Fixed/Aperture

These are all a collection of tracks that are new, at least to me, in 2009. Some of them date back to '70s and some are as new as 2008.  They've quickly become my staples of the year and really represent the wide variety of music that is still relevant today.  Hopefully you'll grab them too and make them part of your collection.   In no particular order

Goodbye Horses - Q Lazzarus

This song may or may not have been in my library for years. But it wasn't until a few weeks ago that for some reason I decided to listen to it.   I think song is so fantastically sinister while retaining that dayglo 80's sheen. Originally written in '88, I later found out this song was used in the creepiest scene from the Silence of the Lambs. Fun.

The original song that got me hooked on NatW and led me to the insane night of hanging out with them in NYC. Granted they kinda hate this song now and rarely play it at shows, like Radiohead and Creep, its a nice little ditty with a sweet hook. This song is just exuding springtime. Seriously its like cramming bunnies and daffodils in your ears. 

In the City - Chromatics

I've blogged about this song already this year, but its a worthwhile find to include twice. As the temperature drops to hostile levels, this song just go great with my mood. Its luxe yet minimal,  enveloping yet icy. I imagine this song perfectly soundtracking some languishing shot at the lights slipping by out of a black sedan driving along FDR drive through East River Park in a rather terrible art house film. At least the soundtrack would be good. 

This year has been very Hot Chip heavy with me. They are one of the well established acts I discovered this year that when I went back and found their old stuff, I actually enjoyed it. This is another kinda dark song, its so plotting and decisively slow. I love the east london rap lyrics spoken so deliberately monotone and with great diction overlayed with Radiohead level noise twerks going on. The music is so successsesfly gut wrenching that when you first look at the lyrics you are confused, but then you realize the song the song is about the tragicness of such a hot-shot figure and it all makes sense. 

Miami Counting- Sneaker Pimps

Technically, via Last.fm's count, Sneaker Pimps is my favorite band. While that is debatable, the rediculousness of my excitment upon finding out they had an unreleased 4th album floating around, is not.  My hunger for sexy, catchy, innovative acidjazz/ trip hop will never be satiated. But this album really helped. This song is by far the best. The little audio drop outs after you know the chorus catch you off guard, the breaths here and there, the increasingly frantic guitar, all works you into the mood of this song. Pretty much just awesome. If this ever gets released, I've already decided its the best album that year. 

Dance Dance Dance - Lykke Li

This is really all about writing a wrong from previous years best of lists. Lykke Li released her album early in 2008, but no one noticed. For some still unknown reason it popped up on HypeM and well, thank Darwin. I've already blogged about her this year and shes just fantastic enough to warrent another mention. Sax in an indie song, only a sweed could pull it off and still have it be catchy. Just saying if this was released this year, there would be a major shake up on my lists. 

Antony and the Johnsons is well known only for the passion and intense song writing by their lead vocalist and piano player, Antony. This track from 2008 showcases his voice in something other than the dramatic and emotional classical piano landscapes hes used to. Discolux group Hercules would have had just another forgettable club beat with this song, that is until they added Antony's vocals. I still remember that this song was playing when I was at Berlin while skipping events for my UChicago interview that I mostly took to visit Mark. Oh... Berlin.....

Let the Spirit - Root Manuva (Hot Chip Mix)

All credit for this being in my library goes to Megan. This great mix of Let the Spirit was actually from 2007 but it will always be imprinted in my mind as a 2009 driving song. Turn it on at  a red light, and by the time its green, this song will have warmed up to make you want to drive for miles and miles. I've just realized how much Hot Chip has touched this list, heres to hoping there at Bonnaroo. 

California Girls - The Magnetic Fields

Looking back this 2007 release was really predictive of the west coast lo-fi revolution that was to come. I love the juxtaposition of beachy fun music to the spite and malice of the lyrics. Add on top on that the geekyness of the singers voice and lyrical choice of 'I have planned my grand attack, I will stand behind their backs, With my brand-new battle ax, Then will they taste my wrath'. If you don't listen you may miss it at first. Thats what makes this song so great, the secret that its a diatribe about annoying fake Californians and not some peppy top40 shite that it seems at first.

Christine - Souixsie and the Banshees

This is really about a resurgence of my love for this band rather than a new find. For some reason I really started listing to a lot of post-punk again this year. I have to say it was one of my favorite musical periods, even though I wasn't alive for any of it. If getting kicked out of the Sex Pistols inner circle made Souixsie Sioux make this music, I think we have to thank them for them for their wise decision and the subsequent influence they made.