2009—a quick rundown and a request
I’m looking at all the 2009 albums I’ve picked up so far this year—fifteen albums. Man, this year got off to such a great start with Animal Collective and Andrew Bird in January and Neko Case in March. All three will be in my best of the year list, and currently occupying the top three slots. The rest of my 09 purchases? The best I can say is they’re “good.” Yippee.
Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, and Wavves are all respectable but ultimately none compel me to put them on. (Please don’t try to convince me further on the DPs… they’re okay, okay?)
Akron/Family and Cass McCombs are both solid but have long ago fallen out of rotation.
Wye Oak and Peter Bjorn & John were both disappointing.
Not even sure how Mi Ami or Owl City wound up in my collection. Whoever gave ‘em to me can have ‘em back.
Yo La Tengo and Engineers are still settling in, but I don’t really think either is going to rise to that MUST LISTEN CONSTANTLY level that I so wish every record could.
St. Vincent… I bought Actor based on a handful of raves, despite long feeling ambivalent about St. Vincent. Honestly I’ve tried listening to it maybe five times and I just can’t get past the fourth or fifth song. I really can’t tell if it’s me or her. I’m fully prepared to accept that it’s me. I think my head’s just not in that place right now.
So I ask you all… what is a 2009 album that has POSSESSED you? I’m talking highest criteria here—when it’s done playing you feel the urge to just start it over. I’m talking albums that you’ve had in rotation consistently for weeks and months on end. Albums that you will forever link to your life in 2009. Is that so much to ask?
Points deducted if you answer with an album that has not officially been released yet or has only been out for a week. I’m looking for records that have shed their new-car smell.
2 months ago