Top 25 Songs For January and February

25. Spoon - I Saw The Light
24. Yeasayer - Madder Red
23. Surfer Blood - Twin Peaks
22. Phoenix - Courtesy Laughs
21. Spoon - Got Nuffin
20. Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
19. Los Campesinos - Romance Is Boring
18. Yeasayer - Love Me Girl
17. Spoon - Before Destruction
16. Phoenix - Consolation Prizes
15. Japandroids - Sexual Aerosol
14. Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes
13. The xx - Shelter
12. Phoenix - Long Distance Call
11. Spoon - Out Go The Lights
10. The xx - Intro
9. Phoenix - Sometimes In The Fall
8. The xx - VCR
7. Phoenix - Lost And Found
6. Spoon - Goodnight Laura
5. Phoenix - One Time Too Many
4. Japandroids - Press Corps
3. Spoon - Trouble Comes Running
2. The xx - Crystallized
1. Phoenix - Rally

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #2

Japandroids - Post-Nothing

I’m still not entirely sure how they did it. I don’t know how Japandroids made one of the most pulsating, re-listenable albums of the year with just guitar, drums, and vocals - and hardly a single overdub to speak of. I’m not sure how they turned what would have otherwise been merely an exuberant album about girls and drinking into something provocative with just a few scattered, harrowing lyrics about feeling your youth slip away. Part of me doesn’t care to know.

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #3

Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #4

Ida Maria - Fortress 'round My Heart

Ida Maria has one of the best voices in Rock and a knack for writing killer hooks, but above all else, she has a fascinating persona. Fortress ‘round My Heart’s references to casual fucks, whiskey, and losing control are more than just titillating though; they also make the narrator so human that the tales of jilted lovers, loneliness, and love that outlasts a relationship become that much more poignant.

To boot, Fortress ‘round My Heart has the most hilarious lyric of the year in its favor: singing about a lonesome man who offers to give a prostitute the world in return for staying the night, Ida wonders “how it will go when God hands over the whole wide world to a 43-year-old hooker from downtown.

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #5

Built To Spill - There Is No Enemy

















Pitchfork nailed it for a change: "[E]asily the best Built to Spill album of the decade-- an improbable late-career reawakening and heartening evidence that becoming dependable doesn't mean having to settle for being predictable."

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #6

Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #7

A.C. Newman - Get Guilty

Top 30 Songs of 2009

30. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Wind Phoenix (Proper Name)
29. A.C. Newman - All My Days And All My Days Off
28. Superdrag - Deathblow To Your Pride
27. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Some Trees (Merritt Moon)
26. Pearl Jam - The Fixer
25. Andrew Bird - Anonanimal
24. The Antlers - Wake
23. Superdrag - Aspartame
22. Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire
21. Illinois - Broken String
20. Phoenix - 1901
19. The New Pornographers - Hey, Snow White [Destroyer Cover]
18. Japandroids - Wet Hair
17. Built To Spill - Aisle 13
16. Grizzly Bear - While You Wait For The Others
15. Wilco - Wilco (The Song)
14. Kid Cudi - Up Up & Away
13. The Dodos - Troll Nacht
12. Superdrag - Try
11. Phoenix - Rome
10. Say Hi - Maureen
9. Japandroids - I Quit Girls
8. Kevin Devine - Carnival
7. Phoenix - Lasso
6. Cursive - Let Me Up
5. Ida Maria - Oh My God
4. Kevin Devine - Brother's Blood
3. Phoenix - Listzomania
2. Bon Iver - Blood Bank
1. Illinois - Are You Coming With Me?

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #8

The Antlers - Hospice

Much has been made of Hospice’s subject matter and with good reason - the album’s unflinching discussion of mental illness, abortion, death, dying, and ill-fated love is legitimately haunting. However, the Antler’s debut also owes a major debt to compelling songwriting and clever arrangements. Without the potent horns that close “Bear,” the resounding organ that signifies liftoff on “Wake,” or the memorable melodies throughout, the listener’s desire to reach for a drink - if not a razor blade - by the time front man Peter Silberman concludes the album with coos of “You're screaming, and cursing, and angry, and hurting me, and then smiling, and crying, apologizing,” would not be nearly as strong.

