2009 Top 10 Tag Team: Chris Conlan & Dave Spak
Posted 01/06/2010 09:51AM by Rick Gebhardt as Top 10
Chris Conlan's Top 10:
1. Set Your Goals – This Will Be The Death Of Us
I did not see this album coming; especially after listening to Mutiny. Press and fans alike raved about their first album, but it is nothing compared to This Will Be The Death Of Us. The boys in Set Your Goals have set the milestone for other pop/punk acts, even the likes of New Found Glory who always seem to be at the top. All I wish is that these guys get all the praise they deserve for creating the best album of the year and maybe the best pop/punk album of the decade.
2. Oceana – Birtheater
I'm so glad I took the advice from a friend on AIM, when he suggested that I check out Oceana. I was reluctant at first because it seemed most bands on Rise Records all weren't my cup of tea. So after constantly putting it off, I finally sat down and listened to the band's sophomore album, Birtheater. To my surprise, I came across a diamond in the rough and an album that has yet to leave my mp3 player. Although the band disbanded earlier this year, they are back together. Now I hope Rise Records pushes this band because they have "it".
3. Architects – Hollow Crown
Unrelenting and unstoppable are two words that come to mind when listening to Architects' Hollow Crown. They just absolutely destroy your speakers with tracks like "Early Grave" and "Follow The Water". This has got to be the heaviest record in 2009 (well at least in my opinion). Hopefully, these Brits pick steam up here in the states because it seems like the masses think Slipknot is a heavy band. Pfft.
4. Every Time I Die – New Junk Aesthetic
At first listen to New Junk Aesthetic, I can honestly say I wasn't that impressed. After that listen, I came to the realization that I was I was completely wrong. How could I think anything bad about Every Time I Die? I'm dead serious when I say that because when it comes to consistency, this band is the epitome of it. On New Junk Aesthetic, you get ETID at their finest. Keith's vocals are cockier than ever and the music has a swagger to it that will make chicks just want to.....
5. Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
Dave Matthews Band is undoubtedly one of the most talented bands in the music game today. If you don't believe me, you have to see them live because it is probably the best concert experience you'll ever get to attend. On their new album the guys have brought themselves back into the limelight, because it seemed as if their past efforts haven't been as solid. Even with the loss of founding member LeRoi Moore, the guys of DMB poured their heart & soul into this record. So spread the love and play some DMB.
6. Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything To Nothing
People were always talking about this band, way before they even signed on at Columbia for the release of their debut album. Even with all the talks, I still didn't listen to them. I can't honestly tell you why, but I'm a dumb for not doing so. Mean Everything To Nothing is a work of art that cannot be explained, just has to be heard. From start to finish, the guys of Manchester Orchestra show why they are a top contender in your "New Favorite Artist" list.
7. Erik Hassle – Hurtful
I'll probably get ripped on for picking this album, but I'm a HUGE sucker for pop music. So when I heard the lead single from Erik Hassle, I was swept off my feet with joy. There honestly has been an album like this is quite some time; at least in my opinion. All that Erik needs to hit it big in the UK is to get out on the road with Lady Gaga. Long live POP! Seriously, if you don't think "Hurtful" is catchy, you need to get your ears checked.
8. Cartel – Cycles
I’m calling it a comeback!
9. Evergreen Terrace – Almost Home
This band just keeps getting better with age and with Almost Home secure themselves a spot as a top Metal Blade act (eat your hear out Unearth). The music is just ferocious and makes you just want to cause some havoc. For all lifters out there, this is an essential to have on your mp3 player.
10. Ace Enders and a Million Different People - When I Hit the Ground
Ace Ender hit the nail on the hammer with this disc. It his best work by far. It's amazing to see how far Ace has come since the days of The Early November. This band has a ton of potential and I hope it gets noticed. 2010 should be a good year.
Honorable Mentions:
The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster – III
The Devil Wears Prada – With Roots Above and Branches Below
A Day to Remember – Homesick
Dredg – The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
Dave Spak's Top 10:
Most people don’t realize that each year gets progressively better for music. 2009 was arguably the best year for music yet. It offered more diverse styles as well as solid albums and myriad ways to listen to them. People who are disenfranchised with current offerings focus too hard on what is the most visible. There is plenty of great music out there that rivals the classics; however, you just need to take some time to find it. The music that will make a true lasting impact won’t be shoved down your throat like mainstream music but it’s still out there. These are the albums that left an indubitable impression on me.
1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
I almost feel guilty putting this as my favorite album of the year. It is sure to take the same position on more lists than any other release. The fact remains, however, that this is without a doubt the record that has stuck with me the most throughout this year. Every time I listened to it since it was released back in January, I found a new track to obsess over, a new favorite lyric, a new captivating beat. Animal Collective is doing something special and unique and whether you like it or not, it is leaving its mark on people.
