Who to Watch in 2010: Part 2

I already gave you the rerun list for bands to watch in 2010. Now for the new names:

Big Troubles - Big Troubles seem to me to combine the best of two worlds. They come from the media-savvy New Jersey in-crowd that brought us Real Estate and the Vivian Girls. But unlike most of these aloof bands, Big Troubles crank up the volume and distortion to 11 and aren't afraid to acknowledge a love of the Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis. In other words, they are a rock band who don't stake their music on cooler-than-thou posturing. Their songwriting is excellent, their sound rich and full and their live performance arresting. [MySpace]

Bonus Eventus - This band has been around a while but has only just started to unleash its charm upon the indie world at large. Simplistic pop-punk about being young and drunk isn't exactly a new idea, but these guys do it right. The bare hooks and raw enthusiasm combine to make great songs that will worm their way into your heart. [MySpace]

Ex Wife - Another New Jersey band, but this one from the less aloof New Brunswick scene, Ex Wife released a stunning EP in 2009 and have all the pieces in place to take off in 2010. Their music is punk-smart but emotive, raw but beautiful, gritty but lush. The band is young and sounds it, and it's too early to tell for sure, but I have a feeling this is just the beginning of something massively important. At once pained, agitated and inviting, it all sounds very contradictory, so I suggest you listen for yourself. [MySpace]

Frozen Warnings - With the Werewolves on hiatus, defacto band leader Brian Amsterdam has turned his attention to a new project, Frozen Warnings. If Werewolves are any indiaction, we can expect something relentlessly creative wrapped in a druggy haze and revealing some damn good songs. I doubt this band will sound much like Werewolves, but whatever direction they go in is probably worth checking out. [MySpace]

Heavy Cream - This female-led punk outfit from the Nashville/Infinity Cat scene is the combination of four very talented (and incidentally, very good-looking) musicians. Perhaps because they aren't quite as young and new to music as many of their punky peers, Heavy Cream have already revealed a level of professionalism and focus rare in new bands. But they are still youthful and energetic, delivering their irresistible tunes with reckless devotion. Watch out for these kids. [MySpace]

NEXT>> Part 3

Best of 2009 according to Screaming Females, Dinowalrus and Pterodactyl!

Why take my advice on the best albums of 2009 when you can take the advice of some of the best musicians of 2009?


Screaming Females

Jarrett's list:

1. JEFF the brotherhood - Heavy Days (Infinity Cat Records)
2. Cheeky - What the Heck (Freedom School Records)
3. Stupid Party - s/t (Freedom School Records)
4. Songs for Moms - I Used to Believe in the West (Thrillhouse Records)
5. Bad Blood - Tongue Twisting Tunes for Tiny Tots (Dead Broke
Rekerds/ Sweet Dreams Records)
6. Mattress - Babystar Gallactica EP (Self-Released)
7. Teenage Cool Kids - Foreign Lands (Protagonist Music)
8. Delay - Plain Language (Plan-It-X Records/ Salinas Records)
9. Double Dagger - More (Thrill Jockey Records)
10. Ex-Wife - Everything Was Beautiful (Self-Released)

Michael's list:

1. Songs for Moms- I Used to Believe in the West
2. Stupid Party- s/t
3. Jeff the Brotherhood- Heavy Days
4. The Thermals- Now We Can See
5. Bad Blood Revival- Tongue Twisting Tunes for Tiny Tots
6. Dinosaur Jr.- Farm
7. Cheeky- What the Heck
8. Pissed Jeans- King of Jeans
9. Cheap Girls- My Roaring 20's
10. Jay Reatard- Watch Me Fall
11. ANS- Pressure Cracks
12. Batrider- Why We Can't Be Together
13. Batrider- Bag Wine Forever
14. King Tuff- Was Dead
15. Arctic Monkeys- Humbug
16. Ex-Wife- Everything Was Beautiful
17. Lighten Up- Absolutely Not
18. Super Furry Animals- Dark Days Light Years
19. Kreamy 'Lectric Santa- Operation Spacetime Cinderblock
20. Delay- Plain Language

[MySpace]


Dinowalrus

Fifteen Albums that Pete Dinowalrus Fell in Love with in 2009 that Didn't Come out in 2009

The Chameleons UK - Strange Times
Cows - Cunning Stunts
Dizzee Rascal - Maths and English
Warren G - Regulate...G Funk Era
Trans Am - Red Line
Giorgio Moroder - From Here to Eternity
Gong - Angel's Egg
Guns N' Roses - GNR Lies
Happy Mondays - Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Automatic
Neu - Neu 75
Venom - Welcome to Hell
Loop - Fade Out
Spectrum - Soul Kiss (Glide Divine)
Six Finger Satellite - Law of Ruins

[Dinowalrus MySpace]


Pterodactyl

grass widow - s/t (captured tracks)
dirty projectors - bitta orca
deerhunter - rainwater cassette exchange
yellowfever - s/t
telepathe - dance mother
strange boys - and girls club
pc worship - nyc stone age
marnie stern - this is it...
colorguard - shared planet
king tuff - was dead (Burger Records Reissue) - this one came out in 2008 I believe but this reissue was handed to us by a guy from Thee Makeout Party and blew our minds over and over and over again while on tour.

[Pterodactyl MySpace]

Best Albums of 2009, Part 1: Rules and Runners Up

Some years in music seem better than others. Last year certainly had some great albums, but it still seemed unsatisfying. This year, on the other hand, was outstanding. From bigger and more established bands to undiscovered kids recording in their basements, this was a year to raise expectations of what a good album can be.

This year was also an important year for me personally. Thanks in part to the influence of "Jasper" and in part to a few bands I heard near the end of 2008 (namely Wavves, Titus Andronicus and Beluga), my tastes and interests shifted towards more confrontational music - in other words, "punk," at least in the broadest sense. In making this list, I've tried to balance my old priorities with my newer ones.

However, this list is a "Best of" list, not a favorites list. And what "best" means to me, at least when it comes to music, is "most exciting." Albums that push boundaries or explore new territory are the most exciting, but some albums are just exciting for being damn good, or for appearing in the right place at the right time or for reminding the world what music has the potential to be. Exciting can be challenging or it can be beautiful or it can be fun - and the most exciting music is all three.

As a side note, I didn't really follow rap this year, so its representation in this list is pitiful. Sadly I can't keep up with everything at once, but I'm sorry that rap specifically has lately fallen through the cracks. Next year, I will do better, I promise!

And now for the honorable mentions! These didn't quite make the cut, but are well worth checking out:

The Brakes - Touchdown (Fat Cat) [MySpace]

Eat Skull - Wild and Inside (Siltbreeze) [MySpace]

Ex-Wife - Everything Was Beautiful (self-released) [MySpace]

Fiery Furnaces - I'm Going Away (Thrill Jockey) [MySpace]

Japandroids - Post-Nothing (Polyvinyl) [MySpace]

Jeff the Brotherhood - Heavy Days (Infinity Cat) [MySpace]

Mos Def - The Ecstatic (Downtown) [MySpace]

Wild Beasts - Two Dancers (Domino) [MySpace]

Next>> Part 2: #25-21
Part 3: #20-16
Part 4: #15-11
Part 5: #10-6
Part 6: #5-1