A Fine Showing

Top ten shows of 2009:

10) Gogol Bordello @ 4th and B (San Diego, CA) - 10/17/09

You can take the kid out of New York, but you can't take New York out of the kid. The first (and only) concert I've ever seen on the West Coast was Gogol Bordello -- a band of immigrants from the the Lower East Side. Go figure. I heard great things about Gogol Bordello's live show, and they totally lived up to the hype. They've branded themselves as "gypsy punks", but this term doesn't even do them justice. You couldn't put a finger on the kind of music they play if you tried -- an nice attribute to the band's collective diversity.

9) Sufjan Stevens @ Music Hall of Willamsburg - 10/7/09

Sujfan Stevens is perhaps the most meticulous man in indie rock. I witnessed this firsthand this fall during his MHOW/Bowery Ballroom stint. Whether it's confessional solo piano / banjo ballads or all-out opuses, Mr. Stevens is one of the few artists who is not afraid to stop mid-song if all is not right. At one point, Sufjan had 16 musicians playing different instruments on the cramped Music Hall of Williamsburg stage -- each playing his or her part in creating the masterful sounds of 2005's masterpiece, Illinois.

8) Sonic Youth @ Music Hall of Willamsburg - 11/2/09

Same venue as #9, much different show. Sonic Youth has always been one of those Bucket List groups -- the kind of band you must witness before you die or they dissolve. I got my wish last month at the Hall, where they played a blistering set of songs from The Eternal (with some other gems tossed in). The band appears to be living up to its name -- the songs have matured; the band remains, well, youthful.

7) Jay-Z @ Madison Square Garden 9/11/09

Dubbed a 9/11 benefit show, this was really a party at the Garden to celebrate Jay-Z's highly anticipated return to form. Although he was listed officially as the only man on the bill, every song he played more or less featured a special guest. Backed by a full band, surprise artists popped in an out throughout the night to contribute. You never knew who was going to come out next -- kind of like the Royal Rumble. We got appearances from Kanye West (2 days before meltdown), Beyonce, Kid Cudi, Rihanna, John Mayer, Santigold, Puff Daddy (I refuse to refer to him by anything else), and Mary J. Blige among others.

6) The Hold Steady @ Bowery Ballroom 6/8/09

Arguably my favorite current band playing at arguably the best venue in New York City. It doesn't get much better than this. The last time I saw The Hold Steady, they shared a billing with Art Brut at Terrminal 5 and the sound simply sucked. The second time around was infinitely better, as the band brought along with it a kind helping of Stay Positive songs. I have never seen a performer seem to enjoy what he does for a living more than Craig Finn. All smiles, all the time.

5) Phoenix/Passion Pit @ Hammerstein Ballroom - 12/2/09

Seeing one breakout band is a special thing. Seeing the two breakout bands of 2009 perform at the same show is epic. Who says you need guitars to rock out? This was a holiday dance fest at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The synthesizers were in full force on an evening that featured all that is exciting about rock music these days. Understandably, this show sold out in like 10 minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if either of these bands play a much larger stage the next go around.

4) Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Angel Orensanz Synagogue - 11/6/09

Last year I saw TV On The Radio at a masonic temple in Brooklyn. This year I saw the Yeah Yeah Yeahs play at a synagogue on the Lower East Side. There's something about playing at ironic locations that just adds to the element of seeing a hipster-friendly bands play live. I knew about this show literally the afternoon of the performance. Thanks to one of my favorite co-workers (thank you, Bianca), I was able to get in WITH special access to an open bar throughout the evening. Although the YYY's only played for an hour, I heard the best of the first three albums. Karen O. reigns superior as the sexiest woman in rock.

3) The Pixies @ Hammerstein Ballroom - 11/23/09

Branded the "Doolittle Tour," The Pixies reunited for the first time in five years to play a string of shows to "celebrate" the 20th anniversary of their alt-rock masterpiece. By "celebrate," I mean cash in, of course. After warming up with some b-sides that even Kim Deal was admittedly challenged by, the sold out crowd was treated to the familiar opening chords of "Debaser". The next 14 songs were expected sequencing bliss. I heard "La La Love You" and I la la loved it. The encore included "Where Is My Mind?". My answer: anywhere, just officially blown.

