A Look Back at 2009
This is a look back at all the albums that I got in 2009 that were released in 2009. I obtained a bunch of albums this past year that are not included on this list because they were not released in 2009. A look back at the year…
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Honor By August – Found
This is a great album. This is HBA’s 3rd studio release, the second one with a full band. They have definitely evolved from Drowning out The Television. Honor By August had initially said they were going to release their second album, Found, in late April, but instead, it came out May 29. HBA is a band that has shared the stage with artists such as Bon Jovi, Third Eye Blind, Vertical Horizon, Peter Frampton, Hootie & the Blowfish, Edwin McCain, Hanson, State Radio and many others. Found is a record that is similar, yet very different from their first album, Drowning Out The Television. I think this album has different musicians playing behind the instruments than the first release. Found makes use of piano, unlike DOTT.
I love HBA because the lead singer has a pretty cool voice. The use of drums and guitars in this release is great. Acoustic guitars are used more on this CD. HBA also has great song writing backing their tunes. In regards to the song writing, I feel like Found is similar to DOTT, but I like it better. Their songs touch on love, loss, survival, the Iraq War… Alive and Awake is the last track on the CD and it is the best ending track I’ve heard in a while for a CD. It wraps everything up so perfectly. It’s a great album. I suggest picking it up.
Kate Voegele – A Fine Mess
Kate Voegele’s new CD A Fine Mess, came out in May. I discovered Kate through Braddigan. I’ve watched Kate go from a college singer/songwriter to a TV-pop star. I’ve never watched or got into One Tree Hill, but I think it’s great that Kate has landed that role. It’s really boosting her career. Anyways, the album…
This is a record with a definite independent sound. It’s not typical pop, but it’s not what James called “bubblegum pop.” It’s a unique sound. In the grand scheme of things, I don’t think this album will be considered one of the best of 2009, but it stands out in the top 15 at least. It’s a good second record and you can tell that Kate is evolving as a songwriter and musician artist. It is definitely worth a listen.
Gregory Douglass – Battler
Gregory Douglass is not my favorite artist, but he is still good and very listenable. I actually got into him through Syd, he’s friends with him. I bought all of Douglass’ albums, and in retrospect, I was a little hasty buying them all at once, but on his website, Greg had the best songs from Battler streaming and I really liked them. The snippets I heard in places like iTunes, I really liked. So, I bought the records. I’m not regretting it, but I’m not the biggest fan. So I guess I recommend Battler, but don’t make it your first choice to pick up.
Syd – Upswing
Syd released this short EP through his new company, Co-Op Sounds. It’s free at http://www.coopsounds.com/. Mallory is my favorite song on this record, but Syd never fails to please the ears. He’s an artist on Horizons Management, so James got me into his music, and with the whole Horizons thing, we’ve all been in contact as we develop our Horizons family. But definitely go check this EP out, you won’t be disappointed.
Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers – The Bear
This is an amazing album. The Sixers never fail to impress. I feel like they have definitely evolved from Glassjaw Boxer. Kellogg takes his life experiences, having a family, children, etc. and writes his songs based on that. He is amazing. See Yourself is probably my favorite track, but Kit and Boots are great as always, as well as the new Sixer, Sam Getts on lead guitar. I can’t say enough about this album. I feel like I’d keep repeating myself if I make this a very long review, so, definitely go pick up this album and prepare to be blown away with incredible music. It gets better every time you listen to it.
Todd Martin - Volume One: With The Ends
This is a short little 2 song single that Todd released in May. Todd is a good friend of mine, so I watched these songs go from demos Todd did on his computer to the studio songs they became. These songs are done with the guys from Todd’s live band, not Kit and Boots, like his other albums. The two “new” players give the songs a different sound than the albums, but they are great nonetheless. While this is only 2 songs, I definitely recommend picking them up, they’re awesome.
Tim Blane – Trace (Side A)
This is the first half of Tim’s new album. It’s available for FREE at www.timblane.com/download. This album is typical Tim, jazzy, lot of piano, horns, good melodies. This album just proves what we all know about Tim, he can write, sing and play music, he’s got a voice that enchants the ladies, and it’s needless to say that he’s easy on the eyes. :) This is a great little EP, lots of horns, gives it that old-time jazzy feel, you don’t hear that in a lot of music nowadays. Its great, definitely recommended, so go download some great free music!
