Jimi Hendrix and the Band Of Gypsys performing “Auld Lang Syne” on Dec. 31, 1969 – Jan. 1, 1970 at the Filmore East. Jimi takes over at the 1:00 mark. Happy New Year’s and a very wonderful new decade to everyone!
As promised, here are my Top 20 Most Played Tunes of 2009. I got my beautiful new computer in April of this year, so by using the handy dandy play count feature in Itunes, I can give you a rather accurate account of what I truly felt were the Best Songs of 2009. I have also included videos for most of the songs (top quality live versions when I could find them to provide a bit more depth into the tunes). What were your top played tunes of 2009? Tell me in the comments after the jump.
When You Awake’s Top 20 Songs of 2009:
AA Bondy- I Can See The Pines Are Dancing
Deer Tick- Little White Lies
Dan Auerbach- Trouble Weights A Ton
Leslie and the Badgers- Los Angeles
Lissie- Little Lovin’
Kitty, Daisy and Lewis- Goin’ Up The Country
CW Stoneking- Love Me Or Die (5:40 mark)
Avett Brothers- I And Love And You
Megafaun (here with Bon Iver)- Worried Mind
Those Darlins- Wild One
Phosphorescent – It’s Not Supposed to be That Way
Phosphorescent performing Willie Nelson’s “It’s Not Supposed to Be That Way” live at the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD on Oct. 14, 2009.
I would like to present When You Awake’s Top 20 Albums of 2009. This was a fantastic year for music with so many new bands emerging from the scene. I’m especially thankful to those behind the Pickathon Music Festival in Portland, Oregon and the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival in Bristol, Tennessee for introducing me to some of my new favorite acts. The albums aren’t in any particular order (after the first 5 albums that is). Also, I know that I am forgetting some strong contenders so keep in mind that this a slightly incomplete list. Please use the comments section to tell me your top records of the year and anything that I might have missed. When You Awake’s Top 20 Songs of 2009, featuring many of the acts below, will be coming tomorrow. Stay tuned!!
When You Awake’s Top 20 Albums of 2009:
1. AA Bondy- When The Devil’s Loose
2. Deer Tick- Born on Flag Day
3. Justin Townes Earle- Midnight at the Movies
4. Leslie and the Badgers- Roomful of Smoke
5. Avett Brothers- I And Love And You
6. The Mumlers- Don’t Throw Me Away
7. Phosphorescent- To Willie
8. The Smart Brothers- My Baby
9. Those Darlins- Those Darlins
10. Langhorne Slim- Be Set Free
11. Akron/Family – Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free
12. Strand of Oaks- End Ruin
13. The Limes- The Limes
14. Felice Brothers- Yonder is the Clock
15. Megafaun- Gather, Form and Fly
16. Bonnie Prince Billy & The Picket Line – Funtown Comedown
17. Hagga and the Thieves From the North- Introducing The Thieves From the North
18. Lissie- Why You Runnin’
19. The Growlers- Are You In Or Out
20. Sin Fang Bous- Clangour
Honorable Mentions:
A Hawk And A Hacksaw – Deliverance
Beirut- March of The Zapotec and Realpeople Holland
Bombadil – Tarpits And Canyonlands
Cass McCombs- Catacombs
Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid
Dave Rawlings Machine – A Friend of a Friend
Dawes – North Hills
Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Heartless Bastards – The Mountain
Levon Helm- Electric Dirt
Paleface- The Show Is On The Road
Samantha Crain – Songs In The Night
The Deep Dark Woods – Winter Hours
Vetiver – Tight Knit
Ben Sheffner wrote a fascinating article for Billboard/Reuters that highlights the top five legal cases of 2009 that will help shape the future of music. If you are at all interested in the business side of things, it’s definitely worth reading and knowing about these cases. Click here to check them out.
The Everybodyfields- All I Have To Do Is Dream
Sam Quinn and Jill Andrews from The Everybodyfields (who sadly have since broken up) performing the Everly Brothers tune “All I Have To Do Is Dream” at Rhythm & Brews in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2008. One of my favorite clips that I’ve stumbled onto this year.
Country Music Association party at the Soap Creek Saloon in Austin, Texas in 1976.
Very sad news came over the holidays with the death of Georgia-based folk rocker Vic Chesnutt, who passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 45 after falling into a drug-related coma. He was a respected and influential musician who worked with Widespread Panic, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Fugazi and Lambchop and counted R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan and Throwing Muses’ Kristin Hersh among his devoted fans. He was also a passionate supporter of Sweet Relief, a Musician’s Fund that provides financial assistance to career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. Chesnutt, himself, was confined to a wheelchair after a car accident that left him paralyzed at the age of 18. I just made a donation in his honor to the Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund and I encourage you to do the same. I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory than by supporting the charity that he loved. To read more about the charity and to donate, click here.
Vic Chesnutt – Everything I Say (filmed Nov. 21, 2009)
What musicians say about Vic:
“We have lost one of our great ones. His songs and his story remain.”
Michael Stipe
“I flew around a little room once. A line from Supernatural.
He was just that. He possessed an unearthly energy and
yet was humanistic with the common man in mind. He was
entirely present and entirely somewhere else. A mystical
somewhere else. A child and an old guy as he called himself.
Before he made an album he said he was a bum. Now he
is in flight bumming round beyond the little room. With his
angel voice.”
Patti Smith
“in 1991 i moved to athens georgia in search of god, but what I discovered instead was vic chesnutt. hearing his music completely transformed the way i thought about writing songs, and i will forever be in his debt.
Jeff Mangum
Neutral Milk Hotel
“we love you and miss you so much vic chesnutt…it was so amazing to know you and record an album with you and tour all over the world with you..you are the greatest songwriter and singer to ever come out of athens and it was an honor to play with you..i love these lyrics of vic’s about water (this is from memory so it may be a little off)
…….”The same water that the dinosaurs drank
…….is the same water that the Persian fleets sank in
…….The same water that moistened the primordial ooze
…….is now hammering on my metal porch roof”
………………..andrew”
Andrew Rieger
Elf Power
AA Bondy- I’m So Lonesome Could Die
AA Bondy covers Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome Could Die” at the Basement in Columbus, Ohio on November 30, 2009.
I’m taking a little break for the next couple of days because I am going to a place where computers can’t follow (Disneyland!!!). So have a wonderful holiday week and I will be back on Monday with loads of good stuff including my year end lists, a mixtape from Frontier Ruckus and oh so much more.
Love,
Jody and When You Awake