Indiependentmusic

WOR DUP. 2009 ALBUMS YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO… featuring PHOENIX, METRIC, ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, GRIZZLY BEAR, MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA, GOSSIP, YEAH YEAH YEAHS, THE AVETT BROTHERS, THRICE, THE TEMPER TRAP, BLACK LIPS, ALEXISONFIRE, RAVEONETTES, BOMB THE MUSIC INDUSTRY!, GREEN DAY, TEGAN AND SARA, FLOTATION WALLS, DIRTY PROJECTORS, FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE, M WARD, TAKING BACK SUNDAY, BAT FOR LASHES, ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS, THE LOW ANTHEM, CAMERA OBSCURA, CRASH KINGS, THE DECEMBERISTS, PEARL JAM, THE HORRORS, PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART, FEVER RAY, MUSE, THE MARS VOLTA, SURFER BLOOD, THE WILLOWZ, RAEKWON, GIRLS, SILVERSUN PICKUPS, NEKO CASE, SOULSAVERS, FRIENDS OF FRIENDS, SET YOUR GOALS, HOCKEY, THE XX, ANDREW JACKSON JIHAD, PASSION PIT, WEEZER, THE FLAMING LIPS, LITTLE BOOTS, TIGERS JAW, LA ROUX, CAGE THE ELEPHANT, STRANGE BOYS, GLASVEGAS, MUSE, JOHN MAYER, JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD, BROADWAY CALLS, SHOOK ONES, PARAMORE, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, THURSDAY, NILE, SUN ARAW, DINOSAUR JR, THE SOUNDS, RX BANDITS, THE DEAD WEATHER, CAVE, PROPAGANDHI, NOFX, ISIS, MASTODON, GALLOWS, CONVERGE, BARONESS AND A METRIC TON MORE

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL THE AWESOME VIDEOS!!!!

About INDIEPENDENTMUSIC: Writers: Chan Jingying and Amelia Lim Email: indiependentmusic@gmail.com Myspace: http://myspace.com/indiependentmusic All material in this publication are conceptualised by the writers. Please contact us for any related matters and for permission to reproduce them in any form.

Most of all, we want your suggestions and feedback!

Le Internets is your best friend: http://indiependentmusic.blogspot.com http://twitter.com/IMusicSg http://pickrset.com All rights reserved 2009

It’s that time of the year again for our two most favourite things - Christmas and lists. For this special issue, we couldn't be more excited to rope in our dear friends (plus some really cool musicians); who better than the ears and eyes of the industry to round up the best music of ‘09? There was so much quality new music this year we probably never would have uncovered if not for these amazing people. They work really hard behind the scenes...so support your favorite artists, support DIY, support indie labels. Buy the album if you love it. Don’t destroy the future of music. We can’t stress this enough. Kudos to all who made this possible - we owe you a round next time we meet. Have a great holiday, be safe, and keep rocking into the new year. Feast your eyes on this one...it’s been a good year!

Jingying & Amelia

Yellow Bird Project (YBP) is a Canadian non-profit organization which enlists a wide array of today's most vital and visual indie rock artists to create unique t-shirt designs, with all profits benefiting charities of the artists' choice.

K CHEC THIS OUT

Founded in 2006 by lifelong friends Matt Stotland and Casey Cohen, YBP is devoted to bringing together the worlds of music, art and charity. It gives fans the opportunity to support & promote their favorite musicians while simultaneously raising money for such diverse charitable organizations as Art For Change, Transportation Alternatives, AIDS Society of Canada, Teenage Cancer Trust, Free Arts For Abused Children, Safe Space and The Elliott Smith Memorial Fund,

The Indie Rock Coloring Book is packed with coloring and activity pages by acclaimed English artist/graphic designer Andy J. Miller, whose work was recently exhibited as part of the prestigious Beck's Fusions 2008.The drawings were inspired by and created in conjunction with indie rock artists who have previously teamed up with YBP, including Rilo Kiley, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Joseph Arthur, The New Pornographers, The Shins and The National, to name a few. The book is intended to raise awareness of the Yellow Bird Project and its contributing artists with all royalties earned benefiting the charities that have been chosen by YBP artists. [$10]

For more information, visit www.yellowbirdproject.com

die + all things indie + all things indie + all things indie + all things indie + all things indie + all things indie + all things indie + all things indie + all thing

My Top 10 of 200 9 AN HORSE (KATE & DAMON) 1. Tegan and Sara “Sainthood” - This is my favorite album of the year hands down easy. No, there is no nepotism involved. I loved this band before they knew I existed. This album is so strong and is such a huge-yetorganic step forward in song writing. Both Tegan and Sara write such different songs yet somehow they sit so perfectly together.

2. Telekinesis “Telekinesis!” - I wish I could make songs like Michael Lerner. Most days I wish I was Michael Lerner. He is a songwriting genius that I think could be secretly related by blood to Kylie Minogue.

That's how good he is!

3. Silversun Pickups “Swoon” - This is another band that blows my mind all the time. I was scared this album couldn't top their last (because their last was SO good) but it did and I listened to it most days this year. Then we went on tour with them and I got to hear it every day live.

Pop songs at their best disguised as dirty rock...but it's beautiful pop.

4. Manchester Orchestra “Mean Everything to Nothing” - A friend of mine in Brisbane owns a record store. We used to work together. I trust his music taste inherently. I read an email or blog by him raving about this band. I was in LA with Damon. We went to Amoeba (via in n out, seriously) and bought this record. We went back to where we were staying and played it. We both got so excited we may have cried. Such well-crafted songs so honestly performed.

5. The Gossip “Music for Men” - This album just makes me want to dance. It makes my friends want to dance. It makes my dad want to dance and when I play it in my apartment, my bird kinda dances. I used to mail order the Gossip's 7" when I was a wee lass trying to play rock and roll. I used to want to be them. I still do but now I also want the clothing line too.

6. David Bazan “Curse Your Branches” - I used to try and rip of Pedro The Lion when I was in my early 20's learning how to write songs. I was so excited to hear Curse Your Branches. It is beautiful and amazing and everything I thought it would be plus more.

7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs “It's Blitz” - Seriously awesome.

Seriously underrated. Or maybe it was completely lauded and I missed it. I miss a lot of stuff.

8. Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” - It's Phoenix. You have to dance. I like to dance. It's a logical choice.

9. Fever Ray “Fever Ray” - Amazing and dark and good to listen to when you are sad.

10. No Anchor “Steam” - Best, brutal band from Australia. They now have two bass players. Check them

out. I promise you won't regret it. (noanchorband.blogspot.com) Breakout artists to look out for...Axxon. They are from Brisbane. They make brutal electronica and fight crime. (axxonnband.blogspot.com) I Heart Hiroshima - A great Brisbane band that make amazing music.

MEN - JD Sampson's new project. The Gossip took them on tour. Say no more.

The best thing to happen to music this year is...People consuming more music because of new technologies.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...People stealing more music because of new technologies.

Youtube video of the year goes to...Fever Ray “When I Grow Up” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F-CpE73o2M The aussie duo released “Rearrange Beds” early this year via the burgeoning Mom and Pop Music. Check out www.anhorse.com. So much pop goodness.

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My Top 10 of 200 9

HAMISH CROMBIE

RAUL PASTOR MEDALL

Bassist, Animal Kingdom

“

...

Rauelsson (www.myspace.com/rauelsson)

1. Bat For Lashes “Two Suns” Great production and the songs are a real step up from her last record.

1. Heather Woods Broderick “From the Ground” 2. Laura Gibson “Beats of Seasons” 3. Tiny Vipers “Life on Earth” 4. Bill Callahan “Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle” 5. Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest” 6. Peter Broderick “Music for Falling from Trees” 7. Animal Collective “Merriweather Post Pavilion” 8. Sufjan Stevens “The Brooklyn/Queens Expressway” 9. Rachel Grimes “Book of Leaves” 10. Nils Frahm “The Bells”

2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs “It's Blitz” - A fun party record, with more killer than filler.

3. Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” - Definitely their most consistent record yet, a good summer LP. 4. The Department of Eagles “In Ear Park” - Lots of ear candy on this one, nice harmonies and interesting instrumentation and arrangements.

5. Soulsavers “Broken” - Loving Mark Lanegan at the moment, his voice is like a great mix of Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash and his lyrics ain’t bad either.

CHRISTINA BAUTISTA Visqueen (www.myspace.com/visqueen)

6. The xx “xx” - This has got a cool Cure-y vibe, the girl sounds a bit like Tracey Thorn from Everything But The Girl - nice spacey production that sounds old and modern at the same time.

BOAT “Setting the Paces” - Spin this and confetti just appears suddenly and magically.

Shook Ones “The Unquotable A.M.H.” - I don't think I listened to anything else for a full month after getting this.

Neko Case “Middle Cyclone” - At least three songs on this record consistently reduce me to tears.

Sonic Youth “The Eternal” - Well, that's obvious, right?

So Adult ”Rookie” - The only thing I don't like about this EP is that it is not an LP. Rookie of the year!

Sirens Sister “Unspeakable Things” - The song "Sea of Claws" is never not stuck in my head.

Peaches “I Feel Cream” - When I grow up, this is how brave I want to be.

Metric “Fantasies” - I wish they made bed sheets out of Emily Haines' voice.

Mos Def “The Ecstatic” - I may never forgive myself for not catching on to this before summer ended.

Visqueen “Message to Garcia” - Look, I wasn't going to put it on the list 'cause that seemed tacky, but then I realized that 1) I didn't write this record and 2) it changed my life!

7. Bill Callahan “Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle” - I’m a big Smog fan, something about Bill Callahan's voice on iPod headphones. It’s so low and personal, love his stuff and this is a pretty cool solo record.

8. Warp20 Box Set (Best of Warp's 20 Years) - A great label. Some amazing artists are featured on this anthology collection to celebrate their 20th year. Without Warp they‘d be no Kid A. 9. Doom “Born Like This” - Everything this guy does is quality, shoulders above most MCs out there. Looking forward to his EP in December with Thom Yorke and Dave Sitek on production duties.

10. Mum “Sing Along To Songs You Don’t Know” These guys are great, the equal of Sigur Ros and this album takes them in a bit of a new direction, with less electronics and more organic instruments. Some beautiful moments.

DISCO BISCUITS

Breakout artist to look out for...Animal Kingdom!

Philly fusion jam band (www.myspace.com/discobiscuitsofficial)

The best thing to happen to music this year...Spotify (www.spotify.com, a free online music streaming service)

On 2009’s top 10: “Anything Joker put out in 2009. He's making really awesome dubstep. There were lots of remixes, as well as official releases, so I guess he gets all the spots - 1 through 10.”

to

happen

to

music

this

Youtube video of the year goes to...'Basic Space' by The xx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHZVGqqf3gg

“

Animal Kingdom released “Signs And Wonders” this year. Check them out at www.weareanimalkingdom.com

JOKER

Breakout artists to look out for...Bonobo, Starkey, Borgore The best thing to happen to music this year is...Rusko finally making it to America & Lady Gaga The worst thing to happen to music this year is...American Idol related stuff again & Lady Gaga

“

The worst thing year...Spotify

Youtube video of the year goes to...Foo Fighters with Jimmy Page and JPJ at Wembley Stadium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRBsgRYPR-4

My Top 10 of 200 9

CHRIS SIGLIN pickRset, mr TSURT (pickrset.com) 1. Jack Johnson “En Concert” 2. Pearl Jam “Backspacer” 3. NOFX “Coaster” 4. TRV$ DJAM “Fix Your Face Vol 2” 5. Lady Gaga “The Fame” (released in 08) - I know I know ...not 2009 6. Rancid “Let The Dominoes Fall” 7. Nirvana “Live At Reading” 8. Black Eyed Peas “The E.N.D.” 9. Kid Cudi “Man On The Moon: The End of Day” 10. Nothing as of yet. I know. Sad. Nothing really moved me this year where I was like WOW that is just mind-blowing…

Pick the setlists and post reviews of your favorite bands. Check out pickRset.com

JARRETT D Screaming Females (www.myspace.com/ screamingfemales) 1. JEFF the brotherhood “Heavy Days” 2. Cheeky “What the Heck” 3. Stupid Party “Stupid Party” 4. Songs for Moms “I Used to Believe in the West” 5. Bad Blood “Tongue Twisting Tunes for Tiny Tots” 6. Mattress “Babystar Gallactica” EP 7. Teenage Cool Kids “Foreign Lands” 8. Delay “Plain Language” 9. Double Dagger “More” 10. Ex-Wife “Everything Was Beautiful” Screaming Females released “Power Move” this year. Check it out!

