Posts tagged ‘2009 Musical Advent Calendar’
Favorite songs of 2009, finally.
Yeah, I pretty much failed at life when it came to keeping up with my favorite-songs-of-the-year-advent-calendar idea. My bad. At first, it was easy to blame exams and schoolwork. But by the end of the month, my laziness was to blame. And life. I actually had what seemed like a life for a couple days there, it was weird.Then the holidays, can’t forget those.
New Year’s Resolution? Finish these posts and try not to neglect this poor blog. So, let’s roll. I will try to keep commentary to a minimum since there’s quite a few songs to go through.
14. Emmy The Great – Two Steps Forward
“Two Steps Forward” is yet another example of Emmy the Great’s songwriting talent. This is one of Emmy’s older songs that didn’t make it onto her debut album First Love, but it was included on the Edward EP released back in August. I highly recommend you watch the Black Cab Sessions performance of this song.
15. No Doubt – Stand and Deliver (Adam Ant cover)
This year, No Doubt returned and my heart could barely handle it. 2010 will (hopefully) see the band release a new album and I will get to experience more of this. YES PLEASE.
16. Jack Peñate – Let’s All Die
Who doesn’t love a good party jam about death? Hm? I wasn’t exactly head-over-heels for Peñate’s Everything Is New, but “Let’s All Die” was one of my favorite tunes from the album. It wasn’t until after seeing Peñate live that it definitely became my favorite from the album. It’s just too much fun.
17. Jamie T – Sticks ‘n Stones
For the longest time, I had this dinky little live recording of “Sticks N Stones” and of course I loved it, but I had no idea the power this song would have over me once my ears experienced a proper quality recording. HOLY SHIT. This song was born to be on repeat. When I feel like life is kicking my ass, “Sticks N Stones” is there to help me kick life right back, square in the balls. It’s like my own personal “Eye of the Tiger” but a million times better. People, there’s a reason Jamie T is KING.
18. Generationals – Nobody Could Change Your Mind
I like happy music. I really really do. And you know who made some damn good happy music this year? Generationals.
19. Slow Club – When I Go
There’s something very beautiful about the way Charles and Rebecca’s voices complement each other as they sing about back-up plans for love and life.
20. The Lullaby Club – Batman and Robin
The Lullaby Club were a 2009 musical discovery who are still quite a mystery to me. They were a random friend request on the ol’ myspace and for some odd reason instead of hitting the usual ‘ignore/delete’ button on band requests (like I did 98% of the time), I decided to click and have a listen. There was close to nothing on their page, just a link that led nowhere and a couple songs. And as luck would have it, the songs were rather good. If you’re a fan of the whole folk/pop/happiness thing, you might really dig them. There’s something quite familiar about the vocals and I’ve tried to find more information on the band, but my google searches have yielded nothing. If you know anything, please fill me in.
21. Noah and the Whale – The First Days of Spring
I think I’ve made my feelings about this song pretty clear on previous posts. Something about it being so good I want to have babies with the song, or whatever. This summer I discovered that one of the greatest ways to listen to this song is while driving through a thunderstorm, darkened clouds and lightning in the distance, with thunder roaring just as the song reaches its climactic ending. Talk about epic. Totally helps you forget about the possibility of hydroplaning, crashing, and dying.
22. Peggy Sue – Lover Gone
Sometimes when people break up, they write bitter, hurtful songs about their ex-lover. Sometimes when people break up, they write nice songs about their ex-lover and how there’s no hard feelings since ultimately it was for the best. This is one of those songs. 2010 will be a good year for Peggy Sue as it will see the release of their first album Fossils and Other Phantoms. Excitement!
23. The Maccabees – No Kind Words
It was the first taste of what was to come from The Maccabees on their second album Wall of Arms and mother-eff if it didn’t leave you wanting more! Recently, the boys reworked the tune with Roots Manuva and the result, “Empty Vessels,” will be featured on a special reissue of the album in early 2010.
24. Johnny Flynn – Lost & Found
This whole year has been a tease of what Johnny Flynn has in store for his second album, set for release sometime in 2010. Sweet jesus, I am excited!
25. Regina Spektor – The Calculation
Alright, I intentionally saved the best for last. OMG REGINA?! WHAT A SHOCKER! Part of the excitement in a new Regina Spektor album is (a) not knowing how she’s changed up some of her “classics” and (b) not knowing how many songs will actually be brand new songs no one has ever heard before in any way, shape, or form. “The Calculation” was one of the latter. In classic Regina fashion, she wrote a whimsical love story jampacked with Spektoresque metaphors that manages to be as catchy as it is beautiful. Since May, I’ve listened to “The Calculation” at least once a day everyday and I’ve been happy for at least three minutes.
