Blog

This list is a run-down of my most scrobbled albums that were released in 2009. There are obviously albums not featured in this list. Those released early in the year obviously have a statistical advantage, but hey.

If you want to try this out for yourself, then you can do by using this dude's code (it takes some time to work it all out, so just be patient): http://lastfmstats.livefrombmore.com/albumoftheyear/

20. Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

Released 26/6/2009
Wilco are one of my favourite bands of all time and I think they are generally underrated. Within the genre, Jeff Tweedy is probably the most well-rounded composer aside from the late Elliott Smith. However, this record generally didn't stand up to the calibre that I would expect from Wilco and whilst it just makes it on to my top twenty scrobbled albums, it would also probably feature quite prominently in a 'disappointment of 2009' list.

19. Lymbyc Systym - Shutter Release

Released 3/11/2009
Their 2007 release 'Love Your Abuser' left high expectations for this 2009 release, and I must say they didn't disappoint. A truly stunning amalgamation of ambient, folk, post-rock, IDM, indie...etc. Needless to say, Arms & Sleepers' 2009 release titled Matador probably pips this record to the post in this field, but unfortunately I only got hold of that a few weeks ago so it hasn't been officially scrobbled enough for the all-mighty stats chart (although it has been basically on repeat for a fortnight).

18. Bibio - The Apple And The Tooth

Released 9/11/2009
One of the busiest men in music during 2009, aside from perhaps Tim Hecker and Aiden Baker. This record adds a couple of interesting songs to the Bibio repertoire but crumbles under the behemoth of Ambivalence Avenue. Whilst I like Bibio's remix of Clark's Ted, the remixes on this LP are generally dull.

17. The Mars Volta - Octahedron

Released 22/6/2009
After some truly awful releases, one of my teenage favourites comes up with something that's not entirely crap. Horray.

16. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

Released 16/11/2009
The 'super group'. I harboured little expectation for this record but it has proverbially slapped me in the face. Reasserts Grohl as one of the best contemporary drummers ever in existence, Holme as a consistent composer, and that other one from Led Zep is okay and all.

15. The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha

Released 17/2/2009
2009 saw the (relatively late) discovery of Appleseed Cast and they have rapidly become one of my favourite bands. Whilst Sagarmatha isn't their strongest release, I have been playing a lot of AC.

14. A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head

Released 5/10/2009
The guy behind Death By Audio guitar pedals writes an interesting, dynamic and engrossing album that betters their stellar début: go figure. I saw these guys live this year as well. I still don't know quite how he makes these noises - and I'm sure most listeners will probably categorise it as just that, noise - but it comes together cohesively in to something ultimately powerful.

13. Luke Vibert - We Hear You

Released 10/8/2009
The in-and-out Vibert sound never seems to change. Solid but unimaginative and uninspiring. Following Milanese down a wop-wop-de-pssssh dubstep route probably won't work either Luke.

12. Nathan Fake - hard islands

Released 27/4/2009
Stunningly different to DIASOL. Most probably thought this was a lazy turn for the poorer; I disagree. Keeping 8 minute four-on-the-floor lo-fi techno interesting isn't easy.

11. Prefuse 73 - Meditation Upon Meditations (The Japanese Diaries)

Released 25/4/2009
Another gigantic IDM discovery for me this year. Beautifully bridges the gap between IDM and hip-hop without being too reliant on stealing funk samples.

10. Crime In Choir - Gift Givers

Released 29/1/2009
Probably the most difficult album ever to get hold of. Not sure what the record label were playing at with this one. Either way, the band pull something out of the top-drawer in an unwavering assault on the haters of prog and synth rock's love child.

9. Clark - Growl's Garden

Released 23/3/2009
Soooo much anticipation for Clark in 2009. Turning Dragon wasn't exactly my cup of tea following Body Riddle. Growl's Garden didn't bode too well, but holy hot hell did Totems Flare deliver.

8. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Released 11/1/2009
This is probably on everyone's list. Even my dad owns this record.

7. Bibio - Vignetting The Compost

Released 3/2/2009
Potentially the last truly 'folk' record from Bibio. Kinda sad to see the end of what is a uniquely distinctive sound that he has tailored to perfection. Not quite sure how he could have continued doing what he was doing on Warp though; and who says no to Warp?

6. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

Released 25/5/2009
If anyone asks me whilst in an inebriated state during the festive period what my favourite album of 2009 is, I'll probably blurt out something about Grizzly Bear (trying to pronounce the album title will pose as somewhat of a challenge I fear). Further thought might lead to some other close contenders (see this list), but over all this wouldn't be a terrible place to lay my head.