...

BRIAN NAGAN

“

Vocalist, Four Letter Lie (Victory Records)

1. John Mayer “Battle Studies” - It's John Mayer and he never lets anyone down.

2. Four Letter Lie “A New Day” - Our best record to date! ;) 3. Final My American Heart demos - One of the most underrated bands ever. Listen to them at myspace.com/myamericanheart [My American Heart recently disbanded in Oct 09] 4. TI “Paper Trail” - The king.

5. Taking Back Sunday “New Again” - Haven't missed a beat.

6. Jay-Z “Blueprint 3” - Jay Z runs everything.

Amazing record.

7. Cartel ”Cycles” - Nice to hear a new record from them. Real pop music!

8. Paramore “brand new eyes” - Another solid record.

9. The Audition “The Audition” - Another great record from this band. Consistent, feel good jams.

10. Between The Buried And Me “The Great Misdirect” - Phenomenal musicians. Another amazing record.

Breakout artists to look out for...Four Letter Lie, Jesse Barrera (of My American Heart), Our Last Night The best thing to happen to music this year is...Taylor Swift!

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Michael Jackson (RIP)

Black Whales (www.myspace.com/blackwhales) 1. Flaming Lips "Embryonic" 2. The Cave Singers “Welcome Joy” 3. Wooden Shjips “Dos” 4. Ocelot Feather " Verbatismnist" 5. Final Spins "City Of..."

6. Wilco “Wilco (The Album)” 7. Idle Times "Get Your Feet Off The Ground" 8. Kurt Vile "Childish Prodigy" 9. The Beatles "Mono Box Set" 10. Helms Alee “Night Terror”

Youtube video of the year goes to...It's not from this year, but probably my favorite youtube video: Chi City - Keepin’ the fridge stocked http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBRL7D0wcXM ked << “Keeping your refrigerator stoc ” en!!! wom y man will get you

“

DAVEY BROZOWSKI

Four Letter Lie released “A New Day” this year. Check them out at myspace.com/fourletterlie

“

JOANNA NOYES FTW! Media Animal Collective "Merriweather Post Pavilion" Bat For Lashes "Two Suns" Kleerup "Kleerup" Jay Z "The Blueprint 3" La Roux "La Roux" Miike Snow "Miike Snow" Morrissey "Year Of Refusal" Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" The xx "xx" Port O'Brien "Threadbare"

My Top 10 of 200 9 Breakout artists to look out for...Bear In Heaven, Bodega Girls, Zambri, Cymbals Eat Guitars The best thing to happen to music this year is...R. Kelly "Pregnant" :) The worst thing to happen to music this year is…[15 year old pop star] Justin Beiber. He scares me a bit.

Youtube video of the year goes to...This one: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxdPYCc_1mU CH!!!

MUST WAT

PETE ELEY Rock Club UK (www.therockclubuk.com) 1. The Leisure Society "Sleeper" 2. Grizzly Bear "Veckatimest" 3. The Low Anthem "O my God, Charlie Darwin" 4. Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions "Through the Devil Softly" 5. The Horrors "Primary Colours" 6. Atlas Sound "Logos" 7. The Drones "Havilah" 8. Boxer Rebellion "Union" 9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs "It's Blitz" 10. Sonic Youth "The Eternal"

PAUL TAO IAMSOUND Records

TOP 2 0!

1. Florence + the Machine "Lungs" 2. Fever Ray "Fever Ray" 3. The xx "xx" 4. The Horrors "Primary Colours" 5. Bibio "Ambivalence Avenue" 6. Telepathe "Dance Mother" 7. Dirty Projectors "Bitte Orca" 8. Animal Collective "Merriweather Post Pavilion" 9. Raekwon "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt II" 10. Local Natives "Gorilla Manor"

THE WILLOWZ CA Garage collective, Dim Mak/ Downtown Records Strange Boys “The Strange Boys and Girls Club” The Willowz “Everyone” Dan Auerbach (of The Black Keys) “Keep It Hid” Girls “Album” Kid Cudi “Man on the Moon: End of the Day” Jay-Z “The Blueprint 3” Black Lips “200 Million Thousand” Delta Spirit “Ode To Sunshine” Eagles Of Death Metal “Heart On” Wilco “Wilco (The Album)”

Breakout bands to look out for...Mumford & Sons, The Big Pink, Leisure Society, Local Natives The best thing to happen to music this year is...the release of Neil Young's Archive set Vol 1 The worst thing to happen to music this year is...X-Factor

11. Portugal. The Man "The Satanic Satanist" 12. Little Boots "Hands" 13. Fool's Gold "Fool's Gold" 14. fun. "Aim & Ignite" 15. Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" 16. Converge "Axe to Fall" 17. Cass McCombs "Catacombs" 18. Micachu & The Shapes "Jewellery" 19. DJ Hell "Teufelswerk" 20. Fuck Buttons "Tarot Sport"

Breakout artists to look out for...Sleighbells, Baby Fangs, Dirty Fences, Shining Twins, Mini Mansions The best thing to happen to music this year is...Taylor Swift.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Kanye West.

Youtube video of the year goes to...World Of Warcraft freakout http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpMdxCVuGR0 The Willowz release “Everyone” on December 15th via Dim Mak/ Downtown Records. (www.myspace.com/thewillowz)

DUDE’S DEFINITELY FROM CRAZYTOWN! !

...

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My Top 10 of 200 9

CENTURY MEDIA (www.twitter.com/centurymedia)

MIKE GITTER

KOBI FARHI

A&R dude

Frontman, Orphaned Land (www.myspace.com/orphanedmyspace)

1. Megadeth "Endgame" 2. Metric "Fantasies" 3. Katatonia "Night Is The New Day" 4. The Gates of Slumber "Hymns of Blood and Thunder" 5. Gorgoroth "Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt" 6. Alice In Chains "Black Gives Way To Blue" 7. Behemoth "Evangelion" 8. The Devil's Blood "The Time of No Time Evermore" 9. Converge "Axe To Fall" 10. 3 Inches of Blood "Here Awaits Thy Doom" 11. Goatwhore "Carving Out The Eyes of God" 12. Lynyrd Skynyrd "God & Guns" 13. Shadows Fall "Retribution" 14. Ensiferum "From Afar" 15. Mastodon "Crack The Skye" 16. Killswitch Engage "Killswitch Engage" 17. Sunn O))) "Monoliths & Dimensions" 18. Wardruna "Gap Var Ginnuga" 19. Funeral Mist "Marantha" 20. Porcupine Tree "The Incident"

1. Muse "The Resistance" 2. Porcupine Tree "The Incident" 3. Steven Wilson "Insurgents" 4. Depeche Mode "Sounds of The Universe" 5. Leonard Cohen DVD "Live in London" 6. Leonard Cohen "Live at the Isle of Wight 1970"

ALEX ERIAN Vocalist, Despised Icon (www.myspace.com/despisedicon) 1. Set Your Goals "This Will Be The Death Of Us" 2. The Black Dahlia Murder "Deflorate" 3. Dying Fetus "Descend Into Depravity" 4. Architects "Hollow Crown" 5. Deez Nuts "Stay True"

JON HUGHES Digital sales dude 1. Converge "Axe to Fall" 2. Thursday "Common Existence" 3. Poison the Well "The Tropic Rot" 4. Thrice "Beggars" 5. Dredg "The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion" 6. mewithoutyou "It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All a Dream! It's Alright" 7. AFI "Crash/Love" 8. Lady Gaga "The Fame Monster" 9. Coalesce "OX" 10. Leathermouth "XO" 11. Paramore "Brand New Eyes" 12. Devin Townsend Project "Addicted" 13. iwrestledabearonce "It's All Happening" 14. Cold Cave "Love Comes Close" 15. Fear Before "Always Open Mouth" 16. Kylesa "Static Tensions" 17. Suicide Silence "No Time To Bleed" 18. Baroness "Blue Record" 19. Russian Circles "Geneva" 20. Reign Supreme "Testing the Limits"

FRENCHY Executive assistant 1. Alice in Chains "Black Gives Way to Blue" 2. Sorry & The Sinatras "Highball Roller" 3. Shudder To Think "Live From Home" 4. Slayer "World Painted Blood" 5. (All Hail The) Yeti "Yeti" EP 6. Mariachi El Bronx "Cell Mates" 7. 3 Inches of Blood "Here Waits Thy Doom" 8. Rancid "Let The Dominoes Fall" 9. The Dead Weather "Horehound" 10. Suicide Silence "No Time To Bleed"

WINDS OF PLAGUE (www.myspace.com/windsofplague)

JOHNNY PLAGUE Vocalist

1. Suffocation "Blood Oath" 2. Between the Buried and Me "The Great Misdirect" 3. Hatebreed "Hatebreed" 4. Lamb Of God "Wrath" 5. A Day To Remember "Homesick" 6. Behemoth "Evangelion" 7. Despised Icon "Day Of Mourning" 8. Emmure "Wrath" 9. Darkest Hour "The Eternal Return" 10. Suicide Silence "No Time To Bleed"

NICK EASH Guitarist 1. Nile "Those Whom The Gods Detest" 2. Dredg "The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion" 3. Between The Buried And Me "The Great Misdirect" 4. Animals As Leaders "Animals As Leaders" 5. Behemoth "Evangelion" 6. Hatebreed "Hatebreed" 7. After The Burial "Rareform" (reissue) 8. Muse "The Resistance" 9. ISIS "Wavering Radiant" 10. Darkest Hour "The Eternal Return"

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My Top 10 of 200 9 BLAKE JUDD Nachtmystium (www.myspace.com/nachtmystium) 1. The Atlas Moth "A Glorified Piece of Blue Sky" 2. Circle of Animals debut LP (not yet released) 3. Funeral Mist "Maranatha" 4. Shrinebuilder "Shrinebuilder" 5. Om "God Is Good" 6. Marilyn Manson "The High End of Low" 7. David Gilmour "Live in Gdansk" box set 8. Njiqahdda "Yrg Alms" 9. Saviours "Accelerated Living" 10. Katharsis/Antaeus split 7"

MARK HEYLMUN Suicide Silence (www.myspace.com/suicidesilence) 1. Mastodon "Crack the Skye" 2. Lamb of God "Wrath" 3. Cannibal Corpse "Evisceration Plague" 4. Suffocation "Blood Oath" 5. Nile "Those Whom the Gods Detest" 6. Behemoth "Evangelion" 7. Alice in Chains "Black Gives Way to Blue" 8. Every Time I Die "New Junk Aesthetic" 9. Megadeth "Endgame" 10. Slayer "World Painted Blood"

SACHA DUNABLE Intronaut (www.myspace.com/intronaut) 1. Mastodon "Crack The Skye" 2. Baroness "Blue Record" 3. Ulcerate "Everything Is Fire" 4. Om "God Is Good" 5. Big Business "Mind The Drift" 6. Ancestors "Of Sound Mind" 7. Keelhaul "Triumphant Return To Obscurity" 8. ISIS "Wavering Radiant" 9. Black Math Horseman "Wyllt" 10. Exmortem "Funeral Phantoms"

CAM PIPES 3 Inches of Blood (www.myspace.com/3iob) 1. Absu "Absu" 2. Opeth "Watershed" 3. Mastodon "Crack the Skye" 4. Napalm Death "Time Waits For No Slave" 5. Tyrants Blood "Crushing Onward Into Oblivion" 6. Evile "Infected Nations" 7. Kreator "Hordes of Chaos" 8. Satyricon "Age of Nero" 9. Mantic Ritual "Executioner" 10. Heaven and Hell "The Devil You Know"

...

My Top 10 of 200 9 COREY CROWDER

...

TONY HARTMAN I wrote a book called Whistle Pig and am working on a cartoon called Texas and Toast with my good buddy Chris Fafalios from the band Punchline.

Artist, Tooth & Nail 1. Eminem “Relapse” - Eminem is a lyrical genius. One of the smartest rap albums I've heard in a long time.

“

I honestly don't think I heard 10 new albums this year. I'm not sure if that is my fault or current music's fault. Here are five I enjoyed a lot!

