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Molek FMBest Albums of 2009 Part 5
JUICE got together with a bunch of artists, musicians, designers, friends and fire starters to pick out the gems from the sh!t. It wasn’t easy – egos and eardrums were attacked by arguments and cottonbuds – but after much debate here’s the countdown to the best albums of 2009. Turn volume to 11, please.
TEXT BEN LIEW, KEVIN YEOH, MIRANDA YEOH, MATT ARMITAGE, ALIA, ETHAN CHU, CHRISTOPHER UJINE ONG, CHOOEE, DILL MALIK, WORDSMANIFEST, NOH, ALTIMET, JEROME KUGAN, MAK WAI HOO, DJ GOLDFISH, DJ GANJAGURU, DJ VICTOR G, RUEBNI KARUNAKARAN, JESSICA TAN.
10.
THE DEAD WEATHER
HOREHOUND
WARNER / REPRISE
So Jack White formed a new band? So what else is new? Well, unlike The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather actually sounds more like a collaborative effort that one Jack’s devilish ego gone mad. Remember how Billy Corgan’s ego made Smashing Pumpkins and Zwan suck? Jack could have easily gone down that road, being the tortured and maladjusted musical genius he is. But instead, he chooses to give his bandmates, particularly vocalist Alison Mosshart of The Kills, room to let loose. Horehound is an exciting brew of traditional rock n blues with buzzing punk swamps and sleaze. Jack manages to keep his signature broken-but-authentic rock flavour even when he’s playing drums, while Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs) add the goth and groove. BL
9.
MANIC STREET PREACHERS
JOURNAL FOR PLAGUE LOVERS
COLUMBIA
It’s hard to talk about the Manics without mentioning guitarist Richey James Edwards who went missing without a trace since ’95. 14 years in the making, with lyrics written by Edwards just before his disappearance, Journal is being hailed as the sequel to the highly acclaimed The Holy Bible. Produced by Steve Albini (who was adored by Edwards for his work on Nirvana’s In Utero), Journal sees the Manics returning to their art punk roots in honour of their lost comrade. However, unlike Holy Bible, which is the band’s bleakest album, Edward’s lyrics here are a reason to go on fighting. And the Manics know that. BL
8.
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILLION
DOMINO
It’s their best album so far. It pulsates, it’s experimental, it’s tuneful and it’s happy in a non-corny way. A consolidation of all their past sonic experiments into one non-stop joyous celebration. Jerome Kugan
7.
PHOENIX
WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX
V2
If you know Phoenix, you’ll know they always deliver. Even if some parts are bit trippy, the selection and the emotions are like retro memories made sweeter. When I got this album, it became stuck on playback and I didn’t get sick of it at all. Phoenix just got better and effortlessly pulled this off and this could be their best so far. To me, this is like a Phoenix version of Ok Computer and Kid A rolled into one. Ethan Chu
6.
THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE
RULES
BUBBLES
The 2nd album by the German-based band led by Kings of Convenience’s Erlend Øye is the perfect example of how minimalism can add more to music. On the surface, Rules is a loungy light electro funk album with jazzy hooks that could’ve come from Jamiroquai. But underneath the groovy basslines and delicate keyboards are introspective lyrics that flow as smoothly as the music. Rules is a chill out album with a difference. Bookish and danceable at the same time, this could be what Barry White would’ve sounded like if he were… well, white. BL
5.
DEAD MAN’S BONES
DEAD MAN’S BONES
ANTI-
Best concept album I’ve heard since Cursive’s The Ugly Organ, and a might surprising since it’s a project by Ryan Gosling and his friend Zach Shields. Throw them together with a choir full of kids, and apparently you have an album halfway between Arcade Fire and an Addam’s Family soundtrack. It’s eerie, beautiful, and fun. Good stuff! Alia (Dizzy & The)
4.
MAJOR LAZER
GUNS DON’T KILL PEOPLE… LAZERS DO
DOWNTOWN/MAD DECENT
When you put super DJs Diplo and Switch together, magic is bound to happen and this magic is called Major Lazer. They teamed up for this dancehall-inspired album called Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do. The album is unconventional with elements such as a horse’s ‘nay’ on ‘Hold The Line’ on the opening track which features Mr. Lexx and Santigold. You’re in for plenty of Jamaican vibes and big names like Vybz Cartel, Ward 21, Busy Signal, Nina Sky, Amada Blank, Mr. Vegas Turbulence, Mapei, TOK and even Prince Zimboo with extra production from Crookers and Afro Jack. This isn’t your typical Diplo and Switch production, but it’s these experimental ingredients that make it oh so refreshing that you just want to drop it like it’s hot. KY
3.
THE PRODIGY
INVADERS MUST DIE
COOKING VINYL
The Prodigy’s Invaders Must Die is quite an obvious choice so I should add that this year has been another great one, especially for new and underground music: there have been great records this year from Soulsavers,
Emmy the Great, Wild Beasts, La Roux, Florence & the Machine and countless others that would easily have made it to my top spot in other years. But Invaders it is: it sounds like rave tunes should have sounded back in the early 90s with proper fat bass and skull crushing drums. I also like the way they cheekily sample their own past. For a few years The Prodigy’s sound become very po-faced and serious, whereas Invaders sounds like a party from start to finish. I’ve had it in the car for the last six months and whenever I hear the opening stabs of the first track (also ‘Invaders Must Die’) I can’t stop myself smiling. Matt Armitage
2.
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE
LUNGS
ISLAND
Who can deny the sticky charm of ‘Dogs Days Are Over’ and ‘Kiss With A Fist’? Amongst a sonic labyrinth of xylophones, percussion, Gregorian chants and werewolves, Florence’s voice comes wailing through like a banshee out to get you over a bad date. The Brits’ Critics Choice for 2009 and Mercury nominee, Lungs has the capacity to fill us up anytime. BL
1.
YEAH YEAH YEAHS
IT’S BLITZ!
INTERSCOPE
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have moved on to the next stage of future-pop! Standard drumming and guitar wailing are downplayed while synths and other electronics are beefed up. ‘Zero’ kick starts the album and climaxes with a sonic boom. ‘Heads Will Roll’ continues the dance-anarchy with the opening synth sounding like PIL’s ‘This is Not a Love Song’. The album cover artwork is also probably the most mind-freaking design since Andy Warhol’s work on The Velvet Underground & Nico. In an age where those who fail to adapt will eventually die, this is an amazing return and what might be the best YYY album so far. BL