5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

Released 8/3/2009
Unbelievable. Where the hell did they pull this one out from? This is how all indie-pop should sound. Forever.

4. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue

Released 22/6/2009
1. Sign to Warp
2. Write one of the best IDM records ever
3. ?
4. Profit!

3. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic

Released 12/10/2009
A good year for Wayne and the boys. Reaffirmed themselves as one of the best live bands I've ever seen on the back of an 18 track double album that never lags. It sounds like they've been at the bathroom cabinet again. Those who like hearing The Flaming Lips on adverts for continental beers might have heard the last of them.

2. The Strange Boys - And Girls Club

Released 3/3/2009
Released 2009, sounds like 1969. These incredibly strange boys have taught me a thing or two about the power of music production. Probably not an eclectic sound - out of tune vocals and 'jangly guitars' doesn't do justice - but some truly fantastic songs on there. Another from the never-ending pool of quality music of Austin TX none the less.

1. Clark - Totems Flare

Released 24/6/2009
Number 1 unsurprisingly. The local lad done good.

Created using OnDistantShores's Album Of The Year journal generator.

My top 15:
1. Animal Collective -Fall Be Kind
2. Converge - Axe To Fall
3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
4. Gifts From Enola - from fathoms
5. Giant Squid - The Ichthyologist
6. The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha
7. Devin Townsend Project - Addicted
8. Irepress - Sol Eye Sea I
9. And So I Watch You From Afar - And So I Watch You From Afar
10. Maybeshewill - Sing The Word Hope In Four-Part Harmony
11. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
12. Gaza - He Is Never Coming Back
13. Brand New - Daisy
14. Devin Townsend Project - Ki
15. The Dear Hunter -Act III: Life and Death

Other releases I enjoyed this year:
Actors & Actresses - Arrows
The Black Dahlia Murder - Deflorate
Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen
Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Isis - Wavering Radiant
Rise and Fall - Our Circle Is Vicious
Trapped Under Ice - Secrets Of The World
Thrice - Beggars
Do Make Say Think - The Other Truths
Lymbyc Systym - Carved By Glaciers
Toma - As We Fall Into Static Our Hearts Sing
There Will Be Fireworks - There Will be fireworks
Doomriders - Darkness Come Alive

Hello, people, how are you? Me? Frankly, I'm relieved.

Why, you ask? Well, I'll tell you.

Earlier this week I announced on Twitter that this edition of Solipsistic Nation would feature minimal techno. The only problem is mixing minimal techno is more difficult than you'd expect. Minimal techno can be surprisingly subtle and the segues just weren't coming together.

I ditched the minimal techno mix and worked on an ambient mix but that sounded like crap, too. And so was the electro mix. And darkwave mix. You get the idea.

I was floundering but as I was pulling tracks all willy nilly a show emerged. And one that, to me, at least, captures the feel of a fall evening. I hope you like it.

Come back again next week and I'll see if I can get that minimal techno mix together.

01. Odd Nosdam "We Bad Apples"
02. Yppah "Bobbie Joe Wilson"
03. the Gaslamp Killer "Turk Mex"
04. Telling On Trixie feat. DJ Brodii "Your Silence (Vocals Up Remix)"
05. Sketches for Albinos "tanzen als gabe es kein morgen"
06. Lymbyc Systym "Contemporary Art"
07. Small Color "Daisy"
08. Skytree "1000 Miles From Everywhere"
09. Broken Spindles "We All Want to Fit In"
10. Jogger "Napping Captain"
11. Hol Baumann "Handwritten Notes"
12. 5-40 am "alone in the day my dear Kristine"
13. January "Careful What You Tell The Sky (Album Version)"

Download:
http://m.podshow.com/media/9683/episodes/198290/nation-198290-11-20-2009.mp3

