Wait, Is Bitte Orca The Best Album Of 2009?
This post is a really big deal because we never ask questions like this. (We always ask questions like this.) But for real this time ... did Bitte Orca do it? Is this the one? It's almost December right? At SXSW, where Dirty Projectors debuted the Bitte material in a set that's a frontrunner for my favorite show of the year, Dave Longstreth punctuated the 45 minute premiere of his triumphant, fractured pop opuses and Meredith Monking mind explosions with a matter-of-fact declaration: "Those are all new songs, from a new album we have called Bitte Orca. We're pretty excited about it." We have been too, and so has the rest of the internet, asking questions and giving it scores that aren't high enough, etc. I don't think we'd rewrite a thought from our Premature Ejaculation, but we'd add that having had some time with the album, it's one of few this year that rewards -- and gets better -- with sustained listening and revisitation. It don't stop. And as the suite Longstreth composed in its wake for Björk (in just one week) demonstrated, neither will DPs.
Anyway, we're taking off for Bonnaroo. We'll see DPs play the David Byrne-curated stage on Friday, yay. As always we'll have more photos than you need and Scott and I will be manning the Tweet, but until that coverage begins this weekend we're gonna leave you with the best gift we can: A full stream of what is possibly maybe the best album of 2009.
Bitte Orca is out now. Buy a Walkman and dig in.
[Photo by Sarah Cass]
Posted at 4:32 PM by amrit
Tags: Dirty Projectors
ANCO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all.
Score = -30
anco sux. they are so unoriginal.
miley cyrus > animal collective > DC talk > grizzly bear
Score = -79
holy shit, you referenced DC talk in a *cough* well crafted burn, well done! bravo!
Bitte Orca is the best record of 2009 with the only rival being Vecktamist
I don't get AC -- I've tried a bunch of times, don't get it --
Score = -8
DP < Dirty Projectors
GB < Grizzly Bear
ANCO < Animal Collective
Enough w/ the abbrev, plz.
ty.
Score = 68
BItte Orca kills MPP...and that saying something for a Ted Leo album. Wait, what? That's not Ted Leo. Well I'll be damned. Best Non-Ted Leo-Ted Leo album of the year, hands down.
Score = 1
This album is far better than the Merriweather....
So I would say, so far, yes.
Score = -46
why does no one like you? everything you post instantly has red highlighted vote downs.
Score = 30
because he's Canadian??
Score = 17
I think it's because he's literally the only stereogum commentator with a webcam headshot for his graphic.
Score = 30
Don't be an asshole.
Score = -20
Actually most albums this year are better than MPP. Animal Collective have just been over hyped across most music blogs. It's a shame most people can't see this as all their previous albums are infinitely better such as Feels and Strawberry Jam.
Score = -1
I guess I can agree with that statement, but I'd go so far as to say that ANYTHING is INFINITELY better that MPP for purely logical reasons...
Let BO = Bitte Orcha, MPP = Merriweather,
BO > MPP yet... BO < X
Therefore, it is logically sound to assume that
X = a donkey's dick
The best album of the year is Veckatimest, barring any unforseable releases by The National and/or Radiohead.
Score = -34
False. I've got both albums, and although I've spent more time with MPP, I think it is faaaaaar better than Veckatimest.
Veckatimest is still a great album, however.
Score = 5
indie gods save me, but I sort of agree with this mofo. I can jam with MPP fine but i didn't like it nearly as much as Vecka. also the National and Radiohead are both faves of mine.
check out Ben Sine's 6/28/09 post; that kind of shit is constructive. not everyone likes DP, so if you're going to debate if this is the best album, you need to talk in less subjective terms.
GB > Green Day lollllz
Score = 0
I'll give a +1 to anyone with a Kingdom of Loathing pic.
Score = 1
Also, I think this is a highly important issue that needs to be discussed level-headedly and with as much respect for contrasting opinions as possible.
Score = 8
No fucking way.
Score = 21
agreed, no way... MPP is still the best of the year. this is close thou
Score = -4
Ok enough already, stop looking for the best album of 2009. I'm really not trying to be negative, but there is plenty of time to decide what the best album is at THE END OF THE YEAR when you can make a fair assessment. Its this constant early judging and evaluation and "who said it first" mentality that is making independent music unnecessarily competitive, stripping away the value of the music for only how it compares to everything else. Music shouldn't be a competition about who's the best, please stop making it into it.
Score = 221
psssh who are we kidding we love this stuff
Score = -1
Yeah, competition didn't work out too well for The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Beach Boys!
Score = -2
Face Control deserves a lot more love.
Score = 57
If by Face Control you mean Dragonslayer (the new album by the superior member of Wolf Parade) you are correct (although neither can rival MPP, Veckatimest or Bitte Orca at this point). Face Control sounds exactly like every other song/album that Dan has ever put out.
Score = 1
it's honestly fucking possible. depends how ambivalence avenue turns out.
Score = 0
I'd like to see Dirty Projectors remix Animal Collective and vice versa.
Score = 1
It's just safe to say ,easpecially in Steroegum's eyes, Domino Records is the label having the beat year in music.
Score = 11
Under that logic, the next Arctic Monkeys album should get the following "best album of the year!!!" headline.
Score = 2
Domino's been great this whole decade.
Score = 10
I'd like to see Dirty Projectors remix Animal Collective and vice versa. Also, throw us some of those tracks with Bjork for proper download please!
Score = -7
so far, it's between this and passion pit's manners.
Score = -50
i happen to totally agree
Score = -3
Honestly, this is a terrible record and I don't think the editors of this site are in any position to comment on this, or music in general.
Score = -93
AOTY
Score = -13
I like Dragonslayer...
Have a gut feeling p4k will bash it, though. I hope I'm wrong. Not because I personally care about p4k, but because people won't go nuts over an album unless p4k tells them to.
Score = 33
Agreed... I'm seeing a... 7.5 somewhere in the future. Somewhere between a 7 and an 8, depending on how bitchy P4K feels.
But us fans know that in reality, it's the best album this year.
Score = 7
I too am loving Dragonslayer. I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
Score = 8
WHEW. I thought I was losing my frickin mind over here, as just last week or so was the Premature 'Ejaculation' (heh. nice one.) of Dragonslayer. I say y'all can HAVE Dirty Projectors as long as I can still cuddle up and sleep with Dragonslayer in peace b/c that album is BYOOOTIFUL. Best of 2009? Didn't MPP come out like ten years ago already? (kidding.)
Score = 0
Blah < Blah Blah < Blah Blah Blah
Score = 111
Bob Loblaw
Score = 34
mr. dobelina, mr. bob dobelina
Score = 2
Wait, is Blah Blah Blah the best album of 2009?
Score = 2
This is how I have it so far:
1. Animal Collective - Merriweather
2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
3. Dirty Projectors - Bitte
4. Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
5. Dark Was the Night
Regardless of what order, though, these are 5 great records and 2009 is shaping up to be a great year (waaay better than last year). Also, Bill Callahan and Phoenix. Jesus.
Score = -31
And the new Third Eye Blind comes out this month!
Score = 95
Lulz, no. I couldn't even finish this record. It was a snooze fest.
Score = -6
*rolls eyes*
Here we go again.... and yet again, I have not heard it. And even if I started streaming it right now, it takes time to determine that sort of stuff.
You know what else takes time? Other contenders to arrive. Whatever. It's in my to-download list.
Roll in all the GB comparison/bashing, more adequate than AC comparisons if you ask me.
Score = 6
Don't feel bad. I listened to the first few seconds of the first track and said "Nope, this is not for me" and stopped it. Am I missing out on a monumental listening experience that will connect me on a transcendental level with my peers? The answer is no, no I am not.
(Also, for the record, I only found about 3 or 4 songs on the Animal Collective album I liked, too, so PHHHHHBBBBBTTTTT.)
Score = 6
Even as a die hard AnCo fan i must say that i think this record is better. is it the 2000s Ok Computer?
Score = -61
God, I hope not. What the hell! What an offensive thing to suggest? How many of youa re there? Too many! AAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!
Score = -3
Um, yes. So far. But I will say this ... I doubt very much that there will be an album better than this this year.
Score = 0
Premature Ejaculation?
Score = 62
I think they liked it a little too much
Score = 17
OMG! This album is like so much better than Merriweather!
Wait, my bad, i just realized that my opinion should really only matter to myself and no one else. I shouldn't post comments on music blogs trying to prove that my taste is more relevant that pitchfork.
Score = 25
A very boring album, this isn't experimental music at all as this guy thinks his music his. The music is very thin sounding, hooks non existent, prominent vocal masturbation in every song. Horrible, check out the Dusted Magazine review, this guy is a retard.
Score = -14
third eye blind - ursa major
AOTY!!
Score = 19
Also the singer has a absolutely horrible voice, totally ruins the music. Such a painfully ordinary voice, no wonder David Byrne, another vocalist with a pedestrian and emotionless voice, likes him.
Score = -66
Way to talk up an album by a band who your writer Brandon Stosuy is BFFs with.
Score = 29
So what, pitchfork hypes bands they put on their festival also. Stupid people won't care about this and will eat anything the big blogs and review sites hype. "PROFESSIONAL" music reviews are pointless.
Score = -1
If you had a festival, would you invite bands you think are shitty? Wouldn't make sense.
