2009 Top 10 Tag Team: Matthew Tsai & Daniel Alcinii
Posted 12/31/2009 06:57AM by Rick Gebhardt as Top 10
Matthew Tsai's Top 10:
You’ve heard it before, you’ll hear it here again: 2009 was a good year for music. Perhaps the clearest indication of this is the epic struggle that making a top 10 list is. Since the task would border on impossible without some intensified criticism and thought, I paid closer attention this year to the oft-overlooked aspect of “lasting value” to reach a consensus. Look, I know back in March I licked my “4.5 out of 5 stars” stamp, slapped it on Manchester Orchestra’s latest, and confidently declared, “Manchester Orchestra make a strong run for album of the year here.” But to be absolutely honest, I revisited the album a few days ago only to find that it had aged horribly. The once magnificent adrenaline-trip of “I’ve Got Friends” had grown stale; the snarky romp of “In My Teeth” worn thin; the spiritual “The River” an emotionless bore. It’s with these things in mind that I build my list – I’ve included only the top-notch albums I felt also boasted their worth in lasting value (you won’t find releases from As Tall As Lions, The Mountain Goats, Woe of Tyrants and plenty of others here for this reason). These are the troopers that have fought this listener’s musical ADD and managed to conquer his speakers. So without further ado, Decoy readers, my favorite releases of the year…
1. Thrice – Beggars
If Animal Collective can borrow so heavily from The Beach Boys and still land the number one spot on just about every ‘zine sipping hipster hype out there, then I don’t hesitate to give my number one spot to an album that also borrows heavily from a greater influence. Beggars (taking multiple cues from Radiohead’s In Rainbows) is Thrice making the right move after the subpar The Alchemy Index. It pounds society’s problems as well as promotes the potential for hope lyrically, and sets it all over an eloquent musical landscape that ranges from Frodus to Radiohead. I still listen to tracks like “Circles” and “In Exile” daily, but really, the entire album is Thrice’s current chef d'oeuvre. It’s just an all around incredibly solid piece of work by the Orange County alternative kings.
2. Broadway Calls – Good Views, Bad News
Good Views, Bad News is an unlikely hero for bright, warm pop-punk, seeing that Broadway Calls call rainy Portland, Oregon their home. But somehow, it was the loudest declaration that pop-punk is not dead all year. Broadway Calls does pop-punk revival by combining the genre’s classic elements (the hooks, the sing-alongs, the summer atmosphere) with a sense of gritty progression so smoothly it makes similar acts look bad. It’s hard to imagine “Tonight Is Alive” or “Wake Up Call” not blaring raucously when the T-shirts and shorts come out again; they’ve already cemented “classic” status, at least in my house. In any case, Good Views, Bad News is the album to own if you’re into pop-punk revival, and Broadway Calls the band to follow.
3. City of Ships – Look What God Did To Us
Crushing and atmospheric at the same time, Look What God Did To Us is easily one of the most important heavy albums of the year. Its crawling, beefy guitars and psychotic screams are the perfect support for lyrical threats like “Jack Frost does no nipping here / He bites with fury and he’s coming for you.” When I reviewed it over the summer, I wrote that City of Ships had produced “an album of enormous strength.” Well, I proudly stand by that statement here in December. Look What God Did To Us continues to chug and groan menacingly, ignorant of season or time.
4. The Mercury Program – Chez Viking
I guess the most important question you can ask when examining Chez Viking is something along the lines of “how does this hold up to A Data Learn the Language”? Despite the amazing seven year gap between the two releases, they’re not that far apart in both sonic and quality. Chez picks up right where Data left off, droning and ticking its way into the same ambient excellence Data achieved so perfectly. In the end, Data will probably not be dethroned as The Mercury Program’s best work by this, but is that because Chez is shorter in length or because Data has a special place in our hearts? Either way, it’s trivial. The point is, Chez is fantastic, and that’s all that matters.
