Sinch Army

This was actually a pretty good year for me, even though I again experienced some big disappointments from old favorites... here's my list:

-Crippled Black Phoenix: "The Ressurectionists" and "Night Raider"-

These two albums made my year. They also really made me appreciate their first album a lot more. I think this is the first time in years I've actually really loved an album (or in this case, albums) right when it comes out. Although I first found the "200 Tons of Bad Luck" album, which is a compilation of songs from these two albums.


-...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead: "The Century of Self"-

Outside of "Source Tags & Codes", which I could say I love, I find that these guys generally release decent albums, and this is one of them. I wasn't disappointed at least, and that's rare these days. Also, "Isis Unveiled" is currently one of my favorite Trail of Dead songs.


-ISIS: "Waivering Radiant"-

Grew on me. At first it kind of bored me, but now it's just the opening track that does that. Skip that track, and this album is actually really good. Not great like "Panopticon", but better than the previous album which is always a plus.


-Kylesa: "Static Tensions"-

This one worked for me the first time I heard it, then I started liking it even more... now, I'm less excited about it, but I still think it's a good album.


-Mastodon: "Crack the Skye"-

I like this album a lot. I like the mood, I like the less aggressive music and I love the drumming. It's also good because it kind of made me appreciate the older, heavier and more aggressive albums more as well. This album also makes it easier to introduce people to Mastodon as it's much easier to get into if you're not a real "metal head". I got two friends to like Mastodon that way and now they like the older stuff too.


In addition, I also fell in love with a couple of older releases this year, including two Gravenhurst albums, the Fleet Foxes album (and EP) and Dog Fashion Disco's "Adultery".

The Porcupine Tree, Riverside and TMV albums are decent and slowly growing on me, but I can't put them on a "best of 2009" list, at least not yet. Dredg and Pure Reason Revolution were responsible for the biggest disappointments. I was also pretty disappointed by Beirut's double-EP.

I might have to add Them Crooked Vultures (in case you haven't heard of them, it's the band with Josh Homme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones) to my list once I get a chance to check them out properly. I've heard the single on the radio and it sounds pretty decent, but I haven't gotten the album yet.

EDIT: Also, that Coheed and Cambria thing reminds me that Oceansize also released a box set of 3 DVDs and 4 CDs called "Feed to Feed". They also performed all three of their albums live (the EP tracks were encores) on three consecutive nights, filmed and recorded the shows, and this is the result. I didn't add it to my list because I don't consider live albums "worthy", I guess (I know I had Porcupine Tree's "We Lost the Skyline" on my list last year, but acoustic live albums are "worthy" because the songs actually are different). But I definitely don't regret buying the set.

wow i didnt know coheed and cambria had put out a live album. I'll have to check it out.

hmm best of 2009..
im not sure if 2009 was a great album year lol let me see.(it was a great year for me buying a lot of records that i really wanted.. i love japan XD). I dont even remember what came out this year or not lol.

Atreyu- Congregation of the Damned- I actually liked an Atreyu record again.
D'espairsRay- Redeemer : Not their best album but it was nice
lynch.-Shadowz : yes another Japanese band, but i think they're great and i really love the album. I guess not everyone will like it mostly because of the language barrier but oh well.
Papa Roach- metamorphosis : well.. it was farrr from their best album, but i guess it's mostly in my top becuase i love papa roach .
Static X- Cult of static
Mucc- Kyuutai: another Japanese band, but one of the best. They surprise me with every album.
VAMPS- VAMPS
Arkaea- Years in the Darkness

Dissapointment of the year: Dead by Sunrise album, well there have been lotsa more albums, but i dont remember them. Maybe that's for the best XD

im looking forward to hearing the new Rob Zombie album though (i dunno for sure if it has been released already though). And the new Flyleaf record.


hmm i dunno anything else, it's all i remember right now XD.

