Sideways Reign – “Oxygen”
(part Citizen Cope and part Ray LaMontagne with a hint of Neil Young’s soulfulness, and electric driven, blues influenced groove evoking thoughts of Blind Melon)
This cover is pretty awesome. So is Or, the Whale. I think this cover of “Toxic” is going to wind up on a Cokemachineglow podcast though I can’t find any info out about that podcast.
DOWNLOAD: “Toxic” (by Britney Spears as performed by Or, the Whale)
Woods Family Creeps – “Party in the Pines”
(“Extended jams, howling guitar leads, atmospheric cassette interference”)
BARON (w/ Black Mountain) from the Extremely Sorry Soundtrack – “The End of the Beginning”
(“Black Mountain channel an ominous, industrial psych-tinged groove … sounding like the dark smoke rising from a California wildfire” – Alternative Press)
Let’s Wrestle – “We are the Men You Will Grow to Love Soon”
(“They write songs that make your soul crumble as well as making you smile, sing along and clap your hands”)
Speak – “Carrie (Mindfull)”
(“Unabashed in their pursuit of innovative pop”)
Active Child – “She Was a Vision”
(“This sombre young man creates glacial and gloomy music, as though Fleet Foxes had swapped their guitars for synths” – guardian.co.uk)
While some of the choices may come as a surprise to those who regularly follow AtomicNed.com, the variety of favorites shouldn’t be shocking. While I certainly have been much more of a trendfollower than a trendsetter over the course of my music listening history, it comes down to liking what I like and not always liking what the masses of respected music writers/bloggers like. I mean, how many other writers do you think have both Slayer and Taylor Swift on their year-end favorites list?
1.Danger Danger – Revolve
The best CD of 1989 was released 20 years late! This b-list hair metal band brought original singer Ted Poley back for a reunion album filled with big hooks (“Hearts on the Highway”), bigger choruses (“That’s What I’m Talking About”), songs about girls (“Rocket to Your Heart”), guitar solos (“Ghost of Love”), and power ballads (“Fugitive”). Def Leppard and Bon Jovi’s recent efforts didn’t sound nearly this good. Listen:Keep On Keepin’ On
2. Ray West – All Pointz West
Spread Eagle’s Ray West was my favorite singer from the sleaze-glam era (early ’90s). His solo debut may have been 15+ years in the making, but it was worth it as he updates Spread Eagle’s sound (which was similar to Skid Row, Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue) by making it heavier and more aggressive (ala Godsmack, Disturbed, Killswitch Engage). I listened to this CD more than anything else this past summer. Watch:Novacaine
3. The Damnwells – One Last Century
My fears that The Damnwells were done were unjustified and proven false when the band released this FREE album in February. The older carryovers (“55 Pictures”, “Bastards of Midnight”, “Down with the Ship”) were my favorites initially but I grew to love the collaborations Alex Dezen did with his wife, Angela (“Dandelion”, “Like it Is”), just as much as anything the band has previously done. Download:One Last Century (full CD)
4. Jason Lytle – Yours Truly, The Commuter
Halfway through 2009, this album was my favorite. Though it’s billed under Lytle’s name, it’s really just an extension of the singer’s Grandaddy sound (spacey/dreamy indie-pop) and “Brand New Sun” may be one of the best, simplest pop songs released this year. Watch:Brand New Sun
5. The Prairie Cartel – Where Did All My People Go?
Blake Smith and Mike Willison hinted at their electro-pop/sample fascination as members of the short-lived alt.rock band Caviar but bring that fascination to full fruition (along with Local H’s Scott Lucas) on The Prairie Cartel’s long overdue debut (most of these songs were on a demo CD the guys gave me at SXSW back in ’07). The versatility of the music allows The Prairie Cartel to perform it live as either a full band or in a DJ setting with Lucas singing over pre-recorded sounds loaded onto an iPod. Download:Beautiful Shadow Continue reading “Favorites CDs of 2009”
