2009: The Albums

Well, I'm happy to say that 2009 was a significantly better year for me that 2008 was. Although I managed to say away from really bad news for the most part, I did have to step up my work schedule quite a bit for mildly unfortunate reasons, which meant that the opportunities to take part in this here blogging hobby of mine had to suffer, just a little bit. Whenever I did find a moment to post something, there was usually a belated show review that I had to get to, which meant that I didn't get a chance to review as many albums as I have in previous years. This didn't mean that I avoided listening to music every chance I could though, and there have been some pretty impressive things released over the course of the year.

Looking over some of the other lists that have already emerged made me realize that there is a lot of stuff that I just haven't gotten around to listening to yet, but surprisingly, this is the first year that I remember being mostly OK with that. I am quite happy with the albums that made my list, and the fact that I still haven't gotten around to listening to heavy hitters like Fever Ray, Little Boots and even the mighty Neko Case's current releases and it isn't keeping me awake at night the way that these things used to, is making me surprisingly proud of my newfound maturity. I'm growing up kids; I'm growing up. And here's the list:

1. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love (Review)

So if you've been following the blog at all, then you've already seen me gush about this album before, and you've already seen its unusually high position on my 'best of the decade' list and you already knew that this was going to be number one. So, let's move on... (Myspace)

Video: The Rake Song on youtube

2. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

I realize that this is a recent album, but man does it take me back. Every party that I went to between 1989 and 1992 was jammed with this style of melancholy shoegaze-y pop music, and TPOBPAH and I must've been attending the same parties because they've got the sound nailed, and I gotta say that I love them for it. (Myspace)

Download: Everything With You mp3

3. The Paint Movement - Our Eurythmy (Review)

My vote for local release of the year goes to this unassuming group of intense brass rockers who've nailed a sound that I've been waiting approximately 30 years for. That's right, I've been longing for their sound since I was about 6 years old. If you don't believe me, ask my parents! I've looked around and although you could compare them to Broken Social Scene and the like, their lush sounding, jazz tinged indie vibe stands alone and I honestly don't hear anyone else that sounds like them right now. Anywhere. (Myspace)

Download: Knock Knock mp3

4. The xx - XX

By george, I think that The xx have finally got it. Several bands have been trying over the past few years to master the art of creating an unforced Ian Curtis inspired drone and while a few have come close (see Interpol, Editors, etc) others have simply come across as contrived. But The xx have done it! The album is flawless from start to finish, and the fact that it sounds so effortless fills me with the hope that these guys may just have a natural knack for all things droneful and shoegazelike, and if that's the case, the rest of their output will continue to be equally as mindblowing. Here's hoping! (Myspace)

Download: Basic Space mp3

5. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

I know people that love Bat For Lashes and I know people that hate them. Although I can't really speak for the under 30 crowd, the thirtysomethings among us who find themselves missing the glory years of Kate Bush, have probably latched onto this album with both hands because it captures that sound perfectly. I absolutely loved Kate, so it was a no brainer that this album would speak to me in the way that it has. Absolutely mesmerizing. (Myspace)

Video: Daniel on youtube

6. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career (Review)

Although the album is pretty much just more of the same delicately tortured music that we've come to expect from the Obscura crew, when it sounds this good, why mess with it? The album as a whole may not be their strongest release to date, but even a lesser album by these tweesters is going to be better than most albums by anyone else. (Myspace)

Download: My Maudlin Career mp3

7. Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is A Mouth

I used to believe that when it comes to the music that I like, the human voice is probably the least important instrument. Bruce Peninsula have proved me wrong. The vocals and choirs on this album are celebratory to say the least, as this album is probably the most uplifting release of the year. Some have claimed that it doesn't quite reach the heights that their live show does, but if that's the case, then I still have yet to see them perform at their best because to my ears, there's never been an album that harnesses the live sound better than this one. (Myspace)

Download: Steamroller mp3

8. Elbow with the BBC Orchestra - The Seldom Seen Kid Live At Abbey Road

I've always been a big fan of live orchestral reworkings of already established albums. Some would refer to such efforts as a blasphemous form of sacrilege, but I've always thought there was something to be said about making a great album sound larger than life. To be honest, when the original version of this album won the Mercury Prize in 2008, I admittedly didn't fully understand the hype. Not only do I think that this version is better, I think it's absolutely spellbinding. (Myspace)

