TUNNELVISION Candy Claws, Warm Forest Floor

“Excuses,” The Morning Benders

Best of 2009

Best Music of 2009 (roughly in sequential order) – here’s my end of the year list, accompanied by playlists courtesy of Lala.  The numbers don’t really mean anything beyond number 1 and 2. All of the songs are on the Lala Playlist towards the end of the list (if you’re not familiar with Lala, it will allow you to listen to each song completely once, and then 30 second samples thereafter).

1. Merriweather Post Pavilion – Animal Collective

Like every other year end music list out there, Merriweather Post Pavilion is (predictably) going to be my number one record of the year. It’s been on heavy rotation since it was released in January and it still sounds fresh and exciting. The “My Girls” video just perfectly captures the feel over the record… just kind of dripping with head bobbing satisfaction.

2. “Married Life,” “Stuff We Did,” “The Ellie Badge” – Up Soundtrack

That F Major 7 chord is the most devastating thing I’ve heard this year. I thought I could hide my tears behind the 3D glasses, but nope. It just makes it harder to wipe away tears without having other people notice. To me, Up was compelling not just because of its sadness, but because of how much the characters cared. A movie with heart. Artichoke.

3. “You Saved My Life” – Cass McCombs from Catacombs

4. Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear

5. “Feel It All Around” – Washed Out

This song makes me miss summer, and this video makes me miss summer.

6. “When I’m With You” – Best Coast from 7”

7. “Swim (To Reach the End),” “Floating Vibes” – Surfer Blood from Astro Coast

8. Upper Air – Bowerbirds

9. “Lust For Life” – Girls from Album

10. “Dreams Come True Girl”  – Cass McCombs from Catacombs
11. “From Africa to Malaga” – ii from No 2
12. Manners – Passion Pit

13. “So Bored” and “No Hope Kids” – Wavves, from Wavvves

14. “Long, Long, Long” – Beatles, from The BEATLES [Re-Issue]
15. “I and Love and You” – Avett Brothers, from I and Love and You
16. “I Will Come Back (Classixx Acapulco Nights Version)” – Holy Ghost!
17. “Dominos” – The Big Pink from A Brief History of Love
18. “Island, IS” – Volcano Choir
19. “Deadbeat Summer” – Neon Indian
20. “Psychic City” – YACHT, from See Mystery Lights
21. “What Would I Want? Sky” – Animal Collective, from Fall Be Kind EP
22. “Horchata” – Vampire Weekend

23. “Africa” – Amadou & Mariam, from Welcome to Mali

24. “Between Two Mysteries,” “Ancient Questions” – Mount Eerie, from Wind’s Poem

25. Dead Man’s Bones – Dead Man’s Bones
26. “Quitters Raga” – Gold Panda from Quitters Raga 7”
27. “Talamak” – Toro y Moi from Well Tusked
28. “Best I Ever Had” – Drake from So Far Gone
29. “Lightswitch” – Eternal Summers
30. “You Don’t Have To Be a Prostitute,” “Carol Brown” – Flight of the Conchords from I Told You I Was Freaky
31. “11th Dimension” – Julian Casablancas from Phrazes for the Young
32. Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk (the album was okay)
33. “The Whole Damn Thing” – Those Darlins from Those Darlins
34. The Fall - Norah Jones (I quite enjoyed this, thank you very much)
35. “Outro” – M. Ward, from Hold Time

Best of 2009 Playlist

Some Videos from 2009

In Re: Taylor Swift, Best Music Video of the Decade

Reissues, Box sets

The Beatles Catalog, Remastered
Big Star: Keep An Eye On The Sky
Neil Young: Archives Vol. 1

Twitter Updates for 2009-10-16

• The Wild Things were fantastic! #

Morning rituals

When not coffee, Royal Milk Tea. So good!