Pete Francis with Barefoot Truth - Wake the Mountain
Pete teamed up with BFT for this EP and they did a tour to support it. It’s pretty cool, each song has a different sound than the original version, no matter which band, because of the addition of the other band. BFT is great and so is Pete, so this is a cool EP and I definitely recommend it. There are 2 Pete songs, 2 BFT songs and 1 Bob Dylan cover of Quin the Mighty Eskimo. So yeah, check this out, it’s pretty sweet. You can stream it all at www.barefoottruth.com
State Radio - Let it Go
This is State Radio’s 3rd full length studio album. While it is better than Year of the Crow and definitely Us Against The Crown, I feel like with this album State Radio has plateaued stylistically. I still believe Chad is one of the best songwriters of this generation, but this album adds nothing to the evolution of State Radio as a band. Held Up By The Wires and Blood Escaping Man are included on the album, 2 old songs that they just finally decided to release. HUBTW has some new lyrics, but the song has virtually remained the same for the past few years. While BEM has definitely evolved from the older version, the style is still the same. I love the new lyrics though on this track. They even re-recorded Indian Moon as a bonus track. While the song went from being acoustic on UATC, I can’t say I like the new arrangement. I would have done the full band arrangement differently. Near the end it fades out and then fades back in. I just learned that this track was a spontaneous live performance, which makes it much cooler and makes the arrangement more forgivable.
The really cool thing about this album is that if you get it on iTunes, you pay $5 extra, but you get 30 live, acoustic tracks from 2 nights in December of 2008 at the Brattle Theater in Massachusetts. These are full shows with just Chad acoustic playing a mix of State Radio and Dispatch songs. So, that alone is worth the extra money. The bottom line is that I do recommend this album, but don’t expect it to blow you away like YOTC did.
Josh Garrels - Lost Animals
This was an unexpected album released in August by Josh. It is a set of b-sides from his last album, Jacaranda. It is definitely b-sides. This is a great album and Josh is great, but I can see why these did not make the other album. This is very religious music, as is all of Josh’s stuff, so if you’re not into that, you probably won’t like it. The style is very Josh Garrels. Be Set Free was a song featured on Walking On Water movie and that soundtrack and it features my two brothers, Reinaldo de Jesus and Tiago Machado, who play with Braddigan. So, it was great to hear them on this record. I definitely recommend the album, it’s worth a listen.
Green River Ordinance - Out of my Hands
I was Facebook stalking my good friend James Kenly one day and saw he had become a fan of GRO, so I checked them out. They’re really great. They at first reminded me of Honor By August, but they have their own sound. They’re out of Texas. You can definitely hear some rock influences in their tunes and they have a rock/pop sound, but still independent. They do a lot of radio work and have their songs on the radio a lot, which is great. They definitely have radio hits. So, definitely check these guys out!
Barefoot Truth - Life Is Calling EP
This is a cool little EP released in August. It was supposed to be in anticipation of their new full length, Threads, but that isn’t being released until February of 2010 now, which is a bummer. This is a cool EP because all the songs feature vocalist Naia Kete. It’s awesome to hear a female on BFT songs, and it sounds awesome, especially on All Good Reasons. Definitely go check it. So yeah, definitely listen to it!
Jesse Hines - In The Right Time
Jesse is a friend I met at Duke when I went to see Brad play there last February. He had mentioned writing some songs, but I didn’t think they’d be out this fast, and to be honest, I forgot. We actually fell out of touch for a bit and then this fall, I found him on Facebook and discovered the album. It is produced by Brad. This is a short little set of songs that show off Jesse’s style. He is a surfer/model from North Carolina and these tunes have many images of the ocean and the water. They are nothing outstanding, but I don’t think he expected them to be. So, definitely check out this album, it’s worth it, even if just to support Jesse. p.s. His wife, Whitney, is pretty cool too.
Owl City - Ocean Eyes
I was in Louisiana this past summer and got an email from James. He had forwarded it along from Steve Bursky, who works at Foundations Music. He says that Owl City had just signed with Foundations and had released a new CD. It’s one guy who does all the work, very computerized, but great. The tunes are awesome. They definitely have a different sound to them, but they are great and soothing to listen to. I didn’t like them at first, but then couldn’t stop listening to the single, which climbed the iTunes charts really fast. I mean, it’s not straight up guitars and singing, but it’s awesome. I can’t really describe it. Just go and check this guy out! I had no idea how famous he had become until after I got back from Spain. Nicely done Stevo!
