Best Albums of 2009 - No. 8

8. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

-

This album is about more than advertising track placements and celebrity fan (Jay-Z and Beyonce) endorsements. I first heard Two Weeks through GvsB, who posted a rip of Grizzly Bear's live performance on the Letterman show (mp3 below). Since then, that particular track has been hard to avoid, but I know it has been an excellent advert in itself for the album. A little bit folk, a little bit indie, we have another album that is difficult to categorise succinctly, probably due to the lack of overriding trademark image (no big hair, no skinny jeans, no beards) or gimmick (not recorded in a log cabin, not a supergroup).

-

Veckatimest is another sunny, summertime album, but one that drifts over you with a light touch, rather than many of the Beach Boys tribute bands we have seen of late, where 'SUMMER!' is rammed down your neck, whether you like it or not.

-

I'll leave you with that Two Weeks (Live) mp3 and the video for my current favourite track from the album...

-

Two Weeks (Live on Letterman) mp3

Good Shoes - Under Control (Video)

Knight and Day - Trailer

Hmmmm.

Tom Cruise is not gay and Cameron Diaz doesn't look rough as old boots.

*looks for sarcasm button on keyboards*

Fraggle Rock Tee's

I used to love Fraggle Rock. The little builder dudes were classic.

Still, I'm not sure a man of my age could carry these off.

Follow the link below to see the full collection.

-

Dr Romanelli x Fraggle Rock x Cassette Playa T-Shirts

-

Available now at Paris's colette

-

via highsnobiety

Top Cat - RIP

Top Cat is dead.

-

Top Cat voice Arnold Stang dies aged 91 (via BBC News)

Simon Cowell: Shit for Ears (Charlie Brooker)

Furiously disillusioned prose wizard Charlie Brooker, writing on the X-Factor chart backlash:

-

"While I'm happy for Rage Against the Machine to be enjoying the sales and publicity, I can't help thinking we could've organised a slightly better protest ourselves. Chances are the X Factor will try to kick back extra hard next year – perhaps by actually releasing a song with a melody in it – so it's best to start planning the resistance now.

-
The temptation might be to pour a lot of time and effort into creating a catchy anti-X Factor anthem, but the smartest counter-move would be to release something short, cheap and throwaway that isn't even a proper song at all. I propose a track called Simon Cowell: Shit for Ears, which consists of a couple of eight-year-olds droning the phrase "Simon Cowell, shit for ears" four times in a row in the most deliberately tuneless manner possible.

-

It should last only about 15 seconds or so. Quick enough to register; brief enough not to outstay its welcome.
Then we release it online at the lowest price possible. What's the bare minimum you can charge and still be eligible for a chart position? It could be as little as 2p. Because the track is just recorded on to a cheap mic, and released without the assistance of any record label, 100% of the profits go to charity."
-

Read the rest of Charlie's brilliant, constructive rant by clicking HERE.

I'll be first in the queue (does iTunes have queues?) to buy 'Shit for Ears' if it's released next December...

Joy Orbison - She Dressed In Her Best (Audio)

This fella is killing it...

Sia - You've Changed (Video)

I like Sia.

She's cool.

That is all.

Comedy...

...but the sad fact is, many of those women claiming that Tiger touched them on their privates will make a lot of money out of this whole affair (pun intended).

Jay-Z - Young Forever feat Mr. Hudson (Video)

Horrible song... but I'm sure this expensive video and the obscene amount of radio play this single is getting will push it up the charts.

Christmas No. 1!

Best Albums of 2009 - No. 9

9. Jamie T - Kings & Queens

-

Every track on Kings & Queens has an energy and excitement to it (even the acoustic track Jilly Armeen, my current favourite). Many reviewers have spent time trying to categorise Jamie T's music; pop, ska, punk, rap, indie... but to me, this just sounds like someone who loves music and isn't thinking too much about what his target demographic is. Singles 'Sticks n Stones' and 'Chaka Demus' have been two of my favourite pop tracks of 2009, and the recently released Man Machine is arguaby the standout track of Jamie T's career to date.

-

Jilly Armeen - Audio

Girls - Lust For Life (Video)

I love this track. It makes me wish the sun was shining...

From the recently released album by Girls, entitled 'Album', just to keep things simple.

Fever Ray - Keep The Streets Empty For Me (Video)

Grandmaster Flash on "Later...with Jools Holland"

Iron Man 2 - Trailer

This looks the business. It has brought the big kid out in me.

Plus, is that Scarlett?

Best Albums of 2009 - No. 10

10. Mos Def - The Ecstatic

-

Another avant-garde release from Mos Def, featuring soul, funk, bollywood samples, a Slick Rick feature and production by J Dilla, Chad of The Neptunes, Madlib and Oh No.

Up-tempo lead singles 'Casa Bey' and 'Quiet Dog Bite Hard' set the tone for what was to be a genre-straddling effort with no mention of cars, watches or money, but one that was resolutely Hip Hop.

Unfortunatley for Mos, the high point was arguably the Slick Rick verse on 'Audotorium', which was a story told from the perspective of a US soldier in Iraq, conversing with the locals via the medium of rap. Sounds silly, but isn't. In all, easily the best major label Hip Hop album of the year.

-

Mos Def - Supermagic (Video)

Rihanna - Hard feat. Young Jeezy (Video)

Posted for obvious reasons, and they don't include the quality of the music.

