BEST TRACKS OF 2009
Every blog loves a good roundup of the year and The Recommender’s no different. It’s a joy to get to the end of the calendar and review the plentiful archives and pluck out the many highlights amongst the many highlights. If you’ve ever missed one of our blog posts this is the one with which you can now catch up.
The only rules are that these tunes either got officially released this year, or arrived into our music folder during 2009.
We provide our Top 40 ( remember when music charts used to always be this quantity?), with a helpful mp3 of each track, our one-line review, and if you want to hear more about why we think this artist/track is so awesome there’s a link back to any available post that we’d previously done on them.
40.) THEOPHILUS LONDON – COLD PILLOW ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: A fresh contender, with slick wordage and inventive originality.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 52
39.) KITE IN THE AIR – MAGIC MARKER ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: A metronomic lure, it’s like dance music for angels.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 64
38.) NIC DAWSON KELLY – THE MUSICIAN ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: A troubadour for the Noughties, with a truly special voice!!
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 54
37.) CASHIER No.9 – 42 WEST AVENUE ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: This well kept indie secret has tons of swaggering stomp.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 41
36.) LOCAL NATIVES – AIRPLANES ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Brave, tearfully heartfelt and rammed with melody
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 27
35.) FANFARLO – LUNA ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Wound up like a coiled spring, this is what bursting into life sounds like.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 31
34.) THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS – DRESSED IN DRESDEN ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Stylish, sexy vocals, with a chopped guitar and a relentless beat.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 30
33.) LA ROUX – FASCINATION ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Her finest vocals, with the best delivered electro thump of 2009.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Gig List – Number 19
32.) THE GOOD NATURED – YOUR BODY IS A MACHINE ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: An irresistably magical mixture of Bat For Lashes and Kate Nash.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 60
31.) CHEW LIPS – SOLO ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Bouncy, Casio-heavy electro pop brilliance from 2010′s potential winners.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 29
30.) YES GIANTESS – TUFF N STUFF ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Totally fearless, totally American, electrified college indie
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 37
29.) PHOENIX – 1901 ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: A very satisfying tune that was punch-confident, catchy and irresistable
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 23
28.) HOT CHIP – ONE LIFE STAND ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: One of the hottest chips yet, arriving just as 2009 ended. 2010′s looking great
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Hot Chip Myspace
27.) JAY Z – EMPIRE STATE OF MIND (Ft ALICIA KEYS) ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: The king returns with a classic, to lament about the city in which he rules.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Jay-Z Myspace
26.) BIRDS & BATTERIES – THE VILLAIN ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Intelligent, tidy indie pop, with a lot of groove stirred in.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 56
25.) MIRRORS – LOOK AT ME ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Noir pop, noir ‘n b, doom pop, call it what you like, they’ve mastered it!
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 35
24.) YUKSEK – SO FAR AWAY FROM THE SEA (Ft. THE BEWITCHED) ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: A hypnotic club-filler with fantastic, catchy, melodic vocals.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 24
23.) THE JOY FORMIDABLE – WHIRRING ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Towering talent and stunning beauty, from this immensely powerful indie rock.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 31
22.) FILTHY DUKES – NONSENSE IN THE DARK ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: It’s like the perfect electro pop song, with added Maccabee magic.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 37
21.) MPHO – BOX N LOCKS ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: OK, it’s a great guitar sample, but she clearly owns a box full of slick tricks.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 42
20.) FOREIGN BORN – VACATIONING PEOPLE ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Whatever Local Natives can do Foreign Born can do too….only better.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 46
19.) YEAH YEAH YEAH’S – ZERO ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: A very strong single, from a band clearly enjoying hitting full stride.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Yeah Yeah Yeahs Myspace
18.) SMALL BLACK – DISPICABLE DOGS (WASHED OUT REMIX) ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Four slapped beats, rumbling electro basslines, one mighty remix
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Small Black Myspace
17.) CRYSTAL FIGHTERS – XTATIC TRUTH ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: It simultaneously sounds like the future and another world all at once.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 38
16.) KILL IT KID – BURST ITS BANKS ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Perhaps THE most unbelievable voice in indie rock.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 40
15.) WILD PALMS – OVER TIME ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: The Clash meets The Sisters Of Mercy meets The Young Knives! Woah!!