It's that time of year again. Rob makes a best of 2009 list and I steal his layout so I don't have to worry about aesthetics. These lists are always a great way of sharing and receiving the best gift of all, discovering kickass music you wouldn't have found otherwise. I'd say above 50% of the music I listen to I've discovered either directly from this board, or l found out about them after liking some other band that I discovered here. As always, my list is in no particular order, except it's basically in the same order as Rob's list, and also except I'm using the wikipedia article on albums released this year to make sure I don't forget anything. So in this case, no particular order also happens to be chronological:

The Lonely Island - Incredibad
Hilarious songs. You must have an animosity to using the internet to waste time if you haven't heard heart-warming classics like Dick in a Box, Jizz in my Pants, I'm on a Boat and Natalie's Rap. But some of the songs that didn't get passed around like Rob's mom are great too. Unlike Rob's mom. These songs include Space Olympics, Like a Boss and Boombox. My personal favorite might be Dreamgirl (ft. Norah Jones) because of how ridiculous the song becomes verse by verse.

Favorite tracks: Dreamgirl, Space Olympics, Jizz in my Pants

Closure in Moscow - First Temple
Exactly what Rob said. This album kicks ass. I listened to this album more than any other this year I think, even Octahedron.

Favorite tracks: Afterbirth, Sweet#hart, Kissing Cousins, I'm a Ghost of Twilight

Silversun Pickups - Swoon
I remember hearing a couple of songs off of their first album and thought it was slow and boring. Then, because I was borrowing my mom's truck to move into my new place and had nothing else to listen to but the radio and her crappy cd collection, "Panic Switch" came on after the obligatory Alice in Chains song of the hour. Already having the speakers cranked, the bass riff in this song just tore shit up. I wasn't expecting the vocals to be equally appeasing, and so I checked out the rest of the album that day. While not every song is a beast like this one, overall it is energetic and very groovy.

Favorite tracks: Panic Switch, Growing Old is Getting Old, Sort Of

The Mars Volta - Octahedron
They really stripped almost everything that makes this band The Mars Volta for this album, with the exception of "Cotapaxi", but delivered an album I can still enjoy all eight tracks in a row. It has less wild experimentation and really focuses on the songs themselves more than the overall experience. A lot of people got bored with this album but I love it when any Octahedron song comes on random on my playlist so I can sing along.

Favorite tracks: Desperate Graves, Since We've Been Wrong, Copernicus, With Twilight as my Guide

Florence + The Machine - Lungs
Don't remember how I found out about this girl, probably last.fm or something like that. I don't listen to this album enough, because I played some songs for this list and I forgot how engaging these songs are. Florence has a great voice and the music isn't so bad either. Definitely give my favorite tracks a play to see if you agree.

Favorite tracks: Girl With One Eye (lyrics get an A+ in creepy), Dog Days Are Over, Kiss With a Fist

Porcupine Tree - The Incident

"RCSoul":

I don't know if I've encountered a Porcupine Tree record I didn't enjoy. This one is no different. It's surprising darker than their other material that I've heard. The album flows really well, so it's hard for me to come up with standout tracks for this one. The tracks don't really stand alone. It's best absorbed all at once.

Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue
So in a year where the three remaining Seattle grunge-band kings put out new material (Chris Cornell doing it solo), only Alice in Chains put out anything worth listening to. I wasn't a big fan of "Check My Brain," the first song from this album I heard, but being a big Jerry Cantrell fan, I had to give the whole thing a fair chance. They'll never be able to replace Staley, and the band will never be better than it was with his loss, but that doesn't make 2009 Alice in Chains anything to dismiss. This album, like Degradation Trip (Jerry Cantrell's last solo-work, a double album), needs to be cranked with a subwoofer. This album isn't a novelty and most of these songs can beef up an Alice in Chains playlist, not detract from it.

Favorite tracks: Acid Bubble, A Looking in View, All My Secrets Known

Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries from Shpongleland
I still don't know how to describe this band. Electronic trip-hop with Middle Eastern influences? It's just awesome is what.

Favorite tracks: No Turn-Unstoned, Electroplasm, Shpongolese Spoken Here

Long Distance Calling - Avoid the Light
German post-rock instrumental band. It's tough for me to like bands like this now, with Russian Circles and Red Sparowes usually being more than enough to satisfy those needs, but this band fucking kicks ass. "Apparitions" has become my new favorite instrumental song and when I go running, I listen to this 12 minute epic about four to five times, making it about an hour spent listening to this song. This song is the sex.