Score = 36
they hype crap, and most of all, CHEAP new bands so they fill their lineup easier and spend less money while earning a lot more
Score = -16
Did you ever pause to think maybe the blogs are giving the people what they want? Last time I checked that was how the world worked.
Score = 7
no, most people do not know what they want. pitchfork creates their taste by hyping anything they want
Score = -12
It's fun to pit artists against each other in a battle for supremacy but really, this year it started back in fucking JANUARY so everyone's already exhausted and can barely lift their maces or shields anymore. Let's take a break until December, please.
Score = 24
It's a solid record, no doubt about it, but I can't call it the best. My top picks, at the moment:
1. Merriweather Post Pavillion, Animal Collective
2. Veckatimest, Grizzly Bear
3. Farm, Dinosaur Jr.
4. Noble Beast, Andrew Bird
5. Person to Person, Foreign Born
Bitte Orca falls somewhere in the next five. It's a really good album, but I don't think it can touch AC or Grizzly Bear.
Score = -5
I salut you for including Andrew Bird.
Score = 10
don't forget Circulatory System - Signal Morning!
its the sleeper hit. bank on it
Score = 6
No. The album is boring and uninspiring. A light and not so horrible version of Black Dices "Repo", meaning = a complete mess with no worthwhile melodies and with a lot of failed experiments.
Score = -7
WHERE DA HIP HOP AT?
Score = 32
Seriously. Wait til Cudi drops dat new new
Score = 10
I don't understand why this bothers people. I want to constantly talk about what albums are my favourites. I want to rate them against each other. I want to casually mention, on the side, what other records deserve praise. And I don't want to wait until December to do it.
Score = 33
Thank you, Professor Jeff! Your comment is The Best (and I mean that)... I think we'd all agree that it IS fun, as big-time music nerds, to discuss and argue and create some sort of discourse on contemporary music. What the rest of the crew on here doesn't appreciate (without realizing it) is the idea of an authoritative figure. Websites like these don't claim to be THE authority, but since they're good as hell at what they do and since they get so many hits and page views, they are lifted up by our indie culture (so about 10% of the population) as BEING the taste-makers. It's one of those "Don't hate the player, hate the cliche" instances, but everyone gets mad at the players. Pathetic.
Oh, and making fun of the idea of comment boards by posting a comment is ridiculous. Welcome to College.
Score = 24
That's fine, but how about some REASONING as to why these albums appeal to you? What makes them potentially the best records of the year? Are they a significant artistic departure or advancement in some way? The whole <> approach is getting lazy and boring.
Score = 9
1. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
2. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
3. Grizzly Bear - Vecktamist
4. Micachu and the Shapes - Jewellery
5. TBA
Score = -10
Sin Fang Bous - Clangour?
Score = 5
dirty projectors just try way too hard to be interesting and relevant, usually at the cost of actually sounding good, or even listenable. I am not saying I hate his voice or the lyrical content or that the music is like truly awful, but this is clearly a love it or hate it sort of record/band, and in my mind that is not really grounds for a best record of the year.
animal collective and grizzly bear and phoenix and lots of other bands have put out great records that will be great records for a long time. I am comfortable with those other bands as far as being on he right side of music history... because all of those records have something I actually want to listen to, not something I have to train myself to enjoy.
dirty projectors just seem too divisive and pretentious. not bad. I would never bash their talent or skill level. but the ending result is not very welcoming. and that is not really a good way of describing a so called contender for best album of the year. maybe a good album of the year, but not best.
Score = 24
I can't stand this band, and a good deal of it stems from them being the worst live act I've ever seen. They miss half their notes, their lead singer noodles around with his guitar like he's some virtuoso when he can barely play the damn thing. It's embarrassing and annoying.
Score = 1
For now I like MPP more, but we'll see how Bitte Orca ages over the next few months. At the moment:
1. Animal Collective
2. Amadou et Mariam
3. Grizzly Bear
4. Dan Deacon (am I the only one?)
5. Dirty Projectors
Score = -6
you shouldn't be. dan deacon's album is amazing and will still be at the end of the year.
more people should also mention andrew bird's noble beast.
Score = 0
(forgot I had this account)
I'll also add I'm waiting on Wilco (though not expecting it to be great, to be honest) and Midlake.
Score = 5
i actually really like the new wilco a lot. i was surprised. maybe i was just in the right mood for it when i first heard it?
Score = 10
You both should have your profiles revoked for enjoying the new Wilco.
Score = -28
BORING
Score = 0
this album's okay. but i wouldn't say it's on the level of grizzly bear or animal collective, considering their releases this year. and STOP WITH THIS ALBUM OF THE YEAR SHIT. there's a time and place for it. at the end of the year.
Score = 0
SPAGHETT!
Score = 38
yes, yes it is the best album of the year
Score = -3
The answer you're looking for is no. No, Bitte Orca is nowhere near the best album of 2009, or any year. ever.
Score = 14
IMO, yes. To all the people stating that the album is boring, uninspiring and lacking general good music really could not have listened to the album. Just listen to the "Useful Chamber" and tell me this is a boring album...I have never heard anything like it.
Score = 12
To answer the actual question posed in the headline:
Christ, I hope not.
Score = 10
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear has produced some Dirty Projectors' work in the past. Did he produce Bitte Orca as well? If so, that is very impressive especially considering the fact Veckatimest just came out and he produces all of Grizzly Bear's work...
Score = 1
this album is really cool,but..... No chance its the best so far.. Too much filler.. Rise Above was much better.. That album didn't have one bad song on it... What happened to all the melody?? Two Doves is out of control though!!!
Top five so far...
1) Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavillion
2) Phoenix- Wolfgang amadeuas Phoenix
3) The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart-The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
4) The Dream- Love Vs. Money
5) Lotus Plaza- The Floodlight Collective
Score = 3
Thanks pitchfork.
Score = 11
dragonslayer!!!
..dragonslayer?
Score = 15
I haven't heard the record, so I can't say anything, but I just wanna say that I really don't like it how every year, people's top-whatever lists on this site all look exactly the same, just rearranged.
Last year it was Fleet Foxes, Portishead, Deerhunter, Bon Iver, No Age, etc.
This year it's Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Bat for Lashes, Dirty Projectors, etc. (see several posts above for proof)
And if you dare put something that P4k don't like in there, you get the hail of red arrows come down on you. Well guess what, my top 5's probably gonna have Peter Bjorn & John in it, but not Veckatimest. NA-NA NA NA-NA.
Score = 29
I agree with just about everything you said, except for the PBJ part. But hey, what's so bad about differing opinions?
Score = 6
It's really funny how angry people get when others say something is the 'best' or is their 'favorite.' Committing is not a bad thing, we need more of that in music during these internet days. i still don't understand why people pounce on individuals for liking something just because their tastes differ.
cum on, grow to the top, people.
Score = 8
I called "Merriweather" the most Revolver since Revolver and I stand by that...(I now know which people wouldn't have cared much for "Love You To" and "Tommorow Never Knows" if this was1966)...maybe it's 1966 again and the bands that are taking the chances are the ones that are being rewarded...maybe a bunch of people aren't nearly as they think...
Score = -16
Oh... get the fuck over yourself.
Five of the year (no order):
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Fever Ray - s/t
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - s/t
Waiting for two more (I really like The Thermals - Now We Can See, but no way it's an AOTY).
Score = -4
if i played sitar would i be cool, too?
Score = 7
All I know is that it's my personal favorite. Am I going to get downvoted for that?
Score = 0
yeah man. but you know you wanted it.
Score = 11
I'm going to say it's a tie. Yes, it's DP and AC for me. I think MPP and BT are both magnificent and so replayable. Each time is better than the last. Other greats (for me) are Dan Deacon, Passion Pit, PB & J, YYY, Red Light Company, Thee Oh Sees, Mint Chicks, Swan Lake, and Pains of Being Pure at Heart. And some I forgot, I'm sure.
Oh wait, I forgot Grizzly Bear. Actually, I didn't. That album is the opposite of a sandwich. The middle has no meat. What a bore. Just to insert an obligatory GB comment.
Score = -3
why did you post a series of random capital letters interspersed with words about sandwiches?
Score = 42
peter bjorn & john... that's a fucking joke right?
i'd rather listen to my cat in heat than their latest
Score = 6
holy shit, less abbreviating, NOW!
DOWNVOTED!!!
Score = 11
this isn't even the dirty projector's best album.
Score = -8
i think The Mimicking Birds have potential, i saw them tour with modest mouse, i got a cd of theirs with a couple of songs and it fuckin rules, its going to be their first album and im really hoping their it will be awesome, they definitly have potential
Score = -3
I neither read palms nor own a crystal ball, but The Rural Alberta Advantage debut 'Hometowns' will get some well-deserved praise (and possibly make many best-of-2009 lists) when Saddle Creek Records drops it in July.
I also really like the latest from Deastro, 'Moondagger.'
Score = 3
agreed. Hometowns is an excellent record.
Score = 1
I called "Merriweather" the most Revolver since Revolver and I stand by that...(I now know which people wouldn't have cared much for "Love You To" and "Tommorow Never Knows" if this was1966) I would say both these bands are swimming in the same waters and that's good enough.
Score = -26
lonely island - incredibad = grizzly bear - veckatimest
Score = -5
I called Merriweather the most Revolver since Revolver and I stand by that...
Score = -30
no judgments can be made until we listen to the new built to spill album in october.
Score = 6
DRAGONSLAYER.
