The Maldives ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

These are the albums that defined my 2009. Some I consider to be the strongest local albums of the year while others held my attention and memory in a special way such that I kept coming back to them. While many of these albums are admittedly made by bands whom I’ve also developed a strong affinity for over the past year, this is an albums list, and not simply a “my favorite bands who over the last year put out a record list.” Seven of the top ten are acts I was not familiar with at prior to the start of 2009. This includes the Ironclads. Man, a lot has happened this year.

Though the concept of the “album” may not be as relevant as it once was, I still consider myself to be an album person, for me such a group of songs is an important body of work for helping me come to relate to and really like a band. A single song usually just doesn’t do it for me. Simply put, these are the releases from this year that I listened to all the way through, over and over and over again.

1. Listen to the Thunder by The Maldives on Mt. Fuji Records
Listen: Download an mp3 of “Tequila Sunday” courtesy of Mt. Fuji Records
If any band conquered Seattle in 2009 it was the Maldives. For so many reasons, this record was the most important record in my life this year.

2. Curse Your Branches by David Bazan on Barsuk Records
Listen: Stream the entire record at Barsuk.com
David Bazan isn’t simply a musician. He is a religious philosopher. You might say this is “The Book of Dave.” A deeply personal record with very real ramifications for those who might have questions like he did about the consequences and realities of his long held beliefs. Though I don’t count myself particularly religious, I identified. To my mind this is the best album about religion and family that Bazan has ever done.

3. Apple’s Acre by Nurses on Dead Oceans
Listen: Download an mp3 of “Caterpillar Playground” courtesy of Dead Oceans
Through the power of the Internet I came into the possession of a 30-minute single-file live recording of Nurses. I can say without hyperbole that this recording is the most played “song” of the last year on my iTunes. They are playful, unique sounding, and completely DIY. This is the quintessential example of what everyone hopes a Portland band can and will be.

4. The Space Between the Maps by The Ironclads (self-released)
Listen: Download an mp3 of “Alamagordo” courtesy of the Ironclads
Advanced garage pop that’s well traveled and downright bombastic. Inventive lead guitar work and imaginative storytelling are this foursome’s forte and the record is a successful recreation of their live aesthetic.

5. Lust for Life by Girls on True Panther Sounds
Listen: Watch “Laura” on Youtube
Sad Bastard pop that doesn’t make me sad. Sign me up!

6. Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers by Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers (self-released)
Listen: Get an MP3 version via KEXP Song of the Day
I’m waiting for one (or three) of these songs to be covered by Dolly Parton. Another record like this and Nashville is gonna scoop her up, post haste.

7. A Strange Arrangement by Mayer Hawthorne on Stones Throw Records
Listen: Watch “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” on Vimeo
A DJ becomes a soul crooner, FTW. An album that you never want to turn off.

8. Keep it Hid by Dan Auerbach on Bloodshot Records
Listen: Download an mp3 of
What’s old is new again. More please. Other bands should take notes. The Blues are your friend, and mine.

9. Fanfarlo by Fanfarlo on Canvasback Music
Listen: Stream the record at Fanfarlo.com
Fronted by a clarinet playing choir boy, Fanfarlo take the cake for making this year’s most accessible orchestral pop record, and the best thing I heard out of the U.K. all year long.

10. I and Love and You by the Avett Brothers on Columbia
Listen: Stream via theavettbrothers.com
The Avett Brothers made a massive followup effort to Emotionalism, that drops the emo that marked it’s predecessor while striking a more hopeful and romantic note. This is another album that I feel wrong turning off in the middle.

11. In Dearland by Elvis Perkins on XL
Listen: Watch “Chains, Chains, Chains” Directed by Seattle’s Sean Pecknold
Elvis and his cohorts delve deep into old Americana and early rock for a record that is uniquely sad in it’s disposition, but overflowing with happy in the energy and passion of the full band performance.

12. Vecktamist by Grizzly Bear on Warp
Listen: Stream the Video for Two Weeks
Maybe this album should be higher on the list, but when I first got a hold of it I felt like it was just too much. Now, I’ve come to feel like this is a bold statement, and these guys are the vanguard of modern pop.

13. Year in the Kingdom by J Tillman on Bella Union/Western Vinyl
Listen: Download an mp3 of “Earthly Bodies” courtesy of Western Vinyl
Just when I thought J Tillman’s voice was an ideal, he goes to work for the Fleet Foxes and comes out the other side an even stronger singer.

14. Logos by Atlas Sound on Kranky
Listen: Get an mp3 of “Walkabout” via FADER
This was my official go-to chill record this year.

