I usually let my great writers handle the writing on the blog while I just sit back and bring in content, but they all felt like I should be a bigger part of the blog especially when it comes to lists like these, so I decided that they were right and began my first blog post on L.A.M.B.
Now after hours upon hours of listening, and then a few more hours of listening again, I finally narrowed my list down to my Top 15 of 2009. I tried my hardest to stay with Top 10 but there were too many albums that stuck out in my mind. Some I knew would be on my list from the first listen and others grew on me. Then there were the few that came out of left field and made me feel like if they didn’t get a spot I would have nightmares for weeks to come about my lack of commitment to good music. So here it is, my top 15 albums of 2009, and here’s to more posts coming from me and the LA Music Blog team in 2010!
#15. MR. GNOME – HEAVE YER SKELETON
At first, you might think you’re listening to a full band, but once you realize this is a duo you will be blown away by the amount of sound that they can produce! I look forward to seeing where this band goes in the future and hearing other music from them. If you haven’t already, check out our interview with Nicole from the band.
The comparisons between Langhorne Slim and Bob Dylan are understandable. One look at the folk singer’s porkpie hat and a quick listen to a track from any one of his half-dozen releases prove that this is an artist who practically bleeds Americana (although we ask that you please not shank the man in an attempt to prove/disprove my theory). However, after watching Langhorne Slim’s performance at the Hotel Café, there is a different ‘60s icon I feel a need to mention. The swirling of the artist’s hips, the dropping to his knees while playing with his guitar overhead, the stage presence that comes off as both polished and unpredictable…he was like Jimi Hendrix with an acoustic. Thankfully he didn’t set anything on fire at the end of his set (I don’t think Hotel Café would ventilate that well and all those red curtains would burn like nobody’s business), but he definitely provided the audience with an experience.