5. Caspian – Tertia
Tertia sounds sloppy and monotonous on first listen, but that’s before the natural beauty of it sets in. Caspian think big and write ambitious on this record, going back and forth between blocky, blurry guitars and stereotypical post-rock twinkling to create a massive sound. There’s not much that can legitimately be labeled “intricate” as the melody constructions are all straightforward, but this is the kind of album that makes you realize you prefer elegance over intricacy. It also makes you want to put away those Explosions In the Sky albums for a while – if there are albums like Tertia out there, EITS can take a backseat.
6. Blind Pilot – 3 Rounds and A Sound
3 Rounds officially went public in 2008, but physical copies didn’t drop until 2009. It’s too much of a gem to be overlooked though, so it appears here leading the second half of the list. Everything about the band is familiar; they hail from indie haven Portland and play the kind of stripped-down folk you can drink and cry to. Singer Israel Nebeker sounds a little bit like Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman, and horns make an occasional appearance to complete the quintessential neo-folk feel. Still, 3 Rounds is far better than the average band of the genre. “Now I see you, ‘til Kingdom come / You’re the one I want / To see me for all the stupid shit I’ve done,” sings Nebeker on the title track, and it’s clear that the lyrics are maybe a little more personal than we’re comfortable with. But that’s what makes it great.
7. P.O.S. – Never Better
Ah, the P.O.S. record that made and actually deserved to make at least fifty percent of the lists out there. Everyone knows the story by now – Stefon Alexander takes his punk roots and meshes them masterfully with hip hop, resulting in a flooring album that grips the attention of more people who don’t usually listen to hip hop than people who usually do – but what a powerful grip that is. From the charismatic opener “Let It Rattle” to the transcendent revolt-against-the-flesh of “Purexed” to the urban atmosphere of “Low Light Low Life,” Never Better is an extraordinary display of what hip hop can be. In fact, Alexander seems to be addressing the state of rap music in “Drumroll” when he spews “Step up your thought game, man / We’re all thirsty!” Thanks to P.O.S., thirst quenched.
8. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career
Camera Obscura’s latest is either the best pop release of the year or somewhere remarkably close. It definitely is the richest pop release, though. My Maudlin Career throws back to the ‘60’s vibe by spreading lavish orchestration and accessible songwriting across its already romantic flavor. Sure, there are some awkward lyrics here and there – “You kissed me on the forehead / Now this kiss is giving me a concussion” is a little weird, I’ll admit. But the album’s about love, and love is about honesty and unabashed expression. In light of that, the lyrics don’t bother me one bit. Besides, the music is gorgeous enough to get me caught up in the songs no matter what the lyrics are.
9. A Fine Frenzy – Bomb In A Birdcage
Bomb In A Birdcage is the definition of a “grower.” I wrote it off for the first few months after hearing it as “average,” “generic” and “boring.” It wasn’t until recently when I popped it back in and was blown away by its smooth musical delivery and vivid lyrical imagery. I still can’t bring myself to appreciate the overtly simplistic “Blow Away” or the maniacal “Electric Twist,” but everything else is gold. “What I Wouldn’t Do” is the crowning achievement of the album, reinventing the royal love imagery in a novel way: “So lace your hands ‘round the small of my back and I will kiss you like a king / I will be your bride, I’ll keep you warm at night / I will sing, I will sing.” Far be you from me with your overdone prince and princess fluff, Taylor Swift.
10. St. Vincent – Actor
All bias aside, Actor should be much, much higher up on this list. It’s an incredible album that goes as far as to feature both Disney-like orchestration and horror film haunting in the same song. But there’s something so strange and disturbing about St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark’s character that sends chills down my spine every time I listen to the album. Her eclectic powdered face/red lips features and her innocent doe eyes that seem to hide some twisted secret pervade her music powerfully, and because of that, I’m always hesitant to press “play.” Nevertheless, Actor is brilliant enough that I’m forced to give it a spot here, no matter how reluctantly.