Permalink;
http://solipsisticnation.com/?p=371

solipsistic NATION website:
http://solipsisticnation.com

К началу ноября казалось бы нескончаемый поток музыкальных новинок подошел к концу. Что с одной стороны огорчает, а с другой - радует. Радует, потому что ежедневно выходящие новинки просто не успеваешь послушать, а уж сформировать какое-никакое мнение о релизе - уж тем более. Благо теперь можно спокойно разжевывать повыходившее. И внимание стоит обратить на новый, второй по счету, альбом дуэта Lymbyc Systym.
Ни для кого не секрет, что стиль, громко именуемый расплывчатым термином пост-рок, переживает не лучшие свои времена. Количество групп, играющих, по их словам, в этом стиле растет с каждым днем в геометрической прогрессии. Соответственно, включаем свой bullshit-метр. Кто-то продолжает тянуть своего кота за яйца, кто-то начинает тянуть чужого кота за яйца, кто во что горазд. Настоящих самородков выделить становится невероятно сложно.
Но дуэт, состоящий из двух братьев Джареда и Майкла Белла, как-то сразу, с момента зарождения группы отличался от своих коллег по цеху. В то время пока группы по 5 и более человек пытались передать с помощью своей музыки вселенскую скорбь, эти двое взяли за основу инфантильную радость. И с каждым последующим релизом радости этой становилось всё больше. На втором полноценном альбоме эта радость потихоньку перетекает в тотальное чувство счастья и удовольствия. Закрываешь глаза и улыбаешься.
Аранжировки стали пышнее, музыка развивается, она как слоеный пирог и с каждым разом этот пирог увеличивается на несколько слоев. Здесь нету тех помпезных опусов на 10-15 минут как у GY!BE или A Silver Mt. Zion, но они и не к чему. Это короткие, как щелчок затвора, образы; истории, разные истории: какая-то происходит ярким солнечным летним днем, какая-то ночью, какая-то зимой, но все они с хэппи-эндом. Необычные истории, такие же необычные как вот это чудесное чаепитие на пеньках посреди густого леса на обложке. А может и совсем обычные, но от этого не менее интересные, как вид из окна на заснеженные деревья на задней стороне альбома. Здесь всюду теплые тона. И даже если и есть что-то холодное, то оно постепенно таит, уходит. Невероятно красивый альбом.
Зачем вникать в невыносимую тяжесть бытия и фатальность других историй других групп, когда можно по-детски порадоваться этому великолепному альбому, как первому выпавшему снегу в этом году. Словно взять фотоаппарат, нажать на спуск затвора и получить замечательный кадр. А потом закрыть глаза и улыбнуться.

儉德大廈 - 在森林和原野
阿飛西雅 - 失語的鱷魚社會
花伦 - Silver Daydream
21 Grams - 21 Grams
A Silver Mt. Zion - He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of our Rooms
A Silver Mt. Zion - 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
A Storm of Light/Nadja - Primitive North
Ass - My get up and go just got up and went
Atheist - Piece of Time
Atheist - Elements
Balmorhea - All is Wild all is Silent
Barbecue Bob - Complete Recorded Works Vol 1
Baroness - Red Album
Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle Earth
Bloodhound Gang - One Fierce Beer Coaster
Blueneck - Scars Of The Midwest
Bosch's With You - Dreams that come a Thing pt 1
Boris - Smile (japan version)
Boris - Amplifier Worship
Boris with Michio Kurihara - Cloud Chamber
Burning Star Core - Challenger
Callisto - Noir
Callisto - True Nature Unfolds
Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um
Christopher Willits - Surf Boundaries
Codeine - Frigid Stars
Comus - First Utterance
Cynic - Focus
Danny Norbury - Dusk EP
Dhal - Cacophony
Do Make Say Think - Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn
Doomriders - Black Thunder
Dragonland - Battle of the Ivory Plains
Druadan Forest - Minas Tirith
Elvenking - Heathenreel
Explosions in the Sky - The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place
eksperimentoj - Eksperimentoj
Exhaust - Exhaust
Final Light - To Stop an Exploding Man
Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
Fushitsusha - Allegorical Misunderstanding
Dhal - Cacophony
Gifts From Enola - Loyal Eyes Betrayed the Mind
GZA/Genius - Liquid Swords
Iron & Wine - The Creek Drank the Cradle
Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
Jan Dukes de Grey - Mice and Rats in the Loft
Jatun - Jatun
Jesu - Jesu
Jesu - Why Are We Not Perfect
Jesu - Silver
Jodis - Secret House
Joy Wants Eternity - You who Pretend to Sleep
Khanate - Khanate
Keiji Haino with Boris - Black, Implication Flooding
Krackhead - From Hell
La Fin Du Monde - Monolith
Long Fin Killie - Houdini
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
Lymbyc Systym - Love your Abuser
MDFMK - MDFMK
Morton Subotnick - The Key to Songs
Natural Snow Buildings - Ghost Folks
Natural Snow Buildings - Sung to the North
Nils Frahm - The Bells
One Be Lo - S.O.N.O.G.R A.M
Orthodox - Sentencia
Paavoharju - Laulu Laakson Kukista
Papoose - A Moment of Silence
Papoose - Election Day
Pelican - Australasia
Phill Niblock - Four Full Flutes
Philip Glass - Glassworks
Sean Malone - Cortlandt
Set Fire to Flames - Sings Reign Rebuilder
sgt. - Perception of Causality
Shadowcast Sun - Lie; Up; Sky; Scroll;
Shirk - The Long Game
Sir Richard Bishop - Polytheistic Fragments
Slint - Tweez
Slowdive - Morningrise
Spiral Architect - A Sceptic's Universe
Sun City Girls - Immortal God
Terry Riley - A Rainbow in Curved Air
The Cave Singers - Invitation Songs
The Doors - Waiting for the Sun
The Winter War in Tibet - Erase
This Heat - Deceit
Toots and The Maytals - Monkey Man
Virgin Black - Sombre Romantic
Watchtower - Control and Resistance
Wuthering Heights - Far from the Madding Crowd
Yndi Halda - Enjoy Eternal Bliss
yodaka - Yodaka
Zombi - Spirit Animal