15. The Life of the Of the World to Come by the Mountain Goats on 4AD
Listen: Download mp3 of “Genesis 3:23″ courtesy of 4AD
As many of John Darnielle’s albums can be, this one is a grower, that really hooks you after you listen to it by yourself for a while. Seeing the songs performed live with a bit of Darnielle’s humor added in between songs for context allowed me to listen anew, and understand better than how the songs initially came off on the record.

1. Widower by Widower (self-released)
Listen: Stream at Myspace

2. VS. by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, (self-released free digital EP)
Listen: Download EP via Myspace

3. The Moondoggies by The Moondoggies on Hardly Art Records (for Record Store Day), Ltd. Ed.
Listen: Stream at Myspace

4. Don’t Piss into the Fire/Magic Mtn Single by Arthur & Yu for a Sub Pop Singles Club release for Record Store Day
Listen: Stream via Myspace

5. Fun & Laughter Land of Talk on Saddle Creek Records
Listen: Watch “The Man Who Breaks Things (Dark Shuffle)” at Vimeo

The ones I missed in 2008 and I banged the most in 2009:

Hometowns by The Rural Alberta Advantage (originally released 2008, digitally released with eMusic November 2008, then re-released by Saddle Creek Records in mid-2009).

We’re Still Here Missing You by Kaylee Cole (self-released in November of 2008)

The one from last year’s list that’s stood the test of time and stayed strong into this year

Caught In Trees by Damien Jurado, SOTS’s #20 Northwest album of 2008.
In retrospect, I should’ve probably lobbied for a top 10 spot for this album on that list.

Nick of Elvis Perkins in Dearland ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

I have to say,  with such a vibrant year of local music, I spent the vast majority of my 2009 exploring things made in the Pacific Northwest; rather than venturing out in to the vastness of the internets and the rest of America. So most of these are pretty well known tracks, albums, and artists or from Noah’s Daily Choices — though I do hope you discover a new favorite you hadn’t heard before too.  These are the records and tracks recorded outside of the 206 that I most enjoyed and listened to on repeat in 2009.  (The top 10 may be in some sort of hierachal order, but after that the order is not nearly as thought out or meaningful.) 

“Much More Than That” and “For You” by Sharon Van Etten | download ‘For You’ |
“Blood Bank” by Bon Iver | download ‘Blood Bank’ |
“Airplanes” by Local Natives  | download ‘Airplanes’ |
“Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear | listen to “Two Weeks” |
“Eet” by Regina Spektor | watch video |
“Shampoo” by Elvis Perkins in Dearland | download ‘Shampoo’|
“A Violent Translation of Concorida Headscarp” by Emperor X | download track |
“Andrew” by Crystal Antlers | download ‘Andrew’ |
“Kick Drum Heart” by The Avett Brothers | listen to track |
“Lust for Life” (though “Laura” is also tempting me) by Girls | download ‘Lust for Life’ |

Girls at Capitol Hill Block Party ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

“Garble Arch” by Blame Ringo | watch video |
“The Walls are Coming Down” by Fanfarlo | listen to track |
“Flirted With You All My Life” by Vic Chesnutt | download track |
“The Ballad of the RAA” by Rural Alberta Advantage |listen to track |
“Safe Word” by Vampire Hands | download ‘Safe Word’ |
“Future Primative” by Papercuts | download ‘Future Primative’ |
“Tidal Wave” by Thee Oh Sees | download ‘Tidal Wave’ |
 ”Crystalised” by The xx | listen to track |
“Lisztomania” by Phoenix | watch videos |
“Norway” by Beach House  | download ‘Norway’ | 
“Vanderlylle Cry Baby” by The National | listen to track |
“Can’t Talk” by Ty Segall | download “Can’t Talk” |
“Day of Sunshine” by Lee & Willbee | listen to track |
“Summertime Clothes” by Animal Collective | listen to track |
“Save The Day” by Huck Notari 

Land of Talk ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

I was worried there for a while. But I’m not worried anymore.

Over the last few years Montreal’s Land of Talk have remained high on my list of bands poised to swoon the masses, and when news of lead singer Lizzie Powell’s impending vocal surgery hit the net, it was about the last thing I wanted to hear. What would vocal surgery do to one of the most unique voices making music today? So last Thursday’s show at the High Dive was a tentative moment for me, for no other reason than confirming for myself that this Saddle Creek threesome haven’t lost their edge in time they’ve been recovering on the down low.

All indications pointed toward this night as being one of the band’s better nights of a short West Coast tour; there were far more in attendance than the nine people Powell admitted to expecting, and smiles were the unexpected theme of the night. Smiles and Powell’s goofy guitar faces, with her tongue just barely sticking out as she bites it in moments of deep concentration, or a puckered up grin shared with one of her band mates during a quality moment. There were a lot of those. Hardly rote or labored, Land of Talk looked to be having a ton of fun up there.