BAM! Done. Better late than never, right? For songs 1-13, check out the tags.
Day 12 Day 13 Day 12 Day 13 Day 12 Day 13 Day 12
Exams are officially over and I can now post on a more regular basis. Hopefully.
December 12th: Good Shoes – The Way My Heart Beats
The boys are baaaaaaaaaaaaaack! Yep, Good Shoes returning with new material was definitely one of the highlights of my year. To make things even better, they gave away “The Way My Heart Beats” for free. 2010 will see the release of their second album No Hope No Future and the boys are scheduled to make a trip stateside for SXSW. I swear, just when I think I couldn’t possibly hate SXSW more than I already do…
Anyway, listen to this song, anticipate the album(!!!!), and watch their latest tour video:
December 13th: Florence and the Machine – Dog Days Are Over
Florence Welch and her incredible voice have been stirring up buzz for quite a while, but this last year the world finally stood up and took notice of Welch and her machine. Her debut album Lungs was released to critical acclaim and she’s slowly but ever so surely going to take America (or at least a huge chunk of it) by storm. Just wait. “Dog Days are Over” is one of my favorite songs that made the album, listen and love.
Day 10 Day 11 Day 10 Day 11 Day 10 Day 11 Day 10
Late again, I know. I blame exams.
December 10th: The Lovely Feathers – Lowiza
I love The Lovely Feathers. Like, seriously I LOVE them. And if I had it my way, every person in the world would love them too. After three years away in Canada, they finally returned with a great new album (Fantasy of the Lot) and first single “Lowiza” was(/is) one of the greatest things in the universe and made my life so much better this past year. I mean, how many people could take erectile dysfunction and its detrimental effect on a marriage and turn it into a catchy love song? Hm? And Lowiza thinks that Jimmy’s urge is inept, and Lowiza thinks that this is what happens to men
December 11th: Video Nasties – Conversation Dies
In the midsts of all the grimey, lo-fi, punk-influenced tunes that dominate their debut album On All Fours, Video Nasties threw in “Conversation Dies” and showcased the more melodic side of them I fell head-over-heels for back in the day. Piano sounds slowly build and echo beneath pounding drums and buzzing feedback as harsh, raw vocals cry out “Can you feel his desperation as the cold light rushes in?” By the end of the songs’ 4 minutes and 24 seconds, you feel you’ve just been through something quite epic. “What” exactly that is you’re not entirely sure, but the mystery makes it that much better. Listen and love.
Word on the street is the Video Nasties have called it quits. Such a shame. With songs like this and “Ides Patrol,” I can only imagine the goods Video nasties could have delivered on album #2.
Day 8 Day 9 Day 8 Day 9 Day 8 Day 9 Day 8 Day 9
It’s been less than a week and I’m already one post behind on this monthly musical advent-ure (snap! see what I did there? oh ho ho) .
December 8th: Sonic Youth – Sacred Trickster
After three years, Sonic Youth returned with The Eternal and proved they were as good as EVER (and that I will never be as cool as Kim Gordon, ever). Press up against the amp, turn up the treble don’t forget.
December 9th: Mumford & Sons – The Cave (Bookshop Sessions)
Honestly, it’s only right that people fell in love and went crazy for Mumford & Sons this last year. It would be difficult not to take notice of such incredible talent and musicianship. And although they sound great on record, Mumford & Sons are a band that need to be experienced live to fully appreciate what they’ve got to offer. Trust me, I learned this first hand. I give you a session version of “The Cave,” a song that stuck with me since seeing them live over a year ago. Also, I highly suggest you check out their debut album Sigh No More, only available as import right now but hopefully that’ll change soon.
Day 7 Day 7 Day 7 Day 7 Day 7 Day 7 Day 7 Day 7
Jeremy Warmsley and Fay Buzzard used to film a pretty spectacular show out of their living room featuring acoustic performances by their incredibly talented friends (Mystery Jets, Emmy The Great, Noah and the Whale to name a few) called Welcome to Our TV Show! It was awesome.
One episode featured Matt Saunders, someone I was unfamiliar with at the time but whose performance blew me away. Watch the video below, skip to 5:15 for Saunders or watch the whole clip for an extra treat (a performance of “Tickle Me Pink” by the always amazing Johnny Flynn):
Four minutes was all it took. I was hooked. Getting my hands on his music proved rather difficult and with only five songs to tide me over for months, Saunders finally had some new music to share earlier this year. Now I’m going to share one of those songs with you:
December 7th: Matt Saunders – Throwing Knives
Hopefully 2010 will see a proper release from Saunders, I need one.
