It’s been a pretty amazing year for music, with some of my favourite albums in recent memory released in the last 12 months. It was hard to narrow the list down to just 10 – in fact I already submitted my list to Drum Media for their polls and have changed it (again!) since then – and of course there are albums that I’ve only very recently heard and adored that would certainly have weaselled their way in if I’d heard them earlier. I hope next year will have just as many great things in store.

10. CONTRA – VAMPIRE WEEKEND

It’s pretty weird to think that I once proclaimed my hatred for this band, because I love this album to bits, especially since it very obviously nods to Graceland, by none other than my forever lover Paul Simon. This record is intelligently written and yet never comes across as condescending or pretentious, instead delivering punchy, catchy tunes that made for some of the year’s best awkward dancing.

9. THE SUBURBS – ARCADE FIRE

For me, nothing will ever beat Arcade Fire’s debut album Funeral. It was one of my favourite albums of the 2000s and was so perfectly written that I thought they wouldn’t be able to top it, ever. (Wait, I still think that). My first listen of The Suburbs took place on a drive to the city, so I was concentrating both on the road and the music, and my initial thoughts seemed to rest on the fact that it all sounded like one. very. long. song. Wrong! This is one of those albums that needs multiple listens to sink in, and once it does it’s pretty much instant. The webcast of the Madison Square Garden show back in August also helped turn my views on this album around, and ‘Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)’ is a really spectacular track. Still no Funeral, but pretty damn good, all things considered.

8. SWIM – CARIBOU

This was my first introduction to the music of Dan Snaith, better known as Caribou. It’s a massive sonic experience, with meticulously crafted sounds all smashing together into something unthinkably enormous, and a total departure from his last album, 2007′s Andorra. What I love so much about this album is that it works in two ways – whether you’re listening on the surface for something to dance to, or listening to peel away the many layers and admire the musicianship, it’s an incredible achievement. I was also very lucky to interview Dan a few months back and hearing the amount of work that he put into this record (over 600 demos!) made me appreciate it that much more. Not much of an electronic listener usually, but this album is strangely accessible despite its complexity.

7. BLISS RELEASE – CLOUD CONTROL

Blue Mountains wunderkinds Cloud Control blew everyone away this year with their long-awaited debut after many years on the live circuit. For a band so young, this is a startlingly mature album that translates superbly live (as adoring sold out crowds around the nation will tell you), and songs like ‘There’s Nothing In The Water We Can’t Fight’ and ‘Gold Canary’ have become staples in Australian music this year. Beautiful harmonies and textures. Really excited to see what these guys do next.

6. HEARTLAND – OWEN PALLETT

The artist formerly known as Final Fantasy made his first outing under his own name this year, and the result is this beautifully written and produced record that swirls with delicate orchestral arrangements. At his last Sydney show in December 2008, Pallett performed some of these songs, including ‘The Great Elsewhere’, and it was wonderful to see how those rough sketches transformed into fully realised tracks when listening to this album. There are also countless theories bouncing around about the themes of the record and a possible concept record-esque structure, and listening to it with that in mind made for a richer experience. Without sounding too fangirly, Pallett is really one of the finest musicians going around the indie circuit these days and criminally under-appreciated, considering the output he’s had not only with his own work but also performing and writing with and for others.

5. FORGIVENESS ROCK RECORD – BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE

Prior to this year, Broken Social Scene was one of the bands I didn’t really ‘get’. I listened to You Forgot It In People when it came out – I must have been 13 or 14 then – and it was just noise to me. I didn’t understand. But this record changed all of that – it was much more accessible and contained my favourite song of the year, ‘World Sick’, as well as a host of other songs that showed just how varied BSS’ style is. It’s not a completely consistent album and does have a few throwaway tracks, but overall it’s pretty solid and will hopefully open the band up to a wider audience.

