Why 2009 Rocked Like A Motherfucker

A review of 2009 by Liam Spencer


This is the third year I’ve done this blog, and this year, 2009, has been brilliant for music. So damn brilliant I’ve found it almost impossible to whittle the list of albums I love down to a measly 10. I could have listed a top 20, but keeping to a strict protocol, ten it is. When you finish reading this list, I urge you to carry on and read about the albums that didn’t make the list as they truly deserve recognition for making 2009 the great year it has been.

Well here it is. 2009 has been a year some people will never forget. Many key players in music have passed away, from the legend Michael Jackson to the recently, not so much legendary state but nonetheless talented Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan of Avenged Sevenfold. Keeping this in mind, remember why music is so important to us all. It’s what brings people together. It’s what keeps some of us living and breathing. It’s the very thing that can make you smile, cry, or even laugh at times. It’s what makes for some great debate. It’s what unites us all here at Daily Dischord, and further beyond this site.

Let the fun begin...

The Top 10 Albums of 2009

10. And So I Watch You From Afar - Self Titled

And So I Watch You From Afar are one of the loudest bands on the planet. This is a fact. The two times I have seen them, they have been absolutely fearsome on stage. I first saw them when they released their EP which I now own on vinyl. The second time was just after this album was released, and it really is one of the best albums released this year. The Northern Irish mob really managed to progress from the promise they shown on their EP, and nurture it into something really special, and it’s little wonder their is quite some hype around the bands new album, due out in 2010. I sure am excited, but it will have to be a belter before it manages to outdo this stunning record. Top marks lads!

9. Gallows - Grey Britain

This is perhaps a predictable one from me. I’m a huge Gallows fan. Ever since I bought ‘Orchestra Of Wolves’ in it’s week of original release, I’ve been captivated by the raw attitude that oozes from each and every song. I was nervous upon hearing the first single ‘The Vulture’ before ‘Grey Britain’s release. I wasn’t that impressed with it, and started to worry that the band would go down a road I wasn’t so happy with. I should have known better. ‘Grey Britain’ is a 49 minute long battering to the eardrums, and the music hasn’t lost its edge one tiny bit. What has changed though is the fact that the guitar play is a hell of a lot more damaging, with Lags and Steph producing some awesome riffs to accompany the trademark attitude of Frank Carters voice and lyrics. ‘Grey Britain’ was most certainly a step in the right direction, and Gallows are most certainly one of Britain’s best bands around at the moment.

8. Kevin Devine - Brothers Blood

Anyone who knows me well enough will be aware that I’m a big Kevin Devine fan. His ability to use his voice as an assault on your emotions is just incredible, and when I hear his voice on this album, I realise he hasn’t lost his touch at all. The title track for one is a massive slab of emotion, which makes for an uneasy listen at the best of times, which for me is the sign of an honest musician making fantastic music. The guitar work in this record is great too, and I really think Kevin has excelled in this record. One of the most underrated artists in the industry today. You really owe it to yourself to check this record out, and all his previous offerings too.

7. Brand New - Daisy

Well, what is there to say about Brand New? I absolutely adore this band like no other. I wasn’t a fan of Brand New’s earlier work but ‘The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me’ really did hit me hard. It’s grown to be my favourite album of all time and I can’t speak highly enough of it. Taking this into consideration, it was always going to be hard for ‘Daisy’ to top its predecessor. It didn’t really need to though, nor try to. In true Brand New fashion, the band took off in another direction and from the squealing guitars and frantic screaming of opener ‘Vices’ to the epic ending of ‘Noro’, this album really is a joy to behold. I love this album more with each listen, and that’s why it sits in this list.

6. P.O.S. - Never Better

2009 was a massive year for me when I think about my taste of music. The decade itself has been big for me of course, but 2009 was the year I really understood Hip Hop. Look past the Eminem’s and Jay-Z’s and there is a massive range of music to explore, and my first port of call was P.O.S.’s ‘Never Better’. The album is fantastic, and Stefon’s punk roots really shine through which made it so much easier to listen to for me. I went on to discover other awesome hip hop artists such as Doomtree, Felt and Ugly Duckling, and even managed to discover some Dubstep, but ‘Never Better’ really encouraged me to explore a genre I didn’t fully understand, and only fantastic albums can do that. ‘Never Better’ more than suits that category.

