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| « Back to Articles | | Garett Press | End of the Year List 2009
I always wonder how AP.net is going to top itself year after year, but it never disappoints. 2009 saw the implementation of the handsome and intuitive "AP.net 2.0" layout and partnerships that allowed for bigger and better content than ever. These past 12 months were like a monsoon of great releases to the point where being a music fan became hard work! It felt like every damn week there was a horde of high caliber albums. Exhausting as it might have been, I'm not complaining! But all in all, the releases below were the ones that somehow karate-chopped their way through the clutter (the very, very euphonious clutter), and demanded to be more than just another gig on an external hard drive.
Best Albums of 09
1. David Bazan Curse Your Branches
-Once in a blue moon the lyrical theme of an album will play soul-mate to the musings of your own psyche. Even less frequently, that album will also have the instrumental and vocal gravity to drive home its purpose and get inside you. This=that. David Bazan's dissection of blind faith feels brave rather than haughty, because in the process, he dissects his own failings as well.
2. The Dear Hunter Act III: Life and Death
-This project is simply a feast for the ears of a music lover. You'll find exuberance, lust, tragedy, and retribution ten times over, carefully penned by a composer who, like Tim Burton or Guillermo Del Torro in film, wants to fill your head with grandiose, majestic imagery - sometimes haunting, always rewarding. Not to mention... CD packaging of the year.
3. fun. Aim & Ignite
-It's all been said already. Highly listenable; well thought-out; clever wordplay; makes me happy as hell; Nate Reuss; replay value; vocal and instrumental arrangements. This was 2009's summer love and the essence of good music.
4. The Decemberists Hazards of Love
Bravo to the D'ists for going out on a limb and making an indie fairytale that rocks and rolls in strides. Here's hoping we continue to see this much edge and this much ambition from largely popular rock acts. I heart the Decemberists and I drool over concept albums... transitive property anyone?!?!
5. Dredg The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
Inciting Salmon Rushdie's letter to the six-billionth citizen, Dredg took prog-leaning experimental rock and married it with existentialism. In less capable hands, this union could spell disaster; but, this isn't the first time Dredg have taken listeners on an ear-trip through human fears and revelations. Again they prove an apt and kick-ass tour guide with epic riffs and mellifluous vocals to illuminate the path ahead.
6. Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything To Nothing
7. Thrice Beggars
8. Monsters of Folk Self-Titled
9. Say Anything Self-Titled
10. Daniel Merriweather Love & War
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11. As Cities Burn Hell or High Water
12. Weatherbox - The Cosmic Drama
13. Mew No More Stories
14. The Swell Season Strict Joy
15. Closure in Moscow First Temple
16. Brother Ali Us
17. The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
18. mewithoutYou-It's All Crazy, It's All False, It's All A Dream, It's Alright
19. Metric Fantasies
20. Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt 2
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21. Maxwell BLACKsummers Night
22. Deas Vail Birds & Cages
23. The Swellers - Ups and Downsizing
24. Sleeping At Last Storyboards
25. Two Tongues - Self-Titled
26. Polar Bear Club Chasing Hamburg
27. The Mars Volta - Octahedron
28. Rx Bandits Mandala
29. Brand New Daisy
30. The Brobecks - Violent Things
Honorable Mentions
The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha
Moneen - The World I Want To Leave Behind
Chase Pagan Bells & Whistles
Relient K Forget and Not Slow Down
The Temper Trap Conditions
The Working Title Bone Island
Landon Pigg - The Boy Who Never
Kevin Devine - Brother's Blood
Sea Wolf - White Water, White Bloom
Discovery LP
Why? - Eskimo Snow
Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky
Best EP
1. Hotel of the Laughing Tree Old Dominion
2. Common Market Winters End
3. Brighter Shades - You Shine So Bright
5. The Scene Aesthetic - A Type & A Shadow
4. The Static Jacks - Laces
6. Death Cab for Cutie Open Door
7. The Rocket Summer - You Gotta Believe
Phenomenal Songs of 09
Metric - "Sick Muse"
Camera Obscura - "French Navy"
The Dear Hunter - "Mustard Gas"
fun. - "Be Calm"
Dirty Projectors - "Cannibal Resource"
Maxwell - "Pretty Wings"
Animal Collective - "My Girls"
Silversun Pickups - "Panic Switch"
Michael Jackson - "This Is It"
Jay Z - "Empire State of Mind"
Discovery - "So Insane"