2. The Avett Brothers “I and Love and You” These guys are way talented. They have found a way to connect to people in a way that isn't seen much these days.

Phoenix "Wolfgang Amedeus Phoenix" Jay-Z "the Blueprint 3" Weezer "Raditude" Yeah Yeah Yeahs "It's Blitz!"

Justin Oliver "For Rose"

3. Lady Gaga “The Fame Monster (Deluxe Version)” - This is a guilty pleasure of mine.

These songs are so catchy, it's sickening.

4. Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors “A Million Miles Away” - I met Drew and his wife at a movie premier last year. They are an incredible vocal duo.

Did I really only buy five albums this year? I also liked Kid Cudi's album "man on the moon", but most of the stuff I bought and/or listened to a lot was from the past five years or so. My favorite albums I bought were Butch Walker's "Sycamore Meadows" and Imogen Heap's "Speak for Yourself". Yes, I just got that album...I am very 2006!”

5. Kid Cudi “Man On the Moon:The End of Day” - One of the coolest hip-hop albums I've ever heard. He has such a lazy style to his music but it still makes you bob your head.

Breakout artists to look out for...Barely Blind, those guys are a really good rock band, they sound like a better version of the most of the groups I loved in high school. Very energetic with a lot of cool parts to their songs and great melodies. Check them out at www.tdrrecords.net, also check out my friends The Promise Hero on that site. They were very lazy and did not put out an album this year.

7. Willie Nelson “Willie and the Wheel” - An AMAZING album from one of the greats!

8. Black Crowes “Before The Frost/Until The Freeze” Another solid album from these guys. I love pretty much everything they do.

9. Dan Auerbach “Keep It Hid” - This album has a few songs on it that I can listen to over and over without getting tired of them.

10. Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson's This Is It (The Music That Inspired the Movie) - I don't even need to explain why this is one the best. Michael Jackson left behind a legacy no one will ever touch.

Video of the year goes to...The Avett Brothers - "Slight Figure Of Speech" This video is hilarious.

They teamed up with the guys at Funny or Die for this one. (http://tinyurl.com/TABFunnyorDie)

The best thing to happen to music this year is...Seeing Blink 182 tour again was very cool, they were easily one of my favorite bands growing up and I have so many memories tied to their songs. I don't think many people expected to see them get back together.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Obviously Taylor Swift beating Beyonce at the VMAs. Someone should have said something about that!

Youtube video of the year goes to...I'm not sure if it came out in 2009, but the "adventure time" cartoon that my friend Justin found is incredible. Possibly the most intentionally funny thing on Youtube. As for unintentionally funny, I'd have to say Lil' Marky's "I will praise you" takes that title.

Watch Adventure Time http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=FU5KmnvRKIw Get “Whistle Pig” at http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=55327

“

Corey Crowder recently released “Lost and Found” via Tooth and Nail Records. Check it out at www.myspace.com/ coreycrowder

“

6. The Cave Singers “Welcome Joy” Incredible songs. A good album through and through.

Check out www.myspace.com/modernshortstories for really cool stuff!

E!!!

URE TIM ADVE NT

ALYSSA DE HAYES

My Top 10 of 200 9

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Team Clermont Bear in Heaven “Beast Rest Forth Mouth” (Hometapes) The driving rhythms and sense of urgency in the songs get me through bleary-eyed mornings and afternoon doldrums. These guys have had a whirlwind year. Pitchfork best new music, ABC World News feature, and heading out on tour with Cymbals Eat Guitars.

“Hometapes is one of my favorite labels (tied w/ Orange Twin). Sara and Adam are so involved with every detail, and every record is a little keepsake piece of art in itself. My early Christmas was the box of vinyl they sent us. Every Hometapes release is fun to touch and hold.”

Circulatory System “Signal Morning” - I’m a big Elephant 6 nerd, and I love the folks in Circulatory System. I got a copy of this record about six months before it came out, and staying silent and not blaring it from the rooftops was my 2009 self-control exercise. I think it’s perfectly sequenced.

There’s something triumphant about it.

Megafaun “Gather, Form And Fly” (Hometapes) These guys are amazing performers. They sing with their eyes and hands. They leap off stage and run around the venue. My favorite lunch of the year was taking them to a place in Athens called Just Pho (And More) for Phil’s birthday. Side D on the vinyl is an art etching for Phil & Brad’s grandfather.

Nana Grizol “Ruth” (Orange Twin) Maybe I’m biased since they’re friends but I can’t hear this record without smiling and moving. The lyrics are like finding a diary you never knew you wrote. The lineup varies, but includes members of Elephant 6 bands Elf Power, Music Tapes, Defiance Ohio, and Neutral Milk Hotel.

CARLOS RAMIREZ Universal Music Group/AOL Music contributor Pet Shop Boys “Yes” - Fantastic new album from synth-pop legends proved that they are writing some of the best material of their career right now.

Mayer Hawthorne “A Strange Arrangement” - A white dude from Ann Arbor, MI writes and records a love letter to ‘70s soul and hits a homerun Mastodon “Crack the Skye” - Worth the hype they are showered with.

La Roux “La Roux” - Synthpop magic with icy vocals and “Cover My Eyes” is a contender for song of the year.

Kiss “Sonic Boom” - The band that got me into music makes the best album they’ve done since their glory days.

Ladyhawke “Ladyhawke” - It was a fine year for synthpop and this album is stuffed to the rafters with infectious melodies.

The Mary Onettes “Islands” - These Swedes haven’t gotten the attention from the hipsters in Williamsburg, Portland, and Silver Lake yet, but their brand of jangly pop definitely deserves more listeners.

Séance “Awakening of the Gods” - Comeback album from underappreciated ‘90s band that shows the kids how raw death metal should be done.

Jookabox “Dead Zone Boys” (Asthmatic Kitty) - Favorite houseguests of 2009. One of the most unique albums I’ve heard this year, and more accessible than the releases under the Granpall Jookabox moniker. The album has an underlying theme of white flight and urban blight (inspired by the neighborhood Moose grew up in) that manifests itself in zombie imagery, without being gimmicky and too halloweenie.

Kylesa “Static Tensions” - Though their bros in Baroness usually get the lion’s share of critical praise, Kylesa made the better album this year.

The video for “You Cried Me” and the song itself make me want to do my happydance. (Link: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=1-PZ4rgOY1g)

Best live album goes to...Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers “The Live Anthology” - The best bar band that ever was captured in a series of career spanning live performances.

Karl Blau “Zebra” (K Records) Just watch this video for Dark Sedan.

It’s been stuck in my head all fall/winter.

2009 Rookie of the Year goes to...La Roux. Not sure if they’ll ever find a wide audience in the States but I have a feeling they are capable of recording some classic stuff down the line.

Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest” - Grizzly Bear was one of my favorite live shows of the year. It was beautiful. Angelic even. The stage setup had simple mason jars with lights hanging from strings strategically glowing and fading with the music.

Video of the year goes to...Depeche Mode “Wrong” directed

by Patrick Daughters. It’s like a David Cronenberg movie squeezed into a 3 minutes.

Watch it at http://vimeo.com/3468912

Half-handed Cloud “Cut Me Down & Count My Rings” (Asthmatic Kitty) - 46 b-sides and rarities… and they’re all consistently great. Trying to pick 3 tracks to emphasize for the college radio campaign was so hard!

Neon Indian “Psychic Chasms” - Lush analog synthesizers and ‘80s sun-kissed melodies make this the bedroom indiepop record of the year.

Remix of the year goes to...Sally Shapiro – “Snow In July” remixed by Le Prix - Like something you would hear in an Italian coke dealer’s apartment circa 1980.

My Top 10 of 200 9

NATHAN WALKER Riot Act Media [Though I'd gladly put every Riot Act band on this list, for fairness, none are included]

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JOAN HILLER DEPPER Riot Act Media

1. Sun Araw “Heavy Deeds” - Easily my favorite head trip of the year, maybe the decade. This on headphones just takes you to another planet!

2. Desolation Wilderness “New Universe” - It's like M. Ward fronting Deerhunter but completely original and done by a three piece... glacial, epic and fragile.

3. Alela Diane “The Pirate's Gospel” - Every time I play this around folks, one person writes down the name of it often on their hand. To me, that's solid evidence of a universally great record.

1. Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest” 2. Bat for Lashes “Two Suns” 3. Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band “Between My Head And The Sky” 4. The Decemberists “Hazards of Love” 5. Richard Swift “The Atlantic Ocean” 6. Dirty Projectors “Bitte Orca” 7. Laura Gibson “Beasts of Seasons” 8. Flaming Lips “Embryonic” 9. Jarvis Cocker “Further Complications” 10. Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”

4. Tara Jane O'Neil “A Ways Away” - I've been a fan of TJO for years this is the record where she finally snuck her songwriting just a smidge above the haze of her glorious sound, that smidge was enough to keep this record on constant repeat.

5. Mi Ami “Watersports” - Never has a cacophony of sound make me want to dance like a hippy so easily.

7. Wooden Shjips “Dos” - An album like this makes you want to sit with your forehead pressed to the speaker so you can feel every song.

8. Best Coast “Where The Boys Are” - The best pop songs of the year drenched in reverb... can't wait to see this band live.

9. The Spits “Vol. IV” - Revisionist punk that blows my mind with every listen. Last time I saw them live, they had a roadie lighting off fire crackers in the crowd as part of their "stage show".

10. Dan Deacon “Bromst” - A rhythmic symphony of noise that's a perfect soundtrack for my afternoon walks through rush hour traffic in downtown Portland.

Video of the year goes to...It’s a hell of a Yacht Rock jam for a fur company in the rich 'burb of Detroit, give it one spin and you're hooked. Singalong now: http://www.ceresnieandoffenfurs.com/

HOLLI ELAINE

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Amp’d Up Music

1. Paramore "brand new eyes" 2. Crash Kings "Crash Kings" 3. Ben Harper and Relentless7 "White Lies for Dark Times" 4. The Temper Trap "Conditions" 5. Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson "Break Up" 6. Dave Matthews Band "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King" 7. Paper Route "Absence" 8. Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" 9. After Midnight Project "Let’s Build Something to Break" 10. Tegan and Sara "Sainthood"

Breakout artists to look out for...After Midnight Project, Cage the Elephant, The Rescues The best thing to happen to music this year is...Kanye West being humiliated enough by his actions to publicly apologize. He is an a-hole.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...U2 releasing ‘No Line on the Horizon’. It just does not live up to their other albums Youtube video of the year goes to…

The Rescues perform Gabriel Mann's Shadows of Tall Buildings in Los Angeles, Jan 14th http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y6Lh_yCpDo

CHECK OUT www.myspace.com/cagetheelephant

“

6. Major Lazer “Guns Don't Kill People Lazers Do” - The only album that makes me want to go out to clubs, booty dance and pop champagne. If this was the soundtrack at dance clubs, you'd find me there in neon tennis shoes dancing all night.

My Top 10 of 200 9

JILL STROMINGER Music obsessive of 27+ years 1. Grizzly Bear “Veckatimist” This band just makes the tiny little hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up. I also love that Chris Taylor is proof to band geeks everywhere that they, too, can be rock stars one day.

2. Dirty Projectors “Bitte Orca” - I have been loving me some Dirty P's for a while now and when I first heard this album, I knew a lot of other people were about to be, too. I could gush about the intricate songwriting and the amazing vocals, but I will instead just ask anyone who hasn't given them a chance yet to please listen to this album or better yet, see them pull it off brilliantly live.

3. Sunset Rubdown “Dragonslayer” - Spencer Krug has a way with words and song structure that makes me all giddy.

On this one, they used more instruments, less production and everything feels more monumental than ever for it.

...

The best thing to happen to music this year is...Listeners have been more accepting of bands that experiment and push traditional genre limits - Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, etc.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...That some folks still adopt the "the music industry is dead" mentality instead of re-defining it to work for what's going on today.

Youtube video of the year goes to...I would like to be bold and say it's Derek Waters "Drunk History, Vol. 5" which doesn't yet exist, but I check You Tube every day in case it does. There's still a month left in the year, so fingers crossed!

INGE COLSEN Press Here Publicity 1. Antony and the Johnsons “Crying Light” - Best, most intense album. It should be revisited by hip hop producers and made available for that crowd.

