It’s July 1st, the mid-point of the year, a good time to reflect on what we’ve been offered musically so far in 2009. There’s been some stonkers like Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective and Fever Ray but you know about them already. I’ve listed my ten obvious favourite records of the year so far and then fifteen overlooked ones (with MP3s) you should definitely check out. Obviously “overlooked” is not exact science but generally, these are records you would like to see get more attention in the remaining six months of the year.
I left out a couple of newer albums like White Denim’s Fits and Paul White’s The Strange Dreams of because they are relatively new and I haven’t listened to them enough to place them here as much as I like them. There are a few others like Black Milk, Ribbons, Solid Gold which were actually last year officially but check them out anyway because they are amazing. Here we go..
10 Obvious Favourites
- Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
- DM Stith – Heavy Ghost
- Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
- Fever Ray – Fever Ray
- DOOM – Born Like This
- And So I Watch You From Afar – And So I Watch You From Afar
- Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
- The Horrors – Primary Colours
- David Kitt – The Nightsaver
- Dan Deacon – Bromst
15 Overlooked Favourites (with added MP3s)
- Nosaj Thing – Drift – Coat of Arms
- The Phantom Band – Checkmate Savage – The Howling
- Clues – Clues – Remember Severed Head
- Super Extra Bonus Party – Night Horses – Night Horses
- Yppah – Yppah
- The Holy Roman Army – How The Light Gets In – Elegy
- Clark – Growl’s Garden
- Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard – Em Are I – Roll Bus Roll
- Patrick Kelleher – You Look Cold – He Has to Sleep Sometime
- Sleepy Sun – Embrace
- Woods – Songs of Shame
- Hanne Hukkelberg – Blood From A Stone
- Faunts – Feel. Love. Thinking. Of – Out on a Limb
- NLF3 – Ride on A Brand New Time – Echotropic
- Venice is Sinking – AZAR – Charm City
Feel free to tell me what you think has been somewhat overlooked in the comments.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
I like this take on the mid-year list, I’ll be sure to check some of these out.
Yeh i thought it was a bit more interesting than just a best of so far.
That clues record is excellent. The best of the post-unicorns albums as far as I’m concerned.
Yeh its fuckin awesome isn’t it!
We didn’t overlook the Clues album. Loved every minute of it:
http://welistenforyou.blogspot.com/2009/05/review-clues-clues.html
Think Bat For Lashes has been overlooked, Two Suns is lovely.
Though of your list, THRA and Patrick Kelleher are two I really wanna hear, so will have to check the others. asiwyfa are my faves so far, but agreed on SEBP, Radar’s been playing loads here,
Thanks for the list Niall – jeysus, why does there have to be more music than there is time? I suppose I’d be complaining if it was any other way.
Totally agree with Bat For Lashes being overlooked. Also, The Antlers’ new album “Hospice” is pretty epic and nobody knows about it…
Thanks for the reminder Ian, I’m going to go to eMusic and get The Antlers now.
A lot of great records so far this year. I’d add the following as being overlooked gems:
Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
Mountains – Choral
James Blackshaw – The Glass Bead Game
Vetiver – Tight Knit
Burial & Four Tet – Moth / Wolf Cub (ok, not an album but awesome)
Sholi – Sholi
The Phenomenal Handclap Band – The Phenomenal Handclap Band
Years – Years
That new Bibio album is fast becoming a favourite too!
alot of unknowns there which is always a good thing.
Keep forgetting the telepathe album came out this year and not last year. That album is tops.
Bought Bibio on vinyl last thursday, then my record player’s amp broke 🙁
Dent May – The Good Felling Music Of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele.
Ape, that would have been in there a few months ago but he kinda annoyed me at SXSW so I haven;t really listened since.
I’ll never doubt you again for including Venice Is Sinking, the most heartbreaking record of the year.
It is a matter of counting time, but however Low Anthem´s album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin could be counted as well…tx for yr list indeed
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band’s self-titled album has been my best find so far this year. Every song is great. One of the few album that I can listen to all the way through. Roman Candle’s, Oh Tall Tree in the Ear is another disc that has surprised me as well.
On a hip-hop tip, DJ Quik and Kurupt’s BlaQKout is amazing.
And So I Watch From Afar
Amazing record. Enormous Sound. Big Thumbs Up.
NOSAJTHING – Number 1 overlooked album of the year ! FAntastic. it is an absolute gem !