And the audience matched the band’s enjoyment. Powell and the band seemed genuinely impressed with the amount of devotion on display. One fan made a four hour drive to catch the show on her birthday and she was duly acknowledged from the stage, as were many of those of us in the audience who knew the words and shouted requests. This wasn’t a show people wandered in to, these weren’t people who showed up at the High Dive by happenstance. These were people who came for Land of Talk and for Powell’s unique vocals and I among them didn’t leave disappointed or in doubt of her voice. If I didn’t know better, I wouldn’t have guessed they’d missed beat, much less nearly a year.

Land of Talk ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Land of Talk ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Flickr: Land of Talk at the High Dive

Out next month on Saddle Creek Records, Land of Talk’s Fun and Laughter EP marks the return of vocalist Lizzie Powell after being sidelined by the necessity for late in 2008 with vocal ailments. Now healthy and rarin’ to go Fun and Laughter’s four new songs denote a sophisticated turn for the band, a veer away from experimenting with fast and unique guitar and vocal rhythms as a focus, and instead placing emphasis on framing the uniqueness of her voice in new ways. Powell can really sing, and these songs show it (although I admit they may have been a bit heavy handed with the vocal layering plus reverb).

MP3: “May You Never” by Land of Talk from Fun and Laughter courtesy of Saddle Creek Records

As opposed to Land of Talk’s previous LP’s featuring succinct rhythmic idea’s with pace that led to shorter songs, each of these songs have developed buildups and just feel a bit more fragile, a direction indicated by a Fleetwood Mac homage from their last record, “It’s Okay.” The song we’re featuring above certainly contains a few choice bars of Powell’s identifiable guitar strum and even has room for some kooky guitar antics, but her voice is clearly out front and really the star if the show now. We couldn’t be more happy that she’s back.

Peep one of the new video’s for songs from the last album that are included on the EP below. This one is for “The Man Who Breaks Things (Dark Shuffle):”

Fun and Laughter arrives October 13th. Pre-order the Limited Edition Fun and Laughter directly with Saddle Creek Records for a mere $7.

Land of Talk visits Seattle at the High Dive with Virgin Islands on Thursday November 5th. Tickets are available via Ticketweb for $10 adv.

Girl Talk at Sasquatch 2009 ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Nurses are playing an in-store at Sonic Boom Ballard this Friday August 21st at 6pm. You really need to see this band. |myspace/nurses|

Due to popular demand a second Girl Talk show has been added, this one 21+ at the Showbox at the Market on Monday September 21st. Tickets are still available.

Harvey Danger has also scheduled a second early edition of the “last show ever” at the Crocodile and apparently there are still tickets left. Only $20. |twitter/thecrocodile|

David Bazan has scheduled a few house shows for the eastern U.S. including Philly, Brooklyn, and Baltimore. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at Bazan’s undertowtickets.com.

J Tillman has now joined the Billions Corp. booking and management family. Hopefully he’ll now be able to get the exposure he is ready for. |billions|

In other new big-time management news, Hey Marseilles is now represented by Fuzed Music. |tig|

And finally I know it’s a long way off but it seems that Land of Talk is finally finally finding it’s way back into the game and has a Seattle show scheduled for 11/5 at the High Dive. Tickets can be had at ticketweb.

Also this weekend at the PIC in South Seattle you can test drive a Kia and get tickets to a Santogold set happening on Sunday. Other acts lending their promotional power to Kia over the course of the weekend include No Age, Wavves, Chairlift and the Dum Dum Girls. See the poster below for complete details on times.

It looks like in the time that Lizzie took off for vocal surgery and rest, Land of Talk made a video for “Some Are Lakes.” When are yellow slickers not cute? When combined with mime makeup.

Dead Confederate ::: photo by Abbey

Here’s a few of the albums that kept me in espescially good company when I wasn’t listening to my locals. (Also, when it comes to this list, “non-local” includes everything outside of Washington State, including Portland.)

For what it’s worth, the number one and two albums are virtually a tie. I’ve gone back and forth between the two of them interchanging the top spot for the entire month of December. Today’s the day I decided to post and it’s a Dead Confederate Day, tomorrow may be more Bon Iver-y. But I could stand by either as the best of 2008 with conviction.

1. Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball |myspace|
2. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago |myspace|
3. The Black Keys - Attack and Release |myspace|
4. Dodos -Visiter |myspace|
5. The Notwist - The Devil, You + Me  |myspace|
6. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely |myspace|
7. Thao with The Get Down, Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings & All  |myspace|
8. The Builders & The Butchers - The Builders & The Butchers |myspace|
9. Starfucker - Starfucker  |myspace|
10. Noah and The Whale - Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down  |myspace|
11. Ravens & Chimes - Reichenbach Falls  |myspace|
12. Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes |myspace|
13. The Shackeltons - The Shackeltons |myspace|

p.s. Just like Josh, my most listened to album of 2008 was The Avett Brother’s Emotionalism.

Here is my list of what I consider to the be the “best” releases I’ve heard this year, full albums and EP’s, local and not, self-released or with a label. Regular readers probably won’t find too much surprising but there are a few that we may have not featured very much, probably because I just didn’t have too much to add to the already existing narrative. Most notable among that list is my number one choice From Emma, Forever Ago, by Bon Iver, AKA Justin Vernon. Each listen of this debut LP proffers a new detail to my ear and generates a renewed catharsis within my soul.

Before I start opining any further and get out of control (we’re saving that for next week’s official Northwest-themed lists), here are my favorites from the past year…

Josh’s Top 25 Releases of 2008

1. Bon Iver - From Emma, Forever Ago |myspace|
2. Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball |myspace|
3. The Moondoggies - Don’t Be A Stranger |myspace|
4. J Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues (Digital Release Only) |myspace|
5. The Whigs - Mission Control |myspace|
6. The Dutchess and the Duke - She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke |myspace|
7. Wild Orchid Children - S/T EP |myspace|
8. Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground - S/T LP |myspace|
9. Starfucker - S/T LP |myspace|
10. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours |myspace|
11. The Notwist - Devil, You + Me |myspace|
12. Noah and the Whale - Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down |myspace|
13. Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes |myspace|
14. Fleet Foxes - S/T LP |myspace|
15. The Dodos - Visiter |myspace|
16 See Me River - Time Machine |myspace|
17. Jake One - White Van Music |myspace|
18. Whore Moans - Hello From the Radio Wasteland |myspace|
19. The Pica Beats - Bring Back the Claws … |myspace|
20. Thee Emergency - SOLID |myspace|
21. Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off the Lavender Bridge |myspace|
22. The Saturday Knights - Mingle |myspace|
23. Army Navy - S/T LP |myspace|
24. Horse Feathers - House with No Home |myspace|
25. Crystal Stilts - Alight of Night |myspace |

The album I listened to the most that was actually from last year but didn’t discover until this year…

The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism |myspace|

You’ll notice TV on the Radio, Of Montreal, Portishead, and Deerhunter aren’t in there. Nor Lil Wayne. I’m sorry (but not that sorry) to say I’ve listened to all of these records and they just didn’t do it for me. Dear, Science is certainly an innovative record, but I didn’t connect enough to warrant the repeated listens of those listed above. Vampire Weekend’s record is another that fits that profile, a well realized album that unfortunately for me is without any lasting impact. And I’ve diligently searched for the quality in the Deerhunter album that has everyone shouting, but I’m just completely missing it.

Today you can buy the MP3 album of Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago from Amazon for 5 bucks. After my ringing endorsement, and at that price, you have no good reason not to go get it.

Land of Talk at Neumos ::: Photo by Josh

This blog has been struggling to write a proper review for Land of Talk’s 2008 LP Some Are Lakes since it arrived in our iTunes. It fulfills the promise of the first EP and shows a whole lot of polish and subtly into their repertoire. Anchor member Lizzie Powell’s modern guitar tone is identifiably hers, moving from groovy instrumental breakdowns reminiscent of Death Cab to ballad moments that make me nostalgic for Bonny Raitt.

Powell’s recently enlisted a new bass player after losing her old one to another band, and now that she’s finished with supporting Broken Social Scene for the last little while, Land of Talk’s has some January 2009 headlining dates scheduled on the west coast. You can find them below:

Jan 14 2009 Ebar (Zeroes & Little Scream) Guelph, Ontario
Jan 15 2009 Horseshoe Tavern (Zeroes & Little Scream) Toronto, Ontario
Jan 16 2009 The grad club (Zeroes & Little Scream) Kingston, Ontario
Jan 21 2009 High Dive Seattle, Washington
Jan 22 2009 Doug Fir Portland, Oregon
Jan 23 2009 San Bond’s Eugene, Oregon
Jan 24 2009 Bottom of the Hill San Fransisco, California
Jan 26 2009 Casbah San Diego, California
Jan 28 2009 Spaceland Los Angeles, California
Feb 7 2009 Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, British Columbia

HT: Hippies Are Dead

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