1. Larry Jon Wilson – Larry Jon Wilson
I won’t lie. Talking to Larry Jon and producer Jerry DeCicca (Black Swans) about this album, learning about its origins, and visiting Wilson’s back catalog gave me a heightened appreciation for this masterpiece. So context helps, but even if you know nothing about the back story, this is a stark, beautiful album from start to finish from one of the forgotten country outlaws. Wilson’s Georgia baritone is the sweetest thing I heard this year. For Townes Van Zandt fans, this is required listening.

MP3: Feel Alright Again

2. The Love Language – The Love Language
It’s a rock n’ roll cliché and a PR flack’s dream: Guy breaks up with girl, drinks heavily, pisses off all his friends, eventually sobers up and retreats to his parents’ house to record an album on a four-track. But man does this cliché jangle with some of the best in-the-red pop songs I’ve heard in a while. Stuart McLamb’s Chapel Hill band signed to Merge in October and is slated to have a new release in August, and after seeing the full band (now a 7-piece) put on a terrific show at the Wexner Center in the fall, McLamb’s next outing could be even better with a little help from his friends.

MP3: Manteo I MP3: Lalita

3. Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
Every aspect of Andrew Bird just keeps getting better—his voice; his gorgeous, multi-layered violin arrangements; his whistling. It makes for a backdrop so compelling that he can sing about proto-Sanskrit Minoans, porto-centric Lisboans, Greek Cypriots and Hobis-hots and have you nodding your head in agreement instead of scratching it in confusion.

MP3: Oh No

4. Kurt Vile – Constant Hitmaker; God is Saying This to You…; Childish Prodigy
I’m grouping these together so I can squeeze more in, but all three LPs probably deserve a separate spot for different reasons. God finds Vile filtering his psychedelia through John Fahey and Neil Young; Childish kicks the volume up a notch and tones the lo-fi down; and Hitmaker, the best of the three, plays both sides with casual brilliance. “Freeway” is one of my favorite songs of 2009.

MP3: Freeway

5. The Antlers – Hospice
Hospice is one of only a few albums this year that completely transports me whenever I give it my full attention. (Brian Harnetty’s Silent City is another.) A concept album about a hospice worker and a young patient, the songs swell like Sigur Ros then retreat into gingerly tapped piano, lightly strummed guitar or shimmery synth. It’s in those quiet portions that Silberman employs his alabaster falsetto — more hushed than Jeff Buckley but less wispy than Antony Hegarty. Back in March, the Antlers played a show at Cafe Bourbon St. in front of me and maybe three other people. I’m thinking there’ll be a few more in attendance next time.

MP3: Bear

#6 onward + Columbus list after the jump.

6. David Bazan – Curse Your Branches
We’ve talked about Bazan a lot recently, so I’ll let this photo/video/recap do the explaining. Just know that Bazan’s crisis of faith led him to create the best album of his career.

MP3: Bless This Mess

7. Yo La Tengo – Popular Songs
Yo La Tengo’s performance at Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville was my favorite show of the year. It helps that they played a whole lot from this record. I love that no matter how many perfect, three-minute pop songs Ira, Georgia and James write, they’re still not afraid to beat your ass with 10- and 15-minute feedback-laden wallops.

MP3: Here to Fall

8. Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
“Well I used to be darker, then I got lighter, then I got dark again.” This is post-Smog Callahan at his best — sinister and sweet. And the pristine production on this record complements his deep deadpan perfectly. (P.S. It’s been a good year for Drag City.) (P.P.S. Remember that Used Kids performance? Good times.)

MP3: Eid Ma Clack Shaw


9. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
The great thing about Dirty Projectors is that anything that may come across as high-minded is balanced with something high-spirited. No other band is this brainy and this fun.


10. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
I know, if you’re a blog reader (or even if you’re not), you’re likely beyond tired of this band and this album. But seriously. The deliciousness of this record cannot be denied.

11. Atlas Sound – Logos
“Walkabout” just may be the best song released this year. More Bradford Cox/Noah Lennox collabs, please.

MP3: Walkabout


12. Justin Townes Earle – Midnight at the Movies
Steve Earle’s boy plays country- and blues-inspired folk songs with the conviction of a modern-day Leadbelly, yet his take on the Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait” shows that though he’s indebted to Americana music, it’s more of a gate than a fence.

MP3: Mama’s Eyes I MP3: What I Mean to You


13. fun. – Aim and Ignite
I wrote earlier that this record “sounds like Freddie Mercury and Paul McCartney getting drunk at a carnival, then catching a Broadway show. There’s copious strings and accordions and Wurlitzers galore, all gallivanting next to Nate Ruess’ impressive, addictive tenor. So ‘fun.’ is exactly that.” This is the best ready-for-radio pop album of 2009.