Score = 14
Where's the thread for discussion of best album of 2010?
Score = 68
Too early. I think that goes up next week.
Score = -12
The 5 tracks on Deradoorian's Mind Raft > Bitte Orca as a whole.........I called Merriweather the most Revolver since Revolver and I stand by that... (just had to see if my body would physically let me type that)
Score = 6
Veckatimest FTW
Bitte Orca grates and grates and grates. I loved it at first, now it just gives me a headache. Stillness is the move is still great. MPP is whatever.
Score = -7
Bitte Orca < Veckatimest < Merriweather Post Pavillion < Noble Beast.
Score = -3
Whatever it is, that cover is so fucking shitty and I haven't managed to completely figure out why I hate it so much... yes it amazingly annoying but, there's a whole rich kid art twee thing that makes me want to pull the plug on the world.
Score = -7
yeah Middle Cyclone and Veckamist are the easiest top contendors, though merriweather follows very close behind.
Score = 2
It's always interesting to me how the lack of comments on P4K just inevitably lead to discussion / inevitable backlash on Stereogum. Would this site still be as popular if P4K allowed commenting?
Score = 29
I love these conversations. Shit, I even track my favorite records of the year on my facebook. cuz i'm a prick.
1. Animal Collective
2. Sunset Rubdown
3. Dirty Projectors
4. Sonic Youth
5. Phoenix
and then Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Japandroids, The Thermals, Dan Deacon, Handsome Furs, Wavves (fuck the hatahs) and Neko Case all deserve lots of love
Score = 10
That Japandroids is so good. It's the first lo-fi (ish) album I've ever really liked, so of course it comes at the genres saturation point.
Score = 1
Yes, Japandroids is awesome I was waiting for someone to mention that. It's nice to have such a light-hearted album I can yell along to
Score = 0
My favorite is Veckatimest, but maybe Merriweather is better. I'm not sure Bitte Orca is quite as good as those two albums, too woosie to me.
And now everybody is excited like last year with that TV on the Radio shit: Who is hearing Dear Science now? That silence says it all.
Score = 1
I dunno man. I recently went back to Dear Science thinking that I would less than entralled by it, but just the opposite happened: I liked it even more. It's a big, fat, great album.
Score = 10
Agreed. I was listening to Dear Science on the drive home from work a few days ago and was loving every second of it.
Score = 5
Really????? Well, then you two can marry the Bitte Orca!
Score = -3
I'm personally just glad that this, MPP and Veckatimest are the only 3 albums coming out this year. This debate would be downright silly and impossible otherwise.
Score = 46
I dug it.
Score = 4
2009 was a very important year for me, most important so far. So i think it deserves a better "best album" than this, if this is the bet of 2009 then i am very sad.
My vote is for Pains of Being Pure At Heart
(also give a small shout out to the thermals and Grizzly Bear)
Score = -6
album of the year or not, face control hasn't gotten nearly enough attention
Score = 7
That's because it's fucking boring and incredibly samey.
Score = 0
No...................................
Score = 4
Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, and DP albums are all great, but let them sink in and decide in December.
Good call from the guy who also mentioned Circulatory System.. that should be a good one. Also look out for White Denim's Fits lp.
I guarantee there'll be another album that pops up out of nowhere later in the year... Sufjan???
Score = 4
If you guys haven't heard AC Newman's new solo set, you're missing out on our generations' Brian Wilson.
Score = -4
More important question: who ISN'T our generation's Brian Wilson and/or Beach Boys?
Score = 35
dirty projectors suck...his vocals make me want to kill myself....its hipster bullshit...i live in Portland Oregon and im surrounded by shit like this....its like the furthest you can get from an actual song or anything memorable the better jackoff hipsters like it....and the i covered black flag from memory is also bullshit...lies all lies...its like if a band has a huge gimmick and less actual songs the better pitchfork etc...will dig it....you people are all retards
Score = -9
Looking foward to you taking Rooney's spot on 60 Minutes chief...
Score = 10
nah i know what your speaking of though..when andy rooney said that dumb shit about nirvana on 60 minutes....im not old if thats what your refering....i like songs...im not big on gimmick bands......and dont compare shit to the beach boys and an album being revolver...thats just fucking retarded....there isnt one song on any Animal collective, panda bear, dirty projectors...even better than one song off revolver..."im only sleeping" crushes all those retards..go listen to it..its fuckin genius....you see its a great song even on just an acoustic guitar striped down...no BS...also arent you guys tired of ambient shit>? god damn is this why hipsters dont dance at shows? i was watching the stooges on youtube from like 1970..compare that to some animal collective bullshit show....fucking retards dont stand for anything...fucking change something....knock down a fucking wall...make a statement
Score = -10
...
Score = 8
i don't think i understand music at all, why is this the best album of the year and not St. Vincent's Actor? i mean i think they are both equally as good. i can understand Animal Collective; not because i'm a huge fan but maybe because the sound is more modern and more of what you want 2009 to sound like. i dunno...
personally i've heard more Neko Case and St. Vincent and loved it more than everything else... but i guess its AC / GB / DP cuz' P4 sez so...
Score = 6
Where is the love for Bromst?
Score = 8
I like music.
Score = 43
It's apparently the best album of the year for the next month and a half until we all decide on another best album of the year.
Score = 14
If I played this in my neighborhood.
I'd get beat up.
This album may find fans in Canada.
Or the computer lab.
-Farmer Ted
Score = -2
I believe this is not highly important and shouldn't be discussed until December where it is fully appropriate to discuss the best album of 2009. This is a waste of a blog.
Score = 0
Will someone please just tell me what the best album of 2009 is already? I can only listen to one album each year.
Score = 49
Pitchfork and Stereogum would like us to believe that Bitte Orca, Veckatimest, and Merriweather Post Pavillion are the only albums this year that truly matter, and a lot of you are buying into it. While I'll agree that all three are fantastic, a lot of other bands came out with great albums this year. I would think, as music savvy blog readers, we would be able to form our own opinions. If I wanted no more than three bands endlessly shoved down my throat, I would listen to the radio, or read Rolling Stone, or watch the Grammys.
Score = 17
The radio, RS, and the Grammys all feature more bands than Stereogum.
Score = 10
Or read Absolutepunk.net. Way better than the radio, RS, Grammys, and Pitchfork.
Score = -7
the only way to decide is to do it the good old fashioned way... cage match between rossen, longstreth and panda bear.
Score = 19
You beat me to it, Ed. I was working my way towards the bottom of the comments to ask how there could be all this AOTY talk with no mention of St. Vincent Actor. Definitely the biggest standout for me so far this year.
Score = 4
Didn't 21st Century Breakdown come out last month?
/debate
Score = 18
Premature Ejaculation?
i don't think it's THAT good
har har
Score = 3
Pooey.
Score = 0
You should all be ashamed of yourselves! What happened to enjoying an album. An album is made for pure enjoyment. i love this album, and MPP as well. And veckitamist, though not as much. I would say mpp is the best album of the year, but so what? I just happen to be a major animal collective fan. But who cares? Its just music! Why do you have to catagorize everything? What does it matter that people like the Jonas brothers? Its just music. God! This website is so pompus, yet I cannot stop! Fuck me! but you all know I am right! Just sit back, relax, and listen to this album without catagorizing it. DP I mean, not MPP... w/e... Fuck you...
Score = 5
makan - kamilya jubran
tuneyards - tuneyards
animal crackbox - animal collective
the end is near - fiery furnaces
hyperdub - zomby (so what if was from last year and an ep!)
hahahahahahahahahahaha
Score = -5
Who the fuck cares if it's the best of the year? Every one has their own fucking opinion. Listen to the music YOU like. If you wanna say which one is better, point out your reasoning and make criticisms. It would make for a better discussion!
Score = -2
I'm still going with It's Blitz. Indey Credd? I haz it!
Score = 9
guys, seriously, it's not between AC, DP, and GB. All three of those albums really kind of suck. they're rote as fuck without really good songwriting. Definitely slumps compared to all three of their previous high points.
Score = -7
People, there is no such thing as the universal "best album of 2009." Can blogs please stop tacking "best album" on every great album released this year? This is getting tiring.
btw, kind of contradicting myself, people should definitely take a looks at the Antler's Hospice. (Not that it's my number 1) Definitely an amazing album, definitely overlooked.
Score = 3
Seriously these comments are almost as bad as BVs. VeckatiMEHst
Score = -5
Well, Joanna Newsom looks like she will be releasing a new album this fall, so I would hesitate to make any determinations of best album of the year until I hear her next album. Bitte Orcha in my top five favorites of the year so far.
Score = 7
I don't know what the best album is, but the album I've been listening to the most in the last few weeks is The Juan Maclean's "The Future Will Come".
Also, Lindstrom and Prins Thomas' "II" is pretty damn great.
Whatever. I'll go back in my cave now.
Score = 8
This CD is garbage. Merriweather Post Pavilion is not legendary. "My Girls" and "Brothersport" are awesome songs, but comparing the LP as a whole to Revolver is completely insane. Yeah I'm talking to you 'Un dia or 69 demos.' I'm sorry, I just couldn't let that slide.
Veckatimest is pretty damn awesome though. But why listen to me? I mean one of my favorite albums that came out this year is Kingdom of Rust by Doves. I mean I must be taking crazy pills.
Score = 8
there is nothing independent about this music, these comments, or about any of you cattle
Score = -7
you are fucking cattle. and an asshole. i would say go fuck yourself but i am sure that is all you do. fucking douche bag.
