The 2009 Magazine Albums Of The Year Thread For Posting Lists and Discussion.

seems like less local stuff than usual on the radio k list

Xgau (w/ P&J predictions):

http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Rock-Roll/Resuscitations-and-Business-Plans-The-Best-Albums-of-2009/ba-p/2032

Forty-nine years younger than Nelson at 27, Nellie McKay reached back half a century to reinvoke the spunk, optimism, and beauty of Hollywood nice gal Doris Day, dumbfounding her contemporaries in the process

You can't dumbfound people who don't care at all.

Wow, he really loves that late '08 Baseball Project cd. I've been meaning to check that out but haven't paid much attention to Steve Wynn since his early '80s Dream Syndicate days.

Mostly a good, interesting read.

If I can be nitpicky, am I the only one intrigued by Christgau describing the the xx as "electropoppers" (a term which he then uses to describe Lady Gaga, lest we have any doubts about his meaning)? Is it because of the band's background? Is it because they're from the UK? Is all eighties revivalism swept into this category? Are the rhythms on "Basic Space" really such a shock to the rock mindset?

Animal Collective are (these days) more "electropop" than the xx when you get down to it, but the term would never be applied to them. I don't think Christgau means the term as a compliment or an insult, but I'm curious as to what Christgau does mean by it.

OTOH I love Christgau on the Brad Paisley album: http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Rock-Roll/Paisley-s-Progress/ba-p/1695;jsessionid=DF668A4729C68A6D83677028A764B67C

At least he didn't call them "techno."

Hold up-- The xx are 80s revivalists?

I think so. They sound something like The Cure to me.

Animal Collective are (these days) more "electropop" than the xx when you get down to it, but the term would never be applied to them. I don't think Christgau means the term as a compliment or an insult, but I'm curious as to what Christgau does mean by it.

I think Christgau means "electropop" in an '80s sense of the word, while even if Animal Collective may now use programming alot, and added a bit more pop, he and many think of them more as rock.

What is the 80s sense of the word?

I would have thought any sense of the word would suggest, like, primarily electronic arrangements, but maybe not?

New wave, synth pop, new romantic...

it just amuses him to bracket the two together since they have programmed drums and synth sounds, esp. since he's riffing on being an old fart.

more concerned about the critically esteemed hip hop of the year consisting of "Raekwon, Mos Def, and possibly Jay-Z", did no one review say the quik/kurupt?

don't know Serengeti that he mentions.

"three recent NYU grads" - is that a joke?

At least the B&N site looks decent-- the presentation of the Consumer Guide on MSN is appalling.

Quik & Kurpt haven't appeared in EOY lists for shit (except maybe p4k and a couple others). Sad thing.

am I the only one intrigued by Christgau describing the the xx as "electropoppers"

You know I can totally hear the xx in songs like Yazoo's 'Nobody's Diary', but it does involve erasing the synth tracks. There is a bit of a New Order thing too I guess.

i kinda like his list!

Yeah, I d/l'ed The Panic Is On, still have to play--never heard of it before. His lists always have some reissue or compilation I haven't heard of and end up loving.

Our list (Porcys, Poland) http://porcys.com/Others.aspx?id=247

Jane Dark, top 25 songs

http://janedark.com/2010/01/top_25_songs_of_2009_in_a_sing.html

Do we have a PAZZ AND JOP 2009 thread yet?

imo jane dark is terrible

The Best Southern Soul 2009. I wish Pitchfork would give this guy a column

http://www.southernsoulrnb.com/corner2010.cfm

Still wanna hear that Ben Frost album.

― The bugger in the short sleeves (NickB), Tuesday, December 8, 2009 9:12 PM (6 months ago) Bookmark

searched "ben frost," he hasn't got his own thread, but man I am getting to this album this afternoon and it is WAY cool.

speaking of Ben Frost:

Ben Frost is one of six young talents to have been hand-picked “for a year of collaboration and inspiration” in the international Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.

The 30-year-old composer, producer and musician has been chosen as the scheme’s “music protégé for 2010-2011″. He will be mentored by none other than Brian Eno, former Roxy Music member, ambient pioneer, multidisciplinary artist and producer for the likes of Talking Heads, Jon Hassell and U2.

Melbourne-hailing, Reykjavik-based Frost received much acclaim for his 2009 album By The Throat, released via his own Bedroom Community label. Over the years he has collaborated with the likes of Tim Hecker, Nico Muhly and Bjork; he is currently working on the score for multi-player online game World of Darkness and “a reworking of Tarkovsky’s Solaris“. More info on the latter here. [thanks, Enter]

The Arts Initiative has six disciplines: dance, film, literature, music, theatre and visual arts. Each protégés receives their own individually tailored programme, with time provided across the year for unique personal access to, and creative dialogue with, their assigned mentor. Furthermore, each protégé receives a grant of $25,000 USD each and is eligible for a further $25,000 towards the cost of creating a project following their mentoring year.

The other protégés and mentors for 2010-2011 are:

Literature: American poet Tracy K. Smith; mentored by Hans Magnus Enzensberger (Germany)
Visual arts: South African artist Nicholas Hlobo; mentored by Anish Kapoor (United Kingdom)
Theatre: Lebanese actor, writer and aspiring director Maya Zbib; mentored by Peter Sellars (United States)
Film: Annemarie Jacir, a Palestinian film director and poet living in Jordan; mentored by Zhang Yimou (China)