It's finally here. 2009 was full of...well, lots of stuff, for different people. Some probably loved, others couldn't wait for '10. Either way, it's a new year, and time to look at my top 3 for 2009. Tracks and albums. I know this isn't a top 10, but I don't want to write that much, and I'd rather everyone check out the music instead of talking to me or reading what I have to say. Alright, let's head on in...
ALBUMS
3) The Whitest Boy Alive - Rules
Bubbly, catchy, poppy, Norwegian goodness. Musically interesting and engaging as well, "Rules" picks off where 2006's "Dreams" left off, continuing a string of glittering, joyful pop nuggets, perfect for jamming to, rocking out to, head-bobbing to, or all of the above. Favorites: 1517, Courage, Timebomb.
2) Dam-Funk - Toeachizown
It doesn't get much more mellow than trippy, glowing modern day funk straight out of L.A. Dam-Funk does it best when he's got only a Moog and a synthetic drumkit, weaving dense, boppin' rhythmic funk biscuits (24 in total) that sample the best of his epic, five volume EP releases all through 2009. A locked-in groove is never far away, and DF's masterpiece gathers tracks ranging from 2 minutes to 9 minutes in length. Good for listening at any time. Dreamy, sky-bound, trippy, ethereal, lush, groovy, this is funk in the most serious meaning of the word. Favorites: 10 West, Toeachizown, Candy Drippin', Galactic Fun, Flying V Ride.
1) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Maybe it was just me, but in a year of dark, brooding, ever-pervading moody releases from all fronts, it's nice to hear something genuinely cheery, yet seriously cheerful. Not goofy happy. Honest to God, meaningfully happy and joyous. And nothing exhibited this better than Phoenix's third album, released right at the beginning of summer. The rhythms, vocals, melodies, everything just clicked. Not a single bad song on the album either, another fine example of quality over quantity. Say what you will about deep Pink Floyd albums, epic A Perfect Circle business, or Nine Inch Nails...whatever. Sometimes a little dose of happy can beat them all when the time is right. Favorites: 1901, Lasso, Rome, Lisztomania.
TRACKS
Scratch it. I'm going Top 10 for tracks.
10) Funkagenda - Breakwater (Dataworx Remix)
Thick, rumbling drums underneath a sheen of perfectly rhythmic toots of a pipe organ? Sign me up. Dataworx took a lush, clubby original and ran it through a tech house converter, flattening the track out before blowing it up and plunging it underwater. Beautifully rhythmic, while still retaining the effervescent, beach-time sensibilities of the original.
9) Andy Chatterley - Jets
Epic, furious monster of a track. Andy Chatterley's aptly titled techno cut on Saved Records is a wonderful example of a kitschy theme done correctly. A simple, metallic synth riff kept things in focus while the very electronic-sounding drums bounced and rumbled amidst the roar of jetplanes taking off and landing. The sudden, violent breakdown shook the entire track as a blaring siren rang out in fearful, menacing calamity. A monster, indeed, that shook both heads and bodies.
8) Stimming & H.O.S.H. - Radar
Funky tech house at it's best. Rippling and yawning for the first few minutes, Stimming and H.O.S.H. sent this whining, blaring freight train (literally) of a track up a proverbial and literal mountain of sound, the whole time the beat wavering and shaking in fearful, empowering audacity. Body-shaking and mind-numbing; the ballpark organ in the throes of death for the entire track. Definitely odd, but completely danceable and beautifully dark.
7) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
A-Trak delivers with another quality remix, nearly on par with the untouchable remix of his of Sebastien Tellier's "Kilometer". Hip-hop tinged drums, a rubbery bassline, and excellent use of Karen O's vocals, this track is a winner from start to stop, and it really showcases A_Trak production abilities and how he can mold a track expertly while keeping it true to form, something most remixes fail to understand or catch onto. A club hit, in every sense of the word.