Top 25 Songs For December

25. Old Canes - Flower Faces
24. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Janglin
23. Vivian Girls - Can't Get Over You
22. The Antlers - Kettering
21. Old Canes - Little Bird Courage
20. Ida Maria - Morning Light
19. Cass McCombs - You Saved My Life
18. Ida Maria - Keep Me Warm
17. The Antlers - Two
16. Ida Maria - Stella
15. Japandroids - The Boys Are Leaving Town
14. Ida Maria - Queen Of The World
13. Califone - Krill
12. Ida Maria - Forgive Me
11. The Antlers - Bear
10. Regina Spektor - Hero
9. Califone - Funeral Singers
8. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
7. Japandroids - Crazy/Forever
6. The Antlers - Wake
5. Japandroids - Sovereignty
4. Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire
3. Japandroids - Wet Hair
2. Ida Maria - Oh My God
1. Japandroids - I Quit Girls

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #9

Superdrag - Industry Giants

One of my more disappointing experiences of 2009 was chatting with Tom Fuller during his cursory and dismissive first spin of Industry Giants. Yes, the album features some true duds (“You’re Alive,” “5 Minutes Ahead of the Chaos”) and sure, you could make a case that it’s the worst Superdrag album. However, none of that changes the fact that hearing this band - the original lineup, no less - once again run through a rousing opener (“Slow to Anger”), captivating rock songs (“Everything Will Be Made Right,” “Deathblow to Your Pride”), and gorgeous ballads (“Live and Breathe,” “Try”), with a dazzling reggae-tinged rocker (“Aspartame”) thrown in for good measure, makes for one hell of a good time.

Top Ten Albums of 2009: #10

The Twilight Sad - Forget The Night Ahead

I first became acquainted with Scotland's The Twilight Sad through Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, their solid but very unremarkable debut. The difference this time around is that, with the exception of a few well-placed ballads, blistering guitars now propel every track. The result is an album that doesn't feature any mind blowing numbers but is nonetheless thoroughly engaging from start to finish.

Top 25 Songs For October & November

25. Phoenix - Armistice
24. Beck - End Of The Day
23. Phoenix - Countdown (Sick For The Big Sun)
22. The Twilight Sad - The Room
21. Girls - Lust For Life
20. Phoenix - Girlfriend
19. Girls - Morning Light
18. Built To Spill - Nowhere Lullaby
17. Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit - However Long
16. Girls - Hellhole Retrace
15. Volcano Choir - Island, IS
14. Beck - Lost Cause
13. Volcano Choir - Still
12. The Twilight Sad - I Became A Prostitute
11. Beck - It's All In Your Mind
10. The Twilight Sad - Made To Disappear
9. Built To Spill - Life's A Dream
8. Built To Spill - Tomorrow
7. Pearl Jam - The Fixer
6. Phoenix - 1901
5. Built To Spill - Aisle 13
4. Okkervil River - For Real [Live On Austin City Limits]
3. Phoenix - Rome
2. Phoenix - Lasso
1. Phoenix - Lisztomania

Believe In What You Can't Feel

It took me nine months but I’ve completed my fourth official mix. I wish I could say it took so long because I worked so incredibly hard on it but really, the culprit was primarily laziness. Also, Believe What You Can’t Feel is about keeping faith that good things will happen when life is difficult, so I think falling on some harder times helped motivate me to finally finish it. If you’d like a copy, just let me know and I’ll hook you up.

Top 25 Songs For August & September

25. Lucero - What Else Would You Have Me Be?
24. The Beatles - The Inner Light
23. Modest Mouse - I've Got It All Most
22. Kid Cudi - Pursuit Of Happiness
21. Jay Z - Empire State Of Mind
20. Modest Mouse - Satellite Skin
19. Lucero - Tears Don't Matter Much
18. Lucero - Cass
17. Eliza The Arrow - Toast The Tiger
16. Lucero - Hate And Jealousy
15. Rock Plaza Central - Oh I Can
14. Lucero - The Only One
13. Lucero - On The Way Back Home
12. The Fray - Over My Head (Cable Car)
11. Lucero - Coming Home
10. The Beatles - We Can Work It Out
9. Kid Cudi - Up Up & Away
8. The Dodos - Small Deaths
7. The Beatles - She Loves You
6. Lucero - That Much Further West
5. The Weakerthans - One Great City!
4. The Beatles - Yes It Is
3. Lucero - Mine Tonight
2. The Dodos - Troll Nacht
1. Lucero - She's Just That Kind Of Girl

Top 25 Songs For June & July

25. Neil Young - Just Singing A Song
24. Sonic Youth - Anti-Orgasm
23. Deerhunter - Disappearing Ink
22. Say Hi - The Stars Just Blink For Us
21. Paul & Linda McCartney - Too Many People
20. Green Day - 21 Guns
19. Paul & Linda McCartney - Dear Boy
18. Green Day - Restless Heart Syndrome
17. The Wrens - Pulled Fences (Live at Abbey Road)
16. Deerhunter - Famous Last Words
15. Say Hi - Elouise
14. Deerhunter - Circulation
13. Sun Kil Moon - Lily and Parrots
12. Green Day - Before The Lobotomy
11. Bat For Lashes - Moon And Moon
10. Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio
9. The Wrens - Surprise, Honeycomb
8. Bat For Lashes - Siren Song
7. Wilco - Wilco (The Song)
6. Say Hi - Dramatic Irony
5. Wilco - One Wing
4. Say Hi - November Was White, December Was Grey
3. Sun Kil Moon - Floating
2. Grizzly Bear - While You Wait For The Others
1. Say Hi - Maureen