14. The Mountain Goats – The Life of the World to Come
John Darnielle’s best songs capture the darkness of the human condition yet still feel uplifting in some way—a thread of human dignity facing an overwhelming heartache or obstacle. This Biblical concept album is no different.

MP3: Genesis 3:23


15. Volcano Choir – Unmap
Justin Vernon’s collaboration with Collections of Colonies of Bees proves his voice goes well with anything and everything. Even when he’s talking gibberish in a digital haze.

MP3: Island, IS


(16. XX – XX
OK, last-minute add… I was really late getting around to this record, but, wow… Amazing, super-clean production and sparkling hooks that slowly form like icicles. Good stuff. Looking forward to the Wexner Center show in April.)

Columbus albums:
1. Brian Harnetty – Silent City
2. Wing & Tusk – The Secret of Toadflax Tea
3. The Receiver – Length of Arms
4. Times New Viking – Born Again Revisited
5. The Sun – Don’t Let Your Baby Have All the Fun
6. Sinkane – Sinkane
7. RTFO Bandwagon – Dums Will Survive
8. Monolithic Cloud Parade – Children with Wolf Heads
9. This is My Suitcase – The Keys to Cat Heaven
10. Bird and Flower – Here We Cease Our Motion

I remember the first time I heard the name Andrew Bird. Though I’m somewhat ashamed to admit this, it was Friday, April 13th, 2007. (Yes, the last time he played the Southern Theatre.) The sweetly meek Chicagoan happened to be one of the faces I was serving at a restaurant that afternoon. I had no idea of the talent sitting in front of me and was honestly just happy he was polite and low-maintenance.

Two years later…

With the melodies still reverberating through my head a full week after the his Wexner Center show at the Southern, it’s safe to say the sold-out show was worth it’s equivocal weight in musical gold. (And I officially feel stupid.) Between the consistently eloquent tone of his lyrics and his equally impressive skill as a one-man ensemble, Bird himself proved to be a Noble Beast. His endearing awkwardness in small-talk between songs filled the theater with a charm that was inescapable. Bird encored with St. Vincent and covered Bob Dylan’s “Oh Sister,” which was a true treat.

Opener St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) played an electric set that primed the anticipatory mood of the evening. Clark is touring on her newest album, Actor, which is a mature progression from the last. (I’ve found it impossible to stop listening to either.) She somehow managed to juggle a perfectly rosy demeanor with some bad-ass guitar playing in a way only someone who had once been in a 23-piece band could.

Both acts continue separate tours through the end of the year.

Annie Clark really likes to have pictures taken of her face. She also released her second full-length this year, Actor, under the St. Vincent moniker. With it, she has sufficiently distanced herself from being just another graduate of Sufjan’s touring ensemble.

What I remember most from the last time St. Vincent played the Wex is Clark’s guitar prowess. The girl can shred. If you would like to see said shredding, we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to St. Vincent’s Wexner Center show with Andrew Bird at the Southern Theatre. To enter the contest, send a blank e-mail to contest@donewaiting.com with the subject ST VINCENT. Winners will be randomly chosen on Friday, Oct. 16. You can also purchase tickets here.

UPDATE: According to the Wexner Center: “There are no tickets currently available for the show. Be sure to follow us on twitter, @wexarts, for updates on any tickets that may be released as the show approaches.” More reason to enter the contest…

mp3: St. Vincent – The Stranger

The first full day of SXSW music has passed and I have the aching feet to prove it. Watching music from 12pm to 1:30am is hard work people, but I do it for you.

The day started at the Austinist party with Garotas Suecas, a band made up a bunch of 19 year old Brazilian kids. Garagey, fun, it was a great way to start the day. After them I only caught one song from Here We Go Magic, the new band featuring Luke Temple. I liked what I heard, and I’m going to try to catch an entire set by them this week. I blame my first time drinking absinthe as the reason for f’ing up my schedule.

I left the Austinist event and went to Little Radio’s show and caught The Whispertown 2000 who rocked out a lot more than I expected. After them was the Evangelicals. For some reason I’ve let Evangelicals pass me by all this time, and now I want to dig into their albums. Drenched in a blissful blanket of feedback, making an impact even though they were only able to perform 4 songs.

Scheduling issues made me miss Amanda Palmer, my first :( of the week.

I went back to Austinist’s show to see Elvis Perkins in Dearland, and they blew my mind. Perkins has a huge band with him, and they sounded great. Sometimes they reminded me of Beirut, other times AA Bondy. I took a video of one of the songs and you can see it here.

