Blog
Voices: Spike from Austin
Written by Austin - Jon
Hello Abubilla fans! I am grateful and flattered to be chosen to share my musical perspectives with such a rich and well-regarded audience. I’ll do my best to represent middle-southern-northeastern America with a does of Western/Mountain and a certain Australian flair … without further adieu, let’s get into it.
And what better way to start with my FAVORITE songs of 2009. its been an annual tradition for me to pull together a compilation of the tracks that moved me in the previous 12 months, and bestow them upon those interested (or dis-interested) with my annual holiday card. So below is an abridged set of liner notes from JK SEZ 2009 (as in JK ‘says’ these are good songs).
Well well well what a year – I’ve had an incredible 2009, full of adventure abroad and settling anew back in NYC for the next chapter. This year’s JK sez was plucked specially from what was already an incredibly rich harvest, and reflects the emerging trend(fad?) for 80s retro, which may suit the demographic receiving this; of course you will find some typical JK indie pop rock as well. So let’s go … the YEAH YEAH YEAHs (zero) had a killer upbeat album, lighter on guitars but Karen O (the singer) still intense (and incredible live) … PHOENIX (1901) out of France have been floating around for awhile but cracked the alt-indie scene this year with a fantastic CD, worth getting if you like this track … REGINA SPEKTOR (eet) was one of the highlights at Glastonbury this year, a truly unique voice with deceiving poppy sounds … METRIC (gimme sympathy) was another Glasto discovery, their album Fantasies is really really good if you like this tune … LILY ALLEN (the fear) is a flash in the pan to some, but I defy you to resist this bubble-gum pop tune with very clever lyrics … WILCO (bull black nova), an old true love, released another cracker this year (self-titled)– this song the harshest on it, but do pick it up, you won’t be disappointed … EMILIANA TORRINI (big jumps) is another beautiful singer, her album quite mellow and relaxing … JULIAN CASABLANCAS’ (11th dimension) voice may sound familiar as he fronts the Strokes; this album never reaches their heights but this track very fun … THE BIG PINK (dominos) are one of a bunch of throwback shoe-gazing types, this song very hard to get out of your head, be careful (the rest of the album not so …) TELEKINISIS! (look to the east) may seem like nothing special at first, their 31-minute LP ends up being remarkably deep and rewards on multiple listens, produced by someone in Death Cab for Cutie … THE XX (islands) are SOOOOOO hot right now (no small thanks to Lisa G), their album really unique, get on the bandwagon early … and onto the first real rap song ever to make a JK sez, this one by JAY-Z (empire state of mind), which would be really catchy even if I hadn’t just moved to New York (that’s Alisha Keys singing in the chorus) … FRIENDLY FIRES (jump in the pool) is another up-and-comer lots of fun live – my festival circuit seemed to marry to theirs, culminating with an electric show in Austin (even Tim Moxey fessed up), play this song loud! … SONDRE LERCHE (if only) has been on previous mixes, his new CD is solid if more adult … THE VIRGINS (rich girls) released their debut album, I can’t say I love it but the bass line on this track is spectacular enough to make the cut … M WARD (never had nobody like you) has another relaxed album, this ditty nice and simple … GRIZZLY BEAR (two weeks) out of Brooklyn may have had the best album released in the year in Vecktimest, just buy it buy it buy it … BRENDAN BENSON (poised and ready) remains a fave of mine, he helped Jack White become mainstream while in the Raconteurs, meanwhile he keeps writing splendid pop gems … THE TEMPER TRAP (sweet disposition) are originally from Melbourne, but like many have taken a route to higher profiles via success in the UK on the back of a solid album … WHITE LIES (to lose my life) are kind of like Coldplay meets Interpol, this song (and the album) intense and melodic … MATT + KIM (daylight) are kind of gimmicky but who cares when they are this fun … and to wrap it up a song my grandfather arranged with his group THE RAY CHARLES SINGERS, (this could be the start of something new) a fitting way to think about bringing in 2010, despite it being recorded nearly 50 years ago. Enjoy!