2009: The Year of Lists - Kevin

Kevin Sears is not related to the people who sell you cheap crap with expensive warranties that only work in that you never have to cash them in...except when you didn't purchase one, then something goes wrong. No, he's of the Oklahoma Sears and they always drive a hard bargain.

Kevy-Kev is a newer-ish member of the Emergency Umbrella family but he's been around the proverbial block when it comes to the rock and roll. He's the one with the doughnut for a hoo-ha on that Dark Meat 7" (NSFW).

I asked him to give me a list. He gave me three, plus a list of honorable mentions that was longer than any of his actual lists. So, he more than did his part. Welcome him with open arms and remember that the opinions below are not mine - especially that pic of the doughnut vayjayjay. So, don't go typing in all caps in the comments section just because he didn't include U2 in his top-10.

2009 was actually, and to my surprise, a wonderful year for music. There were several great albums from new and seasoned bands/musicians. So without further ado here are my "Best of 2009" lists:

Best Albums of 2009 (In no particular order):

1. St. Vincent - Actor
2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
3. Why? - Eskimo Snow
4. Bosque Brown - Baby
5. Stardeath and White Dwarfs - The Birth
6. Cursive - Mama I'm Swollen
7. Tortoise - Beacons Of Ancestorship
8. Balmorhea - All Is Wild, All Is Silent
9. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches
10. Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band

Honorable Mentions:

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle
Dan Deacon - Bromst
Danger Mouse + Sparkle Horse - Dark Night Of The Soul
Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Molina & Johnson - Molina & Johnson (Will Johnson's half...Molina's songs are very weak on this record.)
Sherree Chamberlain - The Wasp In The Room
The Swell Season - Strict Joy
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

According to my Last.fm (http://www.last.fm/user/sitandspinradio) data, here are my top 10 bands who released a record in 2009....

1. Flaming Lips
2. Headlights
3. Bosque Brown
4. Cursive
5. Why?
6. Wilco
7. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
8. Starlight Mints
9. Stardeath and White Dwarfs
10. St. Vincent

Best Shows I Attended In 2009

1. Grizzly Bear - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
2. St. Vincent - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
3. Cursive/Bald Eagle - Slowdown (Omaha, NE)
4. Emergency Umbrella Showcase...aka Bald Eagle's final show - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
5. Russian Circles - Mojo's (Columbia, MO)
6. Jason Lytle - Tonic (Columbia, MO)
7. Why? - Firebird (St. Louis, MO)
8. Burning Hotels/Pretty Black Chains - Dfest (Tulsa, OK)
9. Colourmusic/Gentleman Auction House - The Vault (Stillwater, OK)
10. Cursive - Hailey's (Denton, TX)