5. Fiery Furnaces “I'm Going Away” - I love the Furnaces at even at their most obscure, so to be rewarded for my fandom with an album I can blast at parties without complaint was a pleasant surprise. Eleanor has admitted that the songs are all about heartbreak to boot, and who can't relate to that?

2. Grace Jones “Hurricane” - Legend! “Well Well Well” is amazing.

6. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society “Infernal Machines” - I had finished Miles Davis's autobiography right before listening to this album and at the end, he criticized modern jazz musicians for replaying the same music instead of being evolutionary and creating their own. DJA would have made Miles proud.

4. The Gossip “Music For Men” - Inspiration station.

7. David Byrne & Brian Eno “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today” - Two of music's greatest visionaries, united after over 20 years and making music that can still whoop what most people have done in the meantime.

8. Noah and The Whale “First Days of Spring” - Gorgeous, heart-wrenching album about the aches of a first adult "wow... I thought we'd be together forever" kind of break-up.

Fortunately, I can appreciate it more from hearing it after I had successfully gotten over my own.

9. Alela Diane “To Be Still” - Yes, this sounds sappy, but this album makes me nostalgic for the days I spent as a kid in the Ohio countryside looking for arrowheads in cornfields, mining for fossil rocks and dozing in rowboat around my Grandma's pond. Siiiiiiiigh.

10. Bell Orchestre “As Seen Through Windows” Unbelievably talented musicians, making music that sounds like light hitting a prism... constantly, gracefully shifting and re -shaping. Watching them play off one another live is even more incredible!

Breakout artists to look out for...Colin Stetson, Nat Baldwin, Ryan Lee Crosby, Milagres, Bear in Heaven (did they already break out?)

“

BONUS!! :: Bear in Heaven "Beast Rest Forth Mouth"

3. Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” - 10 years of drive and catchy hooks.

5. The Middle East “The Recordings Of The Middle East” - Heartbreakingly warm and fuzzy feelings.

6. La Roux “La Roux” - Dance fun and cute!

7. The xx “xx” - Intense and breakable sounds.

So quiet.

8. Röyksopp “Junior” - Good and subtle beats.

9. Ladyhawke “Ladyhawke” - Rocking-outmeets-deer-in-headlights.

10. Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest” - Brooklyn style!

Breakout artists to look out for...The Middle East (http://www.themiddleeastmusic.com) The best thing to happen to music this year is...the stillness and subtle moves of The xx The worst thing to happen to music this year is...the passing of Michael Jackson Youtube video of the year goes to…

Röyksopp (feat Fever Ray) “This Must Be It” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iLkZMCZNmc

“

4. Wild Beasts “Two Dancers” - About 30 seconds of listening, I knew it was my new favorite. The haunted operatic vocals floating over the simple counterpoint really hits my sweet spot and I absolutely cannot wait to see them live for the first time in February.

CHRISTINA REYNIER

My Top 10 of 200 9

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Publicist, Big Picture Media 1. John Mayer “Battle Studies” 2. This Providence ”Who Are You Now?” 3. Ace Enders and a Million Different People “When I Hit The Ground” 4. Fall Out Boy “Folie A Deux” (released December 2008) 5. Relient K “Forget and Not Slow Down” 6. Passion Pit “Manners” 7. Fun. “Aim and Ignite” 8. As Tall As Lions “You Can't Take It With You” 9. Rocco Deluca and the Burden “Mercy” 10. Death Cab for Cutie “The Open Door” EP Honorable mentions...Dave Matthews Band “Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King”, Person L “Initial” Breakout artists to look out for...All the Day Holiday - the most incredible band. People are going to love these guys.

Reminiscent of Copeland (like little angels!) Also, Disco Curtis - really awesome pop music! Watch out for em' cause they're gonna be big!

ASHLEY & SAM Editors, JUICEBOXdotcom (www.juiceboxdotcom.com)

The best thing to happen to music this year: The John Mayer Revival- he's back and with more power than EVER! He shows the youngsters what it takes!

Also, a non-musician winning an award at an all musician nominated award show. Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love on Her Arms breaks the mold by winning an MTVu Woodie Award. Go Jamie! He's bringing music and the idea of hope together in a whole new way.

The worst thing to happen to music this year: The breakup of Copeland. They'll be missed, by me the most. =( Youtube video of the year goes to...David goes to the dentist. "Is this real life!?!?" http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=txqiwrbYGrs

CH!!

PURE GOLD. WAT

Runner-up goes to Joe Jonas dancing to "Single Ladies" LOVE IT! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP-KFnYg6Hw

1. Propagandhi "Supporting Caste" 2. Alexisonfire "Old Crows/Young Cardinals" 3. O Pioneers!!! "Neon Creeps" 4. North Lincoln "Midwestern Blood" 5. Bomb the Music Industry! "Scrambles” 6. Gallows "Grey Britain" 7. Teenage Bottlerocket "They Came From the Shadows" 8. Lullabye Arkestra "Threats/Worship" 9. Sights & Sounds "Monolith" 10. Pissed Jeans "King of Jeans" Breakout artists to look for...any band featured at http://juiceboxdotcom.com/recordingco. I’d put my real-life money on Dig It Up right now, though.

They’re going full-time in 2010 and will probably come to your town and stomp your face into the curb with rock. It will hurt, but you will be stoked.

The best thing to happen to music this year is...the proliferation of online-only labels, eliminating the increasingly unnecessary machinery of the old label system and resulting in more great music getting heard by more great people.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is... Crunkcore. We’re fucking doomed.

Youtube video of the year goes to... Talk Show Night At Juicebox Manor Trailer http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=crFNEcNVJ_A JUICEBOXdotcom is a fantastic gateway to awesome Canadian music and more.

Talk to them! Check out their compilations at http://juiceboxdotcom.com. Don’t forget to donate and support!

CHECK OUT www.myspace.com/allthedayholiday

MATT HALVERSON Lefse Records (www.lefserecords.com) 1. Surfer Blood “Astro Coast” - Besides having one of the best names these guys are creating something fresh and nostalgic at the same time. Their vocals are great, but my favorite track is the instrumental "Neighbor Riffs".

2. Here We Go Magic “Here We Go Magic” - Another incredible band name. "Tunnelvision" is one of the top tracks of the year. Very cool.

3. Jonsi + Alex “Riceboy Sleeps” - Jonsi from Sigur Ros and some other dude. That’s enough right there for me to rush out and buy the record. If you love the quasi instrumental tracks found on “Takk”, this record will be one of your favorites of the year too.

4. Raekwon the Chef “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2” Need I say more?

5. Volcano Choir “Unmap” - Only amazing sounds can happen when you team one of the best vocalists out there (Justin from Bon Iver) and one of the most creative instrumental bands (Collections of Colonies of Bees).

6. Animal Collective “Merriweather Post Pavilion” AC produced two of the best tracks of 2009. "In Flowers" and "Brother Sport". Wall of sound.

7. Julianna Barwick “Florine” - Julianna Barwick is one of the most creative artists out right now. If I could sign one artist right now, it would be her. Amazing layered vocals of non-distinguishable lyrics. Must hear.

8. Glasser “Apply” EP - ‘Somebody Say…’ is the lyric that has been stuck in my head all year. You just gotta hear the young Los Angeles artist.

9. Woods “Songs Of Shame” - Taking it back to the old school. This 60's influenced band has been great to bond with my dad over all year.

10. Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest” - Grizzly. Bear.

Breakout artists to look out for...Producer Phaseone and the amazing Julianna Barwick.

The best thing to happen to music this year is...the throwback to the old synth lo-fi radness.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Kanye West at the VMAs. Weirdo.

Youtube video of the year goes to...Tape Deck Mountain. It’s just so simple and fun. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=T5D815xcOQg

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ANDREW CRAIG Manager of Digital Marketing, Original Signal Recordings 1.

Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" - Just like the rest of the world, I could listen to this on repeat for days.

2. Glasvegas "Glasvegas" - Mopey Britrock you can be proud to have in your iPod. 3. Gallows "Grey Britain" - Unrelenting.

4. Passion Pit "Manners" - “Moth’s Wings” is especially addicting.

5. Jay Reatard "Watch Me Fall" - Another classic from the most prolific dude in punk.

6. Weezer "Raditude" - Finally, a new Weezer record I don’t have to make excuses for. Rivers seems like he’s having fun again.

7. Matt & Kim "Grand" - Great videos, great people, great tunes.

8. Dan Deacon "Bromst" - Took a lot of listens to appreciate, but the repetition finally gave way to poignancy.

9. Cage The Elephant "Cage The Elephant" - The most exciting debut in rock. They’re not gonna stop.

10. Mariachi El Bronx "Mariachi El Bronx" - The Bronx might perform mariachi with their tongue in their cheek, but they wrote this album with seriousness and sincerity.

Breakout artists to look out for...Holy Ghost!. Born-andraised New Yorkers are some of the youngest members of the DFA family. They got major bumps this year with remixes of Phoenix and MGMT, and Cut Copy. Their debut LP is going to make a serious dent in the dancefloor in 2010. (myspace.com/holyghostnyc) Best thing to happen to music this year is...Spotify. I found a hacked version for the US, it lasted about two weeks before they caught on and disabled my account. But man oh man, that was the best two weeks of my life. When Spotify hits America, it’s going to change absolutely everything, from iTunes on down.

Worst thing to happen to music this year is...Physical retailers reducing their CD orders. Part of my job is working with street teams, I receive a lot of complaints from kids who have to visit three different Best Buys to find a physical album. When Best Buy corporate orders 3,000 copies of a CD and spreads it across 700 stores, of course it’s going to be hard to find. A store will “sell out” after only a couple purchases.

Youtube video of the year goes to...Oren Lavie "Her Morning Elegance". Such an unbelievably beautiful and original video, and it probably cost $500 to produce. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY

“

“

“

My Top 10 of 200 9

(NICE)

My Top 10 of 200 9

MIKELA FLOYD FILTER Creative Group 1. Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadaeus Phoenix” - Without a doubt, my favorite thing to listen to this year, especially in the summer months. There was nothing catchier this year than "Lisztomania."

“

...

ANNA PAZ Temporary Residence Limited Publicity and Mail Order

2. The Avett Brothers” I And Love And You” - Such a great album, with fantastic lyrics and spectacular harmonies.

Cave "Psychic Psummer" - Equally accessible as it is challenging prog rock that makes you feel like the sun is rising from your chest.

3. M. Ward “Hold Time” - A standout album with some really great nostalgic rock.

4. Grizzly Bear “Vecktamist” - Two weeks was an infectious song, and the rest of the album gets continuously better with each listen. Though not on the album, the Michael McDonald single is also fantastic.

Aluk Todolo "Finsternis" - I've been a fan of this krauty black metal trio since their first 7",which is still my favorite of theirs. Battled sickness to attend 3 out of their 4 shows in NYC. Mmmm face melting.

5. Neko Case ‘Middle Cyclone” - Her alt-country sound has always been a favorite of mine, and her latest effort is one of her best.

Flaming Lips "Embryonic" - Fave in a long time, and so appropriately weird. Bossman Jeremy wore the butterfly costume for this tour and said it was too hot even with a built-in fan. Crazy!

6. V/A “Dark Was The Night” - The National, Bon Iver, My Brightest Diamond. This compilation was like an indie rock yearbook, and I loved it. Sharon Jones’ contribution was a highlight for me.

Polvo "In Prism" - We had five bands in the label playing ATP 2008 but their reunion was what I looked forward to most. My buddy and I were of course cynical and skeptical whether they'd practiced enough to pull off those intricate, interlocking guitar parts. And then WHOA.

7. Sondre Lerche “Heartbeat Radio” - A longtime fan, I love Sondre Lerche’s whimsical and fun lyrics. I was lucky enough to see him live recently, and since then this has been in constant rotation for me.

8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs “It’s Blitz!” - “Zero” was one of my absolute favorite songs this year. The whole album is really great, as is Karen O’s contribution to the Where The Wild Things Are Soundtrack.

Dinosaur Jr "Farm" - Come on!

Raekwon "Only Built For Cuban Link 2" - Biased because I am from Staten Island but how can I resist those cinematic J Dilla beats. But then Ghostface had to come out with the gross "Stapleton Sex" and ruin everything!

9. The xx “xx” - The buzz surrounding this indie outfit was deafening, and I certainly took note. A great album from beginning to end - synthy and sexy.