6) Calvin Harris - Flashback (Eric Prydz Remix)
Prydz rarely releases any remixes, but luckily, when he does, you KNOW they'll be quality cuts. Example? His typically, but beautifully proggy remix of Calvin Harris's "Flashback". Typical Prydz here ad nauseum: rhythmic, proggy synths, thumping, repetitive drums, it's all here. But Prydz cutting up and subsequent use of the vocals work absolute wonders, pulling a dreamy, velvety cloth over the listener's eyes and ears, plunging the track through a head-happy, whirling progressive house dreamscape that you can't help but dance too. Kudos to Prydz's production skills; this is an absolute winner.
5) Mayer Hawthorne - Green Eyed Love (Classixx Remix)
Lush, creamy, and shimmering: anything Classixx touches turns to gold. Stones Throw signer Mayer Hawthorne, with his Motown-via-a great white guy voice schtick (a great schtick at that) gets the indie dance treatment from Classixx. Lush synths billow, rise, and fall gently and beautifully against Hawthorne's exquisite voice. Dreamy, ethereal, with a dollop of soul; this track has it all. Best for sittin' and listenin', drivin', or just...relaxing.
4) Inpetto - Catwalk
Up to this point, I had never really been a fan of Inpetto. A slew of decent remixes and a few originals on Big & Dirty never really caught my attention, but then Catwalk came along and changed all that. A metallic, prog house beat falls into place alongside blippy, equally metallic synths, before...the sax solo. Holy shit, this came out of nowhere, but oh man, the rhythmic sensibilities soar afterwards, and the solo absolutely turns the song into a house must-have. Head and body music with a "sax"-ual twist. Aha.
3) Danton Eeprom & Radio Slave - Grindhouse (Dubfire's Terror Planet Remix)
Hoooooooly shit. Few things have more power than this track. Growling, heaving, menacing, viscous, powerful, absolutely clobbering. The bassline thunders along amid Eeprom's ghastly, haunting vocals; an air of fear and menace filling the air for the near 11 minutes this track hangs around. Barebones rhythm here works wonders, and this ends up being one of the best remixes of the year. Any time you thing about doubting the track, just wait for the hiss of the pistons and Eeprom's omniscient , commanding voice...then we'll talk.
2) Anything on Great Stuff Recordings.
There. I said it. This is my list, so if you disagree, fuck off. EVery single time I check for new tracks, I always return to Great Stuff. Butch, Lutzenkirchen, Ramon Tapia, Martin Eyerer, Namito, Oliver Koletzki...a bunch of excellent tech house producers that release amazing stuff every single time something new drops on Great Stuff. Ramon Tapia's Latin-esque "Sunka Sanka" and "Start It Up", Mike Monday's rhythmic, head-boppin' "Zum Zum", Butch's beautiful, starry-eyed remix of Luomo's "Tessio", Benno Blome and Martin Eyerer's eclectic "Pianoroll", Mason's atmospheric, techy "The Ridge", Lutzenkirchen's ominous "Borderline", the list goes on. Great Stuff is always 100% quality stuff. If it ain't broken, don't fix it.
1) Sebastien Leger - The People (plus Eric Prydz remix)
Leger at his experimental best. Taking a Marilyn Manson sample and completely fucking it up. Techy, violent, grating, an absolutely beautiful example of going outside of your comfort zone to wonderful results. Not only is the original amazing, but Prydz's remix extends it a bit and introduces each element to thunderous effect. Tweaking the vocal sample into the track's sole melodic element, underneath devastatingly simple synths and drums, this is a tech-prog-house joint that completely destroyed everything else I've heard this year. Maybe I enjoyed a few tracks more, but I can always return to this 10 minute sucker for a complete and fully enjoyed listen.
That is all. Enjoy! Give me your thoughts, and give everything a listen if you're of a mind. Happy New Year's to all. Let's make this the start of a great decade. '10.
-NL
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