Honorable Mentions:
MUTEMATH – Armistice
Strike Anywhere – Iron Front
Maybeshewill – Sing the Word Hope in Four-Part Harmony
Gifts From Enola – Fathoms
Tegan and Sara – Sainthood
Daniel Alcinii's Top 10:
To be honest with you, I thought this year kind of lacked in the way of good new music. Granted, I happened to come across a whole bunch of “new” music from past years that I had some how missed the first time around, but not many releases pulled me in this year. Maybe I’ll come across some gems from 2009 in the future that I missed the first time around. Anyway, here’s what did intrigue me in ‘oh nine’:
1. Bruce Peninsula – A Mountain Is A Mouth
The Bruce Peninsula is a small peninsula in Ontario, Canada that lies between the Georgian Bay and the main basin of Lake Huron. The Bruce Peninsula is also a band that hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada that has produced quite simply the most beautiful, awe-inspiring, and underappreciated experimental/avant-garde/folk-indie record of 2009.
2. Converge – Axe To Fall
Converge’s Axe To Fall quickly grew to become a monster comparable to the likes of 2001’s Jane Doe, arguably the bands best release. For 30 minutes the monster is force-fed abrasive screams from a variety of guests, blast beats from Ben Koller unforgiving kit, and technically sound guitars. Ironically enough, what I find to be the two best tracks on this record are the tortured avant-garde closers “Cruel Bloom” and “Wretched World”. Axe To Fall is truly an axe that fell.
3. Heather Woods-Broderick – From The Ground
Hailing from the seemingly glum and sparse, but picturesque Portland, Oregon, the sister of Peter Broderick paints a perfect canvas of her surroundings through the use of minimal instruments and beautiful vocals on her debut full length, From The Ground.
4. Lewd Acts – Black Eye Blues
Black Eye Blues truly showcases Lewd Acts as a band fully capable of unleashing a full out assault on their audience laced with vigor, experimentation, and melody, without sounding like a fatal car collision on an expressway. To say that it doesn’t sound like a car wreck isn’t to say that it will feel like you’ve just been in one after having listened to Black Eye Blues
5. Government Warning – Paranoid Mess
Government Warning kick it old school, recreating the fast and aggressive sounds of 80’s hardcore punk one would usually find when listening to Jerry’s Kids or The Adolescents. Richmond, Virginia seems to be a breeding ground for great hardcore, and this is no different.
6. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
The third studio record from the New York based Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest, is also the name of one of the Elizabeth Islands, part of the town of Gosnold in Dukes County, Massachusetts. This makes it the second landmass on this top ten list, and has a land area of 0.0675 km² (0.026 sq mi, or 16.675 acres) and remains an uninhabited area today. If you want more information on this island, please do not ask me for help as I gathered all this information from Wikipedia.org. Oh yeah, the album’s quite good too.
7. Tegan & Sara – Sainthood
The end result of Sainthood is one that leaves the listener in an odd state of mind where nostalgia is met with growth and progression caused by the charming struggles with romantic ideals coupled together with the maturation of the Quin sisters.
8. Social Circkle – City Shock
More 80’s hardcore punk revival from the Massachusetts area that could play along side the classics like SSDecontrol, Circle Jerks, Gang Green, etc. This album is the jam and one of the most fun I've heard since Career Suicide's Attempted Suicide in 2006.
9. Tim Williams – Careful Love
Though he's got another two full lengths and two EP's, this is the first time I had heard of Tim Williams, but what a great introduction it was. In May of 2008, Williams underwent intensive open-heart surgery that left him bedridden in recovery throughout most of the fall. Once he got out of the hospital, he quickly began writing and rehearsing new material that has lead to one of the most incredibly personal and emotional, yet enjoyably fun records I have heard to date.
10. Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon: The End of Day
This is an uncharacteristic choice on my behalf, as I usually don’t enjoy too much hip-hop anymore, but this one is an entirely different type of hip-hop all together in both musical and lyrical terms (“The moon will illuminate my room and soon I’m consumed by my doom”). Cudi has a way of crossing genres subtly to attract those who aren’t particularly fond of the hippin’ and a hoppin’, and a bippin’ and a boppin’. And now I’ll refrain from sounding any more unintelligent as I don’t know all too much about the genre in itself.