Update: Video removed due to copyright infringement. Gutted [sarcasm].

Best Albums of 2009 - No. 11

11. Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

-

Kasabian's third long-player topped the album chart this year, propelled by genuine hit singles with a psychedelic pop edge.

'Underdog', the Doors-a-like 'Fire' and 'Where Did All The Love Go?' got an awful lot of radio play.

From the album cover and the sounds on the disc, to the clothes and haircuts, Kasabian morphed into something more than the swaggering lad rockers that they started out as.

-

Kasabian - Underdog mp3

Jay Electronica - Exhibit C mp3

The CDQ of the radio rip Hip Hop kids have been spazzing over for a month has arrived. And to be fair, this guy is futuristic.

-

Jay Electronica - Exhibit C (produced by Just Blaze)

-

link courtesy of Meka and Shake.

-

Update: 'The link' is dead. Long live 'the iTunes' (yep, if you take all day, you have to pay.)

Life Magazine - Photos of the Year 2009

A sand storm engulfs Riyadh.

-

For more incredible images like this, visit life.com's Photos of the Year pages.

Robin Hood - Trailer

From Ridley Scott and his BFF Russell Crowe...

Alan Ford - Washing Machine abuse

Tron Legacy (aka Tron 2) Poster

I haven't forgotten about this... arriving Xmas 2010. Click for close up.

-

Soundtrack by Daft Punk!!

The Drums - Let's Go Surfing (Video)

Another track off my 'years best' list...

eb's 'Albums of 2009' coming soon...

"Nutters from Parkhurst dressed in Yeti suits"

Alan Ford. Legend.

Cockney Sunday Observer sketch, from Armando Iannucci.

Portishead - Chase the Tear (Video)

The video to Portishead's Amnesty International 'charity single'.

Skiing Fail

If you see anybody wearing these on the slopes next year, avoid them at all costs.

They are clearly a maniac with a number of self-esteem issues.

-

Spotted at highsnobiety, who have more details and photos.

Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo (Audio)

One of the year's best dance tracks.

Provided today as a prelude to Eternal Broadcaster's 'Best Albums of 2009' post, coming soon...

Youth in Revolt - Red Band Trailer (Video)

Burial - Fostercare (Video)

The video for Fostercare has arrived...

How NOT to deal with relegation...

Coritiba could only draw at home to Fluminese, which meant that the home side were relegated.

Yes, there are tears in the crowd, and dejected fans trudging out, much as you would see in England.

But then... it all goes 'a bit Brasilian', and the home fans decide to try and kill the referee and anyone else who is still on the pitch.

Mind you, if West Ham don't improve rapidly, I'm sure we'll see similar scenes at Upton Park come May next year...

YAW - Where Would You Be (Audio)

Apologies for the visuals, but just listen to the music.

Please.

It could just be the best 4 minutes 17 seconds of your day...

If you like this (and if you don't, your sick), you can pick it up on iTunes. It features on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Bubbler's 3 compilation.

Definite - Playin' These Games mp3

A new Blu (aka GODleebarnes) production, from Definite's new album 'Matters at Hand'. I gather Blu has a few more tracks on that album, meaning I'll be picking it up tonight. This is what you would expect; laid back, soulful, sample-driven Hip Hop.

-

Playin' These Games mp3

-

mp3 usershare link 'borrowed' from 2dopeboyz

Wow... Chongqing Edition

Upon first glance, MAD Architects’ latest project for Chongqing, China looks like an impossibility. The project, entitled Urban Forest, features a stacked set of floors that cantilever drastically from their central support. The floors are designed to bring more nature and open space into a densely compacted urban area.

Floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer users an uninterrupted panoramic of the city as a way to combine nature with the urban metropolis. Pools, trees and courtyards are scattered about the walk-around balconies providing an aesthetic which is quite different from the typical office or residential space.

-

Spotted at archdaily

The Horrors - Who Can Say (Video)

I bought this album earlier in the year, and it sat on my shelf for months.

I dug it out at the weekend, and have been playing this track in particular on a regular basis.

They seem to have lost the goth look, and gone a bit Joy Division. Good move...

Blakroc - What You Do To Me mp3

Blakroc is The Black Keys + an array of emcee's that Damon Dash pulled together. This track features Jim Jones (who is dog-shit), and Billy Danze from MOP, above (who is a fierce).

-

The album is out on Monday (I've been spinning it for a week, and it's not your average rock/rap hybrid nonsense... this is GOOD.)

Saint John of Las Vegas - Trailer

This looks good.

Steve Buscemi can do no wrong in my eyes. Sarah Silverman likewise...

Your own Terry Richardson...

This is too funny.

colette in Paris will be selling these soon. Don't expect them to last long.

More info at highsnobiety.com

-

Previously on EB - Terry Richardsons 2010 Pirelli Calendar

Camp Lo - Oodles of O's (De La Soul Tribute) mp3

Camp Lo (of 'Luchini' fame) cover a De La Soul classic from their 'De La Soul is Dead' album.

This is part of a tribute mixtape called 'Le Da Soul', put together by Mick Boogie, Terry Urban, Lemar & Dauley, to celebrate 20 years of De La Soul putting out Grade A music.

You can d/l the full mixtape by clicking HERE.

Brooklyn's Finest - Trailer

From the director of Training Day.

It appears he has adopted the CSI approach and made Training Day: New York.

And Snipes is virtually reprising his Nino Brown character from New Jack City.