Laudanum "The Coronation" & Portal "Swarth" - Crank these and let them creep into your consciousness and live in your nightmares. Sleep is stupid, anyway!

10. Florence + The Machine “Lungs” - Florence Welch is an amazing British songstress who surely lives up to her praise. Her debut does not disappoint, nor does her live performance.

Om "God is Good" - The inclusion of Emil Amos (drums) and Rob Lowe of Lichens to their live show and this record added a mystical dimension and richness that I have not experienced since Lungfish.

Breakout artists to look out for...Bad Veins, Brazos, Royal Bangs, Headlights

Lightning Dust "Lightning Dust" - This year's Beach House. Ghostly and woozy melodies that give a delicate impression...then cleverly and effectively injects some Schulze bleeps. The musical equivalent of that southern spiked milk beverage.

Best thing to happen to music this year is...This is a tough question, but the Kanye West meme, to me, painted him as a fool. It was funny at first, but after a while, became overused and excessive. What Kanye West initially planned to be accolades to friend Beyonce ended up painting Taylor Swift as one of the sweetest and most down to earth musicians on the landscape. She may have her singing flaws, but she is an honest talent, a solid entertainer, and a good role model for young girls. It was great to see the whole situation perpetuate the public awareness of Kanye West's douchebaggery.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Pearl Jam signing with Target. My favorite childhood band signing to an Eagles-like big box deal really felt wrong. Eddie Vedder and crew lost some cred in my book, there.

Youtube video of the year goes to...Without question, Keyboard Cat. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=qAepgZ5iM5k

Breakout artists to look out for...Cave, Noveller, Majeure, Nite Jewel The best thing to happen to music this year is...Three Mile Pilot reunite and join TRL family! !!!!!!!!

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...the loss of Jerry Fuchs. (RIP) Youtube video of the year goes to...Not from this year, but I saw it this year so I'm making it count! http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lCGzO-6Zgc [Tommy Lee sick drum solo]

<<CAPTION THIS.

CHUCK DALEY

My Top 10 of 200 9

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Beartrap PR / Tiny Engines Friends Of Friends “Deep Search” - Probably my favorite of 2009.

Kind of sounds like something from the gruff / melodic No Idea stable of bands, but with lots of other subtle influences thrown in the mix as well. At times its choruses remind me of Avail's sky-high punk anthems and other times there's almost a 90s Chapel Hill / Archers of Loaf indie rock vibe. There are terrific lyrics and hooks galore, but it still shreds pretty hard and falls just left of being "catchy," although it's not a stretch to call these ten tracks unforgettable.

Definitely check this one out.

Download it for free at www.powerplantind.com/FOF The G “Hold My Gold” - Dirty, fuzzed-out indie rock with ragged punk heart, a knack for melody and a penchant for noisy experimentation.

The best thing to happen to music this year is...More and more bands going the DIY route The worst thing to happen to music this year is...It's a toss up between Brokencyde and Tokio Hotel.

Youtube video of the year goes to...The entire Auto-Tune The News Season 1 (esp #5-9). This one is probably my favorite though (#6): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psfn6iOfS8 S. HI-LARIOU

PAVLA MIKULA New Media Manager/Rykodisc

Juvenescent Beat! “One Day We're Gonna Fall Through This Roof” - Every year there are a bunch of bands who try to bring back that old, "true" emo sound. This is definitely the best of all of them. This record is passionate, raging and jubilant all at the same time. A great record for anyone who remembers what the "E" word really means.

P.O.S “Never Better” - Hands down the best hip-hop record I've heard in the past five years. Not that I listen to a lot of hiphop, but this just comes across as so fresh and unique. It's overflowing with awesome, thought-provoking lyrics and really captivating beats.

Double Dagger “More” - One vocalist, one drummer and one bassist? C'mon...how arty and pretentious are you? Not very, actually. More is a really fun, upbeat record that'll blast a groove about a mile deep through your living room.

Tigers Jaw “Spirit Desire” 7" - I helped release this, so I'll admit that I'm slightly biased. Still, Tigers Jaw is just one of those bands that seem to write music that appeals to fans of all types of musical genres. The title track is their darkest, most mature offering yet, but maybe their catchiest as well.

Broadway Calls “Good Views, Bad News” - I wasn't sure if I liked this more than the band's self-titled debut, but in the end I thought that “Good Views, Bad News’ was the stronger overall record. This is pop punk done right - with a little bit of anger and edge and a truckload of unforgettable hooks. Seriously, I dare you to find one single part of this album that isn't ridiculously catchy.

What Price, Wonderland? “It Is True, It Is Shakey” - The second best emo record of the year ... although I'm a little hesitant to even call it that. Emo is certainly the base level here, but it tends to veer all over the place in a sloppy, herkyjerky and reckless way that totally works.

1. Green Day “21st Century Breakdown” Green Day are my all time favorite band.

They have been making amazing records for 20 years and this one is no exception.

2. Girls “Album” - Besides Green Day, this was my most anticipated release of 2009. Love this band.

3. AA “Essential Entertainment” 7” - The first release from Softspot Music, a brand new label everyone should have their eye on.

4. Metric “Fantasies” - A perfect “comeback” record for a band that has been on a bit of a hiatus.

5. Delorean “Ayrton Senna” EP - THE band to watch for 2010. The song “Seasun” will change your life.

6. Cass McCombs “Catacombs” – Genuinely sweet and somber listening.

7. Animal Collective “Postmerriweather Pavillion” - One of the most accessible and perfect AC albums to date.

8. Starfucker aka Pyramidd “Jupiter” - Such a fun live band.

9. Pains of Being Pure at Heart precious pop record of the year!

S/T - THE

10. Wavves “Wavves”- Straightfoward punk rock soul in this guy.

Breakout artists to look out for...Delorean & Girls

Teenage Cool Kids “Foreign Lands” - Seems like I'm diggin' a lot of music this year that one could classify as a "throwback" to yesteryear. Summery, fuzzy, punk-tinged indie rock drenched in nostalgia, good vibes and plenty of sweet "whoo hoos".

The best thing to happen to music this year is...Everything on my Top 10 List, doi.

Shook Ones ”The Unquotable A.M.H” - Okay, so this sounds exactly like Kid Dynamite, but who cares? Kid Dynamite was awesome.

Youtube video of the year goes to...http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ErMWX--UJZ4 [Adorable boy playing Jason Mraz “I’m Yours” on ukelele]

Breakout artists to look out for...Grown Ups, Tigers Jaw

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Michael Jackson. R.I.P.

My Top 10 of 200 9

Director of Marketing, Authentik Artists

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1. Metric “Fantasies” - This album and band came through my network of friends, truly a group that gained attention the way artists were discovered in the 90’s. No label hype or early radio hits, just straightup amazing music that music fans wanted others to hear.

2. Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” - As a fan of Pinback getting into this Phoenix album was pretty easy, I wasn’t aware of much of their music before so this is something fresh on my radar. This album doesn’t get old and will be in my active collection for years to come.

3. Silversun Pickups “Swoon” - This band reminds me a lot of Smashing Pumpkins when they were at their prime, I love it. Great songs and it’s awesome driving music.

4. Dredg “The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion” Probably one of the most underrated bands of the past 10 years, their music is like audible crack and every time you listen one can hear new layers of sounds that could have been missed before. This band knows how to craft experimental songs that have massive crossover potential.

5. Emmure “Felony” - I’m always a sucker for a good hardcore band, especially when it’s straight-up brutality like Emmure and many artists in their genre. This band is on the edge of being too heavy, but damn it has some great rhythm and dynamics for being such a “breakdown” driven outfit.

6. Muse “The Resistance” - This band can really do no wrong, this is the record industries answer to the hits they wished Radiohead would have written.

7. Gary Go “Gary Go” - If Sting and The Fray decided to

“

co-write and make larger than life folk ballads then this would be the end result. Not a huge fan of the generic lyrics but each song is so well-written and executed that I can’t help but play this record over and over.

8. Poison The Well “The Tropic Rot” - This band has gone through many transitions since their debut LP and with The Tropic Rot the band has strayed from being a “Metalcore” unit to more of a credible underground hardcore band like Converge. This move will likely kill their career (since they are known for Emo/Metal songs, not what they have now), but damn, this record is incredible.

9. Taking Back Sunday “New Again” - Something happened with this band and they finally wrote another amazingly organic and catchy album. It has the hooks of a Killers record with the riffs of influential late 90’s bands such as Far, Sunny Day Real Estate and more. Not a bad combination if you ask me.

10. U2 “No Line On The Horizon” - Did anybody care that this record came out? Maybe I’m not reading Spin as much as before but I’m pretty sure this is their best record in a really long time. This album is so well-written and dynamic, probably another record that will be in my active collection for years to come. Honestly the only song that isn’t that good on the album is “get on your boots”, which happens to be the single. Go figure.

Breakout artists to look out for...Across The Sun, Modern Day Escape, Paper Route The best thing to happen to music this year is...Kanye West and his ultimate publicity stunt.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Lady Gaga’s overexposure and horrible outfits.

Youtube video of the year goes to...David After Dentist - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs

JUSTIN KLEINFIELD

CHASE PAGAN

rephlektor incorporated

Artist, The Militia Group

“I’m sort of a pessimist when it comes to new music these days. In years past I would check out music that the critics say is awesome, but found that in very few instances I actually agreed. This year there were some critically acclaimed albums - from all over the map – that I thoroughly enjoyed. Specifically, I found myself drawn to the electronic and indie genres. Some of these names will be obvious and some obscure. But that’s the fun of it!”

“

Animal Collective “Merriweather Post Pavilion” Applescal “A Slave’s Commitment” Damian Lazarus “Smoke The Monster Out” Fever Ray “Fever Ray” Fuck Buttons “Tarot Sport” Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest” Gui Boratto “Take My Breath Away” Hell “Teufelswerk” Various Artists “Moments Of A Crisis” Various Artists “Plus8100”

...

“

BOB BRADLEY

The Beatles “The White Album” (Remastered) Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros “Up From Below” A.A. Bondy “When The Devil is Loose” Deer Tick “Born On Flag Day” Cotton Jones “Paranoid Cocoon” Devendra Banhart “What Will We Be” Flaming Lips “Embryonic” Fruit Bats “The Ruminant Band” Cave Singers “Welcome Joy” Dirty Projectors “Bitte Orca” Check out Chase Pagan‘s latest release “Bells & Whistles” on myspace at http:// www.myspace.com/chasepagan

My Top 10 of 200 9

NICOLE POULOS Sideways Media

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singer songwriter tracks.

1. The Flaming Lips "Embryonic" - I've never been a huge fan of their records but have always admired their ambition and experimentation.

This record won me over on all fronts. Full of interesting noises, they even included that sound that bluetoothenabled phones make when you put them too close to the stereo. Genius.

8. Florence and the Machine “Lungs” - Beautiful and interesting and the production on this unbelievable. What a pairing of Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford and the Big Pink, Friendly Fires, Kate Nash producer Paul Epworth. The lyrics are cheeky and smart. Gotta love the Brits!

“

9. Alberta Cross "Broken Side Of Time" - This album is full of spacious and sometimes scary sounds but still retains this bands CSN influences. A brilliant record and these guys are definitely one to watch. If they keep going in this direction they will be a stadium rock hybrid of U2 and Kings of Leon.

2. The Mars Volta "Octahedron" - I am biased for these guys, I love everything they do. One of the few bands who have been seriously pushing the envelope in the studio and live since their inception. This record like Frances on Mute has some tracks that are more tracks that are accessible to masses.

10. Built to Spill "There Is No Enemy" - Built To Spill is back and as good as ever...thank god!

3. The Dead Weather "Horehound" - Another one that I am bias towards. I will pretty much support anything that Jack White does. Constantly challenging himself by using crappy instruments (i.e. plastic guitars) and developing new projects...this record is an incredible hybrid of his past two projects and Jack White and Alison Mosshart are an explosive chemical combination.

Breakout artists to look for...Cymbals Eat Guitars, Everest, Big Rock Candy Mountain, Dawes, Crash Kings, Japandroids, The Big Pink The best thing to happen to music this year is...Creativity!!!

There were so many interesting avenues that artists are using to get their music out there. From Mos Def making his record available through a code on a T-shirt to Bon Iver playing a sunrise set in the cemetery it seems like conventions are being broken all over the places. Although it seems like the industry as a whole is in a big state of flux uncertainty leads to creativity which is exciting. It has never been easier for unsigned and developing artists to get heard. Bring on 2010!