Honourable Mentions:
Thrice – Beggars
Brand New – Daisy
Wasted Time – Futility
Marked Men – Ghost
Hour Of The Wolf – Obsolete 10"
Comments
Dubuque
Come on, no one likes the stuff I like?
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Somewhere in New York
Matt, definitely like to see Grizzly Bear on there. I wish I put them on my list, but again, too many fantastic releases.
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
Minnesota
Matt, about half your stuff I would put on the "crap" pile and the other half I'd put under "ok, but not that great". Except for POS, that is. His shit's awesome.
And what's up with Converge on everybody's lists? People, it wasn't that amazing. It was great, yeah, but is it really top 10 worthy? Did you listen to any other heavy music this year?
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San Jose, CA
@Andrew Yeah it's my fault for not investing the time to listen to them. I've heard a few tracks from Veckitamest and thought it was pretty solid/accessible, but haven't really spent time on them. But yeah, there was just too much good stuff this year.
@Rick lol I try to stay as un-hipster as possible, if that's what you're referring to. In the end, there's just some good stuff hipsters listen to that I can't resist, but have no shame, liking. But I acknowledge the second half of my list gets pretty hipster with Camera Obscura and St. Vincent.
Interesting list Dan, I'll have to check out some of these releases some time.
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Minneapolis, MN
And what's up with Converge on everybody's lists? People, it wasn't that amazing. It was great, yeah, but is it really top 10 worthy? Did you listen to any other heavy music this year?
I don't get why everyone goes nuts for Converge either. They aren't that good. I see so many people aping their shit. There's been more than one occasion that I've forced myself to check them out and I still can't find anything listenable that Converge has put out.
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West Haven, CT
You probably loath my list.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
West Haven, CT
Sure they are. It just depends on if you like Metal or progressive Metal that has a pull towards different sounds.
My brother who's 37 and has been listening to Metal bands since they existed was hanging out with me while I had the new Converge playing and it even had him banging his head.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Raleigh, NC
Haha, just wait until my list gets put up. At least there's no Converge.
Baltimore, MD
Bruce Peninsula is a pretty awesome place actually, cool blue water with tons of cliffs to jump off of...but yea, I dug their album as well...not in my tops, but it's certainly a respectable choice
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Toronto, Ontario
I found a lot of stuff to be unmemorable this year. I think I had Converge playing the most consistently when it dropped, I thought the closing two tracks were incredible. I've also been listening to a lot of Pygmy Lush's split with Turboslut since it came out, but didn't think it'd be fair to throw it on there since it's just a split.
I like Converge, okay? I like a lot more 80's influenced hardcore / punk than anything heavy anymore though.
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Infinitely Inwards
While I wouldn't put it that harshly, I do feel that I am not seeing a varied amount of so called "heavy" music on everyone's lists. Where's the love? Oh and Caspian was awesome.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
ERRA - Impulse
Aborted - Global Flatline
Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
Atascadero, CA
heavy music i used to be way into say 2003-2007, then it just got super stale and redundant to me. thats why my list really lacks anything considered heavy. i loved metal and metalcore when they were pumping out new artists, now along with hardcore im just not feeling it anymore. must have to do with getting older, i try, it just doesnt have the same appeal.
and ive never been into Converge and probably never will be, but ive heard from people its very solid. music people and fans alike so im not questioning to love it's getting. i did however think that probably Brand New or Thrice was going to end up Decoy's #1 and not Converge, but who knows whats going to happen when the #s are tally'd. I'm working on a anticipated 2010 albums feature right now, should go live tomorrow.
