10. The Lonely Island - Incredibad
Released on February 10th, 2009
More info at Last.fmSo if you haven’t watched Saturday Night Live in the last few years, you may not know about these guys. Headed by comedian Andy Samberg, this group has dropped hits like “I’m on a Boat” to “Jizz in my Pants.” If you want a solid laugh, give these guys a listen..
9. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
Released on January 11th, 2009
First, let me thank Johnny Kreitzman for getting me into these guys. My love for this album started with “My Girls.” The arpeggio in this song is fucking awesome. I don’t know what it is about these guys, but I really love their mix..
8. Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky
Released on October 20th, 2009
So I know these guys find their way on to my top albums all the time, but with good reason. The first time I watched through the second season of this show, I was a little unimpressed in retrospect of the first season. However, after this album was released, I listened to just the songs devoid of the videos, and I absolutely fell in love with FOTC all over again. After listening to the whole album, I watched the whole second season again, and a second time through was all I needed to realize that every single one of the FOTC episodes are brilliant. Favorite tracks: “Carol Brown”, “Friends”, “Too Many Dicks on the Dancefloor”.
7. Death Cab for Cutie - The Open Door EP
Released on March 31st, 2009
Another band that never really gets old to me. I know our bassist Ray may have this EP as one of his top 3 albums of the year, so I apologize for it being #7 on my list before hand. Even though Ben Gibbard got skinny and landed a hot wife, Death Cab’s music has had the same underlying tone for the majority of their albums, as far as I’m concerned. They really explore some new rhythm’s as far as guitar is concerned on this short EP, but nonetheless, it’s hard to say this band has ever strayed from going in a really good musical direction.
6. Brand New - Daisy
Released on September 22nd, 2009
Listen at Last.fm I feel like every new album that Brand New releases is like some expedition to an unknown planet. From “Your Favorite Weapon” to “Deja Entendu” to “The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me” to “Daisy,” some people may wonder if this is the same artist recording all of this stuff; This, however, is not a negative comment. If you’ve never listened to Brand New, I find it really hard to explain just what kind of sound they have. I mean, it’s hard rock, but still really melodic and indie all at the same time. That being said, you probably won’t find much disappointment in giving this album a try.
5. Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Released on September 8th, 2009
Okay, now we’re really to my favorites. Some people are surprised at how much I L-O-V-E rap/hip-hop/R&B, but I got immersed into this stuff in 3rd grade when my Mom bought me Warren G “This DJ” on cassette tape. Both my mother and I both discovered what “Parental Advisory” meant, subsequently. But, here we are with the Blueprint 3. Jay-Z makes me laugh my fucking ass off. His lyrics are so creatively funny: “I know we facin’ a recession, but the music y’all making gonna make it the great depression.” Anyways, if you like rap, you’re an idiot if you don’t like Jay-Z. Anyone that tells you the status-quo for good rap/hip-hop is anything other than Jay-Z probably is related to Kanye, but he is really good too.
4. Say Anything - Say Anything
Released on November 3rd, 2009
Listen at Last.fmI was so utterly disappointed with Max Bemis’ last release “In Defense of the Genre.” I remember my sister bought me Madden 2008 the same day I illegally downloaded this album. I was so pumped to kick some ass in Madden and listen to a new 2 disc “rager” from one of my favorite bands. Not only did I get my ass kicked in Madden, the album was, for lack of a better word, bad. There were a handful of songs that I liked, but even then, it would have been a struggling one disc album as far as I was concerned. However, now the self-titled was released, and I can say I am very, very pleased with the result. Even though I had heard a few of these songs in the past, the mastering on the album is so good that they may as well be new songs (Listen to “I Hate Everyone”). This album progresses really well for what it is. “Do Better”, “Crush’d”, “Mara and Me” – these are just a few good songs. I love the way these songs progress within themselves as well – one of the things I think has always kept me a Say Anything fan.
3. Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major
Released on August 17th, 2009
Listen at Last.fmNick and Ray may beat me up for this not being my #1 this year, but shit man, between “Ursa Major”, “Aim and Ignite” by fun., and “Kingprince” by Cassino, it’s really, really hard to say which I really like more. I know Nick and I had been waiting FOREVER for this album to drop. Last time 3EB dropped an album, I was working at the Wherehouse, and I’m pretty sure we all know they’re nowhere to be found anymore! It took Jenkins long enough, but once again, a solid 3EB album was put together. Favorite tracks include: “Water Landing”, “Monotov’s Private Opera”, “Don’t Say a Word”, “Bonfire” – shit, I guess I like all the tracks.
2. fun. - Aim and Ignite
Released on August 25th, 2009
Listen at Last.fmThis album is INCREDIBLE. Stop reading this right now and go get it. I got this album before it was released in July, and I played it every waking second for like a month and a half. This is like an all-star band in my eyes – the best of the best from The Format, Anathallo, and Steel Train (some of TDTS’s favorite bands). From start to finish, there’s not a track on this album I’m not crazy about. “Barlights” and “Walk the Dog” are enough to get you into drinking mode for the weekend, and “All the Pretty Girls” is enough to get you going for, well, enough said...
1. Cassino - Kingprince
Released on November 12th, 2009
Listen at Last.fmSo, Cassino’s first album, “Sounds of Salvation” was our favorite album of the year a couple years back. I know it seems trite to list their follow up right up there, but I know I’m not going to regret placing this album so high. The first time I listened through this album, I couldn’t believe how much all the songs kind of sounded alike to me. After a few more listens, it troubles me even more, primarily because I was loving the album, but I couldn’t understand how I could if all the songs had very similar qualities. It’s just the very stripped down nature of this band I love so much. As many of you know, I drive a lot from Santa Barbara to Monterey, so for the short time I drive through what we Californian’s like to call “countryside,” this album is right there with me with all the acoustic guitars, harmonicas, and banjo’s a travelin’ kid could ever want. Pretty much everything you’d expect from a home-grown Alabama style band. Favorite tracks include “Kingprince”, “Maddie Bloom”, “Cannonball.”
So I know these guys find their way on to my top albums all the time, but with good reason. The first time I watched through the second season of this show, I was a little unimpressed in retrospect of the first season. However, after this album was released, I listened to just the songs devoid of the videos, and I absolutely fell in love with FOTC all over again. After listening to the whole album, I watched the whole second season again, and a second time through was all I needed to realize that every single one of the FOTC episodes are brilliant. Favorite tracks: “Carol Brown”, “Friends”, “Too Many Dicks on the Dancefloor”.
Another band that never really gets old to me. I know our bassist Ray may have this EP as one of his top 3 albums of the year, so I apologize for it being #7 on my list before hand. Even though Ben Gibbard got skinny and landed a hot wife, Death Cab’s music has had the same underlying tone for the majority of their albums, as far as I’m concerned. They really explore some new rhythm’s as far as guitar is concerned on this short EP, but nonetheless, it’s hard to say this band has ever strayed from going in a really good musical direction.
Okay, now we’re really to my favorites. Some people are surprised at how much I L-O-V-E rap/hip-hop/R&B, but I got immersed into this stuff in 3rd grade when my Mom bought me Warren G “This DJ” on cassette tape. Both my mother and I both discovered what “Parental Advisory” meant, subsequently. But, here we are with the Blueprint 3. Jay-Z makes me laugh my fucking ass off. His lyrics are so creatively funny: “I know we facin’ a recession, but the music y’all making gonna make it the great depression.” Anyways, if you like rap, you’re an idiot if you don’t like Jay-Z. Anyone that tells you the status-quo for good rap/hip-hop is anything other than Jay-Z probably is related to Kanye, but he is really good too.
