2009 seems to be very promising musically- for me at least. I've already got a solid list of 6 albums I really enjoy this year, with many more waiting in the wings. I thought it would be nice to check out some other songs/albums as recommended by the diverse fount of knowledge that is this forum!

So post your favorite album(s), song(s), vid(s), etc.

Here are my lists:

Songs:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- "Zero"

An absolutely triumphant, conquer-the-world kind of song that never fails to make me erupt into bouts of spastic dancing. Need an emotional boost? Try this! The long, bubbling intro of jittery electro goodness really builds up the tension and is maintained through two verses and choruses before an absolutely glorious guitar scorches through the mix and sends this song soaring to such delirious heights.

Enjoy!



Bat for Lashes- "Daniel"

Finally! A pop song with the audacity to have subtlety and atmosphere! Beautifully arranged and sung, with background vocals and lyrics that just resonate with the memory of the halcyon days of first loves, nostalgic glimpses of home and coming of age. It's also deceptively catchy! Add to that a visually delicious video, and the song's a classic in my book.



Albums:

Franz Ferdinand- Tonight: I was so amazed by their debut album 5 years ago that I obsessively collected all of their singles. My enthusiasm waned a bit over the past few years, however, but I picked up their new album because I liked the first single "Ulysses". I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity and risk-taking of the album. Sure, it's got the huge, riffy pop numbers ("No You Girls" being the most notable), but the sharp curves of songs like "Lucid Dreams", "Send Him Away" and "Twilight Omens" make this album more than a mere rehash to get their name back on the scene.

Antony and the Johnsons- The Crying Light: "The Dull Flame of Desire" made me realize that I could like Antony's music, and "Blind" confirmed it. I picked this up along with I Am a Bird Now, and the hushed, bruised soul that emanates from it is just enchanting.

Prince- LotusFlow3r: I'll always check out what ol' Princey is up to, and I'm reminded why I love him with each new album. There's a lot to love about this, from the quirky avenues of "Boom", "Love Like Jazz" and "$", to the more thoughtful yet rocking "Colonized Mind" and "Dreamer".

Prince- MPLSoUND: I feared that I would loathe it based on the first 2 songs we heard, but I was pleasantly surprised that the rest of the album picked up greatly. "Dance 4 Me" is laden with multiple layers of delicious grooves, while "Here" is Prince's best love-ballad in ages. "Valentina" sees Prince get away with lyrics that only he could and showcases his badass side without annoyingly announcing it as the first 2 tracks do. "Ol' Skool Company" may be ranty, but it's still a blast, and "No More Candy 4 U" makes me giddy every time I hear it, as I never thought I'd again hear that wild, raucous, egomanical-in-a-fun-way and hyper rockabilly complete with screaming that made me LOVE Prince circa 1981.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It's Blitz: Karen O would be an icon if this band was around 15 years ago, as she has the chutzpah, depth and charisma that stars should have. With this new album, they court the pop/electro audience. While I definitely am part of that audience, I would normally be wary that such a motivation would coincide with a huge dropoff in quality, but the band has successfully transmuted the spirit and energy of their more classic material into a really, really great pop album.

Bat for Lashes- Two Suns: Fur and Gold was an alluring debut, to be sure, but it didn't make me a megafan or anything. However, this new album announces her as the heir apparent to the likes of Björk, Tori Amos and Kate Bush. Her beautiful vocals and musical chops (I was amazed by how many instruments she plays as listed in the credits) fuse these 11 beautiful songs with a sacred aura, and I'm lapping it up.

I still have to pick up Morrissey's new album (bad Ian!), and with more on the way from LCD Soundsystem, Gorillaz, Annie, Depeche Mode and others, it's shaping up to be an excellent year!

my favorite song of 09 is U'r Gonna See Me Soon.I hope so Prince.

Still waiting.

KWms31 said:

It's a nice, breezy update of the One Nite Alone version. I like both versions a lot!

phunkdaddy said:

Hence the "so far"!

my favorite song of the year so far is "cover girl" by rupaul or else the title track from the new PJ harvey album.

this is a messed up year.

Anxiety said:

New PJ? Yum!

I'm surprised you haven't liked much so far! You might dig the 2 tracks I posted. Then again, knowing our dichotomy, probably not!

Moonbeam said:

i've heard some bat for lashes on the local alterna-radio station here in MPLS. it's good. i don't know that it's something i'd dash to the wrecka stow to get, but it was pleasant enough. same with YYYs. i've always liked them, but i've never had a craving to listen to them.

i like a couple of the songs on the new PJ album because she's sounding screechy and psychotic again. that's my favorite shade of PJ.

Anxiety said:

When's the album out?

I loved White Chalk.

Moonbeam said:

i think the album came out over here in the states last week?

i really liked white chalk, too. i like when she does character-driven albums.

I don't have a favorite this year yet. I do like Jazzmine Sullivan's song about lions and tigers and bears though.

Vendetta1 said:

Huh?

And you need to watch the vids I posted, stat!

Moonbeam said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...uhdtXAgMNE

Vendetta1 said:

"This video is not available in your country."

Moonbeam said:

Vendetta1 said:

What's the song called?

Moonbeam said:

Lions, Tigers & Bears.

Vendetta1 said:

Awesome!

Vendetta1 said:

It sounds light, breezy and refreshing in the R&B scene. Nice!

Moonbeam said:

It's about time, ain't it?

Vendetta1 said:

Indeed! And it's about time you checked out the videos that I posted!

Moonbeam said:

U2 "no line on the horizon" by far. As for song, its pretty tough, alot of strong cuts from u2,Depeche,Pet Shop,the new a-Ha single, and a host of others

According to my rateyourmusic ratings for stuff this year, my favorites are:


Prince - Lotus Flow3r & 1/2
Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP & 1/2
Prince - MPLSound
Platinum Pied Pipers - Abundance
Melinda Doolittle - Coming Back To You
Antony & The Johnsons -
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
U2 - No Line On The Horizon & 1/2
Morrissey - Years Of Refusal & 1/2


though this is subject to change. and i've yet to listen to Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, and PJ Harvey while wait for this Prince phase to pass, in order to give them necessary attention.

looking forward to Tori Amos, Badu, Imogen Heap, Johnny Cash (supposedly), Alice Smith (supposedly), and David Bowie (unlikely)

errant said:

There's a lot of buzz about this one. What's it like?



Nothing that special, huh? I'll still probably pick up Morrissey as I've seen it's kind of akin to You Are the Quarry (which I adore!), but I'm not sure about U2.

Moonbeam said:

a lot of people seem to love the new U2, but i just don't see it. but then, i like the last 2 a lot, and it's really cool to slag those off these days, so what do i know?

Animal Collective is.... hmmm... psychedelic worldbeat pop? i dunno. but i like them

errant said:

Well i liked the last 2 U2 albums, some dog those records as being "safe" but thats not true at all. If they put out Joshua Tree now, it would be called a "safe" record so that point is useless. This album hit me right away, didnt have to grow at all, with some it did, to me it didnt. I didnt put Prince on this list, mainly because i do like the records, but im already finding myself skipping alot, especially on MPLsound
[Edited 4/6/09 20:29pm]

Doves - Kingdom Of Rust



beautifully badass

Sdldawn said:

hmmm! didn't realize.

KWms31 said:

Mine too