Dave Bazan performs “Bad Diary Days” - 1/08/10 in a Seattle Living Room

These are the songs, bands, and sounds that I’ve started off my 2010 with. Lots of new bands I’d never listened to before 2010, many who I think we’ll be sharing much of the year with. Take a listen and maybe, just maybe, you’ll  find your first favorite new band, album or song of the new year! Thanks for starting 2010 with Sound on the Sound, we’re looking forward to sharing another great year of local music with you.

Sharon Van Etten - Because I Was In Love and “Love More“
Drew Grow & the Pastors’ Wives - “Colder by the Minute” and “Friendly Fires”
Kelli Schaefer - “Gone In Love”
The Ironclads - “Emily” (download here)
Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers - s/t debut
Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside - Myspace Demos and any YouTube I can find
Moon Duo - “Stumbling 22nd St.” (from Noah’s Daily Choice)
Whalebones - every new song on myspace and their Morning Man EP from 2007
Vic Chesnutt - “I Flirted With You All My Life”
Ravenna Woods - Demons and Lakes
Salmon Thrasher - Myspace Demos
Emperor X - The Blythe Archives
Pedro The Lion - “Bad Diary Days” (see a Sound on the Sound video above from 1/08/10)
Goldfinch - s/t
Phantogram - Eyelid Movies (out on Barsuk February 9th)
Fences - “Sadie-” from GIVE Seattle
The Moondoggies - “Side of the Road” from GIVE Seattle
Beach House - Teen Dream
The Maldives - “Go Back to Virginia” (new Maldives tune)

The Moondoggies ::: Secret Set at The Blue Moon ::: photo by Abbey

We’re half way through 2009, which means it’s as good a time as any to reflect and share what were my favorite releases, songs, and shows in what’s proving to be an exciting year of music.

I’m not ready to list these in any sort of ranked order just yet, you’ll have to wait for Decemeber for that. But these are the albums, eps, songs, and shows that have helped make 2009 a memorable year of music, so far. (No Animal Collective or Dirty Projectors necessary!)

Best Albums So Far:

The Ironclads - Space Between the Maps
Elvis Perkins In Dearland- Elvis Perkins In Dearland
The Lonely Forest - We Sing The Body Electric
J. Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues
Kaylee Cole - We’re Still Here Missing You
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone 
The Curious Mystery - Rotting Slowly
Nurses - Apple’s Acre
Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
Shane Tutmarc - Shouting at a Silent Sky

I had to whittle down that list to a round, solid 10, which is pretty exciting considering there are albums scheduled to come out from the following bands in the remaining months of 2009:

The Cave Singers, The Maldives,  The Dutchess and The Duke, Black Whales, Black Eyes & Neckties,  Thee Emergency,  J. Tillman, and David Bazan.

Bon Iver at Sasquatch ::: Photo by Abbey

Best EPs or 7” So Far:

Bon Iver - Blood Bank
See Me River - The Great Unwashed
The Moonodoggies - Terreberryy EP/Record Store Day EP
What What Now - Self Titled 7”

J. Tillman ::: photo by Abbey

Best Songs So Far:

“We Sing In Time” - The Lonely Forest
“Blood Bank” - Bon Iver
“Steel on Steel” - J. Tillman
“Shampoo” - Elvis Perkins
“Alamagordo” - The Ironclads
“Airplanes” - Local Natives
“The Hardest Part” - The Moondoggies
“Folding Chairs” - Regina Spektor
“Magic Mountain” - Arthur & Yu
“Gossamer Hair” - Pearly Gate Music
“Driftwood Doll” - The Traditionist 
“Car Wreck” - Kaylee Cole
“The Ballad of RAA” - The Rural Alberta Advantage
“Coast of Carolina” - Telekenesis

(I have to admit, 2009 has been a year of albums/EPs/7” much more so than singles and songs, so I feel like this is more a list of my favorite songs from my favorite albums than the best singles or songs of ‘09. I’ll work on broadening that a bit before December.)