Favorite tracks: Apparitions (some ads on the page, but the Play button works fine and you don't have to download anything, Black Paper Planes

Albums I haven't picked up yet that might deserve to be on the list:
The Crystal Method - Divided by Night
Muse - The Resistance

Biggest disappointments of this year:
Chris Cornell - Scream (This album makes me realize how much Kurt Cobain and Cornell have in common. They've both been dead to me since 1994.)
Modest Mouse - No One's First and You're Next (I really like a couple songs here, but it's overwhelmingy noisy)
Pearl Jam - Backspacer (I give up on this band as far as new material goes)
Breaking Benjamin - Dear Agony (This isn't really a disappointment because I wasn't expecting anything anyway, but remember when I liked this band? I guess I can pick stinkers every now and then.)
Paramore/Flyleaf - Whatever albums these assholes put out (Seriously, I don't get these bands. I thought we had our fill of power chord/muted power chord/loud power chord/cute melody music with girl singers with Evanesence and Hole. What I especially hate is that I think the Paramore singer is pretty good, but the music is so tedious and prosaic.)

Noteworthy albums that don't quite make the list:
Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You (Definitely a pop record, but for me it's catchy without being redundant or stale, barring a few tracks. Her lyrics are hilarious and her vocals are addicting. Also, she's cute.)
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures (This might get bumped up, I haven't given this enough listens to really comment. I love this trio though)
Soulsavers - Broken (Mark Lanegan is a cool guy.)
dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion (I like a lot of songs on this album, but I also hate a lot. Enough to knock it down to not be a best of)
The Tallest Man On Earth - Shallow Graves (Didn't think I would like this from the description, but was pleasantly surprised.)
Portugal. The Man - Majestic Majesty/Satanic Satanist

Awesome albums I found this year that didn't come out this year:
None

I'm still working on my list but I noticed there haven't been any mentions of Phoenix, Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear.

I was gonna make some joke about how you all aren't douchey enough to "get" those albums, but I'll just say I'm glad they're nowhere to be found. They're all interesting to listen to and I probably like the Phoenix album more than I'd like to admit, but they're not best of the year material. Maybe Best French Electro-pop, Best Experimental Progressive Indie and Best Sappy Vag-Rock Albums of 2009 but definitely not the overall best.

It reminds me of all the people that claim to be huge Radiohead fans just because it sounds like the smart thing to do. Well, except for the fact that Radiohead is actually really good and knows how to create music that isn't over-intellectualized to the point of just being pretentious.

"paparoachster":

wow i didnt know coheed and cambria had put out a live album. I'll have to check it out.

Yeah. It's a little pricey, though. I dropped something like $90 for it when it came out. But, it comes with a ton of stuff. You get four live discs, five DVDs (the 4 nights of the concert and a documentary), a photo album, and a giant metal dragonfly that I've found absolutely no use for. It's pretty sweet, though.

"Aerock":

Closure in Moscow - First Temple
Exactly what Rob said. This album kicks ass. I listened to this album more than any other this year I think, even Octahedron.

Yeah, I'm really glad you found those guys. I loved their EP, too. We Want Guarantees, Not Hunger Pains might be my favorite song from them.

"Aerock":

Silversun Pickups - Swoon

If you had to compare their sound to someone, who would it be?

"Aerock":

They really stripped almost everything that makes this band The Mars Volta for this album, with the exception of "Cotapaxi"

That's probably why I think Cotapaxi is the best song on the record.

"Aerock":

Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue

I don't know what the single was called off of this record, but I gave that a listen and thought it was terrible, so I never gave the rest of it a chance. Maybe I'll have to check this one out.

"dan":

I'm still working on my list but I noticed there haven't been any mentions of Phoenix, Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear.

Honestly, I've never even heard of Phoenix or Animal Collective. I have heard the Grizzly Bear record and those guys don't do anything for me.

The Phoenix record has been recommended to me many times, but I still haven't checked it out. I just found them on Spotify, so I'll give it a listen right now...

"RCSoul":

[quote="dan"]I'm still working on my list but I noticed there haven't been any mentions of Phoenix, Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear.

Honestly, I've never even heard of Phoenix or Animal Collective. I have heard the Grizzly Bear record and those guys don't do anything for me.[/quote]

Phoenix has a part of one of their songs in a car commercial that I've seen probably 50+ times so you'd probably recognize it. Maybe not in Europe but anyone in the US who watches TV has probably heard it.

I haven't heard of either Phoenix or Grizzly Bear. I remember checking out a couple of songs from Animal Collective on last.fm but didn't feel it.