4. The Black Crowes “Before the Frost” - These guys got back to basics this one recording it in Levon Helms barn completely live! This is where they really kill it is live....the record is full of beautiful songs infused with that kind of honesty that can really only be captured live.

5. Mastodon "Crack the Skye" - Metal IS art!! Being a metal head I am so happy to see the main stream music media recognizing the craft of heavy music. This album is artfully voracious!

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...the MTV video awards. I remember a time not so long ago when MTV used to be relevant...it is just so contrived and forced right now it's awful. Dear MTV, please get back to the basics.

6. Animal Collective "Merriweather Post Pavilion" Speaking of envelope pushing, every time I listen to this, I hear something new! You can't beat that.

“

YouTube video of the year goes to...Crash Kings Evolution of Rock Guitar with No Guitars http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=gEQ2ia1bP0g

7. Eels "Hombre Lobo" - Eels have finally created their masterpiece Hombre Lobo is full of all kinds of tasty morsels, from dark scary sounds on Fresh Blood with some great lo-fi

KABEER MALHOTRA

Youtube video of the year goes to...Baby T-Pain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_4AxzvhCPY

Girlie Action Media & Marketing Raekwon "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2" YACHT "See Mystery Lights" Baroness "Blue Record" Dirty Projectors "Bitte Orca" DOOM "Born Like This" Mastodon "Crack The Skye" UGK "UGK 4 Life" Sun O))) "Monoliths & Dimensions" Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" Mos Def "The Ecstatic”

D: D: D:

SEAN ADAMS Founder / Editor, Drowned In Sound

Breakout artists to look out for...Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers, Free Energy, Holly Miranda The best thing to happen to music this year is...Jay-Z and Beyonce spotted at a Grizzly Bear show The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Screamo crunk

SAY NO TO CRUNK

Metric “Fantasies” St Vincent “Actor” Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” Idlewild “Post-Electric Blues” Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest” Yeah Yeah Yeahs “It's Blitz!”

Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse, David Lynch, etc “Dark Night of the Soul” Paramore “brand new eyes” Manic Street Preachers “Journal for Plague Lovers” The Veils “Sun Gangs”

NICK BALKIN

My Top 10 of 200 9

CEO, Paris Vice Squad 1. Flotation Walls “Nature” - An art pop masterpiece about life ("Sperm & Egg") and death ("I've Seen Death and his Tremendous Pink Eyes") that reminds you that concept albums don't have to be lame. Yes, it's an ambitious record - most tracks have complex choral and orchestral arrangements - but these gorgeous melodies would stand on their own unembellished.

2. Mercy James “Best of Mercy James” - This modest, barely 30 minute album bursts at the seams with hook-laden indie pop. "Ride On, Red Line" is the best tune ever written about the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

"Whisper Whenever" is the best. Period.

The best thing to happen to music this year is...Pavement reunion.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Creed reunion.

Youtube video of the year goes to...Sweet Starfire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msXcuH2-mi0

AN NEVER A FACE I C TCH !!!

A FORGET. W

3. MEandJOANCOLLINS “Love. Trust. Faith. Lust.” - A bombastic and fully formed debut from one of Boston's most electric live acts. Littered with grimy glam anthems like "Crime of the Century," "That's Not What I Want," and "Typical Asshole."

4. Left Hand Does “Yeckum Checkum” - Weird, elastic songs about airplanes, nightmares, and microwave throwin' men. Eighties influenced, but not in obvious ways (an indie rock INXS?). "Valerie" has a killer guitar solo.

5. The Beatings “Late Season Kids” - Shout-y Boston post punk that doesn't sound like Mission of Burma or the Pixies but kinda does. Album opener (and highlight) "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" has an addictive guitar hook and heart pounding drums.

6. Sidewalk Driver “For All the Boys and Girls” - Super catchy power pop with glam attitude that channels Bowie, the Cars, and Cheap Trick. To my ears, all 12 tracks sound like hit singles.

7. Hallelujah The Hills “Colonial Drones” - An unpredictable album that captures the unbridled energy of the band's live shows. Sounds like a guided tour through the last 20 years of indie rock - from Sonic Youth to Pavement to the Arcade Fire.

8. The Everyday Visuals “Self Titled” - Subtle, harmony rich folk rock that improves with repeated listening. "Driving" is the one of the year's most beautiful recordings.

9. Eddie Japan “Four by Six” EP - Soaring 1960s influenced pop with mariachi trumpets and spaghetti western guitars. "The Power of Negative Thinking" might be my favorite song of 2009.

10. St. Helena “Slow Jack” EP - Emotional but not emo indie rock with cathartic instrumental sections and vocals that sound like a cross between the Dismemberment Plan and Neutral Milk Hotel.

Breakout artists to look out for…

Aloud Consistently great, straightforward guitar rock with smart lyrics and an engaging live show. Their excellent Fan The Fury tops my list of 2008 albums discovered in 2009.

Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling Front woman/drummer - front drummer? - Sophia Cacciola scream-sings about the Prisoner (the original series) over spy movie death fuzz bass riffs.

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ALLISON & ERICA ‘stache media, online advertising & fan engagement marketing Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” Aceyalone "Aceyalone & the Lonely Ones" Plastiscines “About Love” Set Your Goals “This Will Be the Death of Us” Paramore “brand new eyes” Ani Difranco “Red Letter Year” Mandy Moore “Amanda Leigh” Brendan Benson “My Old Familiar Friend” Kid Creole and The Coconuts “Anthology” Breakout artists to look out for...Kate MillerHeidke, Cage the Elephant, Band of Skulls, Dragonette, Juliette Lewis, The Temper Trap, Spinnerette, Cory Chisel, La Roux The best thing to happen to music this year is...The growing popularity of Amazon’s Deal of the Day - $3.99 for an album the day is comes out is pretty solid.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...The death of the cassette tape from the billboard charts…

Youtube video of the year goes to...Socialnomics – Social Media Revolution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8

US EDUCATE YO

ELVES!!!

EDDIE HORN Head of Publicity, Glassnote Records Publicist, Reybee Productions 1. Gallows “Grey Britain” - This record rips with punk and hardcore fury. ‘Black Eyes’ is my favorite song of the year, hands down. It’s even my ringtone. They were the sole reason I went to Warped Tour this year.

2. Mastodon “Crack The Skye” - I feel like this is the band’s most accessible album to date, and the guitars in the epic “The Czar: I. Usurper II. Escape III. Martyr IV. Spiral” shred and send shivers down my spine every time.

3. Taking Back Sunday “New Again” - I never thought I’d put a Taking Back Sunday album into my Top 10, but this is sort of a return to form and has some of their best songs since Tell All Your Friends. “Where My Mouth Is” is an honest and epic song 4. Owen “New Leaves” - This isn’t as good as “At Home With,” but it’s quality Mike Kinsella. I preferred the stripped down, acoustic versions performed live on tour, but the album is a very good none the less.

5. ISIS “Wavering Radiant” - Isis doesn’t disappoint on their newest. One of my most anticipated releases in 2009, it has it’s brooding, atmospheric moments that quickly erupt into crashing guitars and growls.

6. Gossip “Music For Men” - Bass-heavy dance punk, and lead singer Beth Ditto has got some pipes on her! I don’t dance, that’s a fact, but “Heavy Cross” makes me want to boogie. “For Keeps” is also an awesome song.

7. Converge “Axe To Fall” - This album rips. Excellent driving/ gym music!

8. Coheed & Cambria “Neverender” box set - This is a cool box set I never thought I would own, until Virgin Megastore in NYC was going out of business and was selling it for cheap. Very glad I picked this up – it’s great to hear The ‘Second Stage Turbine Blade’ live.

9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs “It’s Blitz” - I fell in love with the raw sounds of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on “Fever To Tell”, and couldn’t forgive the single “Heads Will Roll,” but songs like “Dull Life” and “Dragon Queen” hooked me.

10. Them Crooked Vultures “Them Crooked Vultures” - Not really a Foo Fighters fan. Not really a Queens Of The Stone Age fan. But this rules!

Breakout artists to look out for...The Photo Atlas have something good on their hands and are due to get recognized.

Murder By Death are on the rise and have a new album out next year which I hope will gain them some more exposure, although I don’t think they’ll ever break into the mainstream. And Minus The Bear haven’t broken out of the punk scene, which is weird because they are the furthest thing from punk, so be on the lookout for them to break in the indie world and possibly the mainstream next year as well.

The best thing to happen to music this year is...Resurgence of vinyl!

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Auto-tune – seriously?

Youtube video of the year goes to...The Inappropriate Barney Dance: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLaIEbH1YSo

My Top 10 of 200 9

...

TIM TATULLI Online Publicist, 'Stache Media/ RED / part-time Pavarotti impersonator This Time Next Year "Road Maps & Heart Attacks" - Pop punk at its finest. New Found Glory, Saves The Day, Set Your Goals, and Four Year Strong all wrapped into one! You can't listen to the album and think about how it was 10 years ago.

Mastodon "Crack The Skye" - Amazing album and live show to go along with it. These guys pushed the envelope wide open for this release. They hold no boundaries.

If These Trees Could Talk "Above The Earth, Below The Sky” The first time I heard this album I was completely blown away.

When you listen to this band they take you on a journey to far away lands with many peaks and valley. Highly recommended.

Baroness "Blue Record" - Starting where the "Red Album" left off.

A lot of thought and time when into this well calculated effort. John Baizley's artwork is amazing as well.

Thursday "Common Existence" - One of, in not my favorite band.

This is the album that should have been released after "Full Collapse". Fast paced and full of energy, this is an album that I have consistently played throughout the year.

Mos Def "The Ecstatic" - One of the only hip-hop albums that I listened to entirely multiple times this year. If you like "Black on Both Sides" then this is definitely for you. Has the sound of a classic hiphop record.

Set Your Goals "This Will Be The Death of Us" - Holy shit. That is the only thing that I can say about this release. I was always a fan of SYG, but this release absolutely blew me away from the first chord.

A pop-punk album with hardcore roots is exactly what I needed this year. Brought me back to high school with this one.

Maylene & The Sons of Disaster "III" - Kickass southern rock record. I became a believer after their last album, but this one brought the band to a completely different level in my eyes.

Between The Buried and Me "The Great Misdirect" - "The Great Misdirect" is a 6-track LP that totals 59 minutes, with the last track topping off at 17:54. Great album, but I always wonder what it would sound like without the vocals.

Cave In "Planets of Old" EP - Great to see this band came back this year. "Planets of Old" is a look into their 2010 LP. A mix of classic Cave In, both old and new. This 4-song EP will have you begging for more every time you listen to it.

Breakout artists to look out for...These are three bands that I feel will breakout of their core fanbase next year and really hit the ground running...This Time Next Year, Cancer Bats and Foxy Shazam The best thing to happen to music this year is...The resurgence of vinyl. Bands are coming out with some killer collector pieces these days.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...80's clothing style. What are these kids thinking, SERIOUSLY!?

Youtube video of the year goes to..."Greatest freak out ever" www.youtube.com/watch?v=YersIyzsOpc I am not a WOW fan at all, but this amazing. If my brother ever video taped me and put the video up on Youtube, I would probably kill him. Also, what's with the remote control (at the 1:10 mark)... that is just weird!

!!!

SEE PAGE 8..WATCH

My Top 10 of 200 9

B-TIP Label Consultant / Man of Mystery 1. Florence + The Machine "Lungs" - Simply an outstanding record. A beautiful voice matched with interesting compositions.

RYAN MINIC Rad dude from Ryan's Rock Show www.ryansrockshow.com

2. Mastodon "Crack The Skye" - Mastodon have it – they just do. Excellent musicianship.

1. Rx Bandits "Mandala" - There's a very sincere soul to this album. The kind of soul you feel when you listen to a Fugazi record.

3. Soulsavers "Broken" - An ideal soundtrack to desert and whiskey journeys. Mark Lanegan is always a draw.

4. God Is An Astronaut "God Is An Astronaut" - Been a fan of this all-instrumental three-piece for a while. Like a more ethereal Explosions in the Sky.

2. Mastodon "Crack The Skye" - Steve Jobs said that doing acid was one of the top three most important decisions he has made in his life. I'd say the same goes for Mastodon.

