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Had a great lunch with one of my clients last week at Naha, a swanky Chicago restaurant. The waitress was totally flirting with me, too. I am pretty sure this is because I ordered sparkling water.

What can I say, I had another client meeting later in the afternoon, and no one likes the account guy to smell like appletinis. Nope, no one.

This is some Mediterranean appetizer with the best baba ganoush I have ever had. Also, Greek salad, tasty olives, great hummus, some cheese blintzes or something and some other stuff I could not identify but gladly ate.

Hildon. "That's British, you know." That's what the waitress said to me.

Some type of short rib dish. Outrageously good. The meat was really salty which was a perfect compliment to the butternut squash and mascarpone burrito of some soft which they paired it with. The other stuff was potato, but my client reminded me that they would serve something a bit more top flight at a place like Naha.

This dessert read a lot better than it looked, frankly. This was, from right to left, a peach cake of some sort, almond gelato, some type of foam there at the top, pomegranate seeds and a white wine gelee. Hah, that's queer as hell.

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<div style="text-align:left;font-size:x-small;margin-top:0;width:512px;">Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion from Will Ferrell</div>

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I have absolutely no idea what to make of this video, which I found on Pitchfork, except to say that it was self released.

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20 Wilco - The Album

Another great album, with the exception of a few clunkers (Happy Here) and a sick show at the UIC Pavilion that I would have never made it to but for my friend, Harps.

19 The Decemberists - Hazards of Love

Early release in 2009, so it faded for me, but I loved this album’s orchestral feel and running story line, and who could forget the performance of Shara Worden as “the Queen.” Absolutely floored me.

18 Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic

Just now getting into this great electronic pop record, but the Paul Simon meets Daft Punk feel has me pretty well hooked.

17 Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

This album had my #1 track of the year with “Two Weeks” and was sound all the way through, but I’ve said it before and I will say it again, “I just don’t totally get these guys.”  Unbelievable live show in 2009 also. At the Metro, no less!

16 White Rabbits - It’s Frightening

New York based outfit that has a dark and heavy sound while still crafting some serious pop numbers. Recommended for fans of Spoon and fettuccini alfredo. Yeah, I said it.

15 Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Another early release, which faded a bit for me over the year, but a great album that got back to the group’s “Feels” sound. I heard a ton of Panda Bear’s influence on this record, and it gets me excited for his follow-up to “Person Pitch.”  Killer track: My girls.

14 JJ - JJ #2

No idea where this came from, but it sounded like opening the window in the summer when you are driving home from a late party. Fresh, fresh is how it sounded.

13 Islands – Vapours

One of my favorite guys in town, Nick Thorburn, put out another doozy.  While there wasn’t a standout track on this album, the work continues to be solid as hell.  Some friends thought this sounded more like “Return to the Sea” but for my money, “Arm’s Way” is still his opus.

12 Miike Snow - Miike Snow

Brilliant electro pop from a Swedish group that would be quite comfortable in New York in 2002.  Also, good for parties and such.

11 Florence and the Machine – Lungs

One of my wife’s favorite records of the year, “Lungs” comes out of the gate strongly. Can’t wait to see her live in 2010. Killer song: I’m not calling you a liar.

10 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

I really didn’t like this group as much as everyone else before this record came out, but its high intensity and strong back beat had me running to this every week. Notable tracks included “Hysteric,” “Zero” and “Heads Will Roll.”

09 Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health

I listened to this record at least 70 times on my bike this year.  What a great pop rock album.  Too bad these dude broke up. Eh, not all that bad. We still have Rio.

08 The xx - 2.0

From the first time I heard this until the day I saw them live, it was on a constant rotation for me.  Enough has been said about the group’s sparse, haunting sound, so I won’t elaborate, but sadly, the show left something to be desired.  I still bought tickets to their April Metro show, though, so time will tell.  But seriously, where will these guys go with their next record? My guess: more electronic.

07 AA Bondy - When the Devil's Loose

Not sure why I got into this guy’s music, but I loved it before I saw him live in November.  The show was practically life-changing. I cannot recommend this record enough.

06 Trespassers William - Natural Order of Things

This was my chill record for the year and also sounds really good late at night.  Much like escargot, this is an acquired taste, but those who like snails know it is not worth trying to evangelize.  Try not to picture me having sex when you hear this next.

05 Band of Skulls - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

Even though there seems to be some internal strife among this group as to whether they are a metal band or a rock group, I love every track for its unique sound. This is one of my top concerts for 2010.  I cannot wait to see these guys (and Emma) live.

04 Metric – Fantasies

Even though this group seems like it is more targeted toward 16 year old girls who listen to the local “alternative” rock station, I just cannot help myself.  The pounding bass beats and driving rhythms are like fuel for my workouts and really get me in the mood to break shit late at night. Add in some decent lyrics and this, from the track “Gimme Sympathy,” and you have a recipe for an original and excellent record, “Give me sympathy/After all of this is gone/Who’d you rather be/the Beatles or the Rolling Stones/oh seriously.” Plus, Emily Haines is super hot for a 40+ year old.  What? She is younger than that? Sheesh, the road has been tough on her.

03 Passion Pit – Manners

What a great record. Thank goodness I did not see this group live in 2009, because I would guess that these guys are less than stellar live. That beautiful falsetto just cannot translate. But this record is really something special.  From the top to the bottom, track for track, it’s truly ridiculous.