Video: Grounds For Divorce on youtube

9. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Although this was released all the way back in January, I actually didn't get around to properly listening to it until about three months ago. Having done so, I have to admit that it is fully worthy of all of the praise that it's been receiving throughout the year, and the fact that this album seems to be topping more year end's than any other, does not surprise me. Yes, it's a little bit more streamlined and accessible than previous albums, but it's still just weird enough that it sounds like Animal Collective. Only time will tell, but there's a part of me that thinks that this may be their Pet Sounds. (Myspace)

Video: My Girls on youtube

10. Fox Jaws - At Odds (or Exercises in Separation While United In The Fall) (Review)

And those kids from Barrie have done it again! This album is everything that a sophomore release is supposed to be, and more. It's a definite step up in production (no doubt due to the masterful work of the Nevado crew), it's just experimental enough to stand on its own as a separate entity to their debut, yet it's not so different that everything that made the debut so great is suddenly lost. This album solidifies the fact that Fox Jaws are still one of my favorite bands. (Myspace)

Download: Ahab's Ghost mp3

Honorable Mention #1:
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse - Dark Night Of The Soul

I really really contemplated including this album on the list because quite frankly, it's one of the best albums of the year by far. However, the fact that it was never technically released disqualifies it from the final list. The legal kerfuffle that prevented this David Lynch soundtrack from ever seeing the light of day has been well documented elsewhere so there's no need for me to get into that, but let's just say that it's a confirmation that Suzanne Vega has still got it, Iggy Pop and Black Francis are legendary for a reason and Julian Casablancas has the ability to not be crappy when he's being led in the proper direction by the right people. Add in appearances by Gruff Rhys, Wayne Coyne, Jason Lytle and more and you've got an album that's ... well, need I say more? I don't want to be the one that recommends that you hit them innernets and search this one out but....

Other Honorable Mentions:
Sunparlour Players - Wave North
Dog Day - Concentration
Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Various Artists - Dark Was The Night
Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
The Racoon Wedding - Gather Gather Bones Rattle Rattle Truth
Son Volt - American Central Dust
The Schomberg Fair - Gospel
The Hoa Hoa's - Pop/Drone/Pedals
The Balconies - The Balconies
El Perro Del Mar - Love Is Not Pop

2009's best songs, shows and individual performances will be up next week, along with a review of the wicked awesome Spiral Beach show that I went to last week. Thanks for reading!

Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Depreciation Guild and Cymbals Eat Guitars @ The Horseshoe Tavern

It's interesting that no matter how long a band has been around, whether it's been a few months or several decades, the blissed-out fuzz of shoegaze always makes me a feel a little bit nostalgic. This is why there was no doubt in my mind that the show last Monday night was going to be right up my alley. The fact that the three bands performing have really only emerged onto the scene over the last couple of years was a perfect way to make me feel hip and relevant, while allowing me to relive my past at the same time. (Admittedly, using words like 'hip' probably decreases my relevancy rating but whatever...)

Kicking off the night was Cymbals Eat Guitars from New York. I was very much unfamiliar with their music despite the fact that everyone from Pitchfork to NME has been hyping them up pretty heavily over the past few months. More than a few sources have been tossing around overwhelming 'best of the year' praise for their debut Why There Are Mountains, and by the crowd's enthusiasm it was obvious that the buzz has reached our part of the globe as well. At first, I have to admit that I wasn't blown away. The instrumentation was tight enough, and the melodies were there, but the style seemed to be blowing an awful lot of 90's alternative air my way. My personal penchant for nostalgia does not really include the modern rock radio of that pre-millennial decade. On top of that, Joseph D'Agostino's screamo vocals irritated me. However, about three quarters into their set they pulled out an impressively ambitious number that actually caused me to take notice. Being unfamiliar with their songs, I'm afraid I can't tell you what song it was, but let's just say that it was enough to make a positive impression on me. The last couple of songs they played were also pretty good, and I'm at a point where I'd be willing to give the album a thorough listen before I pass final judgment on them.

Photos: My shots of Cymbals Eat Guitars are on flickr.
Myspace: Cymbals Eat Guitars

As much as I was looking forward to the evening's headliners, I have to say that my favourite act turned out to be the one that was sandwiched in the middle. Under normal circumstances that would be a bit of a jab at the other band, but seeing how The Depreciation Guild is made up of a few members of that band, including Pains' drummer Kurt Feldman on lead vocals, I'm pretty sure that nobody's feelings are going to be hurt. Besides the obvious shoegaze vibe, there are also sprinklings of psychedelia and electronica incorporated into their mix. The three piece hit the stage with a trippy rear projection of colour on a back wall screen, creating an ambiance that was as fuzzed out and blissful as the music they played. There were times when they sounded as much like Skip Spence's Oar, as they did My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, but it was the little Nintendo like blips and bleeps that really made them stand out from their influences. That unique sound is a product of a classic videogame system turned instrument known as the Famicom, which created not only an intense accompaniment to the instrumentation of the material, but also a necessary aural distraction during those moments when the band was tuning inbetween songs. I have since picked up their album In Her Gentle Jaws, and it truly is nothing short of fantastic.