Score = 8
There are a lot of other bands out there besides Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear and Dirty Projectors. Like, way more. Get out and see the world, people. This blog post is irresponsible, coming from a site whose opinion is respected by so many. For the record, my favorite record of the year so far is AZAR by underrated band Venice is Sinking. Grizzly Bear fans should check it out.
Score = 2
I just listened to this album for the first time, and I'm not sure if I'm feeling it. It's.... interesting... intriguing... but also a little grating. It kinda has the 'we're tryng way too hard to be avant-garde' vibe, which is a little pretentious and off-putting. It's definitely not the type of music I normally love (I typically like more electronic stuff), but I like to try to listen to all the big releases, as sometimes it really pays off- I wasn't a huge Grizzly Bear fan at all, but after hearing Veckatimest, I really got into their back catalog, especially all the IDM-y remixes.
Anyways, back to Bitte Orca. It' just feels like, "Hey look at us, we're randomly plucking our guitars and yelping off-beat, and the drums sound a little too slow... aren't we sooooooo unique in our arrangement?!?!' The songs rarely coalesce into a groove, and for the most part feel like they're meandering without any intention. I'm going to keep an open mind tho and see if a few more listens help smooth some of the edges and reveal a strong album... its just way too early to tell now.
As long as we're on the subject of AOTY tho, here are the albums I've really been enjoying a lot this year:
Royksopp - Junior
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus
Fever Ray - s/t
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
Passion Pit - Manners
Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care
The Juan Maclean - The Future Will Come
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Telefon Tel Aviv - Immolate Yourself
Moderat - s/t
Faunts - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of
Nosaj Thing - Drift
Starkey - Ephemeral Exhibits (very late 2008, I know, but it's really friggin cool!)
Burial & Four Tet - Moth & Wolf Cub (yes, it's only 2 tracks, but holy shit it's amazing)
Lindstrom & Prins Thomas - II
We're not even half-way through 2009, and there's a *ton* of great albums released this year. Let's not let the entire conversation revolve around the same two or three albums just because p4k and 'gum busted nuts over them (apparently literally! hahaha). And we still have new albums coming from Basement Jaxx (ahhhh!!!), BT, Simian Mobile Disco, Scissor Sisters, and who knows, maybe even Daft Punk... this year is friggin ridiculous! Just enjoy it. :)
Score = 5
Damn, I forgot about 'Immolate Yourself.' Good record. Very good record.
Score = 4
Royksopp's "Junior" was a definite grower for me.
Score = 1
definite grower?
Score = -3
this is quite awful.
Score = 1
If "Stillness is the move" wasn't on this album, no one would give a shit about it. The rest of it is deece, but not great. You guys are forgetting about Elvis Perkins in Dearland. Phoenix, Grizz, and Andrew Bird are also frontrunners.
Score = 0
tee hee, you said ejaculation.
Score = 2
The new Built to Spill record will be the AOTY.
Score = 3
I'll leave it to Pitchfork and you, Stereogum to decide whether it is better than Merriweather and Veckatimest. I'm not smart enough to decide such an important matter for the rest of the music community.
Alls I kno' is me likes Bitte Orca, Merriweather, and Veckatimest (and Bromst, Wolfgang Amedus Phoenix, & Two Suns too.)
Score = 3
Yours Truly, The Commuter.
For however many negative votes that's worth.
Score = 9
really? not a single mention of the genius that is bill callahan's "sometimes i wish we were an eagle"? really? i mean, really?
really
Score = 4
what about one of the albums that will be released the 2nd Tuesday in October?
Score = 2
The gummies this year will be intense.
Score = 5
this year has sucked, just like last year. 2007 was ok, before that is irrelevant
Score = -16
i seriously hope you are joking. fucking cum dumpster.
Score = -7
i don't understand how no one's talking about bruce peninsula - a mountain is a mouth. i have not been so smitten with an album in a very long time. please go check it out.
please?
Score = 1
I agree. A mountain is a mouth might just be my number one album this year
Score = 0
also: really? we're calling them "anco" now? how long has that been happening and oh god please tell me when it will stop...
Score = 12
I blame that hipster runoff dude.
Score = 6
leave carles out of this
Score = 0
yall seem to be forgetting that the CASKET DROPS THIS SUMMER
wamp wamp! watch ya face get mangled
Score = 5
The Antlers - Hospice (2009) LISTEN TO IT BEFORE IT GETS HYPED IN AUGUST WHEN IT GETS A RERELEASE. I think pitchfork will give it 9.0+ for sure.
Score = 2
The Antlers sound like fucking Rooney! I have a good feeling Pitchfork will Bash it... But Stereogum lovers will love it! The singer sings like he's very "serious" and "sad." Two is good though! Dragonslayer blows too.. Same old shit from Krug. Clipse will rule though!! And if Newsome puts out a record, I can't imagine that not being amazing!
Score = -1
Which African bands/musicians have they been listening to?
Score = 0
BLK JKS! But since they're not Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear or Dirty Projectors people on Stereogum don't really care.
Score = 0
AOTY so far for me is probably Passion Pit. As usual, Pitchfork favorites (this year its Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors) are either awful or completely unremarkable. I don't get their taste. They must be really boring people to be moved by such boring music.
Score = -9
Nice. Now the Stereogum readers and posters will have THREE albums to choose from when the 2009 list is compiled.
Have ever another band than Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective or Dirty Projectors been mentioned in these comments?
Score = -2
I don't know man, is Deerhunter coming out with something this year?
What will really be interesting to me, with the end of the year lists, is which albums outside of those expected picks will make a true impact? Those are usually the true winners.
Personally, I like DP's music but it's the kind that doesn't resonate with me for too long, or I have to be in an specific mood to enjoy it.
Score = 0
Great, it's all about who's the best!
Score = 1
1) The Antlers - Hospice
2) Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
3) Fever Ray - Fever Ray
4) Method Man & Red Man - Blackout 2
5) Crocodiles - Summer of Hate
AWWW YEAH!
Score = 2
is there seriously a method man / redman album coming out?
Score = 1
i can't get past the first two songs of this album, too bad.
also, i wish more people talked about born like this. i mean, c'mon, DOOM sampling bukowski? it sounds silly, but it fucking works.
Score = 4
I think we're forgetting the "Track of the Year List" and its already found winner:
Somebody's Daughter
Score = 5
Bottom line is, this already has been a great year for music: Between Bitte Orca, Middle Cyclone, Now We Can See, Veckatimest, Merriweather Post Pavilion, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Tight Knit, and My Maudlin Career, I have had a bunch of choices - depending on my particular mood - to listen to a record, front-to-back, that I love and want to listen to again as soon as it's finished. And after last night, and hearing Band of Horses play some new songs, I'm hopefull that they are able to get a release out sometime in the fall.
Just saying...we're all winners, you guys!
Score = 14
Seriously though - who gives a f*ck?
What's the value of the 'album of the year', and more importantly, what's the value in arguing about it?
Can't we just get back to enjoying the music?
Score = 5
Don't you guys get "it"?
The album of the year is US! Me and you, making the beautiful music of our lives...and chatting with each other on the Internet!
Score = 41
Just like the Gossip Girl season finale when everyone was really "Gossip Girl"! Hahaha..wooo
Score = 3
Months left of 2009: 6.
Score = 21
Ugly casanova reminded me of something very important, Built to Spill could come out with something this year, that is pretty much sure to beat everything else.
Untill then it's:
Pains of Being Pure At Heart
Passion Pit
the Decemberists?
Grizzly bears?
the Thermals?
The 1st pick is easy, but the rest is so hard, but still quite fun.
Score = -5
I can say, quite confidently, that 'Fits' by White Denim will be my album of the year. Comes out in just over a week!
Score = 1
I appreciate the stream!! I am glad to be able to come back to this and listen to a few tracks of the record at a time... So far (first two tracks): The guitars are obnoxious. The drumming on the other hand is excellent.
Score = 0
I guess what some people find a bit annoying is the line "Wait, is Bitte Orca the Best Album of 2009?", as we are just at the beginning of the sixth month. I think that, unconsciously, strikes a bit of a nerve. I think it's a bit in the wording, perhaps adding "so far" would help to start with. Or "In our opinion, Bitte Orca might just be the best we have heard this year". We have like seven months to go, so many music still to come and hear, so I guess it's the disregarding of the stuff still to come that makes some eyes roll.
Score = 1
heh they obvs left a 'controversial statemtent' post to keep people going over the weekend they're away. you guys totally fell for it! heh.
(my 2cents is i liked DP live but don't realy care much for this album'-- the Dave singing then girls doing weird voices gets old/annoying for me/ some of the music is nice though)
Score = 1
It's the only album this year that I can't stop listening to. A huge surprise. I actually had them confused with Dirty On Purpose for a long time. Every time someone said something about Dirty Projectors I just thought "Oh, that run of the mill shogazer band," and instantly wrote it off.
Anyway, great album. One of the best of the year for sure.
Score = 2
Well, I think we can at least all agree that the best album of 2009 is not the new Chris Cornell record.
Score = 22
Pitchfork told me I have AIDS.
Score = 22
you might have AIDS... I am not sure why else they would tell you that. Unless you had it.