5. The Silent Years "Let Go" EP - Aside from the shameless plug, TSY write amazing songs that mesh well with energetic indie pop.

3. Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School Of Medicine "Audacity of Hype" - Anybody that tells Nancy Pelosi to go straight to hell in a song is ok by me. What a skank.

6. Empire Of The Sun "Walking On A Dream" - Delivers such an otherworldly and enjoyable music experience.

4. Them Crooked Vultures "Them Crooked Vultures" - You know they're not doing it for the money because they're already rich as hell.

7. Katatonia "Night Is The New Day" - Exquisitely dark and atmospheric metal. Each album gets better and better.

8. We Were Promised Jetpacks "These Four Walls" - Simple yet epic. I have yet to get tired of this one.

5. Slayer "World Painted Blood" - Required listening for any Catholic high school student.

This record reaffirms that Hell is where the party is at.

9. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes "Up From Below" One of the best to get your hippie-revival kicks out to although I’m sure they hear that description everyday.

6. El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez-Lopez "Cryptomnesia" - This is basically a Mars Volta album laced with crack. And that crack is Zach Hill.

10. Ultra Violent Lights "Here in Filth" - Great and dirty psychrock album.

The best thing to happen to music this year is...Without a doubt…auto-tuned dog barks. Right? Honestly, I think the renewed importance of connection between artist and fan. Artists have really had to put on their marketing hats to discover new avenues that spark fan involvement and conversation about their music, which is something that was always left up to traditional means of exposure. Now the layers have been pulled back and audiences are being treated as true friends as opposed to simply a number. We hear more times than we probably care to count, “there’s just no good music out there anymore”, which is such a lazy and exaggerated statement. There is amazing music out there that unfortunately becomes overshadowed by those championing mediocrity sprinkled with store-bought hype.

Hopefully with the surge of accessibility, quality music can capture an audience that would have otherwise had to settle with force-fed art….to include auto-tuned dogs barking.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...The vast amount of jobs and businesses lost within the music industry itself. Hundreds of long-standing record stores have shuttered and thousands of people are out of work. Not only is it a financial detriment, but many of those who have been an important part of this industry for so long now find themselves at a career crossroad. As a result there is this sort of bitterness that casts a solemn cloud over the industry, which is a depressing characteristic for a business built largely on passion. The cause of this is no mystery – a mixture of self-entitlement and a refusal to quickly adapt. However, the same suit is followed much like any business in any industry trudging through a struggling economy. Things will turn around, it’s just going to take an adjusted model and a lot of comprising.

Breakout artists to look out for...Local Natives- you’ll be seeing more of these hooligans. What an awesome live show. http://www.myspace.com/localnatives

...

7. The Dear Hunter "Act III: Life and Death" The last song on this record will give the hair on your arms a boner.

8. Baroness "Blue Record" - Imperfection and flaws give records life. Those are the same qualities that make timeless music.

9. Pelican "What We All Come to Need" - You owe it to yourself to listen to this record with a joint in hand. You'll probably see your future.

10. Every Time I Die "New Junk Aesthetic' - Hot fucking damn is right!

Breakout artists to look out for...Harvard. http://www.myspace.com/harvard The worst thing to happen to music this year is...I hate giving shitty bands publicity.

Youtube video of the year goes to...Converge "Axe To Fall" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwkpZh0mSYM

Local Natives

AL 5-STAR BR00T !

H C T A W .

SHIT

ALEX GARCIA

My Top 10 of 200 9

Banyan Branch social media management [to us, mr awesome] Girls “Girls” - I don't like to order my top albums of the year, I prefer to say I love them all equally but if I had to set one album apart from the rest it would be Girls. "Hellhole Ratrace" is beautifully haunting.

Metric “Fantasies” - Who isn't in love with Emily Haines!

Solid pop album that had me singing along all year. “Gimme Sympathy”...best song off the album.

Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” - Like Metric this album was solid from beginning to end. One of those albums where you feel like you should have paid more for it due to how damn good it is from beginning to end. I owe my love of Phoenix to Sofia Coppola for first introducing me to the band when she put them on the soundtrack to Lost In Translation.

...

StarSmith might very well be the other big thing in 2010 if this video and sample of the material they are working on is any indication of what to expect.

The best thing to happen to music this year is…Amazon MP3 Store. I love it and I am glad to see the competition against iTunes. Also happy that they come as mp3s and not mp4s.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Soundtracks. Where the Wild Things Are I think was a disaster and I am saddened by the fact that it was Karen O's project.

Video of the year goes to...Metric "Gimme Sympathy” (split screen version) I think this was beautifully done! (http://vimeo.com/3946698)

Camera Obscura “My Maudlin Career” - Favorite Scottish rockers return with such a sad album that some how manages to make me happy when listening. I love the heavy 60's influence in songs like "French Navy."

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Passion Pit “Manners” - Easily the best dance album of 2009. I had Sleepyhead stuck in my head all summer long Brand New “Daisy” - Album is delightfully dark and seriously makes me wonder what it's been like to be Jesse Lacey and what horrible events inspired such a dark album. The album can be a shock to the system when compared to their earlier work but may God help you once it burns into your brain trying to get it out of your head.

The Raveonettes “In And Out Of Control” - This was my most anticipated album of 2009 and it did not disappoint. The Guardian summed it up well when they said "fantasy fusion of the Phil Spector-produced Ronettes and C86-era indie stars the Primitives."

Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - s/t - Surprise new band of the year for me. These guys came out of nowhere and quickly became one of my new favorite bands. Young love as told thru the lenses of this dream pop sugary goodness that is the Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. Makes you want to be a teenager in love all over again.

The Big Pink “A Brief History Of Love” - The 2nd album to kick me in the gut and take me by surprise. I started to hear some buzz but it wasn't until my friend Andy at Eenie Meenie tweeted about it that I finally gave them a listen. The album has that bigger than itself "wall of sound" feel that is like crack, and will have you in a euphoric daze.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs “It's Blitz” - Though I feel Karen O has had a few stumbles (Where The Wild Things Are Soundtrack) together as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, they never disappoint. The album was full of synth, keyboards and beats to make anyone want to dance, also made for some amazing remixes.

Breakout artists to look out for...2010 will easily be about Ellie Goulding. Ellie is amazing, though her album has yet to drop her singles that have been released and leaked like "Under The Sheets" and "Starry Eyed" are absolutely amazing and have played on my iTunes on repeat. I think it will be as big as MGMT was a few years ago. With that being said her side project GoldSmith which is her collaboration with

CHRISTOPHER ROBERTS Vice Records Black Lips "200 Million Thousand" Raveonettes "In & Out of Control" The Almighty Defenders "The Almighty Defenders" Lullabye Arkestra "Threats/Worship" King Khan & The Shrines "What Is?!"

Girls "Album" King Khan & BBQ "Invisible Girl" Gucci Mane "The State vs. Radric Davis" The Spits "IV" Cold Cave "Love Comes Close" Washed Out "Life of Leisure" Breakout artists to look out for...Girls, Small Black, Evil Army, Woods, Thee Vicars, Acrassicauda The best thing to happen to music this year is...Black Lips getting kicked out of India, only to take refuge with King Khan and Mark Sultan in Berlin and record The Almighty Defenders debut album.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...the milquetoast-ization of underground music.

Where's the rebellion?! Isn't that what rock 'n' roll is really all about? I miss the days when music had teeth.

Youtube video of the year goes to…[Iraqi-now-NY metal band] Acrassicauda meeting James Hetfield at Madison Square Garden back stage and then getting the guitar he just played as a gift. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAczgaviSEY

GEEK OU T!

JADE INGARDONA Director of Digital Marketing, Platform One Entertainment

Dirty Projectors “Bitte Orca” - My list feels obvious, especially this first one. Dirty Projectors ruled my life this year. "Stillness In the Move" will be in constant brain rotation, I promise!

Hockey “Mind Chaos” - Saw these guys randomly opening for Portugal, the Man--lead singer was sick and they hardly performed, but what I saw was enough to buy the record and I'm very glad I did!

Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” - Such a great, solid pop record! "Lisztomania" will be my jam for years to come.

Florence and the Machine “Lungs” - What an amazing voice, and the songs vary from genre to genre so seamlessly you might not even notice it. The Xx remixed "You've Got the Love" from this album, as well--don't miss that either!

The Xx “xx” - So simple, but so beautiful. Best tracks are "Basic Space" and "Crystalized." One of my favorite albums to paint to, and yes, I realize how douchey that made me sound just now.

Portugal, The Man “The Satanic Satanist” - I was initially turned off by this album because the opening track reminded me of Oasis...but after giving it a fair chance, it has needled its way into my heart.

La Roux “La Roux” - A great album to dance and drive to (use caution if you're doing these at the same time)! Plus, check out the remix of "I'm Not Your Toy" by MSTRKRFT. Lily Allen “Its Not Me, Its You” - Lily's last album was one of my favorites, and her follow-up didn't disappoint! I'm hoping that if I listen to her and The Kooks enough, I'll naturally develop an awesome accent. That's scientifically possible...right?

Dead Weather “Horehound” - This was one of those albums that I didn't expect to like because EVERYONE was expecting to love it. But what can I say? It's just weird enough for me.

"Treat Me Like Your Mother" is nasty (the good kind of nasty)!

Britney Spears “Circus” - "But Jade, this an awful pop album

by Britney Spears--and wasn't it released in December of '08?"

DEAL WITH IT, YA'LL. Breakout artists to look out for...I think that 2010 is going to be VERY good for Hockey, but I've already mentioned them.

So I'll say Civil Twilight, Loomis and the Lust and I'd like to throw Does It Offend You Yeah? out there--they experienced some success with the last album, but they've been working on the new one for the better part of this year and I'm getting my hopes up early.

The best thing to happen to music this year is...The resurgence of vinyl. I know it's been happening for awhile now, but it makes me happier and happier every year.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...Teen soap star actors/actresses turned singers (I see you, Leighton Meester) and Trent Reznor's Twitter account. OK not the worst, but it was pretty painful. On a serious note? The Ticketmaster-Livenation merger. And autotune.

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YouTube video of the year goes to...Phoenix's "Lisztomania", the Brat Pack Mashup by avoidantconsumer, hands down. The amount of times I've watched it and grinned like a goofy idiot is embarrassing. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qtRQsCgYmtc

REBEKAH HAMMOND Smoky Carrot PR

Manic Street Preachers “Journal For Plagued Lovers” Royksopp “Junior” Bat For Lashes “Two Suns” Polly Scattergood “Polly Scattergood” Mew “No More Stories” Grammatics “Grammatics” My Latest Novel “Deaths and Entrances” Editors “In This Light And On This Evening” Frankmusik “Complete Me” Freelance Whales “Weathervanes” Breakout artists to look out for...Ellie Goulding, Freelance Whales and This Beautiful Thief The best thing to happen to music this year is...Lady Gaga, making pop acceptable again.

Her videos are fantastic.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is...The Astoria in London closed. It was a grotty place but fond memories and a pretty iconic venue.

Youtube video of the year goes to...Not sure why but I found myself watching this video again and again…http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=d4OhRVn_b80 – one of my top songs this year and a weirdly addictive video to watch!

IT’S TRUE ABOUT THE WEIRD PART!!

HELLO FRIENDS! Love what you’re reading so far? Share with us YOUR TOP 10 ALBUMS and favorite memories of the year! Send ‘em to indiependentmusic@gmail.com and get them published on our internetz!

READY FOR IM’S FAVORITE MUSIC OF ‘09? >>>

JINGYING’S LIST 1. Andrew Jackson Jihad “Can’t Maintain” - Sean and Ben make me glad I’m not alone dealing with social anxiety. A depressing yet charming record that will appeal to anyone with a dark sense of humor. The essential soundtrack to my mid-mid-life crisis.

2. Fake Problems “It’s Great To Be Alive” - Four boys with the talent of having fun rocking out, reminding us what it’s like being young. “Heart BPM” is possibly the best song ever written about youth.

3. Lucero “1372 Overton Park” - Ever grateful to have Lucero in my life. Nothing but heartfelt appreciation...I guess this is growing up.

4. Frank Turner “Poetry Of The Deed” - He makes me rethink my life and what the hell have I done with it. Frank is the voice of my generation. If he is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

5. Cobra Skulls “American Rubicon” - Love the bass. Love how political-minded they are. This year I’ve had one too many moments where “One Day I’ll Never” should’ve been playing in the background.

