lets just forget 2009 ever happened

You may think I’m being dramatic with the title of this blog. After all, 2009 was a great year in life, but I would argue it was a very poor year in music. I didn’t bother to post a top 10 list because I couldn’t come up with ten albums that I absolutely loved.

(For those who are curious, my top seven albums of 2009  - in no particular order – would be: 1. Neko Case 2. David Bazan 3. Passion Pit 4. Dirty Projectors 5. Grizzly Bear 6. The Very Best 7. The Avett Brothers)  Oh, and if you’re counting EP’s, Bon Iver’s “Blood Bank EP” was mind-blowingly good. 

So, let us leave these youthful 0f 2009 days behind! And let us press onto the bright and shining year that will be 2010. Let us ponder for a moment, some of the anticipated releases: 

Joanna Newsom

Midlake

Arcade Fire

MGMT

The National

Jonsi

Spoon has already released a record this year (and it’s great!). And, I’m sure I’m forgetting a whole host of other great albums. And no, Vampire Weekend doesn’t count (That was for you, Brandon). Any other highly anticipated albums I’m forgetting? Please share!

Jonsi: “Boy Lilikoi”

When the singer for Sigur Ros isn’t writing beautiful music with said band, or writing a raw food cookbook with his boyfriend (yep, he did that.), he’s busy recording more beautiful music under his own name: Jonsi.

Jonsi’s album, “Go”, is set to release worldwide on March 22, 2010. All I’ve heard is the single, “Boy Lilikoi: and I must say – I cannot wait to hear the rest. Just stop what you’re doing, turn it up loud, and let the world fade away. As far as I’m concerned, this man can do no wrong. I’m hooked, Jonsi. I’m hooked.

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the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.

Since Christmas happens to be THIS week, and I’m feeling the Christmas spirit, I feel prompted to share a holiday gem with you all.

This particular holiday gem happens to be a cover of Amy Grant’s Tender Tennessee Christmas by Drew Grow & The Pastor’s Wives. The band hails from my hometown of Portland, Oregon – and they have a knack for wintery and sultry goodness. Drew and his merry band of Pastor’s Wives have are releasing a series of singles on a new local indie label, Amigo/Amiga.

If you happen to live in the Portland metro area, catch the Amigo/Amiga Holiday Party at the Doug Fir this Tuesday, December 22nd. Kelli Schaefer (!) and The Beauty will also be playing. The show is only $5 a ticket, and $1 from each ticket will go to the Oregon Food Bank. You now have no reason not to go.

So, happy holidays to you all! If a cheeky cover of a christmas song by an evangelical superstar of the 1980’s doesn’t make you feel the Christmas spirit, I don’t know what will.

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SOME MORE OF WHAT?

The Very Best.

Now, here is a band whose name hearkens to that cheeky little scene in The Sandlot, where all the neighborhood boys offer the “square” kid a S’more. And the square kid responds in true square fashion: “Some more of what? I haven’t had anything yet. How can I have some more of nothing?”

I don’t know how many people I have told to listen to The Very Best. Countless hundreds, maybe even thousands. And I always get the classic response. “The Very Best of what? Cher?**”   (**Insert any other mediocre performer who may or may not have a ‘best of’ album.)

Thank you, no.  I have not and will not listen to The Very Best of Cher.

Nor will I recommend the following:

The Very Best of Prince

The Very Best of Elton John

The Very Best of Meatloaf

The Very Best of Kiss

The Very Best of Bananarama (Ok, ok, I might listen to the very best of Bananarama).

But put those impostors out of your mind! What you really need to do is listen to a band called The Very Best who put out an album this year entitled “Warm Heart of Africa”.

(And now, for the history!)

Last year, the almighty Pitchfork declared that ”The Very Best Mixtape” by Esau Mwamwaya & Radio*^%# (sorry, I had to censor)  was one of their top albums of 2008. I was skeptical. Pitchfork has failed me before. But, these guys were from Malawi! And they sampled M.I.A, Michael Jackson, Vampire Weekend, and more! And the music was just so damn happy.

So, I gotta give it to Pitchfork. They were right. Last year’s mix tape from these guys was phenomenal. And, now, this year, the band has released a full-length album…this time, under the moniker of The Very Best.   The name of the album says it all: Warm Heart of Africa. If this music doesn’t warm your heart, you may not even have a heart. If you have ever been to Africa, this album will make you long to go back. If you haven’t been to Africa, this album will make you wish you had.   The album, quite simply, just makes you feel good.  The music is clever, its upbeat, and it somehow blurs the lines between pop, indie, and (god forbid!) world music.

As I sit here in my cold little cubicle, the sounds of track four – “Julia” – hits my ears, making me forget that I’m freezing and hungry. I have no idea what they are actually saying but that doesn’t matter. I hum and I sing and I dance in my desk chair. And my day gets a little bit brighter.

I don’t know about you, but I could use a bit more brightness in my days. So go ahead, give em a spin.
I dare you!

The Very Best on Myspace