POST HASTE.

Lets Hear it for the Girls (and boys): Songs of 2009

Here are some of my most listened to songs of the year. 

Sorry for the youtube format I've been out of the blogging for a bit...

and have less and less patience.

1. The XX Crystalised

2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs Heads Will Roll

3. Julian Casablancas 11th Dimension

4. Melody Gardot Who Will Comfort Me

5. Mayer Hawthorne The Ills

6. Mos Def Quiet Dog 

7. El Perro Del Mar Change of Heart

8. Jay Z Empire State of Mind

9. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Young Adult Friction

10. St. Vincent Actor Out of Work

11. Camera Obscura French Navy

12. The Mumlers Don't Throw Me Away

13. Thao Cool Yourself

*Bonus The XX Islands

Oxford American Music Issue 2007

I know I am very late with this post but I have had this magazine sitting next to my bed for a few days now.

Once again, Oxford American magazine has put out an amazing music issue.  The writing in Oxford American goes far beyond the traditional music review or interview often delving deep into the artists at the time finding the most intriguing nuances to keep readers coming back. 

I preferred last years album to this years and acccording to their site last years music issue is still available for back order. Although, I liked the music included in 2006 more, the writing in this issue, that features Thelonius Monk, is superior.  There is an interesting article about music blogging, acurately titled "Hype Machine" as well as an article about Daniel Johnston. 

Oxford American does a superb job of picking the right words and melodies to display southern life and emotion in the most raw, gut wrentching ways.
 
Following is the tracklist from this years compilation:

Eldridge Holmes "If I Were a Carpenter"
Hackensaw Boys "Look Out Dog, Slow Down Train"
The Clovers "One Mint Julep"
Sandy Posey "I Take It Back"
Reverend Charlie Jackson "Morning Train"
Van Dyke Parks "G-Man Hoover"
Zakary Thaks "Bad Girl"
Karen Dalton "Katie Cruel"
Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks "I Feel Like Singing"
Teddy Grace "Hey Lawdy Papa"
Betty Davis "Anti Love Song"
Dwight Yoakam "Yet to Succeed"
Amy LaVere "Killing Him"
Don Redman "That Blue Eyed Baby From Memphis"
Mayo Thompson "The Lesson"
International Submarine Band "I Must be Somebody Else You've Known"
The Parchman Prison Band "Parchman Farm"
Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones "Bayou Rock"
Thelonious Monk "Trinkle, Tinkle"
David Banner "Cadillac on 22's"
Fred Neil "Little Bit of Rain"
Betty Harris "Cry to Me"
Percy Mayfield "Ha Ha in the Daytime"
Iris Dement "Sweet Is the Melody"
Daniel Johnston "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Your Grievances"
The Roches "Hammond Song"

 

Best of 2007 The Amended List

As I was on my way to work this morning I began listening to some of the albums from 2007 that I thought stood out. I began to contemplate my list in relation to where I was at this time last year when music began to take the majority of my attention and the momentum of my new found energy seemed to be pushing me in the right direction.

I was hard at work on new projects and on the verge of taking a break from the corporate atmosphere I had long shied away from. Labels sent my copies of albums, I was at the coffee shop daily coming up with ideas for reviews, interviews and personal essays. I wouldn’t admit any of my writing was bad in fact I saw good in it all, it wasn’t optimism it was sheer blindness from which I suffered and so my writing did too.

My application for graduate school was no better, it was all self deprecating ego and no content, all analysis and no fact. When I received the rejection I was sad as if I had no idea the statement of purpose I had cobbled together was nothing special. My ego was crushed but that did not lead to disinterest. I told myself it was for the best that I didn’t need anymore student loans and that the people were probably pretentious, still I was lying to myself but it felt better than the truth, that my writing hadn’t evolved in the past few years at all and that it might never amount to anymore than a few profiles views on Myspace.

At this time last year I had failed myself by not admitting the past is prologue, it was done, over everything needs to be fresh new, different. All of the old obliterated to make space for change.

The projects waned, I mostly sat on my couch surfing the web, reading a few music blogs and wondering where I should get lunch. The truth was unemployment was not the answer either, free time the antithesis.

So here I am; a lot more humble in my choices these days and not sure where my writing will go.  I am happy with a few good lines, an idea that stands out more than the rest and glad when I read something amazing, glad I can still spot amazing work. 2008 might be similar to 2007 but at least I am courageous enough to finally let go. Enough banter, here’s the amended list for 2007:

14. The National Fake Empire
13. Jill Scott Hate On Me
12. Of Montreal Gronlandic Edit
11. Fujiya & Miyagi Transparent Things
10. Arcade Fire Keep the Car Running
09. LCD Soundsystem Someone Great
08. New Young Pony Club Hiding on the Staircase
07. Kanye West Stronger
06. Justice Phantom
05. Interpol Rest My Chemistry
04. The Shins Australia
03. Feist My Moon My Man
02. Amy Winehouse Love is a Losing Game
01. Radiohead Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Following is Fujiya & Miyagi's Transparent Things

Best Songs of 2007 The Definitive List

Following is a list of the best songs on 2007.  You might notice Umbrella is not on this list, that is because I don't particularly like that song and don't agree with many of the best of 2007 lists I have come across. My computer is still out of commission for an unknown amount of time so I haven't been able to put any songs up for download as soon as I can I'll put up some pleasant surprizes. 

Happy 2008, better late than never.

13. Jill Scott Hate On Me
12. Of Montreal Gronlandic Edit
11. Peter Bjorn & John Up Against The Wall
10. Stars Sleep Tonight Junior Boys Remix
09. LCD Soundsystem Someone Great
08. New Young Pony Club Hiding on the Staircase
07. Kanye West The Good Life
06. Justice Phantom
05. Interpol Rest My Chemistry
04. The Shins Australia
03. Feist My Moon My Man
02. Amy Winehouse Love is a Losing Game
01. Radiohead Jigsaw Falling Into Place