HAD's Top Records Of 2009

You didn't think we'd forgotten, did you? Granted, it's New Year's Eve and we're not much for best-of lists. Still, we couldn't help but think that you, dear readers, might just like to know what we had picked as our creme de la creme for the year. So, without further ado, we give you the HAD Best Records of 2009! Happy New Year!

1. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix:
If this entry surprises you, then one of two things is true: either you don't read HAD regularly, or you're just plain not paying attention. We've been drooling over Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix since before it's release, and frankly never stopped. There's no question that 2009 has been Phoenix's year, and we had the pleasure to catch them on the way up. Given that it was three years since their last record, our only disappointment is that we may have to wait just as long for the next one.

2. Kurt Vile – God Is Saying This To You...
Kurt Vile has had a ridiculously prolific year: two full length records and an EP, to be exact. Still, it's this record - the first we heard from Vile - that really stuck with us when push came to shove. God Is Saying This To You... takes hold of all of Vile's strengths, combining them simultaneously into a whole that is greater than its parts. There's atmospheric ambience, pop songwriting, and killer instrumentation. In short, it's a masterpiece that he has yet to best, although we have little doubt that he will.

3. BLK JKS – Mystery EP/After Robots
BLK JKS exploded on our musical consciousness seemingly out of nowhere, offering up a killer blend of sonic influences that is simply unparalleled in the US music scene. Hailing from South Africa, the band has a sound that is unmistakably unique, and moreover, completely exciting. The compositions are loaded with layers of melodies and rhythms, many of which only reveal themselves after repeated listens. We're often searching for sounds that are unfamiliar or unique, and in BLK JKS we found them without question. With the band just having released their first video, we frankly can't wait to see what comes next. (And if you have any question in your mind about what high quality vinyl pressings sound like, pick up the band's Mystery EP. The pressing is a marvel of analog science.)

4. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
It goes without saying that Dave Longstreth has been writing some of the most exciting compositions out there for the better part of a decade. Still, 2009 was the year when he took his game to town, and delivered it to the masses. Assembling a ridiculously tight band for both the studio and the road, Longstreth managed to create a body of compositions that somehow fulfill a ridiculous duality. Not only are they some of the most groundbreaking works of the year, but also somehow unfathomably accessible. Listening to the effortless intricacy makes you realize that there are simply some bands that were meant to push the envelope, and that Dirty Projectors are one of them.

5. Japandroids – Post Nothing
Post Nothing fell upon us like an unexpected breath of fresh air. The record is, quite simply, a balls to the wall, blood on the tracks, heart on the sleeve, rock and roll record. Never mind that it's only two dudes making all that noise, or that they employ an amazingly honest DIY work ethic. The fact of the matter is that this record has some of the most heartfelt lyrical content we've heard in a long time, and that friends, is called soul. "Will be find our way back home? I don't know..." Neither do we, but you can bet we'll be glad to have a Japandroids record for the journey.

6. White Rabbits – It’s Frightening
Talking about this record without mentioning its producer is painfully difficult, especially given how much we love the guy. But it's absolutely necessary, because White Rabbits deserve their moment in the spotlight. Not only did the band create this amazing record, but they backed it up with a painfully bulletproof live show that demonstrated their musical prowess without compromise. It's Frightening is the sort of record that will be stuck in your head for days after you've heard it, and that's definitely a good thing.

7. Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For The Young
No, it's not a Strokes record, but we're okay with that. The fact of the matter is that Julian Casablancas the solo artist manages to create a world that he controls completely, and that means that you're seeing his vision to perfection. The end result is an album that is many things at once: controlled but chaotic, dancey but rock-y, angry but laughable, earnest but sly. In short, Casablancas has managed to take his persona and elevate it to another level, with an album to match. Phrazes takes quite a few listens to truly "get", but once you do, it's every bit as rewarding as any offering from Jules so far.