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 59
14.) WASHED OUT – YOU’LL SEE IT ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Music for your heart, your feet and your mind all at the same time.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 58
13.) ELVIS PERKINS IN DEARLAND – SHAMPOO ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Clever, pretty and soulful. It sounds like someone having a funeral for their heart.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 44
12.) FREELANCE WHALES – GENERATOR ^ FIRST FLOOR ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: This is the sound of your life starting again after you’ve hit the reset button.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 55
11.) WE HAVE BAND – TIME AFTER TIME ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: What an outstanding vocal refrain! A Talking Heads for the Noughties.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? We Have Band – Q & A
10.) CLOCK OPERA – ONCE AND FOR ALL ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Full of hope and heart. “Don’t be afraid to get in the way again“.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 44
9.) ELLIE GOULDING – UNDER THE SHEETS ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: The next bright electro pop starlet arrived with this outstanding love song.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? How Good Is This!!!??? – Number 35
8.) BAT FOR LASHES – DANIEL ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: An enchanting single with vocals that seem to come from another dimension.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Bat For Lashes – Myspace
7.) THE BIG PINK – DOMINOS ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: This wakes you up like a bucket of iced water to the face.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 16
6.) WAVE MACHINES – KEEP THE LIGHTS ON ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Unique, smoothly grooved indie that is perhaps 2009′s best kept secret.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 33
5.) WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS – QUIET LITTLE VOICES ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: An out of control juggernaut of an indie rock tune. Brilliant.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 27
4.) THE MACCABEES – LOVE YOU BETTER ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Astonishing music from a band hitting a crest. It’s aimed directly at your heart.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Maccabees Myspace
3.) HURTS – WONDERFUL LIFE ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: A truly timeless song that’s full of darkness, tearful hope and beauty.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Hurts Myspace
2.) THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND – YOU’LL DISAPPEAR ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: This addictive, retro, funked piece of work is as special as it is attractively melodic.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Recommender – Number 49
1.) MARINA & THE DIAMONDS – MOWGLI’S ROAD ysi
ONE LINE REVIEW: Vocally outstanding, this is the fearful sound of a superstar’s first tentative steps.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? How Good Is This!!!??? – Number 35
OK, so if you’ve never left a comment on this blog, now is surely your chance!? These lists are made with the hope of people throwing their ideas into the comments box as everyone has an opinion on these things, right? Who do you think we’ve missed? Who would be your number one? Any artists you genuinely didn’t know on here? Who do you agree and disagree with? ….gulp, please be gentle with us….
(MB)
Yes, ‘Daniel’ and ‘Love you better’ are high up in my list too. You’re the first list I’ve seen so far that’s rated Love you better. Such a great song. I don’t think ‘dominos’ deserves that spot though, I think Big Pink’s ‘Velvet’ is one of the best songs of the year, and should be there in its place.
Thanks Chapperdeemus. Have you a link for your list? There were a handful of artists who had a selection of good tracks, but we had to be careful we didn’t simply have three artists making up our top ten. Velvet is great, perhaps from a slightly deeper area of their souls even, it’s just that Dominos reminded us of a time when we were at our hedonistic, hazy best.
Mike
My list is still in my head! Going to post mine up very soon. I also tried stop a couple of bands dominating the list, because I could have put alot of songs from just one album on it.
Marina yess♥
Glad to see “So far away from the sea” too.
And there are several artists I don’t know on this list so I’m going to listen to them (thanks for the mp3s btw)
All part of the service…
This is a good blog:) Im gunna subscribe.
Check out mine? Please and thanks:) <3
Welcome aboard Jules…
Fantastic list! Good on you for Fanfarlo and Freelance Whales, plus Yuksek and Clock Opera! It’s always relieving to find a list that seems to redeem those that listen to these bands and artists that usually don’t end up on such lists (undeservedly overlooked for the most part).
My list would definitely include a lot of what you have here; but I think you should look into “Disco Biscuit Love” by The Jezabels – surely one of the songs of the year by far.
I’d heard of The Jezebels but not given them much time. Upon a second visit they are perhaps worth a blog post. That is their best tune as it is a corker. Glad we share so many tastes…
Mike
Once again Mike, you have supplied me with many new artists that will without a doubt be featured on my blog. Thanks!