Mew - "A Dream"
Manchester Orchestra - "I've Got Friends"
Avett Brothers - "Kick Drum Heart"
Dredg - "Quotes"
John Mayer - "Assassin"
The Temper Trap - "Sweet Disposition"
Muse - "Exogenesis"
Say Anything - "Cemetery"
The Swell Season - "Low Rising"
Rx Bandits - "Hearts That Hanker for Mistake"
Islands - "No You Don't"
Relient K - "Candlelight"/"This Is The End"
Kings of Leon - "Sex On Fire"/"Use Somebody"
Mario - "Afraid to Cry"
Brand New - "Gasoline"
Flight of the Conchords - "We're Both In Love With A Sexy Woman"
Matisyahu - "One Day"
Matt & Kim - "Daylight"
Favorite Bubblegum Pop
1. Glee
2. Justin Bieber
3. Miley Cyrus - "Party In The USA"
4. Lady GaGa - "Paparazzi"
5. Kelly Clarkson - "My Life Would Suck Without You"
6. Keri Hilson - "Knock You Down"
7. Jessi McCartney
8. Jay Sean - "Down"
Best Films
1. District 9
2. Inglourious Basterds
3. A Serious Man
4. Avatar
5. The Hurt Locker
6. 500 Day of Summer
7. Zombieland
8. Precious
9. Funny People
10. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Best TV
1. Bored To Death
2. Curb Your Enthusiasm
3. V
4. Flash Forward
5. 30 Rock
6. Community
7. Parks and Rec
Worst Things
1. New Moon
2. Adam Lambert
3. Snuggies
4. TMZ Show
5. Tiger Woods Drama
6. Kanye Drama
7. Taylor Swift (her music, not her appearance)
8. So You Think You Can Dance - Mary Murphy
Most Anticipated
1. Coheed and Cambria
2. Saves The Day
3. Lupe Fiasco
4. Rocky Votolato
5. She & Him
6. LOST
7. Good Old War
Best Youtube Video
1. Single Ladies Gone Wrong
2. David After Dentist
3. Kittens Inspired By Kittens |
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Displaying posts 1 - 15 of 19. |
04:25 PM on 12/20/09 |
HAHAHAH, oh my god. Epic post. Thanks for the laugh  | | |
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09:16 AM on 12/22/09 | Tonight I'm Burning Star IV Fantastic list Garett, loving your Most Anticipated as well  | | |
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01:01 PM on 12/22/09 | well its a shame i'm a dream hahahah I completely agree with Mary Murphy being THE WORST. | | |
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09:37 PM on 12/22/09 | I think I missed the boat on this Bazan fellow. Your opinion is always solid. Guess I'm gonna have to check him out. | | |
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10:12 PM on 12/22/09 | where is God when you hate him most great musical list.
and i love that you put District 9 as your favorite movie, along with 500 Days of Summer and Fantastic Mr. Fox.
and i absolutely love Parks & Rec. but i heard that it's getting cancelled, which i'm pretty upset about. | | |
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11:11 PM on 12/22/09 | What's left of where we're from? Great list all around, which has summarily inspired me to listen to David Bazan.
Also, my only qualm: Snuggies on the Worst list? Whaaaa? | | |
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11:15 PM on 12/22/09 | i think i am one of three people that actually like mary murphy. | | |
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06:42 AM on 12/23/09 | Didn't expect to see Merriweather on anyone's list. Respek, Press. |
Thanks man - that was definitely my go-to R&B of the year. His voice is so unreal.
Fantastic list Garett, loving your Most Anticipated as well |
Thanks brother! Let the year of the black rainbow commence!
great musical list.
and i love that you put District 9 as your favorite movie, along with 500 Days of Summer and Fantastic Mr. Fox.
and i absolutely love Parks & Rec. but i heard that it's getting cancelled, which i'm pretty upset about. |
Yeah District 9 just took me for the biggest loop - wasn't expecting the intensity. Aw, poor Parks. Long live Aziz.
Great list all around, which has summarily inspired me to listen to David Bazan.
Also, my only qualm: Snuggies on the Worst list? Whaaaa? |
Hahah, in a way I guess I'm thankful for Snuggies because of those ridiculous commercials - but, just... no. | | |
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09:35 AM on 12/23/09 | February 2nd is going to be an amazing day!! 4 8 15 16 23 42 | | |
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09:36 AM on 12/23/09 | www.last.fm/user/alexmacwilliam hell yea bazan number one! | | |
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11:46 AM on 12/23/09 | HAHAHAH, oh my god. Epic post. Thanks for the laugh |
Don't mention it.
And fuck Snuggies and Kanye Drama. | | |
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03:44 PM on 12/23/09 | Your top 10 films are nearly identical to mine, except I had Up on there instead of Avatar and Moon instead of Zombieland. Great list overall. Way to go. | | |
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