February 2, 2010
U.N.K.L.E. Matt’s favorite albums of 2009
As I think we’re all aware, it’s getting harder and harder these days to find a complete album that’s enjoyable to listen to al the way through. With most people downloading single tracks from iTunes or Amazon (if they pay for them at all), the very concept of an album seems to be falling by the wayside. But every once in a while something does come along that is crafted as a whole, an immersive experience, even going so far as having intros, tracks blending together, skits, whatever. The Decemberists gave us a virtual rock opera last year with “The Hazards Of Love”, and that almost made my list. …Almost. Here’s what did (in no particular order). Thanks as always to Sam for showing me most of these.
1. “Hospice” by The Antlers
This is a perfect example of what I was talking about; all the songs ebb and flow into each other, often drifting off into washes of ambient noise and flutter only to resolve back into simple but poignant chord structures. The vocals are choked and hushed, the lyrics impenetrably personal and melancholy, the overall effect feeling a bit like this is a work of music-as-therapy. Haunting and beautiful, a cross between Antony & The Johnsons and Neutral Milk Hotel, this closes with a stunning and jarring transition between crescendo and epilogue, as if the singer has simply given all he can and just turns himself off and disappears right in front of you, leaving the album echoing in your emotions. Although this is best enjoyed as a whole, if I had to pick two stand-out tracks they would be: “Bear” and “Two”.
2. “Go God Go” by Fred
This album snuck up on me, offering up single track after single track until finally I realized the whole damned thing was good. This is a work of exuberance, a joyous romp, a rollercoaster of bright pop music that never rests on any laurels, instead always striving to surprise with the next twist of song arrangement or guest appearance by off-beat instrumentation. Stand-out tracks: “Fear” and “The Lights”.
3. “Lungs” by Florence + The Machine
A kick-ass soulful voice, big sprawling arrangements, a HARP as lead instrument? There really wasn’t much like this last year, but it’s not some quirky experiment, this is solid quality stuff. Setting aside the Ting-Ting-y single “Kiss With A Fist”, there’s barely a guitar within earshot - this is the sound of pop music done right, what all the Lady GaGas of the world COULD be doing with their time, but don’t really need to in order to sell records (records? what are those?). Stand-out tracks: “Cosmic Love” and “Dog Days Are Over”.
4. “vs. Children” by Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
Another album that’s really all one big thing, this sounds a bit like one woke up Zach Galifianakis from a dead sleep, hit “demo” on a cheap keyboard, thrust a newspaper in front of him, and forced him on the spot to come up with songs based on the headlines. The songs are wonderful little fables with clever wordplay and structure, blatant and specific lyrics, and simple but whistle-worthy melodies, every bit as home-made - and as GOOD - as anything by Baby Bird. Stand-out tracks: “Optimist vs. The Silent Alarm (When The Saints Go Marching In)” and “Traveling Salesman’s Young Wife Home Alone On Christmas In Montpelier, VT”.
5. “You Can Have What You Want” by Papercuts
Every once in a while something comes along that really does sound like it fell through a wormhole from long ago, and you wonder what has possessed this new young band to record it. Do you guys not know you could be selling a lot more songs if you just made whiny teen angst pop punk? Okay, nobody tell Papercuts, because for whatever reason they’ve decided to marry the hypnotic dreamy fuzz of Velvet Underground with Moog-y garage surf psychedelia, and we’re all better off because of it. Stand-out tracks: “Future Primitive” and “Dead Love”.
6. “Technicolor Health” by Harlem Shakes
Another work just bursting at the seams, this almost defies description, it’s just a big old good-mood machine perfectly suited for recovering from your post-Grammy woes. Equal parts quirky analog dance and folky mountain music, this always sounds as if it’s teetering on the edge of falling apart or crossing over into pretension, but it manages to reign itself into jumpy fun little mini-symphonies. Stand-out tracks: “Natural Man” and “Marian”.
7. “La Roux” by La Roux
This would be a guilty pleasure if it wasn’t so damned GOOD. Electronic club music infused with soulful singing and R&B chord changes, this is a simply irrepressible throwback to the New York club scene 80s when women quite possibly, however briefly, ruled the roost of pop music. Do you miss Yaz/Yazoo? Come check this out. Stand-out tracks: “Fascination” and “Bulletproof”.
(I originally had “Weathervanes” by Freelance Whales listed as #8, but apparently it’s not being released here in the States until later this year, so that gives me the opportunity to add the following)
8. “The Love Language” by The Love Language
This collection of beautiful piano-based anthems seems somewhat at cross-purposes. On the one hand, these are tried-and-true traditional chord progressions that Hank Williams would be proud to still see in heavy rotation. But on the other, all the vocals are recorded with over-the-top distortion, possibly in an attempt to still seem “quirky” and “indie” even though the guy really can sing and makes wonderful use of harmony. The overall effect sounds a bit like taking a Belle & Sebastian album, plugging it into Spinal Tap’s amp and cranking it up to 11. However, all the lo-fi in the world can’t disguise these well-crafted pop arrangements, plinky pianos and jingle bells creating a warm wintery tone to everything, until the whole album reaches a chorale crescendo that would make Frankie Valli proud. Short, sweet, heartachingly gorgeous, and highly recommended. Stand-out tracks: “Providence” and “Gray Court”.
9. “Dusk Till Dawn” by Breakestra
Yeah I’m not buying it. I know they’re trying to say this is brand-new music by current musicians using instruments and recording techniques from the heyday of funk and soul, but really, if it was that easy why haven’t we heard anything this good for 30 years? And yeah I know they went and put Chali 2na on a track to make it seem new, but come on, that’s just overdubbing. This is just a new compilation of previously unheard tracks from The Meters, The J.B.s, Funkadelic, Weather Report, Mandrill, The Blackbyrds etc. Because there’s no way anyone around these days could be this good and not walking away with every award in the music biz. Stand-out tracks: “Lowdown Stank” and “Back At The Boathouse”.
10. “Reservoir” by Fanfarlo
There was no Arcade Fire last year. And Matt was sad. Then Matt discovered that Arcade Fire had merely snuck over to London and recorded an album under the name Fanfarlo. …Or at least that’s what it sounds like. And so now Matt is happy. Stand-out tracks: “Luna” and “Drowning Men”.

Sorry for the delay in posting this, folks. Turns out I’ve had to unfortunately deal with a few of my rough, tough, existential fears over the last couple of months, which is one of the reasons why it’s been so quiet around these parts. Anyway, onto the list — I’ll keep it short & sweet: