top 15 records of 2009

colourbox // breakdown // 4ad // 1982

This is perhaps one of the best synth pop singles of the of the early 80s that I had never heard, up until last year. Colourbox, as a band, were very underrated during their existence and are still consistently ignored in most circles. Formed by two brothers in London, Steven and Martyn Young later recruited female singer Debian Curry before recording this debut single. The original release of Breakdown, beginning to end, is a perfect slice of pop, synthetic or otherwise. The production is perfect and dubby in spots. The programming and the guitar parts are beautiful and, best of all, the vocal melodies are both gorgeous and haunting. The b-side, Tarantula, continues in a similar vein as Breakdown, although far more upbeat. Unfortunately, within a year of this first release, Colourbox released rerecorded versions of this single in both 7" and 12" form that are vastly inferior to the original. 

While Colourbox would ultimately only survive until 1987, they left a solid and sonically diverse discography covering dub, reggea, electro and cut and paste sample pop. The band found its biggest success as part of a collaboration with A.R. Kane under the name M|A|R|R|S with the lone single Pump Up The Volume which reached the top 5 in the UK. But I suppose I will talk about that at a later date... 

Top 15 Albums of 2008

So here we are again at the end of another year and everyone is posting year end lists. I may as well share mine too. Why 15 you ask? Why not. So without much delay here are my top 15 albums of 2008. Ta da...

1.
R.E.M.
Accelerate

Quick, fast, aggressive and enthralling from start to finish. Whenever I listen to it I automatically play it all the way through twice. Everyone seems to say that this is a return to form, though I never thought they were out of form. A perfect album that made me realize why I fell in love with them almost 20 years ago.



2.
M83
Saturdays = Youth

In all actuality, this may be a tie with Accelerate, based on the number listens alone. The songs are beautiful, moody, uplifting, and above all, intricate. Listening to the song "Couleurs" on my bike ride home from work at night last summer made me realize how beautiful it is to be alive.



3.
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend

This was by far the best debut album that came out this year. They have received a lot of hype, but in this case it is totally founded. The songs are spectacular and, as a unit, they make this a classic pop album. I have received a lot of shit for liking it... but I don't care. I will still be listening to it in two years time.



4.
Autechre
Quaristice

Simply the best pure electronic album released this year. It fulfilled my glitchy IDM needs and more. The ambiance and texture make this a complete delight to listen to, though I've received weirded looks from customers when I've listened to it. Also the design is absolutely beautiful.



5.
Mogwai
The Hawk Is Howling

Great music to clean the house to. The cover is so bad that its good. Also, the first song "I'm Jim Morrisson, I'm Dead" rates as one of the best song titles this year.





6.
TV On The Radio
Dear Science

A dense, subtle, and rewarding listening experience that grows with every listen. Well produced, but I feel that the mix favors the vocals way too much. Oh well, everything shines through though.





7.
Squarepusher
Just A Souvenir

As always, Tom Jenkinson delivers another trippy and out there album. This time a lot of distortion appears. Worth it for the vocoder vocals on the song "The Coathanger" alone.





8.
School Of Seven Bells
Alpinisms

I bought this album because I heard that they were opening for M83 on their recent tour and because it is on the Ghostly International label. I love the production.





9.
Portishead
Third

A very good comeback after over 10 years of silence. I'm glade that it was not a trip-hop flashback. More krautrock than anything else. It has taken me a while to fully get into it but that's a good thing. "Machine Gun" is a very great track and my choice for weirdest single of the year.



10.
Nine Inch Nails
The Slip

While the last two NIN albums have had their great moments neither are as perfect as this one. Perhaps the best since The Fragile in my mind. Equal parts experimental and equal parts in your face. All of this and it was totally free.




11.
Ratatat
LP3

I can't quite pinpoint what I like about this album. I just do.







12.
Sigur Rós
Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

Par the course, Sigur Rós constructed another album that is epic and grandiose. I only wish that the rest of the album had delivered on the bright and bouncy promise of the first single, "Gobbldigook". Still, this album is far from a total disappointment. Their simply good albums are still better than most other bands great albums.



13.
Death Cab For Cutie
Narrow Stairs

This made the list based purely on the power of the full 8+ minute version of "I Will Possess Your Heart" alone.






14.
Moby
Last Night

Perhaps my guilty pleasure of the year. It is the sound of sunny early spring days this past year. It was a good fun album to put on while doing dishes or working in the basement.





15.
Coldplay
Viva La Vida

Yes, I still dislike Chris Martin and his crappy dancing. Yes, I hated the uniforms that they wore on tour. Yes, seeing them perform annoys the shit out of me. Yes, the title song is a piece of crap. Despite all of this, I like the album. I like the structures of the songs. I like the production that Brian Eno helped out on and I like the mood of the songs. I also like the cover.

Hey look... I'm on TV.

Last week, as part of a Politics and the Press class, I interviewed Marquette City Clerk David Bleau about absentee ballot voting. For your viewing pleasure/entertainment I have included the two minute segment here...