Burn the negative
In the Atmosphere
- travelogue

Calvin Harris
Ready for the Weekend
you used to hold me

Flashguns
Locarno (Single)

Official Secrets Act
The Girl From The BBC (single)

These New Puritans
Hidden
Hologram

Morrissey
Swords
If You Don’t Like Me, Don’t Look At Me

TV21
Forever 22
In another world

Delphic
Acolyte
Acolyte

La Roux
La Roux
armour love

Neon Highwire
Luminescence EP
Neon Blink

The Harmonics
Soley road (single)

The radio show / podcast of the best CDs of 2009 #30-#16 is here.

2009 Picks for the best CDs are selected amongst LPs only (as much as I loved some EPs this year….) AND based on the album’s overall quality — these albums below don’t just have 3 or 4 good songs on them – it’s a solid album that’s worth your download or walk-into-a-store-and-purchase time.

To listen to even more tracks from the artists below, go to 2009 Podcasts and do a search (“Edit”, “Find”) by artist name.

My top 30 CDs for 2008 are here.
——-

#15. Congrats to Canterbury – a group fresh out of the waters of 2009 – for recently celebrating over 10,000 free downloads of their CD. And while it’s gratis don’t think this is some ‘nothing’ CD that a bunch of wankers smashed together for no good reason. This is the type of CD you, we, *I should be out paying $ for… (using the money we *should get back from some of the baddies we *did buy this year!) . But thanks to ferocious competition and marketing these boys have pulled a smart move in ’09 by offering the 1st one and hopefully hooking us on their next one… We’ll be hearing more from them on the show in new year

Canterbury
CD Thank You (Free CD)
- take me out of the wall

#14. I must’ve played about half this album in ’09. Feel free to check past podcasts for the tunes from these Glaswegians.

Wake the President
CD You can’t change that boy
- Remember fun?

#13. Sounding a little like Arcade Fire are we? Well, they are sharing the same producer – but seriously, a beautiful album.

The Maccabees
CD Wall of Arms (May release)
- Love you better

#12. Welsh band SFA said this CD is meant to be played at outside venues only…sorry boys ..you’re indoors on the radio today! The CD is Led Zep, Jim Noir, Beach Boys and Thievery Corporation rolled into a summer ball of fun – with a few german lyrics just ta mess wit ur head! It’s prog, it’s art rock, it’s pop …. and it’s good.

Super Furry Animals
CD Dark days light Years
- white socks flip flops

#11. Pop Noise Records is the company that made the intellingent move to get behind Some Beans (AkA Andy Fonda). Thank you Pop Noise for supporting Andy who writes, play, and produces the CD (o you lay z lay z boy!). Almost every track is a pleasure. Think Portishead, Buck 65, Cut Chemist…. If you like this track, you’ll like the others that style between low-fi/ambient/electr/jazz/pop.

Some Beans
CD Fear and loathing in Tipton St. John
- Turning Blue

#10. A highly underrated CD of indie rock. It’s like well thought out twee with a fun twist … and lyrics you really you need to stop and listen to cause there’s actually some meaning in them (go figure)!

Art brut
CD Art brut Vs satan
- am I normal?

#9. Dance punk at its best! A new band from Carlisle, UK. Burn the Negative

Burn the Negative
CD In The Atmosphere (May release)
- she said she said

#8. My review of their CD on their website

The Lightyears
CD London, England (Jan. release)
- I’m not

#7. She redefined 80′s retro music (is that possible? …she re-retrod-retro?). A fun CD but don’t be fooled – there was many years of work gone into the making – hear about this and more in my 2009 interview with La Roux.

La Roux
CD La Roux (June)
- tigerlily

#6. The addition of Johnny Marr only makes this rock band even better than they’d already be with their 4th go around on a CD. Read my full CD review here. Stay tuned for my interview with them in Jan/10.

The Cribs
CD Ignore the ignorant (Sep. release)
- cheat on me

#5. My 2009 interview with Arctic Monkeys (Alex & Jamie). Artistic integrity & evolution was their goal for their 3rd CD and they did achieve it. …. yet in the back of my mind I can’t always help wondering if they reeaally needed to go to the Cali desert & NY to find it – considering all the production talent back home (granted some production was Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford). Nonetheless a great rock music output that shouldn’t have scared away as many base fans as it did – it’s just that this CD took a few more ‘go-rounds’ before you went ….yeah baby!

