FAVORITE MUSIC OF 2009 An Annual Report By Dave Ratzlow |
Friends: Here are a few lists of my favorite music released this year. Like last year, you can sample the songs and videos directly from this page. Click the "play" buttons to play the entire track. More controls and the complete playlist are available by selecting the "pull-out drawer" on the lower left corner of this page. If your company blocks websites such as YouTube.com, the page may not load entirely and you might not be able to see videos or hear songs. |
| TOP TEN FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR | ||
| 10. |  |
FREDO VIOLA -- Turn Anchored by intricate falsetto harmonies, these sweet jams are some of the most interesting and refreshing songs of the year. Be sure to check out the music videos on his website to get a glimpse of how he builds a song through multiple overdubs. Fredo Viola - "The Turn (A Pagan Lament)" www.fredoviola.com |
| 9. |  |
DEAD MAN'S BONES -- Dead Man's Bones Led by former Mouseketeer and well-respected actor, Ryan Gosling, this band fuses several genres to create retro music with a gothic sensibility. Sure, maybe some of it's a bit pretentious, but their unique sound, aided by an energetic children's choir, keeps it fun too. Dead Man's Bones - "I'm a Zombie for You" www.deadmansbones.net |
| 8. |  |
GRIZZLY BEAR -- Veckatimest By crafting a unique sound that is simultaneously rocking and sweet, Grizzly Bear supports the notion that Brooklyn is the current center of the indie rock universe. Grizzly Bear - "While You Wait for the Others" www.grizzly-bear.net |
| 7. |  |
LANGHORNE SLIM -- Be Set Free A long-time favorite who has appeared on several of my "best of" lists, Langhorne hasn't stretched much beyond his good-time, folk-rock style over the years, but he's still churning out passionate love songs and superlative live shows. Langhorne Slim - "Say Yes" www.langhorneslim.com |
| 6. |  |
K'NAAN -- Troubadour Described as "hip hop/folk/afro-beat" on his Facebook page, this is expansive pop music at its best, made all the more exciting by its politically content and powerful storytelling. K'naan - "Waving Flag" www.knaanmusic.com |
| 5. |  |
LA ROUX -- La Roux I've been hooked ever since "Fascination" leaked on the internet in the Fall of 2008. She has kind of a squawky voice, which I admit may be a matter of taste, but there is no denying that these are some of the catchiest pop songs of the year. Almost immediately, other artists have been doing cover versions of these classics-in-the-making. La Roux - "Bulletproof" www.laroux.co.uk |
| 4. |  |
HEARTLESS BASTARDS -- The Mountain Thanks big time to Pandora.com for introducing me to this band. How do you know my tastes so well? These emotive, raspy-voiced, female singers who employ "electric rock instrumentation, punk influences, a subtle use of vocal harmony, extensive vamping and major key tonality" get me every time. Heartless Bastards - "Hold Your Head High" www.theheartlessbastards.com |
| 3. |  |
LILY ALLEN -- It's Not Me, It's You The catchiest songs of the year. Glossy pop perfection like this should always have this much personality and cleaver songwriting. Album includes the song of the year, "Fuck You", a cathartic G. W. Bush kiss-off. Lily Allen - "Fuck You" www.lilyallenmusic.com |
| 2. |  |
LISSIE TRULLIE -- Self-Taught Learner [EP] Her distinctive voice, punk attitude, and unconventional song structures have kept me excited about this album all year. The long postponed second chorus of the title track could go on forever for all I care. Another discovery thanks to the blogosphere. Lissie Trullie - "Self-Taught Learner" Lissie Trullie - "You Bleed You" www.myspace.com/lizzytrullie |
| 1. |  |
MICACHU & THE SHAPES -- Jewelry Music hasn't been this fun and inventive since Soul Coughing's first album in 1994. Another distinctive voice, catchy melodies, teen angst, intricate arrangements, this is music for foot tapping as well as head scratching. Micachu & the Shapes - "Golden Phone" Micachu & the Shapes - "Calculator" www.micachu.com |
| HONORABLE MENTIONS |
| A CAMP -- Colonia
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| BAT FOR LASHES -- Two Suns Bat For Lashes - “Daniel” |
| BEIRUT -- March Of The Zapotec / Realpeople Holland Beirut - "Venice" |
| NEKO CASE -- Middle Cyclone Neko Case - “Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth” |
| FIERY FURNACES -- I’m Going Away Fiery Furnaces - "Even in the Rain" |
| FIERY FURNACES -- Take Me Around Again Fiery Furnaces - "Even in the Rain (acoustic)" |
| GOD HELP THE GIRL -- God Help The Girl |
| KAREN O. AND THE KIDS -- Where The Wild Things Are Karen O. and the Kids - "All Is Love" |
