Scott with his band Skeletons with Flesh on Them ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

[Editors Note: Scott Roots writes and sings advanced pop songs with his band Skeletons with Flesh on Them. As a fellow lover and devourer of music of all kinds, we value how he's always got a new (and often local) band to talk about. As someone who has actively listened to a wide array of what 2009 had to offer, recorded and live, he came immediately to mind when considering guest end-of-year list contributors. Scott's band is playing the Three Imaginary Girls holiday show at Chop Suey, this Wednesday December 23rd with a bunch of other bands. -josh]

My 5 Favorite Albums of 2009

The DoDos - Time to Die (www.dodosmusic.net)
The DoDos pit galloping drums against restrained vocals and deft finger-picking for a foreboding yet colorful effect.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (www.wearephoenix.com)
Phoenix, quite simply, makes me want to party.

The Foghorns - Diamond as Big as the Motel Six (www.thefoghorns.com)
Haunting, lonely folk songs that touch on the kind of sadness you mistakenly thought was yours alone.

Atlas Sound - Logos (www.atlassound.com)
Weird and warmly and understated.

Elba - Don’t Be Discouraged Little Sparrow (myspace.com/elba)
Oscillating between placid and paranoid, a unique and genuine sound.

My 5 Favorite Seattle Shows of 2009

Sunny Day Real Estate at the Paramount (www.sunnydayrealestate.net)
I built this show up a lot. It was even better than I hoped.

Loom at Holy Mountain
A smoke-bomb scare wasn’t enough to stop Loom’s melodic hardcore lightshow.

Champagne Champagne at the Mansion (www.champagnechampagne.net)
Thomas, Pearl and Mark swigging champagne inside an absolutely gorgeous mansion on Capitol Hill.

The DoDos at the Mural Amphitheatre (www.dodosmusic.net)
The subtlety of their music a perfect contrast to the wide open summer evening.

Love is All at Neumos (loveisallright.blogspot.com)
Dissonant, catchy, and cute as all get out.

Grizzly Bear ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Some notable calendar listings have appeared in the past week or so we thought you might want to be aware of:

Grizzly Bear coming to the Moore Theater, Friday October 16th
$23 - presale starts Thursday July 16 through the Moore. PW: KEXP.

Monotonix coming to Neumos September 19th
$13 - 21+ - Tickets available at Ticketswest

Pearl Jam coming to Key Arena September 21st and 22nd
$68 - Tickets go on sale to the General Public, Saturday July 18 at Ticketmaster.

The Dirty Three coming to the Crocodile September 18th
$15 - 21+ - Get tickets from the Crocodile

Fruit Bats coming to the Crocodile August 20th
$12 - 21+ - Get tickets from the Crocodile

MP3 - “Ruminant Band” by the Fruit Bats courtesy of Sub Pop

KEXP Summer Mural Concert Series at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater
All these shows are free and all-ages, including the BBQ. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Friday 7/31, 5-8pm
Blitzen Trapper
Throw Me the Statue
This week daytrotter posted their session with Blitzen Trapper.

Friday 8/7, 5-8pm
Dyme Def
Fresh Espresso

Saturday 8/8, 7th Annual KEXP BBQ! 2-9pm
Dinosaur Jr
Viva Voce
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Japandroids
Born Anchors
Champagne Champagne

Friday 8/14, 5-8pm
The Dodos
Army Navy
We highly recommend streaming the Dodo’s new album Time to Die at timetodie.net.

Friday 8/21, 5-8pm
Fruit Bats
Johnny and the Moon

Murder City Devils ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Our day 2 of Sasquatch was focused around Mad Rad to start, the Avett Brothers and then the Murder City Devils both on the mainstage mid-day, and then Of Montreal to finish off. Each of these bands lived up to their billing, with Of Montreal taking the award for the most visually riveting rock n’ roll experience, and Murder City taking their own for the most painfully riveting set to watch. And did anyone else think the singer for The Henry Clay People sounded a little too much like Hutch? Just sayin’.

Head over to flickr to view the entire day’s set of pictures.

Mad Rad ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Mad Rad ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Hockey ::: Photo by Abey Simmons

Dancing to Hockey ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

The Henry Clay People ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

John Vanderslice ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

St. Vincent ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

St. Vincent ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Avett Brothers ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Fences ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Murder City Devils ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

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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.

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”

Pretty much the day one crowd :: Photo by Josh

Now, lets get this straight, the Block Party and I have had a pretty long, pretty drunken relationship over the last three years.  2006 introduced me to free Carlo Rossi tent and the idea of doing various substances in a shit-reeking port-a-potty.  2007 saw a slew of other, er, substances and an attempt at starting a riot outside the completely over-capacity Girl Talk show - a near-riot quickly quelled by several half-drank, lukewarm beers taken from an undisclosed location.

