My friend Paul by no means matches my zeal when it comes to listening/discovering bands and he certainly doesn’t keep track of the day-to-day findings of the musical blogosphere, but he’s also not a Billboard Top-40 drone who listens to only Clearchannel radio (however, I have a nagging suspicion that he enjoys “Party in the USA”, but that could be for other reasons). After I posted my list of Top Albums of 2009, he responded with an epic two-part running commentary (via facebook message) that, regardless if you loved or hated the original list, you will be sure to enjoy. Although he was unfamiliar with most acts, Paul was still able to provide mini-descriptions that were either humorously spot-on or remarkably insightful — all from just the sample song provided with each album! After the jump is the post in its unedited entirety (Note: it picks up steam with Wavves at #30):
41 // Major Lazer – Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do: I listened to the song strictly because of the mummy on the front cover. It was indeed weird. You might be impressed, I made it two minutes into the song.
40 // Ducktails – S/T + Landscapes: At first I was skeptical because I thought it was going to be a combination of that “I am going to soak up the sun” song along with wavves. However, I enjoyed the song to a certain extent.
39 // God Help the Girl – S/T: This is my favorite song of the bunch so far.
38 // The Dutchess and the Duke – Sunset/Sunrise: After reading you review I felt there was a lot of promise for this song. I did like the song, however, I definitely could see it becoming too repetitive over the course of a full album..
37 // Lindstrom and Prins Thomas – II: I like portions of the song, but a single electronic song over 6 minutes is a little daunting for me.
36 // Tiny Vipers – Life On Earth: I like the song, but I would definitely have to be in the mood to listen to a lot of this artist.
35 // Washed Out – Life of Leisure EP + High Times:
Hey this glo-fi stuff is not too shabby. Only one song at a time though please.
34 // Antlers – Hospice: I might need an ecstasy pill after this song. It was good and also a bit humbling.
33 // Marissa Nadler – Little Hells: When I first read your review about a beautiful voice being compared to a caged bird I was thinking how the hell is that possible. Bheath you definitely nailed that perfectly. I like the song a lot. I actually like the fact that she is a bit reserved in her range (I’m musically conservative i guess).
32 // Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz: Starts off with a cool little keyboard/piano melody.Then the song started to drag for me a little bit, but somehow it came out of it. I do not know how though!
31 // The Sandwitches – How to Make Ambient Sadcake: I have a sudden craving for a milkshake and to dance in roller skates. I seem to like the 50s style music.
30 // Wavves – Wavvves: First off, I feel like I had a little influence on your review here (haha). I am still so split on wavves. At first I could not bare to listen to them at all…. then I managed to listen to an entire wavves song….. then i noticed some of the things you said about them (“nuggets of pure pop gold”)….. however i still could not quench my negative view of the band….. i could not help but smile a little that wavves was not higher on your countdown… then i listened to I’m so bored and liked it…. sue me!
29 // The Raveonettes – In and Out of Control: Love this song. I am going to [download] some Raveonettes later. Again this 50s theme.
Favorite Song So FAR! It becomes perfect around 45 seconds.
28 // Various Artists — Sonido Martines Presents: Nueva Cumbia Argentina, The Buenos Aires Implosion:
The combination of salsa/samba/electronic makes me want to play soccer/dance.
27 // Lil’ Wayne — No Ceilings: First off, any song that mentions dick in your mouth in the first 10 seconds is bound to be good, and IT WAS! This one of my more favorite little wayne songs after a few listens.
26 // Atlas Sound – Logos: I could not agree with your review of this song more! This should also go down as a terrible piece of album art work. The song was not bad but it was not great.
1:55 with the guitar and maracas was my favorite part.
25 // Yacht – See Mystery Lights: The only thing I have to say is that I liked the song. I’d rate it about a 6 (maybe a little too long).
24 // Mountain Man – S/T: Sorry the Mountain Man was devoured by the Fleet Foxes.
23 // Annie – Don’t Stop: It takes something special for me to like euro-electronic music. This was not quite special but I would def get down to it.
22 // Ganglians – Monster Headroom + Woodsist 12”: At least amongst the Indie music scene I have an appreciation for pleasant sounding music just because its like a fresh breath among the more noise or experimental albums. I will def listen to more of this.
21 // HEALTH – Get Color: I would def rather here this live than listen to it on a regular basis.
[Ed: Agreed!]
20 // Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix:
This is the most accessible album from the reddit countdown so you know I am going to like the songs. I listened to a few the other day and I can seem to get the Fold it from 1901 out of my head. Gotta love the hey hey hey hey hey
(Tied with Bang for Favorite Song)
——-[Break]———
Alright Bheath the time is 11:35am and I am going to get back into the play by play account of your top 41 albums: And here we go…
19 // Mount Eerie – Wind’s Poem: The concept part of the album is definitely appealing… his voice seems a bit anemic… i still have half a mind to give this a chance. I have always avoided mount eerie until your countdown.
