I’ve made a lot of great music discoveries this year, either through friends, or concerts, or emusic recommendations (which are almost always spot-on). One of the best shows I went to was Jason Webley’s back pretty early in the year. I wasn’t familiar with Jason Webley at all before the show, but the amazing and lovely Colleen AF Venable was, and wanted to go. I’m so glad I did! Not only was Jason Webley absolutely fantastic, but he and Sxip Shirey also recorded a video for their song “Days with You” there. I watched from the audience, but anyone who was wearing party-ish clothes (including Colleen and another friend) went up on stage to be in the video. Maybe you’ll spot her in the crowd scenes.
And since I only once every few years get my act together to collect addresses and send Christmas cards, instead this year, I made a mix cd for my friends. It’s songs by bands I discovered this year. Not all of them are new songs, or new bands, but they were new to me in 2009. Or, in the case of the last song, one that I didn’t realized I actually liked until 2009, though I’d heard it long before. Here’s the list for you to enjoy!
1. Wake Up / Arcade Fire
2. Keep Yourself Warm / Frightened Rabbit
3. Contender / Pains of Being Pure at Heart
4. Speed of Sound / Chris Bell
5. You Are Free / Mates of State
6. Dominoes / The Big Pink
7. It’s Too Easy / Dave Rawlings Machine
8. New York City Heat / Dead Heart Bloom
9. Be OK / Ingrid Michaelson
10. Hellhole Ratrace / Girls
11. Icarus / Jason Webley
12. Island Garden Song / Mountain Goats
13. Upon Viewing Brueghel’s “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” / Titus Andronicus
14. Poker Face / Lady Gaga
15. Enjoy the Silence / Depeche Mode
I wasn’t a fan of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” until I heard this cover: