Best Of 2009 — Greg Asher
Posted By Ben W. on December 21, 2009
In addition to being one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, Greg Asher also has finely honed music taste. Here’s his list of favored 2009 albums.
Greg Asher’s Top Albums Of 2009
The Hazards Of Love – The Decemberists
OK, so most people were pretty leery when The Decemberists got signed on over at Capitol Records, but with the release of The Hazards Of Love I felt a lot better about the whole thing. The Hazards Of Love is pretty much the only “true” album on my list. This LP is meant to be listed to beginning to end. If you jump ahead to the “The Rake’s Song” or “Annan Water” you’re missing the point. It’s a well-polished story with plenty of personality and development as Colin Meloy takes you deep into a tale of love, betrayal and murder.
Post-Nothing – Japandroids
I don’t know many things in life for certain, but I know for sure that these two guys are the coolest Canadians I never met. First released through an indie-Canadian label, the Japandroids are now with Polyvinyl. The Post-Nothing album has a solid rock sound reminiscent of my favorite old school At The Drive In and “Sparta” jams. I purposely removed these guys from my “Driving” mix because each and every time “Young Hearts Spark Fire” came on I ended up speeding. These guys will make you awesomely reckless.
Logos – Atlas Sound
Got turned on by “Walkabout,” in which Noah ‘Panda Bear’ Lennox of Animal Collective fame contributed. Atlas Sound is Bradford Cox’s (Deerhunter) solo project. To be honest this spot could have gone either way, to Deerhunter’s single “Microcastle Mellow 3,” but I was explictly told that this is an album countdown.
Fever Ray – Fever Ray
WHOA. I really dig this solo work from Karin Dreijer of The Knife. For a first stab at solo work I’m impressed. It’s dark, heartfelt and sometimes plain creepy. I expect a double release next year with a follow-up EP to the Fever Ray release and a new Knife LP since electro-pop has come a long way since their last release in 2006. (Eat it Animal Collective)
Fantasies – Metric
I’m not sure how to explain Metric or the reasoning for putting them on this list. I stumbled on “Help I’m Alive” and couldn’t stop singing along in the car; another jam from the album is “Gold Guns Girls.” After listening to the album I literally felt like I’ve been beaten by hammer. If that hammer was held by a hot blond Indian/Canadian/British lady and she was all smiling and telling you this whole long story about how she was born in India and like moved to Canada, but lived in Peterborough for years. Except you don’t care cause shes super hot and cool and so cosmopolitan…. and are being beaten by a hammer at least that’d be my reaction.
– Greg Asher
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