5. The Ghost Of A Thousand - New Hopes, New Demonstrations

The Ghost Of A Thousand are one of my favourite bands. That is a massive fact. I’ve seen the band perform more times than any other band, and to see them grow into the monster they have become has been nothing short of brilliant. I just knew they would blow me away with their second album to date, ‘New Hopes, New Demonstrations’ and they did exactly that. The album is a well calculated, angry piece of art that is force fed down your throat with a much more heightened confidence when compared to ‘This Is Where The Fight Begins’. The songs are a lot more thought out, and it makes for a powerful album that will be very, very hard to top. I’m sure the lads will come up with something though.

4. Alexisonfire - Old Crows / Young Cardinals

When Alexisonfire released ‘Crisis’ back in 2006, my opinion of the band completely changed. I wasn’t a fan of the Canadian mobs first couple of albums and wasn’t really expecting much from their third album, but it really did take me by surprise. ‘Old Crows / Young Cardinals’ is an album that follows on nicely from its predecessor, further showing a band maturing and growing into something worth getting excited about. The songs are a lot tighter, with George Pettit focussing more on his singing, but without getting rid of his visceral growl. What makes this album the best Alexisonfire have produced so far is the level of quality each band member exudes. The two key vocalists are as present as ever, but Wade MacNeill’s contribution from guitar and backing vocals is fantastic. You can also hear the massive contribution that both Chris and Jordan have given with some excellent drumming and nice bass lines. All collected in one song, these elements make up something special.

3. Thursday - Common Existence

I remember the very first time I listened to this CD back in February. I’ve never been so immediately blown away by a Thursday album, or maybe even any album. The songs are full to the brim with emotion, and the music is raw. Geoff Rickley really has outdone himself with this record. His lyrics are as powerful as they have ever been, and getting dropped from their major label is probably the best thing that could have happened to Thursday. ‘Common Existence’ is a breathtakingly good album, and the closing song ‘You Were The Cancer’ is as harsh as the title suggests, with the emotion boiling over into the music, making for a truly special ending to a magnificent album. This has without a doubt, become the most inspiring album of 2009 for me.

2. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing

Manchester Orchestra completely blew me away this year. I was a big fan of the bands debut album, and was really looking forward to hearing this CD, so when my copy came through the post, it was in my CD player as quick as it came through the letter box. I wasn’t disappointed. Far from it actually, as this band have outdone themselves in more ways than one. The songs are immediately lodged in your head from the first listen. The emotion that coats the whole album is powerful and you almost feel like you shouldn’t be listening to something that comes across so personal. You have a lot of happy songs here, and you also have the sad songs. The subtle moments are beautiful and the loud are incredible. It’s just a perfect album. I can’t pin a flaw to it in any way. If you haven’t heard ‘Mean Everything To Nothing’ then what the hell is wrong with you?

1. Baroness - Blue Record

The band who have progressed the furthest between albums award most certainly goes to Baroness. Taking a leaf out of Mastodon’s book, the band have released a beautiful piece of metal which not only fits perfectly, but has songs that each tell a chapter on their own. Comparing Baroness to Mastodon is not an unfair thing to do, but it must be said that ‘Blue Record’ is a country mile ahead of ‘Crack The Skye’ (Mastodon’s latest effort) in terms of music and progress. Complete with epic guitar riffs, scuzzy guitar distortion and an obvious talent for writing perfect songs, ‘Blue Record’ really is the perfect portrayal of how far Baroness have come. This album deserves its high place in this list.

The Final Note

Well that’s just about it then. This has been the hardest list I think I’ve ever had to compile in my life. So many brilliant albums had to be missed out of the top ten but just scratched the surface. They definitely deserve note. Albums that were severely close to poking their heads into the top ten were ISIS’ ‘Wavering Radiant’, Maybeshewill’s ‘Sing The Word Hope In Four Part Harmony’, Lady Gaga’s ‘The Fame Monster’, and El Dog’s ‘The Lamps Of Terrahead’. Here is a list of the rest of the records that deserve an honourable mention.

Doomriders - Darkness Come Alive
Broadway Calls - Good Views, Bad News
Blakfish - Champions
Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions
Narrows - New Distances
Felt - A Tribute To Rosie Perez
Brides - Ocular.Unveil
The Sleeping - What It Takes
Russian Circles - Geneva

And on that note, I’ll leave 2009 behind and start focussing on this new decade. May I take this chance to thank you all for reading, and continuing to support Daily Dischord. As you probably know, a redesign is in progress and hopefully I will have something to show you pretty soon. I’m still pondering over colour schemes, so not really much to get you excited about, but it is coming together, and will be online by summer 2010.

Adios!