Eric Hutchinson - Sounds Like This Live (1 & 2)
Taylor Carson opened for Hutchinson, which is how I got into his music. I had heard of him before when he played with Pete Francis and Matt Nathanson, but never listened to him. This is a live disc, so it’s fun to hear. Eric is just a fun musician and it’s fun to listen to his tunes. So yeah, pick it up for a groovy, jazzy guy! Volume 1 is live, Volume 2 appears to be live in the studio. Here’s a video promoting the studio version of the album from 2008, which is pretty awesome - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd99Hsgg_Fc&feature=youtube_gdata
Jer Coons - Speak
This is a cool little CD from a guy out of Vermont. Man, there is nothing like music from the Northeast. He’s under the same management as Barefoot Truth, which is how I found him. It’s nothing spectacular, but it’s definitely a fun listen and Coons can and will definitely grow when he puts out a second CD and keeps touring. I feel like he is just starting out, so definitely keep an eye his way to see where he goes!
Gregory Douglass - Merry Holiday EP
I just picked this CD up a few minutes ago, yes, it’s only November 11, but I’m in the holiday spirit. This is a 5 song EP of all Christmas songs. Only one song, What A Long Year It Was, is a Gregory Douglass original. I know what I said about Gregory above, but this EP really shows that Gregory can sing. This EP has great renditions of classic songs such as Oh Holy Night. This is an awesome EP, I can´t stop listening to it. So yeah, if you want some great Christmas/Holiday tunes, definitely check this EP out!
Ellis Paul – The Day After Everything Changed
I wasn’t expecting to have this album for another month; it’s not available, accept at shows until January 12, 2010, which, in my opinion is a terrible marketing ploy on Ellis’ management part. But it is now exclusively available on AmazonMP3 (Today is December 15). I could go on about the bad marketing of this record, but I won’t. James and Taylor turned me onto Ellis Paul a little over a year ago, so I was very late to the Ellis game. He’s been running the indie/folk music circuit for the past 20 years, and for good reason. This is his 15th CD or something, and it is definitely his best. Starting in Boston, Ellis has been developing his sound since the early 90s. Now, with this latest release, he has honed it perfectly. With songs like the title track and Hurricane Angel about Hurricane Katrina victims, this album showcases his writing ability, singing ability and instrumental skill. This is a fantastic album. The stories Ellis weaves in these songs, the production, it’s all amazing. So, like The Bear, I’m going to stobp here so I don’t repeat myself, but definitely pick up this record, it’ll change your life. January 12, available everywhere, but until then, it’s at exclusively - http://bit.ly/4s8Hzu.- And, being very serious, this, in my opinion, is the best album of 2009.
Speechwriters LLC - Indifferent Cities
This is a good CD. ’m not the biggest SWLLC fan, I mean they’re good, but I don’t keep up with them like I do with other bands. This album sounds like it’s typical SWLLC. Mischa just came back from Vietnam, so, it definitely has Southeast Asian influences. I actually met Mischa. He was a counselor the first time I was at EXPLO at Yale; I want to say that was 2004. He even played a show for us, but at that time I was young and not into music like I am now. I would have appreciated it more if I had known what I do now. But I remember he opened with CHBB, so I can say I’ve seen Speechwriters! Although, I don’t count that as a show. But yeah, pick this album up, it’s a good listen.
Matt Nathanson – Live Sessions (iTunes Exclusive)
This is a collection of acoustic songs with Matt’s band of some of the songs from Some Mad Hope. SMH is a fantastic album and it is great to hear these songs acoustic. The only song that is done solo by Matt is Come On Get Higher which I would have like to hear done stripped with the band. But nonetheless this is a great listen, especially as a Matt introduction.
Ingrid Michaelson – Everybody
Sometimes I need a while to realize the greatness of an artist. Ingrid is one of these people. She toured with Matt Nathanson, which is how I heard of her. I checked her out, didn’t really care for her stuff. Then Taylor Carson told me to check out her new album; he was blown away by it, and with good reason. I did, didn’t dig it. Then today, December 8, 2009, I am procrastinating and wanted some new music, so I checked her out. Ingrid is great. She has a smooth voice, good songs, lyrics, etc. Definitely check her out, Taylor was right when he said to pick up her latest album. It’s her best, and that’s coming from listening to all her albums at once. So yeah. Definitely recommended. The more I listen to this CD, the more and more I love it, so yeah, GET IT!
Chad Perrone – Live At Tupelo Music Hall
This CD was not promoted at all, to my knowledge. It was released in August and I didn’t see anything about it on Chad’s website, no emails, nothing, which is weird. I only found out about it by randomly searching Chad on AmazonMP3 for something to do. That aside, this is a great live disc. All acoustic songs. Chad is great. Great lyrics, singing, songwriting, it’s all great. Chad is one of my favorites. This is a great CD and I definitely recommend picking it up.