Rob, I don't really know what other bands they sound like, and the last.fm similar artists aren't anybody I listen to. They almost seem like a made-for-tv band with the hot girl bassist that sings cliche going on. The arrangements are pretty straightforward rock format, the bass is usually distorted. I'll say it sounds like Bush * PGMG, I guess. Also, I think that single you heard was probably Check my Brain, I don't really like that one much either.

Dan, I believe John Mayer's "Battle Studies" already won Best Sappy Vag-Rock Album of 2009.

"tommi":

EDIT: Also, that Coheed and Cambria thing reminds me that Oceansize also released a box set of 3 DVDs and 4 CDs called "Feed to Feed". They also performed all three of their albums live (the EP tracks were encores) on three consecutive nights, filmed and recorded the shows, and this is the result. I didn't add it to my list because I don't consider live albums "worthy", I guess (I know I had Porcupine Tree's "We Lost the Skyline" on my list last year, but acoustic live albums are "worthy" because the songs actually are different). But I definitely don't regret buying the set.

I didn't know that Oceansize did anything like that. I'll have to look into getting that. I really like those guys.

"Aerock":

I'll say it sounds like Bush * PGMG, I guess.

I'm not sure that's something I would enjoy. But, I'll still check it out.

"RCSoul":

[quote="Aerock"]I'll say it sounds like Bush * PGMG, I guess.

I'm not sure that's something I would enjoy. But, I'll still check it out.[/quote]
Not enough penis, I understand (but not really). Hope you like it anyway.

"Aerock":

Not enough penis, I understand (but not really). Hope you like it anyway.

I'm confused. Are you implying that the members of Bush don't have penises?

"RCSoul":

[quote="Aerock"]Not enough penis, I understand (but not really). Hope you like it anyway.

I'm confused. Are you implying that the members of Bush don't have penises?[/quote]
I'm implying that you wouldn't enjoy the music because you mostly only enjoy things if it's served with a heaping side of hot steaming cock. And by that, I am implying you are very gay.

"Aerock":

I'm implying that you wouldn't enjoy the music because you mostly only enjoy things if it's served with a heaping side of hot steaming cock. And by that, I am implying you are very gay.

Your dad has been telling stories about me again, huh? Tell him I said, "Whats up?"

I make fun of my dad being gay all the time actually.

"Aerock":

I make fun of my dad being gay all the time actually.

I do, too. But, it's usually when my penis is in his mouth, so he can't say any witty comebacks.

He told me he was able to tell you a story about work while your penis was all the way in, and was able to enunciate perfectly, so I don't think he wouldn't have problems with making witty comebacks.

"Aerock":

He told me he was able to tell you a story about work while your penis was all the way in, and was able to enunciate perfectly, so I don't think he wouldn't have problems with making witty comebacks.

No, no, no. That was your mom's penis he was talking about in that story.

Best Albums of 2009

Metric - Fantasies
http://www.ilovemetric.com/
This is definitely my favorite album this year. If you don't know who they are or haven't given this one a chance yet, you should check it out. I don't think describing their style (which I'm having a hard time doing) is gonna help at all. It's just a great bunch of songs.

Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... D=61473468
http://www.myspace.com/jayreatard
This is my first exposure to Jay Reatard who apparently has a lot of other stuff out in various bands. I didn't know much going in so I didn't really have any expectations. The first thing that struck me was the vocals, both the style and the production. For an album that on the surface sounds like it was recorded in a garage, there's actually a lot of depth to the vocal production. And again, all the songs are well written. I guess I have a thing for good, catchy, original songs.

Gojira - The Way of All Flesh (I know this came out in 2008 but I liked it enough to put on this list)
http://www.myspace.com/gojira
I started a Meshuggah station on Last.fm and I noticed these guys coming up a lot so I picked up the whole album. Metal kinda lost me for a long time and Meshuggah has been the only thing I really listen to anymore. Now I can add Gojira to the mix.

Albums I haven't listened to enough
The Mars Volta - Octahedron
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Modest Mouse - No One's First and You're Next

Albums I was really looking forward to, but was ultimately disappointed in.
Imogen Heap - Ellipse

Albums I still need to check out
Clutch
Closure in Moscow
Porcupine Tree
Dredg
The Lonely Island

I'll let last FM determine my list by play count.....

