Comments on: Favorite songs of 2009?

By: danithew

danithew — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:41:01 +0000

William, that would be it. I’m still trying to figure out how to categorize them.

By: MCQ

MCQ — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 05:23:45 +0000

That Jet video is just so wrong.

By: Wm Morris

Wm Morris — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:11:34 +0000

By like Joy Division, do you mean the bass line, danithew? Because that’s the only thing I can see relating at all.

By: MCQ

MCQ — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:50:10 +0000

Yes, there are songs that get better and better the more you listen to them (I feel U2â€™s 2009 album was that way)

Thank you, you are so right.

There has to be something.

Not sure what you’re looking for but I hope you find it and tell us about it. For me, the biggest “smack me on the head” songs this year were from Band of Skulls. But that’s just me. I think it’s always different for everyone.

By: danithew

danithew — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:54:02 +0000

I’m glad a few others are saying that 2009 wasn’t a very strong year for music. I wanted to contribute some thoughts/comments on this post and not just be an old “get off my lawn” curmudgeon who doesn’t appreciate new bands.

So last night I spent some time going through two online lists of best albums from 2009. One was a top 40 list and one was a top 50 list. I also went through a list of albums that have been released in 2009 that was on wikipedia – and there were even some bands on there that had past material I’ve liked.

Still, I had a lot of trouble finding -anything- to appreciate.

The one song that was kind of interesting, in a superficial but fun way, was a song by the Drums called “Let’s Go Surfing.”

Here’s the video:

Musically, sort of reminds me of a chirpy or cheerful version of the Jesus and Mary Chain or the Cure. If that’s possible. Actually, after writing out this whole comment, it reminds me a little bit of Joy Division too. I tried listening to some of the other songs by the same band and they weren’t as immediately accessible – but it was only one or two listens.

By the way, I didn’t love this Jet song “K.I.A.”, but the video was really unusual. Never seen a deli slicer used in quite that way:

So those are my attempts to find something laudatory for 2009.

One of the things I look for in music is some kind of immediate connection. Yes, there are songs that get better and better the more you listen to them (I feel U2′s 2009 album was that way) – but a great song will smack you on the head the first time you hear it. I haven’t really found anything from 2009 that does that for me. But I’m still thinking about it. There has to be something.

By: Brian V

Brian V — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:23:23 +0000

Japandroids are OK (STUPID name aside) but they sound so much like Raise-era Swervedriver that I can’t see why you wouldn’t just listen to that. I grew up on that sound, so I guess I can’t complain about someone sounding like something I like. Good for them for getting some more mileage out of that sound.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:58:06 +0000

Man I love those guys. Thanks for posting that MCQ. The kids in the back totally crack me up.

By: MCQ

MCQ — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:37:07 +0000

Here's that performance mike: http://www.hulu.com/embed/H-JHYYdvzWz6EbRXkWGsiw/2213

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:20:51 +0000

The best two songs of the year, hands down, were by the same band: “1901″ and “Lisztomania” by Phoenix. I also like “Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear and “People Got A Lotta Nerve” by Neko Case. Also the Weezer song “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To,” and Wilco’s “You Never Know.”

By: mike d.

mike d. — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:15:34 +0000

I thought their top lists for 2009 were a little weak too, but they did convince me to give the new Baroness album a listen, which I now know totally rules.

Also for those that like the Japandroids they were on Jimmy Fallon this week. You can probably view it at NBC.com.