4. PLASTIC BEACH – GORILLAZ

This album BLOWS. MY. MIND. How anyone could coordinate an ensemble of 70+ people is beyond me, and yet Mr Damon Albarn did it, and did it amazingly well. There’s the expected hip-hop fusion here, a dash of soul featuring the incomparable Bobby Womack, some dance, and one of the most unexpected tracks of the year (and my personal favourite) ‘On Melancholy Hill’, which Albarn cites as one of the best songs he’s ever written. How a band that started as a gimmicky cartoon turned into this is beyond me, but this is a record that needs to be heard.

3. WRITE ABOUT LOVE – BELLE & SEBASTIAN

But of course I was going to love anything that this band put out. B&S have been one of my favourite bands since I first heard them when I was 17, and this is the first record they released since I got into them (I fell in love with The Life Pursuit and went from there). Packed with guest stars (Carey Mulligan, Norah Jones) and the sweetest of tunes, this album is a great comeback for the band as they capitalise on their signature sound on some stellar tracks. Opener ‘I Didn’t See It Coming’ has been on repeat since the first time I heard it. Stoked out of my mind for their tour in March.

2. PIP – OTOUTO

I picked this up in the Drum Media offices for something new to listen to, having heard about this band before. It was completely different to what I thought it would be (I was expecting something a little folky) and quickly smashed its way to the top of my iTunes. It’s innovative but perfectly listenable and features some of the most creative decisions in Australian music this year, thanks largely to the talents of percussionist Kishore Ryan (also of Kid Sam and Seagull – my favourite Aussie musician for a long time). This album and band are not particularly well known but deserve to be over any other. One of the best national releases in a ridiculously long time.

1. HIGH VIOLET – THE NATIONAL

I haven’t had such an emotional connection with an album for a long, long time. Perfect in every way. I don’t even want to say anything about it because if you take a listen you’ll understand. I’m so glad that this band is finally getting the recognition they deserve, because there’s just not another group like this around right now. If you haven’t heard this album, do yourself a favour and listen. It just feels.

Honorable mentions:
The Age of Adz – Sufjan Stevens
American Slang – The Gaslight Anthem
Broken Bells – Broken Bells
Go – Jonsi
Teen Dream – Beach House
Together – The New Pornographers

Hard to believe that when the year 2000 began, I was only 11 years old. A lot of great music has resulted from the ten years leading up to now, and a lot of it I’m still discovering. These are the albums of the 2000s that have made me laugh, made me cry, made me think, and which will stay with me always.

1. Kid A – Radiohead (2000)

That’s right, my album of the decade was, in fact, released in the very first year of it. Though it’s difficult to crack and was in fact my least played Radiohead album for some time, the layers of Kid A are impossible to resist and after a while they fall back to reveal its pure, shaking heart, from the robotic ‘Everything In Its Right Place’ right through to the wispy cinema of ‘Motion Picture Soundtrack’, after which silence chokes the listener. This album is not for everyone – there are those who feel that it’s pretentious and weak and snotty – but if you want your life changed, crawl into bed in the dead of the night, shut off the world and listen to this. That’s exactly how I fell in love.
DOWNLOAD: How To Disappear Completely (mp3)

2. For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver (2008)

Justin Vernon understands heartbreak. Hell, the guy trekked out into a cabin in the woods to record this album. And you can hear every fibre of his being falling apart on each song on this flawless record. Having experienced the dissolution of a relationship myself in the last year, this album has been one that I have consistently come back to. It leaves a feeling of desperation and coldness, but also a faint one of hope, of making a beautiful tragedy out of even the most painful mess. It’s typical to write songs about a broken heart, but it’s rare that they turn out this genuine and succinct.
DOWNLOAD: Skinny Love (m4a)

3. Deja Entendu – Brand New (2003)

Everyone has a band or album or song that changed their life. The type you always come back to when your heart feels sad. The type that inspires you. The album that did all this for me was Deja Entendu. I got this album for my birthday in 2003 and sat on my bed, newly 15, and listened to it from start to finish. At the end, I couldn’t move. There is so much emotion bleeding from this album, and while haters might bandy about the E word, it’s the type of poetry that teenagers yearn to write. I’m 21 now and this album still affects me as much as it did on November 10, 2003, when I sat on my bed and heard it for the first time. I never looked at music in the same light after hearing this album – it made me truly care.
DOWNLOAD: The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows (m4a)

