01) Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
No record got more play at home, in the car, or in the club for me then Phoenix. I genuinely enjoy the whole disc from front-to-back. Remixes, love them, instrumentals are mighty, catalog (now that I am going back) all good.
02) Propagandhi – Supporting Caste
Propagandhi will be a band that i will always adore. I forgot how much I listened to this record this year till I hit my Last FM, and for bands that had new music in 2009, Propagandhi was number 2! I remember looking forward to this record, then getting as soon as I could. Admittedly, a lot of those spins for this record were for the song “Dear Coaches Corner.” My great rock and roll shame is that I still have never seen Propagandhi live, ever in all my years.
03) The Dudes – Blood Guts Bruises Cuts
The Dudes get to be one of those bands that I love hearing the singles on the Zone, and I love exploring their album. Another front-to-backer that I can put on and let it play right through… into their previous record.
04) The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns
a summer record for me. It got heavy play on the iPod when Coral and I visited Alberta. Just too cliche to not love while I was driving around Wetaskiwin. Very pretty music.
05) Japandroids – Post-Nothing
Finally some local(ish) rock on the list. I have a huge hard-on for Japandroids. I can’t remember why I was taking the ferry by myself last year. I am generally herding an entire family with my on the voyage, but there was a time I had the opportunity to listen to music for the crossing on the boat and Japandroids were so perfect. “Its raining, in Vancouver… but I don’t give a fuck!” Super fuzzy. Super great.
06) Silversun Pickups – Swoon
This album remains a steady play on my stereo at home, I enjoy hearing the singles on the Zone and a highlight of the year in concerts was the Zone Show at the Royal. I loved their set at Sasquatch last May. Lots of stand-out cuts on this record, but basically, the first 5 song son the record I never skip over.
07) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
The sound track to our trip to the Sasquatch Festival (well this and Passion Pit and Bon Iver and Explosions in the Sky and ….). It’s Blitz is one of the few 2009 vinyls Coral and I added to our collection and I enjoy the dancier ones when I am DJing.
08) Alice In Chains – Black Gives Way To Blue
Growing up, AiC would have to be one of my top 5 90s bands. Their catalog songs still get regular play at home. I wanted to pan this record when it came out but something funny happened, its good.
09) Pearl Jam – Backspacer
Another record that hipster Jeremy wanted to hate-on… but its good. “Just Breathe” is a highlight of the my sets on The Zone Afternoon Show. I missed the concert in Van but hear only great things. When I read about Eddie Vedder in the music gossips its for good things. PJ makes me smile still and I enjoy this record as a stand alone or mixed in with a set of PJ catalog cuts.
10) Passion Pit – Manners
Passion pit got slightly more spins at home this year than PJ… but PJ crushed in total times (because of the Zone) so I made PJ 9 and Passion Pit 10. I like Passion pit at the club and sometimes at home. Great in the car. They were a huge disappointment for me at Sasquatch (maybe I wasn’t drunk enough?) and some album cuts I skip over.
Still, can’t deny that the songs I like from Passion Pit, I REALLY like and play them often. “Little Secrets,” “Moth’s Wings,” “The Reeling,” “Sleepyhead,” all magical.
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My favourite album covers (if Coral reads this and wants to know a Christmas present) are the Japandroids, Rural Alberta Advantage and Propagandhi. Just say’n dear.
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Go with yourself.
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The Morning After 