Favorite albums from the list:
儉德大廈 - 在森林和原野
Jesu - Jesu
eksperimentoj - Eksperimentoj
Nils Frahm - The Bells
Comus - First Utterance
sgt. - Perception of Causality
yodaka - Yodaka
GZA/Genius - Liquid Swords
The Doors - Waiting for the Sun
Wuthering Heights - Far from the Madding Crowd
Barbecue Bob - Complete Recorded Works Vol 1
Jodis - Secret House

Recommended Songs (sorted by most recommended artists)

Brainy : The National (Score = 95.04)
Start a War : The National (Score = 80.65)
Squalor Victoria : The National (Score = 58.78)
Mistaken for Strangers : The National (Score = 28.1)
Apartment Story : The National (Score = 24.71)
Fake Empire : The National (Score = 21.44)
If You Were There, Beware : Arctic Monkeys (Score = 124.5)
The Bad Thing : Arctic Monkeys (Score = 66.86)
Do Me a Favour : Arctic Monkeys (Score = 55.11)
This House Is a Circus : Arctic Monkeys (Score = 18.21)
O Valencia! : The Decemberists (Score = 67.84)
Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect : The Decemberists (Score = 39.93)
When The War Came : The Decemberists (Score = 31.11)
The Crane Wife 3 : The Decemberists (Score = 31.07)
Red Right Ankle : The Decemberists (Score = 28.25)
O Valencia : The Decemberists (Score = 22.41)
The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone) : The Decemberists (Score = 21.49)
Different Names for the Same Thing : Death Cab for Cutie (Score = 60.87)
We Looked Like Giants : Death Cab for Cutie (Score = 44.01)
Long Division : Death Cab for Cutie (Score = 43.17)
Pity and Fear : Death Cab for Cutie (Score = 39.01)
Expo '86 : Death Cab for Cutie (Score = 26.13)
The New Year : Death Cab for Cutie (Score = 24.25)
After Hours : We Are Scientists (Score = 72.64)
Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt : We Are Scientists (Score = 68.75)
This Scene Is Dead : We Are Scientists (Score = 41.89)
Lousy Reputation : We Are Scientists (Score = 25.54)
Cash Cow : We Are Scientists (Score = 20.1)
Bryn : Vampire Weekend (Score = 141.3)
I Stand Corrected : Vampire Weekend (Score = 59.78)
One (Blake's Got a New Face) : Vampire Weekend (Score = 20.81)
See These Bones : Nada Surf (Score = 53.08)
I Like What You Say : Nada Surf (Score = 46.76)
Concrete Bed : Nada Surf (Score = 29.64)
Weightless : Nada Surf (Score = 28.66)
Blankest Year : Nada Surf (Score = 19.49)
Beautiful Beat : Nada Surf (Score = 19.17)
Always Love : Nada Surf (Score = 18.45)
Each Year : Ra Ra Riot (Score = 94.24)
Can You Tell : Ra Ra Riot (Score = 69.28)
Too Too Too Fast : Ra Ra Riot (Score = 25.23)
Cigarettes, Wedding Bands : Band of Horses (Score = 80.28)
Islands on the Coast : Band of Horses (Score = 75.38)
I Go to the Barn Because I Like The : Band of Horses (Score = 20.7)
Lazy Eye : Silversun Pickups (Score = 70.98)
Three Seed : Silversun Pickups (Score = 31.16)
Kissing Families : Silversun Pickups (Score = 24.33)
Well Thought Out Twinkles : Silversun Pickups (Score = 23.81)
Waste It On : Silversun Pickups (Score = 23.6)
In A Cave : Tokyo Police Club (Score = 63.93)
Nature Of The Experiment : Tokyo Police Club (Score = 54.13)
Your English Is Good : Tokyo Police Club (Score = 42.7)
Love Your Abuser : Lymbyc Systym (Score = 82.52)
A Day At The Beach : Lymbyc Systym (Score = 77.75)
7/4 (Shoreline) : Broken Social Scene (Score = 58.07)
Handjobs For The Holidays : Broken Social Scene (Score = 40.45)
Swimmers : Broken Social Scene (Score = 22.98)
