2009 Wrap Up

So The Audiobahn had a quiet latter half of 2009, but was a more successful endeavor overall than most New Year's Resolutions that I make, updating (semi-)regularly through the first half of the year. Part of me wants to make saving this from disrepair a likewise resolution for 2010, on a less rigorous but hopefully more reliable schedule. We'll see! In the meantime, enjoy my musings on 2009.

Favorite Live Shows of 2009
05. Wilco at LeLacheur Park, Lowell, MA
04. Jason Anderson & The Best at TT the Bear's, Cambridge, MA
03. Harvey Danger at Harper's Ferry, Allston, MA
02. The Flaming Lips at Bank of America Pavilion, Boston, MA
01. Sufjan Stevens at Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME

Most-listened to Artists of 2009 (via last.fm)
10. Peter Broderick
09. The Wooden Sky
08. Atlas Sound
07. Grizzly Bear
06. Graham Coxon
05. Deerhunter
04. School of Seven Bells
03. Do Make Say Think
02. The Dodos
01. Neil Young

Best Tracks of 2009
10. Caledonia - "Burning the Day"
09. Stardeath and White Dwarfs - "New Heat"
08. Daniel Land and the Modern Painters - "Codeine"
07. Grizzly Bear - "Fine For Now"
06. Animal Collective - "Brother Sport"
05. Quantic & His Combo Bárbaro - "Linda Morena"
04. Wooden Shjips - "Contact"
03. Girls - "Laura"
02. Atlas Sound - "Quick Canal (w/ Laetitia Sadier)"
01. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - "Shy"

Top Albums of 2009
10. The Duckworth Lewis Method - The Duckworth Lewis Method
09. Do Make Say Think - Other Truths
08. Fanfarlo - Reservoir
07. Caledonia - We Are America
06. The Love Language - The Love Language
05. Quantic & His Combo Bárbaro - Tradition in Transition
04. Brothers of End - The End
03. Girls - Album
02. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar
01. Atlas Sound - Logos

download:   My 10 Best Tracks of 2009
(please pardon the skip in "Codeine" my disc is scratched, unfortunately)

A few notes: 2009 was the year that I found my diverse affinity for americana rock a la classics like Neil Young or contemporaries like The Wooden Sky, but also jumped to the other end of the spectrum in shimmery electronic music of bands like Atlas Sound/Deerhunter and A Sunny Day in Glasgow. Quantic even took me by surprise with a mind-bending album combining latin jazz, soul, funk, and hip-hop. Despite being one the most anticipated albums by one of my favorite artists, Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest didn't make my year end cut-- too much inconsistency throughout for me to really put it up there, compared to more consistent releases. Some of my favorites from '08 even kept with me throughout '09 as well, notably School of Seven Bells and The Dodos.

Anyway, there is much to look forward to in 2010, particularly Owen Pallet, Spoon, Ted Leo, and Midlake.