1. ISIS - Wavering Radiant (35 plays)
At first it seemed like a bigt of a regression from the last album - but it is still getting better with each listen. When I saw them live it gave a new life to these songs and thats when the album fully clicked with me

2. Riverside - Anno Domino High Definition (30 plays)
The last album didn't blow me away - it was too straight forward after SLS. Prog awesomeness, Keyboard solos, melody, atmosphere. Its different enough from their previous stuff to sound fresh, but feels like they've reverted to their old form. My album of the year

3. Karnivool - Sound Awake (27 plays)
I really liked Themata, but hadn't listened to Karnivool for a long time. This album got me interested again. It seems like they were able to really do what they wanted this time, and gave the songs more space. Nice step forward for them

4. Pure Reason Revolution - AVO (22 plays)
Its not a step forward, but just trying something different. Though the direction was hinted at at times on the bonus disc of the dark third. I can understand why people don't like it. Some opf the songs (i.e. Disconnect) made me feel sick the first time i heard them. but with a bit of time i really like everything on this album. I like how they used the same lyrical passages throughout the album in different ways. I'll be disappointed if all their albums sound exactly like this from now on, but right now i like this album.

5. Mastodon - Crack The Skye (18 plays)
This album was exactly what i wanted from Mastodon, and for some reason i was a little disappointed. I like the album but it grew stale quick, and i can't point to why, because i wanted them to give their songs more space and reduce the screaming. I know its a good album, i just don't feel like listening to it

6. Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue (11 plays)
Solid album. I can see why some people would be against them releasing an album without Layne, but its not like they could have included him in the reunion and its not like they betrayed their sound. I notice Jerry's vocals much more than the new guy.. and it sounds like Alice In Chains, not some band pretending to be Alice In Chains. It is on high rotation right now

7. The Fall Of Troy - In the Unlikekly Event (9 plays)
Its solid. but a bit poppy at times. doesn't have the awesome guitar outros of past albums. songs are too structured.

8. HORSE the band - Desperate Living (9 plays)
Awesome. Took a few listens to grow but it could be their best. time will tell. Technically awesome, cheesy, silly, fun. songs about penises. songs about how awesome HORSE the band are. NES samples. on high rotation

everything else i haven't really had time to listen to yet.


Most played albums in last 12 months regarless of release year
1. Riverside - Second Life Syndrome (43 plays)
This albunm does not get old

2.Riverside - Out Of Myself (42 plays)
3. Voices In My Head (41 plays)
see above

4. Aereogramme - Seclusion (41 plays)
I listened to this cd more this year than ever before. I love it so much. Especially The Unravelling

5. ISIS - Wavering Radiant (35 plays)
I already wrote about this

6. Tool - Lateralus (35 plays)
I never could decide if i liked Lateralus or Aenima more. After not listening to tool for 2 years and then giving all their stuff a lot of listens I can say thay Lateralus is by far the best. Its not that close.

7. Day Without Dawn - Understanding Consequences (32 plays)
This was already my most played cd of last year, and its still on high rotation. Rob has already stated how awesome this cd is.

8. Deminas - Building An Empire (31 plays)
Awesome album from last year. Debut album from French one man prog band. Looking forward to the next album.

9. Aereogramme - My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go (30 plays)
Time just makes this album more awesome

10. And Also tied with 30 plays to finish out the list....
ISIS - Panopticon
Riverside - Anno Domino High Definition

"dan":

Gojira - The Way of All Flesh (I know this came out in 2008 but I liked it enough to put on this list)
http://www.myspace.com/gojira
I started a Meshuggah station on Last.fm and I noticed these guys coming up a lot so I picked up the whole album. Metal kinda lost me for a long time and Meshuggah has been the only thing I really listen to anymore. Now I can add Gojira to the mix.

I didn't listen to that one until this year, either. I really liked it. I think From Mars To Sirius is still their best record, though. If you haven't gotten around to it, I'd recommend giving that one a listen.

"MARK!":

7. Day Without Dawn - Understanding Consequences (32 plays)
This was already my most played cd of last year, and its still on high rotation. Rob has already stated how awesome this cd is.

I heart that record so, so, so much. Now that I have a player with an iPod dock upstairs, last.fm will start to reflect how often I still listen to that record.