Our Faces Split The Coast In Half : Broken Social Scene (Score = 20.09)
Bandwitch : Broken Social Scene (Score = 18.58)
Keep The Car Running : Arcade Fire (Score = 64.21)
No Cars Go : Arcade Fire (Score = 50.52)
Neon Bible : Arcade Fire (Score = 23.69)
Black Mirror : Arcade Fire (Score = 19.58)
I Still Remember : Bloc Party (Score = 28.97)
Uniform : Bloc Party (Score = 28.42)
Blue Light : Bloc Party (Score = 25.09)
Like Eating Glass : Bloc Party (Score = 24.53)
Helicopter : Bloc Party (Score = 19.56)
So Here We Are : Bloc Party (Score = 18.2)
Middle of Nowhere : Hot Hot Heat (Score = 71.1)
Goodnight Goodnight : Hot Hot Heat (Score = 48.9)
Bandages : Hot Hot Heat (Score = 23.55)
Believe : The Bravery (Score = 59.32)
An Honest Mistake : The Bravery (Score = 55.88)
Unconditional : The Bravery (Score = 25.27)
Ragged Wood : Fleet Foxes (Score = 35.48)
White Winter Hymnal : Fleet Foxes (Score = 27.6)
Sun It Rises : Fleet Foxes (Score = 27.41)
Blue Ridge Mountains : Fleet Foxes (Score = 24.87)
Meadowlarks : Fleet Foxes (Score = 21.29)
Modern World : Wolf Parade (Score = 55.73)
You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son : Wolf Parade (Score = 42.06)
I'll Believe in Anything : Wolf Parade (Score = 37.4)
Unless It's Kicks : Okkervil River (Score = 46.36)
You Can't Hold the Hand of a Rock and Roll Man : Okkervil River (Score = 24.08)
Black : Okkervil River (Score = 21.86)
Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe : Okkervil River (Score = 21.76)
For Real : Okkervil River (Score = 19.14)
The Night Starts Here : Stars (Score = 52.62)
Midnight Coward : Stars (Score = 43.68)
Your Ex-Lover Is Dead : Stars (Score = 30.08)
The Great Golden Baby : Circa Survive (Score = 79.77)
Travel Hymn : Circa Survive (Score = 35.78)
Four Winds : Bright Eyes (Score = 44.16)
Easy/Lucky/Free : Bright Eyes (Score = 42.72)
We Are Nowhere and It's Now : Bright Eyes (Score = 26.37)
Cheated Hearts : Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Score = 40.73)
Gold Lion : Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Score = 26.7)
The Sweets : Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Score = 26.01)
Maps : Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Score = 19.6)

#
65daysofstatic

A
Actors & Actresses
The Album Leaf
The Appleseed Cast - 2x
Arcade Fire
Atmosphere

B
Battlefields
Blueprint
Brother Ali

C
Caspian
Constants
Citizen Cope - 3x
The Cure
CX Kidtronik

D
The Death Set

E
Eluvium
Explosions in the Sky - 3x

F

G
Girl Talk

H
Holy Fuck

I
Irepress

J
Jesu

K

L
LCD Soundsystem
Lichens
Lymbyc Systym - 2x

M
Maserati
múm

N

O

P
P.O.S.
The Paper Chase
A Place to Bury Strangers

Q

R
Ratatat

S
Slowly Running Backwards - I watch them practice

T
This Will Destroy You

U

V

W

X

Y
Yndi Halda

Z

This week, the headliner is Mack Maine and This Is Just a Mixtape. The Artist Spotlight is on This Will Destroy You &Lymbyc Systym's Field Studies. Plus there are featured new releases from Scatterbox, Dallas Swag, Elder, and Young Chris. Plus our weekly Top 10, the dvd releases for this week, and some highlights on Tying Tiffany, Life of Science, and Big Kuntry King.


Check it out:

http://www.101distribution.com/newsletter


And remember, to check out previous newsletters, just open the drop down at the top of our newsletter page to find the features you're looking for.


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