Most Overrated Albums of 2009

This isn't going to be the most surprising list, but I don't want a miss a chance to hate on some bad music!

5. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar Borrrrrring. They may make some cool sounds, but they can't write a song to save their lives. And I used to be a big fan of the band. Easily the most disappointing album of the year. [MySpace]

4. Health - Get Color The album art is awesome, but the music, not so much. Like ASDIG, poor composition lands them on this list. This music has been made before and here, it's neither new nor improved. [MySpace]

3. Girls - Album Unlike the two above, Girls succeed as songwriters. Great melodies and tight pop compositions abound. It's just that this is some of the most un-edgy music to come out this year. Don't get me wrong. It's enjoyable. But one of the best albums of the year is young man imitating the Beach Boys in an attempt to get laid as much as possible? I don't think so. [MySpace]

2. The XX - xx This band is just so generic. I don't hate the music, but I don't understand how anyone can get excited about it. Hype works in mysterious ways. [MySpace]

1. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca OK, who didn't see this coming? Dirty Projectors suck, folks. They are offensive on too many levels to count. They go against everything rock music was ever supposed to be (as evidenced by their version of Damaged). Hell, they go against pretty much everything art was ever supposed to be. And I still maintain the band is unfeminist, though I know it's only a matter of time before someone loses their shit at me for saying that. (Go ahead...) This band is the distillation of everything wrong with indie music today - the privilege and entitlement that dominates the Brooklyn music scene, the thinly masked 1950's-esque conservatism and the complete, total lack of having any balls. This music is cowardly and unbearable. [MySpace]

Upcoming Shows: Fucked Up, Werewolves, Coyote Eyes + more

[Upcoming Shows Playlist]
Thursday, November 5

Fucked Up + Titus Andronicus @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple | Fort Greene, Brooklyn | $18
Hardcore band Fucked Up is performing their acclaimed album Chemistry of Common Life in its entirety. The bad news is that Vivian Girls (!!??) are singing back-up vocals and it costs $18. On the other hand, Titus Andronicus will be opening with their excellent less thrash/metal form of hardcore. [FU MySpace] [TA MySpace]


Friday, November 6

Girls + Real Estate | Bowery Ballroom | SOLD OUT!
I have mixed feelings about Girls, who have recently been determined to be the shit. The band's backstory is such that if I harsh on them, I'm afraid it will look like I'm in favor of creepy cults and against smiles. (In fact, I am against both cults and smiles.) But let's face it, Girls is anti-edgy, Beach Boys-inspired pop. And the lyrics are some of the most blatant, unoriginal attempts to get laid in the history of rock. From the words, we learn that Christopher Owens is a really nice guy who wants to innocently love and be friends with girls and smile and make the best of his terrible life, but he's just heartbroken and lonely. I'm mean, come on!!! (Note: if we discounted all music that was created for the purpose of the musician getting laid, we'd be without 98.5% of music, but at least you don't have to be so obvious and uncreative about it.) On the other hand, his voice is really interesting, not quirky at all but not like anyone else's, awkward but very rich and full. And the melodies and songwriting are unarguably Great - with a capital G. [MySpace]


Sunday, November 8

Werewolves, Coyote Eyes + Mary Onettes @ Mercury Lounge | LES, Manhattan | $10
It's no secret that my favorite two canine-related bands in New York City are Werewolves and Coyote Eyes. Werewolves play an amazing blend of psychedelic music, drawing from the Doors, My Bloody Valentine and everything in between for great melodies and thick, druggy noise. Coyote Eyes play rhythmically fascinating post-punk with unusual and entirely lovable melodies. Headlining are 80's-esque Swedes the Mary Onettes, who I've heard live before and can say are decent but nothing super special. [WW MySpace] [CE MySpace] [MO MySpace]

[Upcoming Shows Playlist]

Upcoming Shows: Kurt Vile, Pterodactyl + more!!

TOMORROW! Wednesday, June 24

Asa Ransom, Spanish Prisoners @ Southpaw | Park Slope, Brooklyn | $8
Asa Ransom are such a cool band. They play art-punk with lots of keyboard and lots of energy. It's been ages since I've seen them, but when I last did, they were outstanding. [MySpace]


Thursday, June 25

Dinosaur Jr @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | SOLD OUT
Dinosaur Jr made their reputation in the 80's by simply playing way louder than anyone else. Their music was probably the most important factor in the advent of shoegaze. They also cleared the way for technically skilled lead guitar playing in American punk. In sum, their impact on indie music has been profound. Plus, they hate each other so there's the thrill of seeing if the show will end in homocide. [MySpace]


Friday, June 26

Kurt Vile, Real Estate, Girls @ Secret Project Robot | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | $8
These are some of the hottest bands out of the lo-fi movement. Headliner Kurt Vile (now Matador label-mate of Sonic Youth) is at the folk end of the spectrum. The other two are pretty trendy at the moment too, so check them all out while you can still see them in a small venue. [KV MySpace] [RE MySpace] [Girls MySpace]

Antlers @ Rooftop Films, Open Road Rooftop | LES, Manhattan | $9-$25
Well, it's nice to hear bands play on roofs. And there's no doubt the Antlers will be considered one of the best bands of 2009 after their rerelease of Hospice this August. Their music is sad but breathtaking, like a lo-fi version of Radiohead. Then again $9 minimum for a half hour of music and having to show up at 8:30 PM for the band kinda makes me not inclined to go to this one. [MySpace]

Balmorhea @ Le Poisson Rouge | Greenwich Village, Manhattan | $15
If you are looking for something more conservative, something your grandparents would approve of and that won't give you a horrible headache, check out Balmorhea. Despite the terrible name (or am I the only one who pictures a really horrifying STD?), the band is very lovely, playing ambient classical folk music, mostly instrumental. It's post-rock minus most of the rock, but it is extremely beautiful music. [MySpace]


Saturday, June 27

Pterodactyl, A Sunny Day in Glasgow @ Death By Audio | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Two Three of my favorite bands, one of my favorite venues, what could be better? Pterodactyl are one of the best NY bands I've discovered recently, and definitely one of the most original. Their post-punk barage is nothing short of thrilling. If you want more info, read my recent live review. It's been much longer since I've heard electrogaze kingpins ASDIG; in fact, I haven't seen them since my very first post on this blog. At that point, they were getting more agressive and even louder, so let's hope they've kept on in that direction. [Ptero MySpace] [ASDIG MySpace]
**UPDATE** Somehow, I overlooked the fact that Grooms are also playing this show. That or they were just added to the line-up. Either way, now it's even more important that you go to this show. Grooms (fka Muggabears) are some fucking cool post-punk. At once angular, gloomy and melodic. Mmmmm... [MySpace]