Score = -3
"This post is a really big deal because we never ask questions like this. (We always ask questions like this.) But for real this time ... did Bitte Orca do it? Is this the one? It's almost December right? At SXSW, where Dirty Projectors debuted the Bitte material in a set that's a frontrunner for my favorite show of the year, Dave Longstreth punctuated the 45 minute premiere of his triumphant, fractured pop opuses and Meredith Monking mind explosions with a matter-of-fact declaration: "Those are all new songs, from a new album we have called Bitte Orca. We're pretty excited about it." We have been too, and so has the rest of the internet, asking questions and giving it scores that aren't high enough, etc. I don't think we'd rewrite a thought from our Premature Ejaculation, but we'd add that having had some time with the album, it's one of few this year that rewards -- and gets better -- with sustained listening and revisitation. It don't stop. And as the suite Longstreth composed in its wake for Björk (in just one week) demonstrated, neither will DPs."
Like what the hell does any of that even mean? Are you jacking this band off or are they jacking you off? Can anyone say stacked deck?
Score = -4
I personally think the best album of the year is the motion picture soundtrack for "The Boxer." Timeless!
Score = 2
i think you guys (stereogum) post these things to read the ridiculous reader responses.
i mean, just read those shits. Imagine putting a cool anniversary post together that is comprised of the most ludicrous responses (something to do with penis, blows, indie rock conspiracy theories), the most repeated statement (probably something along the lines of 'anco, veck, bitte orca, hype and downvote',) and strings of fights over whether opinions are valid or bullshit (everyone knows opinions are bullshit.)
do that shit
Score = 8
Till The Casket Drops > anything else this year
Score = -1
glad to see micachu and the shapes getting some love
Score = 4
So far yes, it is one of my fav's.
My list:
1.)Veckta
2.)Fever Ray
3.)Bitte Orca
4.)???
5.)???
I really hate MPP.
Score = 0
For fucks sake, just stop it. Stop it. STOP IT.
Score = 8
New Dirty Projectors = haven't the slightest idea why people think it's so great. And please, if you're going to present arguments as to why or why not, don't just go through the whole DP > AC > GB or DP > GB < AC bullshit.
Score = -1
best album of the year? i can barely listen to this without cringing repeatedly, this hurts my ears, these people cannot sing. vecktamist is good, dear science as well, and merriweather is great, but this sort of thing is entirely subjective. and it's june. not the best of the year by any means.
Score = -3
haha. WRONG.
Score = 0
Someone here mentioned Venice is Sinking, and I'm surprised that one's not getting more talk anywhere. It's really, really good; very pretty stuff. I like the DPs just fine but album of the year? Hmm.
Score = 1
Re: To anyone who is at Bonnaroo today:
You get to see Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, and Phoenix all within 10 hours of each other.
1. Screw you.
2. For the love of god, will you please inform us of who is the supreme band so we can finally sleep at night.
Score = 10
veckatimest, MMPP and Bitte Orca are all great albums. I am sure the new Vampire Weekend and Discovery albums will be great as well.
Score = 1
Bitte Orca is a solid offering, lots of fun to listen to and kinda complex at certain spots. Amber Coffman is a fantastic singer, too, and she is a vital part to any success of Bitte Orca.
Amrit said that the DP show at SXSW is a frontrunner for the favorite of the year, so there's already that influence over Bitte Orca. There's nothing wrong with that. It's a great album.
My top albums so far have to be:
Micachu & The Shapes - Jewellery
Shout Out Out Out Out - Reintegration Time
St. Vincent - Actor
Jenny Wilson - Hardships!
Jenny Wilson's album is a one hell of an album, and I'm afraid not many people have heard her stuff. Her album hasn't been released Stateside, but she is Swedish, so she's sure to have that Robyn/Lykke Li/PB&J/Royksopp/Fever Ray appeal that's all the rage in 2009.
Score = 0
Am I going to get beaten up for saying I think Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is the best of the year thus far?
I can't get all that into Dirty Projectors. It's like Portishead last year. I recognize that it's a good album, it just doesn't appeal to me.
Score = 8
It's favorite of the year so far as well. At least according to my ipod it is... Its the album i've been playing the most.
Score = 2
These all seem to be really great records. Also there's a new St Vincent record out this year, as well as the new So Many Dynamos record, AND a new John Vanderslice record. I think those three are really great as well. Lots of good records.
Score = 1
I called Merriweather the most Revolver since Revolver and I stand by that...
Score = -5
It is obviously not the best album of the year. This is one of their weaker albums. Pretty tame for Dirty Projectors. Why cum all over this, everyone?
Score = -3
Not only is this a great album, it translates live wonderfully. They're so much fun to watch.
I keep hearing people say that they're a horrible live band, but that can't be further from the truth! They pull it off, sometimes better than the record itself. It beautiful to watch.
Score = 1
1.) Sunn O))) "Monoliths & Dimensions"
2.) Sunn O))) "Monoliths & Dimensions"
3.) Sunn O))) "Monoliths & Dimensions"
4.) Sunn O))) "Monoliths & Dimensions"
5.) Sunn O))) "Monoliths & Dimensions"
Score = -2
Bitte Orica is a good album. My favorites thus far are MPP, Veckatimest, and WAPhoenix, probably in that order. Lots of great music in the first half of 09'. My maudlin career is also really satisfying. Still looking forward to Kid Cudi, clipse, Detox, blueprint 3, monsters of folk, major lazer, and others.
Score = 0
Phew, if you love reggae -- and I mean LOVE reggae -- then you will enjoy Major Lazer. It is something else, that album...I know Diplo and Switch are there, but it's pretty much just a glitchy little reggae album.
Score = 1
Honestly, I feel Bitte Orca's best song is "Stillness Is The Move" by far. To me, while the other songs were good, nothing really stood out as awesome, or jumped out at me. I was expecting a better overall album than Bitte Orca was. The bar was pretty high when they released "Stillness," and I thought the rest of the album would have that vibe to it. Unfortunately, it didn't. Oh well, what can you do.
Score = -1
is it me or is animal collective overrated? they are a good band, but they must even question the hype around them. bring on the negative points!!!
Score = 5
A band (i.e. Animal Collective) can't/doesn't control the amount of hype that surrounds them. Music blogs (i.e. Stereogum, P4K, etc.) and fanboy bloggers/twitterers are responsible for that. Once the hype starts spreading, it can't be stopped. Whether or not the hype is justified or not is always going to be up for debate among fans.
Hype can be looked at in one of two ways: 1) "Jesus, where has this band been all my life? I love this! Thank god for P4K/Stereogum/JoeBlogger for bringing them to my attention."; or 2) "Damn, I can't believe all these people who all of a sudden like Animal Collective. All this hype surrounding their new record really has brought out all these fanboys from the woodwork. I've liked them since the very beginning. Damn hype-eating n00bs."
But what really grinds my gears is when I see people declare their hatred for a band they once liked just because of blog-generated hype. Or, conversely, when people suddenly start liking a band, not necessarily because of their music, but more because they actually buy into the hype surrounding the 'flavor of the week' band. It's like they need to be on the cutting edge of 'hip' so they know which band is cool to namedrop to other hipsters.
If your listening habits are governed solely by the amount of "hype" a band gets - be it positive, negative, a lot or none at all - then you're pretty pathetic.
Score = 4
might as well throw my opinion into this shitstorm. my top 5:
1. grizzly bear - veckatimest
2. micachu & the shapes - jewllery
3. st. vincent - actor
4. dirty projectors - bitte orca
5. ??? (hopefully, eskimo snow by WHY?)
note that there is no MPP on my list, mostly because it's not all that great. bring on the negative 100.
Score = 12
1. your favorite record
2. your least favorite record
3. stupid mudane subjective opinion #1
4. credible subjective opinion #2
5. who really fucking cares?
Score = 4
Wait, did Stereogum just post this to make it an instant popular topic and get everyone that reads this site to stream the DP album?
Score = 9
Joke's on them, I hated on the album without even listening to it first.
Score = 16
hahahahahahaa
Score = 0
I realize that I'm probably going to be mocked, but I actually think that The Hazards of Love was my personal favorite so far this year. Maybe Phoenix also... Hmmm...
Score = 1
This is what Yes would have sounded like if they had just started this decade.
Score = 2
I would rather see them live. The album sounds too gimmicky especially the (Dave's) singing.
Score = 0
I really love Veckatimest and Merriweather but my favorite of 2009 is Miniature Tigers 'Tell It to the Volcano'
Score = 2
St. Vincent for two reasons:
1. Actor fucking blows my mind
2. I kind of want to marry her (too bad my name isn't john)
Score = 4
Funny how everyone's all of the sudden eating Phoenix's dick. They've basically had the same poppy sound at least since Alphabetical but weren't cool at all and nobody paid them any attention. All of the sudden some unspoken mandated hipster approval has made them everybody's favorite band/album of the year. Go figure.
It's funny to hear from people who admit to never liking them before, then calling an album that sounds almost exactly like everything else they've ever done (which is a good thing if you've liked their previous albums) one of the best of the year.
Score = -3
Yeah, Phoenix sucks. I HEAR SOFIA COPPOLA IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HYPE!!!
spread the word out
Score = -6
This shit sounds Mariah Carey
Score = 2
Van Morrison "Astral Weeks"
Score = 2
Greatest album ever by anyone in any year.
Score = 1
There's actually been some pretty good music out this year so far. Right off the top of my head...
