Thomas' musical faves of 2009

I don't know what it is about "year end" lists. I'm always intrigued to see what people put, but inevitably I get frustrated because of how incorrect they are. Luckily for anyone reading this, I've narrowed the year down the last year in music to the true winners.

RECORD OF THE YEAR: CRYPTACIZE - MYTHOMANIA


Cryptacize must know how to read my mind. They seem to have taken all of my favorite elements (or "tricks") in music and effortlessly seam them together. This entire record sounds like a minimalist Roy Orbison production with minor psychedelic tendencies. They have a Deerhoof-like propensity to wander around traditional song structure but without the tarnishing the integrity of a really good, if strange, pop song. The "lead" singer Nedelle has a beautiful, strong, and incredibly controlled voice. Kind of like a more subdued Neko Case? And I'm usually not into talkin' up musical instrument chops, but Chris Cohen's guitar is a delight as well...It's like the second lead singer of the band? The instrument...I mean, although Chris sings too...Maybe I'm not describing it correctly so here's a tune from the album so you can hear for yourself:




THESE RECORDS ARE REALLY GOOD AS WELL:




(From left to right, top to bottom):

Alvin Band - Mantis Preying
Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Bright
Broadcast and the Focus Group - Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age
Franklin Bruno - Local Currency - Solo 1992 - 1998
Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
Circulatory System - Signal Morning
Drug Rug - Paint The Fence Invisible
Generationals - Con Law
Half-handed Cloud - Cut Me Down and Count The Rings
Jonathan Mann - Barefoot in the Family Tree EP
Nellie Mckay - Normal as Blueberry Pie
St. Vincent - Actor
The Sw!ms - Itemlord

SONG OF THE YEAR: GENERATIONALS - WHEN THEY FIGHT THEY FIGHT



Apologies for the bootleg video. I'm not sure if I listened to any other song this year more than this one. So good.

2010 is the new 2009. Let's do it!