4. Funeral – Arcade Fire (2004)

Montreal ensemble Arcade Fire stunned everyone with their debut album Funeral, which plays more like an orchestral outing than a ‘band’. Flitting from English to French and back again, this album is one which reflects the creative talents of a group that has not been afraid to show their individuality and creativity, all the while making songs that have cemented them as one of the 21st century’s most important artists. There is a lot to appreciate here, and the live experience is one that is truly heart-stopping. An absolute gem from a group who I have complete faith will continue to break boundaries and inspire beautiful art.
DOWNLOAD: Rebellion (Lies) (mp3)

5. The Life Pursuit – Belle and Sebastian (2006)

Belle and Sebastian have managed to reinvent themselves so many times in their career, but they keep one thing constant – the ease of listening and the accessibility of each and every release. The Life Pursuit is an album full of incredibly light and joyful twee-pop hooks that can put a smile on any face, no matter how heartbroken or dejected. There is so much happiness radiating from this album, but at the same time it’s still got brains – lyrically it deals with themes of escape, sadness, love, disappointment. This is music for those enamoured with life and with harmonies and melodies that can blow the rain away.
DOWNLOAD: Funny Little Frog (mp3)

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
In Rainbows – Radiohead
Takk… – Sigur Rós
Gold – Ryan Adams

It’s hard to choose just five songs to define a decade. There are so many factors that weigh in – do I choose it because it’s fun? Smart? Tuneful? Cleverly constructed? All of these have had some influence on me choosing the songs below – they all, to me, have played an important role in shaping music, its consumption, its meaning. I realise that I have included two cover songs in my five, which may seem an unpopular choice (where’s the originality, mannn?) but that’s exactly it – to take a song and reinvent it as your own is an art that I wish more could master so exactly. These are songs that have challenged me, and I hope they can challenge you, too.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvCeCVmJAUA&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
1. ‘The Temptation of Adam’ – Josh Ritter (2007)

I first came across this song at the end of 2007. I had just finished my first year of university and was interning at Rolling Stone magazine, and it was there that I was given this album, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, to review. It wasn’t until later, though, that I would come back to the song and realise the beauty that shone from it. This kind of poetry is exceptionally difficult to come by in this day and age, and such a narrative has not been seen since the days of Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel. There has simply been nothing quite like this written in recent memory, and although it seems strange to choose a relatively unknown song as this decade’s finest, it will make perfect sense once you hit play.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78KHK6oE3h8&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

2. ‘Wonderwall’ – Ryan Adams (2004)
Noel Gallagher said of this cover, “I never got my head round this song until I went to [see] Ryan Adams play and he did an amazing cover of it”. Adams’ cover of the Oasis song brings elements to it that the original version was lacking – a deeper sense of longing, desperation, loneliness. ‘Wonderwall’ has been one of the most influential songs on my life thus far (I remember sitting down watching ABC Kids when I was six and first hearing it), and this cover does a whole lot to explain the concept of a Wonderwall.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSLZFdqwh7E&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
3. ‘Stan’ – Eminem (2000)

Most of you reading this blog will know that I’m not into rap, or hip-hop, or R&B, or any of those types of genres. Don’t hate them – just don’t love them, either. This song is the one exception. When Eminem isn’t trying his hardest to offend every parent in the United States of America, his depth and creativity is really quite astounding. This song samples Dido’s ‘Thank You’ intermittently, telling the disturbing story of a crazed fan who becomes so deeply obsessed with Eminem that it drives him to suicide. It’s a prime example of the artistry that can emerge from rap music, and the poetry that belies Eminem’s sometimes menacing exterior.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEKC5pyOKFU&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
4. ‘Wake Up’ – Arcade Fire (2004)