The Whore Moans Play Our 2nd Blue Moon Birthday Bash ::: Photo By Abbey

Best Shows, So Far:

* David Bazan - House Show, Edmonds
* Sound on the Sound Celebrates the Blue Moon’s 75th Anniversary
* Ironclads CD Release Show at Holy Mountain (with What What Now, The Whore Hands)
* Built to Spill does Perfect From Now On
* Sound on the Sound’s 2nd Birthday Bash’s at The Blue Moon and Neumo’s
* Blind Pilot at The Triple Door
* Nurses at South Pole 
* Jenny Lewis at UW
* Bon Iver at Sasquatch
* The Moondoggies at The Blue Moon

The Ironclads::: photo by Abbey Simmons 

I know that it makes me a bad music blogger, but to be honest with you, I spent much of the month of May listening to two bands  basically on repeat: The Ironclads  and Nurses.

Much of my May was spent (unsuccessfully) trying to decide what my favorite song  is from The Ironclads  debut album: The Space Between the Maps. Every time I see the Ironclads (probably five or six times in the last three months) I leave with a new favorite song, which I then find myself singing and screaming along to in my head (and aloud) for the next week or so. It’s an enviable problem for a band to have,  in my opinion.

On a 12 track album, there are six songs in a heated brawl for the best.  Initially, I was certain there was no better song right now than the ridiculously catchy “Alamogordo;” but then I got stuck on hook heavy “Bullet Train;” then I moved on to the  f-word laden and slightly heart-breaking  anthemic “Fuckin’ A” (”the only heroes are the heroes that die, man”), then it was back to the first Ironclads song that hooked me, the ill-fated astronaut tale of “Cape Canaveral,” while the last Ironclads’ song to enchant me is the surprising pop sensibilities and sweetness of “Step to the Sea.”  After 40 or 50 listens each, I still can’t decide which song is my favorite, though I’ll happily listen another 40 or 50 times to try to come to a conclusion.

Mark my words, The Space Between the Maps will be featured highly and heavily on Sound on the Sound’s Best of 2009 lists. In it’s transversing of sounds, tempos, and styles, the album reminds me of the early Saddle Creek records that led me away from my hippie/folk leanings and straight into the arms of independent rock and music. Without a doubt,  The Ironclads are the  most pleasant surprise out of the Seattle scene this year. And if you haven’t caught one of their frenetic,  sing-and-scream-along live shows yet — you need to remedy that as soon as you possibly can. There’s an intoxicating buzz and energy in the room when The Ironclads take the stage, which makes you feel like you’re in the fold of something special. I cannot recommend them or their album highly enough.

When I haven’t been listening to The Ironclads, I’ve been playing PDX band Nurses a ton. Josh found a recording of one of their live shows, and it’s listened to at least once daily. Just like the Ironclads, there’s been a large debate going on at SOTS HQ about which Nurses song is the best. And like the Ironclads, we can’t decide on a single track, because they are all just so damn good, and freaking catchy to boot. Nurses specialize in dreamy experimental pop songs, a description which does little justice to the band’s unique style and sound. The lead singer of Nurses has a voice that is reminiscent of the Cave Singer’s Peter Quirks vocals, but he’s singing danceable tunes instead of dirges.  Sound on the Sound is planning a trip down to Portland to catch these guys live, because we simply can’t wait for them to travel north to Seattle.  To get a delicious taste of Nurses, I recommend taking a listen to “Lita” or “Technicolor,” which shows off the expansive experimental pop of the band to a tee. You should have “Technicolor” stuck in your head for the next few days at the very least.

Honorable Mentions: I listened to a couple other bands in May, I swear:

* Pearly Gate Music (go and listen to “Gossamer Hair” right now)
* Akron/Family
* Shane Tutmarc
* Bon Iver  (his set at Sasquatch was the highlight of the festival for me)
* The Traditionist
* “Take It In” by Wye Oak

Happy 2009 all! Here’s the first ‘09 edition of what I’m listening to. Hope 2009 has been treating you all swell thus far. As you’re about to see, 2009 has been a lot less of my usual heavy rock & roll and a lot of enjoying singer-song-writers and quieter tunes.

* Blind Pilot - 3 Rounds and a Sound
* Rodriguez - Cold Fact
* Horse Feathers - House With No Home
* Hey Marseilles - To Travels & Trunks
* Damien Jurado - Caught in The Trees
* Telekinesis - “Coast of Carolina”
* Rilo Kiley - The Execution of All Things
* J. Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues and Minor Works
* The Dutchess and The Duke - She’s The Dutchess and He’s The Duke
* Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP

Hey guys, sorry this is coming a few days late and is one of my only recent post. Yours truly picked up an honest to god day job, and thus my contributions to Sound on the Sound have been suffering/non-existent. I promise you, that this will change in November, now that I’ve gotten a bit of  handle on the day-job and that best of/end of the year posts are right around the corner.