18 // Neko Case — Middle Cyclone: 90% of the time I am a fan of Neko Case and this song is no different. It was a good solid Neko Case song. In my opinion if the rest of the album is like “I’m An Animal” then its cased closed–good!
17 // Girls – S/T: I like simple. Simple is good. I don’t think I would want to see them live either. My music taste has only evolved to barely past simple, so I am still a fan of this. I do wish Girls // Hellhole Ratrace was a little shorter.
[Ed: Check out Lust for Life/Laura then!]
16 // Smith Westerns – S/T: I almost lost faith in the song but it gets better closer to the minute mark. I don’t really have an opinion one way or the other. If the rest of the album comes close to “be my girl” then i definitely would not hate this group.
15 // Woods – Songs of Shame: Good start let’s see…..i like it, but its not as good as Bon Iver…. This is like a Michael Jordan vs john starks match up…. i feel safe using any john starks reference around you.
14 // Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion: I am def in the group of people that has never understood the appeal of Animal Collective. In fact the first time I heard them I was soooo mad that people actually liked this stuff. That being said “My Girls” is definitely a pretty song, floating along from thing to thing…..and for a song without much structure it is under 6 minutes!!!!! I don’t agree with it as song of the year but I think this is the most I will ever like Animal Collective.
12 // El Perro del Mar – Love Is Not Pop: Meh got bored….. sorry( might be hungry)… i’ll listen to it later again…
_____________________________________________ (lunch break)
1:07pm (late back from lunch)
11 // Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II: I love the hard syllable at then end of each line…. it gives the song that free-style feel…. also if i was going to pull a drive by I would load my clip to this song….. “wolves in the back ready to attack.” The rap is solid this year Bheath.
10 // Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca: Dude this to me feels like a Bryant Heath group. It was also one of my favorite reviews to read (esp the shower singing). Your mariah carey allusion also makes me wonder if bobbak would get into this…. Good song!
9 // Real Estate – S/T: Good start to the song…. 1:00 minute in almost now…..NICE…. i don’t know if i’ll be doing any work whatsoever this afternoon. This song along with the beach reminded me of a sunny winter day where the wind is kinda cold, but then you go get into your car its astonishingly warm….. I really like this…
8 // Cass McCombs – Catacombs: I don’t think I can judge this on one song alone…. I did not catch with me as much as some of the other singer-song writer stuff… but iono maybe because of your review i felt like the lyrics were just smarter or something…
7 // Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest: I’ve heard a lot of hype about this album… let’s see what the song conjures in my head….alright i’ve heard this song somewhere but I have no clue where…. was this song in a commercial or movie or something… strangely enough i picture a guy walking and then a bird pooping on his head but he just keeps walking…
6 // The xx – S/T: Cool start…. i like how the little bell sounds are still there even with the guitar and the vocals…. this was also a really good review from you…. I cant think of anything else besides the “large auditorium” with every now and then single seats lighting up….
5 // Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport: I like the mix of sounds so far…. 30 seconds…. for the experimental stuff I usually don’t like at least this song is promising…. 2:15 in and I’m still good…. more stuff coming in (neeeeeeaaaaaaaaah) 4:00……. you can even here some major to minor back to major… the resolution keeps it driving/going…..lol the indie version of nick (indie flute sounding) just came in close to the 5 minute mark…alright a little bored about the 6 minute mark but there has to a be a reward …..hahah there’s the reward at 7 minutes with the air flow/static sound…this might be longest non-classical song I have ever listened to…
4 // jj – no. 2: I actually like the voice so far……DUDE this song is sweet!!!! …..it made me smile… im pumped to listen to more later….BEST find from the countdown so far!!!
3 // Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer: I am more of an indie hater here…. the previous sunset rubdown album that was more refined and not as indie/dirty i loved….”Mending of the Gown” is perfect sunset rubdown to me, BUT sunset rubdown is still baller in my opinion.
2 // Fever Ray – S/T + w/ Van Rivers 7’’ + Live in Lulea: LOL I couldn’t do this one Bheath…. oh the suspense for number 1.
1 // Flaming Lips – Embryonic: Dude I will be the first to admit that I don’t know shit about the flamming lips….. remember when i could not name 5 beatles songs…. this is how i feel with the flamming lips….. it is like a foreign language … maybe if i listen to more of them i will appreciate it…
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well Bheath I’m sure that you could have pinpointed exactly what i would and would not like before the start of this long message. As always your reviews are a blast to read–it was fun!
Thanks Paul for taking the time out and doing this!
Tags: Paul's Post, Top Albums of 2009
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