6, The Sidekicks “Weight Of Air” - There’s something about this record...a 90’s alt-rock throwback, if you will. A solid record through and through.

7. Strung Out “Agents Of The Underground” Album closer “Andy Warhol” is possibly the best song I’ve ever heard this year. This one really hits the nail on the head.

8. Pulley “Time Insensitive Material” EP - Hands down the best EP I’ve heard this year.

9. Austin Lucas “Somebody Loves You” - Give this man an acoustic guitar and he sings his bleeding heart out. “Go West” is such a beautiful song.

10. The Menzingers “Hold On, Dodge” EP - These guys are bringing sing-along pop punk back.

11. Yesterday's Ring “Diamonds in the Ditch“ - I’ve secretly been in love with these Montreal, Québec country punks. I don’t care if they’re songs for sad bastards, this album is criminally underrated.

Honorable mentions...

The Thermals “Now We Can See” Manchester Orchestra “Mean Everything To Nothing” Teenage Bottlerocket “They Came From The Shadows” Straylight Run “About Time” EP Mike Hale “ Lives Like Mine” Chuck Ragan “Gold Country” William Elliot Whitmore “Animals In The Dark” Cursive “Mama, I’m Swollen” Portugal. The Man “The Satanic Satanist” The Lawrence Arms “Buttsweat and Tears” EP Say Anything “Say Anything” Streetlight Manifesto "Would You Be Impressed?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-UTPKL-UGY That’s exactly how I want my cat to be trained. It has to be mentioned that this video was animated by the brilliant Jurjen Bosklopper (www.jurjenbosklopper.nl)

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CHECK OUT THESE BANDS! Failures Union - Definitely one of my favourite discoveries this year. “In What Way” are all the best parts of mid-90s indie rock in one fine gem. (www.myspace.com/thefailuresunion) Nothington (half of ex-Tsunami Bomb) - After this all-killer release “Roads, Bridges and Ruins”, 2010 is definitely going to be their year. (www.myspace.com/nothington) Miniature Tigers - “Tell It To The Volcano” makes me smile from start to finish. With an opener like “Cannibal Queen” how can you say no? (www.myspace.com/miniaturetigers) Dear Landlord - Side project of Copyrights, Off With Their Heads members, they’re quickly building a rabid fanbase with this year’s “Dream Homes”. (www.myspace.com/dearlandlord) The Martyr Saint - Another noteworthy band for southern rock lovers. Pick up “Autumn Lullabies for Summer Lovers” for free. (www.myspace.com/themartyrsaint) Right On Dynamite - What a dynamicsounding EP! I immediately fell in love with the catchy hooks. Bop along to this non-pretentious indie rock. (myspace.com/rightondynamite) fun. - The entire album screams it. If ex-Format man Nate Ruess and co don’t take you to a happy place with “Aim and Ignite”, I don’t know what will. (www.myspace.com/fun) Wisest music purchase (I like to call this my, er, best investment of ‘09) The entire Suburban Home catalogue. Home to insanely good bands (Drag The River, Stereotyperider, Ninja Gun, The Takers). So worth it.

The worst thing to happen to music this year is…autotune + stupid haircuts + tight neon pants = big bowl of wrong The best thing to happen to music this year is...indie labels are growing and doing so well. It’s comforting. Also, more artists giving away free music, which brings me to...

Free cool stuff to check out Ifyoumakeit - Pink Couch Sessions are my favorite. http://www.ifyoumakeit.com Bomb The Music Industry! “Scrambles” “Others!

Others!” (fantastic compilation) - Grab these and more gold from www.quoteunquoterecords.com Attica! Attica! “Napalm & Nitrogen” - Get your free copy over at atticaattica.org.

Death To False Hope Records - These guys know what they’re doing. Great stuff to pick up. www.deathtofalsehoperecords.com

“

ES ALL MY HERO SO WHAT IF ?

D SING KIN ARE THE LO

“

I FOUND M Y TRUE CA LLING, AND IT SOUNDS SO FUCKIN G GOOD

AMELIA’S LIST 1. The Sounds “Crossing The Rubicon” - This album makes me want to dance all night.

2. Heartsounds “Until We Surrender” Who says it's impossible to switch from metal to punk? Smooth, melodic sing-along skatepunk with dual vocals.

3. John Nolan “Height” - Soulful. Honest. Wonderful.

4. Broadway Calls “Good Views, Bad News” - 2009's most wonderful, straightforward pop-punk to date. Few bands write like that anymore.

5. Every Time I Die “New Junk Aesthetic” - Nothing ETID does is ever wrong. This is a creative work of destruction that leaves you wondering and wanting more.

6. The Forecast “Alive For The First Time” - Welcome back, guys. It’s one of those albums where you can listen at how happy the band is to be away from their ex-label. A great showcase of what this band is capable of.

7. Straylight Run “About Time” EP - One of Straylight Run's most passionate lyrics to-date. This EP shows a more direct and rock approach of the band.

8. The Swellers “Ups And Downsizing” - Crisp drumming, tight melodic punk melodies from the beginning to the end ensure that this album makes it to my list.

9. 1997 “Notes From The Underground” - Great bounce between punk and country without causing confusion.

10. A Day to Remember “Homesick” - One of the albums of the year for those who are into pop-punk/ hardcore. Catchy tunes makes this album easy to singalong to.

11. Metric “Fantasies” - Metric / Emily Haines is pure genius. This album sounds like an audiobook being played - mellow to edgy rock to intelligent and sensible lyrics, and oh damn, there's even one for the hippies (see “Gimme Sympathy”).

12. Destry “It Goes On” - Sure, I was upset and cried when Michelle left Straylight Run. "It Goes On" made that sadness disappear. An excellent collaboration with fellow musicians makes this an extremely listenable folk-rock album.

13. Rammstein “Liebe Ist Für Alle Da” - Wilkommen Sie zuruck, Rammstein. This album marks the band's return to their aggressive roots without sounding too heavy. Till's vocals, the energy and synth make an awesome combination. If only all comeback albums sound like that, there wouldn't be any disappointed fans, right?

BANDS ON IPOD ROTATION Lydia The Audition Blink-182 Thank god you are back to jog my memories of the happy pop-punk days.

Taking Back Sunday (Not sure why you are back on..)

Polar Bear Club

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BANDS TO LOOK OUT FOR...

Heartsounds - Ben Murray and Laura Nichol grazed numerous covers of metal magazines from their days in Light This City. The Heartsounds is formed as an outlet to pursue their passion in punk, and their blend of straightforward honest melodic skate-punk makes them a band to look out for.

T he y' l l soon be on c o v er s of punk magazines. (www.myspace.com/heartsoundsband)

Luna Mortis - You might know them from the days of their old name "The Ottoman Empire".

"The Absence" is the work of a band still trying to discover themselves, but huge things lie ahead for Luna Mortis, who manages to perfect the fused sound of Arch Enemy and Lacuna Coil. (www.myspace.com/lunamortismusic)

Halestorm - Before you fault me for their inclusion, hear me out. Though this band started in 1997, they released their self-titled debut album only this year. Lzzy Hale's vocals explain exactly why the band is touted as the female version of Shinedown. (www.myspace.com/ halestorm)

BEST VINYL PURCHASES 1. Murder By Death “Red of Tooth and The Claw” - Love the packaging 2. The Riverdales “Invasion USA” 3. Blink 182 “They Came To Conquer Uranus” - I’ll only give this up for USD 100m.

4. Straylight Run “Un Mas Dos” 5. Against Me “New Wave” - Yellow vinyl. How rad is having a vinyl in yellow?

The best thing to happen in music in 2009 is...Taylor Swift getting more publicity.

The worst thing to happen in music in 2009 is...the public’s overexposure to a certain pokerface. You suck.

-Kanye West's VMA outburst. Eh, why are you so supportive of Beyonce? Hidden affairs, perhaps?

-The increasing popularity of digital downloads. There's no economic sense to the consumer.

-Overpriced concert tickets. Gotta rob the bank to afford them.

Domokun 7 Eleven Slurpee ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZuwq40bduI

Blink 182: never really gone

Metric “Gimme Sympathy” Live at KEXP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6o5Me7EUEo Do you not get any goosebumps?

IM’s best moments of 2009 mainly, Aussie’s Soundwave Fest 2009 highlights: *Meet and greet with Lacuna Coil and seeing them live for the first time. Cristina Scabbia sounds exactly like on CD. Amazing vocalist. Minds are blown. *$2 meet and greets *Nine Inch Nails monster explosion *Lamb of God headlining the metal stage. Jaw-dropping. *BEERS, HOTDOGS AND GODZILLA-SLURPEES *Bedouin Soundclash = love *Alkaline Trio, finally *Seeing Straylight Run in an intimate club gig, with Minus The Bear/Jaguar Love (Amelia loves John Nolan) *Every Time I Die and Dillinger Escape Plan at the Espy.

Words cannot describe. *Everywhere we turned, we saw Erik (HORSE the band) *Geeked the hell out seeing Matt Skiba in the same airport terminal

THE LAST PAGE IM’s most anticipated of 2010 We love everything Mark Hoppus touches.

Motion City Soundtrack has roped in the Blink man to produce their new album “My Dinosaur Life”, which drops January 19th. If the first single “Disappear” is any indication, this album is gonna sound amazing.

Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel has been posting videos from the studio tracking their progress, apparently the new album will be titled “White Crosses”. The new stuff sounds really good so far. Follow his blog at http:// ifeelsicktomystomach.blogspot.com

IM’s fave singles of 2009 Amelia’s picks Motion City Soundtrack “Disappear” The Sounds “4 Songs And A Fight” Paramore ”Turn It Off” Straylight Run “I’m Through With The Past” Passion Pit “Moth’s Wings” (Thank a lot, Sydney and Fifa 2009.)

Kings Of Leon “Use Somebody” Skillet “Monster” Straight Outta Junior High “Tina Fey” Metric “Gimme Sympathy” / “Help I’m Alive” 30 Seconds To Mars “Kings And Queens” The Audition “Los Angeles”

Jingying’s picks Fake Problems “Heart BPM” / “Heartless” (Daytrotter session) Bouncing Souls “A Life Less Ordinary” Foundation “Begging to Bleed” William Elliot Whitmore “Hell Or High Water” Frank Turner “The Fastest Way Back Home” Pulley “Mandarin” AFI “Veronica Sawyer Smokes” New Found Glory “Listen To Your Friends” Set Your Goals “Summer Jam” Portugal. The Man “People Say” Bedouin Soundclash “Stand Alone” Matisyahu “One Day”

IM’s fave record stores/labels Amelia’s picks Vinyl Collective (www.vinylcollective.com) JB Hi-Fi - You made a lot of money from me! (www.jbhifi.com.au) Red Eye Records (www.redeye.com.au)

Alkaline Trio “This Addiction” - Their seventh studio album, set for a February release date, “draws lyrical inspiration from the band members' personal lives, addressing themes such as love, addiction, death, divorce, grief, suicide, politics, and war” according to Wikipedia. If there is any reason to be stoked for 2010 this would be it.

A new studio album can be expected from The Gaslight Anthem, who has entered the studio with producer Ted Hutt, who also worked with them on 2008’s “The ‘59 Sound”. Very, very excited to hear some new material.

Quentin Tarantino-approved, beloved indie rockers Murder By Death recently announced they start recording their fifth full-length studio album early December and the completed work is scheduled for release next spring.

Expect nothing short of stellar when it comes to Adam and co.

Arizona band Lydia, is currently recording their follow up to 2008's "Illuminate". Look forward to more melodies and hopefully, more vocal contribution by Mindy White, the band's keyboardist.

Angels And Airwaves’ "Love" will coincide with the release of the new AVA film of the same name out February 14th (aww). Selfreleased, the U2/stadium-sounding album will be released as a free download.

Jingying’s picks Suburban Home Records/Vinyl Collective Paper and Plastick (paperandplastick.com) Missing Link Records (www.missinglink.net.au) Fat Wreck Chords No Idea Records

Bayside is upbeat about the new yet-untitled, still label-less and currently producer-less album. The situation seems like there's nothing to be optimistic about, but the band is writing in a rented house for the first time. Excited? We are.