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Not sure it's all about records anymore. I wish it was, but, still. Here are my 2009 cage rattlers.

 

Ike Reilly, Hard Luck Stories, and surrounding promotion

Fairly obvious I would say that my favorite artist of the decade (five-for-five on A+ full-lengths, plus two EPs and an outtakes collection that never lower the bar) released the best album this year, but, it's more than that. This digital-only release (comes out as a physical CD in February...best of 2010, too?!) was supported by an onslaught of Ike, including web videos and a fantastic podcast series that is never less than sardonic, revealing and, yes, rivetingly hilarious. Find 'em free at ikereilly.net. The album? Ike's writing pop songs this time, with better-than-ever, over-the-top, layered lyrics that reveal new levels of brilliance on every spin. If I could do anything the way I wish I could when I daydream...things like writing lyrics, developing a melody, perform with a rocket of a band...if I could do it exactly as I daydreamed, well, it'd sound exactly like Ike Reilly's music. 

 

Jarvis Cocker, "Further complications."

Who knew? In a year when many of my favorites didn't reach the standard they'd set in previous albums and live shows, JC trots out this nasty, cathartic collection of songs that reminds me why he was my Ike Reilly for a couple years in the mid-90s. Guitar-heavy, lyrically driven, rough and raw and hopeful and great. Don't want a Pulp analogy? Don't need one. This record is a like the Stooges, fronted by Leonard Cohen circa New Skin for the Old Ceremony. PS How can my top two records of 2009 be NSFW?

 

The B-Sharps Play Cherchez Kahuna

I was lucky enough to work with Joel Faurote on the artwork for this album, and the release poster is probably my favorite thing I've ever designed. What could be better than that? How about an album that more than delivers on the hype. It's fast, dirty, punky-and just poppy as hell. And I'm not even sure these guys know The Replacements stink! Also worth noting: another absolutely amazing year for local music. Metavari released one of the most ambitious, beautiful albums that's ever come from our city (and taken on the world); The Orange Opera made us forget everything we'd ever heard from Kevin Hambrick and hear the freshest, most concise, lovely and popalicious collection he's yet penned; Thunderhawk thunderhawked us (again); a little-heard band named Arial put out an EP that was one-part inside joke, one-part national anthem; Castles...Riverbottom...and more! I wish I was in a band.

 

Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

In a year when a lot of my favorites were my usual-favorites, this record came out of nowhere (along with Here We Go Magic's self-titled debut) to become a soundtrack of my 6AM-6PM life; a soundtrack to work to, to laugh over, to collaborate with, and to (secretly) dance around. Great album that will say "2009" for years to come. 

 

5-14, in order of purchase

M Ward, Hold Time

Tim Easton, Porcupine

Here We Go Magic, s/t

The Strange Boys, And Girls Club

Son Volt, American Central Dust

Paul Westerberg and The Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys EP   

The Fruit Bats, Ruminant Band

The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You

Julian Casablancas, Phrazes for the Young

The Orange Opera, Year of the Beard

 

Disappointments—these weren't always bad albums, per se, but they were a far-cry from the first time these artists each busted my brains out. Don't doubt I still enjoyed the ride with every one of 'em, though:

- Bruce Springsteen, Working on a Dream

- Clem Snide, Hungry Bird

- Bob Dylan, Together Through Life

- Cracker, Land of Milk and Honey

- Todd Snider, The Excitement Plan (best album on this list, BTW)

- Rhett Miller, s/t

- Wilco, s/t

- Dinosaur Jr, Farm

- Felice Brothers, Yonder Is the Clock

- Joe Henry, Blood from Stars

- Mark Knopfler, Get Lucky

- Graham Coxon, Spinning Wheel

 

 

Best Book(s):

- Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby 

- everything by Patrick Lencioni 

 

Best Movie, without any question:

- Adventureland

 

Live Show:

in town: Two Cow Garage, The Brass Rail

out of town: Ike Reilly Assassination, album release, Lincoln Hall / Chicago IL

 

Get my 2009 mixtape! These are the songs that rocked/wrecked my world. Some new, some old. 

Side One

1. Jarvis Cocker, "Angela" from "Further complications."

A long time ago I drove five hours to put "Disco 2000" under my (future) wife's windshield wiper. This is kinda like that, kinda not.

2. The B-Sharps, "Cheap Suit" from Play Cherchez Kahuna

This was my first favorite song by these guys. Usually shows up in their set like the song played when the funnel clouds start turning.

3. Tim Easton, "Porcupine" from Porcupine

Tim played his album release show in Fort Wayne back in April, after a memorable Rail debut the previous December. Can't wait for the next one.

4. Julian Casablancas, "11th Dimension" from Phrazes for the Young

I guess I'm not the only one that feels OK leaving behind his rocking past to spend a night on the dancefloor.

5. Phoenix, "Girlfriend" from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

An album so inescapable and undeniable...that you're not going to escape it or deny it here.

6. Ike Reilly, "7 Come 11" from Hard Luck Stories

"Satellites and aeroplanes don't mean that much to me; if I was writing poems they'd be for you."

7. Two Cow Garage, "No Surrender"

Two Cow played this Springsteen cover in their incredible set at the Rail. Tremendous.

 

Side Two

1. Todd Snider, "Corpus Christi Bay" from The Excitement Plan

2009 was the year my brother finally collaborated with OLG-and blew our minds. This Robert Earl Keen cover kinda makes me think of him, and me.

2. M Ward, "Hold Time" from Hold Time

I joked that I made my four-year-old daughter sign a contract saying she'd play this for me at her wedding. It's funny because it's true. 

3. Tom Waits, "Ol' 55" from Early Years Volume One

Near the end of 2009, I came back to early Waits for the first time in a decade. Doesn't get much better than singing your lungs out in the middle of the night, realizing you might even be in harmony, alongside Tom on this one.

4. Thunderhawk, "Blue Eyes Wild" from Thunderhawk VI

Thunderhawk's performances in 2009 were some of my favorite nights, and least favorite mornings. 

5. Teenage Fanclub, "Everything Flows"

Oddly enough my most-played band of the year was the Fannies, who haven't released a new record since 2005. Back in the early 00s, I bought some bootlegs by them, and would listen to them when OLG was in a second-floor kitchen on Columbia Avenue. This acoustic on-air cut is from those days.

6. Paul Westerberg, "Good As the Cat" from The Ghost Glove Cat Wing Joy Boys EP

Truer than I want to admit, in more ways than I'm comfortable with.

7. Marah, "Limb" from Let's Cut the Crap and Hook Up Later on Tonight

"Limb" was the best live song I heard all year. I caught Marah in Pontiac back in February, breaking my "The only live shows I'll see this year are in Fort Wayne and Austin" resolution. (The other two were Bob Dylan (Bloomington) and Ike Reilly (Chicago).) Anyway, "Limb" sounds like the probable anthem for One Lucky Guitar (the company where I work)'s tenth year in business, which is 2010, in particular the line about "dancing shoes" and the one that goes "I climbed in the ring tonight, nothing to my name; then I threw a punch I never thought I'd land." 

Never stop.