And 2008, wow, 2008 was the year of, er, hazy recollection.  A series of memories loosely connected by the feeling of cold Pabst tallboys in my hand, the sensation of utter claustrophobia, and the gentle tug of needing to be somewhere at some vaguely defined time.  Within this clusterfuck of sensations there was also, at times, music, some good, some not-so good, and some so crowded with bandana sporting hipsters that I fled.

Sadly, I’m going to have to consult a schedule to even have a chance in hell of remembering what I saw over the course of both days, but, nonetheless, thanks for reading.

What I Remember From The Capitol Hill Block Party: Day One

1.  I’m kind of in love with Truckasaurus.  It isn’t really the kind of music that I’d play on my personal computer at home, or like seek out rare copies of their original EPs or anything, but live, these guys are sort of gangbusters.  At CHBP, they nestled in to the darkness of King Cobra, and just turned it on, blasting the crowd’s collective hair back with wave after wave of sonic fuzz, and absolutely head-rocking beats.  My question is this: what’s the point of group electronica?  I mean, I understand someone has to twiddle the knobs and in the case of Truckasaurus, someone has to loop the Chuck Norris-barfing clips, but what are they other chaps doing?  I mean do they each get their own separate electronic noise to play with?  Please, I’m serious, I need answers.

2.  At this point, two things happened, first I suddenly realized how oppressively crowded this place was.  It had to be because of the presence of hipster-God Girl Talk and the hugely popular Vampire Weekend, but nonetheless, it pretty much stunk.  You couldn’t get anywhere without literally battling your way through an army of 16 and 17 year old tight-jean wearing punks.  No offense to this children of the Devil, I used to be one myself (sans tight jeans), but lord if it didn’t push me off the streets and in to just about any bar I could find.  Thus the second event happened, I got very very drunk, and from there things got blurry.

What I could see of Girl Talk :: Photo by Abbey

3.  I know I saw at least part of Girl Talk.  I remember the briefest image of a skinny white long-hair, perched behind a mess of wires and electronics, but after that all I remember is glitch-infused rap music and a swarm of young folk shaking their collective ass-things.  My one hazy observation: Girl Talk played all the tracks off his albums, which I do not understand.  If you’re a bad ass DJ who can chop it up like no white man alive, why wouldn’t you completely turn a whole new set of songs on their head?  Seems a little pandering for an artists seemingly so creative.  But what do I know.

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FRIDAY

The Dodos::Photo by Explosion 5000

This is the weaker of the two days for me personally.  A nice heavy focus on local acts, but aside from that there’s nothing I’m dying to see.  Heavily recommend you checking out Menomena and if everything I’ve heard is correct Abe Vigoda will rock your socks off … very drunkenly.  I’m recommending Vampire Weekend, as that’s where I’m going to be, but supposedly Koenig and crew put on a lackluster display, if so, I’m heading on over to Jay Reatard in hopes he’ll freak out and punch a fan.

11:00 am - Heavy drinking in your backyard/office bathroom

4:00 pm - Black Eyes and Neck Ties (Neumos Stage)

5:15 pm - Abe Vigoda (Vera Stage)

6:30 pm - Menomena (Main Stage)

7:45 pm - Girl Talk (Main Stage) v. Pwrfl Pwr (Vera Stage)

9:00 pm - The Dodos (Neumos)

9:45 pm - Pleasureboaters (King Cobra)

10:45 pm - Vampire Weekend (Main Stage)

SATURDAY

The Hold Steady::Photo by jjbuchan

Any day of any concert that features The Builders and The Butchers, The Fleet Foxes and The Hold Steady (with a side helping of Chromeo) is one you should be paying to attend.  In the I’ve been known to willfully skip (i.e. sleep through) pretty much the entire second day of the concert.  This year though, I’m hitting both, just because I can.

2:00 pm - Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground (Main Stage)

3:00 pm - The Hands (Neumos Stage) v. The Cave Singers (Main Stage)

4:00 pm - Drinking, heavy heavy drinking (anywhere you can get it)

5:15 pm - The Builders and The Butchers (Neumos)

6:00 pm - Fleet Foxes (Main Stage)

7:45 pm - Throw Me The Statue (Neumos)

9:00 pm - Hold Steady (Main Stage) v. Grand Ole Party (Vera Stage)

10:00 pm - JUST ANNOUNCED THE SATURDAY KNIGHTS (NEUMOS)

There will be many many more bands announced in the coming weeks, but here’s what this years line-up is looking like: 

Friday July 25
Vampire Weekend
Les Savy Fav
Girl Talk
USE
The Dodos
Jay Reatard
Akimbo
Pwrfl Power
Past Lives
Black Eyes And Neck Ties
Champagne Champagne

Saturday July 26
Surprise guest!!
The Hold Steady
Chromeo
Kimya Dawson
Darker My Love
The Butchers And The Builders
The Hands
Vallela Vallela
The Physics
Man Plus
Little Party And Bad Business

Pretty sweet! We’re also really excited about King Cobra being added as an Official Stage at this years party. They have a great stage and best of all, since the blockparty is in late July: air conditioning!