Weekly Tape Deck » Blog Archive » our favorite songs of 2009

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Last week Ryan and I (hows that for grammar, Ritchie?) presented our albums as a mutual effort. This time around we put together our own lists of 30 of our favorite songs this year. Think I’ve ripped through an entire legal pad and a full box of bic-sticks in the process, but I was finally able to squeeze this out. Honestly, my list could have topped 100 so feel free to tell me what a jerk I am for leaving something off.

30) Dirty Projectors – Cannibal Resource
29) Naomi Punk – The Sun
28) Woods – Rain On
27) Teengirl Fantasy – Portofino

26) Nodzzz – Is She There
25) Kurt Vile – Freeway
24) A Grave With No Name – Sofia
23) Ganglians – Blood on the Sand
22) So Cow – Casablanca
21) Eternal Summers – Fall Straight Back
20) Washed Out – Feel It All Around

19) Fergus and Geronimo – Tell It In My Ear
18) Best Coast – Sun Was High, So Was I
17) Family Portrait – Mega Secrets
16) Reading Rainbow – The Sun Is Out
15) Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer
14) Atlas Sound – Walkabout (ft. Noah Lennox)
13) Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
12) Big Boi – Shine Blockas (ft. Gucci Mane)
11) Smith Westerns – Be My Girl
10) Animal Collective – My Girls

Honestly, how can you not admire the nobility of providing for your family. Also, how the hell could someone get this so wrong and think Animal Collective’s new message is supposed to be “fuck all that”?

9) Raekwon – New Wu

What was the actual date that “The Chef” announced the release of OB4CL2? Anyway, with bonkers cameos from Method Man & Ghostface and one of the best hooks I’ve EVER heard, hard for me not to name this my rap cut of the year. Instead of posting an mp3 (that I don’t have permission to) here’s the video. Don’t wanna get my wig split.

8) Real Estate – Black Lake

Slowly building before hitting spaced slides in a wordless chorus, “Black Lake” (with closed eyes) is able to take me back to my Summer childhood memories spent at the lake. Ah, nostalgia.

7) Tonstartssbandht – Black Country

Really feel like these guys didn’t get enough credit through the year. Granted, their LPs (which can be found for free) aren’t the most accessible but I still find myself listening cover to cover. Black Country 4 lyfe.

6) Girls – Lust For Life

Don’t get me wrong, HHRR got me through some tough times but this track always seemed to be on repeat. Also, I know now how fun a pizza and a bottle of wine can be.

5) The xx – Crystalized

Their debut LP was filled with songs that could have made this list. “Crystalized” was not only my favorite amongst the rest, but seemed to be the most solid in their minimal approach.

4) Diamond Rings – All Yr Songs

The definition of a proper single. I would have posted this video if the dudes at Sony weren’t being greedy fatcats claiming “copyright infringement”.

3) Animal Collective – What Would I Want? Sky

Even after dropping (in my opinion) the best LP of the year, AnCo decide to tackle the EP category as well. Standout track on an amazing collection of songs. Grower.

2) Fever Ray – When I Grow Up

I can actually remember the exact date/time/place from the first time I heard “When I Grow Up”. Funny thing is, I can’t remember anything before that…

1) The Mantles – Don’t Lie

Aside from that absolute poppy jangle that first draws me to “Don’t Lie”, it’s still given that “garage” aesthetic without sounding over/underproduced. Amongst a sea of lo-fi bandwagon riders, The Mantles have created a track (and LP) with a sound that will surpass far beyond 2009. Without question, my favorite this year.

Ryan’s favorite tunes…

Its been a helluva a year for Weekly Tape Deck, I mean Nate started the whole shabang this year to begin with, I also joined a few months later officially making us the tallest music blog in America, then we received a radio show–not a bad year at all in hindsight. These are the songs that shaped our year, the songs that we delivered to you via words and sounds and the songs that promise to make 2010 another great year in music.

30) Atlas Sound – Shelia
29) Banjo Or Freakout – Left It Alone

28) Naomi Punk – Shouldna Started Trouble
27) Real Estate – Beach Comber
26) Reading Rainbow – I Will Follow You
25) Memory Tapes – Plain Material
24) The Mantles – Don’t Lie
23) Candy Claws – Flashy Storm
22) Fever Ray – When I Grow Up
21) Neon Indian – Should Have Taken Acid With You
20) The Fresh & Onlys – Grey-Eyed Girl
19) Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks

18) His Clancyness – Ottawa Backfired Soon
17) Animal Collective – Graze
16) Washed Out – Feel It Around
15) Smith Westerns – Girl In Love
14) Fruit Bats – Primitive Man
13) Jacuzzi Boys – Planet Of The Dreamers
12) Atlas Sound – Walkabout
11) Girls – Lust For Life
10) Washed Out – New Theory

If the man never makes another record, consider this his Swan Song in my eyes; though it lacks the intricacies of “Feel It Around” it hits heavy like a 90s trance beat yet maintains a chilling-elegance that many of the other “chill-wavers” (narrrrrr ::nerd sound::) lack.

9) The xx – Crystalised

The most condensed song on their debut record turns out to be the best overall. Comprised of jingly guitars, mininmal delay and to-and-fro vocals, this track bleeds post-punk and wears the mask of gothic rock.

8) Crystal Stilts – Sugar Baby

Another band that didn’t put out a full-length this year and yet still caught my ear almost permanently with this song. The organ tone in this song is infallible. Not to mention…I mean c’mon it goes perfect with the stanky leg.

7) Fergus & Geronimo – Harder Than It’s Ever Been

You may hear a lo-fi-garage ditty but I hear more Soul than any modern top-40 R&B singer. This song is framed with warbling synth, understated guitars and bathroom-tile drums; 2010 is shaping up to be a huge year for this band.

6) Diamond Rings – All Yr Songs

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” This song adheres to that policy, though the talent here is obvious. The epitome of a ’singe’ and alludes to the future healthy-helping-of-pop Diamond Rings has in store for all of us.

5) Small Black – Kings Of Animals

The music in this track only serves to adorn the hallmarked vocals, the chorus in this song is so euphoric that had it been heard 200 years ago it might have prevented the Opium Wars.

4) Teenage Cool Kids – Skinny Girls

Perhaps Im favorably-biased towards bands out of Denton, Tx (*see #7), but I think this track is distinct and stands apart from other music that was released the past year. This song consequently reminds me of all “skinny girls” that reside in Denton. As a song it hollows-out notable 90s genres (Grunge, College/Nerd Rock) and stuffs it with the spices of modern garage rock. Heat. Serve.

3) Animal Collective – My Girls

The ladies love it because its sweet, the guys like Nate and I love it because its a veritable aural cornucopia; a composition of modern-day-Brian Wilson jr.-level-genius. The band’s magnum opus thus far.

2) Tonstartssbandht – Black Country

Might be one of the more unknown bands in my top songs. Sounds like they have a trashcan wired up to use for pedal effects and synth whips; I hear something new after each listen. This track blinded me for three days after I heard it.

1) Sic Alps – L. Mansion

One of only two tracks this band put out this year is only proof that their talents have marinated swimmingly in the time between their last full length. As far as Im concerned this band is prepped for greatness.

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This ewas written by nate, posted on December 14, 2009 at 10:51 pm, filed under lists and tagged 2009.Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.

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Chaakles 12.15.09

shine blockas!!!!!

great lists guys!

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tom 12.15.09

glad to see “L Mansion” getting some love! great song…best so far by sic alps.

ritchie 12.15.09

jerks!

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