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Bob Dylan - Together Through Life
St Vincent - Actor
Dan Auerbach
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
M Ward
Andrew Bird
Dave Mathews Band
MF Doom
Grizzly Bear
The YYYs
Crystal Antlers
Steven Wilson
The Horrors
Bat For Lashes
Antony & The Johnsons
Fever Ray
Cymbals Eat Guitars
The Decemberists
Dan Deacon
The POBPAH
Neko Case
Dark Was The Night (of course)
...But if I were to put my money on the best of the best for 2009, it would probably go to Wilco(The Album) at this point.
Score = 3
Yay for Crystal Antlers - it's so their time. So, so so good. DEFINITELY see them live if you can. You won't regret it.
Score = 1
Music is a good thing.
Score = 6
I think I'd like this record more if were called BITTER ORCA. Cuz let me tell, I saw that movie as a kid and it was one pissed off killer whale. Bit Bo Derek's leg off and everything.
Score = 7
I like the album and disagree. But I'm upping you because I love bad puns more.
Score = 0
thanks everyone for commenting on the music, rather than lobbing "Douchebag"-equivalent babbling around endlessly. Oh wait...
I've said everything I have to say about this album here: http://www.audioholicmedia.com/?p=1816
It's a contender, pure and simple
Score = 1
Art Brut!
Phoenix!
Animal Collective!
Grizzly Bear!
Dark was the Night!
First few songs- so far so good- Dirty Projectors!
can we agree that all probably beat Lady Ga Ga, and anything featured on a Grammy awards show. (Except maybe Radiohead with the USC band that was kinda cool)
Score = 1
I remember there were helicopters called orcas in the original C&C
btw I can't seem to remember one moment of that album after listening to it for four times. Come on!
Score = 0
Deleted Scenes - Birdseed Shirt kind of has me
Score = 1
I might be the only one, but I hated Rise Above. Bitte Orca caught on with me really quickly, though, and it has to be in the conversation.
Bat for Lashes is probably still in front for me at this point. Outside of Brother Sport I didn't like MPP's second half.
Score = 0
Thanks be to Stereogum for posting this
Score = 0
ok, I'm trying to figure this out. I guess its just different if you've seen a band live and all that. but, to me, this sounds like some art students trying too hard. or not trying nearly hard enough.
or a few geese caught in a fan.
Score = 0
Ok...yes...Pitchfork often does overhype albums such as...Bat For Lashes new album and even Wavves to some extent(but you gotta admit "so bored" and "no hope kids" are great tracks). But Pitchfork has definitely been the most fair they've ever been in 2009. They gave bitte orca a great review, they gave MPP a good review, and they gave Veckatimest a good review(the three best albums of the year so far). And just because Pitchfork hypes good bands but sometimes leaves out or tears apart other bands that are actually pretty good(i.e. Kings of Leon, Shout Out Louds, and Doves...pre-Kingdom of Rust), the fact that they DO hype good bands and give them the opportunity to play at a big festival in a major city, is a great thing. I went to Pitchfork Music Festival last year, and I must say, that my favorite bands of 2007 and 2008, were there, and it's going to be the same this year. Pitchfork do definitely have their heads up their asses sometimes, but all in all, they really do know the most about music in the Major music magazine world. I mean could you see Spin or Rolling Stone or Blender, hypeing up bands that aren't even signed, No. But Pitchfork does do that, and that's a good thing. It's obvious that the writers know enough about music to critique them, and it is possible for them to base a review strictly on one song(like they did with Aha Shake Heartbreak, Pet Sounds, Boy With The Arab Strap, Your Favorite Music, WHY BEATIN UP ON CLEM SNIDE P4K?), but what they have done for great bands like Broken Social Scene, Wolf Parade, and even Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear is a really great thing, because look at it this way: Pitchfork(sadly) has the most influential music opinion nowadays, and those bands that we all love like the above mentioned, might not have kept making albums, or been able to stay on their label, if Pitchfork didn't "hype" them up. I mean come on, if it wasn't for Pitchfork's review of Spirit They've Vanished, we may not have had a Feels or Strawberry Jam or any Panda Bear solo album! Or for Grizzly Bear fans, I highly doubt Grizzly Bear would have made another album after Yellow House if Pitchfork didn't review it so well, considering the fact that tension was very high during the recording of that album. Pitchfork is like music's best friend that you love to hate, but know that music would fall down a deep dark path if Pitchfork decided to stop being a truthful friend. That's all I have to say, can't wait for P4k Music Fest 09. CYMBALS EAT GUITARS BABY!!!! And hopefully Wavves will have another freak out there lol.
Score = 1
Recognizing how great Veckatimest, MPP, and BO are rather than putting one over the other> putting one over the other
Score = -2
NEW MOUNT EERIE ALBUM COMING OUT!!!!!!!!! Wind's Poem
best black metal album ever
Score = 4
It is amazing to see that everybody seems to be listening to the same music.
If there's no diversity, don't even try making statements such as "X is the best album of the year". Have you listened to every record since January ? How can you be sure that nothing better will be released until 2010 ?
This is a pointless article, getting pointless comments.
Score = 1
To think this record is even considered for ALBUM OF THE YEAR is ridiculous!!! There are maybe three actual songs on the whole record. Everything else is fluff. I wanted to like this record, but it's not gonna happen. And besides, the years not over. What bands are lurking under the radar, waiting to release something amazing? Anything should be more amazing than this snoozer.
Score = 3
HMMM...
I WILL VOTE FOR CRYPTACIZE'S MYTHOMANIA THANKS.
Score = 0
...I hold Big Star in the highest esteem...it's like a stunning three act play done with "Abbey Road's" cinnematographer...about TN by TN,,,the joy of hearing the first two songs on Bitte was pleasing in the same way Radio City was once which is/was the all time favorite I suppose...
Score = 0
I don't get it. Why are the only albums being compared Merriweather Post Pavilion, Veckatimest and Bitte Orca? We're questioning the BEST album of the year, yet sitting in an 'indie rock' bubble. Maybe I'm preaching to the wrong coir, but whatever. I dig all three albums, but I don't think anyone is relevant in claiming any of them as the best of anything, nor do I see the sense in bashing each other for liking one more than the other. The only thing I can really say about music this year is, fuck Wavves and fuck the Wavves bandwagon.
Score = 4
Also, props to anyone that has mentioned it IS NOT the end of the year and mentioning the possibility of under the radar bands. Who ever heard of Japandroids? Yet, they made an album that I've listened to more than the three of these other albums combined. Patience please.
Score = 4
Top 10 will be tough this year. Liking the Phoenix and AC records and there's still a ton of upcoming records to be excited about this year - Clipse, Joanna Newsom, Polvo, Built To Spill - but so far here's a top five.
1. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
3. Sonic Youth - The Eternal
4. Passion Pit - Manners
5. The Thermals - Now We Can See
Score = -3
I know Phoenix well enough to know they have NOTHING to do with Big Star...nice try Rolling Stone...go back to newspaper print if that's what it takes...
Score = 0
I have to say, any best-of 2009 list would be incomplete without Balmorhea's album All is Wild All is Silent. Easily the most enjoyable album I've heard this year.
Score = 1
MPP was my favorite of the big "blog-hyped" albums this year so far. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was also very good, I haven't heard Veckatimest, and BItte Orca is cluttered and unpleasant to listen to.
There have been some other fantastic albums this year that no one's seemed to talk about. Telefon Tel Aviv, Iron and Wine, Mos Def, etc.
Score = 2
I'd definitely vote Phoenix over Dirty Projectors. I'm not all that impressed with DP honestly.
Score = 2
that's because you like phoenix. Its bland, generic shit. you are unable to conceive such a masterpiece that is bitte orca
Score = -1
I'd definitely vote Phoenix over Dirty Projectors. I'm not all that impressed with DP honestly.
Score = 0
Phoenix is up there...but obviously ASHER ROTH FTW BRO!!!!
Score = 1
wavvewagon LOL
Score = 1
I like Dirty Projectors.
I like Stereogum.
But I like Stereogum because it's edgy and usually unpretentious. And I like Dirty Projectors because they feel fresh and unique. Stereogum's endless circle jerks around the DP's are making me reassess on both fronts, though.
Score = 8
you guys, the new think about life album is so so good. the first 6 tracks are the most joyful noise i've heard in a long time. TAL = summerjams of 2009.
Score = 0
All right. I'm going to bravely step forward and humbly say, I don't get it. I'm going to arrogantly say I've tried to like this band cus I agree with Stereogum 90% of the time, really, which is why I come to this site, but I have tried and tried this band, just streamed this album several times today and you know what? I fucking hate them. I'm laughing writing this, maybe I'm missing something (I'm not) but if this is the best album of 2009 I'm going to shoot myself now. I'm hoping I'll eat my words, I've been wrong on my 1st impression a (very) few times before, and I hope to be proven wrong in the end but a 9.2 on P4K? I'm calling Emperor wearing no Dirty Projectors underwear.
Score = 8
Stereogum: I hate you and the comment battles you provoke, and yet, I can't stop reading you.
Score = 4
I THINK I'LL WAIT UNTIL PITCHFORK DECIDES THEIR ALBUM OF THE YEAR BEFORE I MAKE A TRULY UNIQUE AND INDIE DECISION
Score = 12
I don't know what kind of society would play Captain Beefheart in the Stop&Shop...how far in the future or past would THAT be...
Score = 0
No.