8. Vetiver – Tight Knit
After releasing a covers record, we were kind of secretly wondering if Vetiver had it in them to follow up the stellar To Find Me Gone. Tight Knit answered that question with a resounding yes: the record is packed to the seams with amazing instrumentation, fantastic songwriting, and killer arrangements. What's more, for a band whose strong suit is subtlety, they manage to deliver a rock solid, upbeat live show. In short, Vetiver has clarified that not only are they here to stay, but they're delivering some of the best sounding records around.

9. Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport
We were sort of lukewarm on Street Horrsing, so we were pretty surprised when Fuck Buttons delivered a record of this caliber. Quite simply, Tarot Sport manages to take electronica to a new place, and it's one that we're quite happy to be. The pair manage to employ a range of synths and samples to create a sound that is immediately accessible and at the same time totally holds its own against some of the best electronic experimentalists today. It's been a long time since we've been completely won over by a record driven by DJ's, but we're happy to say that Tarot Sport delivers.

10. The Takeover UK – Running With The Wasters
What can we say? We're suckers for amazing pop records, and this one is exactly that. Yes, it's an amalgam of influences, but the fact of the matter is that Running With The Wasters is a record of pure garage rock perfection, with a shiny veneer on top of it all. Sure, we know it's not cool to love a record this clean, but that doesn't change the fact that every time we listen to it the melodies are stuck in our head for days afterward. What's more, the band is a sight to see live, and has the chops to deliver exactly what the record promises. Throw it on, sit back, and relax - this record's about as fun as they get.

Well kids, there you have it - our best of 2009! Now we're off to enjoy a snowy New Year's Even in New York, and we hope you're doing the same, wherever you are. See you next year!

The Takeover UK Played Hotel Utah - Pictures, Review

There's a difficult contradiction that's emerged in rock and roll. While there's an undeniable quest for authenticity and legitimacy as musicians, there's also a bizarre skepticism turned towards bands that wear their hearts too much on their sleeves. It's as though one should be legitimate, but not care about being legitimate. It manifests in many ways, from Pavement's slacker-rock aesthetic, to Radiohead's Thom Yorke lamenting the trappings of celebrity. Here at HAD we tend to think of ourselves as skeptics in this regard. Sure, a band with some legitimacy doesn't want to sell its songs for deodorant commercials, but at the same time, there's nothing wrong with being successful. What's more, there's nothing wrong with wanting to be successful and trying hard.

And yet, as we entered The Takeover UK's show at the Hotel Utah last week, we found ourselves inadvertently siding with Yorke and Malkmus. As the band blasted out a killer set based around their record Running With The Wasters, our mental checklist was subtracting points just because the band was so tight. The songs were perfectly constructed, the vocal harmonies dead on, and the guitar tones immaculate. What's more, the members were painfully earnest in their delivery. The show was a bulletproof delivery of completely legit rock and roll. And we were skeptical.

Huh?

It was after this mental wrestling match that we realized that we had descended far too deep into the indie rock abyss, and had perhaps taken our high horse of musical legitimacy a little too far. We felt like a Bowie fan in 1977, looking down our nose at the glam rock world of Marc Bolan. But here's the thing: despite the fact that Bowie had moved on musically, he certainly didn't forget Bolan, much less scoff at his earnest rock sensibility. It was then that we realized that being exposed to more music, more complicated music, doesn't obviate that which came before. It just allows you to appreciate it that much more. Because, in many ways, successfully delivering a completely earnest rock record is the most difficult thing a band can undertake.

By now, if you're even somewhat sober, you realize where we're going with this. The Takeover UK are successfully delivering a rock and roll record, and one of the best unabashed rock performances we've seen in a long time. We already sang the praises of their debut album, and its vibe is only further solidified by the band's live show. Granted, it helps to know what you're in for: four dudes who are totally on top of their craft, delivering a set that is so well bound together that you find yourself doubting if it's real.

But it is in fact very real. These four guys have clearly worked long and hard to create a set and an experience that represents their very earnest desire to play rock and roll. What's more, they present their work unabashedly, with soul, and their hearts very much on their sleeves. Sure, you could be a skeptic and wonder why they care so much about being great. But the reality is that the rock music landscape is wrought with bands that are incredibly busy not caring. To see one band who so clearly wants to deliver, well, it's great.

More pictures at the HAD Archive