"MARK!":

When I saw them live it gave a new life to these songs and thats when the album fully clicked with me

This happened to me as well. I also kinda agree with you about the Mastodon record, except I still do feel like listening to it. Just not that often...

I think maybe I just don't get Mastodon. I know a lot of you guys really like those guys. I like some of their songs, but I have a hard time listening to their records all the way through. I feel their music can sound really grating to me at times, especially the vocals and I can't get past it. Personally, I like more songs on Leviathan than Blood Mountain or Crack the Skye. But, before this most recent record most of their music sounds like a crappier Gojira to me.

"RCSoul":

I think maybe I just don't get Mastodon. I know a lot of you guys really like those guys. I like some of their songs, but I have a hard time listening to their records all the way through. I feel their music can sound really grating to me at times, especially the vocals and I can't get past it. Personally, I like more songs on Leviathan than Blood Mountain or Crack the Skye. But, before this most recent record most of their music sounds like a crappier Gojira to me.

It's kinda like how I don't get Between the Buried and Me.

Anyways, Leviathan is my favorite album from them as well. It just took Blood Mountain and especially Crack the Skye before I realized it. I can't even properly explain it, at least not in English. It just seems that with the last two records, when they were released I thought they were much better than their previous albums. But after a while, I get slightly bored of the new stuff and start digging the old stuff more. It's weird. I wasn't even really that into Mastodon before Crack the Skye even though I liked Blood Mountain enough that I wanted to go see them live. I rarely listened to them and wasn't that excited about them. Now it's part of my Friday ritual to come home from work, take of all my clothes, put on Blood and Thunder, volume way up and open that first beer to start my weekend.

"dan":

Best Albums of 2009

OK, somehow I forgot about my actual favorite album of the year. It came out in Feb 09 so I guess I was assuming it came out in 08, but I already have something froom 08 on my list so that's kind of a lame excuse.

Nico Vega - Nico Vega
A 3-piece from CA (drums, guitar, vocals) that has a pretty huge sound. And their singer Aja has the best female rock voice I've heard in a long time. Maybe ever. They get compared to Yeah Yeah Yeahs alot (for obvious reasons). I haven't actually listened to enough YYYs to really know, but from what I've heard I definitely prefer this band.




They're touring the US right now.
http://www.myspace.com/nicovega

"MARK!":

3. Karnivool - Sound Awake (27 plays)
I really liked Themata, but hadn't listened to Karnivool for a long time. This album got me interested again. It seems like they were able to really do what they wanted this time, and gave the songs more space. Nice step forward for them

Man, I would love to hear it. It doesn't come out here until February. My friend is a Karnivool junkie and I'm pretty sure he'd let Rob blow him to get it.

"elvato87":

Man, I would love to hear it. It doesn't come out here until February. My friend is a Karnivool junkie and I'm pretty sure he'd let Rob blow him to get it.

I've had it for quite awhile now. I can yousendit to you if you want.

It's on my noteworthy portion of my list. I think I might be one of the few people who didn't think it was as good as their last record. It's decent and I like that they're moving in new directions, but I feel like they don't have a strong grasp on what they want to sound like yet.

"RCSoul":

I've had it for quite awhile now. I can yousendit to you if you want.

Dude, yeah, if you could send that to me I'd really appreciate it.

It's sent. I had to break it up into two .zip files.

You rule, thanks

My buddy's take on Closure In Moscow: "How the hell does he sing so high? I think the guitarist runs over and kicks him in the nuts every couple minutes."

"dan":

[quote="dan"]Best Albums of 2009

OK, somehow I forgot about my actual favorite album of the year. It came out in Feb 09 so I guess I was assuming it came out in 08, but I already have something froom 08 on my list so that's kind of a lame excuse.

Nico Vega - Nico Vega
A 3-piece from CA (drums, guitar, vocals) that has a pretty huge sound. And their singer Aja has the best female rock voice I've heard in a long time. Maybe ever. They get compared to Yeah Yeah Yeahs alot (for obvious reasons). I haven't actually listened to enough YYYs to really know, but from what I've heard I definitely prefer this band.[/quote]
Thanks for the recommendation. I've only listened to it a couple times but this album is awesome. Her vocals are intense and the two instruments pack a ton of energy. I definitely want to see these guys live after checking out this performance of my (so-far) favorite song on the album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RQZhYl0gmY

I've still got to do my 'Best of' list. Hopefully i'll have time before the year is through. Probably have Mastodon, Them Crooked Vultures and Austrian Death Machine at the top. The new Fear Factory is awesome, but that's not out until next year.

if we want to see your list all we have to do is go to the roadrunner website and see what albums they released this year.

