Favorite Albums Released In 2009

[shunthepunman]

As I did last year, for 2008, I'm documenting my favorite albums released in 2009. (Been kinda busy, so I'm just getting around to posting this. . . .)

NEW ALBUMS
My favorites new albums of 2009, ranked in order:

1. Polvo - In Prism
   Impressive comeback album after a decade of silence. Also, they were kind enough to dedicate "Fast Canoe" to us during their fall concert in Portland!
2. Grant Hart - Hot Wax
   When the music is this good, it's hard to complain that he only releases one album every ten years.
3. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
   Yo La Tengo has contributed another piece of evidence to support the argument that they're one of the most reliable and highest quality bands of the last 20 years. The Matador Records "Buy Early Get Now" edition of this album also gave us a limited edition LP of their Adventureland soundtrack music.
4. Sonic Youth - The Eternal
   Speaking of reliable, Sonic Youth keeps on working their craft. Despite loss of their custom instruments (stolen a few years ago) and other setbacks over the years, they keep refining and perfecting their sound. The Matador Records "Buy Early Get Now" edition of this album also gave us a limited edition LP of one of their live performances from a couple of years ago.
5. Supercluster - Waves
   The last recording that Pylon guitarist Randy Bewley performed on before his death by heart attack in 2009, it's an ironically upbeat and heart-warming collection of music performed by a "super-group" of Athens, Georgia, musicians, organized by Pylon's Vanessa Briscoe Hay.
6. Birds of Avalon - Uncanny Valley
   One of the few new bands I stumbled upon in 2009, Birds of Avalon is an intriguing mixture of old and new songs, with a strong emphasis on guitar hooks and melodies that were more in style back in the 70s (think of bands such as Thin Lizzy or Cheap Trick), along with some sonic explorations that sound more modern.
7. Jim O'Rourke - The Visitor
   All instrumental effort this time from Jim O'Rourke, so we're saved from his sometimes cringe-inducing misogynist lyrics, though we're also deprived of his appealing vocals. The entire album is a single, long track on the CD; O'Rourke says that's to force listeners to focus on the entire album as a complete work, rather than shuffling its pieces around on their iPods.
8. Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
   Took me a little while to warm up to this one, but I really like this bluegrass inspired effort now. Costello continues to build on his impressive body of work that now spans about 35 years.
9. Mission of Burma - The Sound The Speed The Light
   This album isn't as accessible as their other two albums from the MoB II era, taking a "song cycle" approach this time around, but there are lots of fun little bits sprinkled throughout, and I'm finding that repeated listens are rewarded.
10. Bob Dylan - Together Through Life (2CD + DVD edition)
    Another strong album from Dylan, and I disagree with some fan comments in various places online that his recent emphasis on accordion and Mexican/Latin music styles is growing old. I think Dylan has found something new to explore (no small feat for a man with a nearly fifty-year recording career!), and perhaps the best is yet to come.
11. Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
    This one didn't hit me as strongly as Sky Blue Sky, but it's a solid set of tunes.
12. Future Of The Left - Travels With Myself And Another
    This one I only got as MP3s from a friend online, but it's managed to stick in my MP3 player for many weeks. It reminds me of Rage Against The Machine, but more winking and ironic in its presentation.
13. The Cocker Spaniels - Sometimes You've Gotta Fight To Get A Bit Of Peace
    Thanks to witnessing two live performances of several of these songs, to help imbed them in my brain because they're so catchy, this album makes my list. The CD-R I have is a pre-release version, so maybe some more polish is due before the final release?
14. Nels Cline - Coward
    I'm glad Nels continues to find an outlet for his music outside of Wilco. This is a very challenging release, so I'm still trying to absorb and understand it better.
15. Circulatory System - Signal Morning
    I still miss Olivia Tremor Control, but this follow-up band is wonderful too.
16. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Beware
    Not as good as many of his previous albums (which I'm still getting to know, one by one), but I'm finding that even "mediocre" Will Oldham is better than most music out there!

REISSUES
My favorite reissues of 2009, ranked in order:

1. Big Star - Keep An Eye On The Sky (4CD)
   The remastering of this music the best I've ever heard these songs. I wish the team that worked on this box set would get to remaster the full albums! The packaging is also fantastic in a year when record companies were cutting back (including a round of layoffs that decimated Rhino Records right around the time this came out), with a great booklet of photos and essays; love all the previously unreleased tracks, and the live show on disc 4, as well.
2. Emitt Rhodes - The Emitt Rhodes Recordings [1969-1973] (2CD)
   His albums were hard to find on CD and LP until this limited edition compilation of all three of his studio albums in their entirety. The remastering is tastefully done. Did I mention it's limited? Get it while you can! And if that's not enough, there's talk that Rhodes might be preparing to release new recordings, his first since the 70s. . . .
3. Chris Bell - I Am The Cosmos (2CD)
   A perfect complement to the Big Star box set. This expanded reissue, with greatly improved mastering compared to the old single-CD Rykodisc version, made 2009 the single best year for Big Star related reissues ever. (Take that, Beatles!)
4. The Beatles - Mono Box (13CD)
   The first ever official release of all the Beatles albums in mono. The sound quality is better on these than the stereo CDs, and the replica CD sleeves are well-made.
5. The Beatles - Stereo Box (16CD + 1DVD)
   Hey hey, it's the Beatles!

Also worth mentioning are that in 2009, several audiophile reissue series were going strong; here are the ones I collected in 2009:

1. Audio Fidelity gold CDs and LPs
   2009 saw the resurrection of the Audio Fidelity label's gold CD series (last seen in 2005), with the introduction of a subscription series to get all the titles released. Unfortunately, this series was marred by various quality control issues, complaints about the worthiness of titles offered, questions about who really was mastering certain titles, criticism about mastering decisions, and high prices that subscribers were hit with compared to non-subscribers. I'm watching this series carefully to decide whether to continue my subscription in the future. Similarly, I'm watching the LP series, which only saw five LPs released on 2009, and they were mostly lame live recordings of classic rock bands from way-after-their-prime performances.
2. Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (a.k.a. "MoFi") gold CDs and SACDs
   MFSL's releases in 2009 were superior to Audio Fidelity's in several aspects: they released more compelling titles of higher-profile artists, with only a couple of minor quality control issues, and they released SACDs whenever possible. Also, I ended up appreciating their switch to "replica" sleeves instead of plastic jewel cases after initially being skeptical about their durability. I skip their vinyl LPs because I already spend too much on music as it is!
3. Analogue Productions Blue Note SACDs
   This series is taking forever to complete its 25 SACD run of classic Blue Note jazz albums, but the results are mostly impressive when a couple of new ones arrive every few months or so. Still, I'm not sure $30 a disc is worth it, so I'm going to drop out after this initial 25-SACD series (another 25 Blue Note SACDs, as well as 25 Impulse! SACDs, are also planned).

COMPILATIONS
My favorite various artists compilations of 2009, ranked in order:

1. Various Artists - Score! 20 Years of Merge Records (17CD + 1 book + 1 poster + 1 custom box)
   This year-long release raised the bar for record label anniversary celebrations, as far as I'm concerned. In addition to getting new CDs every couple of months, each curated by celebrities and musicians, there was plenty of additional music offered to subscribers as high-quality downloads. All proceeds went to charity; bravo, Merge!
2. Various Artists - Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox (2CD)
   Hearing of Chris Knox's stroke, which left him unable to talk or sing (devastating for someone who's career as a singer/songwriter requires vocal ability), prompted these artists to join together and record this benefit CD set, the proceeds of which will go to Chris and his family for financial support during his recovery.