Little Piece of Nothing

My brother introduced me to this song, perhaps I am way behind. As for the video, what is going on?

Free Dirty Projectors EP

You can download a free EP from Dirty Projectors that includes two songs, "Ascending Melody" and "Emblem of the World" by simply entering your email address.  Use the widget below and confirm and download via your inbox.

  

Spoon - Transference

You can hear the entire new Spoon album here at NPR.  One person at NPR made the bold claim that "this might be their best album yet."  Check it out.

The Man

In case you haven't noticed our top 50 tracks of 2009 post has been taken down.  I got an email from Google saying that I had violated some copyright mess.  Whatever.  I'll get up a cleaner version of the list over the weekend.  Prepare yourselves.

New Video: Animal Collective - "Brothersport"

Julian Casablancas on Letterman

Julian Casablancas demonstrates pop glory with "Out of the Blue" on Letterman.

Toro Y Moi

This "chillwave" pop dude from Columbia, SC has released his first full-length album today via Carpark Records called Causers Of This.  Toro Y Moi is the brain child of 23 year old Chaz Bundick, and I must say I'm digging it pretty hard.  It's not out physically today, but digitally and you can grab it on iTunes.  Sample some tracks on his myspace if you'd like or check out the song "Talamak" on the the playlist.

Some More Best Coast

You can download for a limited time only the b-side from Best Coast's When I'm With You 7" entitled "This Is Real".  It's free and from a strange place, NikeWomen.  She keeps rolling out the hits.  Spin it below.

Best Coast - "This Is Real"

#1 - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Pheonix

No other album stayed on repeat longer or made me have the desire to sing out loud more than Phoenix's this year. Their show at Bonnaroo was superb and their video's and TV performances were fun. They crossed boundaries from the 'indie' music junkies to the avant garde and seemed to make a splash wherever they landed. Poppy enough to just listen and fresh enough to critique. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was the best album of the year.

#2 - Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

#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"