2009 highlights (with MP3s)

Favorite album (tie)

Fever Ray – Fever Ray. The Knife’s Karin Dreijer Andersson harnesses dualities— organic/artificial, animal/human, male/female, adulthood/childhood—to create a fascinating and cohesive whole. I haven’t been able to stop listening ever since I first heard “If I Had a Heart” back in January. This is music constantly revealing itself, forcing you to look deeper.



Sin Fang Bous – Clangour. The cover of this LP shows the song titles cobbled together from twigs, branches, paper, and bits of metal—a fitting metaphor for the layered and vibrant sound of Icelandic musician and artist Sindri Már Sigfússon. Meticulously crafted (but never twee) songs like “Carry Me up to Smell Pine” and “Clangour and Flutes” lead you along a forest path of unexpected twists and turns.

Sin Fang Bous – Melt Down the Knives MP3 courtesy KEXP

Other highlights (in no particular order): The XX – XX, Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms, Telepathe – Dance Mother, A Sunny Day in Glasgow – Ashes Grammar, JJ – JJ No. 2, Moderat - Moderat, Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions – Through the Devil Softly, Animal Collective – Merriwether Post Pavilion, Asobi Seksu – Rewolf

Favorite EP

Maybe it’s the predominance of song-by-song digital downloading—or maybe our attention spans are just getting shorter—but it seemed like there were almost as many EPs as full albums this year. Break out the long-players, guys!


Glasser – Apply. An irresistibly energetic blend of tribal percussion and soaring female vocals, combined with some awesome remixes (especially the John Talabot version of “Learn”), make this the perfect soundtrack for both a brisk run on the treadmill and a peaceful walk in the sunshine.

Glasser – Glad MP3 courtesy Stereogum

Other EPs: Phantogram – Phantogram, Memory Cassette – Call & Response, Washed Out - Life of Leisure, ZaZa – Cameo, Delorean – Ayrton Senna

Favorite songs

In no special order, here are five songs that rose to the top of my playlists this year:

Active Child – She Was a Vision MP3 courtesy Transparent blog

Phantogram – When I’m Small MP3

JJ – Ecstasy MP3

Speck Mountain - Angela



Atlas Sound – Quick Canal (w/Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab)




- Anna K.

New Portishead song - "Chase the Tear"

Just when I thought Portishead couldn't possibly get any more awesome, they've gone and released a new song in honor of International Human Rights Day: the propulsive yet hauntingly lovely "Chase the Tear."

You can watch a video of them performing the song below, and make sure you go to 7 digital and download the MP3; it's only 99 cents, and all proceeds go toward Amnesty International.

Portishead - Chase The Tear from Mintonfilm on Vimeo.

- Anna K

Gogol Bordello In 3D! Possibly For Free!

One of the highlights of 2009 for me was the All Points West Festival in Jersey City, and one of the highlights of that festival was the amazing set there by Gogol Bordello. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the entire set was filmed and is being released this Friday to theatres in 3D!

It's part of “LARGER THAN LIFE…IN 3D", a concert film triple header also featuring sets by the Dave Matthews Band at Austin City Limits and Ben Harper at the Mile High Festival in Denver. According to the film's press:

"Shot in Digital 3D--which renders a cinema quality comparable to that found in this fall’s other big 3D releases (A Christmas Carol and Avatar)--the format essentially brings viewers onstage, giving them a stunning 360◦ view of each live performance."

The film will be in theatres for one week only (Dec 11-17), and is playing country wide. More info on places and tickets can be found at: http://www.inconcert3d.com/

And 2 lucky extrawack! readers will get to go there (with a date) on us! The 15th and 20th emails to extrawack@gmail.com with "DMB 3D" in the subject line will be sent a pass for 2 to see the movie at any theater any night during the movie's run! Offer valid for US addresses only (sorry Papua New Guinea!).

In the meantime, here's a taste:

Active Child: making new memories

One of the most fascinating new artists I've come across this year, Active Child combines a warm, androgynous voice--reminscent of Antony Hegarty or Boys Don't Cry-era Robert Smith--with layers of cool synths and drum machines to produce a romantic, distinctive sound. For fans of machine-heart divas like Goldfrapp, people who still listen to Tears for Fears and A-Ha, or just anyone who wants to hear something new yet deliciously nostalgic. And to further the nostalgia vibe, his Facebook page promises a "cassette coming before the New Year."

If, unlike me, you don't still have your tape player handy (what??) you can download two Active Child mp3s-- "When Your Love is Safe" and the incredible slow-burner "Wilderness"--for free right now over at RCRDLBL.

Meanwhile, here's a YouTube clip of my favorite song yet, "She Was a Vision" (available for download here):



-Anna K.