Best of the 2009 Hot Damn Jamz: Tim’s Picks
December 30th, 2009 | 12:00 pm est |
“There are no good bands anymore.”They don’t write songs the way they used to.” “2009 was a terrible year for music just like every year has been ever since I was a kid and music was perfect!!” Said, thought or written any of those things lately? This is for you, then. My year end Hot Damn Jamz are the 10 bands who hit in 2009 that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who feels that music, especially indie pop and rock, is all over. Wake up sleepwalker, because music is as good as it ever was, and these bands are the proof. They may not be the ten bands you would pick, understood, but he important thing is that there are ten bands (at least) out there for everyone. Every damn year!
Washed Out
Chill wave is just about the dorkiest style since last year’s shitgaze tag, but Washed Out transcend the style by being so synthy and beautiful that they make me want to cry and sleep at the same time.
Big Troubles
First time I heard “Freudian Slips” I thought I was uncovering some long-lost, late-80’s UK noise pop gem. It’s just some guys from New Jersey, but they know exactly how to wrap a pretty tune in some dirty noise!
The Drums
“Let’s Go Surfing” is their jam, but the rest of the songs on their debut EP are almost as good.
Magic Kids
You might think that pop collectives from the South were done around 1999 but Magic Kids aren’t having it. Their amazingly sweet tune “Hey Boy” is both a perfect recreation of the E6 sound and feel, and a trump card. I don’t remember many songs back then being quite this good!
Personal and the Pizzas
Dese guys are the best rock & roll band since Lenny & the Squigtones.
Veronica Falls
The breakup of the Royal We was sad at the time but their dissolution led to the formation of many good groups and Veronica Falls is one of them. Their gloomily catchy single “Found Love in a Graveyard” was the perfect Autumn rocker this year.
Internet Forever
Clanky, new wave-inspired shout pop from the UK – “Break Bones” has been stuck in my head since I heard it a few weeks ago. “Cover the Walls” is good too!
Title Tracks
Does the world really need another wiry, nervy power pop group? One listen to Title Tracks and the answer is HELL YES! Look for their debut album in Feb. 2010.
Electric Youth
This fresh-faced Toronto duo probably weren’t alive in the 80’s and only had their parents’ dusty albums to learn from, but somehow they sound like the perfect pop band for 2009; all technicolor teardrops and synthesizers heartbeats. “Replay” has been stuck on repeat for ages around my cubicle.
Free Energy
If you hear a better rocker than “Free Energy” this year, please let me now yesterday! These guys sound the way I always wished Weezer did.
Tim Sendra for the win! God bless you hot damn jamz people, one and all.
Thanks, Mom.
Magic Kids are NO Olivia Tremor Control, not even close. But I like this song a lot!
from what i heard i can tell that some of Pitchfork’s next favorite bands from next year are on this list.
Haven’t seen this one anywhere here …
Ida Con Snock — Michael Hurley
Any new Hurley album is to be cherished but this one is extra special. Slow down everybody and take a listen.
Good grief. Is that the best you could come up with? You’ve proven the point you were trying to disprove: There are no good bands anymore.
one new band comes out every year that’s worth listening to. maybe two, never three, sometimes zero.
Yeah, for Personal and the Pizzas! Drew’s other band, The Mantles, put out a couple of 7’s and an amazing full length this year. My concern with the current music scene is all these great singles, but no supreme masterpieces of an entire albums length. ADHD nation. No one ever says, “oh I liked that one scene” from a movie. Why do we that to albums?
Saying that no new bands are worthwhile is on par with saying no new director or author did anything this year. It is plain nonsense. A band you don’t know about this year will be your favorite band in three years. Or, maybe, you hate indie stuff and should look into different types of music.
pete is right. all of these bands suck. music blows.
Hello,
where can you get this music? do they have records out yet? i am always up for a new listen, but can’t be effed with Myspace?
Man, such crap on here.
3 original bands from Brisbane well worth checking out:
http://www.myspace.com/thestressofleisure
http://www.myspace.com/ghostboywithgoldenvirtues
http://www.myspace.com/brementownmusic
Nice picks!
(Except Pete and the Pizzas + Free Energy … Awful trash. These bands rock like my grandma’s ash.)