2) U2/Muse @ Giants Stadium - 9/24/09

You know a show is BIG when a band that sells out arenas is OPENING for the headliner. I was admittedly as excited to lose my Muse virginity as I was for U2, and would have been just as happy if the night ended when the "openers" left the stage. The production of this show left me in awe. 50% of the credit goes to the stage designers and 50% goes to the talent itself. U2 played a strategic mix of the old and the new, rendering the 85,000+ in attendance speechless -- suggesting that just maybe Bono can save the world some day after all.

1) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band @ Giants Stadium - 10/8/09

No openers needed for the Boss. U2 might have taken the top spot, had it not been for some Springsteen circumstances:

1) The show was in New Jersey
2) The show was the 2nd to last show at Giants Stadium
3) Born To Run was played in sequence, in its entirety

I don't think anything else needs to be said.

The Final Countdown

If you've been following this sporadic blog since its inception, you've surely come to realize that I am a fiend for countdown lists. Although I've been mastering the art of the hiatus as of late, you had to have KNOWN I'd be back for my end of the year picks. Considering how I randomly decided to cover my "best-of-decade" picks in mid 2008, I am going to stick with my gut, and not torture you with yet another best of 2000-2009 mess. You can chalk this post up as either an isolated entry or an addendum to all that was great from 2000 - August 2008. It's your call.

Without any further adieu, here it goes -- The 10 Best Albums of 2009:

Honorable Mention I. Rodrigo Y Gabriela - 11:11

The highly anticipated followup to their breakout 2006 self-titled record, this one is an homage to the duo's forbears. Each track pays tribute to the respective artists that has helped paved the way for these former metalheads. Have no fear -- the blazingly fast rhythmic guitar from their "reptile" album is reprised on 11:11, which makes this arguably the best instrumental album of the year.

Honorable Mention II. Pearl Jam - Backspacer

As I detailed in one of my few posts this year, this is THE definitive Pearl Jam comeback album. Ditching the major record labels, Pearl Jam opted to self-release this bad boy and sell exclusively through Target stores. With label chains now broken, it appears a new creative spark has been restored for Eddie and the boys. Leadoff single, "The Fixer" is the most infectious tune the band has released in fifteen years. The rest of the record -- the band's shortest -- ain't half bad either.

10) Them Crooked Vultures (Self-Titled)

A project that had supposedly been in the works for years finally blitzed us earlier this fall. First there was the shady online viral campaign. Next, there were tour date announcements and sold out shows before any material was even leaked. Finally, we got an album out of nowhere in mid-November. I remember thinking this would be an utter failure or a resounding success. This just goes to show that when you place three proven musical geniuses in a room together, you sometimes get the results you expect. Put quite simply, Them Crooked Vultures is the musical melting pot of Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters, and Queens of The Stone Age. You literally hear elements of each legendary band in each one of this album's blistering tunes. Here's to hoping this is not just a one-off gig.

9) Jay-Z - The Blueprint III

Yeah, yeah. I know. For hardcore Jay-Z fans, this album doesn't hold a candle to some of his earlier work (The Blueprint, Reasonable Doubt, The Black Album, etc.). Yes, my music integrity is questioned for even ranking this album based on the almost universal poor reviews. Sadly, this was the year I finally discovered Jay-Z, and although I will agree that I have no right to critique hip-hip, I enjoyed the hell out of this record. Before becoming the official Yankee World Series anthem, "Empire State of Mind" was the most-played song of the year on my iPod.

8) Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

I consider Wilco to be the modern day classic-rock band. Aside from having legions of fans who happen to be in that traditional classic rock band-loving demographic, Jeff Tweedy's vintage leathery vocals paired with the band's easy-going vibe make these guys seem from an era they're not from. Hell, they even had the audacity to name their 7th album eponymously. If that's not good enough for you, they took it to another level here by, yes (you guessed it), naming a song "Wilco". That's right -- now you can have three consecutive lines on your iPod that bear the name Wilco. The last time I saw this was with Bad Company.

