_Top CDs of 2009 (Page 2)

Top CDs of 2009: Part III (con’t) We here at RMMM hate the 80s. Despise it. In fact, if there were one decade that was in need of a complete cultural retooling at the hands of superior cackling hens, that would be the one. Why, then, is the worst of our pop culture the best of this year? One answer: “Mallory.” We’re still digging the disco beat that permeates this long-player, and even if you’re not a fan of retro-pop/rock, you have to appreciate that “Ancient Lover” is pure saccharine glee. There isn’t a wrong note here, not a single “yawn” moment, and yet, forRead More →

Top CDs of 2009: Day III It’s strange, it’s un- conventional, and it’s a CD that certainly grows on you. Only St. Vincent’s second solo LP, “Actor” uses atypical orchestration and gets a vicious, angular sound, especially in the opener “The Strangers.” Strings, clicks and blaps, and breathy, gossamer vocals all in the name of… yes, pop. But it’s deep pop, and if it doesn’t keep spinning in your player for a while, then we feel truly sorry for you. We’re still digging into smoother sound of “The Party,” which gorgeously mimics the awkward swagger of feeling misplaced, and “The Bed,” which has to doRead More →

Top CDs, Part II It’s all about the Neko. Her third album since 2002’s breakout “Blacklisted,” “Middle Cyclone” is one of those rare CDs that, on paper, just doesn’t work. Twisting, seemingly random song structure, strange, obscure lyrics, a killer whale as one of the narrators, all in all, it doesn’t seem to add up as the top album of an artist’s career. But it does work, and it’s no fluke: marking 11th on Amazon.com’s top albums of this year, we feel, is due to these unusual and poppy songs and Ms. Case’s fantastic country-ish vocals (maybe the red hair, too). While it can easilyRead More →

Top CDs of 2009: Part I So. First pick, it’s going to be a bit more mainstream than most indie rockers are used to, but let’s face it: you’re out clubbing, it’s late at night, and you still haven’t found a better CD for it than Franz Ferdinand’s. We understand. Having released in January, this album still keeps it’s disco-funk beat, it’s flashy, catchy hooks, and Kaparanos’ swaggering vocals well into the next year. Even if you’re not a big fan of Mr. Ferdinand, especially after 2005′ “You Could Have it So Much Better” (a somewhat ironic title), this is the CD to get youRead More →