#3 - Rubik - Da Da Bandits

#4 - Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young

#5 - A.A. Bondy - When the Devils Loose

New Track: Lil Wayne - "Drop the World (feat. Eminem)"

Thanks to Amazon for leaking 500 pre-ordered copies of Weezy's "rock" album Rebirth, we now have a track.  The album isn't scheduled to be released until February, but Amazon mistakenly sent out the copies of the CD to those who had pre-ordered it and called it a "shipping mishap". Ha!

Lil Wayne - "Drop the World (feat. Eminem)"

R.I.P. Vic Chesnutt

Vic Chesnutt - "Flirted With You All My Life"

New Video: Julian Casablancas - "11th Dimension"

The Notables

Before I start counting down my favorite five albums of the year, I felt it was necessary to release a shorter list of albums that I really enjoyed. I basically went through my itunes and made a list of all the albums from this year that I got a significant amount of joy from, listened to them, and then narrowed down my list to five 'note worthy' albums and my top five for the year. Call it a pseudo-top 10, call it notable albums, call it honorable mention, but here, in no particular order, are my five favorite albums of the year that did not make the top five.





Andrew Bird - Noble Beast








The Antlers - Hospice









The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You









Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele - The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele








Loney, Dear - Dear John

White Stripes Tour Doc

This new White Stripes tour doc chronicles the band's 2007 tour of every province in Canada.  It's not due out until March of 2010, but you can get a sneak peek at the trailer here.  Also, check out their performance of "Let's Shake Hands" from the film here.

Coldplay Memorabilia Auction

Not sure if anyone who reads this is interested, but for you memorabilia buffs out there, Coldplay is having an end of the decade clearout sale auctioning off a large assortment of gear, clothes, music, and more. All of the earnings go to charity and they promise to make some items available for the 'lower-income regulars' (aka not just for memorabilia buyers). if you are interested in browsing go here.

Where does your favorite album land?

Over the next few days I am going to be counting down what I think are the best albums of 2009. Here is what the rest of the music world is saying:

Emusic lists their top 100 of the decade. #1 -- The Strokes - Is This It

PASTE magazine gives their take on 2009. #1 -- The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

Spin gives the years 40 best. #1 -- Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Stereogum's 2009 winners. #1 -- Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Rolling Stone releases their favorites for the decade. #1 -- Radiohead - Kid A


Ours will be out in the days to come.

Let the Year End Lists Begin

Here's a guest spot from our good buddy and director of this excellent video right here, Alex Warren.  These are his top 10 short-form music vids of 2009.

10. Bob Dylan - "Beyond Here Lies Nothing"


9. Washed Out - "Feel It All Around"


8. No Age - "Losing Feeling"


7. HEALTH - "Die Slow"


6. Animal Collective - "Summertime Clothes"


5. Jay-Z | Alicia Keys - "Empire State of Mind"


4. Cass McCombs - "The Executioner's Song"


3. Grizzly Bear - "Ready, Able"


2. Beck and Charlotte Gainsbourg - "Heaven Can Wait"


1. Fever Ray - "If I Had A Heart"

If I Had A Heart from Fever Ray on Vimeo.

What are your thoughts? Opinions? Comments?

In Case You Missed It...

Blakroc performing "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)" on Letterman 12/8

Animal Collective - free listen

Animal Collective's newest five song EP "Fall Be Kind" is available for listening here. Song #2 on the album entitled "What Would I Want? Sky" features the first ever Greatful Dead sample. Enjoy the tunage.

Ye Olde $5 bin

Want great tunes for the holidays but lacking in the pocket book? Look no further than the $5 bin, ok it's a virtual bin, at Amazon. Here are a few of the many albums you can pick up for just a measly five spot.

A.A. Bondy - "When the Devil's Loose" --> if you don't have this album yet, you are losing.

The Avett Brothers - "Emotionalism"

Wale - "Attention Deficit"

The Antlers - "Hospice"

Andrew Bird - "Noble Beast"

Built to Spill - "There is No Enemy"

Julian Casablancas - "Phrazes for the Young"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "It's Blitz"

Go to the December $5 dollar bin for albums that will be five bucks for the whole month OR go to the regular $5 bin for albums that may not be so cheap for much longer. It is worth a gaze, I promise.

New Track: Camera Obscura - "The Blizzard"

Just in time for the 1st of December Camera Obscura releases a chilly new track about dying on a trek in a snowstorm.  This song was originally released by Jim Reeves in 1964.  Check it out below.  Also, if you're smart and in the area, they're playing tomorrow night at the Lyric in Oxford, MS.  Don't miss it.  It's only $14 and I can't go.  Hrmph...

Camera Obscura - "The Blizzard"