Without further ado, I present to you the songs and albums that have kept me sane in this largely music-less month.

* A Gun That Shoots Knives - “Stay In School Mother Fucker”
* Starfucker - Starfucker
* See Me River - Time Machine
* The Moondoggies - Don’t Be A Stranger
* Black Eyes & Neckties(the best Halloween-ish music ever)
* Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes
* Catfish Haven - Devastator
* Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers
* Bon Iver -Daytrotter Session
* The Shackeltons - “Soft Heart”
* Hopscotch Boys - Sad and Lonely Eyes
* The Whore Moans - Watch Out For This Thing
* Sufjan Stevens - “Majesty Snowbird”
* Jake One - White Van Music 

See Me River - Time Machine
The Lonely Forest - “We Sing In Time”
Monotonix - “Ride”
Land of Talk - “Corner Phone”
Noah and The Whale - Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down
The Maldives - “I Have Found”
The Moondoggies - Don’t Be a Stranger
Bark Hide and Horn - “Treasure of the Everglades”
J. Tillman - “Minor Works” and “Steel on Steel”
Kaylee Cole - “The Car Wreck Song”

August was a rich month for new music for me. I found some new favorites that have been playing on repeat.

* J. Tillman - Steel on Steel
* The Maldives - any song i could get my paws on, as well as their album
* The Moondoggies - Don’t be a Stranger
* The Builders and the Butchers - The Builders and the Butchers
* David Bazan - Live from Sasquatch 2008
* The National - Live from Sasquatch 2008
* The Dutchess and The Duke - She’s The Dutchess, He’s the Duke
* Bon Iver - Daytrotter Session
* Bark Hide and Horn - “Treasure of the Everglades”
* Noah and The Whale - Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down
* The Dodos - Visiter

If I could erase July of 2008 for personal reasons, I just might. However, musically a lot of great tracks and albums were released in July 08 that make the month happily notable. As you will see, the tunes that I was listening to in July showcase what a two-faced month it was for me — featuring heartbreak and intense disappointment, as well as the new songs and artists that made the month bearable.  Personally, August can be nothing but better (i hope) — while musically, it’s a hard act to follow July.

The Avett Brothers - “The Weight of Lies” (hell, all of Emotionalism is amazing)
The Dutchess and The Duke - She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke
The Dodos - Visiter
Bon Iver - Daytrotter Session
Arboretrum/Pontiak - “Buffalo Ballet” (john cale cover)
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - Live from the Pretty Parlor
Cat Power - “I Found a Reason” (velvet underground cover)
Black Eyes & Neck Ties - “Ghosts in Our Clothes”
The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
Atmosphere - “Abusing of the Rib”
The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers
Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood
Thee Emergency - “Cream”

Another odd musical month for me was reflected in strange happenings outside too. Snow in April? An 85 degree day in April? The Oklahoma Sonics? I think the music I’ve been listening to this month,  mirrored the constant flux and change that I am witnessing.

Apparition! - Black Eyes & Neck Ties
“Driftwood Doll” - by Joey of The Antiques
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers - The National
Attack and Release - The Black Keys
The Kinks
Wolf Parade (inspired to relisten after seeing the Handsome Furs)
Bleach - Nirvana
“New Lies” - The Notwist
SOLID - Thee Emergency
Wild Orchid Children
The Thermals
“Soft Heart” - The Shackeltons
Applause Cheer Boo Hiss - Land of Talk
The Death Set
“Abusing of the Rib” - Atmosphere
“Doves” - The Black Angels
Ocean Songs -  Dirty Three
Only as the Day is Long - Sera Cahoone
“All Y’all” - Gringo Starr

As you can see by the bizarre mix of music below, March was a weird month for me. Luckily there were lots of great new releases to get lost with… 

Black Eyes & Neckties - Apparition!
Land of Talk - Applause Cheer Boo Hiss
Dead Confederate - Dead Confederate EP
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
The Whigs -  Mission Control
Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP
Thee Emergency - SOLID
Wild Orchid Children
The Racounters - Consolers of the Lonely
The Kinks
Built to Spill - Keep it like a Secret
Black Sabbath - War Pigs
The Antiques - Nicknames & Natives
Shy in Sunshine - “Storms” and “Rawk”
Eric Howk’s Latest Mi-Fi Myspace Song, currently “The Move”