Best sinch.net forum dis of 2009:

"MARK!":

if we want to see your list all we have to do is go to the roadrunner website and see what albums they released this year.

"MARK!":

if we want to see your list all we have to do is go to the roadrunner website and see what albums they released this year.

Fuck you, Asshole.

I just saw that best of the naughties thread, so i can't be fucked doing a best of 09 list now. Listened to a fair bit of new music this year but nothing particularly stands out anyway...

Mastodon - Crack Teh Skye - Still prefer Blood Mountain and Leviathan over this one, but still fucking rocks
Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way Blue - Only just got this one, so i need to listen to it more, but i love it more and more each time i listen to it.
Austrian Death Machine - Double Brutal (done a full 180 on these guys this year, the comedy won me over) "The Gummibear of Candycornia" !
Them Crooked Vultures - I was surprised by how much i enjoyed this album. Gunman \m/!
The Lonely Island - Great for a laugh. Jizz In My Pants, Natalie's Rap
Clutch - Strange Cousins - Almost forgot about this one, solid album, but hasn't grabbed me like the other Clutch albums do.
Rammstein - 'whatever it's called' - don't like this Pussy song, but the rest of the album sounds alright, just need to play it some more.
Megadeth - Endgame - cool, never listen to it though
Napalm Death - Time Waits For No Slave - Best stuff since Inside The Torn Apart
Alexisonfire - Old Crows / Young Cardinals - Good stuff. Need to spin it more aswell.

New Muse was rubbbish, New Chimaira/Shadows Fall/Lamb Of God were descent, but i never listen to them. New Killswitch Engage was lame - same old songs minus a bit of flair.

Shit. ok, there's my list in no order of significance.

"Aerock":

[quote="dan"][quote="dan"]Best Albums of 2009

OK, somehow I forgot about my actual favorite album of the year. It came out in Feb 09 so I guess I was assuming it came out in 08, but I already have something froom 08 on my list so that's kind of a lame excuse.

Nico Vega - Nico Vega
A 3-piece from CA (drums, guitar, vocals) that has a pretty huge sound. And their singer Aja has the best female rock voice I've heard in a long time. Maybe ever. They get compared to Yeah Yeah Yeahs alot (for obvious reasons). I haven't actually listened to enough YYYs to really know, but from what I've heard I definitely prefer this band.[/quote]
Thanks for the recommendation. I've only listened to it a couple times but this album is awesome. Her vocals are intense and the two instruments pack a ton of energy. I definitely want to see these guys live after checking out this performance of my (so-far) favorite song on the album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RQZhYl0gmY[/quote]

Oddly enough that performance on Carson Daly was what turned me on to them. I think I had watched Conan earlier and then was on the computer and that show came on and 30 seconds into the song I was like, what is that voice? I need to hear this... and I was just kind of blown away by her stage presence and how raw the whole thing felt for something on that kind of show. I have to admit though I've watched it a few times since then and he actually has some cool bands on there.

I really liked the Ting Tings performance but checked out their album and kind of wasn't into it.
Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kGdjJLEGF0
Album: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xEIGEonqM8

The live version is kinda sloppy and the vocals are all over the place but there's an energy to it that's totally gone in the studio version. I know live versions always sound a little more raw, but their studio stuff is like completely neutered.

Anyway... I guess the point is that would be another 2009 album that might have been good but it's not.

I always find these lists difficult because I'm always changing my mind, plus i'm always picking up something new (for me) long after everyone else knows about it.

So, my list of best 2009 releases for right NOW - actually let's make it for a few minutes ago.

Karnivool - Sound Awake - second album for these guys took me a couple of listens to get into. It's no Themata but stunning and brilliant at the same time. After a fairly long break since the debut, it had been long enough that I went in with an open mind. The more you listen the more comes out of this record. I still don't rate it as high as Themata, but it is my favourite for 09.