This song is one of those rare things that can touch anyone and everyone, regardless of anything else. Funeral was one of my favourite albums of the decade as well, and I knew I had to include something from it in my top songs. This is just ethereal in every possible way, joyous, life-affirming. And the acoustic version in the trailer for Where The Wild Things Are confirms that even more.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
5. ‘Hurt’ – Johnny Cash (2002)

This song is the absolute epitome of what a cover version should be – how meanings can be translated from artist to artist. The original Nine Inch Nails song was of a much darker and more cynical quality, while this cover – coupled with the heart-wrenching video – speaks of Cash’s yearning and reflection on life. Recorded and released a year before Cash’s untimely death, this is a song that will be played and remember for a long time to come. Absolutely beautiful.

I’ll admit it – I’ve been a bit dodgy this year. I’ve got about 50 albums released in 2009, but out of those, I’m not sure how many I would have listened to intently, or fallen in love with. But despite that, there were some albums that truly moved and delighted me. These are those albums.

1. Leap Years – The Little Hands of Asphalt

The Little Hands of Asphalt were my favourite discovery of 2009. A dear friend of mine went to Norway on exchange and discovered this delightful band, and suggested I check them out. Sjur Lyseid has an absolutely charming way with words though English is not his native language, and the music is easily listenable and affecting. Album of the year for the mere fact that The Little Hands of Asphalt are chronically under-appreciated – a band with this much heart deserves a place in the limelight.
DOWNLOAD: Highway’s Pull (mp3)

2. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Every hipster’s wet dream, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart were one of 2009′s big ‘it’ bands. And why not? This album sounds like Belle and Sebastian making sweet, sweet love to the shoegaze gods of yesteryear (Ride, anyone) but manages to maintain a level of cuteness that hasn’t been found in any other recent shoegaze release. It’s a curious beast as it’s so raw that it’s almost polished – be sure to check out their show here in Sydney in February.
DOWNLOAD: Everything With You (mp3)

3. Fantasies – Metric

Emily Haines and co. deliver another fine album, this time with 100% more accessibility. Think Paramore with a bit more (shudder) “indie cred” – this album pulsates with danceable electro-synth beats and a pure voice that fluctuates from ethereal to powerful. Through the roof.
DOWNLOAD: Help I’m Alive (m4a)

4. Burgers Frown – Fergus Brown

Sydney singer/songwriter Fergus Brown does a favour for nerds everywhere and releases his first record which is everything a geek could ever want. Laced with clever pop-culture references and gorgeous harmonies, this one’s for the lovers – and Fergus himself is gracious and kind, and a total hoot to see live.
DOWNLOAD: John, She Was Never Only Dancing (mp3)

5. Little Hells – Marissa Nadler

Marissa Nadler is a quaint lady – her music is often so sad that it’s difficult to listen to. But with Little Hells, she has crafted an album that is heartbreaking in its beauty – characterised by her whispers and goth-folk acoustic breeze, this album ranges from creepy to otherworldly. It’s one of those records you can curl up in bed with and fall asleep to, as its dulcet tones send you into another dimension.
DOWNLOAD: Heart Paper Lover (m4a)

6. Daisy – Brand New

This band just keeps throwing curveballs. They’ve gone from pop punk to “emo” to “alternative” to…hardcore? screamo? Who knows – all in the span of four albums. Daisy sees the foursome craft an album unlike any other they’ve done – sampling gospel hymns, employing earth-shattering screams, even switching band duties as guitarist Vin Accardi shoots to the forefront to pen more songs. Whatever the case, this is an album that’s proved to be a real grower – let the songs sink in and uncover something new every time you give it a spin.
DOWNLOAD: At the Bottom (mp3)

7. Merriweather Post Pavilion – Animal Collective

The only reason this record appears relatively far down the list is because I didn’t appreciate its majesty properly until I saw it live. There is so much in this album – creativity, colour, magic. I initially resisted listening to it at all because of the enormous hype surrounding it, but it is one of those rare experiences where the hype and the product are actually perfectly suited. This is Animal Collective’s most listenable album so far, and one that proves that they are a band with a huge future and they could reach even bigger heights that might surprise everyone, including themselves.
DOWNLOAD: My Girls (mp3)

