2009 Year in Review: Recorded Music

My year in music definitely had seasons in 2009. In the late winter and spring, I rocked out to Now I Can See by The Thermals while I was hitting the slopes. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was the soundtrack to my summer; listening to "Fences" still makes me think of driving through downtown at night as the heat of the day faded away.

In the fall, North Hills by Dawes found its way into my life. Dawes stayed on heavy rotation as I explored the mountains of Colorado on my bike, recovering from a hectic summer of work. The album's mix of comfortable influences like The Band, Neil Young, and Crosby, Stills & Nash provided the perfect soundtrack for venturing out into the country.

Taylor Goldsmith's lyrics and vocals keep North Hills from becoming just another folk rock retread. Songs like "That Western Skyline" evoke that restlessness and need for adventure that I felt. One line in particular from "When You Call My Name" sums it up my autumnal state of mind: "I think you want a world that will hold you / through security and gravity and love / and I can't think of anyone who'd blame you / and I think of how that'd ever be enough."

To be honest, I can't say for certain that North Hills will become a desert island jukebox pick for me. Sometimes it's hard to separate the music from my own experiences; it could be that this pick is more an artifact of a particular moment in time in my life. What I am sure of though is that there was no album I listened to as much in 2009--nor is there one that grabbed my heart more.

Album of the Year
North Hills, Dawes

Other albums that I loved in 2009:
Post-Nothing, Japandroids
Now I Can See, The Thermals
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix
Middle Cyclone, Neko Case
X, the xx
Sainthood, Tegan and Sara
Fortress Round My Heart, Ida Maria

Ben—Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix
Travis—Actor, St. Vincent
Ferris—The Ecstatic, Mos Def
Bman—Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix
Natasha—Fever Ray, Fever Ray
Jozwik—Actor, St. Vincent. I know I sounds like Travis by saying this, but it's damn good after a few listens.
TJ—Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix
Rachel—Middle Cyclone, Neko Case. By far her best album to date.

Song of the Year
"Crystalised," The xx

Some other great songs:
"Lessons Learned," Matt & Kim
"Marrow," St. Vincent
"Wilco (The Song)," Wilco
"1901," Phoenix (though it was almost ruined by entirely unnecessary inclusion in a car commercial)
"People Got a Lotta Nerve," Neko Case
"Young Hearts Spark Fire," Japandroids
"When You Call My Name," Dawes
"Beautiful Amnesia," Visqueen

Ben—“Home,” Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Travis—“Two Weeks,” Grizzly Bear
Ferris—“MyGirls,” Animal Collective
Bman—“Stillness is the Move,” Dirty Projectors (Even though it's not my favorite song on the album?)
Natasha—“Stronger than Jesus,” A Camp
Jozwik—A bit off the norm but, “My Girls” by Animal Collective or “Sleepyhead” by Passion Pit
TJ—"Girlfriend", Phoenix
Rachel—"Blood Bank," Bon Iver

Blasts from the Past
The Dismemberment Plan Is Terrified, The Dismemberment Plan
Standing in the Way of Control, The Gossip
No Pocky for Kitty, Superchunk
Enter the Wu Tang Clan, The Wu-Tang Clan (Not kidding about this one. Seriously.)
Some Girls, The Rolling Stones

Ben—Tallest Man on Earth (from 2008 but I didn't find it until this summer); actual older album from the past–Spike, Elvis Costello
Travis—Wilson Pickett
Bman—MGMT (how the hell did i miss out on them?)
Natasha—ROME
Jozwik—While digging through old tapes I had, I found a Neil Diamond tape that used to be stuck in an old car of mine. Good find. Also found LL Cool J, ridiculous.
TJ—Melody A.M. by Royksopp
Rachel—Yeats is Greats, The Speakers