2009 Year in Review: Top 5 Albums
Just because I feel that 2009 was a particularly weak year in music doesn't mean it didn't have it's bright spots.
Say Anything “Self-Titled”
With this album, Say Anything solidified itself as one of my favorite bands ever. This album is their most mature and definitely their most catchy. The most amazing part to me is that their album “In Defense of the Genre” was my favorite album of 2007 and in my opinion this album is a notch above. Singer Max Bemis is also becoming one of my favorite lyricists, I love his brashness, openness, and his sense of humor. All three qualities are shown in each album he’s written and improve with each outing. If that’s not enough to get you to want to listen to this album, you can read the review I wrote about this album from a couple months ago here.
Favorite tracks: “Hate Everyone,” “Less Cute,” “Eloise,” “Mara and Me,” “Crush’d,” “Cemetary,” “Property,” “Young Dumb and Stung,” and “Ahh… Men”
Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”
Phoenix is the perfect band name for this band because they are definitely rising like one. When I listen to them I experience a phenomena that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced with any other band; I sing along to them knowing full well that I probably don’t know half of the lyrics. They are just that damn catchy! I truly have no idea what they’re saying but their brand of pop-rock is so catchy that I don’t really mind. One of the best live bands I’ve ever seen, it’s hard not to have a good time watching them perform or just listening to their music in general. It’s also not hard to like a band like Phoenix in general, they make such feel good music and that more than anything is what I think most people need.
Favorite Tracks: “Lisztomania,” “1901,” “Fences,” “Rome,” “Countdown,” “Girlfriend,” and “Armistice”
Manchester Orchestra “Mean Everything to Nothing”
Manchester Orchestra are a band that you NEED TO KNOW after 2009. I do not see anything but good things coming from this band in the future. Before 2009 they were virtual unknowns and since then I’ve heard them get a decent amount of radio play. I saw Manchester Orchestra open up for my favorite band, Brand New, back in 2007 and they blew me away. Since then I was hoping they’d get the exposure they deserve and I’m glad to say 2009 brought them that. They’ve got a sound unlike any band out there right now. It’s a very raw sound and that’s what I enjoy most about it. This album is also showcases their versatility; sometimes it’s soft and beautiful and other times it’s loud, fast, raw, and rugged. Just writing about it now makes me want to listen to it.
Favorite tracks: “The Only One,” “Shake it Out,” “I’ve Got Friends,” “100 Dollars,” “I Can Feel a Hot One,” “My Friend Marcus,” “Everything to Nothing,” and “The River”
Mayer Hawthorne “A Strange Arrangement”
Mayer Hawthorne takes the title of “baby making album of the year.” I’d make babies by myself to this album if I had to. “A Strange Arrangement” is as oldies as you can get. It’s got a soul, old school r&b, jazz kinda feel to it and for me it was love at first listen. It’s crazy because on that first listen I would find myself singing along already. Certain songs made me feel like I already knew all the lyrics because of how catchy the tracks were. Play this album while your parents are around and they might think you’re a pretty cool kid after all.
Favorite tracks: “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’,” “A Strange Arrangement,” “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” “Maybe So, Maybe No,” “Shiny & New,” and “Make Her Mine”
Morrissey “Years of Refusal”
I want to say that a Morrissey album would be in my top 5 of the year any year based solely on his voice alone. Morrissey has got a voice that can make grown men weep and make women around the world wish that he liked vaginas. Moz caught my attention in the first track “Something is Squeezing My Skull” and kept my full attention for the entire album. He takes us through an album full of love, anger, and heartache as he’s done throughout his entire career. You can even forgive the fact that some of these songs have been on the “Greatest Hits” record. I found myself asking the question “Will Morrissey ever be truly happy?” Though he responds with the final track “I’m OK by Myself;” I secretly hope he won’t be so he will fill the rest of my life with a soundtrack of angst and emotion. Morrissey is a God among men.
Favorite tracks: “Something is Squeezing My Skull,” “All You Need is Me,” “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris,” “That’s How People Grow Up,” “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore,” “You Were Good in Your Time,” and “I’m OK by Myself”
Give the clips a listen if you haven't heard any of these records. My words don't do any of these albums justice. So keep an open ear, open mind, and open heart when giving them a try. Looking back on it now, these albums are all awesome. Maybe 2009 wasn't so bad after all...
