So, I realized that today is the first time that I’ve posted in 2010!!! Strange. I was debating on whether or not to make one of those obnoxious lists that seriously deterred me from blog surfing for a solid 2 weeks. You know, one of those lists that shoves the author’s 100,000 top artists/albums/songs of the year/decade/century down your throat (and that will inevitably culminate with AnCo/Merriweather Post Pavilion coming in at numero uno) and I have to say, after much initial hesitation, I decided to conform (albeit it, a tad late). BUT since I’m very fickle and couldn’t possibly constrict my fluctuating opinions to a “top 10/20/100,” I’m doing this award ceremony style instead. Enjoy.
BEST FEMALE VOCALS:
- La Roux
- Florence and the Machine
- Metric
- Ellie Goulding
- Bat For Lashes
- Fever Ray
- Marina and the Diamonds
Well, I didn’t realize I was starting off with an extremely tough category, until I just sat here for about 5 minutes bolding and un-bolding different names. Not only is everyone here KICK ASS, but they all individually opened up my closed-mindedness when it came to chicks singing. In the end, however, I had to resort to my MOST PLAYED section on last.fm to see who I actually enjoyed the most…Ellie was a clear winner. Everyone else… Honorable Mentions.
BEST COVER SONG:
- Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez (The Knife cover)— old but still relevant (in my life) to this year
- You’ve Got the Love, the XX (Florence and the Machine cover)
- Sleepyhead, Ellie Goulding (Passion Pit cover)
- Postcards from Italy, Florence and the Machine (Beirut cover)
- Be Mine, Ellie Goulding and Erik Hassle (Robyn cover)
- I’m Good I’m Gone, Friendly Fires (Lykke Li cover)
- HYPNTZ, Dan Black (Biggie Smalls cover)
Although I really wanted to give this one to Jose, I feel guilty considering he first crooned this sucker back in 2006. BUT the XX still nailed this category by wonderfully re-interpreting one of my favorite Florence and the Machine songs. Way to go, guys.
BEST REMIXES:
Had to split this next one in 2 because… well… I told you I was fickle and hard at choosing things.
BEST REMIX OF A FEMALE SONG:
- Monster Hospital, Metric (MSTRKRFT remix)
- Salt Air, CHEW LiPS (Plastician remix)
- Starry Eyed, Ellie Goulding (Jakwob remix) HONORABLE MENTION
- Seven, Fever Ray (The Twelves remix)
- Anthonio, Annie (Designer Drugs remix)
- Switchblade, HEARTSREVOLUTION (Designer Drugs remix)
- I’m Not Your Toy, La Roux (Jack Beats remix)
BEST REMIX OF A MALE SONG:
:
- Dat New New, KiD CuDi (VIKING remix)
- Walking on a Dream, Empire of the Sun (Van She remix)
- Whatever You Like, T.I (Discotech remix) HONORABLE MENTION #2
- It Don’t Move Me, Peter Bjorn and John (Miike Snow remix) HONORABLE MENTION #1
- Hey You, Pony Pony Run Run (Kolt13 remix)
- Happy Up Here, Royksopp (Boys Noize remix)
- Sweet Disposition, The Temper Trap (Alan Wilkis remix)
- The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance, Vampire Weekend (Miike Snow remix)
Well, I will start off saying it was hard for me to narrow down and just get to THESE. And I’m sure I’m overlooking A TON, but I can say that I am very happy with my winners in these 2 categories. If you aren’t hooked on Designer Drugs’ take on Anthonio within the first millisecond of hearing it, then you sadly have no sense of anything that is dance-worthy. And I wish I could tell you how many times that Boys Noize remix of Happy Up Here became the theme song to many walks to and from class when I was needing a serious pump up, the background to many a jog on the treadmill, and the sole anthem to many a dance party back around spring time. The honorable mentions are thrown in just to make myself feel better about being a “music critic”. They’re great too though, don’t get me wrong.