8. Blood Bank (EP) – Bon Iver

This was not exactly what I’d been expecting as a follow-up to 2008′s brilliant For Emma, Forever Ago, but it has some amazing moments. Justin Vernon is only improving his terrific poetry as he continues to write, and in tracks like title track ‘Blood Bank’ it shows – the story is unique but somehow harrowing, haunting. What I can say about this EP is that it shows the other side to Bon Iver that is not Volcano Choir (that is to say, lame).
DOWNLOAD: Woods (mp3)

9. Years of Refusal – Morrissey

Ah, my main man. I’ll admit it – I’m a Smiths tragic. I’ll listen to anything and everything related. But the great thing about Years of Refusal is that it’s not just for Smiths nerds – anyone could pick this up and find something excellent in it. Dude’s over half a decade old and still pumping out stuff that anyone could appreciate. From the high energy of opener ‘Something Is Squeezing My Soul’ to the resign of ‘I’m OK By Myself’, this is proof that the prince of maudlin has still got it. (Although the cover is hideous).
DOWNLOAD: I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris (mp3)

10. The Bachelor – Patrick Wolf

The little pixie-like Englishman gets more theatrical with each release, and this one is his most daring yet. One half of a concept double album (with The Conqueror set for release sometime in 2010), this record explores themes from the ban of gay marriage to father-son relationships. Featuring Tilda Swinton, it’s ostentatious at times but a thrilling listen, and even more so live.
DOWNLOAD: Hard Times (mp3)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqldwoDXHKg&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
1. ‘Gimme Sympathy’ – Metric

This song embodied 2009 for me – can’t count how many times I danced around my room to it, or drove home at midnight with it blaring on my car stereo. It’s hard to say exactly what it is that’s so intoxicating – is it Emily Haines’ silky vocals? Those impossibly infectious synth beats? The question of the year – “Who’d you rather be, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones”? I’m not sure either, but one thing’s for certain – nothing else this year came close to beating this.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic7Tfm3-Bs8&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
2. ‘Blood Bank’ – Bon Iver

This song closed Bon Iver’s performance at the City Recital Hall, one of my first gigs of 2009. The live version was electrifying and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up; the studio version leaves me feeling cold and alone, but happy. There’s something about the way Justin Vernon tells a story that is so personal and touching, and this was one of the most original songs of the year.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxhaRgJUMl8&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
= 3. ‘Summertime Clothes’ – Animal Collective

A late change in my top five songs to include this song was a must after seeing it live. It’s just so full of the joy of youth and life and energy – the feeling of being alive in every sense of the word. There’s no way anyone can listen to this without wanting to jump off a tall cliff into cool, clear water – to feel invincible. I want to walk around with you.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ulvBCyXbig&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
= 3 ‘Harry Patch (In Memory Of)’ – Radiohead
This song is beautiful in every way. It cuts to the core and begs for understanding and sympathy. I’ll admit that I’ll swallow most, if not all of the music that Radiohead puts out, but this is a true beauty that I can’t get over. The story of Harry Patch is beautiful, and the music is beautiful. I’m looking forward to seeing what Radiohead does next.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WENbSzxijDw&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
4. ‘Boundaries’ – Kyte

Alright, alright, so this was released in 2008. But Kyte are one of those rare spectacles that don’t come by often. I was introduced to this band (straight out of Leicestershire, UK) by a friend, and was immediately taken by this song. It’s been the soundtrack to many of my nights this year and possesses a simple beauty in its static message – this is a song that is going to stay with me for a very long time.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuNIsY6JdUw&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
5. ‘You Belong With Me’ – Taylor Swift

“Oh god,” I hear you mutter as you press the “x” in the top right of your screen (or red button if you’re a Mac user, whatever). “She’s completely lost the plot.” Maybe you’re right, I don’t know. But this song is one of the most played in my iTunes for one good reason – it’s just so much damn fun. And I’d be lying if I said Kanyegate (see what I did there) didn’t play a little role in upping the awesome factor of this tune for me. Yeah, it’s moronic, it’s entry level (or even lower than entry level) but you know what? It makes me smile, and that’s what music should do.

