The Vivian Girls
Here’s the next batch of our top 100 records list for 2009. Our favourite albums of 2009, our favourite singles of 2009, our favourite tracks of 2009 - they’re all in here mixed together. Well, numbers 80-61 are anyway.
Psychey sunshine pop and cunning acoustic folk from We Show up on RadaR, who released this single on the excellent Hello Thor label.
Check out We Show up on RadaR on Myspace
Pic by Michael On
Fantastic LP of what Chris Morris used to call ‘sophisto-pop’ from Reduction Agent James Milne. Brilliantly crafted songs and lyrics that actually have a bit of substance to them whilst avoiding the pitfalls of being studenty and clever clever.
Check out Lawrence Arabia on myspace
WetDog by Jean Encoule
Minimal post-punk a la Lady Fuzz and the Fall with the bass turned way up. Wetdog recently toured with The Slits, which makes perfect sense.
Download Tidy up your bedroom mp3
No radical departures from previous releases, but I guess that’s the point. It’s a mighty fine album, with Jon Spencer and Matt Verta Ray still pumping out the best pelvis shaking rockabilly punk around.
Check out Heavy Trash on myspace
Pic by Jim Herrington
Taut and punchy rock n roll from Hot Snake Ric Froberg, with cutting lyrics and twin surfy guitars that brood - never losing control but always poised to slap you in the face with a reverby twang.
Download Two Headed Coin mp3 from Sub Pop website
Check out The Obits on myspace
Pic by Cameron Wittig
Mathy and atmospheric LP from Justin Vernon (Bon Iver). Like if Battles listened to a lot of folk records - poppy and pleasingly weird.
Check out Volcano Choir on myspace
Fantastic DIY garage pop LP including one of the songs of the year - Jane - about a girl you’d ride bikes with and make sandwiches for.
Check out The Yolks on myspace
Keyboard laden twisty pop from Euros Childs, who resiliently and frequently strays into the abstract and weird. This album is free to download from his website.
Go to Euros Childs’ website to download the LP
Check out Euros Childs on myspace
2 piece Sub Pop nu-gazers No Age branch out (kind of) with some super sonics and new noises on this 4 track EP.
Get a stream of Losing Feeling for nowt
Truly excellent chunky rock solid pop, reminding of early albums by Foo Fighters and Fountains of Wayne. And Weezer. Which is a good thing.
Check out Dinosaur Pile-up on myspace
Pic by C Davey Wilson
Fantastic album of dreamy indie pop from The Raveonettes, retro and shoegazy. Mixing Factory Records sounds and 50s nostalgia long before The Drums & Glasvegas, to great effect.
Check out The Raveonettes on myspace
Superb call and response guy/girl vocals and frenetic garage rock shakin from Auckland’s finest. Released as a split 7inch EP as part of the Cheese on Toast singles club series.
Check out The Drab Doo-Riffs on myspace
Stoner rock with punk sensibilities and a fondness for the word ‘heavy’ - a great debut LP from Jeff the Brotherhood.
Check out Jeff the Brotherhood on myspace
There are a fair few DIY recordings in our top 100, but this is the only out and out demo. Very deserving of its place here, Montage Populaire demonstrate eclectic song writing and natural boss tuneage.
Download Sorrows Well Rehearsed mp3
Check out Montage Populaire on myspace
A touching trippy love song, with rawhide style vocal chorus from a big bunch of hippies. A mix of instruments and sounds, with a vague general nod to the genre of country music to glue it all together. Like Alabama 3 if they were good.
Check out Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes on myspace
When not winding up indie stars with bizarre rants on the internet, Matt Friederberger puts out the odd album or two with his sis. I wonder how many people stopped listening to the Fiery Furnaces when they released that album involving grandma. Those people should come back - I’m going away is much more akin to their debut - with songs more ‘straightforward’ (by their standards anyway) and the majority of the lyrics penned by Eleanor. Fans of Gallowsbird Bark should get this pronto.
Check out The Fiery Furnaces on myspace
Excellent debut EP from Young Rival - indie pop with garage chops and one song that sounds like Run Westy Run.
Check out Young Rival on myspace
When they first appeared, everything about The Horrors screamed ‘style over substance’ to me. They’ve proved me wrong with this album - a surprisingly good collection of choice indie pop numbers that’s seen them boldly change tack. More Jesus and the Mary Chain than the Cramps, this dark, droney, psychey direction suits them almost as much as their haircuts.
Check out The Horrors on myspace
Eamon and crew still criminally overlooked in my opinion. Their third album - like their previous efforts - is a perfect collection of indie pop nuggets, with some of the best lyrics around to chew on and hooks aplenty.
An excellent lo fi punk rock album from The Vivian Girls, with some welcome darker hues than their debut which reminds of Grant Hart’s slice of Husker Du.
Rory Carroll recommends the Mum friendly sophisto pop of The Housewives.
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