The Down Low

Playlist: The best music of ‘09

By Ben H. Moffat

POSTED: December 29, 2009

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2009 began with me wandering around my neighborhood at 4 a.m. New Years Day trying to figure out where I lived. I must have passed my building about three times before I realized what an idiot I was.

Before you thank me for the non sequitur, please stop because there is a reason I mentioned it. It’s because that moment at 4 a.m. was a metaphor for 2009. It has to do with the fact that everyone from the very start was talking about next year, about 2010, about how, “next year the economy will be better,” “next year my girlfriend won’t break up with me,” “next year I won’t be so broke,” “2009 won’t be any better than ‘08, don’t get your hopes up.” Everyone is, and was, so concerned about the future that no one realized what was in front of him or her. Everyone is still walking around their neighborhood at 4 a.m. wondering where they live. 2009 is like the overachieving middle child — sadly ignored.

What everyone needs to understand is that 2009, while not a great year on face value, was a most fantastic year for music. It was a year of great music displaced in a decidedly underwhelming year, and an almost decidedly underwhelming decade for art.

However, we have witnessed the rebirth of music, the return of music to its purest form: the album. All of this is in the face of a media/culture/country that has been dead set on declaring the end of the music business, the death of the album, the death of the song and to skewer art.

I’m not sure when things shifted but it did and I’m pretty happy about it. Because I was sick of listening to music that had no flow; music that just floated around without telling any story. It was a year defined by economic hardship but in the fact of that, thank goodness: A) no one tried to sound like Radiohead, B) There were actual albums rather than collections, and C) Nobody, not even Animal Collective, sounded like Animal Collective. It was also the year of the successful side-project, it was so many things to so many people but mostly, and I’m not afraid to say it, it was the best year for music, this decade, ever…EVER!

So, here it is, a very ‘obvious’ Best of 2009. This is not a list of relative unknowns; like nature, music is definitely survival of the fittest. Darwin was alive and well in ‘09. The albums with the best positive variations definitely climbed to the top of the heap. Away we go!

1. Grizzly Bear — “Veckatimest” (May 29, 2009)

This is without any doubt in my mind the best record of the year and definitely one of the best albums of the past 10 years. It is instantly apparent how much thought went into this album. “Veckatimest” will be one of those albums that, I hate to say it, define an era, and act as the high water mark for many years to come. “Veckatimest” is one of those albums like “OK Computer” that many bands will inevitably attempt to duplicate and never come close.

2. Handsome Furs — “Face Control” (March 10, 2009)

As I said before, this was the year of the side-project (Daniel Boeckner, the lead guitarist, is also in Wolf Parade). But it was ‘side-project’ redux; it was nothing like what the word ‘side project’ usually conjures up: Experimental banjo music or choral arrangements by Eddie Van Halen. This album is so pulled together, so tight, you could bounce a quarter off it. Handsome Furs managed to make a perfect blend of jolty electronic beats and rock guitar. They made a really cohesive album. “Face Control” is fantastic.

3. Drummer — “Feel Good Together” (Sept. 29, 2009)

None of the drummers play drums! How novel! Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), Jamie Stillman (Teeth of the Hydra and Harriet the Spy), Jon Finley (Party of Helicopters), Stephen Clements (Houseguest), Greg Boyd (Ghostman & Sandman). This is just a great rock album. Perfectly perfect for all occasions.

4. Dirty Projectors — “Bitte Orca” (June 6, 2009)

There’s something about Dirty Projectors that reminds me of Yes. Not Yes circa “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and more Yes circa “Close to the Edge.” Bitte Orca (meaning Please Orca) is just one of those albums that is a definite experience. It’s progressive, it’s an album where the music and the lyrics express something that is inexpressible; just beautiful snap shots. The disjointed complexity of their arrangements is soothing, mind blowing, and wonderfully frustrating to listen to. There are so many songs within songs that it’s just a delight. Definitely one of the most complex albums of 2009.

5. Blakroc — Self-titled (Nov. 27, 2009)

There has always been a somewhat straight line from blues to hip-hop. From the subject matter to the song structure, it was practically a no-brainer. But it took the Black Keys to finally do it correctly. Words can’t really describe how badass this record is; it’s got swagger.

6. Phoenix — “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” (May 26, 2009)

Their fifth release since 2000’s “United,” Phoenix has the Blur syndrome (where the ignorant Americans don’t pay attention until they write something so blatantly fantastic or amazing (i.e. “Song 2”), which is really just as amazing as their previous releases). There is no doubt that if I had this on vinyl, my needle would be broken from constant listening.

7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs — “It’s Blitz!” (March 10, 2009)

The yelling and screaming that defined the sound of the Master EP has pretty much vanished. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have definitely gone strictly pop on this record and Karen O has gone sweet — and that’s comforting to know. It’s as if the Yeah Yeah Yeahs got together and channeled their inner Blondie for this one and I’m totally fine with that; a joy from beginning to end.

8. Arctic Monkeys — “Humbug” (Aug. 25, 2009)

First off, this album was co-produced by Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Them Crooked Vultures etc.). Now that’s not exactly why I put it on this ‘best of list’ but it definitely didn’t hurt its chances. This album is definitely a little darker than the previous Arctic Monkeys albums. While this is not a huge departure from their previous two albums, it is definitely a shift to a darker sound.

9. The XX — “XX” (Aug. 17, 2009)

2009 was also the year of rediscovering the proper way to use reverb; more Cure, less U2. The XX made a great album without too much pomp or circumstance; not since Explosions in the Sky had I heard so many great songs with so few notes. One of the most playful albums of the year.

10. Jay-Z — “The Blueprint III” (Sept. 8, 2009)

Simply put, the first six tracks are masterpieces. Between the instrumentation and the subject matter, anyone who doesn’t hear that hip-hop is going in another direction after this album is kidding themselves.

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Contact Ben at letters@graffitiwv.com

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