Photos: My shots of The Depreciation Guild @ The Horseshoe are on flickr.
Myspace: The Depreciation Guild

This is the third time that Pains of Being Pure at Heart have come to Toronto this year, and although the venues seem to be getting a little bit smaller, the love and enthusiasm for their brand of fuzzy pop seems to be as strong as ever. I can't stop listening to their debut, and they're obviously eager to keep things going while people are interested, because part of the reason for their return was to promote a new EP entitled Higher Than The Stars. They showcased several songs from both of those albums and there's no denying the fact that they have a gift for melodic and affable pop sounds. While it's true that they are certainly not one of the more animated bands out there, and I'll admit that it would be nice to see them show a little more enthusiasm, the songs are definitely strong enough to hold a person's attention. There were also a few mild attempts at banter, one of which featured keyboardist Peggy Wang dedicating Everything With You to anyone who loves watching Degrassi, which got a few cheers from the crowd.

Photos: My shots of Pains of Being Pure at Heart are on flickr
Myspace: Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The show is also reviewed over at 'For The Records'

Arietta - Migration

Toronto band Arietta reminds me of many of the indie rock bands that I listened to back when I first started listening to indie rock. Their music boasts a cry of immediacy, a punkish alt-rock punch that moves and shakes with a high-strung longing that, when left in more juvenile hands, is accompanied by a snotty nosed false arrogance. But you'll notice that their name is not followed by a dash 182 or any other trivial number. No, taking a cue from more noble acts such as Minus The Bear, Moneen and even the local boys in Oh No Forest Fires, Arietta incorporates an aire of sophistication to their music that allows for a meeting of generational minds. In other words, it's angsty music for the more sophisticated listener.

The songs on their new release Migrations, are impeccably crafted and although they do display a measure of mathiness, they are not in any way grandiloquent. (OK, I used a thesaurus, but that is a cool word 'eh? It means pretentious.) When someone punches you in the face, the contact of knuckle to face always feels the same way, whether it was carefully thought out or a move out of instinct. That's the best way that I can describe Arietta's sound. If all you want is to rock out, then this album will definitely do it for you. But if you need something a little bit meatier, this album provides that also. For example, the song Northearned shifts from frantic to subtle with an endearing complexity that is eccentric for sure, but still very easy to follow. Another example of this is a song entitled It's An Uphill Battle And It's All Downhill From Here which starts very nice and melodic before easing into a more agressive segue with a stop-start instrumental break that precedes a poppy chorus that leads to a slightly rootsier moment that includes slide guitar. And this is all within a four minute song which means that there's no time to get bored or confused by it all. Although the songs themselves are very good, some of them great, I have to admit that my favourite moments are the brief instrumental snippets that flow inbetween the songs. These are the spaces that, for me, add a sonically pleasing uniformity to the entire album. They also act as a great way to occupy the mind before the next song inevitably attacks you.

Arietta are playing a CD release show at The Horseshoe on Thursday May 7th with special guests Cancel Winter and The Junction. The evening is also being hosted by the bizarre and magical Serb Superb.

Photo taken by Emma-Lee
Myspace: Arietta
Download: Into The Deep mp3

Other Stuff:
Magnet Magazine's Over/Under feature delves into the most overrated and underrated songs by The Clash. While I would agree that Rock The Casbah is definitely overrated, they failed to mention White Riot in the underrated category. Best. Punk. Song. Ever. [Myspace: The Clash]

Pains Of Being Pure Of Heart have new video out for the song Young Adult Friction. It is being streamed over at Chart. [Myspace: Pains Of Being Pure At Heart]

The Maccabees have just released their latest album called Wall Of arms. Tailor made for fans of Hot Hot Heat and The Futureheads, the whole thing is streaming in its entirety over at Drowned In Sound. [Myspace: The Maccabees]

[Via Chromewaves] Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes are going to be playing Massey Hall on August 28th. His most recent foray into country is entitled Secret, Profane and Sugarcane and it's is to be relased on June 2nd. [Myspace: Elvis Costello]

That's it for today since I'm literally running off to The Horseshoe right now to see The Balconies. Laterz.