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Infinitely Inwards
I guess I understand where you are coming from. However, I think a lot of metal people here on decoy would agree that heavy music in the US (metalcore, deathcore, anything like metallica) just isn't holding a candle to some of the stuff overseas. Bands like BTBAM, DT, The Faceless, Periphery, ABR, MS and others of the like are keeping the torch lit; but shit like Slipknot,disturbed and Atreyu is bringing our "metal" standing in the world to damn near last place in terms of creativity and intensity. If you ever get a chance, there is some really great stuff from Canada, Sweden, France, Germany, and even Russia that is worth checking out.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
ERRA - Impulse
Aborted - Global Flatline
Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
West Haven, CT
I have a bunch of "heavy" acts on my list. I had a list that was full of mostly Metal based acts but half way through the year I decided that the more mixed brand of music was what won me over this year. There were a few bands that I put in there to take up space because I had 2-3 different #2-3s. Hopefully you'll dig what I put up. If not,
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Infinitely Inwards
Wow.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
ERRA - Impulse
Aborted - Global Flatline
Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
West Haven, CT
Well also Aaron and Spartan, not trying to call taste out or judge but Metal will always be there for the real fans. Music always tries to take Metal new places and does different things. Nu-metal, metalcore, rapcore, etc etc. But the true bulk and build of it has very strong roots and the long time fans will always know when it comes to them. That sound and feel that it gives them. It's very hard to replace. When newer styles of it or bands who make a newer sound come out, It's good and it'll bring new fans to the table. But if you're a true fan, you'll always be.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
San Diego, CA
I'm going to have to disagree with you in a big way. Slipknot and that ilk has nothing to do with actual heavy music; leave it out of the equation entirely. The Faceless are absolutely terrible; the same goes for the entire Sumerian roster. Canada, Australia, the UK, and even Belgium are putting out good stuff, but nothing compares to the quality of heavy music coming from the US. Converge are true pioneers, and we also have greats like the aforementioned ABR and MS, plus don't forget DEP, Coalesce, Neurosis, Every Time I Die, The Banner, This Is Hell, Posion the Well, Hope Con, Coliseum, TUI, Trap Them, etc. I have yet to hear much from mainland Europe save Belgium, Italy, and Sweden, and they are certainly in need of quality control like everyone else.
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.
Infinitely Inwards
Even though that almost sounds biased I am into different types of metal and heavy music than you are. I don't claim to like the best music in the world, just the stuff that I think is my favorite. If you think that america is at the forefront of the metal industry then that is fine. I will respectfully disagree. (even though many of the bands that I love are from the U.S.) However, it is slightly pretentious to say that I should leave anything "out of the equation" because there are always too many variables to consider. I love or at least appreciate every band that you named. Converge especially was influential in terms of my earlier forays into metal/hardcore music. I have to slow down though, because we are basically discussing different ideologies about the same subject.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
ERRA - Impulse
Aborted - Global Flatline
Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
Haha, I was going to comment on the disparity, especially after your barely related anti-hipster comments in the Thrice writeup ... nice to see that you don't avoid good music just because it's the latest craze. I dislike Pitchfork as much as the next guy, but you could miss a lot of great music by avoiding everything they touch.
And Spartan (Tom?) have you listened to Thy Catafalque's latest album?
Beer Blog
Baton Rouge
Kudos for pissing on Animal Collective. They suck. I am so tired of hearing about that crap.
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San Diego, CA
This is true, sorry if I sounded obnoxious on that last post. I just don't think we should let some poor nu-metal bands color our perception of the quality of heavy music coming from the US, or anywhere for that matter. It sounds biased because I'm an American even though I'm currently in England haha.
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.
Infinitely Inwards
Well then, very gentleman-like of you sir.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
ERRA - Impulse
Aborted - Global Flatline
Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
Infinitely Inwards
Call me Thomas, man. Spartan is just an online name I've used since i was a teenager. Anyway, I just listened to Thy Catafalque's and I have to say that they are pretty awesome. I knew i could count on ya for some good rec's. I get a weird feel from them seeing as they are a 2 man band. A weird duality in the music. Awesome Black metal with some spacey electronic stuff too.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm
ERRA - Impulse
Aborted - Global Flatline
Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind)The Crafty Ape
Thomas it is.
I thought you might like 'em! I'm not sure how they pull off the two-man black metal band thing either, but pull it off they do.
Beer Blog
West Haven, CT
Aww you two.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.