Cougar Microbes

My admiration for Tim Kasher‘s output with both The Good Life and Cursive has grown with each release so when the latter band released ‘Mama, I’m Swollen‘ back in March I was clearly excited.

On this latest effort the Omaha frontman has managed to combine the best qualities of his two outfits to produce what is essentially a snapshot of his ideas circa 2009. Losing drummer Clint Schnase would have been a major blow to any band but his replacement was formidable back in July and and shines on these tracks as well.

Still the arrangements on this release are a little less bombastic than those that characterised much of 2006′s ‘Happy Hollow‘. Instead the band opted for more dynamic changes and almost completely dropped the brass section from the last release and replaced it with more wind instruments that equally as effective.

Though Kasher restrains some of his apocalyptical tendencies reoccuring themes from previous releases, such as nihilistic drinking, religion and rockstar cliches, are revisited as he fights new and old demons.

There are always rumours that Cursive may not reunite again given the band members various extracurricular commitments. Should ‘Mama, I’m Swollen‘ be their last release it would be a fitting testament to the band and their underrated output

TRACKS:

Cursive – I Couldn’t Love You

NEXT: #05 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Iran – Dissolver

PREVIOUS: #07 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Brand New – Daisy

Brand New‘s 2006 release the ‘The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me‘ was seen as a natural evolution by many fans including some Cougar collaborators yet it left me slightly disappointed.

Having witnessed the bands incredible progression from their pop punk routes to the masterful ‘Déjà Entendu‘, an album that easily features in my top releases of the decade, I expected the band to revolutionise their sound at every attempt. Hindsight being 20-20 I have now come round to that release. Though it lacked a strong single like ‘The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows‘ it worked very well as an album on the whole showcasing a much matured band.

This year’s (poorly titled) ‘Daisy‘ takes on from where the previous releases left off. The Long Island band have recorded a stripped and lean set of songs and a delivery that is as agressive as they have ever been.. There are attention grabbing instrumentals and a few hand picked balads and fortunately Jesse Lacey still delivers the same cynically observed well strung sentences.

The band will be performing at Wembley Arena early next year and the fact that they have grown organically and on their own terms is remarkable.  ’Daisy‘ is further proof of their talent.

TRACKS:

Brand New – At The Bottom

NEXT: #06 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Cursive – Mama, I’m Swollen

PREVIOUS: #08 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Tiny Masters Of Today – Skeletons

Without a doubt this album was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2009. Two years since the release of their debut ‘Bang Bang Boom Cake’ Tiny Masters Of Today are back with a matured sound. Of course that line is crazy when you consider that Brooklyn based siblings Ivan and Ada are only 15 and 13 respectively.

Unlike their debut this time they did not feature any famous collaborators or indeed a superstar producer. Instead the band recorded and produced themselves using Garage Band, emerging only for some post production tweaks in a pro studio.

This DIY approach has really paid off as there is a fearlessness in their ideas and a naivety in the lyrics that makes this release so endearing. Of course there are a couple of tracks that betray the bands youthfulness but for the most part ‘Skeletons’ punches above its weight.

Make no mistake, Tiny Masters Of Today are not on this list as a charity case for “the kids“. If anything the band’s tender age has allowed them to push boundaries that mature musicians may have ignored. There are enough hidden melodies and distorted hooks on the album to please fans of leftfield angular alt-rock.

TRACKS:

Tiny Masters Of Today – Two Dead Soldiers

NEXT: #07 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Brand New – Daisy

PREVIOUS: #09 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Florence + The Machine – Lungs

Of all the British starlets that burst onto the airwaves in 2009 miss Florence Welch was the undisputed champion for me. This time last year I remember only the track ‘Kiss With A Fist‘ and a cover of Cold War Kids‘ ‘Hospital Beds‘ were readily available on the internet or elsewhere.

A year on and Florence + The Machine have won several awards and been nominated for a few and the songs are ever present on TV and radio. I think it is a great achievement for the South Londoner’s songwriting ability that the album tracks on ‘Lungs‘ are as good if not better than those that were eventually released as singles.

TRACKS:

Florence + The Machine – Cosmic Love

NEXT: #08 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Tiny Masters Of Today – Skeletons

PREVIOUS: #10 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: WHY? – Eskimo Snow

For a little while I thought there was no chance this album would ever make this list such was the level dissapointment I felt after a first few listens.

For most of 2008 and the start of this year I waxed lyrical about WHY?‘s masterpiece ‘Alopecia. With the knowledge that the tracks on ‘Eskimo Snow‘ were recorded in the same session I had expected more of the same. Instead the Oakland combo dropped what is essentially a pop album grounded firmly in sweet melodies and layered with impressive multi instrumental structures that aim for somewhere between the Beach Boys and The Velvet Underground.

Alopecia v.2.0 it certainly is not but once i got over my initial hang up I began appreciating these 10 tracks as the natural evolution to some of the more experimental elements I had seen the band perform live. Yoni Wolf‘s vocals appear to be more reflective and slightly subdued here but scratch beneath the surface and you will notice the same cynical lyrics and curious word games at play.

TRACKS:

WHY? – Even The Good Wood Gone

NEXT: #09 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Florence + The Machine – Lungs

PREVIOUS: #11 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: George Pringle – Salon Des Refuses

This is another release I had no idea would end up on this list when I first heard it but over repeated listens George Pringle has gown under my skin.

The diseuse’s (that is “a woman who is a skilled and usually professional performer of monologues“) compositions take on an almost voyeuristic quality as she manages to make even the most trivial matter sound like it is of life and death importance to her.

Back in November I said “This debut is a collection of spoken word treats sprinkled over a series of understated garageband beats and backdrops”.

‘Salon De Refuse‘ may lack an obvious killer hook of other releases but is catapulted skywards by an impressive arsenal of anecdotes and observations. It will be interesting where her music goes to next as a long time on the road will have given her a few more thing to muse about.

TRACKS:

George Pringle – Physical Education (Part 1)

NEXT: #10 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009

PREVIOUS: #12 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009

This is the classic “underdog” inclusion to my top albums. Despite not having the same financial backing that other artists on this list had few releases in 2009 could match Yoni Gordon and the Goods for sheer passion. ‘Turning Chaos Into A Career‘ works as an album because it many dynamics yet maintains an an endearing socially conscious lyrical theme.

Back in November I labelled ‘Turning Chaos Into A Career‘ as ‘a rough diamond in amongst 2009 more prominent releases’. It is deservedly included in the Cougar Microbes top albums.

TRACK:

Yoni Gordon and the Goods – Dead But Not Forgotten

NEXT: #11 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009

PREVIOUS: #13 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009

The XX didn’t so much as burst on the scene in 2009 but rather strolled cooly into the limelight. After Initially trying to ignore them as the latest “hype” band they kept resurfacing eventually pulling me in with waves of brooding melodies.

What I like most about the London boys and girls/girl is that they sound nothing like any of their contemporaries demonstrating a maturity and assuredness that is way beyond their young age.

Imagine Chris Isaac‘s tortured delivery of ‘Wicked Game‘ track if it were being played by The Breeders at their melancholic best.

TRACKS:

The xx – Infinity

NEXT: #12 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009

PREVIOUS: #14 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009