7) The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

I think this is the first time a (mostly) bluegrass album is making its debut on OTM. After releasing the 2nd part of their two-part Gleam series of EP's last year, the Avett Brothers impacted more than just the indie-folk comfort zone. This 7-song set turned the heads of the heavyweights -- most notably Rick Rubin. The rock producer was so impressed by their offering, that he signed up to produce their major-label debut. Preserving the formula that carefully blends painfully heartfelt lyrics with organic folky music, this record is the perfect follow-up to the Gleam set. The band has gained so big so fast that they've already graduated on to the larger venues that usually pass on the bluegrass/folk scene.

6) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

When it comes to album cover of the year, there is no contest. The artwork for It's Blitz! beautifully summarizes the band's explosive energy in all its breakfast mutilation glory. Shedding the guitar aggressiveness from their previous efforts, the YYY's third full-length album is a tribute, nay love-fest, to the electronic music the band has flirted with throughout its career. It appears Nick Zinner has traded in his Fender for some pretty sweet synth gear. Indie-dance being all the rage these days, you can certainly count on Karen O. being ahead of the curve and taking it to the next level. The band is able to claim its stake on a new musical realm, while holding onto the elements that make them the best garage punk band in the world.

5) Sonic Youth - The Eternal

Maybe it's pure coincidence that Sonic Youth's first indie album in twenty years just happens to be arguably the best (the band signed with Matador after being on Geffen since 1989). Or it could just be that this band gets better with age and experience. Sonic Youth released their first album before I existed, and for nearly thirty continuous years have been writing (and rewriting) the indie rock textbook for the poseurs they will surely outlive. The Eternal expands on the mature sound of 2006's Rather Ripped, yet still continues to unleash the signature tricked-out-tune fury of the band's literal arsenal of guitars. Kim Gordon, now in her mid-fifties, has adopted a growl that perfectly complements the beautiful noise this band masterfully creates.

4) Passion Pit - Manners

Passion Pit started the year as nobodies, and are now playing three sold out nights at Terminal 5 next month. That's the kind of year it's been for these Boston locals -- another trendy outfit that has opted to shun the guitar for layered synth. More importantly, Passion Pit makes it okay for suburban white kids to dance. Manners is chock full of hooky anthems that will creep up your iPod's play count. Frontman Michael Angelakos' distinctively soprano vocals had me convinced for several months that there had to have been at least one female in this band.

3) Neko Case - Middle Cyclone


Known mostly for her efforts as one of the many members of indie-rock supergroup The New Pornographers, it's pretty apparent that Neko is doing just damn fine on her own, thank you very much. Who needs to share the spotlight with seven other band mates when you can create your best work on your own. Well, that's not entirely true. Ms. Case has help from everyone from Garth Hudson to M. Ware on her fifth and, hands down, best solo disc. Withdrawing some of the experimentalism of the Pornographers, Neko backs this smattering of poppy mainstream gems with her unmistakably soaring voice. First single "People Got A Lot of Nerve" is quite possibly the single of the year.

2) Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion

Before 2009 even dawned, insiders were suggesting that Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion would be the album of the year -- possibly decade. When this monster was finally released on vinyl the first week in January and two weeks later on traditional formats, it's almost as if the party was over before it started. Critics far and wide declared this the winner. It seems silly to consider MPP the album of the year because it feels like this one came out over a year ago -- that's how long it's been on our radar. This album is an "ear orgasm" -- the kind of record people will be using to test the quality of their sound systems for years to come. Resonating everything from Kid A to Pet Sounds (most of the time simultaneously), you don't have to be a skinny jean-wearning Brookynite to pretend to like this.

Yes. This one also takes home the illustrious prize of "album cover of the year that gives me a headache". Last year's winner was Death Cab for Cutie's Narrow Stairs.

1) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

An universal best album of the year pick, this French quartet solidified their fate at this year's SXSW festival. When everyone returned from Austin this past March, all the buzz was surrounding these guys -- as if they were new to town. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is actually the band's fourth LP, which proves that a little perseverence can pave the way to success. Soon enough, the band played SNL and even managed to score a gig on every major late night show. The album, which combines 2001-era Strokes with today's Passion Pit-esque synth trends, is the perfect amalgamut of the decade -- combining the stripped down elements of the early decade with the decadent computer-assisted production of today's up-and-coming bands.

Does It Offend You, Yeah? Nope.

The soundtrack for the hipster-friendly nostalgia flick, Where The Wild Things Are hits stores today. Although the first glimpse trailer provided us with a reworked version's of Arcade Fire's "Wake Up," it's all Karen O on this disc. Or more specifically, Karen O with her Yeah Yeah Yeah's bandmates and some Raconteurs. Together they are collectively known as Karen O and The Kids. Many of the songs have kid-sung choruses in the background, which makes this soundtrack perfect for Brooklynites and minivan-driving soccer moms alike. She's on a roll this year, and her daygig just happen's to playing tonight at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Good luck getting into this one.

No word on that Chicken Soup With Rice movie just yet...

You can stream the entire soundtrack HERE.

The List (Part 7)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.
For 80-71 (Part 3), click HERE.
For 70-61 (Part 4), click HERE.
For 60-51 (Part 5), click HERE.
For 50-41 (Part 6), click HERE.

40) Muse - Black Holes & Revelations (2006)
There aren't very many modern bands that can carry on the progressive rock torch as well as Muse. And much like forebears Rush, this band is a trio that packs a wall of sound punch in each tune. These guys had been building steady momentum since their first release, Showbiz, in 1999. But they really hit it big with their most recent effort, Black Holes & Revelations, which came out just over two years ago. Spawning a string of hits, which included the expansive "Supermassive Black Hole," the face-melting "Knights of Cydonia," and the radio-friendly Radiohead-sounding "Starlight," this record refused to leave my radar. I'm willing to bet Guitar Hero had a little say in this, but who cares -- this is great stuff. Muse recently released their first live album, called H.A.A.R.P., which is simply epic.


39) Portishead - Third (2008)
Finally! A new Portishead album! Calling this trip-hop group's first release in over a decade "highly-anticipated" is like calling Kanye West "confident". And although diehards themselves doubted this record would ever see the light of day, Third was finally released earlier this year to much fanfare. Was it worth the hype? Absolutely! Third marked the trio's return to the mainstream -- debuting at number 7 on the Billboard charts. This record departed slightly from Portishead's signature trip-hop sound, and instead focused on darker elements often associated with industrial music. The good news is that when it rains, it pours. The band has already completed their promotional touring for Third to begin writing new material for their fourth.


38) Ryan Adams - Gold (2001)
What do Stephen King and I both have in common? Aside from kinda sharing names (my middle name is Stephen), we have an unhealthy obsession with Ryan Adams' music. And sure, when you slice and dice it, Gold is a pop record. But truth be told, it is one of the most well-written albums of the decade. There's a reason "When The Stars Go Blue" has been covered by everyone from The Coors to Tim McGraw. I remember when this album came out, I was a freshman in college and 9/11 just happened. Ryan had filmed the video for the album's first single "New York, New York" on September 7th. The morbid part is that the video featured the singer lip-syncing along the East River with a Twin Towers-adorned skyline behind him. People mistook this irony as a means for exploiting the tragedy for all it was worth. It may have just worked for him. Gold is Adams' best-selling album to date.


37) The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday (2005)
The follow-up to their brilliant debut, Separation Sunday is another concept album by The Hold Steady that loosely follows the story arcs of characters "Holly" and "Charlemagne," as introduced on Almost Killed Me. Musically, this one is a little more refined than their first -- exploring complex classic guitar riffs, delving deeper into Franz Nicolay's ivory-tickling abilities, and staying away from the punky verse-chorus-verse formula often implemented on AKM. Separation Sunday is also lyrically more sophisticated -- taking advantage of Craig Finn's witty wordplay while simultaneously squeezing in Springsteen-like storytelling that only gets better on more recent Hold Steady releases.


36) Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
Despite being packaged as an Outkast record, this one is actually comprised of a solo album by each of the group's members. Good thing for Big Boi, because Andre 3000's "Hey Ya" is what really hits this one out of the park. This tune may very well be the number one played song during my college era, but it's one of the rare pop gems that is definitely deserving of its success. As for the rest of the content on the album(s) -- surprise, surprise -- it's Andre 3000 all the way. And although Big Boi's contributions are surely nothing to sneeze at, it's Andre's willingness to step out of the duo's comfort zone that pays off big time. Whereas Speakerboxxx is straight-up Southern hip-hop, The Love Below is unclassifiable -- exploring the depths of hip-hop, funk, rock, and everything in between.


35) M.I.A. - Arular (2005)
Talk about talent! This colorful British-by-way-of-Sri Lanka songstress is also an acclaimed producer, songwriter, and visual artist. And while we are on the subject of unclassifiable music, Ms. Arulpragasam takes it to a whole new level. Mixing in dance and hip-hop elements with punk and dancehall, Arular is perhaps the most original of the decade. The record, which was supposed to be released in 2004, was pushed back nearly six months simply because it was having authorization issues for its heavy sample use. When it finally did come out, M.I.A. turned the music world on its head. She recently played her final concert of the year at Bonnaroo to begin working on a new album, which is schedule for a 2009 release.


34) The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)
I remember when this band burst onto the scene 13 years ago with "She Don't Use Jelly". The Flaming Lips had been around for 12 years before they struck it gold with this hooky song about preserves, tangerines, magazines, and well, masturbation. A song this kooky would surely cast these guys off into the depths one-hit wonder exile, right? Wrong! Turns out they were just getting started. Four years after "Jelly," the Lips released the epic The Soft Bulletin, and then three years after that, they came out with the now classic concept album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. A psychedelic electro-rock masterpiece whose songs follow the trials and tribulations of protagonist Yoshimi, this one's arrangements are on the same level as a Dark Side of The Moon. So much so that it has been confirmed that this album will be made into a Broadway musical! Move over ABBA.


33) Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005)
Taking a page out of the Guns 'n Roses handbook, Bright Eyes released two albums on the same day in January of 2005 -- I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn. While the latter is largely dismissible, the former is where Conor Oberst and gang really shine. Featuring collaborations along the likes of Jim James and Emmylou Harris, I'm Wide Awake is a folk album for the ages. And although the content of this one isn't exactly sunshine and butterflies (the album begins with a spoken word prologue about a plane crash), the record contains some of the most confessional and heartfelt songs of Oberst's illustrious catalog.


32) Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said by a million people? If the songs on In Rainbows had been garbage, then maybe Radiohead's "pay what you want" stunt wouldn't still be talk of the town in the music world (just an FYI, I gave the guys $5 of my hard-earned cash for this bad boy). In reality, this album is as good as it has ever gotten for Radiohead. Whether it's the whip-fast electro-beat of album opener "15 Step" or the hypnotically bass-heavy "All I Need," this album contains the perfect blend of what was great about rock-laden "Bends-era" Radiohead and experimental "Kid A-era" Radiohead. It's not too raw, and certainly not too contrived. And here's the best part -- after Radiohead basically offered the album for free, it hit number one on the charts (with over 100,000 units sold in the first week) when it was physically released on CD/Vinyl.


31) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell (2003)
Make no mistake about it; the physical aspect of a Yeah Yeah Yeahs show is as important as the music. So much so, that singer Karen O is arguably the most engaging frontwoman since Debbie Harry. But it's not all smoke and mirrors here. If you dissect the brash exterior of each one of the tunes on Fever To Tell, you'll discover some pretty crafty songwriting. "Maps" is one of the most sincere love songs of our time. The only downside to this record is that it ends as soon as it begins. Containing a batch of songs that fall under the three minute mark, this one's got all the underpinnings of a classic punk record. The trio got a little soft on us with their follow-up, Show Your Bones, which is a definitely an acquired taste for traditional YYY fans.