brian hefele's untidy space

How trite to attempt a year in review! But I may as well do it anyway. I didn't pick up all that many albums that were actually released this year, so it's a short, crippled list. My year!

BEAK> - BEAK>

Third by Portishead was an interesting experience for me in 2008. My initial reaction was to question where the turntables went. I was a little bit put-off by the production at first. Still, Gibbons' voice was as beautiful as ever, and the track 'Machine Gun' kept me going. I eventually realized that the simplistic approach to production in 'Machine Gun' was evident throughout the whole album, and I've since warmed up to all but one of the tracks. All in all, a solid release.

But Barrows without Gibbons? I had no idea what to expect of BEAK>, but the album gave me a good surprise. The overall production sound is very much in line with Third, but with a rawer and more experimental edge. The vocals are seemingly inserted merely as instrumentation, seemingly lyricless. It has a lo-fi fuzz, minimalist approach, and catchy beats. All in all, an excellent album, probably my top pick of 2009

Fantasies - Metric

I haven't bought this one yet, but I gave it some thorough listening while Metric was streaming it from their website. There isn't that much to say, it's just Metric doing what they do best. Not much of a departure from their previous albums, just the same sort of subtle progression into maturity that occurred between Old World Underground, Where are you Now? and Live it Out. Just one listen to Help I'm Alive should be enough to convince a Metric fan that they've still got their edge.

Spinnerette - Spinnerette

Shit, another one I haven't actually bought yet. But I'll keep this short and to the point, based on the tracks that I have heard. Spinnerette are not The Distillers. Spinnerette have more of an alternative sound, with the loud roughness that comes with Brody Dalle. Her voice is the same as ever, and as long as you don't go into this band with expectations of The Distillers, you shouldn't be disappointed.

Brand New Eyes - Paramore

So, this is the first Paramore album I've actually gotten my hands on. I don't know if Riot! was better or not, because I've only heard snippets in fleeting. Brand New Eyes comes off as relatively generic and immature to me, a moderately loud mishmash of clichés interrupted by boring ballads. It sort of reminds me of a dumbed-down Circa Survive. That said, Brand New Eyes does have its moments in catchy hooks, and Hayley Williams has a pretty, if rather uninspired, voice. I have to give the album some credit, it's worth skipping around on a tired day.

Raditude - Weezer

I've never been in love with Weezer, but always willing to listen on a day that I need something catchy and accessible. The old Weezer was emotional, sad, pathetic - but still easy to listen to. Now their pop mentality has seemingly gone too far over the deep end, and they've released this happy party of an album that is just pure and utter shit. I didn't hear their last one (the red one, don't feel like finding the name), but I honestly can't believe this is the same band that released Pinkerton. It has no hint of cohesion about it, and tends toward an overall foolish sound. Worst album on this list, by many measures.

In and Out of Control - The Raveonettes

Nothing will ever top Whip it On for me, as far as Raveonettes albums go. It's loud, riddled with noise and feedback, and it fits entirely on one 10" record. All Raveonettes albums are different, yet with a sameness about them that refuses to let the band feel flighty. In and Out of Control likely ties Pretty in Black for the title of 'most accessible Raveonettes album,' yet the pop-friendly, accessibly nature of the album is completely undermined by the subject matter. Just a peek at the tracklisting ('Boys Who Rape,' 'Suicide,' 'D.R.U.G.S.,' 'Breaking Into Cars') should give an idea of what I mean. The album is simultaneously playful and haunting, and definitely the most extreme and bipolar thing I've heard out of the band. It's not the raw, pure energy of Whip It On, but it doesn't need to be.

And finally…

Albums I haven't heard enough of and need to - Embryonic (Flaming Lips), Wake Up The Sleepers (Kill Hannah), Octahedron (Mars Volta), Abnormally Attracted to Sin (Tori Amos), Fist of God (MSTRKRFT), Love, Hate and Then There's You (Von Bondies), 13 Japanese Birds (Merzbow), Noble Beast (Andrew Bird), Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian (Prefuse 73), Swoon (Silversun Pickups), Kingdom of Welcome Addiction (IAMX), Glitter and Doom Live (Tom Waits), Let the Dominoes Fall (Rancid).

• I've heard people disappointed by Embryonic - people who liked At War With the Mystics. Therefore, I expect to enjoy Embryonic. I didn't hate Mystics, but it definitely wasn't my favorite Lips moment.
• I haven't heard anything about Wake Up The Sleepers, but Until There's Nothing Left of Us had none of the charm or interest of For Never & Ever, so I'm not expecting much.
• I've heard none of Octahedron. Neither Amputechture nor The Bedlam in Goliath really treated me the same as their earlier material did. Octahedron apparently ditches their sound manipulation man, as well as their saxophonist. It also has no underlying narrative. I hope I'll like it, but I just can't imagine that to be the case. Well, that's not entirely true. I'll probably like it just fine, but it will have none of the joy that De-Loused or Frances did.
• I've heard bits of Abnormally Attracted to Sin, and it sounds good, but every Amos album I acquire simply makes me want to return to Little Earthquakes.
• I haven't heard anything about Fist of God, but I can't imagine MSTRKRFT disappointing. Except for the whole leaving DFA1979 thing.
• Love, Hate and Then There's You will probably be good. Again, Von Bondies haven't really disappointed me thusfar. May as well get a few others out of the way here - 13 Japanese Birds, Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian, Kingdom of Welcome Addiction, Glitter and Doom Live. I fully expect to like all of those.
• Noble Beast and Swoon, I'm just curious about. Bird is interesting, at least. Silversun Pickups seem to be the talk of the town. So I don't know what I expect out of either of those, but I am curious.
• I heard one track off of Let the Dominoes Fall, and I liked it. I would expect Rancid to have started going downhill, but I still think they've got it.