Best Of 2009 — Sean Sullivan
Posted By Ben W. on December 10, 2009
Sean Sullivan started playing guitar and writing songs when he was 3 years old in Cincinnati. And 20 years later, he’s a studio whiz in Nashville. So I think he’s qualified to offer up his favorite 10 albums of the year. Maybe? Let’s have a look.
Sean’s Top 10 Albums of the Year
10. I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day — Julie Doiron
Julie Doiron’s albums are sad. Her wobbly voice, dark lyrics (sometimes in French, so they might be about puppy dogs and hamburgers and I wouldn’t know), and sparse arrangements are a far cry from her old rock band, Eric’s Trip, so I didn’t expect her to come out with something upbeat. The formula is simple: distorted guitars, drums, bass, and a great voice and songs. It’s a similar formula to what made Exile In Guyville and early Mirah records so great. I hope she continues to make records like this in the future.
9. Flash Forward To The Good Times — Farmer Dave Scher
Dave Scher used to be a member of The Beachwood Sparks, a band I’ve liked for a long time. They inspired me to delve deeper into the music of The Byrds and Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers, and also led to the discovery of one of my favorite 90’s bands, Further. Subsequent projects by the members have drifted between great (Nobody & the Mystic Chords of Memory – Tree Colored See), enjoyable (The Tyde and All Night Radio), to easily forgettable (Frausdots and Fairechild).
Flash Forward has more in common with the psychedelic leanings of All Night Radio than Beachwood Sparks’ country rock, but the songs are more direct and memorable. It pays tribute to all the great heroes of pop music like the Beach Boys (“Surf Out Sunset”) and Small Faces (“Our Love is a Wave”), so there is something pleasantly familiar with all the songs. I hate albums that have to grow on you or you have to learn to love. There is so much music available, it’s nice to find a release I love after the first listen.
8. Planets Are Blasted — Boston Spaceships
Sometimes I wish Bob Pollard would just go away, or at least take a few months off. It’d be nice to have some time to sit back and absorb his legacy without being bothered with two or three new albums every year. I’ve been suckered into buying to so many of his throwaway and half-baked ideas that I already know how every review is going to read: “Several gems, but too much filler.” The thing is, Planets Are Blasted is as good as (Guided By Voices classics) Under the Brushes, Under the Stars or Mag Earwig, so he’s hooked me again.
7. Goodnight Oslo — Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3
There are a few rock veterans who still release the occasional relevant album, but no one as consistent as Robyn Hitchcock. His voice is just as strong as it’s always been, and his tongue just as sharp. Goodnight Oslo is his best album of the millennium, unlike Ole! Tarantula or Spooked, there isn’t a track to skip.
6. Now We Can See — The Thermals
If I threw parties, I’d put on this album. Music can be a revealing look inside a person, and I can feel the joy playing these songs brings the band. Now We Can See is a great way to start off any day. Just skip “Liquid In, Liquid Out” because it’s sort of stupid.
5. Telekinesis! – Telekinesis!
I saw a video for “Tokyo” on public television at 1 a.m. and went out and bought this record the next day. The song was so infectious, I had high hopes and they were pleasantly satisfied. There is a youthful energy about this group that you can’t help but root for them.
4. There Is No Enemy – Built To Spill
I’m going to be honest, any new album by this band is going to end up in my year-end list because they play the kind of music I want to play. It’s fun and mostly lighthearted pop that’s guitar-heavy without pointless noodling; the guitars speak as clearly as the lyrics do. They are a band that refuses to changes, and they have no reason to.
3. Farm — Dinosaur Jr.
Farm is loud. Like, turn your speakers up and play air guitar in your underwear kind of loud. In fact, that’s exactly what I was doing when I decided this was one of my favorite albums of the year. Even the Lou Barlow songs are a solid, which is hardly ever the case with Dinosaur records. I wish every band could get back together and release an album as solid as Farm, which I consider some of the best material of their career. Fingers crossed for the Pixies’ comeback record.
2. Catacombs — Cass McCombs
It’s a rare combination to find an artist who is a great songwriter and has a unique sound. It’s pretty impossible not to know it’s Cass McCombs when you hear this album. For a guy who has always been an opening act for big bands (Blonde Redhead, Modest Mouse and The Decemberists to name a few), Catacombs should boost him to headlining status.
1. Touchdown – Brakes
Third times a charm for these Brit rockers. I’ve been into this band since their self-titled debut. Each album has become less spastic and chaotic, and this is an album in every sense of the word. Not enough people make music like this anymore, and they should. Put the synthesizers in the closet, plug in the electric guitar and fuzz pedal, and write songs about girls and rock ‘n roll.
– Sean Sullivan
Other expert picks:
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To clarify, that picture is not of me!
darn, i was going to ask when you got hot
Flash Forward To The Good Times — Farmer Dave Scher
This was the guy in All Night Radio right?
Hey Mike, he’s the singer in All Night Radio. He was also in the Beachwood Sparks and a pretty successful producer/musician for hire. Check out his bio:
http://www.thecalmingseas.com/members/dave