Stay gold.
-Juicy Justin.
Say Anything “Self-Titled”
With this album, Say Anything solidified itself as one of my favorite bands ever. This album is their most mature and definitely their most catchy. The most amazing part to me is that their album “In Defense of the Genre” was my favorite album of 2007 and in my opinion this album is a notch above. Singer Max Bemis is also becoming one of my favorite lyricists, I love his brashness, openness, and his sense of humor. All three qualities are shown in each album he’s written and improve with each outing. If that’s not enough to get you to want to listen to this album, you can read the review I wrote about this album from a couple months ago here.
Favorite tracks: “Hate Everyone,” “Less Cute,” “Eloise,” “Mara and Me,” “Crush’d,” “Cemetary,” “Property,” “Young Dumb and Stung,” and “Ahh… Men”
Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”
Phoenix is the perfect band name for this band because they are definitely rising like one. When I listen to them I experience a phenomena that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced with any other band; I sing along to them knowing full well that I probably don’t know half of the lyrics. They are just that damn catchy! I truly have no idea what they’re saying but their brand of pop-rock is so catchy that I don’t really mind. One of the best live bands I’ve ever seen, it’s hard not to have a good time watching them perform or just listening to their music in general. It’s also not hard to like a band like Phoenix in general, they make such feel good music and that more than anything is what I think most people need.
Favorite Tracks: “Lisztomania,” “1901,” “Fences,” “Rome,” “Countdown,” “Girlfriend,” and “Armistice”
Manchester Orchestra “Mean Everything to Nothing”
Manchester Orchestra are a band that you NEED TO KNOW after 2009. I do not see anything but good things coming from this band in the future. Before 2009 they were virtual unknowns and since then I’ve heard them get a decent amount of radio play. I saw Manchester Orchestra open up for my favorite band, Brand New, back in 2007 and they blew me away. Since then I was hoping they’d get the exposure they deserve and I’m glad to say 2009 brought them that. They’ve got a sound unlike any band out there right now. It’s a very raw sound and that’s what I enjoy most about it. This album is also showcases their versatility; sometimes it’s soft and beautiful and other times it’s loud, fast, raw, and rugged. Just writing about it now makes me want to listen to it.
Favorite tracks: “The Only One,” “Shake it Out,” “I’ve Got Friends,” “100 Dollars,” “I Can Feel a Hot One,” “My Friend Marcus,” “Everything to Nothing,” and “The River”
Mayer Hawthorne “A Strange Arrangement”
Mayer Hawthorne takes the title of “baby making album of the year.” I’d make babies by myself to this album if I had to. “A Strange Arrangement” is as oldies as you can get. It’s got a soul, old school r&b, jazz kinda feel to it and for me it was love at first listen. It’s crazy because on that first listen I would find myself singing along already. Certain songs made me feel like I already knew all the lyrics because of how catchy the tracks were. Play this album while your parents are around and they might think you’re a pretty cool kid after all.
Favorite tracks: “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’,” “A Strange Arrangement,” “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” “Maybe So, Maybe No,” “Shiny & New,” and “Make Her Mine”
Morrissey “Years of Refusal”
I want to say that a Morrissey album would be in my top 5 of the year any year based solely on his voice alone. Morrissey has got a voice that can make grown men weep and make women around the world wish that he liked vaginas. Moz caught my attention in the first track “Something is Squeezing My Skull” and kept my full attention for the entire album. He takes us through an album full of love, anger, and heartache as he’s done throughout his entire career. You can even forgive the fact that some of these songs have been on the “Greatest Hits” record. I found myself asking the question “Will Morrissey ever be truly happy?” Though he responds with the final track “I’m OK by Myself;” I secretly hope he won’t be so he will fill the rest of my life with a soundtrack of angst and emotion. Morrissey is a God among men.
Favorite tracks: “Something is Squeezing My Skull,” “All You Need is Me,” “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris,” “That’s How People Grow Up,” “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore,” “You Were Good in Your Time,” and “I’m OK by Myself”
Give the clips a listen if you haven't heard any of these records. My words don't do any of these albums justice. So keep an open ear, open mind, and open heart when giving them a try. Looking back on it now, these albums are all awesome. Maybe 2009 wasn't so bad after all...
Stay gold.
-Juicy Justin.
posted by justin xavier enriquez at
5:04 PM
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