My Albums of 2009, O-Z

Well, really O through W. There were no bands I got albums of in 2009 that started with XYZ.

Before I get into there reviews there are some honorable mentions. I ordered three albums using gift cards, but they won't be in for another couple days, so I can't give them reviews. However, they were technically purchased in 2009 and deserve recognition:

Jenny Owen Youngs - Batten the Hatches (2007)

The White Stripes - White Blood Cells (2001)

The Xx - Xx (2009)

Now here is the conclusion of my 10-word reviews of all the albums I collected this year.

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Or, The Whale - Or, the Whale (2009)
Anti folk done well, but pretty slow. 4 good songs.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)
Another top 5 album of 2009, it’s really quite good.

Port O'Brien - Threadbare (2009) (VINYL)
I liked them a lot live, and followed them since.

The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow (2003)
This was on a best of decade list. It’s good.

Spiral Beach - The Only Really Thing (2009) (VINYL)
I really like this band, regardless of what you think.

St. Vincent - Actor (2009)
A pleasant album that pairs well with a sauvignon blanc.

The Submarines - Declare a New State! (2006)
Mellower than their latest album, but still catchy as hell.

The Sugarplastic - Bang, The Earth is round (1996)
I liked their song from Powerpuff Girls. Don’t judge me.

Teddybears - Soft Machine (2006)
One word; “Cobrastyle”. Crap, that wasn’t ten words – oh, wait.

Telekinesis! - Telekinesis! (2009)
Catchy, fun, and recommended. Not as much as others, though.

Those Darlins - Those Darlins (2009)
These girls are awesome. Awesome. Hilarious and great. Garage LIVES!

The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? (2003)
- 2014 [EP] (2004)
A seminal indie pop band. Man, these guys are depressed.

We Landed on the Moon - These Little Wars (2008)
-We Landed On the Moon (2006)
PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS BAND, THEY KICK MAJOR BUTTOCKS. Seriously.

White Rabbits - It's Frightening (2009)
I loved their first album, I like most this one.

Windmill - Epcot Starfields (2009)
Very similar to first. Weird vocals might be a hangup.

The Wooden Birds - Magnolia (2009)
Screw this review, I’m finally done with this damn game!

My Albums of 2009, F-N

Forgot to say in the first post, but the albums I got as vinyl LP's have (VINYL) after them, the others I have as CD's.

Here's post 2 of 3, letters F through N:

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Fatboy Slim - Better Living Through Chemistry (1996)
- Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars (2001)
- Palookaville (2004)
Take all your electro crap, just give me Fatboy Slim.

Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009)
Very catchy album. If you like Franz Ferdinand, get it.

Fun. - Aim and Ignite (2009) (VINYL)
One of my top 5 albums of the year. Awesome.

The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High (2006)
- Teeth Lost Hearts Won (2009) (VINYL)
I love The Grates. Awesome people with two great albums.

Gliss - Devotion Implosion (2009)
Got this through my job, it’s good but not great.

Jenny Owen Youngs - Transmitter Failure (2009)
On my top 5 of 2009, I love this album.

Joe Gideon & the Shark - Harum Scarum (2009) (VINYL)
Interesting band story, a good indie garage blues rock album.

Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young (2009)
A great pop album from the Strokes front man, homes.

Man or Astroman - Made from Technetium (1997) (VINYL)
Wonderful surf rock. These guys did the MST3K theme song.

Matt & Kim - Grand (2009)
- Matt & Kim (2006)
Grand is on my top 5 of 2009. Both recommended.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane over the Sea (1998) (VINYL)
If you like indie, but don’t know this, you suck.

Northern State - Can I Keep This Pen (2007)
Got this, then they performed at KMNR’s Freaker’s Ball concert.

Now Now Every Children - Cars (2008) (VINYL)
I loved this in 2008, and needed the vinyl rerelease.

My Albums of 2009, A-D

Last year I listed as many of the albums I collected in 2008 as I could, and determined that I spent way too much on music. While compiling my list for 2009, I realized that if I took all that I spent on music this year, and asked for money instead of albums on major gift-giving days, I'd could pay 3 months rent.

Ouch.

But the good news is I got a metric crap-ton of great music. Below is the first of probably 3 installments of the albums I received physical copies of this year. There are a lot of bands that I found out about while working as music director at 89.7 FM KMNR-Rolla, a couple of which I got CD's of through that job. The rest I collected on my own, meaning that I liked the album enough to spend actual US currency on, despite the recession. As such, if you see it on the list, you can take that as my recommendation.

To make things a bit more interesting, I will also include a review that is EXACTLY 10-words long for each album. If I go over 10 words, call me out via email and I'll send you a KMNR prize pack with over TWO gifts in it!

Without further ado, here's A through D of the albums I got this year and their 10-word reviews!

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A.C. Newman - Get Guilty (2009)
Like his first album, very New Pornographers-esque. I like it.

Anathallo - Floating World (2006)
Well crafted indie pop, one of the guys from Fun.

Apples in Stereo - Let's Go! [EP] (2001)
- Look Away + 4 [EP] (2000)
Two EP’s from one of my favorite bands, both good.

Beats Antique - Contraption [EP Vol 1] (2009)
Interviewed them. Great live show, good, unique band – click here.

Beck - Midnite Vultures (1999)
My second favorite Beck Album. I love me that hippy.

The Bird & The Bee - The Bird & The Bee (2006)
- Ray Guns are Not Just The future (2008)
Got the latter after listening to it, then the former.

The Black Keys - Attack & Release (2008)
- Magic Potion (2006)
- Rubber Factory (2004)
“Bought some Black Keys albums….”
“Who?”
“We’re no longer friends.”

Brent Adair - Ostrich (2008)
Haven’t given it a thorough listen, but came highly recommended.

Creature - No Sleep At All (2008)
Searched for this for a year, got it, love it.

Dan Auerbach - Keep it Hid (2009)
Black Keys’ front man, a great album of bluesy rock.

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip - Angles (2008)
One of the better albums of 2008, great indie rap.

Drive By Truckers – The Dirty South (2007) (VINYL)
One of the top 25 albums of the decade. Yo.