Another 2009 List.

Well it’s been a semi eventful year I guess. There were gigs, finishing up my internship at Amp Head, drinking & swearing like a sailor, smoking like a chimney, starting to write more (including on this site) & a trip up to Sydney and back to my beloved Melbourne. Next year i'm starting uni (yes i’m going to be one of those creepy mature aged students) & saving up for my holiday to Europe with my friend Franny.

Last year I did a more extensive list of my favourite songs but this year it’s all a bit lacklustre so bare with me here. In doing it, I did find it hard to write an extensive list. For someone that loves music so much I don’t seem to branch out of my musical comfort zone and search for new music. Maybe i’ll put that on my New Years resolution list.

In no particular order:

Arctic Monkeys - Pretty Visitors: Humbug was one of my favourite albums of the year and choosing the best track off the album was hard. Check out my review here. Facetious and snarky observational lyrics as usual but this time dark overtones with help of producer Josh Homme.




Bloc Party - One More Chance: Synthy indie goodness with an awesome film clip to match. This came out as a single, hopefully the next album will be full of tracks like this one.





The Virgins Feat. Sky Ferreira – Teen Lover Remix: Super campy & catchy. This is a hell of alot better than anything that The Virgins have brought out by themselves.





Jamie T - Sticks 'N' Stones: I have a thing for English men. Especially pasty white ones that rap and have cheeky lyrics. This does not apply to Australian rappers.





Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man: Banjos and swearing AND Englishmen. I think this will pull off a number one spot in Triple J’s Hottest 100. Hopefully it will beat Luke “man of God” Steele.





Phoenix – Lisztomania: I also have a thing for French men. Phoenix never disappoint me and always put me in an obnoxiously happy mood. I’ve spent quite a few nights at the Ding Dong Lounge dancing on the stage to this.





The Dead Weather – Treat Me Like Your Mother: Yet another Jack White project, although in my opinion it turned out better than The Raconteurs or Saboteurs or whatever they’re called in Australia. The filmclip showcases that they obviously shoot at their mothers with huge assault rifles.




Sia - Buttons {CSS Remix}: It’s Sia and CSS. Adelaide meets São Paulo.







The Temper Trap - Fader: I’m biased. Plus it combines catchy pop songs with an ethereal voice.






Them Crooked Vultures - New Fang: Homme. Oh yes. One of the best supergroups i’ve heard. They don’t beat the Traveling Wilburys though.






Vampire Weekend – Cousins: They continue to bring the Soweto inspired fun. Someone said to me “but it doesn’t even have a proper rhythm”, but they liked ‘Audacity Of Huge’ by Simian Mobile Disco so I win by default.





Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll: Not as good as any of the tracks on ‘Fever To Tell’ but then again I don't think anything they bring out will compare to that album, plus it’s a completely different sound. More keyboards, less guitar.




Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool: Another one of my favourite albums of the year, yet another band full of English men. I’m going to be frothing at the mouth if I ever get to London.





P Money Feat. Vince Harder – Everything: Well it was released in the UK in 2009 so it counts. I suppose this would be my shameful vice, cheesy RnB. Plus the film clip is adorable.

Top Gigs Of The Year
- The Streets @ Billboard
- Dillinger Escape Plan @ The Espy
- Wolf & Cub and Van She @ The Melbourne Zoo (most likely because I was drinking out of a wine bottle and looking at monkeys and when the bands were playing the lions were roaring along)
- The Presets @ Festival Hall
- Kings Of Leon @ Rod Laver Arena (even if they did play stuff from the shit albums)
*edit - Simon & Garfunkel @ Acer Arena (how could have I forgotten this, it was AMAZING, I even cried..i'm a sook)

Feliz Navidad, Happy Kwanzaa, Bah Humbug, Happy New Year!
Nancy Magoo xx