Paul Collin’s of the band/project Beirut sent us his favorite Albums and Live Acts of the past year. Check them out!
Best Records of 2009
1. Sunn O))) – Monoliths and Dimensions
Beautiful. “Point Break” is one of my favorite films of all time. “Point” Director, Katherine Bigalow, is great friends with Richard Serra. M&D’s cover art is taken from a Richard Serra piece. No more needs to be said.
2. Mississippi Records – String of Pearls: Jewels of the 78 RPM Era 1918 to 1951 (LP)
Mississippi Records, would be my vote for label of the year. Absolutely fantastic stuff. High quality vinyl. Low prices. String of Pearls strides effortlessly through over three decades of music from all over the world. Amelita Galli-Curci’s “Crepuscule” is like a bullet from a gun.
3. A Hawk and A Hacksaw – Delivrance
Virtuosic musicianship. AHAAH push themselves so much with every release. It is so exciting to hear a band that always gets better with every recording. Delivrance is there best record yet. (They also get major points for releasing a 78 this year!)
4. Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish I Were and Eagle
Like all great progressive songwriters (take Nilsson), the great albums are a mix of the genius and the ridiculous. “Eagle” walks this line. Side one is nearly flawless. Side two starts with the most ridiculous drums you’ve ever heard. I loathe consistency. I love Bill Callahan. Best live show of the year.
5. Kompakt - Total 10
Kompakt is 10 years old. This record is a remarkable celebration of that. It seems like everyone really brought their A game for this one. Jurgen Paape’s “Ofterschwang” is the shit!
6. Fritz Gore & the Talismen
Amazing reissue/comp of German Spiritual-Jazz group. Funk and free-jazz is rarely balanced so well.
7. Group Bombino – Guitars from Agadez vol. 2
Sublime Frequencies took World Music back from the Cheesy Hippy masses. The Group Bombino recording is truly unbelievable. Everything you would expect from tuareg rebels. Everything SF put out this year deserves to make this list.
8. jj – no2
I saw Steve Reich get interviewed once. The interviewer said that Reich was great because you didn’t have to pay complete attention to the music. Your could zone out for a moment and still get the full experience. I feel that way about jj. It is at once background music and house party music.
9. Darius Jones Trio – Man’ish Boy
I wish everyone could see Darius live. Great live free-jazz, really puts the genre into perspective for me. You have to witness the madness. Also, watching Cooper-moore play piano is like witnessing history. Free-jazz is alive and well, and living in New York.
10. Mississippi Records – I Woke Up One Morning in May (LP)
Mississippi! Their is a song on here where a bird is heard tweeting. MR proves to us, yet again, that everything older is better.
Best Live Bands
1. Cooper-Moore
2. Sunn O)))
3. Bill Callahan
4. Darius Jones Trio
5. The Very Best
Visit Beruit
Download their track
Beruit – A Sunday Smile
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