Best of 2009

So that was 2009. The year that was. And actually, although, I said many, many times what a shitty period it was for music, that wasn't true. It was a fantastic year for music, you just had to look hard to find the good stuff which actually makes it more rewarding and enjoyable when you did find something that was good. But I didn't just find good stuff, I found a lot of great stuff. So here's my rundown of my 17 favourite records of 2009. Why 17? Because I couldn't whittle it down to 10. I'll only detail my top 5 because I don't have time to explain all 17 choices, and you don't have the inclination to read 17 quick reviews of albums you probably already own. And you only stumbled across this blog because you thought I was offering free downloads of Frank Turner's album. I'm not, but read on anyway.

Best of 2009:
17. Tegan And Sara - Sainthood
16. Jamie T - Kings And Queens
15. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park (Only rated in at 15 because I only got it a couple of weeks ago and it doesn't seem fair to rate it above albums that had a bigger impact on my year.)
14. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
13. Weezer - Raditude (Right, it's fun. You'll never get Pinkerton part 2, so enjoy this. It's a bloody good pop rock record.)
12. American War - Rhetoric (Download for free HERE!)
11. Crazy Arm - Born To Ruin
10. Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
9. Chuck Ragan - Gold Country
8. Dinosaur Pile-Up - The Most Powerful E.P. In The Universe!!
7. NOFX - Coaster
6. Propagandhi - Supporting Caste


5. The Cribs - Ignore The Ignorant
I've always sort of liked The Cribs, which is odd because they're one of those bands who have a rabid following. Their fans are fiercely loyal, but for some reason I've never really understood the level of devotion that they command in some. Until this year. In 2009, The Cribs blasted back with a new album and most importantly, I feel, a new member in perma-young guitarist Johnny Marr (former guitarist with some band from Manchester? Apparently they were successful once?). Marr's second guitar complemented the bands sound, adding a richness and a real sense of melody to the band's trebly indie punk sound and turned the Wakefield trio into a true English Punk Rock band. A fantastic record and, it's worth noting, an amazingly good live act.

Oh, and the record was brilliantly packaged in the fantastic 'Roses' edition.

Choice cuts: We Were Aborted, Cheat On Me, We Share The Same Skies, Emasculate Me, Ignore The Ignorant, Nothing.


4. Polar Bear Club - Chasing Hamburg
Polar Bear Club are another band who I had previous expereince of and again, didn't really get until a little bit later on. I saw them supporting Gaslight Anthem in March of last year and didn't really enjoy their set. But I didn't know any of the songs and you know what that's like. It's hard to decipher the lyrics and often the songs blur into one another. But then a few months later I was encouraged to try them again and and I'm happy to say I took this advice because had I not done so I wouldn't have got this great record. I've heard them called a slower Rise Against and I would go along with this although that is perhaps an oversimplification of just how good this record is. Okay, it's yet another album covering ground that was mapped and claimed by intrepid explorers long, long ago but that's not to say 'Chasing Hamburg' isn't worth your time or money. It's well worth both. PBC's dual guitar assault makes for great listening, at times blistering riffs blast out of the speakers but these boys know how to kick back and let things breath. A brilliant second album that serves to only heighten the anticipation for where this band might go next. Great cover art too.

Choice cuts: See The Wind, Living Saints, Boxes, Drifting Thing, Light Of Local Eyes, One Hit Back.


3. The Lawrence Arms - Buttsweat & Tears EP
How is that the Lawrence Arms have, armed with only a 4 or 5 song E.P. (depending on format) managed to force their way into so many end of year lists for 2009? Because Buutsweat and Tears is brilliant. Utterly, utterly, brilliant. For us Larry Arms fans, the 3 year wait between the frankly ace 'Oh! Calcutta!' (any superlative attached to this record does it an injustice. Check it out for yourself if you don't own it already, it's glorious) and 'Buttsweat and Tears' has been far, far too long. Although this E.P. doesn't continue along the same lines as 'Oh! Calcutta!' or 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' in further developing the band's sound, it's testament their songwriting abilities that we weren't disappointed by this. In fact, some of the Lawrence Arms's best material yet recorded can be found on this E.P. The only downside to this release is that it's too short, but that is also it's strength. It leaves you wanting more, and now I'm looking forward to their next full length more than ever. What a great way for them to mark their 10th year as a band.

Choice cuts: All of it. It's only 5 songs long, and they're all great.


2. Frank Turner - Poetry of the Deed
I'll be honest. I've never heard a Million Dead song. But then a lot of Frank Turner's fans probably haven't either. It seems to me that Frank has carved a reputation for himself that is entirely his own, and it's to his credit that he isn't known as 'Frank Turner, ex Million Dead', but 'Frank Turner- Blindingly Good Folk/Punk Troubadour'. He's achieved his lofty status through 1 - being a bloody good songwriter and 2 - touring his arse off. Frank can normally be found of a night playing his heart out in a venue somewhere in the world, either as a solo act or with his band of great musicians. He continued his upward curve in 2009 with the release of 'Poetry of the Deed.' His latest effort is even better than 2008's 'Love, Ire & Song' which is frankly (no pun intended) amazing because that was only released in 2008. It amazes me that artists can come out with two brilliant albums in consecutive years, but Frank is one of those who can and has done it. Would you bet against him doing the same in 2010? If you like music played with honest, fire, passion and no little talent then this one's for you.

Choice cuts: Live Fast Die Old, Try This At Home, Dan's Song, Poetry of the Deed, Sons Of Liberty, The Road, Richard Divine, Sunday Nights, Our Lady Of The Campfire, Journey Of Magi.


1. Fake Problems - It's Great To Be Alive
And so to number one. The best record of 2009. And that record is 'It's Great To Be Alive' by Florida's Fake Problems. I came across this record almost by accident. Allow me to indulge myself and tell you the story. For my 23rd birthday I received a small amount of money that I decided to spend on Epitaph's remasters of The Offspring's 2nd and 3rd albums, 'Ignition' and 'Smash'. But, disappointed by the job they'd done remastering and with the frankly lazy new artwork, I returned them to HMV and exchanged them for Angels & Airwaves 'I-Empire' and this, my number 1 record of the last year. It wasn't love at first listen though. I didn't get it. I left it alone after the first listen. I wasn't ready for it. But when I returned to it whilst out one day, by God, it made sense. Bloody. Good. Sense. Who knows what I was thinking when I first listened to it, because I love this record now. Love it. Drawing influences from all over the place, Fake Problems have a sound that is all their own and stands out amongst the glut of folk punk bands that have followed in Against Me!'s footsteps. With 'It's Great To Be Alive' though, Fake Problems have made an album that is every bit as good as anything Againt Me! have released (and they're nice blokes too!). Buy it, buy it now. They are the next big thing and you want to get on this wagon before everybody else does.

Choice cuts:
Again, all of it. Seriously, I'm not kidding.

That's it! You'll have your own thoughts, but these are mine. Tomorrow (hopefully) I'll bring you my top 20 records of the past decade, as well as reaction to City's miserable trip to Wigan in the Third Round of the F.A. Cup.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.