Arctic Monkeys
CD Humbug (Aug. release)
- Cornerstone

#4. My 2009 interview with Doves at the U.K. festival “Bestival”. My fav interview of the year??? I almost died from a cold waiting for them but it was worth it! The interview pics alongside the audio will give you the whole crazy fun.

Doves
CD Kingdom of Rust (April release)
- The Greatest Denier

#3. Great scots! …and just like the band in my #1 spot, they were early out of the gates in ’09 and held the bar high for all that followed. Every song on the CD (but one) is great. Even the slow song Katherine Kiss Me fits well. Do I like this CD better than their changed-the-music-landscape-and-reminded-the-world-where-scotland-was- 2004 debut album? .. hmmmm…..

Franz Ferdinand
CD Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Jan. release)
- no you girls

#2. My 2009 interview with Florence.I think I played almost every song off this album and some twice over. She’s got a gorgeous, emotive, and powerful voice, well drafted lyrics, songs from the quirky to the serious to the surreal, Flo is an entertainer and a dreamer all wrapped into one. My full album review is here.

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- I’m not calling you a liar

#1. A great CD out from the gates in 2009. Wondered all year if it’d be topped and the answer came back 11 months later. Nope. Well Harry Mcveigh, Jack Lawrence Brown and Charles Cave, all in their early 20s gave us a complete, well rounded, well orchastrated, fabulously lyricized (is that a word?) album – carrying the gamut of emotions. 2010 is supposed to bring more work from these boys. I can hardly wait…though I’ll try (try) to temper expectations… and if they never produce anything better than this, I’ll still be happy for this one. My interview earlier this year with songwriter Charles Cave.

White lies
CD To lose my life (Jan. release)
- Farewell to the Playground

Arctic Monkeys
CD Humbug
- Fire and a Thud

Jamie T.
CD Kings and queens
- the man’s machine

The View
CD which bitch
- Give Back the Sun

Burn the Negative
CD In The Atmosphere
- lights

Dizzee Rascal
CD Tongue n’ cheek
- bonkers

The Victorian English Gentlemens Club
CD Love on an Oil Rig.(14sep)
- Periscope Envy

Basement Jaxx
CD Scars
- Scars

The Clientele
CD Bonfires on the Heath (Oct CD release)
- harvest time

The Big Pink
CD A Brief History of Love
- Frisk

Muse
CD The resistance
- Unnatural selection

Canterbury
CD Thank You (Download album free here)
- Take Me Out Of The Wall

Apart from my usual discussion on new releases, artist news and my Hallowe’en costume this year   …here’s the tracks from today’s show….

Playlist:

Patrick Wolf
CD The bachelor
- Battle

The Cribs
CD Ignore the Ignorant
save your secrets

Detachments
CD out spring 2010
- The Flowers That Fell (single)

Arctic Monkeys
CD Humbug
- Dance Little Liar

The Vals (from Belfast, N.Ireland)
new CD Sticks and Stones
- Yesterday Today

The Longcut
CD Open hearts
- something inside

Editors
CD In This Light And On This Evening
Papillon

Florence Welch (from Florence and the Machine) – Interview Excerpt

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- you’ve got the love

Big Pink
CD A Brief History of Love
- Velvet

Fuck Buttons
New CD Tarot Sport
- Rough Steez

Wave Machines
CD Wave If you’re Really There
Keep The Lights On

Basement Jaxx
CD Scars
- a possibility

Burn the Negative
CD In the atmosphere
- camden

PLAYLIST

Just Jack
CD All Night Cinema
- Doctor Doctor

Basement Jaxx
new CD Scars
- raindrops

Joe Gideon & the Shark
new CD Harum Scarum
- Harum Scarum

The Twilight Sad
new CD Forget the Night Ahead
- Seven years of Letters

Johnny Foreigner
new CD Grace and the Bigger Picture
- More Heart and Less Tongue

Hot Melts
new CD Hot Melts
- 24

Golden Silvers
new CD True romance
- Another Universe

Since 92 Manchester puts on annual music industry convention called In The City (Inthecity.co.uk)
This yr it took place Oct 18-20. ITC aims to educate and inspire music artists/industry people.
There’s discussion panels on emerging issues in musician and up’n coming bands play. Four discussions this year have been podcasted.