| LITTLE DRAGON -- Machine Dreams Little Dragon - "Fortune" |
| M. WARD -- Hang Time M. Ward - "Never Had Nobody Like You" |
| MONSTERS OF FOLK -- Monsters of Folk Monsters of Folk - "Say Please" |
| PEACHES -- I Feel Cream Peaches - "Talk To Me" |
| ROYKSOPP -- Junior Royksopp - "The Girl and the Robot" |
| SHILPA RAY & HER HAPPY HOOKERS -- A Fish Hook An Open Eye Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers - "I Only Have Eyes For You" |
| REGINA SPEKTOR -- Far |
| ST. VINCENT -- Actor St. Vincent - "Save Me From What I Want" |
| TAKEN BY TREES -- East of Eden Taken by Trees - "My Girls" |
| YACHT -- See Mystery Lights Yacht - "Psychic City (Voodoo City)" |
| YEAH YEAH YEAHS -- It’s Blitz Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Little Shadow (acoustic)" |
| ALBUMS FROM 2008 THAT I HAD MISSED OR THAT GREW ON ME |
| DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES -- Ear Park Department of Eagles - "Teenagers" |
| LARKIN GRIMM -- Parplar Larkin Grimm - "Dominican Rum" |
| LYKKE LI -- Youth Novels Lykke Li - "Complaint Department" |
| FAVORITE CONCERTS OF THE YEAR (in chronological order) |
| BEIRUT @ BAM - 2/6 |
| LISSIE TRULLIE @ MERCURY LOUNGE - 2/11 (clip) |
| MICACHU & THE SHAPES @ CAKE SHOP - 3/23 (clip) |
| LILY ALLEN @ ROSELAND - 4/20 |
| BAT FOR LASHES @ BOWERY BALLROOM - 4/30 |
| ALICE SMITH @ JOE'S PUB - 5/30 |
| PEACHES @ MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG - 6/19 (clip) |
| LANGHORNE SLIM @ BELLHOUSE - 10/15 |
| ONES TO WATCH IN 2010 | |
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THE BROKEN HEARTS http://www.myspace.com/2brokenhearts |
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HOLLY MIRANDA http://www.myspace.com/hollymiranda |
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ALICE TAN RIDLEY http://www.myspace.com/alicetanridley |
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THE SUZAN http://www.myspace.com/thesuzan |
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TEZ http://www.myspace.com/tezrocksnyc |
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GAGGLE http://www.myspace.com/gagglespace |
| FAVORITE ALBUM COVERS | |
| FREDO VIOLA --Turn | FEVER RAY -- Fever Ray |
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| DIRTY PROJECTORS -- Bitte Orca | NEKO CASE -- Middle Cyclone |
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| BACHELORETTE -- My Electric Family | BLAKROC -- Blakroc |
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| RUBBLEBUCKET -- Rubblebucket | HANNE HUKKELBERG -- Blood from a Stone |
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| FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEOS | ||
| 13. | POMPLAMOOSE "September" |
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| 12. | RUNAWAYBOX "Boyfriend with Health Benefits" |
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| 11. | 
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LA ROUX "I'm Not Your Toy" |
| LA ROUX "Bulletproof" (acoustic) |
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| 10. | DUCHESS SAYS "Black Flag" (bootleg) |
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| 9. | THE GOSSIP "Heavy Cross" (fan bootleg) |
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| 8. | THE PRESETS "If I Know You" |
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| 7. | ROSS HARRIS "Pop Music" |
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| 6. | CERI FROST "Dead All Along" |
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| 5. | COCOSUMA "Miracle Man" |
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| 4. | SHE & HIM "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" |
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| 3. | PEACHES "More" |
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| PEACHES "Lose You" |
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| 2. | 
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LILY ALLEN "The Fear" |
| 1. | WHO MADE WHO "Keep Me In My Place" |
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| BONUS MUSIC VIDEO | ||
BOB DYLAN |
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WEBSITES OF THE YEAR |
FREDO VIOLA www.fredoviola.com |
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| PANDORA www.pandora.com |
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Thanks for reading. Let me know if there's anything else you think I should really hear. Happy Holidays, |
| PPS (Any audio files found on this site are used for promotional purposes only. Please purchase the songs that you like. The Ratzlow does not promote, advocate or approve of piracy. If you hold the copyright and would like us to remove your song file, please contact: dratzlow -at- yahoo -dot- com.) |