Score = 2
Wait, why don't you ask that question at the end of the year?
Score = 1
I'll let everybody in on a little secrest...Pitchfork reeks of the dot.com boom...I temped at alot of those places as they were sinking:)
Score = 0
I personally rate my "Albums of the Year" on a "What would I rather listen to? Scale" For example The Thermals are my favorite band, so clearly "Now We Can See" is my Album of the Year.
Anyway, I don't know where I'd fit Bitte Orca on a scale against Veckatimest and MPP. I certainly listen to it a lot fucking more than Veckatimest and MPP, so yeah, I think it's better than those. It's nice to hear experimental pop music that doesn't try and be all acid trippy like Animal Collective, and is more jumpy than the chamber esque music of Grizzly Bear.
Score = -1
Why are people trying to pit Animal Collective and Dirty Projectors against each other? They are both amazing bands in their own styles, and both just happened to release amazing albums in the same year. As for "Album of the Year", WHO GIVES A SHIT? You can decide for yourself what the album of the year is. You don't have to have other people approve, and you certainly don't have to rely on a website to tell you what's cool.
Score = 5
I heard the New Kids on the Block are coming back.
Score = 4
Good musicianship but their voices are incredibly annoying
Score = -1
listened a few times to the album stream the last couple days...give me a poppy band over "experimental" any day, but this is pretty good stuff. i have listened to useful chamber about a dozen times already and i find that song absolutely amazing...i can appreciate the album and enjoy it for the most part, but not entirely my thing
Score = 0
It truly is way to early. I do love Bitte Orca, but i'm gunning for the new built to spill. also cymbals eat guitars put out a gnarly album which deserves more attention. Somewhat shocking that pitchfork gave it best new music yet they're not penetrating ear pussies around the world yet, it's kinda refreshing actually. I do wish them all the best though.
Score = 2
Passion Pit?
Score = 1
Neko Case is my favorite so far this year. Full of soul, can't skip a single track. IDK about this yet though....maybe I'm not cool enough for it? Yeah, yeah that sounds about right...
Score = 1
Glad to see Micachu and The Shapes in there; Jewellerly definitely deserves Top 5 at this point, based on originality and re-listenability. As per Bitte Orca, so far I'm finding it to be an all around more cohesive album than Veckatimest, Two Suns, and MPP (which I think could benefit from a revised track order AND I find to be inferior to Sung Tongs and Feels) -- but that's no to say Bitte Orca is guaranteed the top spot on my list.
Score = 0
nice album, but not the best. still like the Animal Collective and Phoenix albums a lot more
Score = 0
made an easily downloadable (ctrl+c, ctrl+v) "comment template" for this thread:
______ is good, but __________ is the best!!!!
Score = 6
for me, it's a toss-up between Bitte Orca and Veckatimst. They both have that repeatability about them that so many albums don't have these days. As for Merriwether Post Pavillion, year end-lists will no doubt praise its forward-thinking, boundary-pushing mad skillz, but give me Bitte Orca anyday
Score = 0
to be honest, i'm not quite sure the album's grown on me yet. but that's how i've felt with all my current fave records of 09 (sans face control, that was a goodie from the start), but i do recall hearing these guys at p4k last year and thought to myself that i needed to make a mental note to check em out. . . for anyone in the chicago area, they're playing a free set to the public at milennium park this monday (6/22) with the sea & cake so it'll be a good opportunity to test the live waters. . . from what i recall, this may be what bait i need to really dig em.
Score = -1
i like this album and all the others mentioned!!!!!!!!
Score = 1
no. bitte orca is not the best album of the year. the best albums of the year (so far) are it's great to be alive from fake problems and tres tres fort from staff benda bilili.
Score = 0
Fever Ray followed by Veckatimest, but the gap in terms of pleasurable album experience is wide...
MPP- Revolver? please.... AC are still a live band....
DP is a lot of fucking work...
Score = 0
If the power goes out, light some candles get some acoustic guitars and Dirty Projectors can still play a set. Other "bands" would be searching for a generator.
Score = 1
As could Tiny Tim...
Score = 0
Not sure what that has to do with who the made best album??? Or anything for that matter.. With that said, just about every band mentioned on this sighjt can play music on the acoustic guitar.... And not that it matters but if AC were to whip out their acoustics they would kill everyone!!!!
Score = 0
Thank god Stereogum posted the stream so I could listen - and then not waste my emusic downloads on this. This is a typical "indie music snob" album that 90% of Stereogum readers will fall all over themselves anointing a masterpiece just to increase their "cred." Virtually unlistenable. Oh, and the same goes for MPP.
Score = -3
How about we respect the album for what it is? Not how much is does/does not sound better/worse than MPP or Veckatimest. The bands releasing them are purposefully three separate bands, meaning they are not the same as each other and therefore comparison serves better in retrospect, as in making a collage of the time's music. We can't do that yet. So instead of everyone fighting over being the one to have called the "best album of the year" (I'm the hippest hipster! No I am!)... can we just sit back and enjoy what this year has brought us so far?
Score = 1
This is an amazing album - so addictive and unpredictable. Why all the competition? This whole Superbowl mentality of best album goes against what art is all about - subjective, unquantifiable experience. I like this and you like that - what's there to argue about?
Score = 1
no matter what these dirty projectors say, dont bite an Orca! them shits bite back brotha.
Score = -1
Personally, I am not annoyed by the fact that people want to talk about 'the album of the year.' Every music lover should know His/Her album of the year. I'm annoyed because I have never heard two loved albums to which i would ever want to listen at the same time. Meaning, different music communicates to me better at different times. My taste and preferences are governed by the dominating moods that i experience, and the records that those dominating moods most frequently demand become my favorite albums. What and when do i want to listen to what? - that is the question. And of course, i have limited spending money so i DO pay attention to those albums that critics (metacritic/p4k/amazon/google/etc.) suggest might communicate to ME the best.
Currently, my listening is dominated by:
1. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (first band since radiohead that seems to know my mind)
2. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (makes me happy in my melancholy)
3. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca (i suffer from a disorganized mental illness and this nails something on every level - musically and lyrically)
4. St. Vincent - Actor (similar in reason to Bitte Orca, but more controlled - these two albums swing back and forth for me)
5. Animal Collective - MPP (i miss the guitars, nevertheless, this harmonizing 'electronic' music has hit me much harder than any 'electronic' music in a long while)
All of these albums are amazing. I have no idea what music will yet come out this year. this is right now. i also neither have an idea about what music any of you personally need nor knowledge of the music to which you have granted yourselves personal access.
I am neither omniscient nor omnipresent, and these are albums i can't stop playing right now.
Score = 1
It's like the same five people are posting. Hioster pop sounds like Michael Jackson getting his balls squeezed by a five year old at his zoo. I do like their lack of self/emotional breakdowns on tour, very David Carradine/Obama-esque.
Score = 2
II like anyone getting their balls squeezed by a five-year-old at his zoo or by a lady demanding retribution, but i do hope that you are not speaking about me. call me sensitive. but i would rather learn about from you and others whatever it is that i do not know. so let me know. i am not looking for points, cred, or otherwise. i know/feel what i like. if you know of an artist that i should know, PLEASE let me know. i will find them, him, her, etc.
Ignorance and self-defense frequently join to create abominable things. let me know. keep in mind: i do not have much expendable income - thus, be as selective as you can be.
Score = -2
i dont get it...dp is just kinda annyoing
mpp is almost the best of the year...but like 4 tracks are boring/annoying
id say so far Bat For Lashes is the best record of the year.
Score = -2
I'm kinda liking the Discovery LP and Foreign Born and Passion Pit are pretty good as well.
Score = -1
Terrible, terrible music. I felt insulted the two times i listened to this thing. Atrocious album, sounds like a grotesque parody of everything that is wrong with some indie music. It is so bad it made me appreciate Veckatimest, which i hate with a raging passion.
Best album this year is Kylesa's Static Tension, or Bromst, or Odd Nosdam's skate DVD ost.
Score = -4
Easily best album of the year
Score = -2
radical youth culture is more explosive than ever. The creative underground that spawned such legends as sonic youth and nirvana is more creativly explosive than ever. At the same time their is a cross between the previous generations for the firts time ever their are truly radical adults licking godhead style such as Wilco or Sonic Youth.
grizly bear and dirty projectors are the last of a dying breed, they are very much of this time but this type of post indie feminised art rock is a dying breed being replaced by a more punk art rock and radical electronic music. I fully support these bands and records and am glad that my generation had such acts as sufjan stevens or arcade fire, its been a great time.
This radical music is still in the shawdows completly unknown to the rest of the mainstream, even in a time were strange bands like grizly bear have top ten records the creative underground is still in the shwadows, this should prove once and for all that it will never truly break . So stop hating and strat supporting we are in a culture war and while I am evry optimisit about the current trends creative music i know that "it" wont just happen and when i say it i mean the next wave, its coming yes thats forsure but it wont just happen like that, so support damit.
MPP on the other hand has nothing to do with these dinasour art rocjk bands AC is very much still part of radical electronic music. if you dont like electronic music dont be so amazed that you dont like MPP , no biggie.
POST OF 2009 and p.s this is the last year or this twothousand bullshit next year Im saying twently ten, peacee
Score = -5
It's arguable whether this is the best album of 2009, but I think that many can agree that 2009 is turning out to be the best year for music.