I encourage you to check them out (itc.co.uk, then click podcasts) specifically one called The Importance of Being Idols. Panel is outspoken Jon McClure (Reverend & the Makers), BBC Radio DJ Tom Robinson, Steve White (drummer Paul Weller), Clint Boon (keyboardist Inspiral Carpets) and more…

The discussion focuses on the media’s dumbing down of artists into celebrities, the public’s responsibility/involvement in doing so, and the resulting decline of artistic creativity. An interesting part of the discussion focuses on a movement called InstigateDebate(.com) — about the public’s role to redirect/generate dialogue on ethical, international & domestic issues.

Youtubes of celebrities interviews on these topics are available. Interesting to note their range of knowledge, and comfort discussing such issues – some surprisingly in the know, others sad.

Go to:

www.youtube.com

Instigatedebate.com

And now…back to the music !

The Red Zoids
- I Am The Man (Single) — DOWNLOAD FREE RED ZOIDS TRACKS HERE
note: EP Kicking Screaming (out soon)

Frank Turner
new CD Poetry of the Deed
- Live Fast and Die Hard

Dizzee Rascal
new CD Tongue n’ Cheek
- Road Rage

Burn the Negative
new CD In the Atmosphere
- She Said She Said

Editors
new CD In This Light And On This Evening
- In This Light And On This Evening

Honor Before Glory
- Broken Bottles, Empty Hearts (single)

Have a groovy Hallowe’en week!! Go out there ‘n kick some ghost butt!!!!

SEE MY CD REVIEWS FOR THE ARTISTS BELOW IN RED on Canada’s Biggest Music Website:   EXPLOREMUSIC.COM (as of Thurs. Oct 22)

PLAYLIST:

Editors
New CD In This Light And On This Evening
- East Raw Meat = Blood Drool

The Twilight Sad
CD Forget the night ahead
- Made to disappear

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- Girl with one eye

Hot Melts
New CD Hot Melts
- Happiness Is A Weakness

Just Jack
CD All Night Cinema
- The day I died

Jamie T.
new CD Kings and Queens
- Castro dies

Dizzee Rascal
CD Tongue n’ Cheek
- Chillin wiv da man dem (produced by Cage, NY rapper, found of The Weathermen)

Calvin Harris
new CD Ready for the Weekend
- Worst day (feat. US hip hop artist Izza Kizza)

Basement Jaxx (w/Santigoldl)
new CD Scars
- Saga

The Cribs
CD Ignore the Ignorant
- We Were Aborted

Echo & the Bunnymen
new CD The fountain
- Think I need it too

The Longcut
new CD Open hearts
- Repeated

Burn the Negative
CD In the atmosphere
- Change

Ian Brown
CD My way
- laugh now

Madness
CD The liberty of Norton Folgate
- Idiot Child

Arctic Monkeys
EP Crying lightning
- Red right hand

The Twilight Sad
new CD Forget the night ahead
- I became a prostitute

Wild Beasts
CD Two Dancers
- This is our lot

Golden Silvers
CD True romance
- Shakes

Esser
CD Braveface
- i love you

Bibio
CD Ambivalence avenue
- Cry! Baby!

Jamie T.
new CD Kings and Queens
- hocus pocus

Espionage of the Loc
- Start again (single)

Manic Street Preachers
CD Journal for Plague Lovers
- this joke sport severed

Burn the Negative
new CD In the Atmosphere
- low

Jack Penate
CD Everything is new
- So Near

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- howl

The Rakes
CD Klang
- Muller’s Ratchet

Burn the Negative
CD In the Atmosphere (out Sep14)
- Wonder Why

The Cribs
CD Ignore the ignorant
- city of bugs

Zero 7
CD Yeah ghost
- sleeper

Doves interview – Excerpt