Top 25 Songs For May

25. The Thermals - At The Bottom Of The Sea
24. Jeremy Enigk - In A Look
23. Illinois - How Do You Feel?
22. Jeremy Enigk - Make Believe
21. Kevin Devine - I Could Be With Anyone
20. The Thermals - When I Died
19. Lily Allen - 22
18. Lily Allen - I Could Say
17. Weezer - Heart Songs
16. Neil Young - Wrecking Ball
15. Lily Allen - Everyone's At It
14. Kevin Devine - Yr Husband
13. St. Vincent - Black Rainbow
12. Weezer - The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations On A Shaker Hymn)
11. Illinois - An Open Door
10. St. Vincent - The Strangers
9. Lily Allen - Who'd Have Known
8. Weezer - Pork And Beans
7. Illinois - Broken String
6. Jeremy Enigk - Late Of Camera
5. Kevin Devine - Another Bag Of Bones
4. Illinois - Missing Piece
3. Kevin Devine - Brother's Blood
2. Kevin Devine - Carnival
1. Illinois - Are You Coming With Me?

Top 25 Songs For April

25. Art Brut - Am I Normal?
24. Matt & Kim - I'll Take Us Home
23. Death Cab For Cutie - My Mirror Speaks
22. Superdrag - Slow To Anger
21. Youth Group - All Of This Will Pass
20. Youth Group - Two Sides
19. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Like Blood Does
18. Superdrag - Cheap Poltergeists
17. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Indiana
16. Youth Group - One For Another
15. Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
14. Superdrag - Everything Will Be Made Right
13. Silversun Pickups - It's Nice To Know You Work Alone
12. Cymbals Eat Guitars - And The Hazy Sea
11. Art Brut - DC Comics And Chocolate Milkshakes
10. Matt & Kim - Daylight
9. Kevin Drew - Love vs. Porn
8. Superdrag - Aspartame
7. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Cold Spring
6. Superdrag - Live And Breathe
5. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Wind Phoenix (Proper Name)
4. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Some Trees (Merritt Moon)
3. Superdrag - Try
2. Superdrag - Deathblow To Your Pride
1. The New Pornographers - Hey, Snow White [Destroyer cover]

Top 25 Songs For March

25. Neko Case - Vengeance Is Sleeping
24. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Inland Sea
23. Cursive - Mama, I'm Satan
22. Cursive - Caveman
21. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Halycon Days
20. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction
19. Beirut - My Wife, Lost In The Wild
18. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Isis Unveiled
17. Rivers Cuomo - I Was Scared
16. Cursive - Donkeys
15. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Insatiable Two
14. Weezer - Falling For You
13. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Contender
12. Rivers Cuomo - Walt Disney
11. Neko Case - People Got A Lot Of Nerve
10. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Tenure Itch
9. Rivers Cuomo - Paper Face
8. Cursive - What Have I Done?
7. Rivers Cuomo - Can't Stop Partying
6. Weezer - Jamie
5. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Bells Of Creation
4. Cursive - From The Hips
3. Beirut - My Night With The Prostitute From Marseilles
2. Cursive - I Couldn't Love You
1. Cursive - Let Me Up

Top 25 Songs For February

25. Franz Ferdinand - Katherine Kiss Me
24. Lemuria - Who Would Understand A Turtle
23. Lemuria - Rough Draft
22. Franz Ferdinand - Bite Hard
21. Franz Ferdinand - Send Him Away
20. A.C. Newman - Like A Hitman Like A Dancer
19. Franz Ferdinand - Twilight Omens
18. Franz Ferdinand - Lucid Dreams
17. A.C. Newman - The Palace At 4 AM
16. Lemuria - It's Not A Lie, It's A Secret
15. Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls
14. A.C. Newman - All My Days On And All My Days Off
13. Franz Ferdinand - Live Alone
12. Lemuria - Hours
11. A.C. Newman - The Heartbreak Rides
10. Lemuria - In A World Of Ghosts...
9. Andrew Bird - Oh No
8. A.C. Newman - Thunderbolts
7. Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses
6. Lemuria - Lick Your Lips
5. Lemuria - Bristles And Whiskers
4. A.C. Newman - Prophets
3. A.C. Newman - There Are Maybe Ten Or Twelve...
2. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
1. Andrew Bird - Anonanimal