2. Future of the Left – Travels with Myself and Another
From the first cries of "C'mon, Rick, I'm not a prize. I'm not a cynic or one of those guys" by singer Andy Falkous, I was hooked on this record. This is the kind of relentless rock and roll onslaught I have been craving for years. With tongue-in-cheek lyrics like “What kind of orgy leaves a sense of deeper love?”, it is hard not to be taken by these cynical yet likable noise rock tunes. I, for one, will reciprocate the proposal to join their lost cause.
3. Japandroids – Post-Nothing
This album is full of simple and thoughtful garage rock. Each track has its own character and there isn’t a bad one on the record. “Young Hearts Spark Fire” is one of the best anthemic rock songs since the heyday of The Replacements. Hearing these eight tracks bursting with substance is even more remarkable once you realize that is all created by Brian King on guitar and David Prowse on drums.
4. Dinosaur Jr. – Farm
Is it possible for a band to get better with age? Dinosaur Jr. proved that they haven’t lost a step with their comeback album Beyond . Now with Farm, they show that they may have actually gotten better. The album displays a band that knows how to take their signature sound and expand upon it to create an innovative new monster. The slacker anthems, roaring solos, and complex arrangements are as good if not better than anything they have done in the past. Need a feel good sing along? They have your solution with “Over It”. Do you miss the deafening solos and epic structures of classic rock? Then you need to hear “I Don’t Wanna Go There”. This is one rock record that has it all.
5. Dan Deacon – Bromst
I started to get concerned when initial press for this record was dubbing it Dan Deacon’s ‘dark’ album. Thankfully, that darkness was in relation to Spiderman of the Rings which was possibly the ‘brightest’ sounding album ever recorded. Bromst finds Dan Deacon composing with more acoustic instrumentation, experimenting with intricate structures, and expanding on his joyous electronic sound. These are dance rhythms for those of us who like to flail around like we are possessed when listening to music. Despite the elaborate arrangements and introspective lyrics, it still sounds like one big party and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
6. Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer
My year end list is never complete without a release from a band that features Spencer Krug. This time he has really outdone himself with Dragonslayer, the latest album from Sunset Rubdown. The clever lyrics which first attracted me to his songwriting are in full swing on songs like “Idiot Heart”. The element that really impresses me, however, is the originality in the songwriting and sound exhibited in tracks such as “Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!” “Dragonslayer” is also one of the best album closers I’ve ever heard and manages to capture your attention and keep you fully enthralled for its 10 minute plus length. Simply nothing sounds like this band does and that is one of the best compliments for a band with writing this strong.
7. Converge – Axe to Fall
Every time Converge releases a new album I think to myself, “There is no way this could be as good as the last one.” Yet without fail, it is as good if not better. I was absolutely floored after my first listen through Axe to Fall. Kurt Ballou’s guitar work is impossibly fast and the rhythm section is as thunderous as it has even been. Jacob Bannon’s vocals still sound like someone was running a cheese grater over his vocal cords while they were recording and the lyrics are as heart wrenching as ever. Songs like “Reap What You Sow” are evidence that this may be their best work since Jane Doe.
8. Isis – Wavering Radiant
With Wavering Radiant, Isis has upped the Tool influence and even took Adam Jones along for the ride. The result is their most gorgeous work to date. Isis has perfected the marriage of ambient and metal sounds to put them miles above their peers. Look no further than “Ghost Key” to hear the progression that this band has taken. It contains every element that makes them one of the most critically acclaimed metal bands of this generation. It is catchy yet contains devastatingly heavy guitars and breathtaking crescendos. The band creates an atmosphere like no other on this record and I blissfully get lost in it every time I press play.
9. Keelhaul – Keelhaul’s Triumphant Return to Obscurity
I’m going to make the bold statement that Keelhaul is the most underrated band in metal. It doesn’t matter though because as the title shows, Keelhaul knows their place in the world. I am just thankful that after years of absence they decided to return to the obscure realm of music where they reign supreme. The talent demonstrated on this album is spectacular with each member of the band contributing significant components to every composition. Those who enjoy the technical side of metal provided by ample musicianship will get lost in this sonic space. “THC for One” is the closest they come to conventional songwriting but the sarcastic lyrics and harsh breakdowns aren’t exactly tailored for mainstream ears. Those of us with a penchant for the obscure will find more solace in the intricacies of tracks like “Kirby Wurm”.
10. Girls – Album
This is the most I have flopped on an album within a short time span. After the initial hype, I gave Album a listen and wrote it off as hipster claptrap. Now, I am thinking it might remain the instant classic that some claim it to be. It is hard not to succumb to the backlash that hype often results in and sometimes you almost miss a strong record like the one released by Girls. Luckily after several listens, I have found much to admire within the notes that pour out of singer Christopher Owens. It has been awhile since I found an album that contains so many songs that I inexplicably identify with. The tragic honesty contained in “Hellhole Ratrace” and the personal confession in “Lauren Marie” gets right to the heart of the human condition. It may be the post-grad ennui that I experienced this year but I can’t think of another album released in the last few years that was this emotionally powerful.