Score = 2
Well, unlike many who post here, I'm not afraid of a pop hook and so my fav albums thus far look like this:
1. The Sounds-Crossing The Rubicon
2. Shout Out Out Out Out-Reintegration Time
3. Simple Minds-Graffiti Soul
4. Faunts-Feel Love Thinking Of
5. Metric- Fantasies
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It's Blitz
and we'll have to see what the year holds for the rest. But the Dirty Projectors and Animal Collective have both put out meandering, unfocused and clanging records that are dissonant for the sake of dissonance. Sorry, Stereogum, no fan here.
Score = -1
Yay for Shout Out Out Out Out.... such a fun band :)
Score = 0
probably
Score = 1
Have you heard the Major Lazer? Not the best but good.
Score = 0
I had no idea that people liked this album that much. To me, the vocals sound nail-on-a-chalkboard grating. I don't find a whole lot that's redeeming about this album. Out of "the big 3," Grizzly Bear is the only one I can really get behind.
Score = 3
Contenders:
Phoenix: WgA
Camera Obscura: My Maudlin Career
Au Revoir Simone: Still night, still night
Japandriods: Post-nothing
I would probably have more on that list, but I been really lazy getting albums. Mostly just stream off MySpace. I didn't really feel Bitte Orca. i enjoyed Passion Pit, but I'm sure it's hold up for the rest of this year.
I'm really looking forward to DISCOVERY, Free Energy, and Girls.
Oh yeah.... The Avalanches....
Score = 1
Merriweather Post Pavilion, Crack the Skye and Veckatimest.
So far, the only contenders for album of the year on my list.
No matter how hard I try, all Bitte Orca seems to do is get on my nerves.
Maybe I should give it more time (?).
Score = 4
How do you even say Bitte Orca?
Score = 5
beet orkuhh??
i dont know, im just guessing
Score = 1
Top 5 albums of 2009 so far...
1. Teenagers - Reality Check - XL(2008)
2. Teenagers - Reality Check - XL(2008)
3. Teenagers - Reality Check - XL(2008)
4. Teenagers - Reality Check - XL(2008)
5. Teenagers - Reality Check - XL(2008)
Score = 5
I really didn't care for the album. Although, I gave it several chances. My favs so far are GB, Wilco (The Album), Wavves (even though he is a dick).
Score = 0
Considering how we consume music, how the fuck can you consider something to be "ALBUM OF THE YEAR" beyond your personal tastes? On another note, 500 DAYS OF SUMMER MOVIE OF THE YEAR!
Score = 0
oh god i just read every single one of these useless comments. i even voted on some. who am i?
Score = 6
ST VINCENT
Score = 3
Pitchfork rarely "overhypes" albums. They just give albums good reviews and Best New Music them. Whether they like the albums or not, that's hardly "overhyping." This album is pretty solid and don't hate on Stereogum for being passionate about an album special to them.
Score = 0
How did this movie take over this site? they must have paid them thousands of dollars i guess?
Score = 0
You guys need to come out of your indie-rock comas.
In my opinion this record is far too challenging of a listen to be considered "best album of the year". Best albums speak to a decent chunk of the population on a deeper level that sums up that moment in time.
This album is too obscure, inconsistent and garbled to do that.
Most of the populous will think this album is just scattered noise.
Score = 0
Agree with everyone who has a considered opinion.
Bitte Orca is good listening, but you need some serious art-core lodged up your ass to approach it. I think it's fantastic, but my friends disagree. They prefer Muse.
Enemy Mine, dudes. Seriously, even with Danny screwing up 1/3 of the album it has hurtled into my 1st place. I'm leaving a slot open in my top 5 for the new Why?, which I hope will put AnCo and Grizzles to shame. You could pull the 'different genre' card on me, but I consider 'obscure white-boy music' to be a genre. C'mon Yoni. You're my hero.
Score = 3
CYMBALS EAT GUITARS!!!!!!!! hands down best of the year
Score = -1
DPs is best album of the year by a LANDSLIDE. I have it as:
1. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
2. Here We Go Magic
3. Animal Collective - MPP
4. Dark Was the Night
5. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Believe
Score = -2
I'm eating yogurt right now.
Score = 0
Now I'm finished.
Score = 3
I nominate this album for best album name, best album cover, and for best track titles of the year!
And I nominate fans of this album as The People Most Easily Brainwashed & Influenced By Incidental Things Such As Album Names, Album Covers, and Track Titles (Of The Year).
Score = -1
Overrated as 90% of most indie releases. The female vocals sound horrible.
Score = 1
I honestly do not get Dirty Projectors. Their voices, the lyrics...
I mean really. Do I look like I'm into Oriental music?
Score = 0
Great post. Been asking myself the same thing.
Bitte Orca has yet to be topped in 2009.
Score = 0
MICACHU AND THE MOTHERFUCKING SHAPES
MPP IS THE MOST OK COMPUTER SINCE FEELS
Score = 0
I can't believe I wasted some of my already weak ratio on this Stereogum pick for album of the year. Horrible, just horrible. I will be much more hesitant to listen to recommendations on this site.
Score = 2
since i am not a blogger or professional music critic, i don't have much interesting in listing my favourite albums of the year. however, there really is something going on with these three albums that makes me feel very strongly that these are THE albums of the year whatever the order. bitte orca is the most striking and innovative, veckatimest the most beautiful, merriweather the most interesting texturally. i listen to all of them alot but i am slowly coming around to agreeing with the headline of this post. mpp is not my favourite animal collective album, and grizzly bear are not at their peak yet i don't think, but bitte orca i think has really raised the bar as far as pop music goes. it could really change things. what bitte orca has done really makes me rethink music altogether. everything should be difficult about this album: the harmonies, the timing, the detached guitar, obscure lyrics, but somehow it is as easy to digest as any other pop album. it's as if all this time experimental music has been this alienating and impenetrable zone that you can get into on a sort of meditative level, and now with this album just sucks you into it instantly.
Score = 0
to answer the main question here.. no Stereogum, Bitte Orca ISNT the best album of 2009.
as i read this, all that went trhough my mind was, "Are you fucking kidding me?!?"
Score = -1
Maybe sometimes we get too obsessed about what is the "best" and forget that everyone responds to art differently. I personally connected better with the jarring experimentalism of Animal Collective's earlier albums than Merriweather, but I agree with everyone that Animal Collective's "accessible" album sounds incredible. I think Vecktameist is an absolutely beautiful record and this is coming from someone who failed to understand what all the hype was with Yellow House. I'm guilty of it too, but maybe we should all focus on what we connect with and why, rather than what is the best. You don't walk out of MoMa saying "Mondrian > Kadinsky" so why approach pop music that way?
Score = 3
useful chamber. :)
hell yeah.
Score = 0
ST VINCENT -- ACTOR. Good God...this album incorporates some of the most unique and captivating sounds I have ever heard WITHOUT sacrificing melody or good composition (listen to "Marrow" and don't tell me it doesn't kick your ass). It takes musical stabs at genius and connects every time. Meanwhile, DP is just an orgy of cliches. Sure, some of them work..."Useful Chamber" and "Cannibal Resource" are great tracks. But seriously. Best Album of 2009?
Nah.
Score = -1
dude, cliches? wtf are you talking about. point out what parts of the album are cliche'd please.
Score = 2
Can anyone tell me if Vecktameist is significantly different than Yellow House? I was not really a fan of Yellow House (found it pretty boring, to be honest) and I saw Grizzly Bear open for TVOTR last month, but just didn't get it. Is there anything on the new album that will change my mind if I didn't like Yellow House and was less than enthralled by their live show?
Score = 0
It is somewhat.
Veckatimest is poppier, but is still very much indie baroque pop, while Yellow House is darker - has a more claustrophobic sound.
I wish Grizzly Bear would do more pop songs - like Two Weeks. Make their records a bit more fun and less cerebral...
But if you didn't like Yellow House, chances are you won't Veckatimest either...
Score = 0
It's great to hear bands today incorporate strings and vocal harmonies. DP has been able to let their music flourish into a very clean structure. It's like they've designed this baby cradle for rock to crawl in. Sure they sound pretentious especially on Temecula Sunrise sort of highlighting the flotsam and jetsam of everyday life: "Gatorade" or maybe its just the bright colors of Gatorade that match their disposition. Their style is really clean and very sort of specific in interest lyrically. It was easy for me to interpret the feelings they felt for the specific space they where in as being very pretentious and annoying but really they're meagerly expressing their style and what they're interested in however varied and just juxtaposed it may seem. It seams like they get bored very easily that's why I like them.
Score = -1
GP - I really cant get into grizzly Bear either. While You Wait For others is a great song, just like Knife was. I tried but I just cant get into the whole album.
My opinion on best of 2009 so far is MPP then DP, although there is nothing great about either of them. Boxer, In Rainbows, Strawberry Jam, For Emma Forever Ago, and even Vampire Weekend blows these albums out of the water.
Song of Half the Year - Summertime Clothes
Runner up - Young Hearts Spark Fire
Score = 0
Yall heard that new Peabo Bryson joint?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqGTb4ZFAS8
Score = 0
<3 Aladdin sndtrck!
Score = 0
you know what? This kinda reminds me of a more poppy/accesible version of deerhoof. Deconstructionist pop that really only flirts with the idea of deconstructing. Like, it peers over the edge, but pulls back before it loses balance.
I think I'm digging it, but I'll have to listen a few more times to be sure.
Score = 0