2009 was an exciting year for live music. I began my internship at Drum Media in March, and as such, was opened up to the wonderful world of subsidised giggery. I didn’t go to as many gigs as I would have liked, and I did pay my way through for some of them ($285 for a Simon & Garfunkel ticket, anyone?), but I experienced some really fantastic live music this year. These were my favourites.

1. Simon & Garfunkel, Acer Arena, June 20 & 21

Photo: Sam Costello

There’s no way to describe what it feels like to see a band that has affected your entire life. My father used to play Simon & Garfunkel in our household when I was growing up, and every memory I have of my childhood involves them in some way. Though very obviously a rehearsed and scripted act, these two nights were the most magical in recent memory because of one thing – it felt as though my life was coming full circle as I heard the songs I’d grown up with live, and it felt like I was reuniting with two very old, very dear friends. I doubt I’ll ever see them again, but I will always treasure the memory of these nights.

2. David Byrne, Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, February 1

Photo: Jordan Hoffman (not the same gig)

Yes, my top two gigs of the year both feature old men. Call it a fetish, if you wish, but it was truly special to see The Big Suit himself in action. David Byrne is in his mid-50′s and his energy is unbelievable – how someone older than my mother can bounce around in a pink tutu without losing any breath is beyond me. Hearing Talking Heads songs live (‘Burning Down The House’, ‘Life During Wartime’, ‘Take Me To The River’, ‘Crosseyed and Painless’, amongst countless others) was an absolute delight, as was hearing songs from Byrne’s latest outing, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. No one in the audience was in their seat by the end of the night – it was a concert that required energy from not only the performer, but also the spectators. Astounding.

3. Bon Iver, City Recital Hall Angel Place, January 21

Photo: Wayne Massingham

You’d think someone who poured so much raw, painful emotion into an album like 2008′s For Emma, Forever Ago would be introverted and quiet, but not so – Justin Vernon, main man of Bon Iver, was surprisingly gregarious in a live setting, often stopping to chat to the audience. But the main point of the gig – that is, the music – cut straight to the bone and created the same chilling effect that the album does. Bon Iver is a live experience that simply cannot be missed – Vernon’s wavering falsetto is even more heartbreaking live, and it’s touching to see a man transition from heartache to modest fame whilst sharing the hurt that got him there.

4. Ryan Adams and The Cardinals, Enmore Theatre, January 29

Photo: Sean Owen

Ryan Adams is a moody little man. The first time I saw him, in August 2007, I cried after the show because he was so obnoxiously mannered and he didn’t play any of the songs I wanted. I was very, very hesitant to shell out $75 to see him again – but boy, am I glad I did. A Ryan Adams and The Cardinals show when the man is in good spirits is akin to a religious experience – he has so much life and vigour in him when he wants to, and shit – dude can sing. Highlights were songs from Heartbreaker and Gold, including a heartfelt ‘La Cienega Just Smiled’ and his elusively chilling cover of Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’.

5. Ratatat, Manning Bar, May 8

It’s definitely interesting that an electronic act has made its way into my top five. I’m a self-confessed electronic music noob – I’ll admit that I know close to nothing about it. But what was incredible about this show was that that didn’t even matter. Mike Stroud and Evan Mast mix electronic equipment with some crazy guitar work, and the result is something intoxicating – normally I go for ‘beautiful’ music over anything else, but the pulsating rhythms of Ratatat live are impossible to ignore. It was a night I’ll never forget, because for the first time in so long, I remember thinking, “shit, I really feel alive.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Metro Theatre, September 22
Jens Lekman, a backyard in Five Dock, October 17
Animal Collective, Metro Theatre, December 11