The 12 Discs Of Christmas

The Lunar Tiki's Leo, A Santa Fit To Deliver My 12 Discs Of Christmas

2009 has been a great year for music, the year that the avant garde broke into the mainstream with bands like Animal Collective, The Dirty Projectors and Grizzly Bear riding high in the charts.

Live highlights for me included the Dodo's in Antwerp (far better than their Brussels show), Melody Gardot, The Dirty Projectors and a magical performance from Grizzly Bear ably supported by St Vincent. Not to forget Belgium's own Madensuyu, who's hypnotic drum and guitar playing carried me off on a wave of musical bliss on three separate occasions.

And so, without further ado, here, for what it's worth, is my pick of the musical crop from this exceptional year.

1. The Phantom Band - Checkmate Savage
2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
3. The Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
4. Grizzly Bear - VeckatimestIt's Blitz!
6. St Vincent - Actor
7. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
8. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
9. Bill Calaghan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
10. The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
11. Megafaun - Gather, Form and Fly
12. Madensuyu - D is Done

For any iPod toting music lovers out there, here's a playlist taken from the above, which as it happens I've got playing as I type.

1. The Phantom Band - Folk Song Oblivion

A tough call to pick one track from such an outstanding debut album. Island, Crocodile.. all wonderful stuff.

2. Animal Collective - My Girls

A synth laden, harmony ridden uplifting song to make your spirit soar.

3. The Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move

Off key harmonies and Dave Longstreth's strange guitar style make the Dirty Projectors a unique force of musical nature. Stillness Is The Move is a corker. Also recommended their collaboration with David Byrne, Knotty Pine which can be found on the fabulous Dark Was The Night Collection.

4. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

Evocative of a memorable night at Cirque Royale and a magic night from a magic band.

5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero

Again a tough call, Heads Will Roll or Hysteric called equally have made this list.

6. St Vincent - Black Rainbow

A doom laden song, slowly building to a crushing climax.

7. Andrew Bird - Masterswarm

My biggest regret this year was missing Andrew's gig at the Edinburgh Festival. Tickets in hand, but stuck in Brussels that weekend. Not only that I managed to miss his Brussels performance too. Ah well, there's always next year. Masterswarm is a bizarre track of insects nesting in human flesh. But touching too.

8. The Decemberists - Won't Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga)

Great back beat, great vocals, great song.

9. Bill Calaghan - Eid Ma Clack Shaw

Words taken from a dream and a dream of a song. Eid ma clack shaw, Zupoven del ba, Mertepy ven seinur, Cofally ragdah. Bill really must lay off eating cheese late at night.

10. The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin

In the anniversary of his birth Charlie D had to get a look in and this track is a thing of beauty.

11. Megafaun - The Fade

Surprise act of the year for me. I saw these guys supporting The Dodos in Antwerp and they blew me away with their Fleet Foxesque harmonies and weird little songs, nicely exemplified by The Fade.

12. Madensuyu - Tread On Tread Light

It raises the hairs on the back of my neck every time I hear this one.

And finally. My number one New Year's resolution has to be to see The Phantom Band live somewhere, anywhere!. Their debut album is astounding and they've produced some amazing music.

As always, any alternative lists always appreciated as comments to this post.


Merry Christmas everyone!!!