Surfing on Steam: Top 10 L.A. Album & EP Releases of 2009

Albums:

1. National Skyline: Bliss & Death (Adventure Broadcasting)
Jeff Garber modernizes the shoegaze-pop blueprint by making a record that focuses just as much on hooks, big rhythms and sharp vocals as it does epic swells of guitar. It's the kind of record I had always wished an L.A. artist would make for years. It's welcoming and clean enough for radio but still feels mysterious and cloudy, like you need to listen to it multiple times to make sure you didn't miss anything.



2. Frankel: Anonymity is the New Fame (Autumn Tone)
At a very close number two spot is Michael Orendy's critically acclaimed sophomore album Anonymity is the New Fame. He reminds me of the late Acetone and Elliott Smith with a dash of Harry Nilsson. He and Jeff Garber's National Skyline don't even play live - and that's a damn shame.



3. Gliss: Devotion Implosion (Cordless)
In an earlier post I spoke about how much I ignored Gliss when they first started playing as a fledgling band. But this latest album is so killer and musically powerful -- I feel embarrassed that I ever doubted them in the first place.



4. Sea Wolf: White Water, White Bloom (Dangerbird)
Sea Wolf need to stop being dubbed as "Alex Church" and start being applauded and recognized as a creative entity, a band. His permanent crew (Fendelander, Ficken and Liscenski) add the dynamics and flourishes that make dynamite singles like "Wicked Blood" one of the best songs any L.A. band has produced all year.



5. Letting Up Despite Great Faults: Letting Up Despite Great Faults (Self-Released)
LUDGF are my favorite unsigned local band. They are also a brisk and dreamy answer to Sweden's Radio Dept., who they are obviously influenced by. But where Radio Dept. drag you into a darker, rainy atmosphere of pop this quartet is so much more immediate and energized. If I worked at a record label this would be the first band on my to-do list.



6. Imaad Wasif: The Voidist (Tee Pee)
Imaad is one of the best live performers and songwriters in Los Angeles. His songs are brutal, bluesy and damaged. Just when you think his wounds are beyond repair he melts them back with sweet vocal melodies and searing guitar leads. Add Bob Bruno and Adam Garcia into the mix and the group becomes unstoppable. I'm not sure if The Voidist is better than last year's excellent Strange Hexes, but there's absolutely no way I'm leaving him off this list.



7. Silversun Pickups: Swoon (Dangerbird)
I'm so tired of reading negative comments and dumb, half-ass album reviews of Swoon. SSPU are very good at making dreamy alternative rock that is so hard to ignore and, obviously, impossible for a majority of young music fans everywhere to stop talking about. If you were twelve years old they'd be your favorite rock band, and you'd be cool as fuck for liking them. Once you get older you're bound to put on their records and still feel stoked on Swoon, and every little fuzzed-out guitar lick, hoping your kids will feel the same way you did about them at that age.



8. Division Day: Visitation (Dangerbird)
Yep, another Dangerbird Records band on the list. Also, another band improving greatly with their sophomore album. Although Visitation had very little internet presence or marketing behind it, I can't imagine this record not picking up steam in the new year once they start touring again.



9. Mariachi El Bronx: Mariachi El Bronx (Swami)
Mariachi El Bronx made a legitimate, traditional and 100% original Mariachi style album. It's my favorite material from The Bronx to date.



10. RAM on L.A. - Various Artists (Autumn Tone)
Autumn Tone Records, and AquariumDrunkard.com in general, had a pretty kick-ass year with music releases and receiving the attention and notoriety that's been long overdue. His website is a true education in music and culture. This compilation pulls amazing performances out of L.A.'s talent pool -- covering Paul McCartney's 1971 solo album.

EPs:


1. Aushua: Limbo (Self-Released)
Why isn't this band huge? They have all the pop qualities of highly regarded British rock bands like Elbow and Doves only they're more straightforward, younger and happen to live in Southern California. "What's it Worth" and "Tuck (How it Feels Away)" are some of the quartet's best work.



2. No Age: Losing Feeling (Sub Pop)
Losing Feeling is a rewarding extension of one of my favorite records from last year, Nouns. If you like the band at their trippiest moments then this is for you.



3. Xu Xu Fang: Seven Days Now (Self-Released)
I love everything Xu Xu Fang releases. They add a psychedelic edge as they continue to re-imagine the classic rock blueprint.



4. National Skyline: Bloom (Adventure Broadcasting)
"Bloom" gets an edit and is one of the standouts on this awesome 5-song EP -- reinforcing National Skyline's amazing album.



5. Warpaint: Exquisite Corpse (Manimal Vinyl)
The grower. Warpaint are hard to peg into any single category, but they happen to touch upon many genres that I'm already infatuated with. Their style is moody and delicate but eventually explodes in the softest way possible.



6. VOICEsVOICEs: Sounds Outside (Self-Released)
Loops, drones and ghostly voices build into a soaring chorus that sounds like Jon Bonham backing Slowdive. Can't wait for their official Prefuse 73-produced EP to drop next year.



7. Dum Dum Girls: Dum Dum Girls 12" (Captured Tracks)
So many nostalgic pop groups to count these days, but Dum Dum Girls eventually won me over. Kristin Gundred's gorgeous voice turns it into music that is so refreshing and all her own. Can't wait for their Sub Pop debut in March.



8. Nightmare Air: Nightmare Air (Self-Released)
Dave Dupuis helms the ultra washy space rock trio that is Nightmare Air -- possibly L.A.'s loudest band? Their debut EP just came out last week and delivers high quality mixes of songs I've been enjoying as demos. A hearty mix of shoegaze-rock and melodic punk.



9. Meho Plaza: Made of Gold (How to Fight)
If you like the experimental, bombastic garage rock of Deerhoof then I highly recommend everything Meho Plaza has released. Their latest EP, Made of Gold, is catchy in the chord progression department and frequently interrupted by some amazing blasts of sound.



10. Le Switch: The Devil Needs a Cough Drop (Autumn Tone)
Another solid Le Switch release (digital) demonstrating a progression in songwriting and Aaron Kyle's unmistakable and powerful delivery. As rad as this EP is you're going to freak out once you hear the newer material set for next year.