Quiet Child - Evening Bell - Adelaide band, i'd be pleasantly surprised if anyone outside of South Australia let alone Australia knew this band. hard to describe - i'll go with my first (and unhelpful/unfair-basically crap) description after seeing them many years ago for the first time - 'music like Tool, singer like Thom Yorke'. Either way I recommend these guys.

Silversun Pickups - Swoon - Only recently got into them. Excellent songs - though it's one of those non-albums where it doesn't seem to flow overly well. But still good as every song is worth its merit so you don't really notice - I think I'm just talking rubbish.

Tread - Rise From Silence - Aussie band, heavy rock (i actually loath genre placing - so no complaing if I'm wrong), If you like Karnivool and Cog and heavier music I reckon you'd like this album.

Sugar Army - The Parallels Amongst Ourselves - More Australians. Supported Karnivool many times, though they sound nothing alike. Brilliant live - album probably took me a good 10 listens to get into it, but I think that was more from actual lack of listening when it was playing.

Them Crooked Vultures - Consistent, that is how I’d describe the listening. Good bunch of songs, but I’m finding with anything Josh Homme touches it could all go under one or two banners - Queens of the Stone Age and/or Desert Sessions - ‘spose he has a distinct sound, but even when he’s not singing - Spinnertte, Eagles of Death Metal, UNKLE collaborations…

Florence & the Machine - Lungs - addictive…

Metric - Fantasies - also addictive…

Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Dark Night of the Soul - never properly released because of disputes with record company, was ‘leaked’ onto internet for download, with offer to buy book containing accompanying photos by David Lynch - images just a Lynchish as you’d imagine, music and collaborations brilliant.

Isis - Wavering Radiant - it is no Panopticon, but it is Isis, and it grows on you.


Another 10 that deserve a mention but I can’t be bothered writing anything about (if you want to know why I chose these - ask)

Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals
Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
Chevelle - Sci-Fi Crimes
Closure In Moscow - First Temple
Gliss - Devotion Implosion
Marilyn Manson - The High End Of Low
Mudvayne - Mudvayne
Muse - The Resistance
Rammstein - Liebe ist fur alle da
The Temper Trap - Conditions


Best Live Release
Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom - 7 seconds into the first track and this album becomes all that matters…

-can we put Sinch - Live Cuts 2005: the album into this? Or is it classed as 2005?


Best EP and Single that isn’t on an album released in 2009 but said album should have been out long ago

MM9 (also known as Many Machines on Nine) - They Murder - hopefully the album should be released within a month…

Dead Letter Circus - The Space On The Wall - another one promising an album for a long time, hopefully it’ll be this year, but I’ve been thinking that for the last 2.

"discrepancy":

-can we put Sinch - Live Cuts 2005: the album into this? Or is it classed as 2005?

If this was some sort of official best of list I'd say no, or that it should at least be noted that it's a re-release with extra tracks, but since this is our site I say it's totally legal. You can put all our albums on any best of list you want. Even for years when they didn't come out. You can even put them on the Best Movies or Best Books lists if you want.

Wow... I must have left iTunes running when I wasn't there. I definitely wasn't listening to the Donnie Darko soundtrack any time recently.

I just discovered this album yesterday that came out in December of 09 and want to add it my list.

Rishloo - Feathergun
I liked a few Rishloo songs from their past two albums. While I didn't thorougly enjoy either album from beginning to end, I knew there was potential for an amazing fucking album. Feathergun is it. These songs have that Tool/Sinch quality of building up songs from an intriguing beginning to a soaringly loud and captivating end. In fact, this album reminds me a lot of Sinch's S/T album where you hear the first few seconds of a song for the first time and go "Oh man, this sounds fucking awesome." and by the end you're torn: "Oh man, this song is getting so good I don't want to end, but I also want to relisten to it again right now, I can't get enough." Another similarity is that they don't stick to a particular sound. One minute they're rocking some wah-wah riffs, later they're hammering on some catchy melodies and in other songs are just pounding with energetic riffs.

Last.fm currently has all these songs streamable on their site. I recommend mostly the song that got me excited to hear the rest, Scissorlips, and if you're still not sure, check out and Weevil Bride River of Glass

Also, since it's allowed, I'm adding Sinch - Sinch and Sinch - Clearing the Channel to the Best of 2009 list. Great albums! Definitely the best that last year had to offer.