Veronica Falls, Title Tracks and Electric Youth are the only things remotely worthwhile here. The rest are rubbish.
Man, I remember when I used to love allmusic for being an alternative to Pitchfork. Guess those days are over.
Yeah, 2009 was pretty lame. I don’t agree that there aren’t 10 good bands out there, but these sure as hell aren’t them. What garbage.
Washed Out and Electric Youth are the only remotely interesting groups on this list. And even they are just revivalists; they add an interesting twist to things at least.
http://www.myspace.com/colonelcrazeandthehunch
‘Let’s Go Surfing’ is a fucking good song.
Apart from that meh.
I don’t agree that 2009 was a bad year for music. I think it was pretty good as things go. True, some of the best events were reissues, but I heard a number of new things I really liked. I’m not going to say what they are, too easy to fall into the “my bands rule, your bands suck” non-argument.
I gotta agree with Pete…however, all this has proven is that
whoever made THESE picks, did not listen to enough new music
last year…there was some excellent new music for 09…just not on THIS list!
Lots of great music, sure, but that does not equate to a lot of great bands. Surely I’m not the only one here who remembers what an honest-to-goodness rock and roll band is? Pixes, Police, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, Husker Du, Aerosmith, the Who, the Ramones, Jethro Tull, Jane’s Addiction, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, ZZ Top, X, Van Halen, Faith No More, Deep Purple and the Beatles! Come on now, we are allowed to set our sights a little higher. It’s not about style, or mine vs. yours (I don’t necessarily like all the bands I just named but, by God, they were bands). It’s not even about actual excellence in music. I repeat: making some great music does not make you a great band. I’m not even sure what it is myself. I think it has something to do with a feeling of power. A great rock and roll band is about ruling the world. So many of today’s bands just seem so ‘cutesy’ and ‘deep’ and (very sorry) ‘wimpy’ and they’re novelty wears off after a couple of albums. Where are today’s greatest bands in the world?
dear eddie -
i showed you my list, now you show me yours.
Free Energy, (your Greatest Rocker of 2009!) sounds an awful lot like Sloan. except those guys did it 15 years ago.
I agree with you – there are as many good new bands as there have always been. You just gotta keep and open mind and go hunting…
Well done.
The problem today, is that there’s too many artists. If you go back before, there was not so many choices. Today it’s so easy to record and distribute music that there are music style for anyone. You have to seek to find a band in the style you like.It’s more difficult to find one but a lot are popular in their respective style.
I’m tired of people saying “there is nothing out there today.” There really is, you just have to look for it. It’s not like the 60’s where many great groups were also very popular. The 60’s probably were the best decade because the doors of creativity were still being opened. Even so, every period has great artists. At the same time, every period has terrific obscure and lesser known music close to (if not on) the level of the period’s greats.
“making some great music does not make you a great band.”
pete, I think that is true also, and an interesting point. I think it is the structure of the industry today that doesn’t give us a “Beatles for today” or whoever. What do you think?
At the same time, great music is great music no matter who makes it.
you have got to be shitting me!
Do I need to ask the obvious question for all of the naysayers? Tim Sendra is a true purveyor of INDIE POP. Knowing that, how can you not appreciate these bands? Yes, you may not like them, but they all fall under the moniker of indie pop (whether or not you like monikers is irrelevant…they exist). Tim is incredibly consistent in his recommendations. Frankly, I look forward to every list Tim produces. Do I like every band? Not even close. But I LOVE being exposed to new bands.
And to “Matt M”…how can you say this is sounds like something Pitchfork would recommend? None of it sounded like Animal Collective. Tim Sendra is predictatble – I agree. But Pitchfork is pretty predictable these days as well. What I suggest we all do is find MULTIPLE sites and posters and learn what each of their styles are. Then we can bask in multitudes of styles and genres.
But don’t bash Tim Sendra. He adds way too much sunshine pop to our lives.
I liked Tim’s comment to Eddie. If you have a problem, simply list your own picks. I’ve liked a lot that Tim posted, and I would add (I’m sure someone previously mentioned all of these bands): Surf City, So Cow, Ladybird, Christmas Island, Teenage Cool Kids, Cocoanut Grove, and The Fresh and Onlys.
