Cougar Microbes

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

Gallic flair and one of the best live shows I witnessed in a long time meant Pascal Arbez, better known to the world as Vitalic, could not be missing from this list. ‘Flashmob‘, like its namesake, is a sudden and unexpected burst of fun.

Back in October Cougar Microbes boldly claimed “Vitalic as one of the world’s best techno/electro producers firmly placing his attitude and meticulous production betwixt Justice and Daft Punk, also fellow French pioneers of a genre that’s been invaded but resistant to futile try-hards.” Amen to that.

TRACKS:

Vitalic – Your Disco Song

NEXT: #13 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009

PREVIOUS: #15 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009

Copy Haho injected a dose of sunshine into my London commute earlier in the year when I recieved their wonderfully crafted EP ‘Bred For Skills & Magic’ released on Big Scary Monster.

Back in March Cougar Microbes said  ”every time you start to get comfortable with any section of the EP they go and throw a new element or an unexpected chord progression to surprise you“.

Looking forward to more indie rock goodness from the Scottish quartet in 2010.

TRACKS:

Copy Haho – This Retro Decade

NEXT: #14 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009