Franz Nicolay of The Hold Steady is awesome solo. I’ve got proof:

I was fortunate to get invited to the Austin City Limits taping of Andrew Bird. I love ACL and I love Andrew Bird, so for me it was a perfect combination. And man, like the volunteers of SXSW, the ACL volunteers are so friendly. Right before you walk into the studio, there are two tables of free beer for you to take into the taping. Let me tell you, you do not get this kind of service at a Letterman taping. The set began with an amazing performance of “Why?” and kept on going for well over an hour. I won’t spoil the set list for you, but you definitely need to tune in when it airs.

Photo of the set:

I ended the night at Stubb’s. I first caught The Avett Brothers, which I am not too sure about. Is it weird that they sort of reminded me of System of a Down?

And like Tuesday night, I once again ended SXSW with The Decemberists. This time, though, they performed their new album, The Hazards of Love, from start to finish .. without stopping! It wasn’t until the encore that Colin Meloy actually addressed the crowd. It was a marathon performance, and I loved hearing the new stuff live. Stand outs were “The Rake Song” and My Brightest DIamond’s Shara Worden.

NOTES
- I’m in a rush to my blogger panel (today at 11AM) so there isn’t links to bands. I’ll add them later. I’ll fix some grammar too.
- Don’t worry, no more Decemberists performances.

MP3s, no DRM, etc.

Andrew Bird‘s new album comes out later this month, but you can hear the whole thing right now over on NPR.

Andrew Bird‘s new album comes out in January. Can’t wait.

(Photo by Kim Rottmayer)

The Hood Internet has gone and remixed an entire city! This fun mashup album features a ton of bands and the songs range from the straight up insane (Kanye + Wilco + the Super Bowl Shuffle!) to some really great stuff, like this Andrew Bird track I’m posting up.

MP3: Simple X-plosion (Diverse vs Andrew Bird)

Click here to download the full album for free.

Tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. Pro Nails Forever (Kid Sister vs Walter Meego)
3. Frog Minutes (Shawnna vs LMNOP)
4. Cakeicide (Hollywood Holt vs Prairie Cartel)
5. Juke And Pop (Mic Terror vs Green Velvet)
6. Superbowl Jesus (Kanye West + 1985 Bears vs Wilco)
7. Trenchache (Juice vs Liz Phair)
8. 80s Problems (Tha Basix vs Mahjongg)
9. When Baby Mamas Collide (Qualo vs Chin Up Chin Up)
10. Simple X-plosion (Diverse vs Andrew Bird)
11. Your Love Iz What It Iz (The Cool Kids vs Frankie Knuckles)
12. Sisters Of Chicago-Rillas (Rhymefest vs The Changes)
13. I Ain’t That Bowie (Twista vs The Sea And Cake)
14. Hay Electric (Crucial Conflict vs Reds and Blue)
15. Watch My Big Feet Jump (Dude N Nem + Twista vs Office)
16. Ten-Day High (Do Or Die + Kanye West vs Tortoise)
17. Eatchyo Stigmata (Yea Big + Kid Static vs Ministry)
18. Smash That There (Yung Berg vs The Smashing Pumpkins)
19. Stages Of Standby (Psalm One vs Kleenex Girl Wonder)
20. Can You Eat Some More Heavy Fists Of Love? (Kanye West + GLC vs Bumps + Terminal 4 + Big Black)
21. I Used To Love The Blue Line (Common vs Bang! Bang!)
22. I Gotcha Trees (Lupe Fiasco vs May Or May Not)
23. What Chu Like, Old Mare? (Da Brat vs Sleep Out)
24. Kells-Tone For The Painfully In Love (R. Kelly vs Casiotone For The Painfully Alone)

UPDATED: Photos from the show by Kim Rottmayer

I still haven’t processed last night’s amazing show. I was hoping Andrew Bird was gonna play a song with Wilco, and it happened! So good. More coherent thought later, including photos. For now, here’s a discussion of the show in our message board and here’s the Columbus OH set list:

Andrew Bird
1. Intro
2. Sovay
3. A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left
4. Why? (stopped and restarted)
5. Spare-Ohs
6. Plasticities (stopped and restarted)
7. Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning (?)

Wilco
1. Sunken Treasure
2. You Are My Face
3. Company In My Back
4. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (noise intro)
5. Handshake Drugs
6. A Shot In The Arm
7. Side With The Seeds
8. Via Chicago
9. Impossible Germany
10. Sky Blue Sky
11. Forget the Flowers
12. Hummingbird
13. Jesus, etc. (with Andrew Bird on violin)
14. Walken
15. I’m The Man Who Loves You
16. The Late Greats

Encore 1:
17. Hate It Here
18. Heavy Metal Drummer
19. In A Future Age
20. Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Encore 2:
21. Airline to Heaven
22. Too Far Apart
23. Red-Eyed & Blue
24. I Got You (At The End Of The Century)
25. Outtasite (Outta Mind)

[from Via Chicago]