Kevin – the check’s in the mail! Thanks for providing your list, dude. I’m bout to check out So Cow and Christmas Island right now. The rest are already faves. The Fresh & Onlys were like #13 on my HDJz list.
the most important point is that there ARE great bands today. the people who typically disagree are lazy and refuse to find good bands. they still think Pink Floyd is progressive. that said, the complete opposite end of the spectrum is when pretentious indie-hipsters mention bands that no one has heard of and say that they are “the next big thing”. i’d be willing to make a wager with mr. sendra that NONE of these bands “make it” it any way. ‘washed out’ and ‘the drums’ already have some “indie credibility” but none of these bands have proven anything, not will they achieve any success in 2010. if you want to reach out to the pessimistic, include bands that have already formed a footing but are on the precipice of making it “big” (relatively speaking) such as ’spoon’, ‘white denim’, ‘grizzly bear’, etc.
i’m not saying the aforementioned bands “suck”, but none saved rock and roll in 2009 nor will any save it in 2010. btw, rock and roll doesn’t need saving, 2009 was epic!
In the world of literature, these songs are like bubblegum comics. David Crosby is probably coughing on his mustache when he hears these groups are referred to as musicians.
to tim and really anyone else who enjoyed these songs: they’re an older band, but I think you might really like them: The Coral. my favorite song is “In the Morning”. if you already know them, just take this as an affirmation of your (in my opinion) good taste.
and to all the haters: aint it grand that you can so surely proclaim your superiority?
There are no good music critics anymore.
There hasn’t been any truly groundbreaking music this year, and this list proves it.
i’m on the doorstep of 50 and i couldn’t agree more tim. i’ve had countless friends tell me the same tired old crap: “music ain’t what it used to be”. i agree and think that it might actually be better. “all music nowadays sucks”. well you ain’t been listening for the last 30 years then. getting old is one thing, getting crusty is quite another! hey rustman, i can only imagine what benny goodman said or thought when he first heard c,s,n&y!
Best of 2009 features the Title Tracks who don’t even have an actual album out until 2010? A little bit of a stretch, no?
Your 100% right saying that music, and all entertainment is not as good as it used to be. Want proof?
I live in Vegas and they paid HUNDREDS of MILLIONS to get Celine Dion to sing here, also Cher, Bette Middler, Prince had a show, even Barry Mannilow. They offered this money to Madonna, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson and several others. This 20-30 years AFTER they were in their prime. With $100 million 20-30 years after you were big.
Jump to 2030. What music artist will be offered $100 million? Jay-Z, T-pain, Hannah Montana, Slip Knot, Usher, Rihanna, Jonas Bros, Daughtry…. Let me answer for you, NO ONE. NONE OF THEM! Barry Manillow makes $50 mill a year right now, that’s more than T-pain, Jay-z, and Rihanna make combined! And Barry Manillow is the weakest of the old artists.
The artists of today are all non-performers, average look, average voice, basic songs. Nothing unique, different, original. There are 4 keys to super stardom. A very unique look, voice, music, and be bale to perform. Look at Daughtry. A great but un-unique voice, songs are basic chords that have been played for 50 years, no style in his appearance (jeans and jacket), as a performer he stands in one spot. Compare that to Prince. No one sounds like Prince, his music uses all different instruments and every song is unique, his look changes with each song but the boots are signature, and his performance is amazing. This is why Prince can make $200 million a year 25 years later and Daughtry, by 2020 he’ll be long forgotten forever….
One more thing. To those who complain there is great music out there, please read my posting above and tell me if the music is so great, why will none of the artists of today be offered $100 million contracts to perform in Vegas. They’re music is good but they’ll all be unheard of within 5-10 years.
To Cheap Mastering, first – the amount of money made by an artist for a show is not a barometer for musical goodness/talent/quality or however else you want to define it. While it means they are in demand (which I respect) it does not mean their music is inherently better than music making less money. Second – Who is the target audience in Vegas? Generally it’s probably 35 to 65 year olds who have money to travel and value mass appeal and nostalgia over interesting new music. Madonna and Bon Jovi were the top earners in 2009. Do you think they are the two best artists of 2009?
wow…free energy rocks