I Am The Crime
A Fine Mess
Criminal Records
Best Of 2009 Mix
Jan 17th
Illustration by Carolyn Alexander.
I don’t particularly like doing best of lists but I felt the need to make up for my slack around here lately, hence this mix. Basically it’s songs that stood out for me during the year or represent albums I listened to a lot. It’s probably a bit inconclusive because a) I can’t remember everything I listened to and, b) I currently have a headache which gives me a free pass for not spending a lot of time compiling this. The mix is divided into two parts and consist of the following artists and tracks:
Part 1 [Download]
Autopilot Is For Lovers – “Come Now”
Hello Seahorse! – “El Segundo”
A Horse And His Boy – “Sidewalks”
Tegan And Sara – “On Directing”
The Mary Onettes – “Symmetry”
Noah And The Whale – “Blue Skies”
Phantogram – “Futuristic Casket”
Bat For Lashes – “Sleep Alone”
Linda Mirada – “Solo”
Beach House – “Silver Soul”
Kent – “Krossa Allt”
Band Of Skulls – “Bomb”
deVries – “What a Wasted Life”
Gliss – “Lovers In The Bathroom”
Florence and The Machine – “Cosmic Love”
Part 2 [Download]
Taken By Trees – “The Greyest Love Of All”
POLLYester – “Run In My Stocking”
Lay Low – “I Forget It’s There”
City Of Satellites – “Control”
Friska Viljor – “If I Die Now”
Jesca Hoop – “Whispering Light”
Zero 7 – “Swing”
Little Dragon – “A New”
Audionom – “Girls and Boys”
Stuck In The Sound – “Quais”
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – “Up From Below”
Lightning Dust – “Antonia Jane”
Desire – “Don’t Call”
The Black Heart Procession – “The Witching Stone”
VAST – “You Should Have Known I’d Leave”
Best Of ‘08
Dec 14th
These albums are all more or less interchangeable in terms of order. Which is just another way for me to cop out and avoid making a definitive list.
Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane [Review]
~ “Willow Tree” ~
Rae Spoon – Superioryouareinferior
~ “My Heart is a Piece of Garbage. Fight Seagulls. Fight!” ~
Headless Heroes – The Silence Of Love
~ “The North Wind Blew South” ~
The Kid – Transient Blood
Azeda Booth – In Flesh Tones [Review]
~ “Ran” ~
eas/Svart Bröllop – Kärlek Gjord Av Hat [Review]
~ “Stationer” ~
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
M83 – Saturdays = Youth
~ “We Own The Sky” ~
The Rosebuds – Life Like
~ “Cape Fear” ~
Hexes & Ohs – Bedroom Madness
Best of ‘07
Dec 21st
Okay, first off – I hate ranking music. I just can’t, it’s impossible. I change my mind about albums and artists all the time. And I hate “best of” lists as well, regardless of the topic. But obviously I had no choice this time so I, uh, did my best to narrow it down. Which wasn’t easy considering what a great year in music 2007 turned out to be!
#1: Young Galaxy – Young Galaxy
If it hadn’t been for my curious streak, I might have actually missed out on Young Galaxy. I’d never heard of them, but thought “Searchlight” was a pretty name for a song and decided to check it out. And soon the rest of their self-titled debut album followed, filled with music that can be described as dream pop with a soundtrack quality to it – because this album sure has been a big part of the soundtrack to my 2007.
#2: Beirut – The Flying Cup Club
I missed the first train to Beirut, but luckily I caught the second one. To be honest, a few years ago this album wouldn’t have appealed to me whatsoever. It would probably have been a bit too “exotic” for my taste and wouldn’t gotten the attention it deserves. But after listening to similar artists like The Magnetic Fields and The Black Heart Procession I was ready this year.
#3: Kent – Tillbaka Till Samtiden
Ah, Kent – Sweden’s little golden boys. I didn’t have any real expectations for this album, as the first single, “Ingenting” didn’t appeal to me at first. It grew on me though, and once I heard the whole album I pretty much surrendered. Weird thing is though how the majority of critics hailed “Tillbaka Till Samtiden”, while the hardcore Kent fans weren’t that impressed. I wouldn’t say it’s their best ever, but it sure is good.
#4: The Twilight Sad – Fourteen Autumns & Thirteen Winters
That’s it – I’m moving to Scotland. That pretty much sums up my thoughts on this album. Fine, I’ll elaborate a bit more then: Scottish accent + angsty shoegaze = love. And no, I ‘m not a fourteen year old.
#5 Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
Like Beirut, I somehow missed Arcade Fire the first time around. But then came “Neon Bible” and I was hooked. However I still don’t see why so many think its predecessor “Funeral” is better. I mean it’s good, but not as captivating as this one. “Neon Bible” is dark and intricate yet have some of the catchiest songs I’ve heard all year.
Honorable mentions: M.I.A. – Kala, Apartment – The Dreamer Evasive, The National – Boxer, The Mary Onettes – The Mary Onettes, Great Lake Swimmers – Ongiara
~ Young Galaxy – “The Sun is Coming Up and My Plane is Going Down” ~