). Nice. That would be a good time. Thus, Ryan Adams was bound to get number one (I don't believe Guster and Chopin had 2009 releases). And yes, I totally understand it's pretty much his same old stuff with the country influence amped to the highest degree, but I don't care. It's still good. Plus, if I'm going to listen to country, let it be Ryan Adams.

So there you go. My top 10 of 2009. Love it or hate it that's what it is. I suppose I have to give an honorable mention to Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest because while I haven't fallen head over heels yet I have been stopping by the Grizzly Bear playlist quite a bit more as of lately (thanks to Nate for lead on that one). It's probably going to be one of those, "found in late 09' and *rocked out* to in 10'.

Anyway...

Posts are going to be sparse around the holidays here as travel always ensues and elf like behavior becomes frequent but look for and odd post here and there.

As always be safe out there and Happy Holidays!

Hooray for music!