02 Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

I mean, come on! How can you write such an intricate, layered and brilliant album all while being such a bitch? Oh, sorry, haven’t you seen her stage show?  Well I can tell you it is unreal – when she is singing that is.  For all of my love for Neko, for whom frankly, I think I would leave my wife, she seems like such a pain in the ass in real life.  While this record is certainly too mellow for some, I think that it is a great step beyond “Fox Confessor” which is still easily her best studio effort.  Her lyrics have made leaps and bounds and the record’s instrumentation remains one of its strengths, as she surrounds herself with a gaggle of savants and prodigies who no doubt are just waiting their turn to bed her down.

01 Girls – Album

Please refer to my review of the Girls show at the Empty Bottle here.  I was really surprised to see this record among many year-end count-downs.  Frankly, I thought I was one of the few people to see the bare-knuckle, stripped down beauty and honesty of this record.  The record has depth, and takes time to digest once you get past the first two tracks, both of which could be chart-toppers, “Lust for Life” and “Laura.” Christopher Owens, the lead singer and songwriter, does little to disguise his feelings, longings and deep thoughts on the record, and though his voice is less-than-traditional, his passion and honesty really translate well into this fuzzed-out, weed-soaked San Francisco treat.

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QKN: I asked my main boy Neil to give me his top ten records for the year, and here they are in all their glory.  I wish that I had listened to a few of these records, most notably the Flaming Lips nonsense.

Enrich your life, follow Neil on twitter @neilheyman.

Top Te(leve)n Records of 2009

I’ll start off by saying that whatever indie cred I might have will be revoked by not including either Animal Collective, OR Grizzly Bear on my list. The ten (or so) records that follow have been in constant circulation since I first heard them, and serve as a strong end to the decade.

10. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic

This album would be ranked higher if it didn’t make me feel so stupid because I had to listen to it about 6 times before I realized how truly great it is.

9. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career

“French Navy” is easily one of my top 3 songs of the year, and while the rest of the album can become saccharinely sweet at times, it still is fun to listen to repeatedly, the mark of any great album.

8. Bad Veins – Bad Veins

I’ve been following Bad Veins for a while now, seeing as how they are from my hometown of Cincinnati. Hopefully, because their debut album is so good, people can stop identifying Blessid Union of Souls as the best band to come out of Cincinnati.

7. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I was, admittedly, late to jump on the Phoenix bandwagon. The opening one-two punch of “Liztomania” and “1901” along with the rest of the album affirm my belief that I’d rather have 8 great songs make up an album than 8 good ones and 4 shitty ones.

6. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love

They took a huge step backwards from the accessibility of The Crane Wife, but Hazards of Love is amazing because it creates the intricate story they desire, while still have great tracks that stand up on their own.

5. Girls – Album

If I were ranking just the first sides of records, this would be number 1. The first half of this album is almost perfect, and while the second half is great too it lacks the urgency and the punch of the first half.

4. Islands – Vapours

I loved Arms Way when it came out, but after listening to Vapours, it’s almost unlistenable in comparison. Vapours has solid track after solid track, making it my favorite Islands record to date.

3. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

I now feel guilty for having written off most of Neko’s early work as “too country” for my tastes. Middle Cyclone translates well anywhere it is played live. Her show at the Chicago Theater brought the fucking house down, and those of at Lolla who didn’t want to see Vampire Weekend play the same songs they’ve been playing since 2007 were treated to a great set from this record as well.

2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!

Full disclosure: I’d almost certainly listen to Karen O sing selections from the Ikea catalogue. The album is able to make we want to dance (re: not actually dance) and listen to the lyrics at the same time. I was sitting around in March with practically nothing to do, and this album made that time just fly by.

1b. Passion Pit – Manners

There is no song on this entire record that I even think about skipping. I worry that their sound is apparently very appealing to bros judging from the crowd at Lolla this year, but I suppose even bros can have impeccable taste sometimes.

1a. The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns

Ok, I know that top 11 lists are lame, but I don’t know where to put this album. E-music rated it in 2008, but the formal release this year landed it an honorable mention from Pitchfork. So let’s just give it a number one spot with an asterisk. Regardless of year, this album would be the top of my list. No record has hit me at exactly the right time as this record did. Something about backwoods Canada is conveyed so perfectly that it allows me to run the gambit of emotions. It is as close to a perfect album (for my own specific ear) as I can remember this decade. 

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As the first part of a four part series, please take a gander at my the bottom half of my top 20 songs from 2009.  Tomorrow I will post my top ten songs of 2009. On Thursday, you are going to get the bottom half of my top 20 records for the year.  On Friday, January 1, 2010, I will post my top ten records for 2009.  I am even going to give you a few reasons why I chose each LP. That's how we do here.

Yes, I do have a slant toward indie rock. No, I don't add in marginally relevant hip hop records a la Pitchfork. Maybe there is a chance you will hear something you have not yet heard and go out and buy a record. OK, let's do this.

I am still working on a method to get you copies of each of these tracks. As it stands now, please DM me and I will shoot you a login for my FTP site.  Provided I can get these loaded onto the site, any artist or label that wants me to remove these tracks from this HEAVILY trafficked site, no problem.  Please fill out all the appropriate paperwork and fax it to my attention promptly!

                       

20 You Are the Blood       

Sufjan Stevens - Dark Was the Night

 

                       

19 Daylight       

Matt and Kim - Grand

 

 

18 Sans Soliel

Miike Snow - Miike Snow

 

 

17 I'll Fight       

Wilco - The Album

 

 

16 Swim

Surfer Blood – Astrocoast

 

 

15 Death by Diamonds and Pearls

Band of Skulls - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

 

 

14 1901       

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

 

 

13 Niagara Falls       

Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health

 

 

12 Crystalized       

The xx - 2.0

 

 

11 Hysteric       

Yeah Yeah Yeahs -It's Blitz

 

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