BEST MASH UP:
-Two Weeks of Hip Hop (Dead Prez v Grizzly Bear), The Hood Internet HONORABLE MENTION
-Call Me Up v. Shooting Star, Chromeo v. Bag Raiders
- Cult Logic Forever (Drake v. Miike Snow), The Hood Internet
- Make it Hott, Crystal Castles v. Uffie
- Billie “Wildcat” Jean (Michael Jackson v. Ratatat), The Hood Internet
- Hold the Stillness (Major Lazer v Dirty Projectors), The Hood Internet
Although the Hood Internet can have a billion honorable mentions for being the PRINCES of mashups (leaving the KING position to be filled by… duh… girl talk), there’s just something about the way that Chromeo’s Call Me Up seamlessly fits into Bag Raiders’ Shooting Star that compels me to give the prize to this super collab.
BEST LIVE SHOWS:
The following two categories are solely for shows that I happened to attend in 2009. Unfortunately I missed some good ones. But here are the best of the ones I did attend.
BEST LIVE SHOW (FESTIVALS EXCLUDED):
(yes, this was taken on stage at the show)
- Cut Copy
- Ratatat
- Phoenix
- Junior Boys
- Crystal Castles
- Vega
That was almost too easy. When you are standing 2 feet in front of a gorgeous French bass player (who totally recognizes you from the previous night’s stalking) and then get to jam out ON STAGE with all of them… it doesn’t really get any better than that kids.
BEST LIVE SHOW AT A FESTIVAL:
- Alaska in Winter (Fun Fun Fun fest)
- Vega (Fun Fun Fun fest)
- Neon Indian (Fun Fun Fun fest)
- Yeasayer (Fun Fun Fun fest)
- !!! (ACL)
- Passion Pit (ACL)
- Bon Iver (ACL) HONORABLE MENTION
Even though I only attended two and 1/2 festivals this year (which hopefully will be changing in 2010 and the 1/2 being PART of sxsw 2009), this one was another clear victory for the lovely boys/girl of Neon Indian who managed to sweep this category by not only blowing me away with their psychedelic jams but also by making sure that I kept dancing (and singing along). And they happen to all be really really awesome in person.
BEST COLLABORATIVE EFFORT:
- Monsters of Folk (HONORABLE MENTION)
- MSTRKRFT + John Legend
- Blakroc
- The Dead Weather
- Ellie Goulding and Erik Hassle
- Broken Bells
- Discovery (HONORABLE MENTION)
This one is a TIE, folks. Now, you all have to admit that the second you heard Heartbreaker, it didn’t freaking leave your mind. And that was A OK with me because I happen to super dig it. MSTRKRFT might have had some collabs that have gone wrong in the past (I’m looking at you, E-40), but their beats pounding out under the lovely voice of Mr. Legend happens to work out just right. As for Blakroc, well, who ever thought that a heavy dirty and gritty rock band could combine with some killer rhymers to make some addicting music? I mean, I’m pretty sure Lil Wayne tried that out and, well, FAILED miserably (prom queen? anybody? anybody?). So congrats to one of MY faves (the Black Keys) for teaming up with some of hip hop’s greatest to (tie for the) win in this category.
BEST NEW DISCOVERIES:
- Kid Alex
- Esser
- Boy Crisis
- Chiddy Bang
- Freelance Whales
- Discovery
- Volcano Choir
Everybody’s a winner in this category :) By no way does this mean that these weren’t carefully picked and debated over. But, these are some new kidz on the scene. Although some may have been around pre-2k9, I feel like they are just now getting the buzz they deserve and (hopefully) have a whole lot more to come.
NOW FOR THE FINALE:
ALBUMS MOST LIKELY TO BE LISTENED TO ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND THEN PUT ON REPEAT:
I guess you could call this my “top 13” of 2k9 award. This was really hard BTW.
Drum roll PLEASE….
13. Fantasies, Metric
12. Lungs, Florence and the Machine
11. Walking On a Dream, Empire of the Sun
10. Veckatimest, Grizzly Bear
9. Fever Ray, Fever Ray
8. Junior, Royksopp
7. Bitte Orca, Dirty Projectors
6. XX, The XX
5. Manners, Passion Pit
4. La Roux, La Roux
3. Miike Snow, Miike Snow
2. Merriweather Post Pavilion, Animal Collective (HAHA almost numero uno but NOT QUITE)
1. Wolfgang Amaedeus Phoenix, Phoenix
Alright. That was fun. If you got to this point and are reading this right now then I am super proud of you. Thank you for amusing me. Or you’re welcome for amusing you. Whatever. Hope you enjoyed.
