Aural Quarterly. 1-3/2009

In the absence of the Humdinger and having no other outlet to voice my aurally-charged excitements, I choose to post. No promise of a consistent series, I've proven that I cannot be trusted there (I seem to remember a series starting called The Christina & Matt Visit, Part I which was never followed up by a 2nd or 3rd edition (maybe someday)).

On with it...

The Best of 2009 Contenders (January-March)

1. Animal Collective
   
2. Charles Spearin
   
3. The Bird & The Bee
   
4. Mastodon
   
5. Antony & The Johnsons
   
6. Swan Lake
   
7. Peter Bjorn & John
   
8. Andrew Bird
9. Vetiver
10. Julie Doiron
    
11. The Long Lost
12. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
13. PJ Harvey & John Parish
    
14. DOOM
    
15. Heartless Bastards
    
16. Bell Orchestre

The New Best Friends

1. Sholi
   
2. Cymbals Eat Guitars
   
3. J. Tillman
4. Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
   
5. Here We Go Magic
6. The Love Language
   
7. Fol Chen
8. The City & Horses
9. Mike Bones
10. The Show Is The Rainbow
    
11. Grammatics
    
12. Timber Timbre
    

The Pleasant Surprises

1. Anni Rossi
   
2. Extra Golden
3. Harlem Shakes
4. DD/MM/YYYY
   
5. A Camp
   
6. Bruce Peninsula
   
7. Odawas
8. Gentleman Reg
9. Arbouretum
   
10. Benjy Ferree
    
11. De Rosa
12. DM Stith
    

The Only If I'm In The Right Mood Amazings

1. Mono
   
2. Dan Deacon
3. Fever Ray
   
4. Color Cassette
   
5. Mountains
6. Hannu
7. Pan•American
8. Neko Case
   

The I'm Gonna Have To Hear That One More Times

1. These Are Powers
2. M. Ward
3. Desolation Wilderness
4. Mi Ami
5. Shogun Kunitoki
   
6. Beirut
7. Lotus Plaza
   
8. Hi Red Center
9. Alela Diane
   

The Leaving Well Enough Alones

1. Cursive
2. Great Lake Swimmers
3. Psychic Ills
4. Loney, Dear
5. Asobi Seksu
   
6. Torngat
7. Ben Kweller
8. Other Lives
   
9. Coconut Records
10. Malajube
11. Elvis Perkins
    
12. Telefon Tel Aviv
13. Clem Snide
    

The Better Late Than Nevers

1. Frances
2. Yeasayer
3. Sunken Foal
   
4. Richard Crandell
   
5. MGMT
   
6. Benji Hughes
7. The Middle East
   

The Severe Disappointments

1. The Decemberists
   
2. A.C. Newman
3. Franz Ferdinand
4. William Elliott Whitmore
5. Bishop Allen