Honorable Mentions:
The Big Pink – A Brief History of Love
A Place to Bury Strangers – Exploding Head
Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
St. Vincent – Actor
Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
Comments
Atascadero, CA
ewww Set Your Goals #1? really, i felt inclined to put it in my top10 based upon how much i listened to it in 2009 but i cant even make myself put it on anymore. can't stand how bad the vocals are.
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Milwaukee, WI
I feel like I am missing something with Animal Collective. Of what I have heard, I've come away thinking they sound awful. But it's RYM's number one rated album and it's making top tens everywhere. Is it me?
Minnesota
I also can't get into Animal Collective. And I also agree with the lackluster-ness of SYG's latest. Not top 10 worthy at all.
I am amazed, however, that I do share a top 10 pick with something on Chris's list. It's definitely not DMB, in case you're curious.
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Spokane, Washington
i personally like panda bear's work more than animal collective...
current listenings:
Of Virtue - "Heartsounds"
Capsule - "No Ghost"
Century - "Red Giant"
James Vincent McMorrow - "Early In The Morning"
Blind Pilot - "We Are The Tide"
Alabama
I find this hard believe considering you worshiped the c.d. player this was playing on when it came out Aaron. lol I do love the new SYG though. Glad to see Converge making it on another list. Rick isn't. :] I'm really suprised to see ETID on so many lists. Didn't enjoy it as much as older stuff but maybe I should give it another spin.
Atascadero, CA
yea it just got super old very fast and then got annoying after awhile.. it still made my top10 based upon that but I cant even make it through it anymore.
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Other than Isis, I fully support Dave's list.
Oklahoma
Nice list, Dave. The Girls album is definitely a grower... but no Projectors?! I thought if I could count on anyone to give them some love it would be you.
West Haven, CT
That's my problem with most new cd's or bands. I'll think it's really good and get bored real fast. I guess it all boils down to what you spin the most that year even if a little later you don't like it as much as before.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
West Haven, CT
I'm not to sure about Set Your Goals. Animal Collective are a really interesting band but I get annoyed, tired of them pretty quick.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Minnesota
What???? No Isis love?
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Baltimore, MD
I like seeing Oceana on Chris' list. I've gotten away from the genre, but this is one group that I came across this year and really dug what I heard. I thought it was a shame they broke up right after releasing it, but didn't know they had gotten back together.
As for Dave's list, I have a love-hate relationship with Animal Collective. One day I could listen to their stuff non-stop and another day, I'd be thinking "what is this crap?"
Dig the A Place to Bury Strangers mention, sweet album, but unfortunately The Big Pink was not all that favorable to me. The Big Pink has two really good songs and all the rest are nothing special. However, I'm excited to see them perform together in the coming months.
Always good to see some love for a local Baltimorean, Dan Deacon...didn't like that album for the longest time but recently gave it another shot, and it's solid stuff.
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Kansas
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San Jose, CA
Chris, I don't connect that much with your list, but it's good to see an album nobody from anywhere has put on their list. I'll have to check out Hassle.
Dave, I like your list in that it picks out stuff that, while shoved in the hipster category, is actually good and not because Pitchfork jocked it. However, I don't agree with Animal Collective or Girls. AnCo I understand why some people would like it but it doesn't click with me, but Girls I just don't really get the hype behind. Sounds average to me
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Lehigh Valley, PA
Chris, your list is fairly decent. SYG as #1...ehhhhh I dont know. Good album, just not a #1 in my book. Thank you for including DMB in your list and not pleasing Rick with me.
Dubuque
See I still listen to the SYG disc quite a bit actually. I have yet to get bored of it.
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Waterloo, Ontario
great list Chris, i'm really digging Oceana and i'm happy to see that Ace Enders made it on a list other than mine.
Top Ten of 2009 http://www.decoymusic.com/users/3747/top_tens/2009
Minneapolis, MN
I gotta give credit to Chris for turning me on to Oceana to. They are solid.
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Raleigh, NC
Digging Set Your Goals and Architects, Chris. Architects was probably the first disc of the year that I got into.
Boston, MA
The Dirty Projectors album was great but I found it hard to fit it in my top 10. I spent so much more time with the albums that made the list. I'm surprised you only like two of their songs. The Big Pink struck me as one of those bands where if you like one you'd like em all. I saw them live in the fall and they were great. I assume you are going to see them on the tour with APTBS who also put on a good show and play LOUD.
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San Diego, CA
Chris-
SYG, ETID, Architects...great inclusions. Loved the Maylene album, too.
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.
Toronto, Ontario
Nice list, Mr. Spak
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Dubuque
If you love some heavy tuneage, I highly recommend checking out both Oceana and Architects if you haven't already.
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Good call on Dan Deacon. Bromst actually crept into my number 1 spot this year without me even realizing it. And I can understand the Animal Collective love ... they have some great songs, and their music is entrancing. The album has a whole just barely wasn't strong enough (for me, anyway) to break into my top 20, but it came close.
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