List!

By brandon, on December 6th, 2009

#80
Death Cab For Cutie – ‘The Open Door’ EP
Atlantic Records
Released April 14, 2009

For a while there, I think I may have gone through my own little DCFC backlash. Aside from a few songs, I thought their last record was pure rubbish and my overall time spent listening to them, even in the winter when I am usually more than game for some indiemo goodness, was quite miniscule. It’s a new year though, a new winter is approaching, and I think I’m ready to be back on the wagon. What brought about this bk dcfc revival you ask? Oh, well who knows, but for argument’s sake let’s say that it was this ep. For whatever reason, these tunes did it for me in a way that last record never was able to…these songs just sound Death Cabbier to my ears; more like the older stuff that I once fell in love with. Fave Tracks: ‘A Diamond And A Tether’ (below), ‘Little Bribes’, and ‘My Mirror Speaks’

#79
A.A. Bondy – ‘When The Devil’s Loose’
Fat Possum
Released September 1, 2009

I get teased, relentlessly at times, for finding and listening to dudes like this. Seemingly random dudes with acoustic guitars who make some sort of living singing and songwriting have a tendency to be my cup of tea, and I just can’t help it. So what? Anyway, this is one of those records that just sorta stumbled across and thought I’d give a shot, and ya know what? It’s pretttty darn good. Fave Tracks: ‘Mightiest Of Guns’, ‘The Mercy Wheel’, ‘When The Devil’s Loose’

#78
Miss May I – ‘Apologies Are For The Weak’
Rise Records
Released June 23, 2009

Fave Tracks: ‘Architect’ (below), ‘Forgive And Forget’, ‘A Dance With Aera Cura’

#77
The Swell Season – ‘Strict Joy’
Anti
Released September 27, 2009

Showing up on this list is a big big deal for most artists. They have a tendency to be absolutely thrilled just being recognized and I can’t really blame them. For marketa and glen though, I have to think this showing may come as a bit of a letdown. With the once soundtrack, they placed very high, top 5 I think, so I’m sure they were geared up to have a return trip to the glorylands, buuut unfortch they didn’t deliver. Don’t get me wrong, I like this cd but cmon dudes, after that last one you have to step up your game a little bit. Those shoes are big I know but you have to at least attempt to fill them, right? No? Allllright. Maybe I’m being swayed by not having a killer movie to have as an accompanyment to these songs. Maybe them not dating anymore has hurt their songwriting. Maybe I set the bar too high. Who knows. Point is, while still a good cd and better than a bunch of others this year, I really wanted and hoped for more. Ah well.
Fave Tracks: ‘In These Arms’, ‘I Have Loved You Wrong’, ‘The Rain’
‘Low Rising’

#76
Great Lake Swimmers – ‘Lost Channels’
Nettwerk
Released March 31, 2009
Fave Tracks: ‘Palmistry’, ‘River’s Edge’, ‘She Comes To Me In Dreams’
‘Pulling On A Line’