You’re welcome Seth. You should put a link to your blog on the comment.
Mike
I thought that my name would have a direct link to it, I guess not!
It’s http://www.musicjuices.wordpress.com for anyone who’s interested!
What an awesome list Mike (and The Recommender team!). Thanks loads. The one line reviews are also fantastic. You write so well, particularly Fanfarlo, Freelance Whales and Kite In The Air’s descriptions – brilliant!
Pity other Marina, Bat For Lashes and Maccabees tracks aren’t on there as there’s a few major hits from them all, but I get that you wanted to write up one track per artist. Makes sense.
Others missing are perhaps Passion Pit, Here We Go Magic, Mike Snow and Health, oh and Yeasayer’s new track Ambling Alp is a winner, but all your 40 choices are great. You are one of the most consistently good blogs around with your selections and your great writing.
Roll on 2010
x
You’re welcome Mini. Appreciate your kind words. Agree with your suggestions too. They’re all great. We really toyed with the Ambling Alp tune. Like that Hot Chip track it arrived very late in the year.
We will have a handful of other posts before the year ends, but 2010 is already looking really exciting for this blog. We hope to be announcing a shit load of exciting news real soon so watch this space.
Mike
Exciting stuff! We heard on the blog grapevine that you are throwing Recommender events next year. Is this true? Are you going to be showcasing new bands etc? Hope so. I’d travel to see gigs with the kind of bands you write about.
x
totally agree with the Small Black, washed out remix nod.
I don’t know any of these bands on this list…have you guys never heard of Take That? Girls aloud? Robbie Williams? and James Blunt? Where have you been living….in a bunker? I can’t believe Cheryl Coles single “fight for this love” is not on this list. It is sooo catchy, easy to sing along to..it makes me feel young, happy and full of bounce. Also she is really gorgeous and talented and sexy……..sort it out!!!
By the way I think the name The Recommender is really good…you could recommend all kinds of things…not just music. Have you ever thought about diversifying? I think recommending cakes and shower gel would be really cool.
Happy Christmas!
Tiptoes xx
Send any cakes to Recommender Towers and we will be more than happy to assess them.
…perhaps hold back on the shower gel though…
Mike
I came on this site from hypem to download Dominoes, but I figured I would check out the #1 song too.
WOW.
Awesome job on this list. Keep up the good work!
Glad you found us! It will only get better in 2010…
Mike
Yes yes yes…. This list is very, very good. Thanks for the We Have Band and Clock Opera mp3s!
Thanks Phil.
Please check out Phil’s blog everyone,(linked above), as it shares much of The Recommender’s tastes…
Mike
Haven’t heard of half of them up there… Guess that’s why you’re called Recommender. Glad to see Ellie Goulding and familiar ones like YYY/Hot Chip/Phoenix/Big Pink/La Roux!
But I honestly thought any song on Metric’s Fantasies could have gotten a spot up there? Anyway keep it up, you’re bookmarked
Good list Recommender
Its great you have a fairly good mix of bands that have been blogged crazy (Phoenix, we have a band, Marina & The Diamonds, la roux) and bands that haven’t yet (clock opera). (on the side… no bashing to the comment above about james blunt, but if you had him on the list I may not come back haha jokes)
I’m glad you have Filthy Dukes on there, I LOVE Nonsense in the Dark, The Big Pink and Yuksek.
Some songs I may of include, Fenesh-Soler – Cult of the romance, Sound of Arrows – magic, yeasayer – almbling alp, but on the other hand eh other blogs will take care of them.
I feel next year is going to be big, so many new releases!
Yeah, Fenech-Soler, Sound Of Arrows and Yeasayer made music that make the creation of this list extremely difficult. We love them all, so it seems we have many similar tastes Em. Hope to see you back here in 2010…
Mike
Another stereotypical list of a hipster.
That’s a little unfair Vox Populi. If you follow this blog then you will know that the one thing we never do is try too hard. Everything comes from the heart and authenticity and integrity are very important to us. The above list is a genuine look at the years best tunes. Just because it doesn’t have The Killers or Kings Of Leon on it, doesn’t make it ‘hipster’! Try actually listening to the above tunes, they’re all amazing.
[...] Last year’s effort turned out to be one of the most popular posts from the whole of 2009, (see that post here), with many precious gems located within [...]